North Carolina Reviews
Header Photograph taken is of Wrights Brothers National Monument by Third Rock Explorations
1 Star * - We would never go again or recommend it
2 Stars ** - It wasn't for us, but someone else may like it
3 Stars *** - It was good and we would recommend it
4 Stars **** - It was great and we would recommend trying it
5 Stars ***** - Definitely try it when you are visiting the area
Asheville (Previously Traveled) - 4 Stars **** "A diverse culture surrounded by beautiful mountains on the Blue Ridge"
The Biltmore - 4 Stars ****
We went to the Biltmore back in 2010 as part of a CityPass. We were surprised at how much there was to see and how much we enjoyed seeing it. We spent an entire there walking the grounds. We had an excellent lunch, which included the best mashed potatoes that Nicole ever had (she has never forgotten them), as well as trying and purchasing some awesome Wassail and Wine. On this trip, we did attempt to go to the Biltmore for lunch and to restock our Wassail. They now charge $60 just to enter their property, even if you are just going to the restaurant and shops. The menu no longer shows mashed potatoes so those will just have to remain a legend to Nicole. We decided against doing the Biltmore again, but would still recommend it IF you can use CityPass or some other deal for entry.
Homegrown - 4 Stars ****
This hidden gem can be found just a few minutes outside of the downtown area. Homegrown sources their food locally and responsibly. They are a no frills, just good food kind of place. They are even certified green and do a lot to support their local community. I would support them just for their values alone, but the truth is, the food was excellent and affordable. The chicken is really good and we highly recommend it. If you are visiting the Asheville area, Homegrown needs to be on your must eat list!
Winston Salem - Unrated "We drove around the city and explored Old Salem, but do not have enough information to give a fair rating of the city"
Old Salem - 4 Stars ****
Old Salem is a part of the city that has been restored and is partially open to the public. There are several blocks of homes and businesses from the Colonial Times, some open to the public to enter and explore, others you are able to observe the exterior only. There are people living in some of the homes and there are people that dress and act to the era that walk the streets and help with tours. We were able to walk the entire area in a couple of hours and saw some beautifully restored buildings. The only building we entered, which was free, was the bakery. Here they make Moravian cookies and cakes in the original stone oven, based on the original recipe. It was a great treat and the people working there are very proud of the heritage there. We would highly recommend a stop in Old Salem if you are in the area!
Durham - 3.5 Stars *** "This is a very cute city with great tourist areas to explore, history, hiking, and Bulls Baseball!"
Quality Inn & Suites Medical Park - 2.5 Stars **
This hotel is fine for a night, but don't expect much. Our room was musty and didn't feel very clean, but not really dirty. It's just older and in need of some updates. The area was safe and near some restaurants and shopping. They did have a decent free breakfast and parking and WiFi was also free. The staff was friendly.
Duke University - 4 Stars ****
At the recommendation of friends, we drove to Duke to see the Chapel. Though parking can be a challenge there, and is not free, it is worth it. The Chapel is a gorgeous building inside and out. It's a must see. Just walking around campus can make you feel like you are in Harry Potter World. It's a beautiful campus to walk around and if you can get tickets, catch a game!
Elmo's Diner - 4 Stars ****
Brunch at Elmo's was excellent. We went with friends and all 6 of us ordered something different. The service was outstanding, the food all came out correct and all looked and tasted delicious.
Hog Heaven BBQ - 4 Stars ****
We ordered Hog Heaven for take out and it was the best BBQ we had in North Carolina. The pulled pork and fried chicken had a lot of flavor, and the BBQ sauce was outstanding. The mac and cheese was perfect and we couldn't stop eating the hush puppies. Give them a try when in Durham!
Raleigh & Chapel Hill- Unrated "We spent some time driving through the city and exploring. It seemed like a clean city with a few good tourist areas to get out and walk around. Chapel Hill is a cute college town with a nice consumer strip with restaurants and stores."
Sutton's Drug Store - 3.5 Stars ***
We stopped at the strip in Chapel Hill for lunch and ended up at this little shop at the recommendation of a very helpful homeless man. This drug store has a restaurant in it and has been in business since the 1930s. The food is your typical lunch counter fare with fair prices. We enjoyed a good lunch of burgers and fries. It was pretty busy, but the service was good. The restaurant has pictures of customers throughout, about a dozen or so tables, and a lunch counter. It definitely feels like a perfect local college town favorite place. If you are ever in the area, give them a try!
