Wentworth Mansion in Charleston Honored by Travel & Leisure Magazine

Venerable Wentworth Mansion in Charleston, South Carolina is in the news again. They have been bestowed with the top spot in the U.S. for best service and #2 in the world (and only one-tenth of a point behind Hong Kong's The Peninsula) in Travel & Leisure Magazine World's Best Awards. Rankings were based on reader votes collected in the Travel & Leisure World's Best Awards survey.

Built in 1886, the Wentworth Mansion is the former home of a wealthy cotton merchant. Lovingly restored in 1998 by current owners Richard Widman and Linn Lesesne, it retains many of the original and distinctive architectural features including gas-lit fireplaces with original marble mantels and inlaid design floors. Modern touches include king-size sleigh beds with European linens, whirlpool tubs and double glass-walled, walk-in showers, and complimentary evening wine tastings and hors d'oeuvres in the parlor.

And, needless to say, some of the best service in the world!

First Flush Festival at South Carolina Tea Farm

Each May, the only tea farm in the continental U.S. celebrates its first harvest of the year with the First Flush FesTEAval, which gives tea lovers the opportunity to observe how the world's second-most consumed beverage (after water) is made.

Located in South Carolina’s Lowcountry on Wadmalaw Island, about 18 miles from Charleston, the Charleston Tea Plantation covers 127 acres, with one-third planted in tea bushes that descend from bushes brought over from China in the 1800s. The plantation was founded in 1987 to produce a line of teas called American Classic. In 2003, the Bigelow family of the R.C. Bigelow tea company purchased the plantation. The Bigelows worked with third-generation tea-taster Bill Hall to create a place where tea lovers can see how the beverage is made from leaf to cup. They fully restored the grounds and built a tea-processing factory, and the plantation opened to the public in 2006.

In the factory, visitors can watch through a 125-foot window as equipment processes tea from raw leaf to finished black tea. During the harvest season (May-October), plants are picked about every 15 days; the leaves go from harvest to finished tea in less than 24 hours. If tea isn’t being processed during a visit, videos shown on three TV screens illustrate each step. A large gift shop stocks teas, including American Classic and limited-edition First Flush,  and much more. Tea bushes and old oaks dot the grounds surrounding the factory, where visitors can picnic (with iced tea the beverage of choice).

Charleston Tea Plantation's 7th Annual First Flush FesTEAval, scheduled for May 18, has grown to include trolley tours of the plantation, factory tours, regional fare such as boiled peanuts, games and rides for kids and kids at heart, and live music featuring Old Crow Medicine Show with The Luke Cunningham Band, Gas Light Street, Quincy Mumford, and more. And of course, there's lots of complimentary thirst-quenching iced tea.

You've Seen the Film....Now Tour the Sites in North Carolina

Iron Man has (finally!) opened and, boy, has it has generated all the fanfare it was expected to. We're talking $175 million dollar in its' first weekend. And that's only domestically! Internationally, the film racked up over $500 million overseas in its' first two weeks. So obviously Tony Stark is, indeed, the Iron Man at the box office.

Most of the film was filmed in our neck of the woods. Wilmington, to be exact. And once we see the film, we're going to check out all of the locations (some in the film, some just hang-outs for the stars) for a real insiders' view.

A lot of the filming took place at the State Port. Since that's closed to the public, we'll just have to check out the cranes and ships from afar. But you can definitely check out the Cape Fear Club on Chestnut Street, Steven's Hardware on Dawson Street (where Tony goes in to buy some supplies), New Hanover Regional Medical Center and, of course EUE/Screen Gems Studios, where Iron Man 3 was based and where all of the stage filming was done (surely they'll be offering tours soon!).

But even more fun might be to check out some of the places that the stars frequented while they spent several months here filming. Those options include the USS North Carolina, where Ben Kingsley took a private tour, Edge of Urge, a boutique where Downey shopped, Roko Italian Cuisine, a dining favorite of Kingsley and Gwyneth Paltrow, Catch, where Downey, Paltrow, and fellow star, Jon Favreau (Paltrow was so impressed that she returned for a private cooking lesson from local chef and Top Chef contestant Keith Rhodes and blog about the experience), and Boca Bay Seafood Restaurant and Oyster Bar, Brassierie du Soleil and Causeway Cafe at Wrightsville Beach which were all frequented by executive producer, Charles Newirth.

Other filming locations in North Carolina include Oak Island (30 miles south of Wilmington) where residents and beach goers watched stunt actors fall from the sky to the sea through Skydive Coastal Carolinas. The film makers turned two vacant shops in Rose Hill into the First Tennessee bank and The RockyTop Restaurant. Crew regularly paid visits to the World's Largest Frying Pan and the Duplin Winery Bistro and The Mad Boar for lunch.

The location of Iron Man 3's Miss Chattanooga Christmas Pageant is Kenan Memorial Auditorium in Kenansville.

