Best places to travel to in less than three hours

When looking to get away for a weekend, it’s always best to start close then think of traveling outside the two hour radius if none of those destinations wet your appetite. Today, we are looking at five places from Burlington that you can go visit for a getaway weekend!

Take this survey to let your voice be heard!

1. Asheville, N.C.: This is a great place to travel to for some rest and relaxation. You can visit the Biltmore Estate and can explore the local shops and downtown area. Check out a previous article posted in September. (Time: Approximately three hours from Burlington)

2. Wilmington, N.C.: If you would rather see the beach than the mountains, this is the place for you! You can enjoy the beach while exploring the city for great restaurants and museums. Read this article from earlier this semester for more information on Wilmington. (Time: Approximately two hours and 35 minutes)

3. Raleigh, N.C.: The capital of North Carolina is a great place to visit and explore. You can see a show at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium, have a nice bite to eat and enjoy the nightlife. For more information, this article will tell you more details about Raleigh. (Time: Approximately 55 minutes)

4.  Charlotte, N.C.: If you want more of an adventure then rest and relaxation, Charlotte is the place for you! This city has the race-car arena as well as museums galore. (Time: Approximately one hour and 57 minutes)

5. Charleston, S.C.: Visit Charleston to enjoy beautiful historic plantations as well as the waterfront. This town also houses the College of Charleston, which is a historic college. If you enjoy architecture and cobblestone streets, this is the place for you! **This is out of the three hour radius, but is worth the extra hour!

Leave a comment to share your favorite place to getaway to in less than three hours!

Featured City: Hanging Rock in Danbury, N.C.

The trail is only 1.2 miles to the top of the mountain.

This week’s Featured Friday will get your feet moving. Your next stop is up the road at Hanging Rock State Park. This is one of the several parks in North Carolina that offers a great way to exercise while experiencing wonderful trails full of waterfalls and amazing views once you reach the top.

It is less than two hours away and only requires 1.2 miles of hiking to get to the top. This is the perfect time of the year to experience the changing of tree colors as well as the crisp fall air. You have the option of taking more than four different trails to explore the three waterfalls as well as the peak of the mountain.

• Click here to view a map of the park.
• Click here to view activities you can do while at the park.

There are three different waterfalls you can enjoy on the trails.

 

Study Abroad Tips

Before even applying to Elon University, the one thing most people highlight about going to Elon is the great study abroad opportunities that are offered. When getting to campus, this is reemphasized in the classroom and is even one of the five Experiential Learning Requirements (ELR) that is required before graduation. Study abroad is so popular that more than 70 percent of students from last years graduating class studied abroad at least once.

There are three different times students can go abroad:

1. Fall/Spring semesters
2. Summer months
3. Winter term

London is one of the three main centers Elon has abroad.

When choosing which program to go on, Elon offers students many resources on their site. You can see what each program includes and you can learn how much it costs and deadlines for applying. Some things to also check out are language prerequisites for specific locations, scholarship opportunities and deadlines for the Elon programs in Costa Rica, Italy and London.

Students can also visit Carlton and go into the Isabella Cannon Study Abroad office to gather more information on all programs. You can meet with an advisor to figure out what program may be best for you and can get immediate help by visiting the center for studying abroad.

Click on this article to find out other reasons why you should study abroad.

Check out this video of Heidi White, associate director of study abroad:

Local Hit: New shopping location

For anyone who is in need of some retail therapy, there is a new hit located right up the road in Mebane, N.C. The Tanger Outlet mall is a great place to travel to in less than 20 minutes. This is a great way to buy your Christmas gifts before the Thanksgiving rush and a great way to avoid breaking the bank!

Check out this article to find out more about the recent opening of the outlet mall. You can save even more money by looking at this site for coupons and savings.

Do you have any local places to shop around Elon, N.C.? Post a comment to share other ideas!

Featured City: Saxapahaw, N.C.

Thirty minutes down the road sits a small town called Saxapahaw. This town is a historic village located near Haw River and is a few minutes from Chapel Hill.  You and your friends can go hiking, biking, kayaking and can enjoy a goat burger at the General Mill. The homey feel of this town is a nice breath of fresh air and provides a great retreat from the busy college lifestyle. You can read more on the recent renovations of the Rivermill by checking out this article.

Check out this picture gallery of Saxapahaw, N.C.:
(Click on the photo to scroll through and enlarge)

Book of Interest: United States on the Road

Picture taken from website.

When choosing where to travel, it’s good to always remember that there are numerous resources that can help you decide where you should go. The book “United States on the Road” by Donna Dailey, Mike Gerrard and Nicky Leach offers knowledge on different parts of the country and shows what you can expect when taking a road trip to those regions.

As a college student, it’s always good to have some recreational reading materials to give you a break from school work. In order to be the best traveler you can be, it is important to educate yourself on traveling. This book will equip you with maps, guides and other travel tips.

Read this review to find out more information on this book. You can also purchase the book here.

Local Hit: Lazy 5 Ranch

There are more than 750 animals including giraffes.

If you’re an animal lover, this local hit is right up your alley! If you travel up the road for about an hour to Mooresville, N.C., you can visit the Lazy 5 Ranch.

This ranch offers a 3.5 mile tour to see more than 750 animals from all over the world. All you do is drive up and pay admission for everyone in the car, buy a bucket of feed, then roll down your windows and drive through the route to feed animals. This is a great place for people of all ages and is a very family friendly environment!

You can read reviews about this ranch by clicking here. Check out this blog to see what other visitors thought about their experience.

Some animals include:

• Scotch Highland Cattle
• Watusi
• Texas Longhorn Cattle
• Jersey Cows
• Giraffes
• Kangaroos
• Emus
• Ostriches
• Pigs

Click here to see maps and directions.

Zebras are one group of animals on the 3.5 mile route.