Pinehurst Resort – A Beautiful Place For More Than Just Golf Enthusiasts

We’ve been going to Pinehurst Resort in the Sandhills of North Carolina for 25 years.  We first went on the final day of the 1999 US OPEN, the Payne Stewart US OPEN.  We were standing off to the left of the 18^th green as he made the famous putt and gesture now depicted by the statue on the grounds. Pinehurst is a wonderful spot for golf lovers.

If you play golf, and you play somewhat often, Pinehurst has to be on your bucket list of places to go.  If you’re in the CSRA reading this, the resort is less than 3:45 by car.  As a matter of fact, with the improvements to the roads because of the various US OPENS that have been and will continue to be conducted there, the drive has actually become about 3:30.  Plus it’s really simple.  Take I-20 to exit 98 in South Carolina, the Camden exit.  Take a left, get into Camden, take a right on Hwy 1 and stay on Hwy 1 until you reach Pinehurst.  It couldn’t be easier.

Now, in the spirit of full disclosure, for this trip, no golf was going to be played.  After the last three weeks of Masters prep, Masters week and post Masters week, there was some much-needed downtime required.  That’s one of the wonderful things about Pinehurst, as great as the golf is, and believe me it is, you can have a wonderful time with the various other aspects at the resort.

There was a little business on the trip.  I was invited by the United States Golf Association to take a tour of their brand new facility.  They've set up shop as Pinehurst became the first "anchor location" for future US Opens.  This first class facility also houses their new clubs and balls testing labs.

I mentioned that we had been going to Pinehurst for 25 years.  Lisa loves it there.  She gets asked occasionally, “What is it about golf resorts you like? You don’t play”.  Her response, “Have you ever been to a golf resort? Many times, they’re some of the best resorts in the world.”

We spent our time on this trip, taking care of a little bit of business, driving about an hour to spend some time with lifelong friends.  On Saturday, with no schedule, we took in the sights, we sat on the porch and had a couple of drinks.  One of the best restaurants we’ve ever been to is in one of the hotel properties, the 1985 Grille in the Holly Inn.  The breakfast buffet at the Carolina is widely regarded as one of the best buffets in the country.  You will not lack for fine dining in Pinehurst.

You should know that the village is very quaint and small.  The charm of Aiken’s downtown at about half the size.  You can spend the better part of an afternoon exploring.  You can also visit the quiet and lovely downtown area of Southern Pines, about 5 miles away from the village.  A few more shops and dining establishments, but still with the same small-town feel.

Most of the people playing golf at the resort are doing so on a golf package.  Pinehurst offers a variety of packages with pricing varying throughout the years.  Prepare to pay a little more in the spring and fall.

We’re biased because it’s become one of our favorite places to visit.  And we’ve been there so often that we know our way around.  Pinehurst may be a little to our north, but the southern hospitality we know, and love is alive and well there.  As they’re found of saying, “It’s a Beautiful Day In Pinehurst.”

It's always a good time to go on vacation, but summer, of course, is the official travel season. If you're planning a big trip, you're going to want to make sure to maximize your vacation. After all, traveling is supposed to be fun. That means not stressing out while planning or being on your trip. Let's get into some great tips to maximize your vacation.

Before we get to tips to maximize your vacation, let's look at vacation trends. A new AAA travel survey states that 84% of U.S. residents will travel in 2024. Also, 43% will take more vacations than last year. So traveling is a hot thing in 2024. "The travel season is already off to a hot start in 2024," said Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA, The Auto Club Group. "Americans continue to make travel a top priority, and AAA travel agents have been busy planning a wide range of vacations from weekend getaways to world cruises."

If you're planning to take a cruise, note that according to AAA, more travelers are booking cruises farther in advance. Many spring break cruises sold out months before they were to set sail. "Last-minute bookings are possible, but prices may be higher and cabin choices limited," AAA notes.

What's more, a new study from AAA and Bread Financial has discovered that younger generations are into live event travel. Is that really new? I've been traveling for concerts for years, but it's apparently a new trend among Gen Z. They state that "three in five Gen Z (65%) and Millennial (58%) respondents confirmed they have traveled in the past 12 months and/or plan to travel in the next 12 months for in-person events like concerts, sporting events, comedy shows, and book readings that are more than 50 miles from home."

That's much more than with older generations, with is 43% for Gen X and 27% for Baby Boomers. Then again, older generations are more likely to want to be at home, because, well, they're older. They've been there and done that.

That same study found that Gen Z loves traveling for sports and music. They state that more than half (52%) of Gen Z travelers are gearing up to attend a music event in the next 12 months. In fact, one in five Gen Z travelers (20%) have traveled or plan to travel to see Taylor Swift live in concert.

As for sports, 38% of Gen Z travelers have traveled or plan to travel for the 2025 Super Bowl. Also, 32% have traveled or plan to travel to the 2024 NBA finals, and 19% have traveled or plan to travel to the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.  Now, let's get into some great tips to maximize your vacation.

One great way to maximize your vacation is simply to save money. You'll feel so much better on vacation knowing that you're saving cash by doing things the right way. One major way to save money is to travel during an off season. Every vacation destination has its own peak time. So, look at the cheapest time to visit your destination, and go then. Find more tips on saving money on vacation, too.

Sure, you want to do some planning so that you don't miss the big tourist stops in your destination. But, don't book every blasted minute. Maximize your vacay by saving some time to be spontaneous. Take a day to just figure out what to do when you're there. Maybe some locals will recommend a secret spot for you to visit during your "day off."

While you don't want to overbook your trip so that you're always running from spot to spot, you do want to plan a bit. It's not a good idea to do zero planning and just feel things out when you get there. Plan some big activities ahead of time so that you aren't scrambling last-minute.

If you only have one big vacation every year, you might feel under a lot of pressure to make it the most amazing experience ever. So, take away that stress. Plan mini-vacations throughout the year, so you aren't under as much pressure to make your big trip the best thing that's ever happened to you and your family. For example, in the fall, if you live in an area with beautiful colors, make an annual fall color tour trip and just drive around the state.

If time and money allows, adding just one day to your vacation can open up a world of possibilities. Many people plan too short a trip, not realizing just how much they'll want to do in their destination. So, add an extra day. You'll be glad you did at the end of your stay.

Sure, you're on vacation. You want to soak up every minute of your trip. But, if you're up late every night partying in the clubs and then up early to enjoy the sunrise, pretty soon, you'll be too tired to enjoy your vacation. So, take time to get some sleep and feel rested.

They say, "Don't sweat the small stuff." That's certainly true on vacation. Nothing is going to go totally as planned. So, expect the unexpected, and roll with it.

When you get back from your vacation, don't plan to start work the very next day. Take an extra day or two off after your vacation to recuperate, so that you hit the ground running when you're back at work. The extra time at home will also give you a chance to savor your vacation.

People often find experiencing more rewarding that physical things. So, make sure to plan an experience with your trip. Maybe there's a huge concert you want to see on vacation. Perhaps it's a sporting event. Whatever it is, plan an awesome experience.

Finally, when you're home from your trip, decompress and look back on your vacation. What went wrong? What went right? Take notes and learn from your vacation, so you'll know what to do better next time.