So, when is the best time to visit Charleston? A three to four-day trip in the time frame from early October to mid-November is the ideal time to visit Charleston. March and April would be my second consideration. Both make outside activities more pleasant, due to the preferable climate. Avoiding the heat and humidity is key for this city. To get the best memories from your trip you need to be able to walk the area easily, something that is not pleasant to do in the Summer months. A rule of thumb for all these regions is Deep South + August heat = misery. Ok, maybe misery is too strong of a word, but it may feel miserable at times.

I have traveled to Charleston in all seasons, I love it in all seasons. The fall is just my optimal time to visit the city. Most activities are more enjoyable in this period. Summer is only good if you are going specifically for the beach. Let me break down why I think that October – November is the best time to visit Charleston.

Why October – November is the Best Time to Visit Charleston

Weather…there article done. Oh, wait I have about half a page more to write. Seriously, if you never have been in the deep south during the summer, than you have never knocked on the door to hell. It is funny, I go to New Orleans every summer, and the pure volume of alcohol makes it a bit easier to take the heat. Charleston is not New Orleans; the heat can get down right overbearing in the summer. It is also less socially acceptable to be drunk at 10:30am.

The average high temperature in July and August is close to 90 degrees. That is only half the story. Add to this heat a humidity that makes it feel like you have a 100-pound safe strapped to your back. The combined southern heat and humidity is a special kind of awful. It makes even the smallest things uncomfortable.

Let us compare this to mid fall temperatures and it is much more reasonable. The average high for October is 75 degrees, in November that falls to 67 degrees (source). This is the perfect weather to enjoy Charleston. To make things even better the humidity is (mainly) gone at this time. This is important for reasons I will get to in a moment. One last note about Charleston’s weather in October. Rainfall is also considerably less in the fall than the summer. Average rainfall in the summer months can reach up to 9 days a month. In October and November that falls to about 4 days. So, when is the best time to visit Charleston? The searing heat of summer shows why we should push your Charleston trip off to fall.

Outdoor Activities in Charleston

It is especially important to avoid the heat of Charleston in the summer because of the plentiful outdoor activities to enjoy in this city. As mentioned, unless you want to spend the weekend on the beach many of your experiences will be better with less heat and humidity. Let me just name a few.

Carriage Rides in Charleston

It is bad enough I am making these poor horses cart my fat arse around, now I am going to double down on this and am making them lug me in the dead of Summer? Take my advice, give you and the horse a break and go in October. I enjoy a good carriage ride around town, you learn a lot of history and get to see the city. Take my word for it is better in cooler weather. You feel more comfortable at this time. One bonus certain body functions of the horse aren’t as tough on your nose in the cool months of October or November.

Plantation Tours in Charleston

One late spring while staying in Charleston, we chose the Middleton Place as our home base. We stayed in an interesting room on the plantation. The atmosphere was amazing, the environment was beautiful, it was great to just explore. Except…once again the heat was overbearing. We could not walk more than 10-minutes in some areas due to the heat. I believe that was in May, I can imagine how bad it would have been in August.

Just Exploring the Streets

As anyone who has visited this site knows, I love walking the streets of any city. Strolling from one café to another to enjoy a cold drink. Here again, the heavy humidity doesn’t lend well to this. I do not like eating in the heat, unless it is New Orleans and I am too drunk to care. October is the best time to visit Charleston because it lends well to doing just about nothing.

I can go on, but you get the point. Any outside activity besides a beach is no fun in crippling heat. Fall just has better weather, which makes for a superior time.

Festivals in October/November

The cooler weather also allows for some great festivals and events. I will go by last year, but nothing is guaranteed in 2020 travel. Events such as the Charleston Gallery Association Art walk and the Charleston Greek Festival occur in October. After 2020 I am confident we will get to a more normal schedule, but double check the dates.

Given we are entering into the holiday season in October you can also enjoy many Halloween related activities such as the Lowcountry Halloween Fest, among others. In November Christmas starts to pop its head out a bit. Besides the decorations, the Festival of lights starts on or around November 15th. Once again I would double check these dates. You get nice weather and that warm and fuzzy holiday feeling.

