Carolina Cities

2011-06-02T14:57:00.003-04:00

MEET CHARLESTON SC:

Darius Rucker, Musician

Most everyone knows his deep Southern drawl and ‘Hootie’ nickname, but some many not know Darius Rucker is a Charleston native who can’t stop singing the praises of his hometown. “I was born here,” Rucker says proudly. “Charleston is embedded in who I am.”

As the frontman for Hootie and the Blowfish in the '90s, Rucker hit international airwaves with songs like “Hold My Hand” and “Only Wanna Be With You” topping the rock charts. The band's 1995 album Cracked Rear View is the 12th best-selling album of all time. As a solo artist, Rucker has released country CDs, Learn to Live and last year's Charleston, SC 1966 revealing his longtime love affair with country music—and Charleston.

In the CD liner notes for Charleston, SC 1966, Rucker says, “I was born, raised and live in the greatest city in the world....You should definitely visit.” The CD’s name is a tribute to an album titled Del Rio, Texas 1959 by Radney Foster, which convinced Rucker to pursue country music. “I’d always liked country music, but that album was the first time I thought I could sing it," Rucker says.

He still lives in Charleston, and says some of his favorite things about the city are the people, history, restaurants, beaches, and weather. “I also like to go out and eat—a lot.” Rucker adds, citing FIG, Oak Steakhouse, Peninsula Grill, Red Drum, and 17 North Roadside Kitchen as his current favorites. He makes time to head back to local live music venues. “I see bands at The Windjammer all the time,” Rucker says. “Music Farm also has great bands.”

Fans might also catch him out on the greens. This self-proclaimed golf addict hits the links at Patriot’s Point, Wild Dunes Resort, and Dunes West. His love affair with golf has led to even more charitable endeavors for the already generous star. During the past two decades, The Hootie and the Blowfish Foundation has donated more than $5 million to 180 causes, including the South Carolina Junior Golf Association. Rucker also sometimes performs at the annual Bulls Bay Golf Challenge in Awendaw benefitting the Medical University of South Carolina Children's Hospital.

Recently, he released a song, "Together, Anything's Possible" to raise money for the PGA TOUR charities. All proceeds from this year's downloads will help causes including The First Tee, an organization dedicated to impacting young lives through golf. And what could be better than golf, music, and a good cause?

Originally published in Southwest Airlines Spirit Magazine

2011-06-02T14:51:00.001-04:00

MEET UPSTATE SC:

Edwin McCain, Musician

Edwin McCain has launched more marriages than many ministers. With wedding-day favorites such as “I’ll Be” and “I Could Not Ask for More,” McCain knows a thing or two about love. And although his legendary touring schedule often takes him away from family and friends, he loves heading back to his hometown of Greenville.

McCain's favorite local haunts include Pita House for Middle Eastern fare and Soby’s New South Cuisine downtown. You may also find him performing at The Peace Center, or spending time with his wife Christy and their three kids at Falls Park and the Greenville Zoo (located in Cleveland Park, a title of one of his songs).

McCain raves about Greenville's live music scene: "The Handlebar has been consistently bringing amazing music to Greenville for the last two decades. Smiley’s Acoustic Café is bringing in some really great talent as well. I’m also putting together an outdoor music series next to Saffron’s [Sidewalk Café]. It’s similar to what they do at Stubb’s in Austin.

And no matter where McCain's tour schedule takes him, you'll find him home in Greenville every September for Euphoria, the food, wine, and music event he co-founded with Greenville restauranteur Carl Sobocinski in 2006.

"It gives us a great chance to show off Greenville," McCain says. "I always invite people during Euphoria because I can show off the town. We have people flying in from all over the world now. It’s a lot of fun."

Originally published in Southwest Airlines Spirit Magazine

2011-01-19T14:49:00.007-05:00

THE SOUL OF SOUTH CAROLINA

Few places in the world can rival this Old World city's blend of grace, beauty, history, and tradition. That's because Charleston, S.C. is lovingly preserved and unique among American destinations.

In this grand old city, church bells still toll the hours and the rhythmic sounds of horse-drawn carriages join in the melody. Visitors can see the antebellum homes and plantations that echo a lifestyle of the old south--and feel and smell the salty sea breeze blowing into the city from beaches of the resort islands nearby.

Shop at the popular open-air public market for native sweetgrass baskets, choose freshly-cut flowers at the Four Corners of Law (an intersection surrounded by government and judicial offices) and search antiques and more along historic King Street. Of course, be sure to taste the delicious seafood and other local delicacies at one of many renowned Charleston restaurants where many chefs specialize in flavorful lowcountry fare (See page 22). Once here, it's easy to understand why residents and visitors never want to leave.

Originally published in AAA Journeys Magazine

Out and About

For an orientation to the area, visit the Charleston Visitor Center at 375 Meeting Street for a multi-sensory presentation called "Forever Charleston," and pick up lots of brochures and information, tour and attraction tickets and the regularly departing DASH Trolley.
There are many urban treasures within walking distance of the Visitor Center, including the Nathanial Russell House, a fine example of Federal architecture built in 1808. It's one of many homes targeted by the city-saving work of the Preservation Society of Charleston and the Historic Charleston Foundation.

Other nearby houses open to the public include the Edmondston-Alston House, the Heyward-Washington House, and the Aiken-Rhett House. The Edmondston-Alston House has a commanding view of Charleston's harbor and a treasure chest of antique family furnishings. The Heyward-Washington House was the home of prominent rice planter Daniel Heyward and once hosted George Washington. The Aiken-Rhett House provides one of the most complete looks at antebellum life in the south at one of Charleston's most palatial residences.

Those who want to explore even more colorful Charleston history can visit: Charles Towne Landing, site of the area's original settlement; the Charleston Museum, America's oldest city museum; The Citadel, one of the last three military state colleges in the nation; or the world's largest naval and maritime museum at Mount Pleasant's Patriots Point, home of the famed World War II aircraft carrier, the Yorktown, and the newly-refurbished interactive Congressional Medal of Honor Museum.

Art lovers will love the Gibbes Museum of Art, which is part of Charleston’s Museum Mile. Opened in 1888, thanks to an endowment by wealthy Charleston merchant James S. Gibbes, the museum stands as a symbol of cultural leadership in Charleston, displaying an intriguing collection of American paintings, prints, and drawings from the 18th to the 20th century. The Gibbes is also the ending point for the popular “South of Broad” walking tour that visits points of interest from Pat Conroy’s ode to Charleston. The popular tour ends at historic Mills House Hotel down the street, which is also featured in the bestseller, along with the Gibbes and many other Charleston locations both north and south of Broad.

For those with more time, Charleston's colorful charms can also be explored a bit further afield, where many plantations are open to visitors. On Ashley River Road, three colonial plantations interpret more than 250 years of rural life in the Lowcountry.

Drayton Hall is preserved in almost original condition after more than 2 1/2 centuries. Considered one of the finest examples of colonial architecture in America, this historic house is the only plantation remaining on the Ashley River that survived the Civil War completely intact.

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens features some of America's oldest and most colorful landscaped gardens. Along with the pre-Revolutionary War home, the famed gardens include a horticultural maze, an herb garden, and the Barbados Tropical Garden. Also located at Magnolia, Audubon Swamp Garden encompasses a unique 60-acre blackwater cypress swamp, crossed by bridges, dikes, and boardwalks.

Middleton Place offers an exploration of an 18th century rice plantation. Laid out by Henry Middleton in 1741, the landscaped gardens are considered the oldest in America. Visitors can also explore the stableyards, complete with animals (including two new water buffalo) and period workers. The house tour provides an inside look at colonial life. For those who want a truly historic stay, it’s easy to spend the night at the architecturally unique Middleton Inn just down a pretty path.

On the other side of Charleston, Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens begins with massive Spanish oaks planted in 1743 by Captain Thomas Boone. Original plantation buildings include nine 18th century slave cabins, built with bricks made on the plantation, and a gin house, used for processing cotton.

Of course, Charleston is also quite close to many excellent beaches and beach resorts. Just ten minutes from downtown Charleston, Folly Beach has maintained a small beach town atmosphere, but has modern resort amenities and the state's longest fishing pier. Other resort beach destinations include Edisto Island, Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s Island, Seabrook Island, and famed Kiawah Island, where golf and beach resort life reign.

Nearby, there are several quaint towns that have become destinations in their own right. Located just across the Cooper River, the town of Mount Pleasant deserves the name, thanks to great seafood just off the boat at restaurants along Shem Creek, the historic village proper, and Patriot’s Point Naval & Maritime Museum (the huge aircraft carrier USS Yorktown is the big draw). To the north of Charleston just up Interstate 26, Summerville offers pretty architecture, a bustling downtown, and Woodlands Inn, a famed plantation-like resort and restaurant.

Charleston offers varied accommodations ranging from modern hotels to quaint bed-and-breakfasts. For a city its size, the dining scene is truly remarkable, with a wide range of restaurants offering creative seafood, southern cooking, and other fare.

Feast on Charleston

Charleston is one of the nation’s premier dining cities. The possibilities for a great meal include: Neighborhood Dining Group (including renowned McCrady’s and chef Sean Brock, the tasty pirate-themed Buccaneer, and Queen Anne’s Revenge up on Daniel Island); Hospitality Management Group (Cypress, Magnolias, and Blossom); Trattoria Lucca (especially Chef Ken Vedrinski’s family supper on Sundays); Circa 1886 (adjacent to Charming Inns’ lovely Wentworth Mansion); Peninsula Grill (featuring Robert Carter’s legendary cooking and the adjacent Planters Inn); Fish; and FIG.

Maverick Southern Kitchens provides one-stop shopping (and eating) for those in town. The business has a popular store for foodies called Charleston Cooks! that’s right on East Bay Street. In addition to kitchenware and much more for sale, its cooking school is located here too.

2010-09-14T12:15:00.002-04:00

HOMEPORT SPOTLIGHT: CHARLESTON

With the debut of year-round cruises aboard the Carnival Fantasy this past spring, the historic port of Charleston, South Carolina served notice that this historic port is making waves--again. Though the city has served as a convenient seasonal homeport for several lines since 9/11, Carnival Cruise Lines' decision shined the spotlight on what many already knew: Charleston is charming.

“Carnival Fantasy’s new year-round program from Charleston has been a huge success, providing consumers with a variety of affordable five-, six-and seven-day cruises to the Bahamas, Key West, and Bermuda from a convenient and attractive homeport,” says Terry Thornton, Carnival’s senior vice president of marketing planning. “Not only is Charleston within a day’s drive for millions of residents of the southeastern U.S., but the city is also an appealing tourist destination and many of our guests are opting to extend their vacation with a pre- or post-cruise land stay in the Holy City.”

Originally published in Cruise Travel

Charleston is certainly not new to the cruise business, but the port is new to year-round embarkations. For more than 35 years, the city’s well-situated cruise terminal (located at the foot of Market Street and bustling City Market) has welcomed cruise ships of varying sizes. The ships were lured by lots of locals, including the organization “Destination Charleston,” which is made up of the Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Charleston County Aviation Authority, and the South Carolina State Ports Authority.

The Charleston peninsula’s charms have been attracting seagoing visitors for centuries. Set at the intersection of the Ashley and Cooper rivers and less than six miles from the Atlantic Ocean, it’s easy to see why sailors, shipping lines, cruise ship companies, and even a few pirates have historically been drawn to this waterlogged town. “Charleston’s convenient location combined with its rich history, unique architectural sites and landmarks, and vibrant waterfront makes it the ideal choice as a “Fun Ship” departure point,” Carnival’s Thornton adds.

Charleston’s location is ideal for a regional drive market that includes the Carolinas, Tennessee, Georgia, and Virginia. Beyond the close-in resident, the city’s position as one of the premier travel brands in all of North America means that its cruise market extends to a proven market of more than 33.5 million households. In addition, the region’s travel community got a big shot in the arm when Southwest announced it would begin service to Charleston in 2011, complimenting more than 110 existing daily flights between Charleston and 14 cities.

