North Carolina Weekends

During her 10 years as a North Carolina travel writer, Lynn Setzer has seen all the state's places in all of their seasons. Some of her favorite things? Enjoying a mineral bath in a tub by the French Broad River as the paddlers go past. Watching the sapphire waves as she crosses the Bonner Bridge at Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Cycling the Road to Nowhere and hiking the mountain balds near Bryson City. North Carolina Weekends offers ideas for 49 mini-vacations from Corolla to Murphy. Each highly readable chapter covers everything from lodging and dining to outdoor adventures and "Kid Stuff" to historical tidbits. If you have a particular destination in mind, just use the book's geographical groupings to find which chapters cover the region you want to visit. Or if you're pursuing a passion -- whether it's hang gliding, Christmas-tree hunting, antiquing, gem mining, waterfall viewing, or numerous other possibilities -- consult the "Planning Your Weekend Getaway" section to find which trips offer the activity you're seeking. All the state's classic destinations -- like historic Wilmington and arty Asheville -- are covered here. But you'll be surprised at the pleasures waiting in unexpected places -- like the homey museums and thriving wineries around Mount Airy, the history and architecture of Salisbury, and the potteries and transportation museums in the Uwharries. Book jacket.