In the Triangle, most of the film was shot at Epic Games and SAS Institute, both of which are closed to the public. But you can visit The Umstead Hotel and Spa, which served as overnight accommodations for Paltrow, Don Cheadle and Guy Pearce. And don't miss out on one of Paltrow's favorite meals while in the Capital City at Poole's Diner. Apparently, she tweeted a request for a restaurant recommendation in the Raleigh area and after tasting James Beard finalist Ashley Christensen's food, tweeted her review: "Amazing!"

Southeastern Fly Fishing Festival Comes to North Carolina

The Southeastern Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers has selected Jackson County, North Carolina to host its 2013 Southeastern Fly Fishing Festival. The two-day event, May 17-18, takes place in the Ramsey Center arena at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina, a popular destination for fly fishing enthusiasts and home to the Western NorthCarolina Fly Fishing Trail.

With guest speakers including expert guides Ian and Charity Rutter, Bryson City native Jim Casada and two-handed fly rod guru Al Buhr, fly-tying experts, and industry exhibitors, the Southeastern Fly Fishing Festival is perfect for experienced and beginning anglers alike.

The weekend kicks off with a Friday barbecue dinner, sponsored by Trout Unlimited and a screening of this year's Fly Fishing Film Tour, a contest for short films about fly fishing. Opportunities to fish the WNC Fly Fishing Trail will also be available all weekend long.

Festival hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Daily admission price is $5 for individuals and $10 for families. Admission price includes free presentations and programs, along with the opportunity to sign up for paid instruction in casting and fly-tying.

Need a room? Check out MountainLovers.com for all kinds of options from campgrounds to B&Bs and hotel rooms to cabins and cottages.

All-New Sonesta Resort Open on Hilton Head, South Carolina

The all new Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island has reopened after a $30M renovation of its rooms and public spaces and the addition of a spa. Perfectly situated along the beachfront on 11 acres of the stunning landscape of Shipyard Plantation, the 340 rooms highlight the look and feel of the South Carolina Lowcountry while providing all the amenities of a AAA four diamond resort.

Updates on their public spaces include a shaded lap pool and Jacuzzi, a zero entry-heated lagoon swimming pool, more than 20,000 square feet of meeting and event space, and the new full-service Arum Spa featuring a Lowcounty spa experience using local products and scents including jasmine and sea salts.

Guests at Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island also have access to seven championship golf courses at four of the island's golf courses and 20 tennis courts within the Shipyard complex (including complimentary shuttle service). There's also plenty of dining options within the property as well as on-site bicycle rentals.

And that doesn't even begin to talk about all of the shopping, dining, and outdoor recreation that Hilton Head Island proper has to offer. So if you are looking for a Spring getway or your summer vacation plans include Hilton Head Island, be sure to check out the Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island.

Fire in the Triad Heats up May 14th

Fire in the Triad, part of the Got To Be NC Competition Dining Series, is headed back to Greensboro and the gauntlet has been thrown. Competing chefs have been chosen for the May/June series and the winner will travel to Raleigh to compete in Final Fire in November for the title of Best Chef in North Carolina.

Featured restaurants in Fire in the Triad include: Undercurrents, Southern Roots, Tavern Old Salem, Greensboro Country Club, Spring House, Noble's Grille, Crafted, J. Pepper's, Meridian, Diamondback, Bistro B, B. Christopher's, Marisol, River Birch Lodge, Liberty Oak and WS Prime. All battles will be held at The Empire Room in downtown Greensboro.

Support your favorite restaurant as they go head-to-head in a knockdown, drag-out, six-course, blind dinner judged by a panel of culinary experts and YOU, the diners. Tickets are available online but availability is limited to only 100 guests per night.

So get your tickets now and you be the judge!

Long Awaited Outer Banks Resort to Reopen

One of the most beloved resorts of the Outer Banks, North Carolina (and one of our favorite getaways) is scheduled to re-open May 1 after a multimillion-dollar redesign and tons of new bells and whistles. Sanderling Resort, a AAA four-diamond resort just North of the seaside community of Duck in the Outer Banks, has undergone a renovation over the winter and we can't wait to check out her new public spaces, renovated guestrooms, and dining options.

Some of the new elements of this causally elegant resort that we are most excited about are:

*Two new on-site pools. Okay.....you are steps away from the brilliant ocean. But sometimes it's nice to take a dip in a crystal clear pool. And now there will be an adult-oriented pool with cantilevered umbrellas, group seating areas, and chaise lounges. There's also a new family-friendly lagoon-style pool that, we hear, lends itself to the cool topography of the land the Sanderling sits on.

* A newly designed lobby with expansive oceanfront views and the new Beach House Bar.

*Seven new poolside guestrooms with ideal views of the Atlantic.

*Updated design enhancements and upgraded in-room amenities in all guestrooms, as well as enhanced pathways, lighting and event venues for a more enchanting outdoor experience.

*A reimagined Lifesaving Station restaurant with a new outdoor dining deck and a new nautical design scheme.

*The completely re-built Sand Bar with large outdoor seating, fire pits, and music for fun outdoor entertainment.

*No. 5, formerly known as the Swan Bar, has a new decor makeover and re-designs that highlight the spectacular view.

