North Carolina Staycations
You don’t have to go far from home to have a great vacation. With gas prices all over the place and money a little tight it’s good to know that you can still enjoy time away from home without having to travel far and spend a ton of cash. Here are a few ideas of vacations close to home that will save you money.
Yadkin Valley – Taste your way through North Carolina’s verdant valley as you visit the many vineyards and wineries. You will find Chardonnays, Cabernet, blackberry, and other luscious wines. Of course, you don’t have to limit your wine tasting to one part of the state, there are more than 50 wineries across North Carolina.
 Take a road trip: There are 250 miles of beautiful scenery along the Blue Ridge Parkway. You will enjoy breathtaking views, roadside stands and picnic areas, magnificent waterfalls at Linville Falls, Jeffries Park, and other vistas, and many hiking trails just waiting to be explored.
Cherokee – For a glimpse into the culture and heritage of the Cherokee Indian, plan a long weekend trip here. You can tour several museums, visit the reservation and see the handiwork of talented artisans. During the summer months be sure to get tickets to see the outdoor drama Unto These Hills that depicts the history of the Cherokee. In addition, Cherokee is home to Santa’s Land Theme Park for the young and for the thrill-seeker, spend some time at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino.
Plan a mountain getaway sure to delight the whole family. You can ride the vintage railroad cars at Bryson City’s Great Smokey Mountains Railroad; head to Blowing Rock and the Tweetsie Railroad, visit Pack Place in Asheville with its Earth Science Museum and art museum; go whitewater rafting on the Nantahala and French Broad rivers or visit sliding rock (a natural waterslide) near Brevard.
Chapel Hill offers a variety of museums, cultural events, a botanical garden, historic architecture and much more. There are charming B&B’s, hotels, and campgrounds as well as traditional and international restaurants.
Take a lighthouse tour of North Carolina’s historic beacons. You will find lighthouses at Bald Head Island, Southport, Harker’s Island, Ocracoke, Cape Hatteras, Manteo, Roanoke, and Corolla. If you haven't seen North Carolina lighthouses then you haven't totally experienced the state.
Wilmington: If you love history, then spend some time here. You can visit the WWII Battleship USS North Carolina, the Bellamy Mansion Museum of History, Poplar Grove Plantation, the Historic District with its riverboat, trolley and horse-drawn carriages or the Latimer House Museum and Gardens for a walk down memory lane. Learn about movie production at Screen Gems Studio; see the delightful Arlene Gardens, and ‘talk’ to the animals at the Cape Fear Serperntarium or at the Tregembo Animal Park. You will find delightful B & B’s, the Beau River Resort & Golf Club, private campgrounds and national hotel chains.
Photo Credits: Wine by Amy C Evans, SFA oral historian;
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