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TRIP INFORMATION

GETTING THERE

Wilmington is an easy two-hour drive east from Raleigh, just off I-40 on Hwy 17.

Do

Airlie Gardens

Historic gardens in the classic Southern tradition surrounding a picture-perfect lake. 910-798-7700; www.airliegardens.org; 300 Airlie Rd, Wilmington; adult/child $5/3; 9am-5pm, closed Sun Jan-Mar;

Cape Fear Serpentarium

More than 100 species of poisonous snakes and reptiles from around the world in various levels of deadliness. 910-762-1669; www.capefearserpentarium.com; 20 Orange St, Wilmington; admission $8; 11am-5pm Sun-Fri, to 6pm Sat, closed Mon & Tue off-season;

Haunted Pub Crawl

Those under age 21 will enjoy the other tours: ghosts, film locations and pirates. 910-794-1866; www.hauntedwilmington.com; call for meeting location, downtown Wilmington; adult $21; 7:30pm Tue-Sat Jul, Aug & Oct, Wed-Sat Apr-Jun & Sep, Fri & Sat Mar

New Hanover County Arboretum

Demonstration garden for local plants and international flora. 910-798-7670; 6206 Oleander Dr, Wilmington; admission free; garden dawn to dusk, gift shop 9am-4pm;

North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher

Scary creatures and colorful fish abound at this native aquarium, especially popular with children. 910-458-8257; www.ncaquariums.com; 900 Loggerhead Rd, Kure Beach; adult/child $8/6; 9am-5pm, to 9pm Thu July;

Southport Ferry

Runs about once an hour from Kure Beach to Southport for both cars and pedestrians. 910-457-6942; www.ncdot.org/transit/ferry; Hwy 421 S, Fort Fisher, Kure Beach; car/pedestrian $5/1; 6:15am-7pm to Southport, 5:30am-6:15pm to Fort Fisher

EAT

Deluxe

New Southern cuisine influenced by French, Italian and Caribbean flavors with an award-winning chef. 910-251-0333; www.deluxenc.com; 114 Market St, Wilmington; mains $12-27; 5pm until close Mon-Sat, 11am-2pm Sun

Sweet & Savory Bakeshop and Café

Locals’ favorite for 120-layer croissants, omelets, local seafood and delectable pastries, on the way to Wrightsville Beach. 910-256-0115; www.sweetandsavorycafe.com; 1611 Pavilion Pl, Wilmington; mains $4-16; 7am-9pm Mon-Sat, 8am-9pm Sun;

SLEEP

Carolina Beach State Park

Shaded beachfront camping with miles of shoreline trails and a Venus flytrap trail from which to spot carnivorous plants. 910-458-8206; www.ncparks.gov; 1010 State Beach Park Rd, Carolina Beach; campsites $15; year-round,

Graystone Inn

Elegant and historic B&B central enough to get around by carriage rides. 910-763-2000; www.graystoneinn.com; 100 S 3rd St, Wilmington; r $169-379

USEFUL WEBSITES

www.capefearcoast.com

www.wilmingtondowntown.com

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LINK YOUR TRIP www.lonelyplanet.com/trip-planner

TRIP

8 Southeastern Beach Getaways

14 From Dirty Dancing to Dawson’s Creek

15 Pirates of the Outer Banks

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Return to beginning of chapter

TRIP 17

Piedmont Traditions

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WHY GO This round-trip takes you through the center of North Carolina, also known as the Piedmont for its similarities to the foothill Piemonte region in Italy. A living museum, Old Salem in Winston-Salem was settled by Moravians in the 1760s, who started the craft tradition that is a mainstay of the region.

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TIME

3 days

DISTANCE

190 miles

BEST TIME TO GO

Year-round

START

Charlotte, NC

END

Charlotte, NC

ALSO GOOD FOR

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While most visitors to North Carolina stick to the edges - the eastern coast or the western Blue Ridge Mountains - many people miss out on the central foothills. The only cities in North Carolina with six-figure populations are here (Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Durham and Fayetteville), as are generations of craft traditions that have put North Carolina on the map. These days, manufacturing and crafts have given way to high-tech and biotechnology as the main exports of the state, but just a generation or two ago it was pottery, textiles and furniture.

Start your trip at the center of all things aesthetically useful in North Carolina at the Mint Museum of Craft & Design in