To give cruise ships and passengers white glove service, Charleston relies on a broad partnership of public and private sector. Ship suppliers, ground handlers, the Charleston County Aviation Authority, stevedores and labor, the Convention & Visitors Bureau, ship agents, the Ports Authority, and U.S. Customs all work collaboratively in a close-knit team.

In addition to the Carnival Fantasy round-trips, Charleston also features a number of port calls from other lines. The city expects more than 65 embarkations and port-calls this year and 90-plus in 2011. Besides Carnival, other lines that call include Aida, Celebrity, Cruise West, Crystal, Cunard, Hapag-Lloyd, Holland America, Oceania, P&O, Princess, Regent Seven Seas, and Seabourn. (American Cruise Lines frequently uses the Charleston City Marina on the other side of town.)

While 2010 will be the city’s biggest cruise season yet, efforts to revamp the port's infrastructure are underway. Charleston has initiated a major redevelopment of its passenger terminal and the surrounding area. The port is working to have a new world-class cruise facility operational by the 2012 sailing season, replacing its existing terminal. The South Carolina State Ports Authority’s plan, developed in conjunction with the community, is to shift its cruise operations north of the existing terminal. Charleston’s new cruise terminal would remain in the heart of the historic district in a converted 151,200-square-foot building, with ample and adjacent surface parking. The Ports Authority is also evaluating proposals and aims to have a new passenger-loading bridge under contract this summer and operational for the 2011 cruise season. The next step is to retain an architectural/design firm for the new terminal building and surrounding area.

Located in the heart of historic Charleston, the current and future passenger terminal could not be more convenient for those enjoying a day docked downtown--or extending their vacation with the already popular pre/post-cruise stays. In keeping with the city’s welcoming nature, the Convention & Visitors Bureau (www.charlestoncvb.com) even sets up a mini-Visitor Center right at the cruise terminal when ships are in port. Callers also to head to the Charleston Visitor Center at 375 Meeting Street for a multi-sensory presentation called "Forever Charleston," lots of brochures and information, many tour and attraction tickets, and even the regularly departing DASH Trolley that runs throughout the historic district. Another popular initiative has been the creation of the web site www.charlestoncruisepackages.com that's packed with hotel discounts and value-added packages (like free parking), as well as discount coupons for Charleston-area restaurants, shopping, attractions, tours, and more. Attesting to the popularity of the "Charleston Cruise Packages," there are more than 60 properties participating in the program.

For more information on cruising from Charleston, log on to www.scspa.com, the web site of the South Carolina State Ports Authority. For more information on attractions in the Charleston area, log on to www.explorecharleston.com.

2010-05-25T09:45:00.001-04:00

ONE-TANK TRIP: BLUFFTON, SC

Situated minutes from modern Hilton Head Island, but seemingly in another time zone, historic Bluffton and nearby Palmetto Bluff make for a truly special one-tank getaway along the South Carolina coast.

Founded in the early 1800s on the banks and bluffs of the May River, historic Bluffton is a classic Lowcountry town. Once a summer residence of a local plantation owner, Heyward House Historic Center at 70 Boundary St. is the place to go for insider info on the town.

Originally published in Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Don’t miss

• A walking tour of the historic district using a brochure provided by the historic center.
• The stunning waterfront Church of the Cross, a wooden Gothic-style structure that was built between 1854 and 1857.
• Buying fresh seafood right off the docks from the Bluffton Oyster Co., established in 1899 and featuring fresh May River oysters in season.
• Shopping and perusing boutiques and galleries around Calhoun Street. Maye River Gallery (37 Calhoun St.) and Jacob Preston Studio (10 Church St.) are best bets.
• Dining and entertainment at Pepper’s Porch on May River Road. Located in an old drying barn, the popular restaurant’s tagline is “Where Seafood and Culture Come Together.” Locals also swear by the home cooking and friendly service at Squat & Gobble.

Home away from home

Many chain hotels lie along U.S. 278 just outside town. However, those in the know head to Palmetto Bluff as their Bluffton base.

Palmetto Bluff is a Lowcountry sea island that extends into the May River, skirts the islands of Bull and Daufuskie to the east, and gives way to ancient freshwater rice fields on the New River to the west. That is the setting for the residential and resort community Village at Palmetto Bluff.

The 22,000-acre property features a variety of overnight accommodations at the Inn at Palmetto Bluff, including house rentals. But for a memorable experience, consider a stay at one of the cottages or cottage suites at the Inn at Palmetto Bluff. With their peaceful water views, vaulted ceilings, pine floors, steam showers, fireplaces, luxury linens and screened-in porches, they’re well worth the nightly rate.

Managed by Auberge Resorts of Napa Valley’s Auberge du Soleil fame, the resort boasts every amenity imaginable, including riding stables, four swimming pools, a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course, eight tennis courts, a spa, a gym, several restaurants and the complimentary use of canoes, kayaks and fishing poles.

IF YOU GO

How to get there
From Atlanta, take I-75 south to I-16 east to I-95 north to U.S. 278 east toward Bluffton. It’s about 275 miles away. Bluffton is about 30 minutes from Savannah International Airport.

Where to stay
The Inn at Palmetto Bluff. Cottages start around $475 per night, cottage suites start at $700 and houses start at $1,000. 476 Mount Pelia Road, Bluffton; 843-706-6500, 1-866-706-6565, www.palmettobluffresort.com

Where to eat
Pepper’s Porch. Serves steaks and seafood 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays. Menu features seafood and steaks. Check out the entertainment at the Back Bar. Dinner entrees $11-$22. 1255 May River Road; 843-757-2295, http://www.peppersporch.org/

Squat & Gobble. Homey food and atmosphere. Entrees $5-$10. 1231 May River Road; 843-757-4242.

Canoe Club Restaurant. Stunning waterfront setting and a tapas-style menu highlighting seafood. 6-9:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays. $12-$26. Palmetto Bluff, 476 Mount Pelia Road, Bluffton; 843-706-6500, 1-866-706-6565, www.palmettobluffresort.com

Information
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce and Visitor & Convention Bureau. 1 Chamber Drive, Hilton Head Island; 843-785-3673, 1-800-523-3373, www.hiltonheadisland.org

2010-05-25T09:39:00.000-04:00

CHARLESTON CHARMS:

THE LOWDOWN ON THE LOWCOUNTRY

When you visit Charleston, you're sure to hear the story of a wealthy old Charlestonian woman who was once asked why she so seldom traveled. She replied, "My dear, why should I travel when I'm already here?"

It's easy to understand this woman's complacence, because few places on earth can rival Charleston's blend of grace, beauty, history, and tradition. Charleston has a way of charming visitors (and residents) so that they never want to leave.

Originally published in New York Post

Charleston is an "old world" city, lovingly preserved and unique among American destinations. In this grand old city, church bells still toll the hours and the rhythmic sounds of horse-drawn carriages join in the melody. You can see the antebellum homes and plantations that echo a lifestyle of the old south and you can feel and smell the salty sea breeze blowing into the city from the ‘lowcountry’ and resort islands surrounding the city. Then you can taste the delicious fresh seafood at one of many renowned Charleston restaurants.

Many visitors to Charleston become so entranced with the downtown area that they fail to venture out into the quiet lowcountry area of low-lying coastal plains, sandy shorelines, salt marshes, rivers, creeks, and estuaries encircling Charleston. In many ways, this land is what made Charleston possible, thanks to the rice plantations (wealthy plantation owners built the ‘city’ homes now popular with restorers and sightseers).

Charleston’s lowcountry is ideal for a wide variety of visitor interests. The possibilities include: paddling a kayak on an ecotourism trip, visiting (or even spending the night at) former rice plantations; stopping by a current tea plantation--the only one in the U.S.; buying native sweetgrass baskets from women along the side of the road; visiting the new South Carolina Aquarium; or simply savoring traditional low-country cooking at one of many local restaurants.

Perhaps the best way to get the lowdown on the lowcountry is with a guided kayak trip or small tour boat. Many companies offer outings, including: Coastal Expeditions; Cap’n Richard’s ACE Basin Nature Tours; and a wide variety of offerings from out on the Isle of Palms Wild Dunes Resort (a beach resort that’s also a great base for lowcountry touring). For these tours, experienced guides provide great background on the history and ecology of the lowcountry. If you want to experience the lowcountry without floating on it, many area parks provide paths, boardwalks, and more (see ‘Fast Facts’ for suggestions).

Out Ashley River Road, three colonial plantations interpret more than 250 years of rural life in the lowcountry. Drayton Hall is preserved in almost original condition after more than 2 1/2 centuries and visitors will enjoy learning how seven generations of Draytons lived and worked at this home and on the surrounding land.

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens features some of America's oldest and most colorful landscaped gardens. Built in the 1670s, it has been the continuous residence for ten generations of Drayton descendants. Also located at Magnolia, Audubon Swamp Garden is the south's newest garden and encompasses a unique 60-acre blackwater cypress swamp, crossed by bridges, dikes, and boardwalks.

Middleton Place offers an 18th century rice plantation. Visitors can also explore the stableyards, complete with animals and period workers. For those who want a true lowcountry experience, you can even spend the night at the convenient, comfortable, and architecturally unique Middleton Inn.

Just 15 miles south of Charleston on Wadmalaw Island, Charleston Tea Plantation boasts the only tea grown in America. The tea is called American Classic and its smooth fresh taste has won it White House acclaim. The tea bushes of the plantation are directly descended from the original plants brought to the colonies from India, China, and Ceylon more than 100 years ago.

On the other side of Charleston, up US 17 North, Boone Hall Plantation begins with a 3/4-mile drive lined with massive Spanish oaks planted in 1743 by Captain Thomas Boone. Original plantation buildings include nine 18th century slave cabins, built with bricks made on the plantation, and a gin house, used for processing cotton. All along US 17 North, you’ll also find local women weaving (and selling) the famed sweetgrass baskets, making for an ideal lowcountry memento (be sure to ask the women about lowcountry African American history and ‘Gullah’ culture).

If you’re trip to Charleston is short and you don’t have time for these nearby excursions, the lowcountry can now be seen right downtown. Just opened in mid-May, the South Carolina Aquarium sits right on the Charleston Harbor and takes visitors on a trip from the state’s mountains to the Atlantic Ocean (including several areas covering the coastal plains, with birds, fish, tropical plants, and more).

Lowcountry cooking, which features local seafood, game products, rice, grits, and other southern standards, should be a part of any Charleston visit. Top choices for lowcountry cuisine include: any of the seafood restaurants along Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant; Louis’s; Hominy Grill; Magnolia’s; Anson; and Seewee Restaurant up on U.S. 17 North.

From former rice plantations to true grits, it’s easy to see why the lowdown on Charleston’s lowcountry is colorful and charming. Once you visit, you'll understand why residents (and visitors) never want to leave. They, too, know they're already there.

FAST FACTS
*Contact the Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at (800) 868-8118 or visit their website (www.charlestoncvb.com).
*Direct service from the New York area to Charleston is available with Continental (Newark); Delta (Laguardia); and USAirways (Laguardia). USAirways offers the most frequent service to the city, while Midway, Trans World Express, and United Express also offer connecting service.
*Ecotourism excursions: Coastal Expeditions (843/884-7684); Cap’n Richard’s ACE Basin Nature Tour (843/766-9664); and a wide variety of offerings from out on the Isle of Palms Wild Dunes Resort (800/845-8880).
*Parks: Audubon Sanctuary & Center (843/462-2150); Francis Marion National Forest (843/336-3248); Old Santee Canal State Park (843/899-5200); Palmetto Islands County Park (843/884-0832); and Sewee Visitor & Environmental Education Center (843/928-3368).
*Plantations: Drayton Hall (843/769-2600); Magnolia Plantation and Gardens (800/367-3517); Middleton Place (800/782-3608); Charleston Tea Plantation (843/559.0308); Boone Hall Plantation (843/884-4371).
*Shopping for sweetgrass baskets: Along with the women out on U.S. 17 North, sweetgrass baskets can be found along the streets of downtown Charleston and in the Old City Market.
*South Carolina Aquarium: Corner of Calhoun and Charleston, Charleston Harbor (888/343-9899).
*Lowcountry cuisine: any of the seafood restaurants along Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant; Louis’s (843/853-2350); Hominy Grill (843/937-0930); Magnolia’s (843/577-7771); Anson (843/577-0551); and Seewee Restaurant (843/928-3609).