There are also great festivals NORMALLY in Charleston in the springtime frame. If you are a runner in April, they have the Cooper bridge run. Hotel rooms are not easy to come by at this time, but the run itself looks great to those who like running. Unless there is She-Crab soup at the other end I will watch.

Why Not December in Charleston?

The weather is still nice in December, but it can get colder especially by the water. It can also be strangely hot. I have been to Charleston, on Christmas day no less. The main reason I prefer October and November to December is I am a Christmas nut. When we got there on Christmas day it was 75 degrees, people were in shorts. Nothing kills the Christmas buzz more than a warm Christmas. I am not drinking hot eggnog or hot chocolate while getting a tan. This is my preference; you may think differently.

March-April

I touched on this before but let me reinforce that if you can’t come to Charleston in October or November, April and March also usually have great weather. April more so than March, March is a bit unpredictable in Charleston, with a little more rain than the fall and a bit cooler. Still both months are a great time to visit Charleston.

When is The Best Time to Visit Charleston?

As I mentioned (many times) October and November are the best time to visit Charleston. The second best time is March-April. If I had to pick the perfect time to visit Charleston, probably right around Halloween. Cool weather, great events, for a first time visitor to the area I cannot see any drawbacks. Every trip is different, weather can be unpredictable, but on a whole late October should work out to be the best time to visit Charleston.

The post When is The Best Time to Visit Charleston? appeared first on Man in Flight.

Yes, I stand by everything I said in my last post, but I don’t think I went far enough. Below are five more reasons why I hate Charlotte, NC.

Over Hyped and Under Delivered

Charlotte is all hat and no saddle…for those of you who grew up in the 1800s. Every new thing in Charlotte is dubbed as Epic or amazing…the most common or subpar place is elevated in the minds of sheeple…

I am getting so sick of being disappointed. Just because something is new doesn’t make it good.

Take last year’s launch of Shake Shack, you would have thought aliens had landed it created such a flurryof activity. I have been to the original Shake Shack in New York, and the line was longer at the location off Woodlawn. Dear Charlotte, there were hundreds of Shake Shacks all over the world before this one, it isn’t special. Don’t get me wrong I like the burgers, but people here acted like their favorite sports team was working the counter…

Probably the biggest Hype monger is the Charlotte Agenda, which reads like the rejection desk at a middle school newspaper. I am not saying I am Mark Twain, but I don’t write articles like I am a 12-year-old. This brings me to my next topic…

Second Thing I hate About Charlotte: I HATE the Charlotte Agenda Axios Charlotte

Different name same garbage. I absolutely hate the online newspaper the Charlotte Agenda. I know, I know…if you don’t like don’t read it. Picture this, two trains of sh*t coming at each other full speed, you know the outcome is going to be disgusting, but you can’t look away. That is why I continue to read; every word is like watching a shitty train wreck!

It is hard to imagine a bigger group of Charlotte cheerleaders than these writers. I am not sure if they are paid to promote the city, but they never have a bad word to say about it. In contrast, article after article sounds like a gushing millenial’s text, everything is “sooooo good” or how we are all “freaking out” over some recent clone bar or restaurant opening. I get it you’re a bunch of millennials, but do you need to be so stereotypical? The problem when nothing is questioned is we keep getting more of the same below average establishments.

I think my favorite article was this one.  (Sorry in advance for redirecting you to their site). The “writer” says he won’t apologize for spending a few hundred dollars on an average weekend in Charlotte. The claim is the city has too much to offer. He goes on to ask why frugality is a badge of honor and takes shots at the fiscal advice on the web.

That’s some great advice, tell a generation who is buried by student loans and worried about housing to spend hundreds of dollars on the same 4 IPAs and an underwhelming brunch. It is ok, after all you’re a millennial, you think the government should pay your student loans (IE us). Just relax and spend $150 on overpriced pork belly tacos and watered- downed drinks at Soul. As a side, if you want Charlotte food revies go here

The Third thing I hate about Charlotte: The Brewery scene.

