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The Voice of Business,
Industry & the Professions Since 1942
North Carolina's largest
business group proudly serves as the state chamber of commerce
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Tar
Heel Travels
Best
Places to Eat, Sleep
Pick
from our list when you're traveling this holiday season
By Bill F. Hensley
Below:
Asheville's culinary lights include the Grove Park Inn and the Inn on
Biltmore
 At
least once or twice a week, I’m asked about my favorite places to stay
in North Carolina. A second question, which follows quickly, is about
the restaurants I enjoy and would recommend.
Both are routine questions for a travel writing man who moves around the
state frequently, has laid his head on pillows in about every Tar Heel
county, and has tucked a napkin under his chin in more restaurants than
he can remember during a lifetime on the road.
Actually, I have lots of favorite inns and restaurants , and I am
pleased to share them with friends and readers of this publication. My
choices are based on such obvious factors as outstanding facilities,
fine cuisine, comfortable accommodations, good service and genuine
hospitality, qualities that cannot be overlooked in selecting places
that you go back to often and anxiously await each visit. All are in a
class by themselves in my book.
Over the years, the places where I stay and eat have come to know me. In
a sense, I’m kinda like family. They call me by name upon arrival or,
if they don’t remember my name, acknowledge that they have seen me
before and are glad to have me back. Believe me, a warm welcome and acts
of friendliness are important to frequent travelers.
Since I was born in the mountains, let’s start in my home territory.
Seven places will always be like a second home to me. They are
Cataloochee Ranch near Maggie Valley; The Swag, just a stone’s throw
away in Haywood County; the Greystone Inn on Lake Toxaway; the Grove
Park Inn in Asheville; Eseeola Lodge in Linville; and the Inn on
Biltmore in Asheville. All meet the requirements for quality and
friendliness that I have come to appreciate and expect.
Other hill country places with a casual, homey atmosphere that I enjoy
are the Millstone Inn and High Hampton in Cashiers, and Pine Crest Inn
in Tryon.
Evidently, the top guide books and rating service agree with me, because
these are the places they feature in their prestigious listings.
It’s the same in the Piedmont where my stomping grounds are the
Carolina Hotel and the Holly Inn in Pinehurst; Pine Needles and Mid
Pines in Southern Pines; the Fearrington House in Pittsboro; the
Ballantyne Resort in Charlotte and the Grandover Resort in Greensboro.
Again, these are top-rated hostelries that reached a lofty status with
me and others, offering a wide range of facilities from golf to spas,
plush lodging to gourmet dining, homespun hospitality to dependable
service.
On the ocean, the Sanderling Inn in Duck is renowned as the class of the
coast. Other special places to me are the First Colony in Nags Head, Sea
Trail resort at Sunset Beach, and the Lords’ Proprietors in Edenton,
distinctive establishments with all of the essential qualities.
There are other well-known inns with reputations for greatness that I
have not had a chance to be a guest. Included in this group are the
Richmond Hill in Asheville, Siena in Chapel Hill, The Park Hotel in
Charlotte, and Theodosia’s, a bed and breakfast on Bald Head Island.
If I make a beeline for the places I have mentioned when my travels call
for an overnight stay, be advised that there are numerous restaurants in
the state with an appeal to my culinary instincts, although it should be
pointed out that I usually take most meals where I stay.
Believe me, mention the word “barbecue,” and you have my full and
immediate attention. The handiest place I pig out is at Bill Spoon’s
in Charlotte, since I live in the Queen City. But name any barbecue
restaurant in Lexington, Rocky Mount, Kinston or Goldsboro—or anywhere
Down East— and I’m ready to go. In the past year, I have discovered
that the Smithfield chain, which has restaurants scattered around the
state, has excellent ‘cue that you must try.
For fine dining, four places—the Palm in Charlotte, 1894 at the Holly
Inn in Pinehurst, the Angus Barn in Raleigh, and the Mad Boar in
Wallace—are memorable and well worth an out-of-the-way trip to sample
the house specialties.
Sadly, many of my favorite all-you-can-eat, country cooking
establishments are no longer in existence. Since I was a child, I went
to the Nu-Wray Inn in Burnsville for its sumptuous, old fashioned
family-styled meals. Though the hotel and restaurant still exist, it has
discontinued its legendary dinner spread.
That means that I head to
the Jarrett House in Dillsboro, or to Shatley Springs near West
Jefferson, both in the mountains, for my traditional Southern cuisine of
platter-served fried chicken, biscuits, gravy and fresh vegetables on
the dinner menu, and a breakfast of eggs, country ham, sausage, grits
and biscuits. I don’t get to either often enough, unfortunately, but
my waistline is not complaining.
Over the years, I have enjoyed such unique places as the 42nd Street
Oyster Bar in Raleigh, the Sanitary Fish Market in Morehead City, the
Dockside and Ella’s in Calabash, the Market Basket in Cashiers, the
Louisiana Purchase and Morels in Banner Elk, Jackalope’s on Beech
Mountain, Elijah’s on the wharf in Wilmington, the JFR Barn in
Southern Pines, and Crippen’s, Twigs and the Best Cellar, in Blowing
Rock. All were memorable and help maintain a Tar Heel tradition for
excellence.
The next time you’re looking for a good place to spend the night or
have a meal—from the mountains to the coast— try one of my
favorites. They are special to me, and I think you will like what you
discover.
And tell them I sent you.
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