2010-05-25T09:33:00.000-04:00

ONLY A DAY IN......

CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA

Charming South Carolina Port Rolls Out the Welcome Mat for Cruise Callers

Even those in Charleston only for a single day are sure to hear the story of a wealthy old Charlestonian woman who was once asked why she so seldom traveled. Puzzled, she replied, "My dear, why should I travel when I'm already here?"

It's easy to understand this woman's complacency, because few places on earth can rival Charleston's blend of grace, beauty, history, and tradition. Charleston has a way of charming visitors so that they never want to leave--even if they’re boarding a ship bound for other far-flung ports.

Charleston is a natural as a popular port for visiting cruise ships--and a growing number are calling on the city or using it as a port of embarkation and debarkation. The deep Charleston Harbor has always welcomed huge commercial ships, but cruise liners--and their passengers--are becoming much more common. Located right in the heart of historic Charleston, the Passenger Terminal couldn’t be more convenient for those enjoying a day docked in town or a pre- or post-cruise stay (which is highly recommended, given all there is to see and do).

Originally published in Cruise Travel Magazine

Charleston is a historic town, lovingly preserved and unique among American destinations. In this grand old city, church bells still toll the hours and the rhythmic sounds of horse-drawn carriages join in the melody. Visitors in town for just the day still have time to see the antebellum homes and plantations that echo a lifestyle of the Old South--and feel and smell the salty seabreeze blowing into the city from beaches of the resort islands nearby. They can also taste the delicious fresh seafood and other local delicacies at one of many renowned Charleston restaurants open for lunch, where many chefs specialize in flavorful “Lowcountry“ fare.

Whether taking a carriage tour, shopping at the popular open-air public market for native sweetgrass baskets, choosing freshly-cut flowers at the Four Corners of Law (an intersection surrounded by government and judicial offices), looking for antiques and more along historic King Street, pursuing plantation life, or combing beautiful beaches, a Charleston visit is always a sensational sensory experience.

In the city and out on the plantations, America's oldest gardens explode with vibrant colors and are a delight, as the scent of the flora is like no other and the vision of the alluring azaleas, roses, and camellias are almost too exquisite to capture with a camera. Charleston is beautiful and aristocratic, where century-old houses peek at visitors from behind gates that are alive with Carolina Jessamine, the state flower of South Carolina. If one happens to be in Charleston during the spring or fall, some of the oldest and grandest homes and gardens are open to the public.

In keeping with the city’s welcoming nature, the Convention & Visitors Bureau even sets up a mini-Visitor Center right at the Passenger Terminal when ships are in port. Visitors will also want to head to the Charleston Visitor Center at 375 Meeting Street. Here, with a multi-sensory presentation called "Forever Charleston," gather lots of brochures and information, purchase tour and attraction tickets, and even board the regularly departing DASH Trolley.

Many urban treasures are easily found within walking distance of the cruise ship dock, including the Nathanial Russell House, a fine example of Federal architecture built in 1808 and one of many homes targeted by the city-saving work of the Preservation Society of Charleston and the Historic Charleston Foundation. Other nearby houses open to the public include the Edmondston-Alston House, the Heyward-Washington House, and the Aiken-Rhett House. The Edmondston-Alston House, a treasure trove of antique family furnishings, has a commanding view of Charleston's harbor. The Heyward-Washington House was the home of prominent rice planter Daniel Heyward and once hosted George Washington. The Aiken-Rhett, one of Charleston's most palatial residences, provides a quite complete look at antebellum life in the South.

More "must-sees" in downtown Charleston include White Point Gardens (commonly called "The Battery"); the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon (both from slavery days); and at least one of the town's historic churches. Everything is within walking distance for most visitors, just easy strolls down tree-lined streets.

Those who want to explore even more colorful Charleston history can visit Charles Towne Landing, site of the area's original settlement; Charleston Museum, America's oldest city museum; The Citadel, one of the last three military state colleges in the nation; or the world's largest naval and maritime museum at Mount Pleasant's Patriots Point--home of the famed WWII aircraft carrier, USS Yorktown and the newly-refurbished interactive Congressional Medal of Honor Museum. One can also see the area as the first settlers did in 1670--by water--or an interesting boat cruise that starts at the Charleston marina and goes up the harbor to the Charleston Naval Base or to Fort Sumter, where the Civil War began.

Art lovers will love the colors at the Gibbes Museum of Art. Begun in 1888, thanks to an endowment by wealthy Charleston merchant James S. Gibbes, the museum stands as a symbol of cultural leadership in Charleston, displaying an intriguing collection of American paintings, prints, and drawings from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. The museum provides visitors with a comprehensive view of Charleston scenes and South Carolina notables, as well as 400 miniature portraits (one of the oldest and finest collection of its kind). There are also 10 historic rooms painstakingly reproduced and scaled down by four craftsmen, ranging from the simple dining room of a Martha's Vineyard sea captain to the elaborate drawing room of Charleston's historic Nathaniel Russell House.

For those with more time, Charleston's colorful charms can also be explored a bit further afield, where many plantations are open to visitors. Out Ashley River Road, three colonial plantations interpret more than 250 years of rural life in the Lowcountry.

Drayton Hall, despite being more than 250 years old, is preserved in almost original condition. Considered one of the finest examples of colonial architecture in America, this historic house is the only plantation remaining on the Ashley River that survived the Civil War completely intact. Visitors will enjoy learning how seven generations of Draytons lived and worked at this home and on the surrounding land.

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens features some of America's oldest and most colorful landscaped gardens. Built in the 1670s, it has been the continuous residence for 10 generations of Drayton descendants. Alongside the pre-revolutionary summer home of the Draytons, the famed gardens include a horticultural maze, an herb garden, and the Barbados Tropical Garden. Also located at Magnolia, Audubon Swamp Garden encompasses a unique 60-acre blackwater cypress swamp, crossed by bridges, dikes, and boardwalks.

Middleton Place is a fine example of an 18th century rice plantation. Laid out by Henry Middleton in 1741, the landscaped gardens are considered the oldest in America. Visitors can also explore the stableyards, complete with animals (including two new water buffalo) and period-dressed workers. The house tour provides an inside look at Colonial life. For those who want a truly historic stay, it’s easy to spend the night at the architecturally unique Middleton Inn just down a pretty path.

On the other side of Charleston, Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens is entered along a three-quarter mile drive lined with massive Spanish oaks planted in 1743 by Captain Thomas Boone. Original plantation buildings include nine 18th century slave cabins built with bricks made on the plantation, and a gin house, used for processing cotton.

Just 15 miles south of Charleston on Wadmalaw Island, Charleston Tea Plantation boasts the only tea grown in North America. Called American Classic, its smooth fresh taste has won it White House acclaim. The tea bushes of the plantation are directly descended from the original plants brought to the colonies from India, China, and Ceylon more than 100 years ago. Owner William Barclay Hall prides himself on the freshness of their tea-- the freshest available on American shelves.

Of course, Charleston is also quite close to many excellent beaches and beach resorts. Folly Beach, just 10 minutes from downtown, has maintained a small beach-town atmosphere, but has modern resort amenities and the state's longest fishing pier. Other resort beach destinations include Edisto Island, Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s Island, Seabrook Island, and famed Kiawah Island, where golf and beach-resort life reigns. Visitors can definitely have their historic Charleston and beach it too.

Whether in the city, out on the plantations, or at the beach, Charleston is also a city of celebration and special events. The most popular include: the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition (February), the Charleston Food & Wine Festival (early March), the Festival of Houses and Gardens (March/April); Spoleto Festival USA (May/June), the Fall Candlelight Tour of Homes (September/October), and Christmas in Charleston (late-November through early-January).

Area accommodations run the gamut from modern hotels to quaint bed & breakfasts; near the Passenger Terminal is a wide range of pre-/post-cruise options. For a city its size, Charleston has a truly remarkable dining scene, with creative seafood, Southern cooking, and a vast choice of other great fare.

From one of America's premier historic downtowns to some of the nation's finest plantations and out to the beaches, Charleston is always colorful and charming. Once there, it’s easy to understand why residents (and visitors) never want to leave. They, too, know they're already there.

NCL's Norwegian Majesty is homeported in Charleston, setting sail on weeklong Bahamas and Florida cruises every Saturday through April 25, 2009 (followed by a few Bermuda itineraries in May). Ships from other lines--including American, Carnival, Celebrity, Crystal, Holland America, Regent Seven Seas, Royal Caribbean, Princess, and Seabourn--occassionally call on and sometimes homeport in Charleston. Excellent information for cruiseship passengers is on the South Carolina State Ports Authority web site, www.scspa.com.

For more information, contact your travel agent or the Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (Cruise Travel Magazine), 423 King Street, Charleston, SC 29403; call (800) 868-8118; or log on to www.charlestoncvb.com.

2010-05-25T09:30:00.001-04:00

ONE-TANK TRIP: GREENVILLE, SC

In less than 25 years, downtown Greenville has gone from decidedly derelict to tasteful and tasty. Nationally recognized revitalization efforts brought Main Street and environs back from the dead, with world-class culture, varied activities, superb shopping and a flavorful dining scene unmatched by many much larger downtown areas across the country. Downtown’s diminutive size means visitors can park their car at their accommodations of choice and not need it again until it’s time to head back to the Atlanta area (just walk or take the frequent Downtown Trolley running on Main Street).

City makeover

The transformation of downtown from generally empty buildings and streets to one with people day and night, busy hotels, shops, restaurants, urban living spaces and even a perpetually packed minor league baseball stadium is one that has both locals and past visitors raving.

Originally published in Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Falls Park on the Reedy has been the centerpiece of development at the southern end of Main Street, with 32 acres of green space flanking the banks of the Reedy River. A stunning curved pedestrian bridge called Liberty Bridge provides great views of the park and falls, with two amphitheaters making for pretty event spaces.

In addition, a sparkling new downtown baseball stadium opened in 2006, incorporating adjacent West End warehouses and even including a miniature “green monster,” patterned after the left field wall at Boston’s Fenway Park, for a “Single A” affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. The Greenville Drive (an ode to local driving-oriented companies like BMW and Michelin) play from early April to late August.

Along with hotels, event venues and restaurants, the shopping scene has also exploded.

Unique shopping

Locally owned and operated shops like Plaza Suite (ask about locally designed Beija Flor jeans), Talloni (look for handbags by local designer Brianna Krebsbach) and The Cook’s Station all make it easy to “shop local.”

There’s also a sprawling version of the regional Mast General Store “chain” right on Main (think upscale mountain-lifestyle clothes and accessories — this is South Carolina’s “Upcountry” after all). Weekend visitors will also want to check out Main Street’s bustling Saturday Market for fresh snacks, produce and tasty souvenirs to take back to home kitchens.

Special dishes

For both locals and visitors, one of the most obvious differences in downtown is the dining scene. There’s been a complete shift from fast food fixes to a large number of diverse restaurants and chefs that rival anything found in Atlanta.

In many ways, this tasty transformation can be traced to the opening of Soby’s New South Cuisine in 1997. In a century-old building on Main, founding partners Carl Sobocinski, Culinary Institute of America grad David Williams and others saw the possibilities of turning downtown into a dining destination.

Now part of the Table 301 group of food-oriented ventures, Soby’s was hugely successful from the start. Carl and company’s offerings now include: Soby’s on the Side (a deli-bakery next door to Soby’s, with fresh breakfast and lunch options); Devereaux’s (where up-and-coming star chef Steven Devereaux Greene is a stickler for perfection on the plate); Restaurant O (think upscale comfort food); and The Lazy Goat (contemporary Mediterranean fare).