I used to think that the brewery scene was the highlight of Charlotte. After all who doesn’t like a good local beer? I still like Old Meck and Triple C, but all the “new” ones feel the same. Is there really that much of a demand for IPAs that we keep getting excited by new openings? After the 12th brewery it somewhat loses its thrill. These places have more in common than the Olsen twins. The next “big thing” are the self pour tap rooms. What a rip off, not only are you paying for mostly foam, but they have a tip jar after making you get your own drinks. There are two in Charlotte so far, but don’t worry it’s Charlotte, so there will be 50 identical ones coming soon to a neighborhood near you!

What may be worse is the people that they attract. It used to be that breweries were for older people and heavy drinkers. Now it is like romper-room! The last time I went to drink some hoppy beer, my table was taken over by toddlers (literally). The parents brought their toys and it looked like a playpen. Nothing like hearing a baby cry at a brewery to remind you.. you’re in Charlotte. If it isn’t babies its dogs, why drag your dog to a crowded brewery? Whenever I see a dog in a brewery it makes me feel like the owners have a desperate need for attention.

Next Up: Endless Construction

Charlotte is growing, but not in a good way. How many terrible, tiny condos can one city hold? If I see one more orange cone or dumpster lining the street, I may lose my mind. Plaza Midwood and South End have lost any essence of character due to overbuilding. Near me it isn’t any better. In South Charlotte there is a constant noise of trucks beeping and power saws. I run over more nails then I can count and see litter lining my neighborhood from the workers.

I can’t drive for more than 5 minutes without seeing a construction truck blocking my path or some kind of detour. What do we get for the hassle of construction? Growth!!! Whoopie more traffic, more overpriced, underwhelming restaurants…just more Charlotte!

Finally: Charlotte Lacks Soul

Walk into New Orleans and you know you’re in New Orleans just by the feel of it. New York is the same way, there is an energy about the city. It is like I could step in blind-folded and still know where I am. Every great city that I have been too has its own distinct feeling. Step into Charlotte and it is what I would imagine sleeping with an elderly librarian would feel like, going through the motions, everything is dry, and manufactured enthusiasm a requirement. The city has no personality, its fake… like someone pretending to have something of substance. It has no idea what it takes to be a great city, because it is too busy telling you how wonderful it is.

Charlotte is void of feelings, for me it is a utility city. This is where my job is for now, I will use it for what is worth, but it is difficult to live here. I was fortunate to get in before the prices of homes become unreasonable. I am not sure why people are still moving here, as any real benefit of a relocation to Charlotte is gone…

Conclusion

Just five more reasons, but I can probably devote my entire site to this topic. To the 75% who agree with me be sure to subscribe to my reading list and I will send you details about cities that aren’t terrible. To the other 25%, please subscribe to my reading list on the right, you don’t get out enough. It would serve you well to read about better places.

The post Five More Reasons I Hate Charlotte, North Carolina appeared first on Man in Flight.

This post is a long time coming. I have been going to Charleston for years and it has a special place in my heart; amongst my favorite reasons, this is where my wife and I got married. We have spent many weekends exploring the city (and prepping for the wedding). Since then, we have continued to return to the city throughout the years, once even on Christmas day. Needless to say, I love this city. The last time we went was last month, and once again,  we had a great time. To be fair there are some drawbacks to this classic town, but for me the charm of the city keeps me coming back.  Listed below are the reasons why.

The Food in Charleston is Amazing

Certain cities in the United States are food destinations such as New York and New Orleans. Charleston should be added to this list, it should be a destination for anyone who owns a mouth. Like other food destination cities, there are certain dishes I would only get in Charleston. My favorite being She-Crab soup. I would bathe in this stuff if it were socially acceptable. A rich, creamy broth, with chunks of crab and added sherry that gives the soup a nice burn. This is one of those items that can’t be (or shouldn’t be) had outside of Charleston.  My two spots are Middleton Place Plantation which is somewhat of a drive, and Amen Street Fish and Raw Bar. There may be natives who stumble upon this site and have a better spot, pray-tell me about it..

Another item that seems to have been born here is shrimp and grits. Two simple ingredients and such a deadly combination. I had it last month, at High Cotton. This restaurant is highly recommended for all meals, they can make a shoe taste good.

