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Honey I Shrunk the Gas Budget

Filed Under: Charlotte-NC, Product Reviews, Waxhaw-NC
Apr.20, 2011

 save on GasWith the rising cost of food and gas prices how on earth can we continue to take our family trips?  It’s reality that the ugly “I” word inflation is upon us.  For youth who didn’t know what inflation was before today we witness a real life lesson of inflation and its impact.  For every problem there is an opportunity which means an opportunity to be creative to find new ways to cope with or solve this problem.  Since everyone can’t just go out and purchase a new hybrid car or fuel efficient car or  purchase a motorcycle or even riding  your bike to work is probably not feasible for most families. 

Ideas to shrunk your gas budget are not as far-fetched as you might think.  Try our tips to keep your family trips going!

 7 Ways to Shrink your Gas Budget:

  1. Reduce your trips to your local grocery store by buying in bulk.  Instead of making weekly or biweekly trips to the grocery store try going once a month to a store like BJ’s, Costco or Wal-Mart to stock up or buy in bulk.  For additional savings bring your coupons since most of these stores also accept coupons. 

 2. Grab your profits from rising stock prices. Check out the best high-performing oil & gas exploration company stock to invest wisely as these stock prices rise.  3 Top Company’s such as Northern Oil & Gas (NOG), Concho Resources (CXO) , Whiting Petroleum (WLL) just to name a few but there are more.  NOG prices has gone from 24.36 to $30 3 weeks ago.. where as CXO price was $90 in Feb 2011 and now as high as $100.. Why not profit 20% or more from investing in a profitable high-performing oil company..you stand to reap the reward if you buy at the right time when the price is low and hang on for the ride as the price goes up.  Do your research and check out www.investors.com  for their electronic stock newspaper you can purchase online or in paper form at your local bookstore. 

Bi Lo Bonus Reward Card

3. Fill-up at Gas Stations that accept your BI-LO BONUS card which pays you rewards for shopping at Bi-LO and  rewards for purchasing gas at gas stations that accept BI-LO Bonus card.  So how do you know which gas stations accept Bi-LO Bonus card?  Just enter your zip-code at the following website http://www.bi-lo.com/pumps  and you’ll get a list of participating gas stations that accept the BI-LO Bonus card. 

 4. If you live anywhere near Charlotte, NC you know gas prices are about $375 a gallon for regular and up from there.  Whereas right next door is the state of South Carolina where locals can purchase gas on average 10 to 15 cents less and that savings can add up quick.  Just 5 minutes South past the Ballayntine area on Johnston Road which crosses over into Lancaster, SC here is where you’ll find  5 gas stations to choose from at 15 cents less than North Carolina gas prices.

5.  Go online to check where to go for the lowest gas prices around town.  Just enter your zip code and you get a list of gas stations and then you can click to check lowest gas prices over the last 48 hours.

http://www.charlottegasprices.com/GasPriceSearch.aspx

6.  Buy the lowest grade (octane) of gasoline that is appropriate for your car.  Your owner’s manual will have this information. As long as your engine doesn’t knock or ping, the fuel you’re using is fine. You can save hundreds of dollars a year.

Van pool

7. Start or Join a Vanpool.  Commuting to work around the Carolinas can be costly if drive more than 25 miles to work and also pay parking fees, the cost of driving range from $200 – $350 per month.  The Charlotte Area  Transit System (CATS) provides a van for workers that commute from Kannapolis to Charlotte to work.  Some commuters have saved $200 on  with a $75 monthly van service fee.  The cost will be determined by the commute in miles and how many riders  the more riders the more savings is the idea here.    Check out more details here.. http://www.charmeck.org/city/charlotte/cats/commuting/vanpool/Pages/default.aspx

Share what you’re doing to shrink your gas budget?  Join the conversation and post your comments..

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Easter on Edisto Island

Filed Under: Carolina Vacations
Mar.23, 2011

 

Edisto Island, SC

Wanna go to a charming secluded place beaming with rich history that’s just right for family bonding?  Then you’ll enjoy the beautiful scenery of marsh and 1255 acres of beachfront that is a hidden island gem in South Carolina.  Our stay at Fairfield Inn resort (spacious 2 bedroom villa) was located right in the heart of Edisto Island, SC was so..o..oooh relaxing.  The resort is now known as the Wyndam Ocean Ridge Resort  1-843-869-4527.  The resort is surrounded by a golf-course with restaurants nearby within walking distance.  We were looking for a place to stay where there is a variety of activity to do nearby to unwind.   As we entered the resort we noticed the bustling activity with golf carts, bikes, families walking along the sidewalks and miniature golf near the large weeping willow trees.  There also a variety of vacation home rentals on Edisto Island.