After Soby’s success, many other renowned restaurants were soon on the downtown menu. Notable options include: High Cotton Maverick Bar & Grill (a hip Greenville version of the longtime favorite from Charleston); Larkin’s on the River (“aged steaks, fresh fish, old wine”); and Pomegranate on Main (Persian-style kebabs and atmosphere that’s perfect for lunch).

Also highly recommended is American Grocery on Main Street’s “West End,” where four friends obsessed with fresh food and wine have taken farm-to-table dining to another level.

IF YOU GO

Where to stay
• Westin Poinsett. Built in 1925, this historic hotel often has a BMW parked out front that will take guests to the varied programs of the nearby BMW Performance Driving Center (BMW will also pick up at other hotels). Doubles from $139, 120 S. Main St., 864-421-9700, 1-800-368-7764, www.westin.com. • Pettigru Place Bed and Breakfast. Doubles from $99, 302 Pettigru St., 864-242-4529 or 1-877-362-4644, www.pettigruplace.com.

Where to eat
• Table 301 restaurant group. This group of restaurants features an array of delectable downtown options, with varying atmospheres, menus and prices. www.table301.com. • High Cotton Maverick Bar & Grill. Entrees $21-$38, 550 S. Main St., www.mavericksouthernkitchens.com. • Larkin’s on the River. Entrees $22-$38, 318 S. Main St., www.larkinsontheriver.com. • Pomegranate on Main. Lunch entrees $9-$15, 618 S. Main St., www.pomegranateonmain.com. • American Grocery. Entrees $25-$32, 732 S. Main St., www.americangr.com.

More information
• Greenville Convention & Visitors Bureau: www.2hourstogreenville.com, www.greenvillecvb.com, 1-800-717-0023, 864-233-0461. • Visitors Center. In City Hall at 206 S. Main St.

How to get there
From Atlanta, take I-85 north to downtown Greenville. The drive is about 2 1/2 hours.

2010-05-25T09:12:00.000-04:00

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

MEANS MAJOR FUN IN DOWNTOWN WINSTON-SALEM

With Opening Day in early April, downtown baseball has most definitely arrived in Winston-Salem! After the start of construction back in August of 2007, the sparkling new gem of a ballpark is part of the new rage of successful downtown ballparks dotting the nation’s landscape.

When the Winston-Salem Warthogs played the 2008 Carolina League playoff game with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans on September 6th, it ended the historic Ernie Shore Field era. The final out also marked the exciting beginning of downtown baseball for the city.

Originally published in Visit Winston-Salem Visitors Guide

Goodbye to Ernie Shore Field

Opened in 1956 and renovated in 1993 and 2001, Ernie Shore Field was one of the venerable old minor league stadiums that could be found throughout North Carolina and the rest of the southeast. It was named for Yadkin County native Ernie Shore, who spent seven years in the majors with the Red Sox and the Yankees and eventually returned to Winston-Salem.

With lots of brick and a wide concourse behind the seating bowl, Ernie Shore was a great place to see a ballgame for more than a half-century. Teams including the Twins, the Red Birds, the Red Sox, and the Spirits called the stadium home over the years. The Warthogs began play at Ernie Shore in 1995. The stadium welcomed its five millionth fan in 2008! Good to know that this park will become part of the ACC family, and will be home to the Wake Forest Demon Deacons beginning Spring of 2009.

Hello to Downtown Baseball

Ideally situated at Business 40 between Broad Street and Peter’s Creek Parkway, the new stadium is a short stroll from the Winston-Salem Visitor Center (be sure to stop by for ticket upgrade possibilities, popcorn, or other surprises!). The intimate ballpark features 5,500 permanent seats, including several popular picnic areas (Ernie Shore Field held about 6,200). There’s also seating for about 600 on the grass berm (yet another popular feature at new minor league ballparks), and a great place for kids to catch a foul ball or two.

Highlights of the new ballpark and game day experience include: the incredible downtown views from various parts of the stadium; the luxury suites; the all-inclusive club restaurant; and the promotions that folks have come to know from the Ernie Shore Field.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame (and Stadium)

When baseball fans talk about going to a game, the stadium is often mentioned as much as the score. That’s thanks to an incredibly wide variety of stadium styles, sizes, and overall experiences--many of which can be found at Winston-Salem’s new ballpark.

In many ways, the Minor League stadium craze (both new and refurbished) started at the majors with the 1992 opening of Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore. This throwback to earlier stadiums (but with all the modern amenities) was anything but cookie-cutter and it’s major success and popularity led to the construction of many similar but smaller versions at the minor league level.

There have been dozens of highly successful stadiums built in the classic style within the last 15 years or so. Winston-Salem‘s newest stadium is now on that list. This new stadium features popular options like: open concourses (to watch the action while waiting at the concessions stand); an array of food options (including food and beverage service at some seats and all you can eat or drink options); luxury boxes; multi-million-dollar scoreboards; more numerous and larger bathrooms; and family-friendly attractions and activities to get young ones interested in the national pastime, including the beloved merry-go-round for Winston-Salem’s kids and kids at heart.

2010-05-25T09:09:00.000-04:00

ZESTY DESINATION: WINSTON-SALEM, NC

In This Town, It's All About the Hot Sauce

With a name like Texas Pete®, you'd think this popular hot sauce hailed from the Lone Star State. Folks in Winston-Salem, NC know better. The spicy sauce was created, and is still produced, in their state. The origin of Texas Pete is a great little history for heat lovers.

Texas Pete’s Zesty History Lesson

The now-legendary story about the naming of the sauce goes something like this. “My uncle, Thad Garner, plus his father, mother and two of his brothers, actually started this business back in 1929--when my uncle bought a small barbecue stand and sauce recipe,” said Reg Garner, president of the company that produces Texas Pete. As the tale goes, customers of the barbecue stand kept requesting a spicier sauce, so the Garners created a new recipe using red peppers and a still-secret blend of other ingredients (vinegar was and is a key ingredient).

Originally published in Chile Pepper

In discussing a name for the unique new sauce, one of the brothers suggested the name, “Mexican Joe.” But father Samuel felt the name should be more "American", saying, “Maybe Texas…but, Texas what?” At that moment, Sam’s eyes fell upon his son, Harold, who was nicknamed Pete…and the name Texas Pete was born.

Millions of gallons later, Texas Pete Hot Sauce is the classic condiment for many foods throughout the southeastern U.S. and the rest of the world. The Garners say folks in Winston-Salem love it on their eggs, chicken wings, pizza, potato salad, and practically everything else. Many restaurants in the area keep the bottles on every table, right along with the salt and pepper--and they also include the good stuff in a variety of menu staples.

Now called the TW Garner Food Company, this spicy Winston-Salem company is in its fourth generation, with five direct descendents of the founders working there. And they've become much more than a long-time manufacturer of a single hot sauce. They began producing popular jams, jellies, and preserves for soldiers at Fort Bragg during World War II and many varieties are still made today. In the 1950s, TW Garner became the first company to manufacture canned Chili Sauce, which is typically used as a topping for hamburgers and hot dogs.

Throughout the 20th century, the company expanded the line to keep up with flavor trends. Early on, they came up with Texas Pete Seafood Cocktail Sauce, which has become a Southern staple. The 1970s saw the addition of Texas Pete Honey Mustard Sauce (great with baked beans), and in the 1980s, Texas Pete Buffalo Style Chicken Wing Barbecue Sauce debuted.

In 2004, TW Garner purchased Vermont’s Green Mountain Gringo®. This purchase was a natural complement to the legacy of Texas Pete. Green Mountain Gringo products include salsas from mild to hot--we love the Roasted Chile Pepper--and corn tortilla strips.

The company also continues to capitalize on the popularity of the Texas Pete brand. Earlier this year, they came out with two new flavors: Texas Pete Hotter Hot Sauce and Texas Pete Garlic Hot Sauce. Both have the vinegar-based tang for which the original Texas Pete is well-known, with the heat index tripled in the former and a nice hint of garlic in the latter.

While TW Garner's Winston-Salem headquarters doesn’t host visitors for tours , partly owing to the fact that the recipe for Texas Pete is still a secret, the reception area does have an array of gifts and gear for sale. Many of the items feature the Texas Pete logo, which depicts a cowboy about to lasso some serious flavor. Purchase possibilities include various gift boxes, hats, tumblers, mugs, mouse pads, T-shirts, golf shirts, clocks, golf bags, and even a bright red “koozie” in the shape of a cowboy boot. Reg Garner or one of the other family members just might be passing through the lobby, offering visitors a brush with some zesty history far from the Lone Star State.

The Rest of Winston-Salem

For those pesky stretches in between Texas Pete-spiced meals, Winston-Salem offers an array of sightseeing options.

A great place to start is the Winston-Salem Visitor Center, situated between modern downtown Winston-Salem and historic Old Salem, and housed in a renovated 1837 cotton mill at 200 Brookstown Avenue. From there, it’s an easy stroll to Old Salem Museums & Gardens, a historic area simulating the 1700s, when the town had a thriving Moravian community. Stroll the quaint town, chat with appropriately attired interpreters, visit the three museums and do some shopping. Be sure to sample the paper-thin, gingery Moravian Cookies.

In the very modern downtown area, it’s fun to explore the thriving Downtown Arts District, with an eclectic collection of studios, galleries, and restaurants. If you shop ‘til you drop, quench your thirst or snack attack by dropping into the huge new Foothills Brewing location on Fourth Street.

Further afield, varied historical highlights include Reynolda Village, which was once part of tobacco baron R.J. Reynolds’ 1,067-acre estate; Historic Bethabara Park, where the first North Carolina Moravians settled; and the Winston Cup Museum, which preserves early NASCAR history.

Where to Stay

We found two notable options that make for a unique Winston-Salem stay. The Brookstown Inn is located in the same old cotton mill as the Visitor Center. Highlights of this convenient 70-room hotel include spacious rooms, lots of exposed brick walls, friendly service, a wine and cheese reception each evening featuring North Carolina wines, late-night cookies and milk, and a big Continental breakfast (be sure to top the sausage-and-egg biscuit with Texas Pete).

The second option, the Henry F. Shaffner House Bed & Breakfast, is just around the corner. Built in 1907, it was the home of Shaffner, a co-founder of Wachovia Loan and Trust Company. Hosts Michelle Watson and Chris Hughes welcome overnight guests with a tour of the sprawling house, wine and cheese reception with NC wines, a choice of differently decorated rooms, and a hearty homemade breakfast prepared by Michelle.

Where to Eat

Area chefs sure like their Texas Pete. At Sweet Potatoes restaurant in the heart of the Downtown Arts District, co-owners Vivian Joiner and Stephanie Tyson crank out uptown, down-home Southern cooking. The mambo chicken sandwich features a fried boneless chicken breast on a Kaiser roll, with a side of spicy mambo sauce that definitely boasts its share of Texas Pete--Vivian calls it a “sauce with attitude”. As a point of local pride, Chef Stephanie only uses North Carolina sweet potatoes--a delicious ingredient in the biscuits that grace version of the hot brown sandwich.

South by Southwest, with its Mexican and Southwestern menu, is also a delectable downtown option. Grilled fish soft tacos feature local fresh fish caught in the Atlantic less than 200 miles to the east. They also have an excellent premium tequila list and a range of creative “cactus cocktails”--try the Spider-Byte. If owner andchef Pat Burke is around, say hi--he’s considered the local expert on all things chile pepper.

The ‘burbs of Winston-Salem feature several other zesty restaurants, offering barbecue, seriously spiced wings and more. When you leave the confines of downtown proper, they don’t stop pouring the Texas Pete.

For some classic ’cue, it’s hard to beat Hill’s Lexington Barbecue, which is within sniffing distance of Texas Pete HQ. The Hill family has been serving up Lexington-style (think vinegar) chopped barbecue sandwiches and more since 1951. There's Texas Pete on the counter and many of the company’s employees are lunchtime regulars.

