Carolina Nomad

For many people, this week marks the end of the travel season as many schools around the U.S. are now back in session. Vacation season is over right? Wrong! Now that the tourists and summer vacationers are settling back into their routines, it’s never been a better time to travel. There are many great places in the Carolinas to travel during the fall, including the Asheville area for the mountains and anywhere along the North and South Carolina coast, but to really take advantage of shoulder season, consider a visit to the Queen City in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The largest city between Washington, D.C. and Atlanta, Charlotte often gets overlooked for the Carolina mountains and beaches. Late September and October, however, are great times to visit Charlotte. First of all, it’s one of the most pleasant seasons to visit. Temperatures are very comfortable and are especially a welcome break for Northerners who are prepping for Winter or already need a break from crisp temperatures. A short drive from the mountains, late September and October are great for watching the leaves change colors. Best of all, while everyone is trying to get their last visit to the mountains and beaches, Charlotte consists of small crowds, making it convenient and easy to get into the city’s popular attractions, restaurants and nightlife. Plan your visit on a weekend, and it might be a weekend the NFL’s Carolina Panthers are taking the field on a Sunday afternoon.

The great thing about Charlotte compared to most of the other metros in the Carolinas, is that it offers the full-package. You still have that southern charm, but with the attractions of a large metropolis. One thing you’ll find here that you won’t find in any other city in the Carolinas is professional sports, with the NFL’s Carolina Panthers playing during the fall and the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats in the late fall and early winter.

Charlotte’s most distinguishing characteristic has to be their dining and nightlife. Many residents of both North and South Carolina often make the drive to Charlotte for its dining and nightlife alone. Although for years the Uptown district of Charlotte has been the main dining and nightlife scene in Charlotte, the North Davidson Neighborhood (NoDa) is quickly becoming known for its eclectic scene that is popular among young crowds. Even during the fall though, it’s recommended to make reservations at Uptown Charlotte and NoDa restaurants if you don’t want to wait an hour to be seated. Nightlife in both of these areas range from Irish pubs, to small music venues, to your basic watering hole to a number of wine bars.

As the largest city in the Carolinas, Charlotte offers every kind of accommodations you can think of. The only true resort is the Ballantyne Resort in Charlotte, which is located a little bit of a drive from downtown, but is inclusive, offering golf, tennis, shopping, dining and nightlife. Closer to Charlotte there are a few bed and breakfasts, that were previously historic mansions that have been renovated. However, most people like staying in Uptown, which features Charlotte’s best accommodations. Here, you’ll find first-class hotels such as the Westin, Ritz Carlton, Hilton, Marriott and several others. Most of these are within walking distance of many Charlotte restaurants and attractions.

Of course one of the best things about a fall getaway to Charlotte is that it won’t put a crimp in your budget. Even many of the downtown Charlotte hotels offer special rates after the summer months and there is plenty of cheap and free things to do around the Queen City.

The Carolinas for many people are the best of all worlds. At any given place, you’re typically no longer than a half-day’s drive from both the mountains and the beach. While most of the U.S. is getting back into the normal routine as fall is around the corner, now is one of the best times of year to hit the beaches of the Carolinas since the crowds are down, plus the heat and humidity is much less, making for a more pleasant trip. So how do you choose where to spend a beach vacation in North Carolina or South Carolina?

North and South Carolina feature some of the best beaches in the U.S. Many highly ranked islands and resorts can be found in the Carolinas. It’s often not enough to narrow down a vacation to just the Carolina beaches, as each is unique in their own way and offer different experiences. Do you want an all-inclusive vacation? Are you more of a laid-back seaside beach town kind of traveler? Do you need a beach city that has plenty of entertainment for the entire family? These are all questions that need to be answered when choosing where to spend your beach vacation in North Carolina or South Carolina.

If you’re the type of traveler that likes the laid-back, small seaside town with a beachfront cottage, then your best options are usually going to be in North Carolina. The North Carolina coastline has made a name for itself because of its quaint seaside towns. Many of these beaches and islands are lined with beach homes, although the towns themselves may only consist of a grocery store, a few seafood restaurants and a couple stoplights. The crown jewel of the North Carolina coastline is the outer banks. The 200-mile stretch of barrier islands features long sandy beaches and doesn’t have the same commercialism that so many other beaches do. The central to northern end of the outer banks is usually the choice of many vacationers with Cape Hatteras and Kitty Hawk, both which offer more historical attractions than many of North Carolina’s other beaches. The Kitty Hawk area is a little more commercialized, as it includes many more restaurants, as well as shopping opportunities, but not the same commercialization and crowds that you would find at Myrtle Beach.