*Kimball's Kitchen, in the site of the previous Left Bank, has been renamed after the founder of the United States Life-Saving Service, Sumner Kimball, and pays homage to the region's rich history at this AAA four-diamond restaurant.

It's hard to improve on the perfection that a vacation at Sanderling Resort offers, but we're open to the possibility!

Dive and Boat Friendly Hotel in Beaufort, North Carolina

Now that the weather has (finally!) turned, it's time to think about getting back into water activities like scuba diving and boating. And the Crystal Coast of North Carolina offers plenty of both....great wreck diving in the Graveyard of the Atlantic and 85 miles of coastline for ocean and inland waterways boating.

And now there is a great little hotel that caters to enthusiasts of both. Located in the heart of Beaufort and just a few blocks from the waterfront, Beaufort Harbour Suites is a sixteen-suite hotel that offers fully-equipped kitchens, queen-sized beds along with a queen-sized sleeper sofa, and complimentary high-speed internet. They are also pet-friendly and happy to accommodate your four-legged members of the family.

Rates vary seasonally but start at $90 per night. They also offer dive packages with their partners at Discovery Diving and boat slip packages.

Spring is here. Let the diving and boating commence!

TRAVEL NORTH CAROLINA App Powered by Our State Magazine

Deciding where to go and what to do in North Carolina is always a challenge. There are just so many awesome places to choose from and so many different travel guides and websites to help get you there. But it just got a little easier with TRAVEL NORTH CAROLINA, a new, free app for use on your iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, or Android phone. And it's powered by Our State, the premier statewide magazine devoted to North Carolina travel, history, people, and places since 1933.


The app is organized by region--Western, Greater Charlotte, Triad, Triangle, Eastern and Statewide--and within each region there's easy-to-navigate listings of lodging, attractions, dining and shopping. There are also 36-hour Guides to various towns, a "Near Me" function that shows what's nearby, and "Editor's Picks' including point of interest from the experts at the magazine. So whether your interest is in historical sites, lighthouses, national and state parks, outdoor adventures, museums, shopping, dining or wineries, TRAVEL NORTH CAROLINA may just become your go-to on-the-go guide for exploring the Tar Heel state.

And it's not just travel suggestions. It also includes GPS triggered maps with driving (or walking) distances, contact information (including the critical stuff like phone numbers, websites, and social media), detailed descriptions of the location along with photos and/or videos (if available), and streaming tours for your laptop or downloadable tours for your mobile device. They even have an easy interface for sharing your finds on Facebook and Twitter.

So if you don't have time before your trip to research what to do or where to go, never fear. TRAVEL NORTH CAROLINA is as close as your smartphone.

Nicholas Sparks Shines Spotlight on Southeastern North Carolina

The riverfront towns of Southport and Wilmington recently provided yet another North Carolina setting for a Nicholas Sparks novel and resulting film (the eighth Sparks book to hit the silver screen). Safe Haven--the romantic thriller starring Josh Duhamel and Julianne Hough--which debuted this past Valentine's Day, after being filmed exclusively in Southport and Wilmington.

In a popular pre-Safe Haven film called A Night With Nicholas Sparks. Safe Haven: Filmmakers, Author And Stars Bring The Book To Life, Sparks praised the southeastern North Carolina settings in fiction and film: "The sunsets, the coast--it's a good place. The closer you get to the coast, the smaller things get. The slow pace of life has an influence on me. I write stories where people have time to connect."

It's easy to connect with both towns as seen in the film. The possibilities in and around Southport include: the ferry between Fort Fisher, across the Cape Fear River, and Southport; the old-timey city blocks where the dramatic Fourth of July scenes were filmed; Ports of Call restaurant, where a romantic dinner was shot and actor Josh Duhamel learned to shuck an oyster; and Old American Fish Co. restaurant, where the character Katie (Julianne Hough) worked as a waitress.

Across the Cape Fear at Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, the fictional couple enjoyed a romantic kiss on the wide and deserted beach. Over in Wilmington--often referred to as "Wilmywood" and "Hollywood of the East" because of all the film work done there--the characters strolled by the Wilmington Convention Center and the Carolina Apartments on Market Street during a visit.

Along with their fictional roles, the cast and crew also took advantage of other area offerings during filming, including Julianne Hough's 23rd birthday celebration at Ports of Call; popular Fishy Fishy Cafe, near where much of the film work was done and a favorite with Sparks and the cast and crew; a guided paddling trip with Adventure Kayak Company; and tee times, dining, and libations at Oak Island Golf Club.

Duhamel, often accompanied by girlfriend Fergie of The Blacked Eyed Peas fame (see photo above), stayed on Oak Island and continues to publicly rave about his time on the island and in Southport--yet another southeastern North Carolina town now in the Nicholas Sparks spotlight. With the addition of Southport, Sparks has now featured southeastern North Carolina's Beaufort, Edenton, New Bern, Swansboro, and Wilmington (which was already highlighted in Dear John, Message in a Bottle, and The Last Song prior to Safe Haven).