Over on the other side of town, East Coast Wings is an up-and-coming franchise operation headquartered in Winston-Salem. East Coast Wings features jumbo wings with more than 45 varieties of sauces and heat indexes that range from Virgin to ECW Insanity™ (sign a disclaimer to even get your hands on these!). Our favorites were Teri Jalapeno™, mango habanero™, chile garlic™, and chipotle™. Just across the street, Little Richards Lexington BBQ can provide another zesty 'cue fix.

For something completely different, check out River Birch Lodge. With the feel of a mountain lodge plopped down in suburbia, the restaurant's menu features wild venison, bison, fresh game fish, and more. But, it’s the saucy Texas Pete Wings that start many meals for locals in the know.

You have to head about 20 minutes out of town to get to Starr’s, but it’s well worth the journey. Located on historic Mocksville's quaint Main Street, Chef Starr Johnson has created a Texas Pete shrine on her menu. “You really should ask what Texas Pete is not in,” the red-haired chef exclaimed during our visit (we noticed that her hair is quite similar to the hue of Texas Pete). Highlights of Starr’s seasonal menus include Pickle’s fried pickles; fried green tomatoes fried chicken, which is filled with honeyed ham and pimento cheese.

What & Where to drink

Many people are learning of the high-quality wines now being produced in North Carolina (visit www.ncwine.org). Part of Winston-Salem is in the Yadkin Valley, currently the state’s only viticulture area. Many area wines are featured at local restaurants, but visiting wineries also provides a great way to taste and buy wines. We found the local Viognier went very well with spicy food.

There are more than 20 from which to choose from in the Yadkin Valley, but we loved Shelton Vineyards, for its stunning location and great restaurant; RayLen Vineyards and Winery, where we particularly liked the Viogner and the fruity Category 5 red blend; and Childress Vineyards, founded by Richard Childress of NASCAR fame, which offer tasting, shopping, and dining.

We also enjoyed cold ones and pub grub) at downtown’s Foothills Brewing. The Salem Gold and Torch Pilsner pair particularly well with the spicy ostrich burger with jalapeños.

Remember, for Texas Pete, just head for the Tar Heel State!

For more information on Texas Pete products, visit www.texaspete.com or call (800) 476-PETE (7383) or (336) 661-1550. Information about the expanded Green Mountain Gringo line can be found at www.greenmountaingringo.com.

For more information about the Winston-Salem area, go to www.visitwinstonsalem.com or call (866) 728-4200 or (336) 728-4200. The Winston-Salem Visitor Center is at 200 Brookstown Avenue.

What to do:
Old Salem Museum & Gardens
900 Old Salem Road
http://www.oldsalem.org/
(888) 653-7253 or (336) 721-7350

Downtown Arts District
Sixth and Trade Streets area
http://www.dadaws.org/
No phone

Reynolda Village
2201 Reynolda Road
http://www.reynoldavillage.com/
(336) 758-5584

Historic Bethabara Park
2147 Bethabara Road
http://www.bethabara.org/
(336) 924-8191

Winston Cup Museum
1355 North Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
http://www.winstoncupmuseum.com/
(336) 724-4557

Where to stay:
The Brookstown Inn
200 Brookstown Avenue
http://www.brookstowninn.com/
(336) 725-1120

Henry F. Shaffner House Bed & Breakfast
150 South Marshall Street
http://www.shaffnerhouse.com/
(800) 952-2256 or (336) 777-0052

Where to eat (in Winston-Salem, unless otherwise noted):
Sweet Potatoes
529 North Trade Street
http://www.sweetpotatoes-restaurant.com/
(336) 727-4844

South by Southwest
241 South Marshall Street
No website
(336) 727-0800

Hill’s Lexington Barbecue
4005 Patterson Avenue
No website
(336) 767-2184

East Coast Wings
4880 Country Club Road
http://www.eastcoastwings.net/
(336) 659-9992

Little Richard’s Lexington BBQ
4885 Country Club Road
No website
(336) 760-3457

River Birch Lodge
3324 Robinwood Road
http://www.riverbirchlodge.com/
(336) 768-1111

Starr’s
101 North Main Street, Mocksville
http://www.chefstarr.com/
(336) 753-8233

What & Where to drink:
Shelton Vineyards
286 Cabernet Lane, Dobson
http://www.sheltonvineyards.com/
(336) 366-4724

RayLen Vineyards and Winery
3577 US Highway 158, Mocksville
http://www.raylenvineyards.com/
(336) 998-3100

Childress Vineyards
1000 Childress Vineyards Road, Lexington
http://www.childressvineyards.com/
(336) 236-9463

Foothills Brewing
638 West Fourth Street
http://www.foothillsbrewing.com/
(336) 777-3348

2010-05-25T09:01:00.001-04:00

NOW PLAYING: AT THE NORTH CAROLINA BASEBALL MUSEUM IN WILSON,THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE

HOME PLATE

The history of baseball in North Carolina dates to the 19th century, which is precisely why local officials in Wilson wanted to build a museum that sang the praises of "America’s Pastime.” These dedicated devotees of the game definitely succeeded in capturing the spirit and passion of baseball in this spacious, well-lit, and fascinating state baseball treasure trove.

“This all got started in the stands at a game one night, when we were talking about the history of baseball in Wilson and in North Carolina in general,” says Kent Montgomery, one of the local leaders responsible for the museum. “Someone asked if there was a museum dedicated to minor league baseball in the state and nobody knew. Well, one thing led to another and--about four years later--we had a museum that covered all of baseball in North Carolina.”

Originally published in Our State Magazine

Montgomery makes it sound simple, but it took lots of dedicated volunteers, city involvement (and funding), privately donated dollars and support, research, memorabilia donations from near and far, and help from other North Carolina museum curators to make this museum dream a reality. “It was truly a community effort and still is,” says Montgomery, whose brother made it to the big leagues as a pitcher with the Kansas City Royals back in 1971. Montgomery also thinks they may have even “invented” a new type of museum, in that they don’t know of another museum in the nation dedicated solely to a single state’s baseball history.

STADIUM DAYS

Opened February 2, 2004, the North Carolina Baseball Museum is located at Fleming Stadium in Wilson. The classic stadium is also a piece of the state’s baseball history, having been dedicated on June 29, 1939, before a Wilson Tobs (short for Tobacconists) baseball game.

Ted Williams once played in an exhibition game at Fleming Stadium in 1956. The Hall of Famer’s Red Sox played against the Philadelphia Phillies, including future Hall of Fame players Richie Ashburn and Robin Roberts.

Some other major league stars who also once played at Fleming Stadium include: Rod Carew, Curt Flood, Willie McCovey, Carl Yastrzemski, Bobby Murcer, Rusty Staub, Johnny Bench, Tony Perez, and Rico Petrocelli. Elon resident Jack McKeon, was the Tobs manager back in 1960.

After hosting a wide variety of teams over the years, venerable Fleming Stadium and the city (the players live with families) have welcomed the Wilson Tobs summer collegiate baseball team since 1997. Part of the exciting 14-team Coastal Plain League, the Tobs play 28 home games each summer from early-June to early-August.

A core group of volunteers came from a then 25-year-old Wilson Hot Stove League, which is part of a national organization of devoted baseball fans dedicated to promoting baseball at all levels. The highlight for the local club is an annual banquet that features awards to those who have contributed to baseball locally, as well as guest speakers and celebrities--with past banquet attendees including Stan Musial, Bob Uecker, Jack McKeon, Trot Nixon, and many more. Wilson’s Hot Stove League members have also participated in a wide array of local baseball-oriented projects, including the renovation of historic Fleming Stadium and the establishment and building of the North Carolina Baseball Museum.

LABOR OF LOVE

Local businessman Lee Gliarmis is typical of the Hot Stove League’s involvement. Lee is owner of Dick’s Hot Dog Stand, which was founded by his father back in 1921 near the site of Wilson’s original baseball stadium. A huge sports fan, Gliarmis is president of the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame and the Wilson Hot Stove League. The walls of his now-legendary restaurant are plastered with sports memorabilia.

Much discussion about the museum took place at a corner booth in Dick’s Hot Dog Stand, where two hot dogs with mustard, onions, and Dick’s homemade chili are standard lunch fare. Museum board members like Gliarmis, Montgomery, Milo Gibbs, Eddie Fulford, and many others literally turned those meals into a museum.

Their labor of love is located just down the third base line of Fleming Stadium and is typically bustling before Tobs home games. Tobs general manager Mike Edwards says it’s not unusual to see several players from the visiting team roaming wide-eyed from display to display before heading back onto the field for batting practice.

In front of the museum, a huge concrete baseball is surrounded by more than 1,500 red bricks inscribed with the names of museum backers and more, which creates a “Walk of Fame” into the museum.

Inside, a volunteer typically welcomes visitors at a front counter that includes lots of enticing museum souvenirs (including high-quality baseball caps and an excellent miniature replica of the stadium). If there’s a line, four bleacher seats removed during the renovation of Fleming Stadium are nearby. Just beyond the front counter, the history of North Carolina baseball unfolds in a wide variety of creative displays.

A pedestal close at hand features two thick, three-ring binders that provide statistics about every single native North Carolinian that made it to the major leagues. With almost 400 players making it to the majors, it makes for some fun perusal of well-known and more obscure players and their stats!

More than 90% of these players are featured in some way in five display cases overflowing with memorabilia about them, including hundreds of baseball cards, magazine and newspaper articles, photos, jerseys, baseballs, bats, balls, and much more. Some items are nearly 100 years old.

While some of these items were found at baseball card shows Montgomery attended, a large majority were donated to the museum when word spread about its opening (and they’re still getting lots of donations).

ON THE BALL

On exhibit is memorabilia from seven North Carolina natives who are included in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. These include: Jim "Catfish" Hunter; Hoyt Wilhelm; Gaylord Perry; Enos Slaughter; Rick Ferrell; Buck Leonard; and Luke Appling.

The second spacious room brings more North Carolina baseball history to life, generally focusing on the massive amount of minor league history in the state, the negro leagues, college and high school baseball, American Legion baseball, and more. Highlights include: a chronological history of North Carolina baseball; a miniature of the statue of a sliding Enos Slaughter that stands outside Busch Stadium in St. Louis; a Louisville Slugger bat display showing the various stages of bat construction; three early Fleming Stadium locker room stalls; the moving memorabilia collection of a local baseball player who tragically died in a car crash in 1998 while coming home from a Carolina Mudcats game; and a number of older and more recent baseball jerseys, gloves, and bats that visitors are welcome to try out.

This room is packed with widely varied memorabilia that keeps many visitors entranced for hours. Those who delve deeply into the diplays will find lots of North Carolina baseball history--like a former Wilson resident (Charles “Red” Barrett) holding the record for the fewest number of pitches (56) in a major league game. Those who just want to sit and soak it all in will find a dozen more bleacher seats--where Kent Montgomery and others now have their museum “board meetings.”

“Baseball is a cherished tradition in Wilson,” says the city’s mayor, C. Bruce Rose. “The North Carolina Baseball Museum complements other tourist destinations in Wilson, including the award-winning All-American Wilson Rose Garden, our regional science museum, Imagination Station, and the Nestus Freeman Round House Museum, which highlights historic contributions from African-American citizens.”

Although anytime is a great time to see the museum and the rest of Wilson, July is a particularly prime month to plan a visit The Tobs are in town for 13 home games during the month (as well as many games in June and the first half of August). In addition, July sees historic Fleming Stadium hosting the Coastal Plain League All-Star Game on July 19 at 7:05 pm (including a Fan Fest on July 18). Do you need any more reasons to be taken out to the ball game...and museum?

IF YOU GO
North Carolina Baseball Museum
Fleming Stadium
300 Stadium Street
Wilson, NC 27893
252-296-3048
http://www.wilsontobs.com/
Hours: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 10am to 4pm; Sunday 1pm to 5pm. T
The museum is also open during Tobs home games, beginning two hours before game time and ending an hour after the first pitch.
Admission: $3 for ages 18-65; $1 for children ages 17 and younger and folks ages 65 and older.

