Travel & Vacation Guide, North Carolina

By Caitlin Moore

If Art Deco architecture, waterfalls, rolling mountains and a vibrant downtown scene sound to you like the elements of an engaging and desirable vacation destination, you must consider Asheville, North Carolina the next time you’re faced with a healthy block of time in your calendar. You’ll need every minute you can get in order to ensure that you take advantage of all that this rich, bustling, naturally blessed city has to give, so do what you have to do to get yourself here with plenty of time to spend rightfully enjoying yourself.

Depending on your vacation goals, you could end up taking any number of paths while you’re here. Perhaps you’ve a taste for the wilderness, in which case you won’t miss the magnificent beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains and all the nooks and crannies this gentle range will capture your imagination with. Anywhere that national forests combine with hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails is sure to satisfy the outdoorsy side of your personality, and we haven’t even mentioned the whimsical waterfalls or raging rapids yet. Factor it all in, and you’ll have no doubts as to why this is known as one of the best natural playgrounds in the country.

After you’ve worked up a sweat climbing mountains or achieved the adrenaline rush of a lifetime while barreling down a rowdy river, you might be ready to head back towards civilization. The best way to become acquainted with downtown Asheville is to head down the Urban Trail, a 1.7 mile path that will reveal the historic charm and artistic personality of this increasingly intriguing city. Thirty stopping points, made up of plaques and sculptures, will shed some light on various periods of Asheville’s development while helping you to appreciate its commitment to public art and preservation of memories. The old and the new fuse seamlessly as you take a couple of hours to wander the outdoor museum, leaving you with a better understanding than you ever thought you’d have for this gem of a town.

Architecture buffs will be happy to put on their walking shoes and head out for a rambling stroll, as several styles have mixed and mingled to give Asheville a distinctive flavor. The city is very pedestrian friendly, offering clean sidewalks, lots of outdoor seating at cafes and restaurants, and several wrought iron benches fit for resting and people watching as you make your way around. You’ll be able to pick up one-of-a-kind souvenirs, view local art in several galleries, take in a live banjo player, and if you’re lucky your visit will coincide with one of the colorful festivals that take place here each year. Bele Chere, Shindig on the Green, and Goombay are a few that tend to be crowd-pleasers, so keep your eyes and ears open for what’s going on.

If you’re bringing the kids along, there’s plenty that will keep them engaged and excited for the duration of the trip. The Health and Science Museum or the Nature Center will provide educational, structured fun, but feel free to head off for a drive into the mountains and see what happens. Stop for snacks near a waterfall, swim in Lake Powhatan, climb an observation tower for a stunning view or let the children decide what they’d like to see. Making memories in an enchanting environment is about all you can ask from a family vacation, so make the best of this one.

One more thing about Asheville is that it’s a prime spot to take in gorgeous evidence of nature’s autumn transition. From late September to Early November, the landscape explodes with brilliant hues, adding extra beauty to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Scenic drives or time spent overlooking the fiery mountainsides and smoldering valleys will be enough to keep you busy this season of the year, perhaps making it the perfect location for a romantic getaway with your beloved.

The last touch that will make your Asheville vacation a success lies in the lodging choice you will ultimately make. There are plenty of hotels to choose from here, but there are also mountain chalets, forest cottages, cabins, lodges and town houses that will make this a truly stellar trip. Avoid convention and embrace extra amenities and all the comforts of home within a setting that will put you in touch with your surroundings.

by: Matthew Hick

Vacation time is here! Pack up your clothes. Pack up your shoes. Pack up your toothbrush, toothpaste, and some sunscreen. And, of course, don’t forget to pack the most important thing of all: your golf bag. Welcome to Golf Vacation 101. Let’s take a look at some things to consider when planning the golf vacation of your dreams.

Well, we may as well get the bad stuff taken out of the way first and confront question number one:

How much vacation money do you have saved?

I know, I know… you probably don’t have a fortune saved up for your golf vacation. After all, you just finished paying for a new Hybrid club and then there were those Christmas presents you had to buy a few months ago…

But whatever the case - no matter how much money you do or don’t have - you can find a golf vacation that’s just right for you. If you do happen to have a lot to spend to get away, you would be wise to go where the warm weather beckons golfers from all across the world. How about the southern United States? California? The Virgin Islands? Hawaii? Why, you could see a volcano or three while you tee up on the green.