All in all, there are so many good restaurants, with so many good items, that one section can’t begin to capture it. I very rarely have a bad meal in Charleston, when I do my wasted hunger is a greater loss than the money.

One additional thing I love about the town is they have a great bar scene. My favorite is Thoroughbreds Lounge, inside the Charleston Place Hotel. The open setting, combined with the piano player makes for a very cool atmosphere. The drinks are also wonderful, as is the sweet, savory, spicy nuts they put on the table. The Gin Joint is another bar that I attempt to get to at least once a trip. A bit small inside, but it has a great atmosphere with some very nice drinks. These are just two of many great bars in Charleston.

After all these cocktails you may want to eat again. Pizzeria Di Giovanni serves a pie the size of a football field. It wasn’t New York Pizza, but it hit the spot. Speaking of wanna be New York Pizza avoid the place with the name New York City Pizza on Bay Street, after eating a slice here I finally found out what they did with all those horse droppings from the carriages. 

Charleston has Great History

Whether you want to see where the civil war started, Fort Sumter, or you just want to look at old southern mansions and plantations, Charleston is your place. This is one of the oldest and historically significate cities in the United States. Charleston is ranked as the 11th oldest city in the U.S., and is as important as any in the country.

Just walking around the city is like going back in time. Stroll through the streets and admire the old homes. Walk down Rainbow Row and enjoy the street or make your way to the marketplace, which has an terrible history, but now sells local products with a museum underneath. Walk to The Battery, where you can overlook the Atlantic, and spot Fort Sumter on a clear day. I would recommend taking a short walking tour, the history can be so subtle you may miss something.

For the braver soul learn about the cities haunted past. We have taken two tours now, one a walking ghost tour, which taught us as much about the city as it did scare us. The second was something that had us rethinking our sanity. We took a tour of the old Charleston jail, where a number of local famous criminals died. The woman who lead the tour is either a liar, a crazy or a brave badass (my vote is the latter). The stories she told would make me rethink my career choices if I were her. Of course, on the other hand, she also offers a private ghost study at 2 AM, that I may be crazy enough to check out…

Charleston is Beautiful

Whether it is Christmas in Charleston or the dead of the summer I feel like I am in a Hallmark movie when exploring the city.  It almost looks fake at times; no city can be this perfect. Expensive shops and galleries line Meeting Street. You have horse and buggy tours pulling people around town. In once section there is water, other parts of town there are picturesque plantations. The area is truly like a painting. It is also one of the cleanest places I have ever been too, that is saying a lot with the amount of people (and horses) on the streets.

It is no wonder why we (and thousands more) chose to get married in this town. I can think of no better back-drop. We got married in the center, at the Mills House hotel. For this reason, we always at least stop by for a drink every time we return. 

For a more rustic feel, check out the Middle Place Plantation (mentioned early regarding their she-crab soup). Just walking around the grounds is beautiful, on a cool day, I can spend hours wandering the trails. I even saw a tiny alligator swimming in one of the lakes. Where there are small alligators there are big ones so watch your step.

Negatives about Charleston: It is Expensive

Charleston is unnecessarily expensive. Yes, I love this town, but some weekends we are talking $400 + for a room in downtown Charleston. There have been times when our trip cost more than a trip to Istanbul, with flight. 

The meals aren’t much of a deal either. Yes, the food is great, but expect to drop $150 on a dinner for two. Drinks, around $15 a pop in most places. During the week you can find some good happy hour deals, I try and ramp up my drinking in this time frame. 

The Parking Racket

On top of the stomach-turning cost of the hotel, almost all decide to screw you even more by charging around $30/night to park…at their hotel. This for those who didn’t parachute through the window.

To make matters worse, some of the independent lots are owned by criminals. Example: During this last trip we parked in a lot behind the Hilton run by the scumbag behind the Hilton. Every morning I would pay the $8 a day as advertised. So how surprised was I to find that me and everyone else in the lot had their car booted? So, when this idiot gets there, I show him the money that is still partially in the slot.  He says he doesn’t care and proceeds to charge us $50 anyway. Then, charges my wife’s card for the last day of parking, after he booted us and stole our money!

