Carolina Nomad

Depending on who you talk to, 2010 is being tagged as the year of travel. There are tons of travel deals and giveaways and it looks like these trends will continue for at least the first half of 2010. If you don’t have any plans for traveling, then it maybe it’s time to start making plans for the first half of the year.

As you plan your trips, you’ve probably heard about all the items you absolutely can’t forget to pack, but you probably haven’t heard about all the items you shouldn’t pack. Below, I’ve listed the 5 things you absolutely shouldn’t pack. Whether you’re taking a second honeymoon to Paris or taking a tropical vacation on the sandy beaches of the Carolinas, leave these things at home.

1. Fanny Pack. Do I really have to tell you that you should leave that faded fanny pack at home that hasn’t missed a trip since you bought it for your first trip to Woodstock? Fanny packs just scream “american tourist” and they really don’t do anything but weigh you down, plus they just aren’t fashionable. Instead, invest in a backpack or small travel back you can throw over your shoulders. It needs to be something that isn’t cumbersome and will hold you up while traveling.
2. Neck Wallet. I remember the first and last time I wore one of these was when I was 12 years old and was taking a family trip. I was told that this was the best things that I could have as a traveler, but instead quickly discovered that it was the worst. I might as well have been wearing a license plate around my neck as a pendant. The neck wallet is very cumbersome and can be downright uncomfortable, especially in warm climate.
3. Zip-off pants (Recommended by @travelerlauren http://lonelygirltravels.com). As quickly as these became a fad, they even quicker became a fashion no-no. The zip-off items are praised because of their versatility, yet what do you do when you unzip them in the middle of the warm afternoon? Do you just casually stuff them in your fanny pack?
4. Zinc Nosecoat. Maybe you’re not familiar with the name, but it’s the sunblock you only rub on your nose and upper cheeks, except it doesn’t rub into your skin, but instead makes you look like an offensive lineman with green or pink face paint on. Although this may be good for you, it’s imperative that you find something that doesn’t show like Zinc Nosecoat. One advertisement actually said that it makes you look cool. Go figure.
5. Hawaiian shirt. Who doesn’t own a hawaiian shirt? And just because you own a hawaiian shirt doesn’t mean you should pack it on your vacation. That’s the one thing that belongs at a thrift store, but the one thing nobody wants to give up.

We’re in North Carolina this week discovering the best luxury hotels in Charlotte. Now although Charlotte is the largest city in North and South Carolina, it still doesn’t offer the same quantity of luxury hotels that you may find in a city like New York. However, Charlotte offers many luxury accommodations. Below is my round-up of the 5 best luxury hotels in Charlotte.

1. Ballantyne Hotel. The Ballantyne Luxury Hotel in Charlotte is hands-down the best all-around luxury hotel in the queen city. The luxury Charlotte hotel features all you would expect from luxury accommodations, including a golf resort, tennis, spa, fine dining restaurants and plush rooms. If there’s a Charlotte hotel you want to spend your vacation, then this is it.
2. Ritz-Carlton. You’ll find few “best” hotel lists that don’t have a Ritz-Carlton on it. This luxury hotel in Charlotte continues its award-winning hospitality and top-of-the-line accommodations. Standing at 18 stories tall with 146 rooms, the luxury hotel in uptown Charlotte offers many luxury amenities, including a bi-level wellness center and Aqua Lounge with a swimming pool and spa. You can always count on a luxury experience from a Ritz-Carlton.
3. The Westin Charlotte. Like the Ritz-Carlton, you can usually expect a first-class experience at just about any Westin location around the world. Located in Uptown Charlotte, the hotel is known for its beautiful architecture that stands out in Charlotte and its luxurious interior decor. Every room in the Charlotte hotel offers a beautiful view of the city.
4. Omni Hotel. This luxury Charlotte hotel is another example of a hotel with unique architecture in Charlotte. The hotel is known for being geared toward business travelers. with its first-class business services and location just a couple blocks from the Charlotte Convention Center. Contrary to many luxury accommodations, the four-diamond Charlotte hotel offers many services for children, including various activities and games to help keep children busy.
5. Dunhill Hotel. Although the Charlotte hotel may not have the same unique architecture as some of the other luxury hotels in North Carolina, the Dunhill is a suitable alternative for luxury accommodations in Charlotte. The hotel is rich in history, as it dates back to the early 1900s. The Dunhill offers a historic and luxury experience that many of the other luxury hotels simply can’t provide, since they are but one of many hotels of a larger brand.

