8 money-saving escape-the-RNC getaways
RNC week: School’s out, weather’s nice, vacations are cheaper — and free of protestors and riot police
By Nicholas Felten
In the last week of August, Charlotte residents will have the magical opportunity to experience the wonders of representative democracy up close: Republicans will converge on our city the week of Aug. 24 to nominate their candidate for president.
However, the Republican National Convention could bring its share of headaches — especially for the 116,000 people who work uptown. Hassles might include motorcades that block traffic, riot police, security barriers and people flipping each other off and screaming while holding obnoxious signs.
Smart time to leave? Consider this: The weather will be favorable. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools doesn’t start classes until the following week. Summer vacations have all but ended everywhere else, so many hotels throughout the Southeast have dropped their prices from their summer peaks. And if you leave Charlotte, odds are low that some roving “man-on-the-street” interviewer will push a microphone in your face and ask for comment on the president’s latest tweet or whether property damage by protestors is justified.
“It seems like the perfect time to take off,” says Lisa Worf, co-host of “Morning Edition” on Charlotte NPR station WFAE. She is co-hosting a new podcast about Charlotte hosting the RNC that debuts on Thursday and acknowledges some people will want to avoid the hassles: “If you work uptown, there’s not going to be much getting done that week. It should be pretty easy to get out of town.”
Here’s a helpful list of places not located in Charlotte but that still aren’t too far away. Who knows … if your house fetches a high enough price on Airbnb, you might even turn a profit on this trip:
Amelia Island, Fla.
WHY: It’s the peaceful, underappreciated northern tip of Florida, about 5½ hours away.
WHAT: Beach-lovers can visit the municipal beaches or check out Little Talbot Island State Park for something more secluded, while history and nature lovers will want to try Fort Clinch State Park and maybe see a dolphin or two. Fernandina Beach is a quaint small town.
STAY: Hampton Inn & Suites Amelia Island-Historic Harbor Front. Just $131 a night RNC week ($48/night less than Fourth of July week). If you’re a high roller, or merely a pretender living beyond your means, check out the Amelia Island Ritz Carlton at $460/night during RNC week ($186/night less).
Asheville, N.C.
WHY: Because NoDa and Plaza-Midwood aren’t enough for you. Also, mountains.
WHAT: Late August is apple season, so stop at Sky Top Orchard in Flat Rock on your way up. Hit the Asheville Pinball Museum while you’re there; the entrance fee gets you unlimited play on their considerable collection. For exceptional people-watching and the true Asheville vibe, don’t miss the Friday night drum circle downtown. You can hit the Blue Ridge Parkway for some scenery, or head to Cherokee for some gambling. And make sure you take the scenic route by Lake Lure on your way back.
STAY: Beats me. Asheville is expensive. Maybe you have some hotel points saved up?
Beaufort, S.C.
WHY: Because you couldn’t decide between Charleston and Savannah so you picked somewhere in between, or possibly because Hilton Head Island is a little too ritzy for your taste. And also so you can smugly tell your friends it’s pronounced “Byew-fert”, not “Bo-fert,” like the one in North Carolina.
WHAT: Hunting Island State Park has a beach as well as the only publicly-accessible lighthouse in South Carolina. A $2 admission fee gets you inside and to the top, if you’re up for a climb. Beaufort has a small but scenic antebellum downtown on the water. And you can learn about Gullah culture on nearby Saint Helena Island.
STAY: Beaufort Inn, $154/night RNC week ($8/night less than Fourth of July week)
Blowing Rock, N.C.
WHY: A sensible base for exploring the mountains that also has a cute town with shopping and restaurants. Plus, the refreshing mountain air might be a few degrees cooler than Charlotte and have no trace of tear gas.
WHAT: You’re close to Tweetsie Railroad (open Friday-Sundays during the RNC), Linville Falls, Grandfather Mountain and plenty of hiking trails of all levels. At the end of the day, have dinner in town (or in nearby Boone), grab an ice cream at Kilwin’s and head to Blowing Rock’s huge playground, where the kids can let off steam and the strong cell coverage lets you can catch up on Facebook after a full day of family time.
STAY: For the mountain experience, why not rent a cabin on VRBO or Airbnb? There are a bunch of rustic-looking yet modern options, including this 1,800 s.f. , three-bedroom cabin that sleeps 10 and is $175 a night (same price as Fourth of July week).
Columbia, S.C.
WHY: It’s practically next door. The drive isn’t much worse than commuting to Fort Mill. Zing!
WHAT: Sure, Columbia in late August will be as hot as the Molotov cocktails Antifa protestors will be chucking at riot police back home. But the Riverbanks Zoo & Garden is always fun. So is tubing on the Saluda River. And did you know that Congaree National Park — the closest national park to Charlotte — is only half an hour from Columbia? Sure, it’s a godforsaken mosquito-infested swamp, but what’s a national park without a little godforsaken wilderness?
STAY: Hyatt Place Downtown / The Vista, $159/night during RNC week (same as Fourth of July week). Or stay at the new Hyatt Place a little further east in downtown Sumter, $108/night both weeks.
Greenville, S.C.
WHY: The New York Times named Greenville one of its 52 places to visit in 2017, alongside such treasures as Dubrovnik, Grand Teton National Park, and the entire country of Canada. But Greenville is much more conveniently located than those places.
WHAT: A surprisingly charming downtown. Falls Park on the Reedy is a world-class urban park worth spending a few hours in. The NYT compared the city to Charleston on account of its restaurant scene, so enjoy some fine dining — without having to jostle with Wolf Blitzer for a table. And if you want to explore the southern Appalachians, there are several state parks nearby.
STAY: Westin Poinsett, $263/night during RNC week (same price as Fourth of July week)
Helen, Ga.
WHY: The majestic beauty of nature and/or ersatz German architecture. Plus it’s about the same drive time as Atlanta … with the added bonus that you don’t end up in Atlanta at the end of your drive.
WHAT: Helen is a good base for exploring the nearby state parks, such as Unicoi, Moccasin Creek and Tallulah Gorge, the latter of which was a setting in “Deliverance.” There are also a number of German restaurants to accompany all the Bavarian-styled buildings in town.
STAY: Holiday Inn Express, at $114/night ($47/night cheaper than Fourth of July week)
Wilmington, N.C.
WHY: The new 74 bypass around Monroe has shaved some time off the trip, making the drive more on par with Charleston or Myrtle Beach.
WHAT: Beaches, of course. Beyond that, downtown Wilmington and the Riverwalk make for a pleasant stroll. You can tour the USS North Carolina, a retired battleship that saw action in World War II. And your kids will love it if you drive down to Fort Fisher and load your car on the ferry to Southport, which should be mercifully free of Republican fanboys hoping to nab selfies with hunky Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming.
STAY: Embassy Suites Riverfront, $134/night during RNC week ($91/night cheaper than Fourth of July week).
Nicholas Felten is an occasional contributor to The Charlotte Ledger. This article originally appeared in the Jan. 22, 2020, edition of The Charlotte Ledger newsletter.
