5,300 Feet of Summer at Sugar Mountain Resort

Summer is right around the corner. And so are the 95 degree temperatures. Uggh!  But there's one place in North Carolina that's always cool with refreshing mountain air, a relaxing place, loads of mild-to-wild activities, stunning scenic beauty, and hospitality that can't be matched. And that place this summer is Sugar Mountain Resort.

Sugar Mountain's summer season begins May 2nd with the opening of their hiking and biking trails and concludes on Sunday, October 9th after their 21st annual Oktoberfest celebration.

Umstead Chefs Invited to Cook at James Beard House

Acclaimed chefs Scott Crawford and Steven Greene from Herons at The Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary have been invited to host a unique North Carolina wine dinner at the prestigious James Beard House in New York City on June 3rd, 2011. Beginning with a cocktail reception followed by a five-course dinner with wine pairings, the gastronomic duo will fuse art and nature in their culinary creations, while focusing on locally sourced and seasonal ingredients, exciting flavor profiles and striking, artful presentations.

Harrah's Cherokee Casino & Hotel Expansion Off to a Towering Start

We finally got a chance to check out the expansion of the Harrah's Cherokee Casino & Hotel in Cherokee, North Carolina and we were not disappointed. The first landmark in its three-year, $633 million expansion is the addition of the stunning 532-room Creek Tower, featuring luxurious guest rooms and suites, to the property making it the largest hotel accommodations in the Carolinas. With standard amenities including a sitting area, refrigerator, plush robes, flat-screen TVs and granite countertops and suites with floor-to-ceiling windows, balconies, fireplaces and whirlpools, Creek Tower is helping to transform the property to the premier resort destination in the Southeast.

Other additions that have already opened as part of the expansion include Paula Deen's Kitchen, a full-service, 404-seat restaurant serving a la carte breakfast, lunch and dinner, and is reminiscent of the decor and ambiance of her legendary home and kitchen in Savannah. Adjacent to the restaurant is an 1,800-square-foot Paula Deen retail shop offering Paula's cookbooks, spices and food items, cookware, logo wear and gifts. "We are honored to welcome Paula Deen's Kitchen to Harrah's Cherokee Casino & Hotel," said Darold Londo, Senior VP and General Manager of the property. "Her style of cooking and Southern hospitality is a perfect fit for our guests here in the Great Smoky Mountains."

Rock Hill, South Carolina Zipline Opens this Weekend

Ziplining is all the rage across the country, and this weekend, it comes to Rock Hill, South Carolina with the Grand Opening of Canaan Zipline Canopy Tour. On Saturday morning, you can enjoy a preview of the course, along with free music and food.  Then the fun begins Saturday afternoon when the true thrill seekers and tree huggers will try their hand at this exciting new adventure.

Canaan Zipline Canopy tours feature three different tours for high-flying adventurers of all ages.  The Canopy  Tour features a 2 1/2- to 3-hour exhilarating adventure zipping through the trees on a network of cables and skybridges crisscrossing the Catawba River. After a brief safety orientation, you will climb a 70-ft tower and then glide through oaks, poplars and birches across 9 ziplines, three skybridges, and three short nature trails. This tour is ideal for families, first-timers, as well as high-adventure enthusiasts.

Charlestowne Hotels Acquires Springmaid Beach Resort

Charleston-based hospitality management company Charlestowne Hotels recently welcomed Springmaid Beach Resort to their portfolio. Located on the southern end of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Springmaid Beach Resort is a 492 room oceanfront resort and conference center offering large rooms with balconies and ocean views, two on-site dining options, six pools, two lazy rivers, miniature golf and Myrtle Beach's longest pier.

But that's not all. Springmaid Beach Resort offers a glimpse into the history of the area. In 1931, WWI fighter pilot Elliott Springs inherited six cotton mills from his father which included 5,000 employees, 7,500 looms and 300,000 spindles valued at over $7 million dollars. As part of his commitment to fostering healthy recreation for his employees, Springs built affordable vacation accommodations and recreational facilities for use by his employees including golf courses, swimming pools, and community centers in various locations throughout South Carolina. In 1949, Springmaid Beach opened as an economical oceanfront vacation option for his Springs company employees.