Ultimate Getaways - Charlotte Magazine

Transcription

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Ultimate Getaways
Tough times call for great getaways. Unwind on the back porch of your
cottage in the Carolina Lowcountry, shop antique shops in the North
Carolina mountains, or go whitewater rafting in West Virginia—whatever
your pleasure, relax at one of these remarkable destinations
Aiken Parks,
Recreation,
and Tourism
Department
S
elected as one of A Dozen
Distinctive Destinations by
the National Trust for Historic
Preservation, the city of Aiken, S.C.,
is a great travel spot because of its
varied attractions, quality of life,
architecture, preservation, and events
that take place.
Aiken is filled with charm and gracious living, and a downtown imbued
with remarkable shops and restaurants to satisfy everyone.
Except in the summer, there is
rarely a weekend that doesn’t hold
a special festival, show, equestrian
event, and much more.
Local amateur, national, and
international professional talent
can be found throughout the year
at the Washington Center for the
Performing Arts, The Etherredge
Center at USC-Aiken, and The Aiken
Center for the Arts, proving that the
arts are alive and well in Aiken.
Visitors can enjoy learning more
about the thriving city on the Aiken
Historic Tour on Saturday mornings, with a visit to the Aiken County
Historic Museum, a stroll through
Hopelands Gardens, or a stay at one
of the historic bed and breakfasts.
For more information call 1-888AikenSC
Ol d Ed wa r d s In n a n d Spa
Four-Diamond Luxury in the Vibrant Cultural Village
of Highlands, Nestled in the Western
North Carolina Mountains.
A World Apart.
A Drive Away.
828.526-8008
www.oldedwardsinn.com
2008 Most Excellent Inn
in the US and Canada
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The Inn at
Palmetto Bluff
A
t Palmetto Bluff it’s about preserving a balance among the land,
water, people, and history. Three rivers—the May, Cooper and New—gently
sculpt the 20,000-acre tract of Carolina
Lowcountry, providing a natural refuge
for wildlife and visitors. Moss laden
oak trees beckon visitors to swap busy
schedules to explore and learn about
the land.
The Inn at Palmetto Bluff allows
guests to experience this enchanting
coastal hideaway with indulgences
such as luxurious accommodations,
stimulating adventures, and culinary
delights.
Guest cottages and village homes
imbue South Carolina’s historical
architecture accents with pine floors,
high ceilings, cozy fireplaces, and
screened verandas. The Inn also serves as a romantic backdrop for a wedding. Say “I
Do” in the Waterside Chapel before
receiving guests in the Village Square
under ancient oak trees. Events and
meeting venues are available as well.
There is plenty to do to stay active,
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too. Activities like kayaking through
the southeastern salt marshes connect
visitors to what makes this place pristine—the land. Winding bike paths
take you on new adventures.
If you’re lucky you might catch a
glimpse of the Atlantic Bottlenose
Dolphin on a scenic river cruise. In
addition, the 18-hole Jack Nicklaus
Signature course challenges golfers
of all skill levels. And, if you want to
get away for the day, Hilton Head and
Savannah are just minutes way.
Just make sure to be back in time to
enjoy a leisurely dinner as you take in
the view of the May River at the River
House restaurant. Here you can savor
conversation along with the Berkshire
Pork Chop, Cheddar Mac ‘n’ Cheese,
and collard greens and maple vinegar.
The menu, which changes often,
combines Lowcountry ingredients
and traditions, creating exceptional
regional flavor.
As the sun melts into the Carolina
horizon you begin to sense that this
is a place that never quite leaves you.
The rustle of the palm trees will keep
calling you back.
For more information visit
palmettobluffresort.com
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Dining on Franklin St.
Chapel Hill/ Orange County
Visitors Bureau
N
1/28/09
icknamed “the Southern Part
of Heaven,” Chapel Hill is best
known as the home of the University
of North Carolina, the nation’s first
state university. Chapel Hill is about
10:54:00 great
AM
food, shopping, scenic beauty,
green space, college sports, culture,
and history—all with an edge. The
area has impressive accommodations, restaurants, great climate, and
a variety of things to do. Visitors can
plan their day with visits to museums,
gardens, performing and visual arts,
golf and outdoor recreation, shopping,
dining, nightlife, music, and more.
The Chapel Hill/Orange County
VB operates a walk-in visitors center
staffed Monday through Saturday.
Visitors to Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and
Hillsborough will find full-service
and limited-service hotels, bed and
breakfast inns, extended stay lodging,
and RV parks.