Fairfield Inn

Edisto Island’s gets its name from its rich historical legacy which dates back to the Edistow Indians who first occupied the island.  We drove about 45 minutes south of Charleston, South Carolina to reach Edisto Island, SC.  Edisto Island is a small secluded yet well maintained town population of about 2,300.  Edisto Island is a Great location in the low country in your looking for a quiet, family-friendly non-crowded location.  There is not much shopping in Edisto other than the gift shop for souvenirs but there are several restaurants and 1 grocery store in Edisto and a lot of beachfront fun.  Some come to fish along the pier while others come to dine at the Sunset Grille.  A lot of visitors come for seafood so expect high prices for seafood up to $18.95 and more per person at dinner time.  Better prices are offered earlier during the day or you can travel into Charleston for more reasonable prices.

Easter Attractions on Edisto Island

-   Golf  & Tennis

Enjoy the golf course that is surrounded by a beautiful view of a well-manicured lawn along with shade trees near the ponds and streams.  Golf enthusiast would enjoy the challenge of mastering the hills and water.  Tennis courts are also available for a tennis match for those up to it.

 

-   Dolphin watching

One afternoon we walked along the beach and saw a family of dolphins at play.  The dolphins play at a certain location near the beach and it draws a crowd each time they are seen jumping and flipping in the water.

Biking

-   Biking

The best part of the trip was our bike ride down the long neighborhood roads where we’d make a pit stop at the general store for a bottled water and snack break near Edisto Island beach front.  On a spring afternoon with perfect 72 degree weather we rented bikes from the resort and rode about 8 miles round trip thru the city and back to our hotel.   You can tell the locals of Edisto are used to visitors touring the streets as they waved and smiled at us as we rode by.  This trip to Edisto provided the most active options in one location.

-  Museum History Tour

If you like history you’ll want to visit the Edisto Island Museum which is located in the center of Edisto Island, just off scenic Highway 174. Open Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday from 1:00-4:00. Admission cost $4.00 for adults, $3.00 for seniors and $2.00 for students. Children 10 and under and members are admitted free. The museum also has a gift shop with a wide variety of choices from books to good food to designer jewelry to children’s games, toys and puzzles at great prices.  Contact: 843.869.1954. And check out their facebook page at  http://www.facebook.com/EdistoIslandMuseum.

 - Shopping

 We took a day from relaxing to travel into Charleston, SC  for a walking tour down the famous meeting street.  Here we were fascinated by the ladies that weaving baskets on the side of the street.  We stopped by to check out the different patterns and designs.  We bought 2 beautiful souvenir sweetgrass baskets that were just made that day.  And we stopped by several other shops on meeting street and for dinner we had seafood at Hyman’s Seafood Restaurant 215 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC 29401 (843) 723-6000‎. The crab cakes and crispy fried flounder was delicious!! 

Comment about your favorite spring break adventure.

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The Ultimate Backyard Retreat

Filed Under: Charlotte-NC, Product Reviews, carolina business
Feb.25, 2011

Spring is drawing near and it’s a great time to start planning for your outdoor entertainment. Don’t get stuck on what to do or where to start. Did you know by starting with just a patio design you can transform your outdoor space into an attractive, entertaining backyard retreat.

Before

Designing a custom patio isn’t as hard as you might think. Start with something that are personal to you that reflect your style such a diamond ring, your initials or your house colors. All 3 of these were used to come up with a sketch of a unique patio design. With the right design team to help your vision become reality the possibilities of a unique outdoor patio are endless. I learned some great tips from Todd Huff (VP Landscape Management from Ultimate Greenscapes of Matthews, N.C.) who specializes in designing outdoor living spaces. With more than 20 years of experience doing landscapes, hardscapes and landscape management his expertise clearly shines thru his work.

Day 1

The “B” curve
Carolina homeowners are WOWed by the unique, attractive and surprisingly affordable design options Todd offers to improve their outdoor living space. Take a look at the before and after photos above. The construction of the patio using pavers, fire pit/grill and stone wall took about 3 days to complete. Notice the interesting curve shapes in the form of a “B” around the patio and a “C” for the stone wall and the circle ring pattern around the stone fire-pit/grill. The blue-grey stone border was used to enhance the round curves.  An assortment of landscape greenery was recommended to break up the hardscape stone pavers next to the home by using shrubs and flowers of different heights and colors to add softness. Low-voltage lighting was also added to the stone wall. “Absolutely Gorgeous” is all I could say!