You probably have a hard time imagining the term “boutique hotel” and “Asheville” combined together. Although Asheville is known for their many boutique shops, this unique southeastern city is not known for it’s boutique hotels. Asheville is better known for its charming bed and breakfasts. You may also have a hard time imagining a boutique hotel mentioned alongside the likes of Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza and Staybridge Suites, yet this is exactly what you’ll find in the Hotel Indigo, which is a part of the same brand, IHG, which owns these three hotel brands and a couple more.

The downtown Asheville Hotel Indigo certainly fits right in with the Asheville ambiance and culture that is unlike any other city. As you look up at the exterior of this boutique hotel in Asheville, you’ll notice that it’s no different than many of the rising brick buildings in Asheville. However, as you get near the top, you’ll notice that the last few floors feature a unique glass exterior that blends in with the brick. That is because the Asheville hotel doubles as both accommodations and residences. The last few floors of the Hotel Indigo are several luxury condos that can be rented out on a short-term basis.

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This Friday we’re back in South Carolina, exploring the best kid-friendly activities in Columbia. Finding kid-friendly attractions can often be the most challenging part of planning a trip. Just as challenging is finding attractions that aren’t only entertaining for your children, but for yourself as well. Below I’ve listed the five best Columbia kid-friendly activities.

1. Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Gardens. Should I really have to tell you that the zoo in Columbia should be at the top of your kid-friendly activity list? The Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia is one of the most popular attractions, not only in Columbia, but in all of South Carolina. Your kids will be amazed by over 2,000 animals and many hands-on activities.
2. Edventure Children’s Museum. Columbia joins a slew of other cities, including Greenville, which now have a children’s museum.  If it’s not the best children’s attraction in Columbia, then it’s definitely a close second. Children can play instruments, explore the great outdoors and even play in the snow at the Columbia Edventure Children’s Museum.
3. Frankie’s Fun Park. Although this Columbia amusement park can be found in many other cities, this is a good back-up plan, especially on a rainy day. When it’s pleasant, visitors can hit the batting cage or take a spin on one of their go-kart racing tracks. During the winter and on rainy days, there are still plenty of activities for children inside, including a laser tag, arcade games and Frankie’s Fun House.
4. Columbia Marionette Theatre. If you’re planning a visit well in advance, put the Columbia Marionette Theatre on your list of best kid-friendly attractions in Columbia. The theater plays a variety of different shows and even hosts birthday parties for children. Best of all, it’s very cheap.
5. Sesquicentennial State Park. The four Columbia children’s activities above are hands down the best kid-friendly attractions in Columbia. Choosing the Sesquicentennial State Park was a little bit more of a stretch since parks can often be a bore for children. If your child does like parks, this Columbia park includes boating, fishing, many hiking and biking trails and various programs that are held throughout the year.

There’s been a lot of buzz recently in the mobile market. The introduction of the Droid by Verizon, price and ad wars by Verizon and AT&T and the recent unveiling of the Google Nexus One. This has all meant a lot for businesses and people who rely so heavily on being connected at all times, but what does it mean for travelers. For years traveling meant leaving your entertainment systems, laptop and phone at home and enjoying your leisure time away from these items that our lives center around. However, things have changed. That was before you could watch your favorite television show, download a movie, read a book, update your Facebook and order food, all from one device. If anything, in today’s culture, your phone is the one thing you can’t leave home without.

I finally after much talk recently got a smartphone, the Droid Eris from Verizon. I did quite a bit of research and honestly picked the phone because it did everything I needed a phone to do, and more, plus it was pretty cheap. I have to say that even though I haven’t traveled with it yet, it’s already made my life much simpler and mainstreamed. With all these things taken in mind, I’ve included below the five reasons you should have a smartphone while traveling. 

