Where To Spend Your Long Weekend In North Carolina

If you want to see the best of a state, then a road trip might be the perfect way to get a snapshot of what it has to offer. If you don’t have much longer than a long weekend, it can be hard to see everything North Carolina has to offer, however. For that reason, we’re going to look at some of the must-see highlights you can’t miss.

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Experience the nostalgia of Old Salem

Every state has its own history, but few present it quite as impressively as North Carolina does with the living museum of Old Salem. Unlike many of the manufactured “old towns” around the country, this is the real deal, with genuine preserved buildings, many of them converted into galleries where you can see a host of antiques. Authenticity is the name of the game, with many of the tradesmen employed at Old Salem using the traditional methods of creating souvenirs you simply won’t be able to find elsewhere.

Go wild in Duck

Despite the modest name, this underrated spot offers some of the finest natural beauty in the state, offering one of the most family-friendly beaches. It’s not the biggest of towns, with few accommodation options inside it, but you can easily find a hotel near Duck, North Carolina, that offers even more of the gorgeous coast to explore on your way there. With plenty of piers and walkways to explore an ever-shifting coast, as well as plenty of kayaking and canoeing fun, it’s a great way to feel closer to that good North Carolina nature.

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Get romantic in Charlotte

One of the best places in the country for a Valentines getaway, Charlotte is just as good for couples who want to make a flying stop before exploring the rest of the state, as well. It’s a city full of rich and authentic culture, from scrumptious Cajun food restaurants to live jazz and blues joints, sometimes you can both in the same place. If you want a spot for a romantic dance, you can even bring your own favorite record with you to Petra’s Bar on the Bring Your Own Vinyl night.

Escape to the sea at Outer Banks

Duck is a perfect place to stop at the coast on your way through the state, though if you’re feeling a little more adventurous, you can continue your voyage out to the Outer Banks. This island chain offers tons of natural beauty to explore, but the adventurous amongst you will want to see the history of piracy, including some of the places that the famous Lord of the Pirates, Blackbeard himself, making the area his hideout during his most infamous period. From shipwrecks to piracy museums, it’s perfect for those fans of the scurvy sea-dogs.

With a rich history, gorgeous natural beauty, and a great romantic city getaway in the form of Charlottesville, there’s no doubt that North Carolina has something to offer just about every kind of traveler. You just need to be willing to look a little deeper and go a little further.

How to Avoid the Holiday Vacation Crud

With so many people traveling over the holidays, and it being mid-flu season, there are going to be a lot of germs flying around. Like, a lot more than usual. The holidays are already stressful. You don't want to add sickness into the mix, too. Make sure you aren't opening presents while hacking up a lung and holding a fist full of tissues. These tips can be used for every trip you go on, because vacation crud is a thing, and it sucks. 

There are some things you can do to avoid getting sick while traveling, so your trip isn't ruined. I've been sick on a lot of trips, but I've learned to plan ahead and also take a few extra things in my bag.

Antibacterial wipes and gel

Wipe down all the things you might touch on the plane, like the armrests and the tray table. The water on the plane all comes from the same reservoir, which may or may not contain bacteria, because they are super hard to clean, so when you use the restroom, instead of washing your hands in the tiny sink, bring your bottle of Purell with you instead to kill any germs you've picked up.

Avoid coffee, tea and water on the plane

Speaking of dirty water, avoid anything with water on the plane, unless you are handed a bottle of water that hasn't already been opened. When the flight attendants pour water into cups from a bottle, chances are it has been filled from the airplane water system. I buy a new bottle of water at the airport to bring onboard and then order a soft drink when the drink cart comes around. Also, if you like tomato juice, it tends to be the most hydrating and nutritious thing you can get, so that's also an option.

Pack Emergen-C, Vitamin C, or those chewable immune boosters

Start using these at least 3 days before travel, double up on the day of travel and keep using while on your trip. You want your immune system to be in the best shape it can be and extra vitamins never hurt anyone. I also like the Halls Defense lozenges, too. They give you a little extra boost, taste pretty good, and help if you end up having a sore throat anyway. I found that they helped me bounce back faster (with the addition of a mid-day nap) when I started to feel under the weather while in Hawaii.

Hydrate

Your body has to work twice as hard if you aren't treating it right. You need to stay hydrated, so even if you're using wine to deal with your crazy family, make sure you're also chugging water in between, so you don't get sick. You may also benefit from a travel-size humidifier like this one, which you may also be able to add a few drops of essential oil to for a little extra boost. 

Eat your vegetables

You need vitamins and nutrients. Those Vitamin C tablets aren't going to help with all the other things your body needs, so make sure you're also trying to eat well. Eat as many fruits and veggies as you can. I declare pumpkin pie counts, but try not to make it all sweets, because then you're not going to feel that great with all the extra sugar. 