This is such a common theme that the local news did a story on it, of course city officials could care less, half of them are probably on the take.

Other than these annoyances. I can think of no reason why you shouldn’t visit this city, park accordingly and thoughtfully.

Conclusion

Charleston, South Carolina is among a small handful of cities that should be visited by all Americans. It is the perfect place for a long weekend and has something for everyone. Beaches, hiking, great food, it is just an all-around great city.

The post An Honest Review of Charleston, South Carolina appeared first on Man in Flight.

We visited this hotel twice, both times we went we had an excellent and relaxing stay. Even our last trip, when the weekend was a total washout, it was great to just chill in the room. Is this hotel a 5-star resort, with free back rubs, and mints on your pillow… no! This is still Myrtle Beach, but the Island Vista Resort is the closest thing to luxury to be found in the area…

To Read TripAdvisor Reviews of the Island Vista Resort, Click the Attached Link  

The Great About the Island Vista Resort: The Room

My standards aren’t high in Myrtle Beach when it comes to a room, but the Island Vista Resort exceeded them. I wasn’t sure if the thought I was Prince Akeem from Coming to America, but the room was gigantic and felt almost royal.  Yes, the second time we had a suite, but both rooms felt larger than most hotel lobbies. The suite was only about $40/night more a night, so it was well worth the cost. There were two bathrooms, a giant dining room table, a master bedroom (bigger than some of my former apartments) and a great kitchen. The kitchen is stocked with a full-size fridge, dishwasher, even plates and silverware. They must realize that 90% of the food in Myrtle Beach is inedible (possibly poisonous) so they make it easier for you to cook.

The best part of the room is the view. I am not 100% sure, but I am fairly certain all the rooms face the ocean (call to ask). Our balcony was so big it had two separate entrances to it. The torrential downpour of the weekend didn’t bother us too much, we can still watch the ocean from our room. Who needs the outside world when you have bottles of rum, a fridge full of juice and chair facing the water? I have been to a lot of rooms around the world, in terms of sheer size and amenities this was one of the best bangs for our buck..

The Great About the Island Vista Resort in Myrtle Beach: The Pool (and Amenities)

I will use Myrtle Beach standards, because it makes no sense to compare this hotel to one in Santorini. Having said this, I will say I really enjoy the pool area, specifically, I love the lazy river. Few things melt my stress away than five or six daiquiris, a tube, and randomly drifting in and out of fake caves.  I have been all over the world and very few things match this kind of relaxation. In the 8 minutes it takes to get all the way around, you can forget your troubles. It is further enhanced by the lack of crowds in the pool. Almost every time I went in I can sail without being bothered. We did go the week before Memorial Day, so take this with a grain of salt…

Besides the lazy river, there are two pools, one indoor, one outside and a couple of large pools. The pool area itself was always comfortable, not too crowded, and well kept. One of the best aspects of the area is the Tiki Bar, which will keep you well supplied with top notch banana daiquiris (when they are open). Opening at 12, they also have daily specials to help ease you into a nice day drinking buzz. The entire area feels tropical, with palm trees, a relaxed environment. After enough rum you can fool yourself into thinking you are in the Caribbean…

Value and Service

If you know me, you know I like to save money. The Island Vista Resort was cheaper than some meals I have had. I mean that in the literal sense, the hotel for two nights with a giant suite, was less than $300. I stayed in a shoe box in New York, where If I needed to stretch my feet out I had to open a window. That hotel was about $300/night! I know you can’t compare Myrtle Beach to New York or Charleston, but this cost can factor into your decisions when deciding which location to choose. Once again, I went a week before “peak” season, so prices may vary.

As for service, I have no complaints, the people at the hotel are always nice. The staff at the front desk are fast and accommodating, and the rest of the workers were pleasant. There aren’t too many bells and whistles (don’t expect a bottle of complimentary champagne), but overall, I have nothing but positive things to say about the staff.