1. You never know when an emergency will come up. Whether you have a smartphone or that old Nokia that you’ve had for five years and works like a charm, it’s important to have a way to easily find and reach emergency contacts when the time comes. We never expect or plan for emergencies, but the fact remains that they come up. If for no other reason, this is why you should have a smartphone while traveling. Traveling with a smartphone comes in handy when you can browse the web for that one emergency service that the police or fire department simply cannot provide.
2. When you gotta go, you gotta go. Yes a smartphone can even help you find a bathroom. Everyone knows that there are always bathrooms around when you don’t have to go, but no place has a public restroom when you just can’t hold it. The mobile application SitOrSquat helps you find public restrooms near you and even includes user reviews.
3. When you want to find the real Ray’s Pizza. Everyone has their opinions and preferences about their favorite smartphone, but the same can be said about them all, that they all make it easy to find things such as local restaurants or hotels and reviews on them. There are a plethora of applications for the Droid, Iphone and BlackBerry that can help you find the best restaurant near you and pull up reviews to help your decision process. It’ll even help you find the original Ray’s Pizza in New York.
4. Keep a budget. It can often become cumbersome to keep up with your budget while traveling, especially if you’re using a credit card everywhere you go. You may start off well, but by the time you get home you realize that although you had a nice vacation, it’s at the expense of an insurmountable credit card bill. There are a variety of mobile applications that can help you do things such as track mileage if traveling on business, submit expense reports and track your beer tab at each pub.
5. Stay productive.  No matter what kind of business you’re in and no matter what smartphone you have, smartphones can either increase or decrease productivity while traveling. There are a variety of applications and tools that can keep professionals working, from writers to accountants to business owners. WpToGo for the Droid for example can help writers stay up-to-date on their website content and blog by allowing them to write and publish straight from their Android phone.

Before going out to your mobile store and buying your first smartphone, be sure to do your research and not get carried away with getting a smartphone. They can easily make you less productive and can often rack up charges when traveling. On a recent conversation on Twitter with fellow Uptake Writer Kayt Sukel from the Travel Savvy Mom, she stated the importance of educating yourself about roaming and international charges when traveling. Kayt stated: “A lot of cool apps require data transfer, and it can be $20/5MB or so. It adds up very quickly in foreign countries”. Before you know it, you have a $1,000 phone bill on your hand when you return from your trip.

There are many other useful ways to use a smartphone while traveling, but I hope these are some of the best five reasons you find to use your mobile device of choice while traveling.

Last week I kicked off Friday 5 at 5 by featuring the best pizza restaurants in Greenville, South Carolina. This week I take things to North Carolina to talk about the five best bed and breakfasts in Asheville. The south is known for their bed and breakfasts and Asheville has plenty to choose from. Why even Asheville has their own bed and breakfast association. So here you have it, the best bed and breakfasts in Asheville.

1. Arbor House of Black Mountain. I venture just a little outside of Asheville in discussing the first bed and breakfast, which is the Arbor House. A quick Google search will show you why this is one of Asheville’s best bed and breakfasts, as it is one of the most highly rated bed and breakfasts. Both the exterior and interior is a bit newer than you find at most inns and the scene as you pull up is picturesque, like something you would see from the movies.
2. Bella Luna Inn. This Black Mountain Bed and Breakfast might not have been around the Asheville area as long as other bed and breakfasts, but it hangs with the best of them, as Cynthia and Brad know how to take care of you and give you a unique experience. Breakfast is one of this Black Mountain inn’s highlights, as each day features a different entree that includes some of the best local ingredients.
3. Richmond Hill Inn. Although you may be paying a little more than a typical bed and breakfast, it’s more than worth it at the Richmond Hill Inn in Asheville. This bed and breakfast sits atop a small hill off the beaten path and overlooks the surrounding area. If traveling with a family, consider one of the small cottages, which offer a little more seclusion and feels like a true, cozy mountain cabin.
4. 1900 Inn on Montford. Now you know you’ve been an established bed and breakfast for some time if you have over 300 reviews on Google. This Asheville bed and breakfast is the mother of all bed and breakfasts in Asheville. The rustic mansion, which is so neatly kept up is known for being a bed and breakfast in Asheville that pampers, yet offers an intimate setting. One of the few AAA four-diamond award winners, the press in travel guides and on the Internet speak for themselves. If there is one bed and breakfast in Asheville that you would have the chance to stay in, then this is it.
5. Biltmore Village Inn. It’s just so hard choosing that last Asheville bed and breakfast that makes it into the category of the best. This bed and breakfast in Asheville really couldn’t be left off the list since the Biltmore House and Biltmore Village really encompass what Asheville really is. Another staple of Asheville, the bed and breakfast features rates that are higher than many inns, however, if you make last minute reservations or stay during the week, you can enjoy reasonable rates. The beautiful, Victorian mansion is rich with history and character and should especially be considered for a weekday trip.