The area has a wide array of awardwinning restaurants, and visitors will
find southern cuisine and traditional
BBQ, and every ethnic style imaginable, from Italian and Chinese to
Ethiopian and Moroccan.
From spring to fall, sit on the lawn
and enjoy music in Chapel Hill’s
Southern Village or Weaver Street
Market in Carrboro, go to a pick-
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your-own-farm, or taste produce at
the weekly farmers markets. Visitors
can visit Maple View Farm (just a
short drive from town) and get ice
cream straight from the local dairy.
Located centrally in the state, Chapel
Hill is easy to get to.
For information on how to plan a
trip to the area visit visitchapelhill.
org.
Pocahontas County
Convention &
Visitors Bureau
P
CCVB is dedicated to marketing and promoting Pocahontas
County in West Virginia as a destination for leisure and group travel. It
provides an annual travel guide that
features special attractions and events
Pocahontas County has to offer.
Assisting visitors at five visitors centers throughout the county, tourists
are informed about lodging, eating,
playing, and visiting. Among great
attractions of Pocahontas County
are The Greenbrier River Trail, The
Greenbrier River (the longest free
flowing river in the east), the four season resort Snowshoe Mountain, and
the Robert C. Byrd National Radio
Astronomy Telescope (the largest
moveable object on earth).
Pocahontas County is home to the
Cranberry Glades, where 750 acres
are home to exotic plants and tundra,
and to historic buildings including
the century-old Opera House where
performances are held regularly.
For motorcyclists there are hundreds of miles of breathtaking turns
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and ridges, and hundreds of dirt
roads for extreme mountain biking.
For outdoor lovers the county provides 500,000 square miles of deep
forests and crystal clear streams.
Family activities include skiing,
snowboarding, cross-country skiing,
fishing, hiking, biking, motorcycle
touring, birding, geo-catching, train
riding, Civil War re-enacting, touring the Science Center, observing
nature, long drives in the country,
and dreaming by the river. From the
headwaters to the mountain tops,
Pocahontas County is “Nature’s
Mountain Playground.”
naturesmountainplayground.com
The Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope at
the National Radio Astronomy Observatory.
MYRTLE BE ACH, SC
O C E A N FRO N T R ES O R T S
s Indoor & Outdoor Pools
s Close to Shopping & Attractions
s Great Golf Packages
Ask about our Best Available Rates.
877.779.7379
OCEANARESORTS.COM
CODE CO
VisitMyrtleBeach.com
1
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Glade Springs Resort
L
ocated in the scenic Appalachian
Mountains of Daniels, West Virginia, The
Resort at Glade Springs is the ultimate family
or corporate getaway. Ranging from traditional hotel rooms and suites to stand-alone
villas and lodges, it satisfies every type of
lodging need for individuals, families, family
reunions, groups, corporate retreats, meetings, and conferences.
Activities offered include championship
golfing, swimming, hiking, boating, spa services, bowling, horseback riding on beautiful
trails, and enjoying a priceless West Virginia
sunset. Visitors can choose from two golf
courses that are consistently rated in the
Top Five West Virginian courses—the Cobb
Course and the Stonehaven Course. And the 18-hole
championship course, Woodhaven, opens in summer
2009.
West Virginia is famous for its whitewater rafting, and
visitors can participate in a full-day adventure (approximately six to eight hours) that includes a specially
Brunswick-Golden Isles
Convention & Visitors Bureau
N
estled on the Georgia coast is the city of Brunswick,
and the Golden Isles, which consists of St. Simons
Island, Sea Island, Little St. Simons Island, and Jekyll
Island. It’s here that visitors encounter breathtaking
beauty, rich history, and energizing recreation at every
turn. Every lifestyle and budget range can be accommodated in the area, and there are many activities to enjoy
from fishing, water sports, and biking to horseback riding, helicopter tours, tennis, and shopping.
Head to cultural and historical sites such as the Georgia
prepared riverside lunch and riverside equipment. Time
spent in the great outdoors is a hallmark of most West
Virginia vacations, and area attractions that include
Hawks Nest State Park and Overlook, Scenic New River
Jetboat Tours, Theatre West Virginia, Daniels Vineyards,
and Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine provide great fun.
For more information visit www.gladesprings.com
Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island, the Fort Frederica
National Monument on St. Simons Island, and Historic
Old City Hall and Liberty Ship Memorial in Brunswick
to take in the history and natural beauty of the area. A
popular attraction for young and old: Brunswick’s Mary
Miller Doll Museum.