The Bad about the Island Vista Resort: Food and Drink Options

My one complaint I have about the hotel is the food and drink options (or lack thereof). On vacation, I feel the only thing better than day drinking is morning drinking.  Unfortunately, neither of these options were available on my last trip. They do have the previously mentioned Tiki Bar with some quick basic food and drink options, so weather permitting you can grab a drink at noon. It seems the Tiki Bar food was created to be the most average and unforgettable food available. It wasn’t bad, it was just as if the flavor was magically removed from the plate. Lastly, the drink prices in the Tiki Bar were much higher than other areas (although the drinks are better).

The also have the Cypress Room, which offers a good dinner and a decent happy hour, but even that has changed for the worse, the drink specials were not the same as the prior year. The Cypress also removed some of the better food options, (the charcuterie plate). Well, it wasn’t removed from the menu, only the kitchen, apparently, they need to hit Kinkos..

Rain Options

If there is a hint of rain, like during my last trip, the Tiki Bar will be closed. This can create an uncomfortable situation where you have to scavenge for food and drink. The hotel had no options until 4PM, which is weird for a resort. The closest restaurant was about a 15 minute walk away.. Do you know what an 12:00 PM humidity does to a ice rum drink? It wasn’t pretty…

The hotel gave us a great kitchen, your best bet is to keep it stocked in case of rain, given the food in Myrtle Beach is so bad anyway, please heed this advice.

Where to Stay in Myrtle Beach: The Island Vista Resort

If you want to know where to stay in Myrtle Beach, you can’t go wrong with the Island Vista Resort. The room was excellent, the value was good, and it offered a relaxing time. In between continent hopping and looking for the next old temple or Roman monument, we like to relax at Myrtle Beach and this hotel is a personal favorite…

Find the best deal on The Island Vista Resort, Click Here!

The post A Review of The Island Vista Resort: Where to Stay in Myrtle Beach appeared first on Man in Flight.

My opinion changed when, on a whim in December, for my wife’s birthday we stayed the weekend.  I spotted a special on the semi-famous Omni Grove Park Inn and I knew I had to give it a try. Of course, specials being what they are on Christmas, the price rose about 50%, but I digress. Getting to the hotel was eye opening, and it is a good barrier from the various hipsters on the outside. As we got into the trip, I realized something…I was ..enjoying myself. Now I changed my tune. I can say Asheville, North Carolina is a beautiful city, with a lot of great ways to spend a couple of days…

The Great About Asheville, North Carolina: Asheville at Christmas

Asheville is the perfect place at Christmas time to spend a 3-day weekend. It feels as if the whole city is designed to get you into the holiday spirit. First, unlike a lot of the North Carolina, Asheville is in the mountains. This means it is usually colder than the rest of the state. I needed a cold Christmas, shorts while shopping for presents always feels strange to me. Secondly, I wholeheartedly recommend you stay at the Omni Hotel at Christmas. Between the Gingerbread house exhibit and the multiple Christmas trees, you will think you wandered into Whoville.

The Biltmore Mansion is also must see during Christmas time. The candle light tour is a great way to cap off the night and the entire scene is impressive. The decorations were off the charts, both inside and outside the house. They also have a Christmas village, complete with hot chocolate and overpriced knicknacks. If you like Christmas and you like giant houses (that you can’t afford on bloggers salary) than make it a point to stop by Asheville and hit the Biltmore.

The Great About Asheville: Things to Do 

The Biltmore

I already mentioned the Biltmore at Christmas, but it is worth mentioning that any time of the year the mansion is should be visited. I always complained that the United States lacked the history of other countries, but this mansion really held my interest. From the bowling alley, to the servant quarters and (how they were treated), it is one of the better tours I have taken. The Biltmore Estate, a place with 45 bathrooms, but not one for the guests that take the three-hour excursion…

The Breweries

If seeing an old rich guys house isn’t your thing, then feel free to grab an Uber or two and hit the breweries around Asheville, North Carolina. You can also replace a trip to an one of Asheville’s restaurants, with some bar snacks and liquid refreshment.

I have been to a couple, but I certainly need to explore the brewery scene further. Wicked Weed was once great, but then it got all corporate when Budweiser bought it… I was told that it is still the same after this, but why risk it? If you are a beer lover, Asheville, North Carolina has the best breweries in the state. I say this no matter how much Charlotte, NC whines about their beer.