Travelers who prefer bigger beach towns and the elements that come with them, will probably prefer South Carolina. The two most popular beach destinations are Charleston and Myrtle Beach. Myrtle Beach is more popular with younger crowds, as it features much more entertainment and nightlife that caters to teenagers and singles, although many older couples and families own timeshares or take a family vacation every summer to the Greater Myrtle Beach area. Charleston is one of the gems of the south, with its historic downtown cobblestone street, horse-drawn carriages and character that is unlike any other city in the Carolinas. Families and travelers who like cities that offer plenty of things to do will probably enjoy Charleston the best. It offers the widest assortment of accommodations as well, offering beach homes, luxury hotels, historic inns and resorts.

My personal favorite is Charleston. It’s the full package with its offerings for all types of people. Although many of the beaches along the North Carolina and South Carolina coastline cater to a certain type of traveler, the greater Charleston area caters to all types. It even offers inclusive resorts, including Wild Dunes and Kiawah Island Resort.

Photo courtesy of Kiawah Island Resort.

Having worked behind the scenes in the hotel industry, I’ve attained somewhat of an affinity for lodging. I’m probably borderline snobbish, if not a snob. As much as I like hotels, it’s often those off the beaten track accommodations that I enjoy the most. It’s that quaint cottage on the beach, the cozy mountain cabin or the countryside bed and breakfast. It’s these accommodations that have the most character and uniqueness that sets them apart. I recently stayed at a beachfront cottage in Charleston that reminded me of my love for these type of accommodations.

I want to begin by stating there was no compensation or complimentary lodging that was provided as a result of this post. I enjoy vacation rentals and since I’ve yet to write about them, I wanted to spend some time writing about vacation and timeshare rentals in the Carolinas. It’s important to note that although you’ll find these in many cities across North and South Carolina, there’s a higher concentration of them at the mountains and the beach. Typically, the Asheville area in the mountains and Charleston and Wilmington at the coast are some of the best areas for finding a timeshare rental. I’ll talk more at a later time about vacation rentals, but want to talk in this post about timeshare rentals.

The main difference of a timeshare rental as compared to a vacation rental is that they are owned by a group of owners typically. Previously, to take part in timeshare rentals, people had to be a part of that group of owners. However, many timeshare owners are now offering their properties for rent like a vacation rental. Usually, these are one week rentals; from like a Saturday to a Saturday. Timeshare rentals can start as low as $100 per night.

With the rise of the fast digital age, timeshare renting is typically taking place online at websites that connect timeshare rental owners to travelers. A top resource for vacation timeshare rentals is Redweek. Similarly to many vacation rental websites, Redweek helps travelers find a property based on location. People can browse or search from the homepage and pull up properties that show photos, property descriptions, amenities and rates. The lowest property I saw was a beach property at Atlantic Beach that started at $82 per night.

When you’re planning your next family vacation, don’t just go for the same name brand hotel you’ve always chose. Consider a timeshare rental. These can sometimes be cheaper than staying at a hotel and even many other types of vacation rentals, while also giving independence.

Let me begin by stating that I received one complimentary night at the John Rutledge House Inn. However, let me remind readers that these views are solely my own. The owners, unless they were told by the concierge, were probably not even aware of the events of my stay. You can view more about my editorial policy here. Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, I want to predominantly talk about the hospitality I received at the John Rutledge House Inn in Charleston, South Carolina. To read a full review of the Charleston bed and breakfast, you can view it at Uptake.

First of all, hospitality in my book is probably the most important aspect of a trip. Good hospitality often makes a trip, while bad hospitality will break it every time. I can be at the most upscale hotel with everything I could ever dream of at my finger tips, but bad hospitality makes that experience null. Having gained quite the taste for bed and breakfasts, I was initially a little surprised at the setup of the John Rutledge House Inn. As I walked through the grand front entrance, ahead of me was the concierge desk, where the young concierge had me sit down and we chatted for a few minutes while she got me checked in. Without asking for it, she was quick to highlight some of the things within walking distance that I could enjoy during my stay. She was very lively and rather than having to ask questions or figure out the inn’s service and amenities on my own, she ran down everything from breakfast the next morning to afternoon tea to specific features of my room.

