By Connie Limon

Thomas Wolfe is considered by many to be one of the giants of 20th Century American Literature. The Old Kentucky Home boarding house is one of American Literature’s most famous landmarks.

Hours of Operation

• April to October, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, closed on Monday
• November to March, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, closed on Monday

Thomas Wolfe, author, lived in the Kentucky Home boarding house, run by his mother, for ten years. He was strongly influenced by Asheville, his hometown, and by the boarding house itself. Thomas Wolfe’s writings were inspired by his childhood days in Asheville, North Carolina. The very realistic portrayals of Asheville, its citizens, which included Wolfe’s own family, prompted Look Homeward, Angel to be banned from his hometown library. Wolfe did not visit Asheville for almost eight years during the time his book was published. When Thomas Wolfe finally went home in the summer of 1937, he stayed in the boarding house with his mother and wrote the article “Return,” which was published in the Asheville newspaper.

Thomas Wolfe lived only to be 38 years old, and is perhaps the most overtly autobiographical novelist in American Literature. In his short life span, he produced four novels which are:

• Look Homeward, Angel
• Of Time and the River
• The Web and the rock
• You Can’t Go Home Again

Thomas Wolfe, novelist, also wrote numerous short stories, novellas and plays. The Old Kentucky Home boarding house has been a memorial to him since 1949. It is currently open in North Carolina as a State Historical Site. The visitor center features exhibits about Wolfe and his family as well as an audio-visual presentation about the life of Thomas Wolfe and his writing.

Tours of the Old Kentucky Home

Available for tourists today are the guided tours. During his lifetime, Thomas Wolfe, foresaw the future of his mother’s boarding house. He wrote his second novel, Of Time and the River, that foretold how the “old dilapidated house had now become a fit museum.”

A fire in 1998 later discovered to have been intentionally set almost destroyed the historic Old Kentucky Home. Intensive restoration to the historic house and the surviving artifact collection enabled the Old Kentucky Home to reopen to visitors in May of 2004.

Directly behind the historic Old Kentucky Home boarding house is a modern visitor center that opened in late 1996. The visitor center is located at 52 North Market Street and features an exhibit hall with the personal effects from the Wolfe family home, Wolfe’s New York City apartment, and his father’s stonecutting shop. Every hour, an audio-visual program on the life of Thomas Wolfe and his writing is presented. The guided tours of the boarding house begin at the visitor center. This building also features a gift shop.

Visitor Center Hours

• April to October, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday
• Sunday’s beginning June 3, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., November through March, and closed on Mondays
• 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday and closed on Mondays

For more information you can call 828-253-8304

Current Events

At the time of writing this article, an upcoming event at the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Historical site on October 27th features “Witches, Haints and Booger Tales,” Spooky stories at the Thomas Wolfe Memorial. Hours are 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Source: Thomas Wolfe Memorial Online

Written by: Connie Limon. For more vacation ideas visit http://smalldogs2.com/VacationIdeas For a variety of FREE reprint articles and special topic articles rarely found elsewhere visit Camelot Articles at http://www.camelotarticles.com

By James Wills

Recognized as the ‘Sailing Capital of North Carolina’, the serene, maritime village of Oriental offers several tournaments and regattas throughout the Spring, Summer and Autumn months.

Regattas, Tournaments and So Much More in Oriental, North Carolina

Every year in late-April/early-May, The Oriental Dinghy Club of North Carolina holds their Annual Spring Regatta on the waters of the Neuse River. Large and small boat owners alike are invited to race and everyone can take part in the variety of social gathering events held throughout the weekend. The Oriental Dinghy Club also sponsors several more races throughout the seasons including the SOLO Race in October which welcomes boaters from near and far.

Early June is typically the time for the Oriental Cup Regatta, also referred to as the ‘Premier Sailing Event of the Year’. The weekend includes not only sailboat racing, but a full calendar of events that includes a Welcome Picnic, live music, fabulous food, dancing and more. The registration fee also provides you with one Regatta souvenir T-shirt and two ‘land passes’ allowing complimentary entry to all meals and events! All proceeds benefit the Bill Harris Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Taking place every year during the last weekend in July, The Rotary Club of Oriental sponsors their Annual Tarpon Tournament. It is the sport-fishing event of the year here, with cash and prizes totaling over $20,000! And the proceeds benefit a great cause – The Oriental Rotary Scholarship Fund.