2010-05-25T08:57:00.000-04:00

GENEALOGICAL GENIES

For nearly 100 years, the New Hanover County Public Library has been collecting information relating to the history of the area, the state, and the families that live here.

When it comes to Tar Heel genealogical research, the North Carolina Room of Wilmington’s New Hanover County Public Library just might be the best bet for getting genies of the past out of the bottle. Perhaps no other single spot has so much information from southeastern North Carolina for those in search of their own history--or that of others.

“We’re a wonderful resource for genealogical research and much more,” says Beverly Tetteron, the enthusiastic librarian who was hired to open the North Carolina Room back in 1980. “From family histories to the history of a house, the North Carolina Room provides a wealth of information.”

Originally published in Our State Magazine

A Century of Material

The sprawling collection of the North Carolina Room--which is modern and spacious after a major expansion and renovation in 2003--was actually started by the library back way back in 1910. A “Library Wants Material” posting ran in Wilmington’s Evening Dispatch on March 5, 1910, leading to donations of books, pamphlets, papers, documents, and more relating to the history of the area and the state. It was the first local history collection established by a public North Carolina library, providing a variety of library officials almost a century of dedicated material research and retrieval.

“It would be incredibly costly to put together this kind of collection today,” says Tetterton. “Just the newspaper collection alone would well over $100,000, if you could do it at all.” Much of the collection comes from former public and private libraries dating all the way back to the founding of the original Cape Fear Library in 1760. Tetterton, who celebrated her 25th anniversary with the library last year, says it took more than two years on the job to simply catalog and organize what had already been collected--a process that continues daily as more material accumulates.

Dedicated to state, regional, and local history, the North Carolina Room currently contains more than 10,000 state and local history books, pamphlets, government documents, and much more; it covers a wide range of subjects from families and businesses to state and local records, as well as literature, art, and travel. For a who's who of past residents, there's no better place to go: Wilmington city directories date back to 1861, and the library's large selection of local high school yearbooks are quite popular.\

Collecting Collections

The newspaper collection essentially has every major Wilmington newspaper that has been published since 1762 (all on microfilm). Newspapers that have not been transferred to microfilm (like The Wilmington Post, The Wilmington Journal, The Coastal Carolinian, and The Island Gazette) can be viewed if arrangements are made at least one day in advance.

On the photography front, more than 5,000 photographs pertaining mostly to the region await perusal. Most of the collection resulted from contributions (and some purchases) of photographs, postcards (1,500 and counting), line drawings, videos, and other images. Copies of some of these images can be obtained for a fee.

In addition, the North Carolina Room features two unique photography collections. The Louis T. Moore Collection comprises about 900 panoramic-format pictures taken between 1921 and 1940 by Moore, who was the executive secretary of the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce. The Robert M. Fales Collection consists of more than 1,250 slides that Dr. Fales, a long-time Wilmington physician, made of local images. After he retired, Fales kept regular office hours in the North Carolina Room and was a very popular resource for many researchers. Library veterans say it was often easier to simply ask Dr. Fales a question, rather than digging through the collection to get the exact same answer.

There are also approximately 500 maps and charts in the North Carolina Room, with the earliest Cape Fear region map dating back to 1749 and several “state” maps from the 1600s. Special collections include the Underwood Collection of survey maps and the Sanborn Collection of insurance-oriented maps. The selection continues to grow, as Tetterton continues to collect bus routes and tourist brochures.

Churches have played a major role in the history of the area and local church records are available in both microfilm and in book abstracts. Front Street (Grace) Methodist, St. James Episcopal, St. Mark’s Episcopal, St. Paul’s Lutheran, and St. Thomas Catholic all have early records in the collection.

The “vertical files” section of the North Carolina Room includes a huge collection of newspaper and magazine clippings, pamphlets, and government publications. Special files in this area include the Louis T. Moore Local History Collection; the Rupert Benson Wrightsville Beach Collection, compiled by a former mayor of the island community; and--the most recent addition--the Jenny Henderson Collection, files relating to North Carolina film from 1907 to the present.

In the Conservation Lab, where delicate documents are protected and preserved, visitors can find two important collections that provide a wealth of information about former Wilmington-area residents, including the Bill Reaves Local and Family History Collection, which was created as the former Wilmington Star-News employee collected tens of thousands of clippings--all related to about 6,500 Lower Cape Fear families (or about 10,000 local history categories he developed).

Researchers who dig even deeper will find scrapbooks, account books, diaries, letters, family papers, and even an entire filing cabinet that’s devoted to the large inventory of historic buildings in the area. This is where a North Carolina Room visitor might see Ed Turberg, a local architectural historian who often researches the historic houses and families of downtown Wilmington. “I can’t live without the collection and [I] delve into it daily,” says Turberg.

Genealogical Finds

The library’s North Carolina Room is said to contain the most comprehensive collection of genealogical research materials for southeastern North Carolina, from the hundreds of family histories to numerous volumes of abstracted state and county records to federal census records for all North Carolina counties from 1790 to 1930 (on microfilm).

Family Search and other computer software programs are available for research, as is Internet access to Heritage Quest, Ancestry Library Edition. In addition, library volunteer research assistance as often available, along with the wealth of Beverly Tetterton’s experience--and obvious love of history and people. “I’m fortunate to have met many interesting researchers,” says Tetterton. “The best day of my work life was the day that one of my favorite independent filmmakers, John Sayles, came to do research on a yet-to-be-released film.”

Tetterton also worked with the great-great-grandson of a slave who escaped Wilmington during the Civil War. William Benjamin Gould IV, who was Chairman of the U.S. National Labor Relations Board during the Clinton administration, had a diary from William Benjamin Gould who escaped and was eventually picked up by a Union blockader and joined the Union Navy.

Gould eventually published the diary, which is the only known Civil War naval diary kept by a former slave. Tetterton says the city of Wilmington was eventually designated an Underground Railroad site mostly based on Gould’s research.

Tetterton, who published a book last year about many of Wilmington’s torn down historic buildings called Wilmington: Lost But Not Forgotten, says the wealth of information about the region’s historic architecture is especially helpful for genealogical research. People often want to learn more about the house in which they (or relatives) grew up, as well as other occupants. This has been made much easier thanks to the award-winning “Port City Architecture On-Line," which contains extensive information about more than 400 historic structures in Wilmington and can be found at www.nhcgov.com/Lib/PortCityArch/.

The Society Pages

Library staff members, including Tetterton, also work with the Old New Hanover Genealogical Society to provide genealogical programming for the community, such as lectures by renowned genealogical experts. For instance, a program this past fall focused on researching Quaker history.

Established in 1989, Tetterton says the “friends of the local history room” have been invaluable to genealogical research on the local, state, and national level. Along with the lectures, society members have also supported the genealogical collections with annual financial contributions and--together with the library--have published more than 80 abstracts of local records (available for purchase through the library). Helpful exchange files are available to researchers and all are encouraged to donate copies of their research for use by future researchers.

“I’ve been involved with this wonderful collection since I was a teenager, when I went to an earlier library location and they proceeded to lock me inside a room to do my research, says longtime member and Wilmington native Ann Hutteman. I had to knock on the door for them to let me out.”

Hutteman, who co-edits the Society’s Clarendon Courier genealogical newsletter, says she loves the newly expanded North Carolina Room. “Before they completed the expansion, I thought I was going to have to lose weight to make my way around the stacks,” she says.

As Hutteman sees it, certain parts of the collection are especially helpful in making genealogical research more than just facts and figures. “For instance, both the Bill Reaves Local and Family History Collection and the Yopp Funeral Home Collection put meat on the bones of genealogical numbers and facts.”

If You're Going

North Carolina Room
New Hanover County Public Library
201 Chestnut Street
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 798-6305
www.nhcgov.com/lib/libmain.asp
Hours: Monday through Wednesday, 9:00 am to 8:00 pm; Thursday through Saturday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm; and Sunday, 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

2010-05-25T08:30:00.000-04:00

THE GRAYSTONE INN

WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

It doesn’t take long to learn why Wilmington’s Graystone Inn won “Most Romantic Getaway” in Arrington’s 2003 Book of Lists. From the stunning architecture to the lovingly restored interior spaces, this coastal North Carolina gem exudes romance inside and out.

Located in the heart of Wilmington’s historic district, just three blocks from the Cape Fear River, The Graystone Inn was built during 1905 and 1906 as the private residence of Preston and Elizabeth (“Miss Betty”) Bridgers. Preston was the son of Robert Rufus Bridges, who was a two-time representative to the Confederate Congress and the president of the Atlantic Coast Line Railway. Seven Bridgers children were raised in the house.

Originally published in Inn Traveler

After Miss Betty passed away in 1932, the Bridgers Mansion served as a private home, a boarding house, and an active American Legion Post. Innkeepers Paul and Yolanda Bolda bought the dilapidated structure in 1998 and spent almost $1 million restoring it. This was the fifth such renovation for the Boldas and it shows throughout.

The huge Indiana limestone structure was built in the neo-classical revival style on three lots. The soaring entrance walls are white Italian Carrara marble, with solid red oak woodwork and 14-foot Corinthian columns. To the left, the large parlor includes a fireplace edged with pale green onyx, a concert-ready baby grand piano, and solid brass wall sconces.

Behind the parlor, the library is completely paneled with Honduran mahogany--complimentary wine awaits guests in this cozy room each evening, where those in the know also wander out to the terrace and garden. A sitting room to the right of the entrance features oil-glazed ragged walls to compliment the Italian Verdi marble fireplace and large-scale mantel.

Highlighted by an American Empire-style chandelier from the mid-1800s, the Renaissance-style staircase rises to the second and third floors, where seven varied guestrooms await. Each of the spacious rooms features period furnishings, beautiful draperies, Queen size beds, fine pima cotton linens, telephones with dataports, televisions, and full bathrooms with luxury toiletries, towels, and robes. Two suites offer King size beds and separate sitting rooms.

At the top of the stairs on the second floor, the Latimer-St. Thomas Suite was named because it features views of the 1846 St. Thomas Church. At 1,100 square feet, it has lots of space, including a large bedroom and a separate sitting room that both feature fireplaces. With a nice view of the garden, fireplace, and a four-poster bed, the Bridgers Bedroom was used by Miss Betty during her entire time in the mansion. The Burgwin-Wright Jr. Suite is named for its view of the 18th century Burgwin-Wright house (which is open for tours). This 750-square-foot suite offers a wonderful sitting area, original built-in window seats, and a fireplace. The French country-style de Rosset Bedroom features large windows, a welcoming fireplace, and a bathroom located in the original clothes and linen closet. Completing the second floor, the St. James Bedroom features a great view of St. James Episcopal Church, more masculine furnishings, and a bathroom that was once Miss Betty’s dressing closet.

On the third floor, the Bellevue Suite is the Inn’s largest guestroom (1,300 square feet). The bedroom offers a stunning view of the river, while the sitting room features a view of the garden. The suite offers one of many clawfoot tubs in the inn (this one holds two), as well as a great walk-in shower. The seventh offering, the USS North Carolina Bedroom, has a great view of the famed battleship (and a large cedar-paneled bathroom and walk-in shower).

Breakfast is served in the large dining room, where the Honduran mahogany was painted in 1972 to brighten the atmosphere. Yolanda Bolda typically prepares creative breakfasts in the large renovated kitchen, where the options might include Eggs Benedict with asparagus and Hollandaise sauce or Yolanda’s own country ham gravy, Belgian waffles, strawberry pancakes, and many more popular choices. There is also a Continental buffet, with fresh fruits, cereal, homemade baked goods, and juices. With advance notice, the Graystone staff will accommodate those with dietary restrictions.

The Graystone Inn has frequently been used as a set for motion pictures and television, as well as playing host to many celebrities. For obvious reasons, the Inn is also a fittingly popular spot for weddings, receptions, and other events.