Comfortable luxury is the hallmark of Brunswick and the
Golden Isles. Visitors can stay at some of the world’s most
renowned resort hotels, or opt for something more private
such as a beachside condo, bungalow, or woodsy campsite.
Whatever your choice for accommodation and activity,
the Brunswick-Golden Isles is sure to please any visitor.
For more information visit bgivb.com
Chimney Rock Park
R
econnect with nature and spend time with family and friends at Chimney Rock Park, located in
Chimney Rock, North Carolina, just twenty-five miles
southeast of Asheville. The Park offers the best of the
mountains in one place—spectacular seventy-five-mile
views of Lake Lure and Hickory Nut Gorge, hiking
trails, rock climbing instruction, and a variety of special events.
With unique hiking trails suitable for all ages and
abilities, the Park has something for everyone from
the family-friendly Great Woodland Adventure trail
with twelve discovery stations along the way to the
more adventurous Four Seasons trail, which climbs
more than 400 feet. Be sure to hike the Hickory Nut
Falls trail—the reward is the 404-foot falls, one of
the highest waterfalls in the East. Don’t miss unique
geologic formations like Devil’s Head, the Opera Box,
Moonshiner’s Cave, and Vista Rock.
Visitors will find souvenirs at Park’s Sky Lounge,
Cliff Dwellers Gifts, and Old Rock Café. The Café is a
fun place to relax, have a great meal, sip a soda, glass
of wine, or cold beer, and savor the incredible views.
The Park is more than a rock; it’s a mountain of
possibilities. To plan a vacation, visit chimneyrock
park.com.
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Savannah Area CVB
S
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outhern charm wasn’t invented
yesterday, nor were collard greens.
The Savannah Area Convention and
Visitors Bureau has been welcoming
visitors from all over since 1733, and
continues to uphold its tradition of
southern charm by inviting people
down to a city that has had an abundance of memories and still continues
to create lasting ones.
Although some might think that
Savannah’s eclectic charm could be
found in surrounding cities, one major
distinction sets it apart from the rest
of its southern counterparts. Global
sophistication incorporates its self
into the rich tapestry of the city’s restaurants, whether you’re interested in
Asian fusion or Greek kabobs there’s
something for everyone.
A large part of Savannah’s history is
4:39:57intertwined
PM
with its architecture. On
March 26-29 the 74th Savannah Tour
of Homes and Gardens highlights
the city’s most beautiful residences.
Encompassing both the history of
the structures and the gardens that
surround them, each day a different neighborhood is featured thus
requiring a ticket for each day’s tour.
There will be a three-hour time period
where guest will be able to tour the
different sites.
For more information on what
Savannah has to offer visit savcvb.
com.
Come
Coast
Awhile!
Mill House Lodge
L
ocated in the Blue Ridge
Mountains of Flat Rock, North
Carolina, the Mill House Lodge is nestled in a lakeside setting with a cozy,
™
casual atmosphere. With various outdoor activities on site and local attracB runswick & The Golden Isles of Georgia–
tions just minutes away, the Lodge
St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Little St. Simons
has something for the entire family.
Island
and
Jekyll Island. Discover breathtaking beauty,
The Lodge accommodates honrich
history,
warm hospitality and glorious year ’round
eymoons, anniversaries, family
©
weather.
Enjoy
miles
of sun-drenched beaches, tennis, 198
reunions, small group meetings, or
holes
of
golf,
fishing,
shrimp
boat and dolphin tours, casino/cruise
even a quiet, restorative getaway. All
ship, interesting shops and galleries and plenty of great restaurants
units here are furnished with A/C,
wherever you go. You’ll find accommodations to fit every
cable TV, and kitchens, and many
budget, from national chains to full-service island resorts,
have porches with a lake view. There
are no phones in the units due to the
charming bed-and-breakfast inns, rental cottages,
historic nature of the property, but
campgrounds and even a private island retreat. Just
each accommodation has phone capaminutes from I-95at Exits 42, 38, 36 and 29.
™
bilities.
For a free Visitors Guide, call 800-933-COAST (2627)
The Lodge is accessible to golf
courses, natural waterfalls, hikCONVENTION &
ing trails, crafts and antiques, and
VISITORS BUREAU
a variety of entertainment. The
For information “on the go,” text BGIGA to 95495 or
Flat Rock Playhouse, home of the
go to ComeCoastAwhile.mobi on your mobile phone
famous Vagabond Players, is only
minutes away. Visitors can experience a secluded and scenic mountain getaway that is located a short
7/22/08
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three miles from historic downtown
Hendersonville, and twenty-five minutes from America’s largest residence,
the Biltmore Estate in Asheville.