 

The "C" shaped stone wall

After

With several entertaining options year round, by day the patio can be used for grilling out on the fire-pit that converts to a grill while the songbirds near the backyard feeder sing. In the fall to early winter the e fire-pit can be used to keep warm by the crackling fire outdoors while wrapped in a blanket and by night the lights will come on to create an illuminating scene. A mix of solar lights and candles are also great for entertaining guest with or without music or for watching a movie with a portable outdoor movie projector.

With a patio there are a variety of options from concrete stained patio colors to stone or brick pavers. You can create a long walkway towards a garden entrance or you can add a stone fire pit or grill, stone wall, stone pond to stock fish, water fountain or even an outdoor fireplace.

Top 6 Carolina Springtime Lawn care Tips..

  1. Turf spray to clean up any fall weeds
  2. Time to apply round one of crab grass prevention / 50-60 days apply round two
  3. Use a slow release fertilizer so not to accelerate the grass growing good number is 13-0-5
  4. If a fall aeration wasn’t completed then now is the time to do it, once the grass has come up and been cut twice then you would start the crab grass prevention
  5. Cut back your roses if you haven’t completed that yet, all flowering plants can be trimmed now
  6. Bermuda grass can also be treated now for crab grass use a 0-8-8, no nitrogen needed at this time

And here is the Ultimate Discount for you! Carolina homeowners can get a free fire pit (natural wood burning fire pit) when you buy 300 square feet of pavers. And that’s not all .. an extra 10% off the price is being offered to customers that respond via email to: todd@ultimategreenscapes.com or call Todd at 704-821-5543. He’ll be glad to come out and provide you a quote on your Ultimate Backyard Retreat!

For more patio inspiration check out these designs from Ultimate Greenscapes.

Describe your favorite backyard design idea.. Did you see a design you like? ..add your comments

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Skiing in a Wonderland of Snow

Filed Under: Carolina Vacations
Jan.24, 2011

With over 55 inches of snowfall accumulation in the North Carolina Mountains and surrounding counties, the snowfall also spread to the extreme western Carolinas by 3am Monday morning (Jan 10, 2011) just in time to disrupt the school schedule.  The new year snowfall has created a wonderland of snow across the Carolinas.  School students all across of the Carolinas slept in for several days since school was out or delayed for most surrounding counties such as Mecklenburg county (Charlotte) and Union county (Waxhaw, Weddington, Monroe etc..)  for up to 4 days after up to 4” – 5” inches of snow on Monday fell and what made it worst was the sleet and freezing rain mix that fell on top of the snow the next day.  So what does a snow warrior do for fun?  We’ve captured the most popular fun for snow warriors (those who love to play in the snow):

1-      Skiing Overnight Trip

Skiing at Beech Mountain, NC

The mountain area snowfall provides great fun for all of the ski slopes in North Carolina.  Visitors on vacation in the mountains can really enjoy the mountain ski slopes this year.  Beech Mountain, North Carolina is one of the most popular mountain ski resort destinations because it offers a large variety of activities for all ages under one roof with the highest elevation.  Beyond skiing the slopes and snowboarding, you can also ice skate and go snow tubing and more snow sports.  Beech Mountain ski resort has it all even a nursery for young children.  There are individual rates as well as coupons to save more for one-time or first-time skiers that just want to try it out.  You can really make your trip enjoyable when you go as a group to stay in a lodge or condo that can sleep up to 8 or more.  Or you can choose from the 2 hotels that are located within a mile of the ski resort:  Beech Alpin Inn and Four Seasons Hotel. 

And you still have plenty of time to plan your mountain ski trip with the season running from the first weekend after Thanksgiving thru about mid-March 2011 depending upon attendance.  To get a list of all the mountain ski resorts to choose from and more Ski planning details (ski resort phone numbers, ski resort websites w/pricing) download our 2011 Buzz Guide here.

Beech Alpin Inn, Beech Mountain, NC

2-      Home-made fun cold-weather recipes are:

  • Snow cream – this taste like frozen cotton candy

2 ½ quarts of clean, white snow
½ cup milk, cream or evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup sugar
Combine all the ingredients. Stir together lightly so you don’t pack the snow too much. Serve after its firm and cold.

  • Hot Chocolate and a good book by the fireplace

4 cups milk
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder or 2 quarts unsweetened baking chocolate, chopped
¼ cup sugar or to taste
Add a Pinch of salt
Pour the milk into a blender then add remaining ingredients. Turn on the blender and let it run for 10 seconds. Place in a sauce pan and heat it over medium-to-low heat stirring occasionally until its hot!