The Boldas have seemingly thought of everything to make any stay romantic. From evening wine to menus from nearby restaurants (Wilmington has a great dining scene), the entire Graystone experience provides the essence of romance from the moment of arrival.

The Graystone Inn
800-763-4773
http://www.graystoneinn.com/

2010-05-25T08:22:00.000-04:00

HOLLYWOOD EAST:

IT'S A WONDERFUL WILMINGTON

When filmmaker Frank Capra, Jr., talks about Wilmington, North Carolina, the word “wonderful” often weaves its way into the conversation. It's no "wonder". Capra’s father, Frank, Sr. directed the hit 1946 feature, It’s a Wonderful Life. That said, it’s obvious the younger Capra’s love affair with Wilmington and its surroundings isn't the stuff of film fantasy.

Feature Presentation

“Dino De Laurentiis and I made Firestarter here in the early 1980s, and I simply fell in love with the area,” Capra recalled. “In 1997, I was asked to come here to run EUE/Screen Gems Studios--and I’ve been here ever since.”

Screen Gems, as it’s called locally, is one of many things that makes Wilmington wonderful. Thanks to the studios and unique locations throughout the area, Wilmington has hosted more than 400 productions. In fact, the city is now referred to as “Hollywood East,” home to the largest working movie production facility and the largest full-time film crew base east of La La Land.

Originally published in Atlantic Southeast Magazine (Delta)

Situated on 45 acres near Wilmington International Airport (ILM), are Screen Gems nine stages (two more are planned). Over the years, they have welcomed feature film productions such as Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Lolita, A Walk to Remember, Blue Velvet, Black Knight, and 28 Days, as well as major television series including Matlock, Dawson’s Creek, and the current hit, One Tree Hill.

Barry Corbin currently stars in One Tree Hill as coach Whitey Durham and lives in downtown Wilmington. He said, “This is my fourth season here and I love the people and the history.”

Screen Gems is bustling with the work of Corbin and many others stars, thanks in part to the state’s new competitive tax incentive program that went into effect on January 1. “We are busier than we have been in years,” said Wilmington Regional Film Commission Director, Johnny Griffin. “As one Hollywood studio executive recently told me, ‘We told you that if North Carolina passed a meaningful film incentive program, we would bring projects to North Carolina, and now you see that we meant it."

“With the announcement earlier this year that Nights in Rodanthe would be filmed here, more people than ever will want to see the North Carolina coast Nicholas Sparks featured in his novel,“ said Lynn Minges, executive director of the North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development. Officials at Warner Brothers Pictures cited the new incentive program as part of the decision to film in the area.

Saturday studio tours are popular during the spring-to-fall season. Up to 75 people get an inside peek at the set of One Tree Hill or a feature film in production. At the end of the tour (conducted by Film Studies students from the University of North Carolina--Wilmington), the studio’s “Memorabilia” area provides an overview of previous Screen Gems productions (including some of the original sets from Dawson’s Creek).

More than Movies--Downtown Delights

What makes Wilmington popular with the film industry also endears it to visitors. The locations that Capra and others love are often tourist attractions--historic homes and plantations, museums, inns, restaurants, and many waterfront locations along the community's signature Cape Fear River.

Bustling downtown Wilmington is a great place to start. Water Street runs right along the Cape Fear, as does the adjacent Riverwalk. Highlights along Water Street include: the Wilmington Railroad Museum (visitors can climb aboard a caboose); the 1919 Federal Building (used in establishing shots for Matlock); and riverfront accommodations, dining, and shopping. Located between the Hilton Wilmington Riverside and the Cotton Exchange (great shopping and dining in a renovated grain mill and cotton warehouse), the Wilmington “Walk of Fame” features stars for luminaries with local connections--including tennis pioneer Althea Gibson, football star Roman Gabriel, author Robert Ruark, musician Charlie Daniels, broadcaster and journalist David Brinkley, and Frank Capra, Jr.

Horse-drawn carriages, walking tours, and trolley rides can all be arranged at the corner of Water and Market. Situated at Dock and Water, tours, dinner cruises, and more are offered aboard the Henrietta III riverboat. Nearby, the Captain J.N. Maffitt provides narrated sightseeing river tours and water taxi service over to the big USS North Carolina battleship. Docked right across the Cape Fear, it's hard to miss.

Commissioned in 1941, the North Carolina earned 19 battle stars during World War II. It landed in Wilmington in 1961 and has been a huge tourist attraction ever since. Self-guided tours are the norm, but there are often events featuring “crew and officers” in period uniforms (Wilmington has lots of actors to serve in this “Navy”). Occasional reunions offer lucky visitors the opportunity to visit with veterans who served aboard the storied battleship.

Back across the river in downtown Wilmington, Market Street runs north of Water and serves as the city’s main corridor. The antebellum Bellamy Mansion of History and Design Arts feels like the set for Gone With the Wind and has served in many made-for-TV movies. It was also the location of the wrap party for Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. Situated diagonally across the street (past the bubbling Kenan Memorial Fountain that’s also been in many films), visitors can view the Carolina Apartments, the building where Isabella Rossellini’s character lived in Blue Velvet.

Other downtown Wilmington destinations (all within walking distance) include: Thalian Hall/City Hall (a local theater and government office building that has been used as a “theater” in many films and TV series); the 1852 Latimer House; the Cape Fear Serpentarium (home to more than 100 species of reptiles); and the recently re-opened Children’s Museum of Wilmington.

Linda Lavin (of TV’s Alice) liked Wilmington so much that she decided to move to the city’s downtown area where she and her husband, Steve Bakunas, have renovated several historic buildings. She occasionally takes a turn on the local stage or in a director’s role (Wilmington has a very strong theater community).

Pat Hingle (Commissioner Gordon in Batman and hundreds of other film, TV, and stage roles) is another actor who fell in love with Wilmington and now calls the city his home when he‘s not on location elsewhere. “We filmed Maximum Overdrive in 1985 with Stephen King. My wife, Julie, and I simply fell in love with the area,” said Hingle. “We moved to Carolina Beach in 1990. The airport’s great, the people are friendly, and the studio and Frank Capra, Jr., are such a blessing.” Earlier this year, Hingle starred in Tuesday with Morrie at Wilmington’s Thalian Hall.

Get Out of Town

Wilmington is a water-oriented city, thanks to the Cape Fear River and the nearby Atlantic Ocean. Thus, getting out of town often means heading to water.

Wrightsville Beach is a the classic Carolinas oceanfront getaway, with a five-mile white-sand beach, a popular fishing pier, and a wide variety of accommodations, dining, and shopping options. (Sandra Bullock stayed there during the filming of Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood.)

Situated in a traditional beach cottage moved inland, the Wrightsville Beach Museum of History provides a perfect introduction to the storied island. It’s actually reminiscent of the cottage in To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday (the island’s beach filled in for Nantucket in the film’s sand castle contest).

Back on the mainland, gardening buffs will want to visit Airlie Gardens (airliegardens.com). With close to 70 sprawling acres along the water, Airlie Gardens has been featured in Dawson’s Creek, Martin Lawrence’s Black Knight, and Sandra Bullock’s 28 Days.

Heading south, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, and Fort Fisher provide further water-oriented opportunities. More accommodations, dining, and shopping await, as do kayak and other on-water tours, at the 761-acre Carolina Beach State Park, and the Civil War-era network of defenses at the Fort Fisher State Historic Site & Civil War Museum.

One of the trio of excellent state aquariums is also located here. The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher features live animal demonstrations, a touch pool, surf fishing, and much more. It was used for the one-season run of NBC’s Surface.

The Fort Fisher-Southport ferry leaves from the tip of Fort Fisher, transporting cars and passengers to the town of Southport (Demi Moore boarded it in The Butcher‘s Wife, as did Bruce Willis in The Jackal). It’s a half-hour ride along the Cape Fear River to Southport.

Oozing with small town southern charm, Southport is a great place for a seafood meal, some shopping, and an excursion up to Orton Plantation, where Frank Capra, Jr. filmed much of Firestarter. Along with providing a classic plantation setting that welcomes visitors, Orton has since hosted A Walk to Remember and dozens more films. Of Orton, Frank Capra, Jr., said, “They’re still incredibly welcoming to both large and small productions.” It’s certainly a welcome place to end a tour of “Hollywood East.”

Nights in North Carolina

With Nights in Rodanthe would be filming along the North Carolina coast (using Wilmington’s studios, infrastructure, and crew base), “Hollywood East” is on a roll. “Making movies is big business and North Carolina continues to play a leading role,” said Governor Mike Easley. Based on the bestseller by North Carolina resident, Nicholas Sparks, the drama stars Richard Gere and Diane Lane.

Sleep Like a Star

Downtown’s Wilmingtonian (www.thewilmingtonian.com) is a perfectly appropriate base for a Wilmington visit. Long a favorite of visiting stars, directors, and producers, The Wilmingtonian features a total of 40 large one- and two-bedroom suites in five buildings dating from 1841 to 1994. Built in 1994 to specifically accommodate the film industry (with some casts and crews staying for two or three months), the 11 spacious one-bedroom apartment-like suites in the “Cinema House” are all based on a classic movie or star and include full kitchens, washers and dryers, and separate bedrooms. Visiting production people from New York City have been known to say the Cinema House suites are larger and nicer than their New York apartments. Some of the suite options include: Marilyn (vintage Marilyn Monroe posters); Music Man (original costumes in glass cases); Around the World (posters from Around the World in 80 Days); and Oklahoma (saddles and more).

The Verandas Bed & Breakfast Inn (www.verandas.com) is another accommodations option with film connections. The upscale inn (and its ever-so-southern front porch) made its film debut in the 2003, feel-good drama The Chester Story.

2010-05-18T15:50:00.000-04:00

THE UMSTEAD EXPERIENCE

The ultimate in luxury, the Umstead Spa in Cary promises

unparalleled relaxation treatments with a North Carolina focus.

When it comes to quiet pampering, The Umstead Spa in Cary is quite simply a North Carolina oasis of calm. Opening earlier this year, shortly after the debut of the high-end Cary hotel with the same name, The Umstead Spa quickly became known as a serene sanctuary to pursue varied treamtments in a refined atmosphere (for both hotel guests and day visitors).

Already chosen for membership in the elite Leading Spas of the World, the 14,000-square-foot facility was designed with several distinct areas for services and relaxation. Muted colors, surfaces, art, and furnishings make for a relaxing feels that's truly down-to-earth.

Originally published in NC Signature

The two-story facility includes 10 large treatment rooms, separate men's and women's locker rooms, each with a "wet" lounge with sauna, steam, and a whirlpool and a "dry" lounge with comfortable chairs, hot teas, water and snacks; a co-ed lounge and a soothing meditation courtyard with Zen-like quiet already the norm. There's also a modern fitness studio just outside the spa's main entrance.

The spa has an extensive--but not overwhelming--menu of services. Highlights include nourishing body masks, specialty hydro-massage and Vichy showers, an array of revitalizing massage therapies, face, hand, and foot treatments, and a choice of customized combination packages (the therapists try to customize all treatments by listening to clients goals). Botanical ingredients are incorporated into signature products in the services, locker room amenitites, and for purchase.

One additional highlight of The Umstead Spa is the "spa within a spa"--a suite that features private indoor and outdoor lounges and private access to several treatment rooms (including a "massage for two" room).

Whether or not you're staying overnight, the spa experience can continue at Herons, the Umstead's restaurant. Chef Phil Evans has designed an array of creative "spa menu" choices, with a focus on highly flavored broths utilizing fresh ingredients. Paired with an extensive wine list that includes many North Carolina wines by the glass, Herons provides an appropriately tasteful end to any spa experience.

The Umstead Spa
100 Woodland Pond
Cary, NC 27513
(866) 877-4141
www.theumstead.com

2010-05-18T14:33:00.001-04:00

TRIANGLE OF TREATS

In North Carolina Long known as the "Triangle" region of central North Carolina, these cities are actually three distinct destinations. What they do have in common is culture, creative cuisine and an eclectic collection of colleges.

