I was just thinking (again) that the Piedmont Triad is not only a great place to live, but it’s a great base for day or weekend trips from the mountains to the coast, in our own state as well as in South Carolina and Virginia. My family and I recently spent a beach week at Oak Island, NC, and even though we’ve vacationed there for years, we found new things to experience – this time it was the Moore Street Oyster Bar in Southport, NC, an unexpectedly great experience.
From Coastal North Carolina or South Carolina....
Most any North Carolina or South Carolina beach has a lot to offer, whether you choose a busier, more commercialized locale like Myrtle Beach, SC, or a quieter, more peaceful beach like Emerald Isle, NC, or Pawley’s Island. From any beach, it’s just a short drive to other beach destinations or mainland attractions. For example, from Oak Island, we were able to easily enjoy the shops, galleries, and food in downtown Southport, NC, and Wilmington, NC, and the aquarium and historical sites at Fort Fisher State Park aren’t much further.
...to the Blue Ridge Parkway
When the weather stays a little cooler, we’ll probably take a day trip or weekend trip from Greensboro over to Blowing Rock, NC, to enjoy the change of seasons in the Blue Ridge Parkway area, visiting places like Moses Cone Memorial Park, which is not only a gorgeous place for a hike, but also home to the Cone Family’s Flat Top Manor and the Parkway Craft Center. Downtown Blowing Rock is always a treat – with boutiques and sporting goods stores, restaurants and parks. The kids (and I) love going to Kilwin’s on Main Street for ice cream, and my wife loves the coffee at Bald Guy Brew.
Blowing Rock and its neighbor, Boone, are hardly the only mountain getaways – they’re just a particularly easy two-hour drive from the Piedmont Triad. From there westward, there are countless potential adventure spots!
Where did your summer travels take you? Share your family’s favorite locations….tell us what you know!