Outer Banks - 4 Stars **** "A large beach area with parks and adventure around every corner"
Capt'n Frank's - 4.5 Stars ****
Not far from the Wright Brothers Memorial, Captain Frank's seems to be an iconic restaurant in the area. We ordered a couple of hot dogs and fries and the service was excellent, the views from the upstairs patio were very nice, and the food was outstanding. It's simple food, but it's done right. The hot dogs had a unique seasoning that we couldn't quite place, but was very good. We would highly recommend a stop at Captain Frank's when you are in the area!
Wright Brothers National Memorial - 4 Stars ****
This park houses the iconic memorial at the top of the Sand Dune (which is now more of a hill). The park is still expanding, but the monument is easy to access and is much bigger than it looks in pictures. The entire park can be seen in just over an hour. We would recommend visiting this park when you are in the Outer Banks.
Jockeys Ridge State Park (Sand Dune) - 5 Stars *****
Can you say huge? When first approaching this sand dune you walk a boardwalk and you can see people hang gliding on the dune. This is only a part of the dune. You have to walk the short sandy trail to get to the base of the dune. Climbing to the top is very much like walking in snow. Its deep sand and a fairly steep climb, but well worth it. This dune is the largest on the East Coast and it is huge. People are allowed to walk on it, hang glide on it, fly kites, and sometimes even sled down it. It is like nothing we've ever seen. We would highly recommend it.
Kitty Hawk Kites - 4 Stars ****
Though we didn't have time to hang glide that day, we were able to talk with the staff at Kitty Hawk. The staff is very friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. They were able to answer all of our questions and gave us some advice regarding hang gliding. They have locations all along the East Coast (at least), and they offer a variety of Hang Gliding courses and/or experiences, drone classes, and other outdoor adventures. Based on our interaction with them, we would recommend contacting them for your adventure needs!
Scoops Ice Cream - 3.5 Stars ***
Near Captain Frank's, Scoops offers a variety of homemade small-batch ice cream. The staff was friendly, the prices were fair, and the ice cream was very good. Let them take care of your sweet tooth after a hot day in the Outer Banks.
The Biltmore - 4 Stars ****
We went to the Biltmore back in 2010 as part of a CityPass. We were surprised at how much there was to see and how much we enjoyed seeing it. We spent an entire there walking the grounds. We had an excellent lunch, which included the best mashed potatoes that Nicole ever had (she has never forgotten them), as well as trying and purchasing some awesome Wassail and Wine. On this trip, we did attempt to go to the Biltmore for lunch and to restock our Wassail. They now charge $60 just to enter their property, even if you are just going to the restaurant and shops. The menu no longer shows mashed potatoes so those will just have to remain a legend to Nicole. We decided against doing the Biltmore again, but would still recommend it IF you can use CityPass or some other deal for entry.
Homegrown - 4 Stars ****
This hidden gem can be found just a few minutes outside of the downtown area. Homegrown sources their food locally and responsibly. They are a no frills, just good food kind of place. They are even certified green and do a lot to support their local community. I would support them just for their values alone, but the truth is, the food was excellent and affordable. The chicken is really good and we highly recommend it. If you are visiting the Asheville area, Homegrown needs to be on your must eat list!
Winston Salem - Unrated "We drove around the city and explored Old Salem, but do not have enough information to give a fair rating of the city"
Old Salem - 4 Stars ****
Old Salem is a part of the city that has been restored and is partially open to the public. There are several blocks of homes and businesses from the Colonial Times, some open to the public to enter and explore, others you are able to observe the exterior only. There are people living in some of the homes and there are people that dress and act to the era that walk the streets and help with tours. We were able to walk the entire area in a couple of hours and saw some beautifully restored buildings. The only building we entered, which was free, was the bakery. Here they make Moravian cookies and cakes in the original stone oven, based on the original recipe. It was a great treat and the people working there are very proud of the heritage there. We would highly recommend a stop in Old Salem if you are in the area!