Get enough sleep

Without enough sleep, your body tends to shut itself down...in the form of a cold. Nobody wants that. Skip a few late-night activities or head home early from that Christmas party. If anyone blames you, that's on them. You need to take care of yourself first. Alcohol, crappy party food and late nights are not going to do you any favors. At least opt for the baby carrots and some beauty sleep. You'll thank me. This is also why I like to stay in a hotel instead of with other people. It enables me to have my own space and be able to unwind properly. If you need a little extra help with catching your Zs, some great ideas are Melatonin, Dream Water and this fantastic pillow spray.

Don't forget about your allergy meds and other medication

I have the worst allergies and sometimes moving to a different environment makes them worse, sometimes better. I just remember that I need to keep up my steady stream of meds, whether I need them at the time or not, to be a person. And if you take regular medication, don't forget it at home. 

Here's to a happy and healthy holiday season and Christmas/New Year vacations! How do you keep yourself from getting sick on your travels?

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links and if you purchase through them (first of all, thank you, second of all, you're awesome) I will receive monetary compensation.

The Oldest Restaurant in Philly

On our trip to Philadelphia, we planned several visits to specific restaurants. One of the places I wanted to eat at was Philly's oldest restaurant, City Tavern. Opened in 1773, it has been a tavern, a restaurant, a meeting house, a place to house prisoners of war, a Army headquarters and celebration venue. 

Now you can relive the Colonial times in an authentic tavern, with 3 floors, metal goblets, wait staff in period costume and traditional dishes. If you're looking about the city where everything is located, you can easily walk to City Tavern. You'll be welcomed warmly and be served huge portions. In fact, you may balk at the prices, but each dish can easily serve two people.  

We had a buy one get one free coupon that I picked up at the Visitor Center, so we saved over $20 on our meal. Dinner is at least $10 more per plate, so if you're trying to save money, opt for lunch.

This was our splurge meal. We also have breakfast before we left for the day, so that wasn't an extra cost factor. 

The bar area is also really beautiful and quaint, with top shelf alcohol and cozy, high-backed booths. It seems a bit like a home bar, but better. They even have a board with drinks on special for the day.

You start your meal off with a drink (they have iced tea and sodas available) and a bread plate. You get two different kinds of bread and Thomas Jefferson's favorite sweet potato biscuits, which were quite good and nutty. Definitely try those if you don't have a nut allergy. 

I was starving, so I also wanted an appetizer. I knew the mushroom toast was for me as soon as I saw it on the menu. If you love mushrooms, you have to try it. The mushrooms are sauteed, put on toast and covered in Bernaise sauce. Heaven! 

I chose the rabbit for my entree and it was enough to feed two or three people. It's basically a leg of braised rabbit and a ton of veggies put over a huge bed of egg noodles. It was delicious, but also way too much for one person to eat, so you'll be taking part of it home in a box. The table next to us also ordered this and the fried tofu (made to the specifications of a letter from Benjamin Franklin) and both said their food was fantastic. I didn't even know they had tofu then, but apparently it was such a hit that they kept this on the menu.

Eric, who really doesn't love pork, ordered the applewood-smoked pork chop. The meat took up half the (not small) plate and the other half was heaped with sauerkraut. He said both were great, but his was also too much to finish, especially since we wanted to save room for dessert. My title picture shows the large selection of desserts. Some are year-round options and some are seasonal.

Eric got all excited about Martha Washington's chocolate mousse cake, as it is made with the original recipe. I've had a lot of meh chocolate cakes in general, but this was light and fluffy and the perfect amount of chocolate and I would have eaten a whole second piece if it was on the table. I'm glad we didn't get tart that I originally wanted. I loved Martha Washington more in that moment.

The wait staff were all super friendly and I loved the outfits. This is exactly my kind of place, even though you have to go downstairs into a whole separate dining area to use the restroom and the stairs squeak a bit and make it sound like someone's walking behind you. That seems to be something you'd expect from a place this old though, so if that freaks you out and the restaurant isn't busy enough for other diners to be downstairs, ask a dining companion to come with you.

So, if you're in Philadelphia and want an excellent meal that's a bit of a splurge, this is the place to do it. Hit up the Visitor Center for a coupon (it's on a postcard for the restaurant) to get your free entree. Then you can save that money for one of their cookbooks or a souvenir to take home from Philly. 

Check them out online: website | Facebook | Twitter

Do you have a favorite historical restaurant from your hometown or your travels?

Disclaimer: I did not get paid to write this review or get a free meal (except through that coupon). I just genuinely enjoyed my experience there.