Though the concierge went beyond what many inns have done in the past, check-in wasn’t what stuck out in my mind from my visit at the Charleston inn. Later in the day I had a bizarre happening where the lock on my room door jammed and I couldn’t get back in. After many failed attempts, I went to the concierge desk, where the same young woman sat. I told her the problem and she didn’t forward the request to the other staff who I thought would typically take care of this, but she immediately stopped what she was doing and walked with me to my room. After more failed attempts, she apologized several times and quickly called the locksmith; which wasn’t a problem, as I was going out for the evening. When I returned later in the evening, she was still there and was quick again to apologize, told me the problem was resolved and was quick to inquire if there was anything the inn could do to make it up. Again, things like this happen, and the situation really wasn’t a problem for me.

For many people, the above occurrence may not be the extraordinary hospitality that I’ve touted it as. What I saw was a young college student at one of the most prestigious inns in Charleston (The John Rutledge House Inn is one of only a handful of inns in the Carolinas on the Select Registry, Distinguished Inns of North America), who quickly sprung to action and never showed a moment of being flustered. This is southern hospitality at its finest. I had an excellent stay at the John Rutledge House Inn, with a large delicious breakfast and huge, comfortable carriage house room; yet why I would return is not for these things, but the hospitality I received at the bed and breakfast in Charleston. Next time you’re in Charleston, stop in for the weekend. You don’t want to miss the large breakfast, which they can bring to your room and afternoon tea, which includes wine and homemade delicacies.

Photos courtesy of the John Rutledge House Inn.

Patriot’s Point Naval and Maritime Museum recently just welcomed the largest aircraft to its famed USS Yorktown. Located just outside of Historic Downtown Charleston in Mount Pleasant, the Patriot’s Point Naval and Maritime Museum is one of the best attractions in Charleston, highlighted by the USS Yorktown, which was one of the first aircraft carriers to serve for the USS Navy. The Yorktown was commissioned in 1943, serving in the Pacific during World War II until the end of the war in 1945. The history of the the famous U.S. aircraft carrier goes much further than World War II, as it served multiple purposes throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Most notably, it recovered the Apollo 8 astronauts and capsule. It was decommissioned in 1970. It now sits in the harbor as one of Charleston’s best attractions for travelers to the area.

The newest addition to the USS Yorktown is the Douglas EA-3B Skywarrior. For years it was the largest aircraft operable from a carrier. Introduced in 1956, the aircraft was most known as a bomber during the Vietnam War and later as a surveillance plane during the Cold War. The aircraft was retired in 1991, and this particular model of the Skywarrior will now call Charleston Harbor home.

Arriving in Charleston by barge and placed on the USS Yorktown by crane, the Douglas EA-3B Skywarrior is now one of many aircrafts that can be viewed on-board the USS Yorktown. The aircraft joins an astounding 26 other aircraft on the Yorktown. Favorites upon the battleship include the Douglas AD-4N Skyraider and the Grumman F6F Hellcat. Patriots Point is open daily with tickets ranging from $11 to $18. Other notable attractions of Charleston’s Patriots Point include a Cold War Submarine Memorial, the Balao class submarine Clamagore, war planes, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and the official Medal of Honor Museum.

Photo courtesy of Patriots Point.

Of all the hotel brands in the world, it seems like every time you turn around, Hyatt is doing another grand hotel giveaway or promotion. Last year there was the the Big Welcome, followed by this year’s Big Welcome Back. I recently did a giveaway over at Uptake to celebrate the kick-off of the Big Welcome Back Promotion. Well Hyatt is up to it again, this time offering free hotel nights through their Facebook page.

The Hyatt Resorts Challenge, which launched yesterday, is simple. Readers simply go to Hyatt’s Facebook Page, vote for their favorite Hyatt resort and upload a photo of their favorite vacation activity. Readers are encouraged to upload a photo of an activity they would most like to do while staying at a Hyatt Resort. To be entered, people must upload the photo to the Hyatt Resorts Facebook page. Five winners will randomly be selected to win two free nights at any Hyatt Resort worldwide. The challenge runs through July 26th.

Tabbed the “Best of all Worlds Challenge, the giveaway highlights the multi-faceted experience of Hyatt’s resorts. Hyatt has resorts located worldwide, from the sandy beaches of Dubai to the snow capped mountains of the Colorado Rockies. Each resort offers their own unique experience, that captures both the Hyatt style and the surrounding culture. Hyatt resorts are often a city in and of themselves, offering luxury resort-type amenities, coupled with experiences that are reminiscent of the local culture.

So what is your “best of all worlds” experience? Have you had a vacation experience that was unrivaled and offered the best of all worlds?

*Although I have received free nights by Hyatt in the past, I was given no compensation, nor any complimentary stays for this post.

