One of our favorite times to spend at the beach is the late fall and winter. Sunrises and sunsets are spectacular. The crush of tourists is long gone...which makes long, quiet walks on the beach that much easier. The weather is usually pleasant, and sometimes even warm. And here's a treat: Cottage rental rates are at their lowest.
Here's one better. Bluewater Vacation Rentals is repeating its offer of one night free when you rent a cottage or condo for three nights. The deal is good from December 15 to January 6. You must pick from a selection of rental properties and then call 866-976-3512 to make the
reservation. And you must mention the 4-for-3 promotion.
Actually, there are a growing number of families that have started a tradition of spending Christmas or New Year's at ocean's edge. Some of the rental companies even offer Christmas season vacation packages that include a Christmas tree delivered to your cottage door! Be careful, though, since rates can be higher during the holiday weeks than the rest of the winter season.
We're old-fashioned enough that Dec. 25th has to be at home. But we've spent more than a few January 1sts in the salty air.
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Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Biltmore at Christmas
Biltmore House was dazzling, filled with light against the inky blackness that actually had settled late on that December afternoon. A light snow had begun falling a few hours earlier.
Our little family was bundled up head to foot against the bitter mountain cold. Is Biltmore at Christmas worth the drive and the (steep) entrance fee? I have to say yes.
Certainly it's a grand family experience, especially if your children are older (ours was in college at the time). There's much to see and talk about during the tour and later in the hotel room or over dessert that evening. And years later.
But anyone within a few hundred miles from Asheville ought to make the trip, and do it during the holidays. Biltmore is a magnificent, unique palace, one that ought to be experienced if possible. Just a few of these mansions -- built by the nation's royalty of the time -- survive and are open to the public.
Biltmore is massive, on par with a medieval European castle. Its great rooms deserve the name. It had the most modern accommodations and gadgets. George Vanderbilt plunked his estate on the top of a mountain, for heavens sakes, with stupendous views of the surrounding Blue Ridge mountains.
Admission is as high as those mountains. During the holidays, adults pay $69 or $79 for the self-guided tour of the mansion. Children 10 to 16 cost half those prices. But save the money one year and take the family. There are tours of the estate's gardens and there's a winery. There are more food places on the estate grounds these days, which is convenient if you have younger children. There are nice coffee shops downtown Asheville for a change of pace. Asheville also has its share of non-Biltmore attractions.
It's a trip that will make a memory. In that way alone it's worth the money.
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Our little family was bundled up head to foot against the bitter mountain cold. Is Biltmore at Christmas worth the drive and the (steep) entrance fee? I have to say yes.
Certainly it's a grand family experience, especially if your children are older (ours was in college at the time). There's much to see and talk about during the tour and later in the hotel room or over dessert that evening. And years later.
But anyone within a few hundred miles from Asheville ought to make the trip, and do it during the holidays. Biltmore is a magnificent, unique palace, one that ought to be experienced if possible. Just a few of these mansions -- built by the nation's royalty of the time -- survive and are open to the public.
Biltmore is massive, on par with a medieval European castle. Its great rooms deserve the name. It had the most modern accommodations and gadgets. George Vanderbilt plunked his estate on the top of a mountain, for heavens sakes, with stupendous views of the surrounding Blue Ridge mountains.
Admission is as high as those mountains. During the holidays, adults pay $69 or $79 for the self-guided tour of the mansion. Children 10 to 16 cost half those prices. But save the money one year and take the family. There are tours of the estate's gardens and there's a winery. There are more food places on the estate grounds these days, which is convenient if you have younger children. There are nice coffee shops downtown Asheville for a change of pace. Asheville also has its share of non-Biltmore attractions.
It's a trip that will make a memory. In that way alone it's worth the money.
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Wednesday, November 21, 2012
New kite festival
Circumstances imposed, and we were disappointed not to be able to make this year's Atlantic Beach Kite Festival in late October. But we were free the first week in November, and after just a few minutes of searching the Internet, we discovered that Wrightsville Beach holds its own kite festival.
It was a wonderful jaunt. The temperatures were a bit cool on the Saturday and Sunday that we were there, but a strong sun and crystal blue skies kept it just warm enough for this former Philly guy (and his N.C.-native wife.)
The giant, colorful octopus kites (170 feet long, 75 feet across!) made appearances, as well as a 10-story scuba diver and what had to be a five-story sea horse. And of course any number of people brought their own kites.