  • Reuben sandwich  w/ tomato basil soup
  • Homemade Chocolate peppermint cookies

3-      Snow Tubing Day Trip

Jonas Ridge, NC - Snow Tubing Park

A fun day trip destination is located in Jonas Ridge, NC which is about 30 minutes from Charlotte, NC near Shelby, NC.  Whether it’s snowing or not and you have a little free time you can take a short day trip to Jonas Ridge, North Carolina for another snow sport attraction: snow tubing on a 6 lane hill. The snow tube lanes vary from easy course to more difficult.  This snow sport is easy enough for the whole family all you do is grab a tube and pick your lane and enjoy the thrilling cool ride down the hill.  You don’t even have to walk back up the hill just hop on the conveyor belt with your snow tube and ride up the hill!  This is so much fun that you can go snow tubing during the day or under the lights at night on the weekend until closing at 11 pm.  The cost is about $25 depending on the day you choose to go.  Mondays $20 per person, $25 per person on Friday – Sunday, the snow tube park is closed Tuesday thru Thursday. 

Jonas Ridge Snow Tubing Park is located at 9472 NC Highway 181, Jonas Ridge, NC 28641.  Plug-in the address into your GPS or call 1-828-733-4155 and you’re ready to go!

And what Carolina ski resort have you visited? Tell us about your ski trip.

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SPA Retreat for Desperate Housewives

Filed Under: Carolina Vacations, Product Reviews
Jan.08, 2011

While most of us would agree that the housewives on Wisteria Lane of the hit TV show “Desperate Housewives” have a lot of drama and juicy gossip that appeal to the masses that watch each week. We’re talking rave reviews about the treatments that make you feel good all over.

NC Housewives Choose

Grove Park Inn – Carolina Mudd Pie

 

There’s a group of housewives (and their husbands) from the Carolinas that meet almost every year to enjoy their desperately deserved “Carolina Mudpie”. They are referred to as Desperate Housewives of NC not because of drama but for the hard work of balancing family life while working full-time.

They told me all about the “Carolina Mudpie”. No.. It’s not the Mudpie (cost $250 for 80 minutes) you can eat, this mudpie includes an exfoliation with warm mud along with a body wrap and the cool whip on top is the half-hour body massage. They also liked the “Aura Imaging Photo” which is a special camera that takes your image that reveals in colors the wavelengths of your energy fields before and after (cost $60) the body wrap treatment so you can compare the results with a professional expert interpretation. Their husbands also seem to like the wrap as well as the “Classic Gentlemen’s Facial” for the smooth and relaxing feeling. “You know it’s relaxing if you fall asleep and they have to nudge you when their done”! Most of the husbands preferred the facial after a morning round on the 18-hole golf course or tennis in the sports complex to help them to relax and daydream.

Spa Mineral Pool

So how far did the desparate housewives travel to their SPA retreat? It’s an easy 2 hour scenic drive from their NC home to the NC mountains of Asheville to the SPA at the Grove Park Inn. (address: 290 Macon Avenue, Asheville, NC 28804 877-772-0747) The Spa was opened in 2001. When you enter the subterranean spa you’ll hear the sound of the waterfall plunging into one of the many water centers. There are mineral pools, lap swimming and an outdoor whirlpool with heated deck. The spa houses 26 treatment rooms offering a myriad of treatments customized for women and men.

Some of the most popular treatments are the seasonal Epicurean treatments, Grove Park Classic ($140 for 50 minutes; $200 for 80 minutes); Grove Park Classical Facial ($175 for 80 minutes); Grove Park Spa Manicure ($80 for 60 minutes) and Walk-in-the Clouds Pedicure ($100 for 60 minutes) which also include a romantic touch w/ glass of champagne and chocolates.

If you have never been to a spa then here are the TOP 7 Spa Etiquette tips the desperate housewives would want you to know (like an experience pro) before you go:
#1. Expect to tip between 15 – 20% if the gratuity is not automatically added to the bill so check the bill first.
#2. All spas require that you arrive a certain amount of time before your treatment begins, some only 15 minutes other maybe 1 hour.
#3. All spas have strict cancellation policies. Most require 24 hours notice prior to cancellation.
#4. Know the spas minimum age requirements. Most require a minimum age of 18 or older. The good news is there are spas that are kid-friendly and offer kid spa programs..if you don’t see signage stating kid-friendly inquire if you’re not sure.
#5. Leave the tech gadgets behind..don’t bring your cell phone, pda, pager, laptop nor camera. Remember you’re there to relax and so are others.
#6. Spas stay booked up..so make your reservation in advance of your arrival if you’d like the earlier the better.
#7. Don’t wear jewelry to your appointment; most spas don’t have safes for client’s valuables.
What has been your best SPA experience? We wanna know..