The Spa at the Omni

I never thought I was a spa guy, I thought that it was a place to get your nails and hair done. Well The Omni Grove Park Inn, showed me the light. We melted about 7-hours away in this luxurious environment. There are several hot tubes, with massaging water falls. An outdoor tub, steam rooms and a fireplace lounge. You might think it would get old, soaking in warm water, drinking Champagne, and wasting a day away…it did not. One thing is it isn’t cheap, even staying at the hotel a day pass is $85 (if you are not recieving a treatment). In addition, there are a limited number of guest passes available. Even with all of this, I will say it was well worth the spend..

Mixed Reviews: Asheville Restaurants

Maybe there was just so much hype around the food in Asheville, or maybe I am just overly picky, but I wasn’t that impressed. Don’t get me wrong, we had some great meals in Asheville, NC.  There are also a lot of tourist traps. Asheville Restaurants already have one strike against them for bringing the awful Tupelo Honey to other areas and hyping it as if it were the second coming of Ruth Chris.. I also had an overpriced, underwhelming meal at Curate. Curate holds the top spot on TripAdvisor, and I still can’t figure out why. The food was ridiculously expensive, having been to Spain it really killed the spirt of tapas. The wait to get into the place resembles your bill; both bigger than they deserve. 

I don’t want to give the impression all Asheville restaurants are bad, to the contrary, we had some great meals. Wasabi, down the road from Curate, gave us some great sushi. It was convenient since after paying $125 for lunch we were still hungry. Blue Dream Curry house was also excellent, and the price was right. The place serves various curries from around the globe, and everything we tried was outstanding.

One strange thing is the service in many Asheville restaurants is less than desirable. In Curate, not only did the server HIT MY WIFE with a plate to her back, tapas and olive oil spilled onto her and we didn’t even get an apology until we demanded it..There was another time we had good brunch at a southwestern place, the food was fine, but the waitress was so baked I am surprised she didn’t take a bite of my sandwich. I know the town is full of hippies, but no need to be a stereotype..

The Bad about Asheville North Carolina: The Prices

Why is it that everything that is decent in the South is so overpriced? I loved the Grove Park Inn, but with the amount of times they nickeled and dimed me I thought I would have to sell my car through the valet… Restaurants are for the most part, pricey, especially for hipster grub. I remain in awe over how a week in Asheville or Charleston is as much or more expensive than week in Rome or New York…

A weekend trip in Asheville is not cheap. Especially for a place in the mountains, where a lot of the activities revolve around the outdoors. I will ask an open question…what ever happened to the $100/night hotel room. I can hear my wife gasping with just the mention of it…something about bedbugs.. Ok, maybe I am living in 1998. With prices for the Hotel Indigo at $350 (starting, fees will make it go up), you’re going to price me out of a weekend trip. For a town that worships at the throne of Bernie Sanders, they sure like their money…

Takeaways

Despite being somewhat overpriced, I think Asheville, North Carolina is still a must visit; this is especially true if you live within driving distance. Asheville restaurants, although hit and miss, are overall pretty good. There are plenty of things to do, with Biltmore Estate being one of the best kept secrets in the country. If you get the chance, go at Christmas, stay at the Omni Grove Park Inn and hit the spa. Admittedly, I still have a lot of exploring to do in Asheville, North Carolina. What I have seen so far, at least on the last trip, has inspired me to return…

The post An Honest Review of Asheville, North Carolina appeared first on Man in Flight.

Christmas in Charlotte is nice, partly because in the last few years I (Ok, and my wife..maybe, mostly my wife) have incorporated a few traditions to bring out my festive side. I usually hit one place a week, starting the week after Thanksgiving. So, breakout the eggnog and the ugly sweaters, let me tell you about my Christmas in Charlotte.

Old Mecklenburg Brewery Christmas Market

Nothing makes me merrier than having a couple of pints of beer and a few pounds of sausage. The Old Mecklenburg Brewery Christmas combines the Christmas feeling, with a nice buzz. Come here at Christmas and you will witness the most efficient beer station in the states. It is runs like an assembly line, which is perfect given the crowds. The atmosphere is magical, albeit with an unusual number of dogs and babies for a brewery..