Whether you enjoy entering in or just watching boat races and regattas, Oriental NC may be the place for you – visit it and see for yourself!

Visit our Sailing and Regattas Oriental NC website at http://www.orientalnc.com/

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.

By Sam Huntington

Fayetteville, North Carolina is a charming city located in the Southern center of the state. The town’s nickname is “The All-American City” and this is evident upon one look at the downtown. Although the downtown area of the city has a quaint, small town feel to it, Fayetteville is one of the largest cities in North Carolina. The city is named for a French Revolutionary war hero, LaFayette, and many of the homes in the downtown area were built during that era.

Fayetteville is rich with history from both the Revolutionary War as well as the Civil War. During the Civil War, General Sherman moved his troops there. The Battle of Monroe’s Crossroads, considered the last cavalry battle of the Civil War, took place not far from Fayetteville and today is an historical site.

Today the city maintains ties with the armed services as it is the home of Fort Bragg Army Post as well as the Pope Air Force Base.

There are many things to see and do when visiting. Hay Street in Downtown Fayetteville is rife with history. The cobblestone sidewalks reach to the Revolutionary War era buildings that line the street. There is some wonderful antique shopping in the Downtown that draws many visitors to this picturesque city each year.

Architecture throughout the city varies from the Revolutionary era buildings in the downtown area of the city to the pre Civil War homes that are located throughout the city. Anyone who enjoys historic architecture will find plenty to see in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

There are many other points of interest in Fayetteville. In addition to visiting Fort Bragg, many visitors embark on a hiking adventure on the Cape Fear River Trail. The city is located on the banks of the Cape Fear river, which was made famous in original and remake of the film, “Cape Fear.” The Cape Fear River trail takes you through the Cape Fear Botanical Gardens which are open to the pubic. Here you can wander beautiful nature trails that are filled with unusual plants as you progress through pine forest to the river banks. A narrow bridge stretches over the river that you can walk across and get some fabulous photos. A visit to the Cape Fear Botanical Gardens should be first on your list when visiting this charming city.

History buffs in particular will love Fayetteville, North Carolina as it is has many different museums and homes that are opened to the public. At the Museum of the Cape Fear you can see the natural history of the area through exhibits that feature artifacts relating to the Native American population, plantation and slavery, The Civil War and other natural history.

The 1897 Poe House is a Victorian residence that is open to the public and takes the visitor back in time to a bygone age. The Poe House has maintained the same furniture and other items that were used by the family during this period.

Arsenal Park is a four acre site that once produced the Fayetteville rifle that was used in the Civil War. Union forces destroyed this arsenal in 1865 towards the very end of the war. The North Carolina Museum of History contains thousands of artifacts and time line pieces that tell the history of North Carolina and also has special children’s sections.

There are hundreds of accommodations choices for visitors staying in Fayetteville, North Carolina. They range from luxury hotels to modest Bed and Breakfast establishments. No matter what your budget or needs, Fayetteville has the perfect accommodations to suit you during your trip to this beautiful city.

On top of everything else, you can also find some of the best restaurants in the Carolinas here. No matter what type of cuisine you prefer, Fayetteville has what you’re looking for. Because the city is relatively close to the Atlantic Ocean, you can expect to get delicious fresh seafood in most of the restaurants. The 316 Oyster Bar and Seafood Grill is located in the heart of the city and has delicious oysters and seafood served fresh daily.

Fayetteville, North Carolina is a charming place to visit. It has terrific food, wonderful accommodations, scenic parks and abundant history. One trip to this beautiful, North Carolina city and you will want to call Fayetteville “home.”

Sam Huntington lives in North Carolina and frequently writes about various North Carolina locales, particularly about all things Fayetteville NC. For more great Fayetteville information visit http://www.visitfayettevillenc.com