my wife and i are saving up for our next big trip (patagonia?) and so we're keeping our first anniversary low key...originally, we were looking at charleston or savannah, but between the $160+/night B&B's and 4+ hour travel time, we likely won't do that

asheville is a possibility, but their B&Bs aren't any cheaper (well, not until you get out to around waynesville, but then it's a 30-minute drive into asheville)

so, throw out some suggestions! we'd LIKE to keep it within about 4 hours, but if it's a bit farther, that's fine...i realize we don't have to stay in a B&B, and may not...mostly just looking for a place that would be fun to roam around for a couple of days

i know there are plenty of options, i'm just running into a brain block

we were just at the beach for a week, so hanging out there isn't really very appealing (but a coastal town could be fun)

we thought about charlotte (seriously, ikea would be fun)...not sure what else there is to do in charlotte, though

8/7/2011 8:01:27 AM

What about Beaufort?

8/7/2011 8:47:14 AM

we rented a cabin outside of asheville for our anniversary/my bday last year. it's not a b&b but it's way better than staying in a hotel imo. there was a small kitchen in it, although we didn't cook anything. it was right next to a nature preserve w/ hiking trails & about 10-15 mins to asheville. their website doesn't work anymore but here's the address & phone
185 Kelly Hill Road
Gerton, NC 28735
(828) 337-6948
there's a bunch of these little cabins around asheville but we chose this one on recommendation from a friend & because they allowed both of our big dogs. oh and it was $75/night.

if you go there you HAVE to eat at Piazza, which is on the highway b/w 40 and the cabin. they have the best noodles i've ever eaten. you could eat just the noodles w/o sauce they're so good. also eat at Corner Kitchen over in the biltmore village. my brother's gf suggested it (she works for obama & also took him there back during the campaign) and i think that's probably the best meal i've ever had. lots of local, fresh ingredients, & the menu changes every day. make reservations.
http://www.piazzaeast.com/piazza-home.html
http://www.thecornerkitchen.com/

[Edited on August 7, 2011 at 10:31 AM. Reason : ]

8/7/2011 10:04:07 AM

Have you been to Biltmore in Asheville? My gf and I went there last month and it was amazing. The hotel we stayed at is waaaay out of your price range, though, so I've got no suggestions there.

^We also ate at the Corner Kitchen and it was very, very good.

[Edited on August 7, 2011 at 10:30 AM. Reason : CK]

8/7/2011 10:29:06 AM

i love threads like this. my wife and I love going on weekend or even day trips around NC (or surrounding areas if close enough)..

we have done all the usual ones, ie. boone, asheville, charleston, wilmington, outer banks, etc..
and we have both lived in NC all our life so we have been to a lot of places in the state

I like finding out new places that i maybe hadn't thought of that would be a neat day/weekend trip

8/7/2011 10:32:49 AM

Quote :

"What about Beaufort? "

This was going to be my suggestion. The Anchorage B&B is a cute little place if it's still around.

8/7/2011 10:39:41 AM