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YearEnd Carolina Furniture Finds

Filed Under: Product Reviews, carolina furniture
Dec.26, 2010
 

Furnitureland South - Marge Carson Chair

 If you’re searching the internet to compare furniture prices and waiting until you can get the best deals.  Then the time has arrived!  Year-end is the time when North Carolina furniture retailers and wholesalers need to clear out the showroom to make room for next year’s new line of furniture.  So the tip I heard from a sales person at Crate & Barrell was “discontinued”. “At the end of the year we’ll have some discontinued items that will be marked down to reduced prices”. Discontinued doesn’t mean anything is wrong with the furniture it is just being discontinued could be due to low sales or the manufacturer decides to stop making that style.  And that creates a great opportunity for you that is if the quality and style meet your criteria.  Since I’m not brand loyal, unique style and quality is more important to me.

I am comparing a few items at Crate and Barrell to furniture items at Furnitureland South and NewSouth Interiors. I chose these retailers for the quality real wood furniture that would last a longer time versus furniture that is made with a lot of veneer which is much softer and prone to nicks, dents, scratches or damage. Crate and Barrell will have discontinued items on sale starting Dec 26, 2010. Furnitureland South has up to 60% off between now and the New Year. And Furnitureland South also has an outlet store with even more markdowns. NewSouth Interiors has floor samples that are marked down up to 50% off.  Here are a few selections I’ve found so far:

1. Crate & Barrell (Charlotte, NC next to Southpark Mall)

2. Furnitureland South (5635 Riverdale Drive Jamestown, NC 866-436-8056)

3. NewSouth Interiors (300 Chatham Avenue, Suite 104 Rock Hill, SC – I77 to Exit 79 803- 329-1661)

NewSouth Interiors- Modern Dining Table set

 

Furnitureland South - Trunk

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Budget-Friendly Carolina Holiday Celebrations

Filed Under: Carolina Vacations, Charlotte-NC
Nov.22, 2010

‘Tis the season to celebrate Christmas. Make this Christmas special by creating a new Christmas celebration. Across the Carolinas you’ll find a winter wonderland filled with Christmas celebration ideas. You can do more than take a photo with Santa, shop at the mall or go out to see a movie with family and friends. Some of the Most-liked budget-friendly Carolina Holiday Celebrations by city are:

Charleston, SC – Holiday Festival of  Lights ($10)
Let there be Light and I mean a lot of bright lights as in more than 2 million lights displayed on a three-mile driving tour in Charleston,SC at James Island County Park. This 643 acre park is located at 871 Riverland drive.  The light tour just started and will be open until Jan 2, 2011 from 5:30pm – 10 pm Sunday thru Thursday and later till 11 pm on the weekends Friday – Saturday with a per car charge of $10 you know that will help pay the light bill.
There’s a lot you can do at this festival. You can take a stroll to see the handmade holiday crafts and the 50 ton sand sculpture at Santa’s village. Breeze thru the shops for handcrafted goods made by local artist at the Attic and the Gift Shoppe and do the train hop to view the light displays for only $2 per person. If you like music you’ll enjoy music from the local bands and ride the carousel.

    How to get there:

Once you’re in downtown Charleston you can take U.S. 17 west to Folly Road Boulevard, take Folly Road Boulevard south to Central Park Road turn right. Take Central Park Rd southwest to Riverland Drive, the turn left and you’ll see the signs to direct you into the park.  For more details check out www.holidayfestivaloflights.com


Asheville, NC – Candlelight Christmas Tours ($59)
The Candlelight Christmas Evening tours will also warm your heart and take you back to the Vanderbilt Family’s 1st Christmas in 1895. The mansion which is built by George Washington Vanderbuilt II between 1889 and 1895. It is the largest privately-owned home in the United States at 135,000 square feet featuring 250 rooms. This year the mansion is lit with candles and fireplaces. You’ll see the Ballroom dancers dressed in vintage glide across the floor of the winter garden and the choir singing seasonal selections. Even the front lawn of the Biltmore is all aglow with a well-lit 55-foot Norway spruce surrounded by smaller lit trees and nursery shrubs…how cool is that! This event starts on Nov 12 and runs thru Jan 1, 2011. Candlelight Christmas Evenings are not offered on these dates Nov. 23, 25, Dec. 24 or 25 only. The price is $59 per adult and $29.50 per child ages 10-16. You can register online and save about $10 or call 800-411-3812 for more information.
There’s a lot to see with the seven-story high Banquet Hall prepared with tricycles, dolls, toy furniture, trains and hoops hanging from the HUGE 34 foot Fraser fir tree with garland and holly dressing. The Christmas tour also includes the gardens with the Biltmore floral team demonstrating how to create your own Christmas wreath. Tour the Antler Hill Village all the way to the winery with complimentary wine tasting. The Winery staff is famous for their seasonal seminars such as “Red Wine & Chocolate”.
And for a scrumptious Dinner idea, reserve your reservation at the Bistro or Deer Park Restaurant on the same site of the Biltmore (8000 acres of land).. it’s too far to walk so you can drive from one parking lot to the other. The Bistro soups and salads were delicious and fresh from their garden even our children enjoyed it! Their restaurants are so popular it’s highly recommended to reserve ahead of time to avoid a long wait!