The Mill House Lodge is an
American-owned and family-operated
business. For current specials, visit
the Lodge’s Web site at millhouse
lodge.com and enter promo code:
CLTA.
ComeCoastAwhile.com
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Guests at The Spa
at Old Edwards can
enjoy healthy fare
from the Spa Café
while relaxing on the
spa terrace.
Old Edwards Inn
N
estled in the historic mountain town of Highlands,
North Carolina, Old
Edwards Inn and Spa offers
luxe mountain resort lodging,
great shopping, indoor wellness and fitness activities, and
outdoor adventure, for business
or pleasure. The Spa at Old
Edwards Inn offers the region’s
most relaxing treatments in
luxurious European-style surroundings to pamper and indulge the mind, body, and spirit.
The city of Highlands is surrounded by breathtaking mountain vistas,
mesmerizing waterfalls, and wooded forest. Acorn’s and Acorn’s Annex,
the Shops at Old Edwards Inn, present fine European and American
antiques, gifts, and home accessories. Acorn’s annex is located at 41
Church St, along with Church Street Shops at Old Edwards Inn.
Old Edwards Inn is conveniently located in the center of Highlands
allowing guests the ability to walk the streets and peruse the antique
shops, dining establishments, and other boutiques, which line downtown.
Activities that can be arranged for guests include championship golf, tennis, yoga, journaling classes, fly fishing, canoeing, high tea, gem mining,
nature walks, hiking, kayaking, white water rafting, “Walkthrough the Past”
Tour, mountain biking, fitness classes, and personal training sessions.
The Farm at Old Edwards Inn is a great attraction and is approximately
a half mile away. There, guests can hold weddings, anniversary parties,
and any other celebratory functions.
Old Edwards Inn was awarded Most Excellent Inn for 2008 in the U.S.
and Canada by Conde Nast Johansens Luxury Travel Guide and in January
2009 both the Inn and the Spa were awarded the Mobil Four-Star rating.
For more information visit oldedwardsinn.com.
South Carolina
Aquarium
Y
ou don’t have to have scuba
gear to explore the waters of
South Carolina. The South Carolina
Aquarium, located in Charleston,
S.C., gives visitors an inside glimpse
into 6,000 underwater plants and animals. Charleston’s most-visited attraction can be accessed from Charlotte
in just three and a half hours.
In March 2009, Magellanic penguins
will inhabit the temporary exhibit,
Penguin Planet. Visitors can watch six
Magellanic penguins, marked by two
brown chest stripes, dive underwater
as well as learn more about this near
threatened species.
Tucked on the edge of the historic
Charleston Harbor, the aquarium
offers wide spanning views of the
dolphins, ships, and landscape of the
Cooper River and Charleston Harbor.
Interactive programs and exhibits abound. The centerpiece of the
ocean gallery is the Great Ocean Tank
which holds 385,000 gallons of salt
water and hundreds of sea creatures.
Other special aquarium experiences
include the Touch Tank, which allows
visitors to touch hermit crabs, whelks,
sea urchins, and other invertebrates
that are found in the coastal waters of
South Carolina.
The South Carolina Aquarium also
works to rescue and rehabilitate sea
turtles found along the coast. The
Behind the Scenes Tour of the Sea
Turtle Hospital gives visitors an inside
look at the turtles recovering from illnesses and injuries.
For more information on how to
plan your underwater adventure
please visit scaquarium.org.
Kingston Plantation
Kingston Plantation
and Oceana Resorts
O
ne of the largest oceanfront resorts on the East coast,
Kingston Plantation offers a wide variety of Myrtle
Beach accommodations, including The Embassy Suites
Myrtle Beach Hotel and Kingston Plantation Villas and
Condos. It is everything visitors want for the perfect weekend getaway, family vacation, or next big company meeting.
Kingston Plantation offers spectacular views of the
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Atlantic Ocean and easy access to all Myrtle Beach attractions. Enjoy Splash! Waterpark, located at The Embassy
Suites or Arcadian Shores Golf Course adjacent to
the Plantation, the best in Myrtle Beach golf. Kingston
Plantation is a short distance from The Coastal Grand
Mall, IMAX Discovery Theater, Barefoot Landing, and
Broadway at the Beach.
Visitors looking for a great workout will find it at the
Sport & Health Club, with an indoor lap pool, whirlpool,
nine lighted tennis courts, three racquetball courts, stateof-the-art equipment, and a variety of challenging classes
in the aerobics studio. Oceana Resorts has something for
everyone, with several oceanfront resorts, a Marina Club,
a pet-friendly environment, and weekly condo vacation
rentals. To learn more visit the Kingston Plantation
Web site at kingstonplantation.com.