The market itself is always fun, with local venders selling a variety of goods. There are many artists, jewelry makers, and people selling honey for $3000/ounce (slight exaggeration). Most of the venders have just the right mix of indie local goods and overpriced specialty items that the Hipster/Bankers eat up. Somehow it works for me, but I am usually only a spectator. There are also fire pits, mulled wine, and other things to get you in the spirit. After walking around, grab a seat inside-if you can, and order some of the best sausage in the area. The Old Mecklenburg Brewery Christmas market is a great way to start the season.

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

My favorite thing to do when celebrating Christmas in Charlotte is the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. This, of course, is best enjoyed in the cold and at night. The display is one of the better exhibits of Christmas lights I have seen. The Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden is not close, located in Gaston County (not really Charlotte), but well worth the drive. A benefit of having the location so far away is that none of my friends can see me looking like an 8 year old when I am enjoying the lights and the Christmas music. The decorations are spectacular, and the entire area is set up to make you feel as if someone shoved a candy cane in your ….hot chocolate..  Get your mind out of the gutter this is a Christmas post!

Besides delicious hot chocolate, beer and wine can also be purchased, along with popcorn and other snacks. If the lights weren’t festive enough they have other activities, like a horse and carriage ride, and a full band/choir playing/singing Christmas music. In the last couple of years, they even had a Santa that was so realistic he had me helping little old ladies across the street (to show I was being good). The thing I love most about the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden at Christmas is how peaceful it is at every turn. Yes, it can get crowded, but there are major stretches where I don’t see a soul. Combined with the cold, Christmas music, and the lights it is one of the more peaceful and festive Christmas experiences in the city.

Holiday Home Tour

We have done this for the past two years, and it is another great way to get into the season. It entails walking through people’s very nice, historic homes that are (usually) decorated. The tour takes place in Charlotte’s Fourth Ward. While waiting to get into the homes, you can enjoy a neighborhood that is geared toward Christmas. There is music playing, people handing out cookies, etc.  The homes vary in decorative extravagance, but really given the location, all are envy worthy. Some homes have a better story, some are decorated nicer than others, but all are worth seeing. There is the bonus of getting a thimble full of liquor or a small piece of chocolate at the end of each tour. Just don’t wear high heels, I think those are frowned upon..

Finish your night off with the Uptown Christmas Market, which is in walking distance.  By walking distance, I mean about ten minutes away. It is a lot like Old Meck with shops and things, except there is no brewery. There is however, beer and mulled wine, if you are so inclined. Walking around uptown is also a nice experience. The light displays Charlotte puts up are usually pretty good at getting me in the Christmas spirt. During the day they also have a place to ice skate, copying every major city in the US…

McAdenville

I went to McAdenville for the first time a couple of days ago, and I can see the appeal.. If your idea of fun is sitting in traffic for a couple of hours while looking at pretty good lights, then have at it.. To me it was like a brighter, more colorful version of my morning commute..minus a bit of the swearing. It is still fun, even while watching the parents drive through the lights and seeing the glow of the kids IPads and iphones in the back seat…

The town was mentioned on MSN as one of the countries quaintest Christmas towns. Therefore, I feel like I had to add it to my list.  Enough people have mentioned it to me, to where I got the gist of what was going on before I even got into my car. Of course, there is no there is no beer or mulled wine to be had, due to driving. One tip, leave about 20 minutes before the lights are set to come one, around sunset. Keep circling until dark if need be. The traffic is significantly less, although still bad, if you leave immediately before sunset. If you get there at the wrong time instead of spending Christmas in Charlotte, you will fell like you are spending New Years in McAdenville..

Christmas in Charlotte

That is the extent of my Christmas in Charlotte. It isn’t Washington DC, New York City or even Detroit for that matter, but it does offer enough to make my heart grow three sizes too big. If only for a month and a half.. After that I go back to being the scrooge of Charlotte. If you are in Charlotte for Christmas, I wish you cold weather and a festive season.

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