Over last weekend, my girlfriend and I went to Raleigh, NC to visit our friend who had just graduated college and was about to move into her first house.  For a few days she was staying in the Residence Inn Midtown and we went to check out her new house.  While we ended up not seeing the new house and spending most of our time in the hotel room, it was well worth it.

What the Room was Like

• 2 floors
• 2 bedrooms
• 2 bathrooms
• Fully stocked kitchen with dishwasher, Refrigerator, Sink, Microwave, and Stove
• The showers had incredible heads that could either work as a power massager or a high power set of streams
• The beds were Queen sized and had a ton of pillows and the blankets weren’t too heavy, which is a hotel peeve of mine
• There were 3 TVs through the singular suite and each had cable with HBO, there was also a sufficient amount of office workspace if you would bring a computer or work to get done.
• Wireless Internet
• A working wood burning fireplace!

And that’s just what the room was like!  The complex itself has a workout area, tennis courts, a swimming pool, a jacuzzi, complimentary breakfast buffet, complimentary reception Mon-Thurs evening which includes light dinner, beer, wine, and other beverages.

It’s in a great little area, you get off the 440 beltway onto 40 east and take the wake forest rd exit.  From there you just go right off the exit and left at the Denny’s and it’s on your left.  It was awesome waking up hung over and going to Denny’s.  Right down the street from there is a gas station for any little snacks you’ll need and the area’s very nice.  Within 5 miles of the Inn there are Jogging Trails, Miniature Golf, and Bowling.  If golf’s your thing there are 3 golf clubs under 10 miles:  The North Ridge Country Club, The WildWood Greens, and the HedingHam Golf Club.  AND for all the ladies looking to relax, there are 4, YES FOUR, spas in the immediate 3 mile area.  The Von Kekel Salon/Spa, Planet Beach Tanning/Spa, Natural Body Spa/Shoppe, and The Spa by Mitchells.

I would give the Residence Inn Midtown in Raleigh NC  5 Stars

In Pinehurst, one of the most famous golf courses awaits you.  It is Pinehurst Number Two.  In 2005, the USGA held it’s second U.S. open there.  With all of this said, if you want to feel like part of history, you should check out Pinehurst.

 For more information about Pinehurst’s history, and golf courses, check out the book, ‘Pinehurst- Home of American Golf’ by Richard Mandell.  In this book, you will learn so much about Pinehurst’s history, you will have to visit. 

 There are many rentals that are always open to rent that are situated right on golf courses.  If you prefer hotels, be sure to check out ‘Pinehurst Resort.’  It is a very historic building, and you won’t want to miss it.

In 2014, Pinehurst will be hosting the U.S. Open Championship, once again.  Maybe you should plan your visit around then.  Sound like fun?

  Right now, we are in the heart of Downtown Asheville.  There is a wide variety of restaurants, but, I’d like to take you to some of the very special ones.  If you are in the mood for India, Mela’s is a casual restaurant with great flavours.  The ambiance of the building is very nice, and you will feel very comforted.  Are you in the mood for a vegetarian meal?  The Laughing Seed Cafe, is full of different flavours, and is a must for a vegetarian, or even a vege-loving person.  Then there is the Italian, Mexican, Mediterranean, Japanese, Thai, and whatever you can think or desire.  Now that our stomach’s are full, lets drive a bit so we can go on an amazing hike through the mountains.

  As you may or may not know, Asheville is in the mountains.  Whether you are on a date, or just want some fresh air, walking and hiking through these beautiful mountains, will take your breath away, and replace it with wonderful mountain air.

  When in Asheville, you mustn’t miss out on the art.  There are many stores, art exhibits, and art galleries to visit in Asheville.  There is even a museum!  Every year, for 3 days during the month of July, there is a big art festival called, ‘Bele Chere’ which features the art of many local, and nearby artists.

  If you stay in Asheville for more then one hour, you are bound to see atleast one musician!  Whether they’re playing on their drum kit, singing to one of theie favorite tunes, or playing on the guitar, there are always people in Asheville to spread the joy!  There are many concerts that frequently occur in Asheville, so keep your ears open!