If you’ve ever been to Asheville, then you’ll know that the city simply isn’t known for its resorts. Asheville is eclectic in nature, and so you just won’t find the number of resorts that you may typically find in cities of the same size. The city is known much more for it’s bed and breakfasts, which are scattered around the area, but you’ll find few typical hotel resorts in Asheville. Yet the hotel resort you do find with Asheville’s Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa is second to none.

One of the first things that stand out about the inn is its convenience to downtown Asheville. The hotel resort is close enough to downtown Asheville that you can get there in a couple minutes, but not so close that it loses its scenic charm. Although you may expect most nice hotels and bed and breakfasts in the Asheville area to be a little off the beaten path, the Grove Park Inn Resort offers a quaint retreat that isn’t too far from the activities of Asheville. Located in the middle of the rolling Smokey Mountain hills, the Asheville resort is located on a beautiful piece of land that makes you feel like you’re miles from nearby civilization. If you like the resort seclusion, without being too far from a city’s activities, then you’ll love the convenience of the Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa in Asheville.

Of course, since it is labeled both a resort and spa, the Asheville hotel’s spa is one of its most distinguishing characteristics. The inn’s spa has been ranked alongside the best spas in the world. There’s thousands of square feet of space and a full staff dedicated exclusively to the spa. Relax in one of their many hot tubs, receive a pedicure or manicure, take a hydro bath or get a massage.

The Grove Park Inn and Spa isn’t just any Asheville hotel for spending a night. Make the Grove Park Inn a retreat for a special occasion, as it’s one of the most famous hotels not only in the south, but the whole world. Enjoy well-appointed rooms that offer great views of the surrounding mountains, or for a longer stay consider one of the hotel’s suites. You can expect prices to range anywhere from the mid-100s for a standard room to several hundred for one of their nicer suites.

Photo from edition_of_one on Flickr.

Greenville, South Carolina has now joined the long list of cities across America that now do a restaurant week every year. If you’re not familiar with restaurant week, the week-long event held in cities around the U.S. bring together the culinary delights of each city. Starting back in the 90s as a low-key restaurant event, it has now blossomed into one of the most popular events in many cities each year. Many cities even do one twice a year.

Restaurant weeks usually cater to large cities, like New York and Los Angeles, as they often feature hundreds of restaurants that participate. However, in Greenville, since it’s a much smaller city, there’s not the opportunity for nearly as many restaurants to take place in the event. Greenville’s Restaurant Week has still brought together many of the best restaurants Greenville has to offer, from the finest dining to very casual dining. The event kicked off yesterday, Monday, January 11th and will be going on until Sunday, January 17th.

Like I said, Greenville’s Restaurant Week won’t nearly be on the same scale of my other cities, however, some of the best restaurants in Greenville have come together to take part in the event. A few of the participating Greenville restaurants include Wild Wing Cafe, Soby’s Restaurant, Ruth Chris Steak House and Stella’s Southern Bistro. Most of the restaurants are offering special deals and multi-course, fixed price meals that you couldn’t get during the rest of the year. Many will either be three or five-course meals, offering an appetizer, dessert and a couple different entree options. However, if none of the multi-course offerings appeal to you, then you can still simply order off each restaurant’s menu and take place in the Greenville restaurent event that supports and celebrates the great culinary cuisine the city has to offer.

