For people in Raleigh, (or all of NC, I guess) If you were looking to get away for the weekend, where would you suggest going and what would you do?

It could be within NC or outside of NC, as long as you have enough time to drive to the destination without spending most of the weekend in the car.

Any good stories of past experiences or thoughts on places you would like to visit in the future?

1/14/2008 11:35:14 PM

asheville is really cool

1/14/2008 11:45:45 PM

worst band ever.

1/14/2008 11:46:52 PM

^^ what did you do in Asheville?

^ aha touche

[Edited on January 14, 2008 at 11:51 PM. Reason : arrows]

1/14/2008 11:50:37 PM

drank awesome local beers, ate ridiculous food, camped, hiked, wandered around downtown, went in some cool shops, went on a brewery tour...i would assume they have some sort of disc golf course

good music venue: http://www.theorangepeel.net/

1/15/2008 12:11:43 AM

there is a book out there called day trips from raleigh durham -- check it out

it has a bunch of different ideas with drive times, activities and i think prices and times where applicable.

1/15/2008 12:21:06 AM

I thought this thread was about me.

1/15/2008 12:59:21 AM

I went to Columbia, SC last weekend and had a blast. I have a friend who lives down the road from their Five Points. Went down on Friday and came back on Sunday, there's so much to do there. Was a great break from NC life.

Trip is about 3.5 hours from Raleigh taking 40, 95, 20, to 76.

[Edited on January 15, 2008 at 2:05 AM. Reason : -]

1/15/2008 2:03:03 AM

Atlanta

1/15/2008 4:59:10 AM

The beach, any of them, with their assorted beach activities


Williamsburg Va -- take in a little history


Washington DC -- take in some more history

explore the mountains -- plenty of stuff to do go play on the parkway

1/15/2008 5:09:04 AM

it's not spontaneous if you plan it

1/15/2008 6:13:05 AM

Wow cheesecurd thanks for the link to the Orangepeel. We are going down to Asheville Friday Feb.15th-18th, and Friday night Edwin McCain plays. I think she has some of his CDs, and if she does, I may surprise her and take her out to see him. Thanks for the heads up on that though!

1/15/2008 7:29:31 AM

I went to Williamsburg this past weekend

close to yorktown and jamestown for more history

~3hrs away from my house in brier creek


this is definetly the off time for williamsburg...got a room @ the comfort inn in williamsburg for $50.

1/15/2008 7:36:28 AM

my sis used to work at the orange peel. she got creeped out by george thorogood.

1/15/2008 9:38:29 AM

The zoo!

1/15/2008 9:44:05 AM

It really all depends on who you are with and what you are doing.

Once it warms up a little, and before tourist season post Memorial Day, Ocracoke is a great place to take the significant other for the weekend.

My wife and I used to go there and we loved the beaches. They are generally not crowded since there are no houses built on the beaches and you have to drive over to them. This is the way I like beaches, when you can just barely see the people next to you.

The village has some decent restaurants and some cool pubs.

There is an open air bar that is on the harbor that has live music every afternoon and you can drink and watch people weigh in their catches for the day.

If you like deep sea fishing, Ocracoke is a good jumping off point.



Unfortunately, it can't be totally spontaneous as you have to a place to stay and check the ferry schedule, that is unless you want to take the long drive down the outer banks.

[Edited on January 15, 2008 at 9:55 AM. Reason : sdf]

1/15/2008 9:52:31 AM

It might be worth it to visit Gatlinburg if you will be around Asheville.

1/15/2008 11:41:28 AM

Quote :

"it's not spontaneous if you plan it"

yep - this is called a trip...maybe even a vacation

spontaneous is me waking up in Maryland on Saturday of Memorial Day weekend and deciding with my bro to drive to Newport, RI for the holiday.

[Edited on January 15, 2008 at 12:52 PM. Reason : .]

1/15/2008 12:52:11 PM

winston-salem?

1/15/2008 1:54:16 PM

why would anyone willingly go there

1/15/2008 1:55:38 PM

obx
savannah
grandfather mt
charelston
kings dominion

1/15/2008 1:58:43 PM

yadkin valley has the vineyards, and the wine is really good...

not sure if thats what you're looking for, but we had a great time

1/15/2008 2:29:34 PM

^ indeed

Charleston isn't too far either . . . but that is something you need a long weekend for.

I'm partial to Roanoke, Virginia myself. Its not nearly as exciting as DC or Charleston, but there are some gorgeous spots on the Blue Ridge Parkway around there and the Hotel Roanoke is 1st rate.

1/15/2008 3:55:09 PM

get out a state map, close your eyes, and put your finger on part of the map. then go there. better yet take a different means of travel- train, greyhound, hitchhiking. and do it as cheaply as possible. make it interesting. and just get up and do it, don't plan shit out. you have more fun if it really is sponteneous.

1/15/2008 4:29:04 PM

^ i like this idea

1/15/2008 6:36:06 PM

it sounds like a good idea until your finger lands on jacksonville

1/15/2008 6:45:30 PM

Quote :

"Ocracoke is a great place"

for bugs

1/15/2008 6:51:13 PM

Quote :

"worst band ever."

hey i like them. just found some of their old cds yesterday.

1/17/2008 10:00:57 PM

This may sound a little pedestrian, but get on the train and go to Washington, DC. Parking is a bitch, and costs extra almost everywhere you stay. You'll use a subway or walk to get everywhere anyway, and you don't have to worry about a DD or anything.

1/18/2008 9:36:23 AM

If you take a long weekend and are going with some friends I would suggest Nashville. Especially if you are looking for nightlife. My buddies and I have a long weekend trip planned there this spring.

Spontaneous trips are tough for us though, one guy works in Nascar and travels 26 weekends and the other owns a hardware store and works almost every saturday. If it wasn't for that we'd be pros in local weekend trips.

1/18/2008 10:41:51 AM