Pinehurst / Southern Pines North Carolina Travel Information
East of Charlotte in North Carolina’s Sand Hills lie two resort towns with much in common, although one is not truly a town. Pinehurst and Southern Pines both began as health resorts many years ago but are golfing playgrounds today. Outdoor recreation and enjoying the area’s natural surroundings are popular pastimes in both towns. Pinehurst Resort features eight golf courses. There are at least 42 courses between Pinehurst, Southern Pines and Aberdeen. The village of Pinehurst was designed by Frederick Olmsted, designer of Biltmore Estate and New York’s Central Park. Pinehurst is a private enterprise, not an actual town. There’s more than golf here. Sandhills Horticultural Gardens present 10 gardens on 32 acres. Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve offers hiking trails amid pine trees, wildflowers and streams. Enjoy polo matches and horse shows at Pinehurst Harness Track as well as races. Accommodations range from chain motels to Pinehurst Resort and Country Club, center of golfing action. Try a meal at Carolina Dining Room at the resort or visit John’s Barbecue & Seafood Restaurant. Unlike Pinehurst, Southern Pines is an actual town which has grown as snowbirds have moved south. The town is home to a writers colony founded by author James Boyd. Weymouth Center, Boyd’s home, contains the North Carolina Literary Hall of Fame, honoring writers such as O. Henry and Thomas Wolfe. Don’t miss the Taxidermy Hall of Fame of North Carolina Creation Museum for an off-beat experience. Located inside a Christian bookstore, exhibits include 200 native animals. Accommodations here include chain motels as well as Knowllwood House, a B & B, and Mid-Pines Inn and Golf Club Resort. Dining options include Lob Steer Inn for steak and seafood, and Vito’s Ristorante & Pizzeria, for authentic Calabrian food. Pinehurst and Southern Pines are located about 105 miles east of Charlotte, off US 1.
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