    How to get there:

The Biltmore House is an easy drive that takes about 2 hours from Charlotte, NC. Follow Interstate 85 south to US Highway 321 in Gastonia (exit 17) and then follow US 321 north to I-40. Take I-40 west to Asheville, and take exit 50B (US Highway 25 North). After exiting stay in the left lane and follow the signs to the Biltmore entrance. The address is 1 Lodge Street Asheville, NC 28803.

Charlotte, NC – Christmas at the Billy Graham Library (FREE)
What was it like back during the ancient time period of the first Christmas? What animals would you see and what was the culture and atmosphere like? There is the one and only location in Charlotte that knows exactly what that historical time period was like so much that they have put together a spectacular theme to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas for the whole family at the Billy Graham Library. This is no ordinary library..this library brings history to life with live people and live animals as the Nativity scene that provides a look into the first Christmas night. Along with my favorite: the horse-drawn carriage rides down the road decorated with light displays. Hear the sounds of carolers singing to music of hope, love and joy to fill the air during 5pm – 9pm in the evening.
The entrance to the Billy Graham Library is FREE and during the Christmas season you can expect a long line of cars waiting to get in to see this spectacular Christmas event so you want to plan to come early by 3pm or earlier before dark when the night crowd arrives! For more details call 704-401-3270.

And what else can you do at the Billy Graham Library?
• You can visit Ruth’s Attic for exclusive ornaments and unique books, gifts for Christmas gift ideas or purchase some of Graham’s family favorite desserts like pound cake , cocoa and hot apple cider at the Dairy Bar.
• Hear the greatest stories ever told every 30 minutes for children of all ages starting at 5:00pm.
• Pet the Animals from 1 – 3pm
• Take tours of the Journey of Faith at the Billy Graham Library until 8:00 p.m. each night.

    How to get there:

The library is located at 4330 Westmont Drive in Charlotte. The library is located off Billy Graham Parkway which is near the Charlotte Douglas Airport of I-77 and I-85 in Charlotte.

Tell us your favorite Carolina Christmas celebration?

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Autumn Treasures on Main Street

Filed Under: Carolina Vacations, Waxhaw-NC
Oct.15, 2010

Autumn Treasures

  BBQ Cook-offAutumn Treasures

It’s that time of the year for fall festivals and bbq around the Carolinas. The fall celebration this year called Autumn Treasures was held on the 2nd weekend in October on main street (downtown) in historic Waxhaw, NC. The weekend of October 8 – 10th was a sunny, warm weekend picture perfect for an outdoor festival. With the sun blazing on your back as you browse the art work, handmade crafts & food samples while the band played as the crowd enjoyed ice cream and ice cold slush.
The barbecue pits were smokin’ hot and ready for the main attraction ..the Chillin and Grillin BBQ Cook-off. For $10 per adult and $5 per child you can have a sample from each of the bbq vendors along with a drink. Several local vendors funeralized the hog with their unique twist on flavor. From vinegar to dry rub seasonings to home-made bbq sauce. There were at least 10 or more vendors I lost count after eating bbq samples from the first 7. I have to admit after eating so much bbq it all seemed to taste the same except for some were dry versus others that were more of a wet and juicy bbq. After my taste test, I found the one I liked most was prepared so well that it taste very good without the sauce since you can taste the sweet & smokey flavor and a little vinegar to give it a different kick.
The winners of the BBQ cook-off won from $100 – $2500 which was a pretty good win for a day cooking barbecue. Pryors BBQ and Red-n-white-bbq avenue were two of the top winners. They all displayed their trophies from their previous prize winning over the many years of winning bbq cook-off contest.