“Quit your life (and get a new one).” These are the words of Stephanie Lee in here book The Art of Solo Travel: A Girls’ Guide. When Craig Martin of Indie Travel Podcast asked me to take a look at it, I couldn’t pass up the chance. Craig is blazing the world with his travel products and has been a good colleague I met months ago on Twitter. I was excited to read through Stephanie Lee’s new book, as it captures the essence of many of my passions for travel.

With a great job, house and comfortable life in Australia, Stephanie followed her passions in her late 20s to travel the world solo. Traveling months, predominantly through Europe, Stephanie embarked on a solo trip that’s made its mark as one of the most definitive moments of her life. In The Art of Solo Travel she discusses why she decided to go, what the trip did for her and how other women can take the same leap she did to travel the world. You don’t have to have much money, but a passion to travel and the will to make that leap to the unknown. Stephanie gives readers the resources and tools to plan an effective trip. She covers everything from how to budget, what to pack, where to stay and what precautions to keep in mind. Although Stephanie’s book is geared toward young women travelers, it’s something that everyone with an interest in travel can read and take to heart. She encourages people to take that leap and start planning and saving now for that world trip that everyone has dreamed of.

The Art of Solo Travel speaks to a lot of my travel passions. I first traveled solo at the age of 8?! Can you believe it? My sister was a flight attendant and put me on a Delta flight by myself to fly three hours to Dallas to meet up with family. It’s one of my fondest travel memories and when I really first got the travel bug, and I haven’t looked back since. I envision a jump in my own life, sooner than later, when I’ll make a similar jump as Stephanie to live and travel the world. You don’t need to have a lot of money, but just a passion to travel and have the appropriate resources to be a savvy traveler. Stephanie in her book provides the tools and resources to help make those decisions and be a savvy traveler.

To get a copy of The Art of Solo Travel: A Girls’ Guide, you can head over to Indie Podcast to buy one. I was not compensated to write or endorse this. I only write about products that I myself would buy and use and this book is one of those.

In case you missed my last post on things from the Carolinas I’m not likely to find in New York City, I’m traveling to the big city very early Friday morning. I’m attending the Travel Blogger’s Exchange, which will bring together travel writers, bloggers and PR agencies from around the world for a weekend of networking and learning from others. As I’m sure you’ve noticed, I like to eat and talk about it; and one of my favorite things about New York City is the food. From the huge bagels to street vendors to international flair in Little Italy and China Town, I love it all. However, what’s New York City without NYC style pizza? If you’ve ever been to New York, then you know that it’s not difficult to find one of the big slices, especially with what seems to be a Ray’s on every street corner. Well in honor of my trip to New York, I’ve listed below five New York Style Pizza restaurants around North and South Carolina.

1. Peppino’s. Peppino’s Pizza is a small regional franchise with four locations in South Carolina. The pizza here is not for the faint of heart. I’m always skeptical when I order a NYC style pizza in the south because they rarely live up in size and quality. Peppino’s features huge, greasy slices like you’ll find in New York City itself. I had two slices and was done.
2. Sal’s. There are a couple of places in Burlington, North Carolina called Sal’s, but the one on Huffman Mil Road is where it’s at. Growing up here, this was probably my most frequented restaurant as a kid. It’s actually known most for its authentic Italian dishes, but it also features huge NYC style pizza that can be ordered by the slice or whole.
3. Pizza City New York Style. Located in Greenville, South Carolina, Pizza City captures the essence of a New York City pizza restaurant. It doesn’t have a ton of dining space, so its popular for grabbing a pie to go or just getting a couple slices on your lunch hour. Steak actually is a popular topping choice and they have very cheap beer.
4. Hawthorne’s Pizza. Hawthorne’s is more along the lines of your typical southern pizza joint as it offers a big dining and bar area and is hopping most nights of the week. However, this NYC style pizza restaurant is renowned among locals for its large slices.
5. Frank’s Roman Pizza. It helps if the founder is actually a New Yorker themselves, which is what you’ll find at Frank’s Roman Pizza in Asheville. Perfect for lunch, as it offers NYC style slices starting at $2.25. This is a mainstay in Asheville as it has been around for a couple decades.

This time next week I’ll be in New York City at the 2010 Travel Blog Exchange Conference (TBEX). In it’s second year, this will be my first year attending. TBEX brings together the best travel publications, blogs, writers and editors for a weekend of networking and sessions. As a precursor to the event, I’ve come up with a list of 10 things from North and South Carolina that I’m not likely to find in New York City. Although this lists consists of 10, I’m sure the list could go much longer. The first list of 5 I got from some of my friends on Twitter, while the second 5 is my own list. Are there some more you could add to the list?

