destination: North Carolina
Tuesday, November 3, 2009 
We're back. The whole thing was pretty sublime, really. Very mild temperatures, brilliant autumn displays, misty rain, fog, sunshine, blue skies, and days of uninterrupted time with my Love. It was as near to perfection as I've experienced.
Here's a quick run-down of our favorites, should you find yourself lucky enough to be heading to the Old North State:
We spent the first couple of days in the Triangle area. We stayed at the Carolina Inn beside the UNC campus and it was lovely and southern and the perfect location from which to explore the region. We ate at La Farm and Watts Grocery. Both very good but nothing compared to the local institution, Sunrise Biscuit Kitchen. This place doesn't even have tables, it's only drive-thru, and the line heads out onto the road and pretty decently backs up traffic. With good reason...those biscuits are the real deal.
We also took a historic trolley tour of Raleigh which we really enjoyed. Of the region, we fell most in love with Chapel Hill.
From there we headed up to Asheville. Had we any idea how much we would adore it, we would have gone nowhere else. Downtown, the River Arts District, The Blue Ridge Parkway, The Biltmore - each stop was more fantastic then the last. We were, quite literally, in our version of heaven.
We ate at The Admiral - a fantastic dive gastro-pub, The Sunny Point Cafe - where Sean who is the picture of understatement claimed he had the best meal of his life (fried green tomato sandwich, goat cheese, & bacon on a croissant) and 12 Bones, where I know I had the best sandwhich of my life - a BLT, green tomatoes. We left town with a new obsession - can you guess what it is?
Needless to say, you had to tear us away from that town. I think we have found "our place" that we will be returning to again and again. We even found the most amazing, secluded lake that we now fantasize about one day owning a little place on.
Speaking of secluded little get-aways - the Biltmore, wowza. My sisters family breezed through there last summer and were less than impressed so I have to say that I had low expectations. Yes, it is the largest private residence in the country, but sometimes it's like - you've seen one big fancy house, you've seen them all. Well Sean and I were pretty much blown away by the whole place. And I fully understand why my sisters clan was not. If you are in the vicinity, I HIGHLY recommend going to the Biltmore. At $60 a person, you want to know that you are getting your moneys worth - and there is plenty to see and do to make a day of it. Give yourself lots of time to see it all. But this is the crucial part - don't go if you're not going to pay the extra $10 a person and get the guided audio tour. Without it, it is just another big, fancy home. The tour really makes the place come alive. There is so much fascinating back story and intricate detailing that you totally miss on your own. To fully appreciate the home you need to understand the man who built it and the people who stayed there. We will be going back, next time with more time on our hands. And I'll be bringing a notebook to jot things down. The style inspiration there was endless.
{Funny side note: We saw The Duggar family and their camera crew while we were at the Biltmore. I think that I heard that they were filmimg their Christmas episode there. I really wanted to talk with Jim-Bob and Michelle. I have questions.}
So, it was a splendid weekend. I am so happy to be back with my babies but really I just want to pack them up and head back. One day, perhaps.
{Here are some great resources...we used "The Newcomers Guide to North Carolina", "Travel North Carolina""Backroads of North Carolina" to help plan our trip.}
Reader Comments (26)
Gorgeous pictures and fabulous review on this state! I absolutely must visit now, too! Can we go someday with you? I really want to experience all these beautiful places and delicious restaurants (Sean, I'm impressed by how impressed you were!)
Thanks for the post, Em.
I love detailed reviews like this with restaurant suggestions. I've never been to this part of the country, but am definitely intrigued. Gorgeous photos and those BLTs sound divine!
And I'm always a fan of Big Fancy Houses.
Seriously beautiful pictures. I love all the red. I have always wanted to go to North Carolina because the later part of the Outlander series is based in North Caroline. I need to look at a map now. Glad you had a wonderful trip.
What beautiful pictures!!! Almost hard to look at b/c they're so beautiful!!! Fall in TX is nothing but a cool breeze compared to this. WOW.