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Today I’m starting something new on Carolina Nomad. Each Friday I’ll be posting what I’ll be calling Friday 5 at 5. This is just a list of 5 of the best of a city, which I will try my best to post around 5 pm on Fridays. It may be the best hotels in Columbia or the best museums in Charleston. This week I’m writing about the five best Greenville, South Carolina pizza restaurants. Below I’ve compiled a list in no particular order, which represents my take on the best pizza restaurants in Greenville.

1. Pizza City New York City. Now this first restaurant may be debateable among locals as the best pizza restaurant in Greenville, but many people from the north swear by it with its big New York style slices. Don’t expect much as far as an ambiance from this pizza joint. The Greenville pizza restaurant is small with limited seating, which is the same as you’ll find at most pizza restaurants in New York City.
2. Brixx Wood Fired Pizza. This one might take the cake as what I think is the best pizza restaurant in Greenvile, South Carolina. I love Brixx because of the different, unique styles of pizza you can choose from. A couple of their personal pizzas include the Bronx Bomber, which is topped with meat, and the Chicken Florentine, which includes bacon, feta cheese and fresh spinach. This Greenville pizza restaurant is also well-known for their extensive beer menu.
3. Mellow Mushroom. I almost left this Greenville pizza restaurant off the list because of it being a large chain that is found in many cities in the southeast, however, they make a pizza that competes with any on this list. Although you may be paying a little more than you would like for their pizza, you can choose from many fresh ingredients that you probably won’t find elsewhere, like BBQ tofu, steak and jerk chicken.
4. Barley’s Taproom and Pizzeria. Barley’s Taproom and Pizza restaurant in Greenville, South Carolina doesn’t have what I would call just an extraordinary tomato-based pizza. However, they feature a white pizza with ricotta, mozzarella and garlic that is second to none. It helps that the restaurant offers great entertainment that includes an upstairs billards room and one of the largest selections of beer I’ve ever seen.
5. Milanos Pizzeria and Restaurant. The last choice for the best pizza restaurant in Greenville was a toss up. A few months ago I would’ve chosen Tony’s Pizza and Subs, but as the restaurant has added stores, I believe their quality has gone down. Milanos is actually more well-known for their greek menu that offers hearty portions, but they offer one of the best pizzas in Greenville. Located actually in Simpsonville, the pizza slices at Milanos are New York style. Once again, you’re paying a little more for the pizza, but in this case, I believe it’s worth it.

There has been many mixed messages and information about Southwest Airlines expanding their coverage to Greenville, South Carolina. A week ago the Greenville News reported that Southwest Airlines wasn’t going to be extended service to Greenville in 2010. However, in the last couple days there have been reports that Greenville is still on Southwest’s radar for 2010. So, the questions remains, is Southwest Airlines coming to Greenville soon? If not, are there other low-fare carriers that could start flying out of Greenville soon.

For months there have been reports in Greenville newspapers and conversations on many social websites about the possibility of Southwest Airlines coming to Greenville. Southwest and GSP Airport confirmed that Southwest was looking at Greenville as a possible location for expanding their service in 2010. Many believed that a decision would be made soon after the new year. That’s when the Greenville News reported that GSP wasn’t on Southwest’s radar for 2010, but possibly in the future. The article stated that Southwest was pursuing other cities. However, reports have come out in the last couple days stating that that was not exactly the case. GSP’s new manager has come on record to state that Southwest and GSP are in on-going negotiations. Both parties aren’t saying much, but it’s still yet to be seen what will happen.

Whatever the case, everyone agrees that it is imperative that Greenville gets a low-fare carrier. For travelers departing from Greenville, it can be quite expensive and cumbersome. Travelers are often paying much higher fares and riding on small commuter planes to east coast cities to connect on a larger plane. Some air fares can be as much as $100 to $200 more than flying out of Atlanta and Charlotte. With that in mind, many travelers simply drive to Charlotte and Atlanta, which is usually cheaper, as well as more convenient.

Hopefully in the next couple weeks more will rise to the surface on the possibility of Southwest Airlines coming to Upstate South Carolina. If Southwest doesn’t make it to Greenville, it’ll be a disappointment to the upstate, but at least GPS sounds like they’re actively pursuing to make sure a low-fare carrier finds a home in Greenville.