1. Rocking Chairs (From @CailinONeil who writes and produces video over at Travel Yourself). You just don’t walk by restaurants in Time Square and see people rocking back and forth in handcrafted rocking chairs.

2. Grits (From @ChasRunner who blogs at ChasRunner). Grits are certainly uniquely southern, as you may even find northerners who’ve never even heard of it. Here in South Carolina it’s the sixth food group.

3. B’ald Peanuts (From @karynmurph who blogs at Happy That You Don’t Have Kids). For you northerners, that’s boiled peanuts and we take ‘em anyway we can get ‘em down here. The best usually come from an old farmer whose selling them out of the back of his pickup truck on a country highway.

4. Cheerwine (From @d_travelbug) Manufactured in North Carolina, you won’t find many convenience and grocery stores in the Carolinas that don’t have Cheerwine on their shelf. A handful of convenience stores even have Cheerwine Slushies.

5. Gem Mines (From @MSquishy from Emerald Hollow Mine). Yeah you’re not likely to find any gems or gold while perusing through New York City, unless that is you go to Tiffany’s, where the mining has already been done for you, but at a price.
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Schools are letting out, days are getting longer and it’s time to take that summer vacation. So what are your vacation plans for the summer? Still looking for some last minute plans or thinking about trying to squeeze a budget vacation into your summer? Well there’s no place better to do it than the Carolinas! After the summer kick-off with Memorial Day weekend, the vacation season is in full swing in North and South Carolina. Below you’ll find 10 reasons to travel to North Carolina and South Carolina this summer.

1. A River Runs Through it. If you’re ever been to the Carolinas then you know it can get hot during the summer time. Even summer afternoons at the beach can get toasty. The best way to beat the heat in the Carolinas is to head for the mountains and take to the waters, rafting or kayaking down one of the many rivers, such as the French Broad River near Asheville. For a little something a little more low key, there are several rivers that offer tubing.
2. 7th Inning Stretch. I know what you’re thinking, there’s not even a MLB team in North Carolina or South Carolina. However, there’s plenty of exciting farm league teams in cities throughout the Carolinas, offering a great way to enjoy a summer evening. Tickets are cheap, usually no more than $5-$10 to watch up and coming baseball stars take the diamond.
3. Life’s a Beach. That’s right and there are no shortage of beaches in North Carolina and South Carolina. Take your pick, from family beach to secluded island to party central. Some of world’s best beaches can be found right in the Carolinas.
4. Farmers Markets. North and South Carolina are lined with acres and acres of fresh fruit and veggies and you don’t have to look far to find a farmers market with freshness that’s unrivaled by supermarkets. Charleston just happens to have one of the best farmers markets in the U.S. Located at Marion Square in downtown, you’ll find a variety of vendors, selling not only fresh fruit and vegetables, but artwork, crafts and some of the area’s best local cuisine, including fresh seafood.
5. Cruisin’ from Chucktown. Visitors have been able to cruise from Charleston during the winter, but this marks the first time that Carnival Cruise Line has sailed year-round from Charleston. Cruises sail to the Bahamas, with 5, 6 and 7-day cruises available. Stay in Charleston for a couple days and make a couple weeks of it.
6. Trekkin’ in the Mountains. Choose your trail in the North Carolina and South Carolina mountains. There’s plenty to choose from for every level of hiker, though your best photo opportunities are going to be at one of the parks, such as the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
7. Festive Festivals. No matter which city you travel to in the Carolinas, odds are very likely that you’ll find at least one festival. Some of these range from local festivals that occur on a weekly basis with local and regional music acts, to larger scale events, including Freedom Weekend Aloft in Greenville, South Carolina, which features a weekend of national music acts, local vendors and carnival rides.
8. Convertible Top Down on the Parkway. Although known for the beautiful fall colors in the fall, it’s not always easiest in the cooler fall to put the convertible top down and ride up and down the Blue Ridge Parkway. One of the most beautiful stretches of road in the U.S., there are plenty of great scenic overlooks. For a fun day trip, take the journey up to Mount Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi River.
9. Hittin’ the Links. The Carolinas feature some of the top golf courses in the U.S., both in North and South Carolina. Pinehurst has played host to the U.S. Open, while Kiawah Island has hosted the PGA Ryder Cup and hosting the PGA Championship in 2012.
10. Southern Cuisine. Grits, check. Sweet tea, check. Fried chicken, check. Fresh seafood, check. Let’s face it, you’re not coming to the Carolinas to diet, so you might as well go ahead and splurge on the delicacies of the south you won’t find elsewhere; ’cause when you get home there won’t be any sweet tea and shrimp and grits.