Fly Air Tran into Raleigh, North Carolina, take an hour and a half shuttle to the Pinehurst Resort, and forget about renting a car. Why? Just in case you want to wander outside the resort and village, a free Acura is available for three hours. 

Pinehurst is known as a "golf mecca" with eight 18-hole world championship golf courses with the famed Pinehurst No.2 serving as the site of both the 2014 U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open Championships.

If you or one of your loved ones may not be not be interested in this form of play (it certainly wasn’t mine), there are plenty of other outdoor activities to take in. How about 24 tennis courts, 2 groomed croquet courts, championship lawn bowling course, and Lake Pinehurst and Beach Club with a 200-acre freshwater lake for sailing, canoeing, paddle boating, kayaking, fishing and swimming?  Then there is always the West Lawn Activity Center with a kiddie pool, hot tub and putting green. 

Personally, I was up for an indoor activity, the spa. Forget the sauna, steam room and hot tub, I’m going right for a Sea Grove Clay Wrap that begins with a gentle dry-brush exfoliation of the entire body followed by an application of warm red clay, wrapped concluding with an application of a moisturizing lotion.  That being done I treated myself to the Magnolia Luxury Facial that included a special warm mitt and foot massage. Afterwards I relaxed in one of the rocking chairs on the porch.

The first thing that you may want to do is board their shuttle bus to tour the resort area. This way you can decide what is in walking distance from where your accommodations or activity site is in relation to how tired you may be from what you last did. Make sure you visit the Given Memorial Library housing the Tufts Archives and get the 101 on the history of both James Tuft and the original idea for this resort as a winter retreat.

I stayed at The Carolina, with its fabulous 1,600-square foot Presidential Suite, one of four spots to park my body for the evening. It looks to be the "fanciest" and where the 4 p.m. tea is located. Nothing like some tasty pastries a few hours before dinner at the Carolina Dining Room. I had to change from my jeans and t-shirt to slacks and great "golf shirt" that I purchased as this restaurant has a "no jeans" policy.  That doesn't mean that all of the other restaurants are like that. The menu and atmosphere fits the dress code.

Starter was a Lobster and Crab Cake with a smoke tomato aioli, and jalapeno coulis, accompanied by jicama, cilantro and green papaya.  Entrée pick – New York Strip with Yorkshire Pudding, asparagus and real baby carrots.  I chose the “Rock” pile of sampling of their ice creams made on the premises to go, as I needed to get up to my room to prepare for my radio show.  Yes, there’s complimentary internet access.

The Holly, was Pinehurst’s first inn and houses the 1895 Grille. The Manor, offers casual lodging along with a sports bar, Hackers at Pinehurst.  Condos with full kitchens are the fourth option.

With a choice of riding an old fashioned foot peddle bicycle into the village, walking or shuttle bus, I took the later. It was there that I encountered a shop called Green Gate Olive Oils where I could taste a whole bunch of both olive oils and balsamic vinegars via spigots.  The olive oils are from California, Greece, Spain, Italy, France and Chile. Dip the bread into the tiny paper cup or sip as if tasting wine.  Flavored olive oils are great for cooking and making salad dressings.  They include: blood orange; lemon; chipotle; garlic; and wild mushroom and sage. Choose and it gets bottled, corked and sealed.

As for the balsamic vinegars here are just some of them: blueberry, chocolate, black cherry, cinnamon pear, honey ginger white, and white peach.  How about mixing a blood orange oil with a blueberry vinegar or marinating fish in lemon oil and a jalapeno balsamic?  www.greengateoliveoils.com 

One free attraction worth the Acura trip is Town Creek Indian Mound located in Mt. Gilead. A culture called the “Pee Dee” lived there, way before America was “discovered”.  Through archeology, the mound was pieced together. Start at the visitor’s center museum where you will find both the history and artifacts.  The walk to the Ceremonial Center for the Guard Tower and three buildings: The Mortuary; The Town House and Mound; and East Lodge.  You will certainly get a sense of the Pee Dee way of life.  www.towncreek.nchistoricsites.org 

Back to the hotel and a great family idea for two adults and one or two children under the age of twelve.  The adults pay as low as $165 ppp including a huge buffet breakfast and dinner as the kids in the same room are free and eat for free as well.  Check the activities to find out if there is a fee.  July 4^th weekend will get you a $150 ppp that also includes an ice cream social, fireworks and a band performance.   

Plan Your Trip

Book your getaway at the Pinehurst Resort by visiting www.pinehurst.com or call 1-800-487-4653.

To explore more destinations, events, and attractions in North Carolina visit the North Carolina Division of Tourism at www.visitnc.com.