Durham - 3.5 Stars *** "This is a very cute city with great tourist areas to explore, history, hiking, and Bulls Baseball!"
Quality Inn & Suites Medical Park - 2.5 Stars **
This hotel is fine for a night, but don't expect much. Our room was musty and didn't feel very clean, but not really dirty. It's just older and in need of some updates. The area was safe and near some restaurants and shopping. They did have a decent free breakfast and parking and WiFi was also free. The staff was friendly.
Duke University - 4 Stars ****
At the recommendation of friends, we drove to Duke to see the Chapel. Though parking can be a challenge there, and is not free, it is worth it. The Chapel is a gorgeous building inside and out. It's a must see. Just walking around campus can make you feel like you are in Harry Potter World. It's a beautiful campus to walk around and if you can get tickets, catch a game!
Elmo's Diner - 4 Stars ****
Brunch at Elmo's was excellent. We went with friends and all 6 of us ordered something different. The service was outstanding, the food all came out correct and all looked and tasted delicious.
Hog Heaven BBQ - 4 Stars ****
We ordered Hog Heaven for take out and it was the best BBQ we had in North Carolina. The pulled pork and fried chicken had a lot of flavor, and the BBQ sauce was outstanding. The mac and cheese was perfect and we couldn't stop eating the hush puppies. Give them a try when in Durham!
Raleigh & Chapel Hill- Unrated "We spent some time driving through the city and exploring. It seemed like a clean city with a few good tourist areas to get out and walk around. Chapel Hill is a cute college town with a nice consumer strip with restaurants and stores."
Sutton's Drug Store - 3.5 Stars ***
We stopped at the strip in Chapel Hill for lunch and ended up at this little shop at the recommendation of a very helpful homeless man. This drug store has a restaurant in it and has been in business since the 1930s. The food is your typical lunch counter fare with fair prices. We enjoyed a good lunch of burgers and fries. It was pretty busy, but the service was good. The restaurant has pictures of customers throughout, about a dozen or so tables, and a lunch counter. It definitely feels like a perfect local college town favorite place. If you are ever in the area, give them a try!
Outer Banks - 4 Stars **** "A large beach area with parks and adventure around every corner"
Capt'n Frank's - 4.5 Stars ****
Not far from the Wright Brothers Memorial, Captain Frank's seems to be an iconic restaurant in the area. We ordered a couple of hot dogs and fries and the service was excellent, the views from the upstairs patio were very nice, and the food was outstanding. It's simple food, but it's done right. The hot dogs had a unique seasoning that we couldn't quite place, but was very good. We would highly recommend a stop at Captain Frank's when you are in the area!
Wright Brothers National Memorial - 4 Stars ****
This park houses the iconic memorial at the top of the Sand Dune (which is now more of a hill). The park is still expanding, but the monument is easy to access and is much bigger than it looks in pictures. The entire park can be seen in just over an hour. We would recommend visiting this park when you are in the Outer Banks.
Jockeys Ridge State Park (Sand Dune) - 5 Stars *****
Can you say huge? When first approaching this sand dune you walk a boardwalk and you can see people hang gliding on the dune. This is only a part of the dune. You have to walk the short sandy trail to get to the base of the dune. Climbing to the top is very much like walking in snow. Its deep sand and a fairly steep climb, but well worth it. This dune is the largest on the East Coast and it is huge. People are allowed to walk on it, hang glide on it, fly kites, and sometimes even sled down it. It is like nothing we've ever seen. We would highly recommend it.
Kitty Hawk Kites - 4 Stars ****
Though we didn't have time to hang glide that day, we were able to talk with the staff at Kitty Hawk. The staff is very friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. They were able to answer all of our questions and gave us some advice regarding hang gliding. They have locations all along the East Coast (at least), and they offer a variety of Hang Gliding courses and/or experiences, drone classes, and other outdoor adventures. Based on our interaction with them, we would recommend contacting them for your adventure needs!
Scoops Ice Cream - 3.5 Stars ***
Near Captain Frank's, Scoops offers a variety of homemade small-batch ice cream. The staff was friendly, the prices were fair, and the ice cream was very good. Let them take care of your sweet tooth after a hot day in the Outer Banks.
