North Carolina Spot Named One of the Best Places to Get Wine
The United States has plenty of great places to get your wine on, and as it turns out, North Carolina has one of the best places to get wine anywhere. It’s always wine season, but the summer and fall months are especially great for doing wine tasting and other wine-related activities. The study comes from the experts at USA Today, and they have some fantastic things to say about this special North Carolina place. But, this place needs our help to be crowned the winner. I’ll get into the details below.
North Carolina Has One of the Best Places to Get Wine in America
The experts at USA Today have selected a handful of wine spots in the United States as the best, and now, they’re having readers vote on their favorites. “Nearly every state in the U.S. grows grapes and, of course, with grapes come wine,” they explain. “With hundreds of wine-producing regions throughout the country to consider, we asked a panel of experts to select their favorites.” So, their panel of experts put together this tally, and now, the readers will vote for their 10 favorites. I think we should gather ourselves and vote for this North Carolina spot to give it some great exposure.
As for which North Carolina spot has been named one of the best places to get wine, it’s Crest of the Blue Ridge. Of the spot, USA Today says, “Henderson County is the home of North Carolina’s newest AVA (American Viticultural Area), Crest of the Blue Ridge. With distinctive soil and elevation and high water quality — plus warm days and cool mountain nights — grape production varies from European grapes and French-American hybrid grapes to grapes native to North Carolina.” They add that the area “was named an AVA in the summer of 2019.” Crest of the Blue Ridge is a very special place, and I hope it gets enough votes to be selected as one of the top 10 in the country. You can vote for Crest of the Blue Ridge via USA Today as one of the best places to get wine here. In the competition, they’re up against places such as Augusta in Missouri, Finger Lakes in New York, Grand Valley in Colorado, Napa Valley in California and more. Napa Valley, of course, is famous for its wine, so I would be shocked to see that area not make the cut. But, it would really be lovely to see North Carolina recognized for its great wine, too. Read below the “Trending Articles” section to see some ways to save money on vacation this season.
Secret Tips to Save Money on Your Next Vacation
1. Try to Negotiate Your Lodging
Did you know that hotel fees can be negotiable? Fidelity.com points out that, “You may be able to negotiate the online price by calling a hotel directly, or asking if they have any discounts for students, government employees, or members of certain groups, such as AAA.” So, don’t settle for that price you see on your laptop. Try to do better. It’s a secret tip that can pay off bigtime.
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2. Get Smart with Your Lodging
Did you know some hotels that are virtually the same, including the same brand, can be cheaper just a few miles apart? As a general rule, hotels that are near the airport are more expensive. So, you can look at the hotels you want to stay at and their multiple locations in the area for the best rate. “Some hotels that are under construction may rent rooms at a discount, which is a great option if you can deal with the noise,” Fidelity.com points out.
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3. Snack Your Way to a Cheaper Trip
Going out to eat on vacation can be one of the most exciting things about the trip. But, if you want to save on cash, skip a few meals out and opt for healthy, hearty snacks. Pack (or buy at a local store) some protein-rich snacks, like protein bars and meal bars, and limit your dining out. You can still enjoy some of the best food the area has to offer, just not as much of it. This is a way to stay fit on your trip, too. A lot of people don’t think of this tip, so it’s a bit of a secret.
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4. Timing is Everything
You’ve heard it so many times in life: Timing is everything. That’s true for travel, too. Research to find the least-busy times to visit your destination. If you travel during those downtimes, you’ll save big. While this is a common tip, something people forget is that every vacation destination has its own peak time. So, be specific for your travel spot.
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5. Travel with a Friend
If you’re thinking of traveling solo to a place you’ve always wanted to visit, go cheaper by traveling with a friend. You two can share lodging fees. Also, sometimes there are more deals and discounts for those traveling with multiple people. I always do this when going to a big music festival, if it’s far away. I’ll usually meet my friend there, and we share lodging costs. It also makes the trip more fun.
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6. Find Free Spots to Travel
Look for some free attractions in your travel area. Chances are, they won’t be as packed as the big-named places, too. You can still visit some of the popular landmarks. But, if you add a trip to a national park or free museum to your itinerary, it will save you some cash.
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7. Max Out Your Memberships
Are you a member of any random groups? You might have travel deals just waiting for you. Check everything, from your college alumni membership to your credit cards, for travel discounts. You may be surprised what you find.
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8. Don't Get Picky
Say you just want to get out on a fantastic trip, but you don’t really have a place in mind. That’s actually a good thing. Take an hour to look at flight specials happening right now. If you aren’t picky on where to travel, chances are you’ll find a great rate on airfare and lodging somewhere. Once you find the most reasonable place to travel, then you can start looking at what to do when you’re there.
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9. Go Popular
This is a bit ironic, but often times, the most popular tourist destinations are also the cheapest. That’s because there is a lot of competition for all those travelers. So, big-named destinations like Orlando, Florida, or Las Vegas, Nevada, tend to have really good travel deals. Go popular, or go home.
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