7 Best Treasures found on Main Street

 

Hans dun broom shop Waxhaw, NC
Hans dun broom shop Waxhaw, NC

 Classic cars

 

The best finds were:
• Waxhaw wood turners were busy at work demonstrating how to carve and turn wood to create their masterpiece. There were some unique wood crafts on display like a vase and a cowboy hat made out of wood.  The woodturners also give lessons so you can learn how to make your own masterpiece, they meet the first Tuesday of every month from 6:30pm – 9:00pm. http://waxhawwt.wordpress.com 

• Chevrolet Trucks had custom flat beds made of pure wood that was a stunning sight to see. They were made an odd and different type of wood called pretty wood.  And I tell you it is really very stunning and pretty.
• Home-made delicious seasoning dips that taste like Carrabba’s Italian restaurant were a nice surprise. I bought 3 bags of seasonings for $10. I can add 1 bag of garlic & herb seasoning to extra virgin oil for bread dip.  You can also purchase their dip online at sandycreekherbco.com.

• The Gift shop
• The Jewelry store
• Hans dun broom shop (as in Hand made brooms made right before your eyes. You can choose the size broom you need. And I even received a lesson in how to properly use the broom to make it last a long time. (The trick is to sweep using both sides)  This one was my favorite since I was WoWed by the owners trust!  I didn’t have cash to purchase the broom so he said I trust you so write your name in my registry and take the broom home and send me a check to my business address.

I was so shooked that he would allow me to walk out with a handmade original broom without paying.  So I quickly acted upon his trust and sent him a check for more than the $47 price of the broom. I was so honored to bless him with extra! What an experience to witness.
• The Waxhaw Antique Mart was packed with a lot of fun vintage items like cameras from the 1900’s and chandeliers and vintage magazines, jewelry and greeting cards. This place gave me a few more Christmas gift ideas.

Tell us about a fall festival you’ve enjoyed.

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Dancing on the Lake

Filed Under: Carolina Vacations
Sep.16, 2010

Dirty dancingOne of the most scenic mountain lakes in North Carolina is Lake Lure, NC which has become widely known for both its magnificent landscape resort and the picturesque scenes for one of the most popular hit movie: Dirty Dancing starring Patrick Swayze. 

While walking around the lake I remembered the lyrics to the movie soundtrack “I’ve had the Time of My Life and I’ve never felt this way before.”    Patrick Swayze (known as “Johnny” – camp dancing teacher) and Jennifer Grey (student character known as “Baby”) made dirtydancing look so easy and FUN everyone wanted to get up and dance.   The campsite scene from the movie has been renovated and is now a part of a beautiful resort with a nearby beach and golf course.    Lake Lure is such a romantic setting that many have planned and host their wedding at Lake Lure Inn.  We also found that there are also cabins and bed and breakfast options to stay overnight.

Dirty Dancing Festival

Wanna try your moves on the dance floor?  This year you can revive the energy and join the fun to have the Time of Your Life at the “Dirty Dancing Festival” being held in Lake Lure, NC during September 17 – 18, 2010.  Dancing on the Lake doesn’t get any better than this.  For more festival information on tickets and event information visit http://www.dirtydancingfestival.com.

More attractions

Lake Lure is located between the Blue Ridge Mountains.  This is the home of the best fishing in the South stocked with populations of Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Large Mouth Bass, Small Mouth Bass, Crappie, White Bass, Catfish, Bluegill and Sun-perch..  The best family summer vacation destinations on Lake Lure are:

Lake Lure Adventures – for family adventure vacations such as water skiing, wakeboarding, fishing and pontoon rental   http://www.lakelureadventurecompany.com/

Lake Lure BeachLake Lure Beach is located at 2724 Memorial Hwy, Lake Lure – NC right across the street from Lake Lure Inn, now how convenient is that!

Lake Lure Marina- where you can rent paddle boats or party boats, go swimming or sunning, and get wet and wild on gigantic water slides.

What’s the best Lake adventure you have encountered? We want to know.

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Summertime on the Water at Myrtle Beach

Filed Under: Carolina Vacations
Aug.08, 2010
Myrtle Beach Panaramic View

Morning Walk on the beach

 

Need to find where to eat, sleep and play during your stay at North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina?   We are annual beach bums ourselves so we have tracked down some of our local favorite spots during our summertime on the water.  Whether you like to swim, snorkel, golf, play pool, tennis, volleyball or fuse ball you are sure to have fun at Myrtle Beach.   Here are a few tips for summer fun at North Myrtle Beach, SC:

If you plan to be out on the beach for most of the day then packing the right gear for sun cover is a must.  Dick’s Sporting goods has the best lightweight easy to set-up beach canopy.  You’ve seen the canopy that looks like a half tent that provides covered shade from the hot sun on 3 sides leaving the front open.  We found that this beach canopy was not heavy to carry and was easy to set-up since you can just press down on the spikes to easily insert the poles in the sand.  Gone are the days we used to drag out the heavy-weight large canopy that required a hammer to stay in the ground.  And don’t forget your flip-flops because the sand can burn your feet and it is way too hot to walk on the sand during the day!