At about 1.2 million in area population, Raleigh is the largest of the trio, with Durham a mid-size city and Chapel Hill more of a traditional university town. In all three destinations, those used to Atlanta-sized prices will be pleasantly surprised at the cost of area accommodations, restaurants and shops.

Originally published in Atlanta Journal-Constitution

RALEIGH

Founded in 1792 as North Carolina's capital city, Raleigh was named for Sir Walter Raleigh. The modern city is definitely the state's capital on the cultural front, thanks to institutions such as the North Carolina Museum of Art; the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts (home of the Carolina Ballet, the North Carolina Symphony, the Opera Company of North Carolina, the North Carolina Theatre and more); the North Carolina Museum of History; and the North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences.

Raleigh is also home to North Carolina State University, Meredith College and Shaw University, with all three campuses and four other colleges adding to the cultural mix. In addition, sightseeing destinations like the state Capitol, the Executive Mansion, the historic downtown neighborhood of Oakwood, and the re-opened (and operating) Yates Mill all make Raleigh a stand-alone destination.

New options on the Raleigh restaurant scene seem to open weekly. One of the best is Vivace, which is packed most nights (and many mid-days for lunch). Cooking in Raleigh's thriving North Hills district, chef Ian Sullivan's seasonally focused trattoria menu is complemented by a rustic-chic interior and a piazza for downing tasty appetizers (try the antipasto board), creative pizzas and interesting Italian wines.

Some other restaurants worth finding after a show or museum visit include recently opened South (contemporary Southern bistro); Poole's Diner (upscale diner with French bistro feel); Frazier's (American bistro and longtime local favorite); Clyde Cooper's Barbecue (a local landmark since 1938); and the Pit (where Ed Mitchell cooks the whole hog).

Raleigh once lacked an upscale hotel that matched the culture and cuisine. The Holiday Inn Brownstone or the Cameron Park Inn are two of the better traditional (and less expensive) bets, but the Umstead Hotel and Spa opened last year and raised the accommodations bar for the entire area.

Located near Umstead State Park and lots of dining and shopping, the 150-room property features a large and luxurious spa, 17 suites, a sculpture garden, and Herons, yet another tasty area restaurant focusing on use of local and seasonal ingredients.

Nearby, La Farm Bakery is the local place to go for caffeine, pastries and local artisan breads.

DURHAM

The 1988 feature film "Bull Durham," starring Kevin Costner and Susan Sarandon, made Durham popular with minor-league baseball fans and many other visitors. The famed snorting bull was originally only a movie prop, but it remained a staple at old Durham Athletic Park and is now at the very popular downtown stadium that opened in 1995.

The baseball park continued Durham's downtown revitalization, with many old warehouses (mostly tobacco-related) being turned into restaurants, shops and condominiums. Adjacent to the stadium, the former Lucky Strike cigarette factory is now the American Tobacco Campus of dining, entertainment, offices and condos (look for the Lucky Strike smokestack).

Durham and Duke University are inevitably linked, with the sprawling campus a big part of what makes the city click on the cultural and culinary fronts. Duke Chapel is definitely worth a visit, especially if one of two organs is being played for services or a concert. Nearby, the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke opened in 2005 and is already one of the state's most popular museums.

The Nasher is just a part of local university contributions to Durham's cultural scene. Duke's campus has seven performance spaces, including an amphitheater at the peaceful Sarah P. Duke Gardens and the 1,200-seat Page Auditorium. In addition, Durham's North Carolina Central University Art Museum specializes in African-American and African art, contributing further to the Triangle's college/cultural combination.

Duke is also the home of the American Dance Festival (June 5-July 19 this year), which is celebrating its 75th anniversary. The ADF highlights performances by professional dance companies, ranging from the experimental to the established. More than 570 works have premiered at the ADF, including artists like Martha Graham, Alvin Ailey and Twyla Tharp.

Other cultural options in and around Durham and Duke include the Durham Arts Council (home to 18 local arts organizations and a large arts center), the Durham Symphony Orchestra and the Carolina Theatre (a 1926 Beaux Arts performing arts hall with two art-film cinemas).

Durham is undergoing a culinary renaissance similar to Raleigh's. For instance, Giorgios Bakatsias has developed several highly successful concepts in the Triangle. You can't go wrong with his Vin Rouge, for interesting décor and French bistro cooking with a Southern U.S. flair.

Other Durham restaurants worth a taste include the new Watts Grocery (chef Amy Tornquist's creative and tasty take on local comfort food); Piedmont (fresh regional fare); the longtime Southern classic, Magnolia Grill; and, opening in September, Eno Restaurant & Market, a farm-to-table restaurant slated to further the Triangle's "slow food" phenomenon.

The place to stay in Durham is the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club. The recently renovated resort drips with Southern hospitality, as do its Fairview Restaurant and Bull Durham Lounge.

CHAPEL HILL

Life in Chapel Hill, home of the University of North Carolina, revolves around Tar Heel blue. Even so, visitors can find a wide range of diversions when they take advantage of this university town's cultural and dining offerings.

The university's Ackland Art Museum provides a perfect introduction to UNC's cultural contribution to the city. The museum has more than 15,000 original works of art and is particularly strong in Asian, African and European works. Also part of UNC, the multi-spot North Carolina Botanical Garden's "Display Collections" location provides a great place to see native Southeastern plants arranged in natural habitat gardens.

For college sports fans, the new 8,000-square-foot Carolina Basketball Museum is the first university-based, basketball-only museum in the country. Located next to the Dean Smith Center and featuring a "Game Day" theme, the museum has more than 450 artifacts, videos, photos and historical panels highlighting nearly a century's worth of UNC round ball.

Owned by UNC, but managed by an upscale hotel management company, the Carolina Inn is as much a tourist attraction as it is "The University's Living Room." A Chapel Hill landmark for generations, the inn has traditional furnishings but modern amenities in its guest rooms. The Carolina Crossroads Restaurant and Carolina Crossroads Bar are both popular destinations before and after UNC sporting or cultural events. From spring to fall, locals and visitors in the know head to the Inn's "Fridays on the Front Porch" for live music and local food.

If the Carolina Inn is full, try the contemporary Franklin Hotel on East Franklin or the chic Italian-style Siena Hotel just outside downtown proper (the Siena's Il Palio restaurant is also worth the drive).

Chapel Hill restaurants of note include Lantern (chef/owner Andrea Reusing is receiving national acclaim using local ingredients with an Asian twist); Bin Fifty-Four (an upscale steakhouse also developed by Giorgios Bakatsias); the appropriately named Mama Dip's Country Cooking Restaurant; and Allen & Son Bar-B-Q (pit-cooked over hickory wood).

Anyone at all into food will want to head to A Southern Season before heading home. The flagship Chapel Hill store is a gourmet marketplace that draws foodies from afar. The breadth of international offerings is supplemented by an array of regional selections, as well as the Weathervane restaurant. There's also a popular cooking school that has regular offerings.

Whether you choose to stay in Chapel Hill, Raleigh, or Durham, make A Southern Season your last stop before heading back to Georgia laden with Southern staples and lots of other tasty Triangle memories.

IF YOU GO

Getting there
Driving: Raleigh is about 410 miles, or a 7½-hour drive from Atlanta, most of it on I-85.
Flying: AirTran Airways and Delta Air Lines offer daily direct flights from Atlanta to Raleigh-Durham International (about 1½ hour). Expect to pay $160 round trip.

Getting around
Those who fly should rent a car. Though all three cities offer thriving downtowns and interesting neighborhoods, many of the Triangle's attractions, restaurants and shopping destinations are best reached by auto.

Where to stay
Raleigh:
• Holiday Inn Brownstone, 1707 Hillsborough St.; 919-828-0811, www.brownstonehotel.com . Doubles from $72.
• Cameron Park Inn, 211 Groveland Ave.; 1-888-257-2171, www.cameronparkinn.com . Doubles from $129.
• The Umstead Hotel and Spa, 100 Woodland Pond (in Cary); 1-866-877-4141, www.theumstead.com . Doubles from $295.

Durham:
• Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club, 3001 Cameron Blvd.; 919-490-0999, www.washingtondukeinn.com . Doubles from $159.

Chapel Hill:
• The Carolina Inn, 211 Pittsboro St.; 919-933-2001, www.carolinainn.com . Doubles from $149.
• The Franklin Hotel, 311 W. Franklin St.; 919-442-9000, 1-866-831-5999, www.franklinhotelnc.com . Doubles from $175.
• Siena Hotel, 1505 E. Franklin St.; 919-929-4000, www.sienahotel.com . Doubles from $195.

Where to eat
Raleigh:
• Herons (Umstead Resort & Spa), 100 Woodland Pond (in Cary); 919-447-4200, www.heronsrestaurant.com . Entrees $28-$37.
• Vivace, 4209 Lassiter Mill Road; 919-787-7747, www.vivacerestaurant.com . Entrees $13-$32.
• South, 4351-119 the Circle at North Hills; 919-789-0606, www.southatnorthhills.com . Entrees $14-$25.
• Poole's Downtown Diner, 426 S. McDowell St.; 919-832-4477, www.poolesdowntowndiner.com . Entrees $12-$14.
• Frazier's, 2418 Hillsborough St.; 919-828-6699, www.fraziersbistro.com . Entrees $17-$24.
• Clyde Cooper's Barbecue, 109 E. Davie St.; 919-832-7614, no Web site. Entrees $5-$8.
• The Pit, 328 W. Davie St.; 919-890-4500, www.thepit-raleigh.com . Entrees $6-$29.
• La Farm Bakery, 4248 Cary Pkwy. (in Cary); 919-657-0657, www.lafarmbakery.com . Artisan breads and more from $2.50.

Durham:
• Vin Rouge, 2010 Hillsborough Road; 919-416-0406, www.ghgrestaurants.com . Entrees $11-$20.
• Watts Grocery, 1116 Broad St.; 919-416-5040, www.wattsgrocery.com . Entrees $15-$19.
• Piedmont, 401 Foster St.; 919-683-1213, www.piedmontrestaurant.com . Entrees $17-$32.
• Magnolia Grill, 1002 9th St.; 919-286-3609, www.magnoliagrill.net . Entrees $24-$28.
• Eno Restaurant & Market (scheduled to open in September), 101 City Hall Place; no phone at press time, www.enorestaurantandmarket.com . Entrees $9-$26.
• Fairview Restaurant (Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club), 3001 Cameron Blvd.; 919-490-0999, www.washingtondukeinn.com . Entrees $20-$36.

Chapel Hill:
• Carolina Crossroads Restaurant (Carolina Inn), 211 Pittsboro St.; 919-933-2001, www.carolinainn.com . Entrees $20-$25.
• Il Palio (Siena Hotel), 1505 E. Franklin St.; 919-929-4000, www.ilpalio.com . Entrees $24-$33.
• Lantern, 423 W. Franklin St.; 910-969-8846, www.lanternrestaurant.com . Entrees $13-$23.
• Bin Fifty-Four, 1201 Raleigh Road; 919-969-1155, www.bin54restaurant.com . Entrees $21-$55.
• Mama Dip's Kitchen Country Cooking Restaurant, 408 W. Rosemary St.; 919-942-5837, www.mamadips.com . Entrees $8-$14.
• Allen & Son Bar-B-Q, 6203 Mill House Road; 919-942-7576, no Web site. Entrees $7-$14.
• Weathervane (at A Southern Season), University Mall, Highway 15/501 at Estes Drive; 919-929-7133, www.southernseason.com . Entrees $12-$22.

Information
• Greater Raleigh Convention & Visitors Bureau, 421 Fayetteville St., Suite 1505, Raleigh, N.C. 27601; 1-800-849-8499, www.visitraleigh.com .
• Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau, 101 E. Morgan St., Durham, N.C. 27701; 1-888-488-4222, www.exploredurham.info .
• Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau, 501 W. Franklin St., Chapel Hill, N.C. 27516; 1-888-968-2060, www.visitchapelhill.org .