Travel & Vacation Guide, North Carolina

By Doug Gelbert

With the Revolutionary War stalemated in the North in 1778, the British strategy to win the war shifted to the South. Georgia and South Carolina were completely under British control by 1780. Nathanael Greene, an ironmaster by trade, self-taught in the art of war and George Washington’s hand-picked commander of the Southern Department, was determined to keep North Carolina out of British hands.

From his base in Virginia Greene harassed the British as their attack spread northward. Pursued by a frenetic Lord Cornwallis, Greene selected sloping ground near Guilford Courthouse to make his stand. He aligned his superior force of 4,000 men – of which scarcely one in five had ever seen battle action – in three lines to receive the British assault on March 15, 1781.

The first line, manned by inexperienced North Carolina militia, was quickly brushed aside and fled. Breaking through the second Patriot line, however, required savage fighting and by the time the redcoats reached Greene’s last line, Cornwallis was becoming desperate. As the fighting raged Cornwallis directed his artillery to fire grapeshot over his own lines into the melee of friend and foe alike. The harsh directive to fire into his own troops dispersed the Americans and saved his army.

Greene retired from the field. Technically the loser, his losses had been light. Cornwallis kept the field but lost the war at Guilford Courthouse. His army limped on to Wilmington, convinced that conquering Virginia would collapse the Revolution. Greene let him go and moved southward to reconquer South Carolina and Georgia, confident that American troops assembling in Virginia would destroy Cornwallis – which they did seven months later in Yorktown.

Begun in 1887, the 220-acre park was later established in 1917 as the first battleground of the American Revolution to be preserved as a national military park.

The military park is a local popular dog-walking destination with level, leafy paths to hike with your dog in a suburban environment. Nothing remains of either the small wooden courthouse or the community of March 15, 1781 but the dog- friendly grounds are among the most decorated of Revolutionary battlefields, graced by twenty-eight monuments.

The most impressive monument you see as you hike wit your dog is the large equestrian statue of General Greene, sculpted by Francis H. Packer. Unveiled on July 3, 1915, it bears Greene’s words: “We fight, get beat, rise, and fight again.”

You can find Guilford Courthouse National Military Park on New Garden Street in Greensboro, North Carolina. Directional signs lead you in from I-85 and I-40.

I am the author of over 20 books, including 8 on hiking with your dog and the widely praised The Canine Hiker’s Bible. As publisher of Cruden Bay Books, we produce the innovative A Bark In The Park series of canine hiking books found at http://www.hikewithyourdog.com Articles in the Doggin’ America series of dog-friendly parks can be found at http://www.DogginAmerica.com During the warm months I lead canine hikes for hikewithyourdog.com tours, guiding packs of dogs and humans on hiking adventures. Tours, ranging from one-day trips to multi-day explorations, visit parks, historical sites and beaches. My lead dog is Katie, a German Shepherd- Border Collie mix, who has hiked in all of the Lower 48 states and is on a quest to swim in all the great waters of North America – http://web.mac.com/crudbay/iWeb/Katies%20Blog/Katies%20Quest.html

By James Gibson

When planning a North Carolina getaway, Asheville is a must see on the travel-destination list. The allure of Western North Carolina’s largest city is becoming widespread and Asheville has been touted as the “Paris of the South.” The New York Times calls it a “surprisingly cosmopolitan city.” What makes Asheville unique is that the sizzle of the city is within a stone’s throw of great outdoor adventure. Natural Geographic Adventure Magazine ranks Asheville the number one out of ten cities for popular outdoor sports in the region.

Charlotte, Raleigh/Durham and Atlanta’s close proximity to Asheville make it a perfect vacation destination when planning either a luxury-style mountain getaway or a family vacation.

Asheville boasts a vast array of accommodations. There is everything from luxury condominium rentals with 24-hour concierge service to more traditional mountain getaways. So, whether you are planning a corporate trip, romantic getaway, golf vacation, or fishing expedition, Asheville has something for everyone. Some accommodations are even pet friendly. Try booking during the weekdays to beat the weekend crowds and receive more discounts.

Asheville, North Carolina: Experience the Best in Mountain Travel

Downtown Asheville is a pedestrian-friendly city. Its unique skyline of art-deco style buildings are surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains. The city has a year-round population of 74,000 and is home to America’s largest privately-owned home, the Biltmore Estate, and the historic Grove Park Inn. While accommodations are available at both, most people visit these urban legends and choose to enjoy other Asheville hotels and luxury mountain getaways.

“The Biltmore Estate and the Grove Park Inn are great places to visit,” Marge Nusser of New York, NY said, “but I prefer to seek out accommodations that are a bit more intimate, yet still upscale in their services.” Many accommodations offer discounted or complementary tickets to such attractions as the Biltmore Estate.

A fun way to kick start your mountain travel experience is to stroll through the Asheville Urban Trail. This 1.7 mile, self-guided tour stops at over 30 stations throughout the downtown area. “This trail gave me a handle on the downtown sites in less than one hour,” Howard Fortune, an Atlanta resident, explained. “I came here for the great outdoor activities, but quickly learned my way around the city.”

Downtown Asheville is primarily comprised of independent businesses. In today’s age of super-sized malls, the change is refreshing. Eclectic art galleries, micro-breweries and cozy cafes can be found at every turn. Asheville is also a food lover’s paradise and culinary offerings range from traditional southern comfort food to four-star cuisine. Bill Dykeman, a retired chef from Raleigh said, “Asheville has food from around the globe.”

Discover the Outdoors: Plan the Perfect North Carolina Mountain Getaway

When leaving downtown, choices still abound. The mountains that surround Asheville and the four major rivers that encompass the area make this an outdoor enthusiast’s dream mountain getaway. Take advantage of the travel concierge services at one of Asheville’s luxurious hotels. They can make dinner reservations, arrange for tee times, schedule outdoor events, and more.

In summer, whitewater rafting, hiking parts of the Appalachian Trail and fly fishing one of the hundreds of trout streams for native brook trout, rainbow or trophy brown trout are some of the more popular activities. Karl Danielson, a Charlotte native, avid golfer and fly fisherman explains that he can stay at a luxury condominium rental with concierge services that directs him to the some of the best trout streams east of the Mississippi. “And, the next morning I have a tee time at a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course within minutes from my room,” he added.

Nearby excursions include Chimney Rock State Park and Lake Lure to the south. To the west, there is Great Smoky National Park, and to the east, Mount Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Rockies. Blowing Rock and Grandfather Mountain sit to the north and are filled with natural wonders that promise to enhance any romantic mountain getaway or family vacation plan.

Asheville is a year-round playground. The holiday season abounds with light festivals, Inn tours, dazzling sites at the Biltmore House, exceptional shopping and the famous Gingerbread House competition at the Grove Park Inn. Winter brings skiers and snowboarders to the area and spring is a wonderful time to explore the beautiful gardens at the North Carolina Arboretum. So, next time you are planning a weekend mountain getaway or an extended stay, think Asheville where their motto is “altitude affects attitude.”

James Gibson is the Managing Director of The Residences at Biltmore, a condo hotel in Asheville, North Carolina with concierge services designed to pamper and delight guests. Mr. Gibson has over twenty years experience in hospitality. He has been Hotel Manager at the Ritz Carlton San Juan Hotel, Spa and Casino, and a General Manager of the Adam’s Mark Columbia in South Carolina. He has also worked in six Hyatt Hotel Corporation properties in a management capacity. Email concierge@residencesatbiltmore.com or visit http://www.residencesatbiltmore.com/hospitality for more information.