There's not the music, activities and stunt fliers that we're used to at Atlantic Beach, but any kite in the sky is a joy for "kite people" like my wife ... and increasingly me. It's worth the trip, and a long weekend next year.
By the way, next year's Atlantic Beach Kite Fest is Oct. 26 and 27. If you're a kite person, or have youngsters, you'll love it.
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It was a wonderful jaunt. The temperatures were a bit cool on the Saturday and Sunday that we were there, but a strong sun and crystal blue skies kept it just warm enough for this former Philly guy (and his N.C.-native wife.)
The giant, colorful octopus kites (170 feet long, 75 feet across!) made appearances, as well as a 10-story scuba diver and what had to be a five-story sea horse. And of course any number of people brought their own kites.
There's not the music, activities and stunt fliers that we're used to at Atlantic Beach, but any kite in the sky is a joy for "kite people" like my wife ... and increasingly me. It's worth the trip, and a long weekend next year.
By the way, next year's Atlantic Beach Kite Fest is Oct. 26 and 27. If you're a kite person, or have youngsters, you'll love it.
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Thursday, March 8, 2012
Go fly a kite!
Talk about neighborly! The N.C. Depatment of Cultural Resources notes that March's stiff winds is a great time to fly a kite, and it has some safe places to enjoy the hobby (or an afternoon's diversion).
So it has designated Saturday, March 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. as "Let's Go Fly A Kite Day" at six state historic sites and two state museums.
With no electrical lines and lots of wide open spaces, the venues will open the grounds to all kite flyers.
The locations are:
Alamance Battleground, 5308 S. NC 62, Burlington, (336) 227-4785.
Governor Charles B. Aycock Birthplace, 264 Governor Aycock Road, Fremont, (919) 242-5581.
Bennett Place, 4409 Bennett Memorial Road, Durham, (919) 383-4345.
Duke Homestead, 2828 Duke Homestead Road, Durham, (919) 477-5498.
Horne Creek Historical Farm, 308 Horne Creek Farm Road, Pinnacle, (336) 325-2298.
Museum of the Cape Fear, 810 Arsenal Avenue, Fayetteville, (910) 486-1330.
N.C. Museum of Art, 2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh, (919) 839-6262.
Town Creek Indian Mound, 509 Town Creek Mound Road, Mt. Gilead, (910) 439-6802.
What more can you ask for? Pack a lunch. It's cheap. Take the kids or the grandkids. Explore the site when you're finished with your skyward delights.
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So it has designated Saturday, March 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. as "Let's Go Fly A Kite Day" at six state historic sites and two state museums.
With no electrical lines and lots of wide open spaces, the venues will open the grounds to all kite flyers.
The locations are:
Alamance Battleground, 5308 S. NC 62, Burlington, (336) 227-4785.
Governor Charles B. Aycock Birthplace, 264 Governor Aycock Road, Fremont, (919) 242-5581.
Bennett Place, 4409 Bennett Memorial Road, Durham, (919) 383-4345.
Duke Homestead, 2828 Duke Homestead Road, Durham, (919) 477-5498.
Horne Creek Historical Farm, 308 Horne Creek Farm Road, Pinnacle, (336) 325-2298.
Museum of the Cape Fear, 810 Arsenal Avenue, Fayetteville, (910) 486-1330.
N.C. Museum of Art, 2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh, (919) 839-6262.
Town Creek Indian Mound, 509 Town Creek Mound Road, Mt. Gilead, (910) 439-6802.
What more can you ask for? Pack a lunch. It's cheap. Take the kids or the grandkids. Explore the site when you're finished with your skyward delights.
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Friday, February 24, 2012
Deal alert!
You wouldn't call it March Madness or anything, but Emerald Isle Realty is offering a vacation deal through the month of March: 3 days for the price of 2 or 4 days for the price of 3.
If nothing else, it's a good kite-flying month. You can watch basketball March Madness in between long walks on the beach! And with the weather so warm during these first few months of 2012, chances are good that it'll be pleasant next month.
Go here for details of the deal.
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If nothing else, it's a good kite-flying month. You can watch basketball March Madness in between long walks on the beach! And with the weather so warm during these first few months of 2012, chances are good that it'll be pleasant next month.
Go here for details of the deal.
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