  Have you heard of the Biltmore Estate?  This is the largest privately owned house in America!  Owned by George Vanderbilt, this 34 bedroom, 43 bathroom house, is a must see! It is on 125,000 acres, and consolidates an amazing garden.

  So, next time you start complaining that you don’t have enough money to get out of the country, just remember, Asheville is waiting to embrace you.  Better yet, Asheville is waiting to become a part of you.

              Camp Mondamin has been taking river trips in wooden and metal canoes since the early twenties, and a major person in this camp has been Frank Bells. Frank Bells was the head of Mondamin Paddling for many years, and he was one of the first to run many of the more difficult whitewater runs in the area. Indeed, the most difficult rapid on the French Broad Section 9, is named after him. Frank Bells daughter married, and had a son, named Chris Leverette. During the North Carolina Summers, Chris worked at High Rocks, Mondamin, Green Cove, as a camper, counselor, and eventually a head of paddling. Or take Green Cove for example. Fritz Orr Senior and his wife ran this  camp for many years. Today his son, Fritz Orr Jr. is the legendary head of paddling at High Rocks. He gained many first ascents in North Carolina’s whitewater, and went on to compete at a worldwide level.

                 The number of related families and such embedded in these camps are countless, and I could go on forever. But this really is camp country, and it is a very special place for anyone who wishes to expierience it. These camps were some of the first people to run some of the most difficult whitewater runs in the southeast, and they did all of this before whitewater paddling became popular, before the plastic and fiberglass kayaks and canoes were introduced to the paddling community. So next time you visit your favorite rapid, remember, there is a story that goes behind every wave and hole. And most likely, it has to do with one of the legendary camp paddlers that popularized the sport, and gave everyone a chance to expierience it.

House and Gardens

When you arrive at the estate, you must purchase a ticket to travel further onto the property. This is when you make a decision as to how you plan on touring the house. There are many options. The two most popular tours are the self guided tour and the audio tour. There are also several special tours that one can purchase to view rooms not open to the public or to get a personal tour guide. I recommend the audio tour. The self guided tour allows you to see the same rooms as in the audio tour, but the guidebook only gives a brief description of each room. The audio tour provides lots of additional details. It is definitely worth the extra money. The gardens are in walking distance of the house. Each season provides a new experience. Spring is noted for the brightly colored tulips. Summer is known for the brilliant patterns formed by blooming annuals and perennials. Falls arrival is heralded by blooming chrysanthemums. Pansies abound in the winter. Don’t miss the conservatory. It is full of green plants and blooming hot house varieties.

Restaurants

There are three main restaurants and several quick service locations where you can pick up a sandwich, have a pastry, or break for ice cream on the estate. The Deerpark Restaurant is famous for its lunch buffet made up of Southern style home cooking. The Stable Café is known for great sandwiches, burgers, and barbeque. My favorite is the Bistro located by the winery. I love its European Country décor and the freshness of the food. Many of the ingredients used at this restaurant are grown on the estate. I always choose one of their salads and homemade brick oven pizzas.

Winery

The Winery gets a little better every year. There is a great walking tour that takes you through the wine making process. A wine tasting is provided at the end of the tour. The wine guides really strive to make everyone feel comfortable. They are knowledgeable and really help those inexperienced wine tasters find a great wine. For those wine connoisseurs, they are knowledgeable enough to assist them as well. For families touring the Winery, they provide Concord grape juice for the kids during the tasting. They have added several free special wine related demonstrations. My favorite is the Red Wine and Chocolate Seminar. The Winery also has a large gift shop filled with wines and accessories.

Be sure to plan on spending six to eight hours at the estate. You will definitely need a car to get around. There is a long drive from the entrance to the welcome center where you’ll purchase your tickets and see a short informational film on the estate. From there you will drive quite a distance to the house, or a restaurant, or the winery. My perfect day at Biltmore begins with lunch at the Bistro followed by a tour of the house. It takes approximately an hour and a half to two hours to tour the house. We usually take an ice cream break after the tour before taking a long walk through the gardens and the conservatory. If we are feeling really energetic, we may walk down to the bass pond before heading over to the Winery. We end our day with a tour of the winery, a wine tasting, before purchasing some wine to take home. I hope you take a day to visit the Biltmore Estate it is a great way to spend a day.