Seaside  Aerobics..

Start your day with a morning workout that begins with a barefoot walk along the beach by the ocean shore with the waves splashing to keep you cool.  Then on your return trip jog along the exercise route on Ocean blvd where the Myrtle Beach workout stations are installed on each block of Ocean blvd to encourage a healthy you.    You can get in your pushups and/or pull-ups on the monkey bars and balance your body as you walk across the beams, step aerobics and more.  You’ll breakout into a good sweat after working out in the fresh air.

Unusual Entertainment..

Ripley’s Believe-it-or Not Museum (901 North Ocean Boulevard) had some fun surprising walk-ways that would make you feel as though you were going to fall so we had to hang on and be still to see and understand what was really happening was the room spinning around us or was the floor moving?  We spent about 1 hour watching all the action and the strange unbelievable jaw-dropping events that occurred.  One act showed how a man actually twist his head all the way around his body with his body facing the same position and the knives the man placed in his mouth without cutting or bleeding.  If you are intrigued by weird, unusual stuff Ripley’s is the place for you!  At least you would get your money’s worth at the Ripley’s museum instead of Ripley’s Moving Theater which offers a movie simulation for only 15 minutes.  We purchase the Ripley combo ticket package where we chose 2 events and saved about $10 to get more entertainment.  The tickets are about $29.99 each for the combo.

Ripley’s Aquarium is also a hit with adults and children of all ages. During the day between 1 – 3pm you can catch the live demonstrations in the aquarium during feeding time.  You can touch the stingray in the tank and see the hammerhead sharks that float over your head as you glide thru the tunnel of the aquarium.  And have your family picture taken near the sea animals.

Most of the locals and tourist purchase their fireworks from Sparky’s  Fireworks  2416 South US Highway 501 Bypass which is located in Marion, SC.  Marion is a small town nearby Myrtle Beach has a good supply of fireworks for having a Fireworks show on the beach which usually starts at 10:00 pm.  You can pick any spot on the beach and you are sure to see fireworks at night on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday nights or bring your flashlight to walk the beach after dark.

 The best Dinner Show of all would be Medieval Times.  It will take you back to the time of knights, castles and eating out of a tin plate with your bare hands.  Enjoy the challenging horse show and a good old-fashioned meal it’s worth the money!

 

Fun Shopping Experience…

Our top 4 shopping choices are:  WAVES is for its beach tie-dye print sweatshirts, t-shirts, large selection of swimwear and wet-gear and souvenirs at reasonable prices.  Broadway at the beach has a few unique shops, the carrousel kids love and toy stores.  Coastal Grand Mall and Carmike Movie Theater right off Highway 17 Bypass and Highway 50. 

And if you like village shopping then you’ll love Myrtle Beach’s newest mall Market Commons which is located North on Highway 17 Business: turn left on Farrow Parkway for 1 mile to the Market Common.  Here you’ll find a beautiful park, horse drawn rides on special occasions, Barnes and Nobles book store, movie theater, restaurants and high-end shops such as Victoria Secret, Banana Republic and Ann Taylor and in the heart of where locals live, entertain, shop and dine.

 

Dining Delight

  • Joe’s Hamburger shack – cheap $2 Old-fashion hamburgers and fries
  • California Pizza ..here you can design your pizza – located at Market Commons Village
  •  Yakomata steak and shrimp  ( on Broadway at the beach)
  • PF Chang’s – Market Commons Village
  • Melting Pot (Hwy 17) – warning this place is extremely expensive but good .. starting at $79 and up

 

Sleep by the Sea

Oceanfront view from the balcony

Jade Tree Cove Oceanfront view

After all that beach fun you deserve a great place to lay your head and rest where you can wake up to roaring sounds of the ocean waves splashing the beach.  In North, Myrtle Beach there are loads of choices for places to stay from rentals to timeshare to  hotels you name it.  It’s  all conveniently located along the shoreline for a breathtaking ocean view.  We recommend  Jade Tree Cove Resort  ( 75th Ave N Myrtle Beach) if you want an oceanfront view of Myrtle Beach and if you like to grill out near the shore and need a kitchenette to cook inside or like to be near a lot of activity for the children like the lazy river and the pool  etc.. You even get discounts on nearby restaurants that are in walking distance.  There is also the Ocean Reef Resort which is also located along ocean blvd.

What is your favorite beach activity?

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