But if you don’t have the funds available for extravagant vacations such as these, (remember, not only do you have to pay golf fees, but you must also cover hotel stay, transportation, food, and other activities) you could take a much cheaper vacation. If you live on the East Coast of the United States, you could drive yourself and a few friends to a golf club a few hours south to play for a few days. Granted, it may not be a resort-like atmosphere, but if you are there strictly for the golf, that shouldn’t even matter!

Are you bringing non-golfers on your trip?

If you are bringing along girlfriends, boyfriends, friends, or family members who don’t want to golf but who do want to get away with you, you should try to chose a golf place that is close to other attractions such as shopping malls, amusement parks, movie theatres, or beaches. Many golf resorts even offer packages that allow you and your guests to ’stay and play’. Most of these resorts offer packages to save you money on room and greens fees. Look at all of the ins and outs and read between the fine lines of the packages you are looking into before making a final decision about which place to choose. This way, you won’t be the only one who gets to have fun on the vacation. And, while your family stays entertained, this makes more and more time for you to tee up!

Is your potential vacation course challenging enough for you?

If you are concerned about having an overly difficult or not-difficult-enough course to play on while you vacation, realize that most golf resorts offer a variety of courses available to choose from. After all, these places realize that all golfers have different abilities, likes, and dislikes. If you are very concerned though, it never hurts to speak with people from the resort by phone, or even talk to past guests that you know stayed in the same place. A little opinion can go a far way!

Finally, make sure that you enjoy your vacation and your golf. Typically vacation time comes around only once a year for most people. So make the most of your fun in the sun!

Challenge:

Perhaps the most basic consideration when choosing destinations and courses is the difficulty level of the courses you’re considering. Generally speaking, many fine golf destinations have a variety of courses available, which will allow golfers of various abilities to enjoy themselves, so this factor may impact more which courses you choose rather than which destination you decide upon.

Weather, Seasons, and Related Concerns:

On the flip side, if you or your group eats, sleeps and plays golf while traveling, assuming the handicap and letter of introduction requirements do not pose a problem, traveling to the U.K. during the summer months can be a golfer’s dream, since the sun in that part of the world does not set until as late as 10 or 11 p.m. and rises again by 4 or 5 a.m. This allows for 36 holes a day, with daylight to spare for other activities.

Off Season?

Many golf travelers like to save money by traveling off-season. This is a great idea, provided they’ve thought about the drawbacks as they pertain to them. Some golfers don’t mind playing in the rain, heat, or the wind, and their or their companions’ age or health is not a factor. For example, prices are down sharply in Florida and Palm Springs during the summer months - for those who can stand the heat (and in the case of Florida, the humidity).

Other Activities:

What else is there besides golf? And does it matter for your purposes? As mentioned above, weather can cause you to reconsider your plans to play, and even the hardiest players are occasionally faced with course closings due to weather. If this happens, you may be stuck with very little to do. Or, you may be traveling with a family, spouse, or others who do not play, in which case you will need to be sure there’s plenty for everyone to do.

How Many Courses Do You Need?

Another factor worth considering is the amount of time you have to play, and how many courses you have the time and desire to play. For a weekend getaway, you might consider a destination with only one or a few courses - a destination that otherwise would prove unsuitable for a weeklong excursion. Bald Head Island, North Carolina, for example, is a wonderful private island destination where the only mode of transportation is golf carts. It’s a fine, quiet place to relax for adults or families, with terrific beaches, a couple of restaurants, and nice accommodations consisting mainly of rental houses and a couple of bed and breakfasts. The island has only one golf course (albeit an excellent one), although you can take the ferry to the mainland (where you will have parked your car) to take advantage of the hundreds of courses in nearby Myrtle Beach, SC and Brunswick, NC - all within about a half hour’s drive.

About The Author

Matthew Hick has been designing profitable Niche Adsense Websites for over 5 years.

Golf Articles at http://eGolf-Today.com. Learn how to operate a Successful Adsense Website Network at http://eWebCreator.com.