What a wonderful trip! Your pictures make me want to go there myself and your descriptions of the meal are mouth-watering!! It's so nice to have a special place to retreat to when needed! NC is just a stunning state and I hope to someday live there!
Those pictures are stunningly gorgeous and NC is definitely on my "must see" list!
just thinking of asheville makes me happy! everytime my husband and i head to the mountaints (usualy 3-4 times a year) we talk about how we want to pack up and move to asheville. a good friend of mine works at the admiral and the sunny side cafe is def. delicious!
Ah, I'm just loving this recap!!! My dh did his grad work at UNC and our first year and a half of marriage were spent in Chapel Hill. Ideal. Such memories!!!
wow! gorgeous. looks like a perfect trip.
if you head back to asheville, eat at the tupelo honey cafe. i had the best brussels sprouts of my life there. my first meal there was during a stop en route to the coast for a few days at the beach. it was so good that we altered our return itinerary to replicate the meal at the end of the week.
I spent every summer of my life going to Asheville to stay on my family's farm there. Just thinking of the place makes me long to be in the car heading to the mountains. Love it there! Also really enjoyed your pictures!
this is great! what a wonderful time you two must've had. i am bookmarking this for future reference when a getaway is needed!
looks lovely...the colors are amazing.
wow! the colors are simply amazing...
you're on, Looney!
I loved the BIltmore - we were there over Thanksgiving about three years ago. It was gorgeous
Hurrah for Asheville!
Glad you had a great time in North Carolina, Emily. I went to Chapel Hill for college, and it was lovely--good job finding the biscuits at Sunrise!
This is the best article I have seen that really gets what makes Chapel Hill such a neat spot: http://gardenandgun.com/article/life-hill.
Stunning. I had no idea how beautiful this place could be. It's on my wish list now. Thanks for sharing.
We live in Charlotte, NC and will soon be downsizing to Raleigh and we also love all reagions of the state. Asheville is a nice place to visit but I don't want to llive there...do not like the way the highways divide up the town...Raleigh can be that way as well. I agree with the prices at the Biltmmore...it is worth it to take the audio tour. We buy yearly passes and some day we actually would like to splurge and stay at the Biltmore Inn because we just like walking the grounds. If you ever want another beautiful experience check out "Middleton Place" outside of Charleston, SC. It's a much smaller version of the Biltmore but the grounds are wonderful and you can serene. The romance of walking from the Inn to the Restaurant through the old oak trees is unbelievable.
Oh my gosh! I live in Carrboro - which is practically Chapel Hill! It was like you were describing my backyard. :) I completely love it here and it was so awesome to read about this area through a visitor's eyes. My boyfriend's dad lives in Asheville but I haven't had much time to explore but I will definitely try to now. I've always ignored the Biltmore house just because of how expensive it is, but you've made me really want to go. That's so cool you saw the Duggars. I have so many questions for them too. They amaze me.
What an incredible time you must have enjoyed. These pictures are wonderful!
I found your blog by going to the Cozy little house and stopped here to comment. We live very near the Biltmore Estate and have season passes. We love to go and spend the day. It's fun just to walk on the many trails or walk through the flower gardens and conservatory. We usually only go inside the house once a year when the Christmas decorations are up. We love it and I'm so glad you enjoyed your visit! Love your blog!
I'm so glad I found this post! My husband and I are moving to Asheville in a couple weeks and I've NEVER been there in my life. It's so good to read how much you liked it there. We're a couple that loves Alaska and Oregon so I think we'll fit right in... hopefully! It sounds gorgeous there. Thanks for giving suggestions on places to go!
I loved this post! My boyfriend moved to Durham about a year ago for med school, and that has given me a reason to take vacations to the beautiful state. I'm from Wisconsin and never thought there was much of a reason to go there, but I am loving it. We went to Asheville this spring and saw the Biltmore which I absolutely loved. It reminded me of visiting the castles in Europe without the need for a passport. I especially love restaurant recommendations. We at a place called Bouchon in Asheville which I loved.
Lovely lovely post! I love NC!!! Hope you don't mind I mentioned you over there on Sweet Iced Tea as well.