Oceana Resorts consists of a collection of oceanfront
properties, a marina club, a full-service spa, and a boutique motel. All of the resorts are smoke-free. Oceana
offers easy access to Myrtle Beach shopping, restaurants
on the Grand Strand, sightseeing, and full range outdoor
activities. It offers the best in oceanfront luxury in Myrtle
Beach. With more than twenty-five years of experience
in family, golf, and group vacations, Oceana Resorts has
earned a reputation for providing quality vacations and
excellent service to customers. For more information
visit oceanaresorts.com.
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High Hampton Inn
R
elax. The pace is slower at High Hampton Inn. Turn
off your cell phone and pull up a rocker on the front
porch. Nibble on homemade cookies after a day of hiking
trails adorned with hemlock, rhododendron, and mountain laurel.
At the High Hampton Inn, tucked away at 3,600-feet
above sea level in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Cashiers,
North Carolina, outdoor recreation blends seamlessly
with Southern hospitality.
It is a place where rustic charm reconnects you with
simple things like good food, family, and conversation all in
the midst of nature’s playground. After all, not many places
The Umstead
Hotel and Spa
O
ne of only two AAA Five
Diamond and Mobil Five-Star
rated hotels in North Carolina, The
Umstead Hotel and Spa offers a welcoming home in an environment that
expresses an appreciation for the arts
and embraces the wonders of nature.
Located in Cary and residing on
twelve acres nestled against a threeacre lake, The Umstead is steps away
from walking and jogging trails as
well as Umstead State Park. The
hotel preserves the heritage of the
state’s natural beauty and offers
a relaxing escape for business or
pleasure. Offering warm, gracious,
Southern hospitality, all guests’
needs will be anticipated and met
can boast about a 35-acre shimmering “swimming pool.”
On April 25, 2009 High Hampton will embrace its
eighty-seventh season of providing generations of families
with a mountain retreat. Year after year families return,
often during the same week, to spend time reconnecting
at this idyllic mountain retreat.
Popular activities on the 1,400 acres include swimming,
golfing, fishing, boating, hiking, and playing tennis. A
European spa offers a variety of soothing and relaxing
treatments. From June 1 to September 1, summer children’s programs entertain young ones. At night, the entire
family can gather together to look at the stars without the
glare of city lights.
For more information visit highhamptoninn.com.
through meticulous attention to
detail and pride in performance. The
Umstead’s amenities include twentyfour-hour room service, a twentyfour-hour business center, valet parking, concierge service, afternoon tea,
and live entertainment.
In addition to 150 luxuriouslyappointed guest rooms and suites,
the hotel offers a world-class dining
experience at Herons, the signature
restaurant. Other features include the
two-story Umstead Spa, an art collection of more than one hundred pieces from both nationally acclaimed
and local artists, and an award-winning gift shop.
The Umstead is the perfect place
for a romantic couples getaway or a
special vacation. Since its opening
in January 2007, The Umstead has
thrived, and it represents the finest
elements of Mother Nature with a
charming, artful elegance in a serene
setting where attention to detail
becomes tradition. The property
makes its luxurious and award-winning service accessible and rewarding
to all who visit (theumstead.com).
The Eseeola Lodge
V
isitors have been staying at The
Eseeola Lodge in Linville, North
Carolina, for generations. With just
twenty-four rooms, The Lodge is able
to offer a level of personal service
rarely seen today. Each room has a
private bath and private porch or balcony, and breakfast and dinner are
included with visitors’ stay. Guests
can enjoy The Lodge’s library,
lounge, bar, spa, fitness center, and
championship golf course. Designed
in 1924 by Donald Ross, the championship 18-hole course at the Linville
Golf Club is open to members and to
guests of The Eseeola Lodge.
Breathtaking mountain scenery
and a creek that winds its way across
the beautifully conditioned fairways
surround players as they golf. The
Linville Golf Club is one of the most
esteemed in the state. Great attractions near The Lodge include Blue
Ridge Parkway and Grandfather
Mountain—the highest peak in the
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Blue Ridge.
From mid-July to mid-August,
The Lodge offers a day camp for
children ages four through twelve.
Children will enjoy fun-filled days
of face painting, nature exploration,
museum trips, and swimming, while
adults relax and rejuvenate with a spa
treatment. From corporate retreats
to wedding receptions, The Eseeola
Lodge has the accommodations and
the staff to make any event successful.
eseeola.com.
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