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Around the Triad . . .
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After you've played the courses, you will find plenty of opportunities for fun in the Triad. On the area's plentiful sunny days, outdoor entertainment abounds. The natural beauty of the Triad lends itself to many green city parks--perfect spots for picnics--and beautiful gardens. The Triad is also home to historical sites and several battlegrounds. If rain is keeping you off the course, visit one of the numerous museums or retail establishments in the area. Greensboro and Winston-Salem boast several shopping malls; Burlington is home to a large number of factory outlet stores; and High Point is a renowned furniture destination. Reynolda Gardens of Wake Forest University, 100 Reynolda Village, Winston-Salem, (336) 759-5325, was made possible by tobacco magnate R.J. Reynolds, who gave this wonderful land to the city. It's now home to some of the most magnificent and extensive gardens in the Triad. Reynolda Gardens is a must-visit for anyone interested in flora. Old Salem, Old Salem Road, Winston-Salem, (336) 721-7300, offers a slice of history. This Moravian village dates back to the 18th century. More than 80 buildings from the original village have been restored. Re-enactors dressed in period costume act out the daily events of the 18th century in museums and shops along the streets of Old Salem. Don't leave without trying the Moravian sugarcake. After a hot summer day of golfing, or if you have the kids with you, a trip to Emerald Point Waterpark, 3910 Holden Road, Greensboro, (336) 852-9721, may be in order. The 45-acre waterpark features 30 rides and attractions, including a wave pool, several waterslides and bodyslides, and kiddie pools. For the adventurous, the Skycoaster offers an airborne thrill: This huge swing, attached to an arch by steel cables, launches you, secure in your body harness, horizontally 115 feet into the air and swings you back and forth under the arch like Superman. Greensboro Historical Museum, 130 Summit Avenue, Greensboro, (336) 373-2043, is housed in a former church that dates back to the turn of the century. Exhibits trace the many and varied religious and racial groups that built the city of Greensboro into what it is today. Learn about military history, early transportation and decorative arts. Those interested in American military history may want to visit the American Revolution battleground sites in Greensboro and Bur-lington. The Guilford Courthouse National Military Battleground Park, 2332 New Garden Road, Greensboro, (336) 288-1776, was the site of a 1781 battle in the American Revolution. The site features a museum, walking trails, 28 monuments, musket demonstrations and guided tours. The Alamance Battleground, 5803 N.C. Highway 62 S., Burlington (Exit 143 off I-85), (336) 227-4785, was the site of a 1771 battle that preceded but was an early part of the Revolutionary War. Re-enactments of the battle, which pitched the Regulators (country farmers) against the troops of Royal Gov. William Tryon, are held periodically at the battleground. An audiovisual program and tours of the battlefield, monuments and the historic 1780 Allen House make for an interesting day of learning about the 18th-century battle. High Point touts itself as "The furniture capital of the world," so if you need furnishings, you might as well check out the bargains. Don't worry about lugging a settee around for the rest of your visit to the Triad; the stores will ship it home for you. More than 50 furniture stores, including Rose, the Atrium, Furniture Land South and Young's, are scattered around the city. Call the High Point Convention and Visitors Bureau, (336) 889-5151, for information. The Furniture Discovery Center, 101 W. Green Drive, High Point, (336) 887-3876, is a museum dedicated to the art of furniture making.
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Refer to our Preface for an explanation of the pricing code. J. Butler's Bar and Grille Across from Brassfield Cinema and Brassfield Shopping Center, J. Butler's offers a feast of sandwiches, gourmet burgers, salads and entrees to enjoy before or after taking in a movie or tackling a shopping expedition. Couple this with a fully stocked bar and you also have a really fun and relaxed place to unwind after a rough day on the links. Kyoto Fantasy There's always something fun, funny and bizarre about going to an authentic Japanese steakhouse. The chef comes to your table, and you bear witness to his wizardry as he slices and dices with surgical knives. You'll get the full treatment here at Kyoto Fantasy: Take your shoes off and sit down for your session. Make sure you change your socks before you go. There's also a sushi bar for raw fish fans or the extremely trendy. Longhorn Steak Restaurant and
Saloon Longhorn was a pioneer in the introduction of Texas-style steakhouses in the Carolinas. You'll find a large yet friendly environment with a rustic Western-looking decor. There's a bar, and you may have to wait a few minutes here while a table is readied for your appetite. Once you sit down, indulge in a big steak washed down with a couple of beers. Or try the salmon if you're not a steak person. The atmosphere is relaxed, and it's almost essential to wear jeans. You can wear a cowboy hat if you like, but there's no discount for this type of behavior. Sunset Cafe The Sunset Cafe offers a solid alternative to the chain-style restaurants that dominate the local scene. This restaurant specializes in vegetarian, seafood, poultry and lamb dishes served in a warm, cozy atmosphere. Barracuda Bistro A new and unique concept, especially for High Point, the Barracuda Bistro offers a West Indian feel and menu. At the raw bar, the decor is supposed to make you feel like you're underwater, looking up at the clear blue sky of the Caribbean. And then you hoover a couple of oysters, sink a Red Stripe and listen to the reggae, mon. You're suddenly far from the madding crowds of raging downtown High Point. The menu is definitely fish-oriented, even though the red-meat eaters among you should try the double-cut pork chops or West Indian ribs. But it's subaquatic fare that will prove most attractive. There's grilled salmon with papaya relish and plantation chips, seared rare tuna with a West Indian vinaigrette, Caribbean gumbo or blackened grouper. With the Caribbean murals and the abundant banana and mango trees, the ambiance here is tropical--who knows, maybe you'll catch a fish, and maybe it will be a Barracuda. A good value for fresh fish and ambiance. Noble's Noble's is a "dressy casual" restaurant with a fine and varied menu that changes daily. All sauces and desserts are made on the premises, and all the meat and fish are cut that day. The restaurant is known for its oyster salad, which is a popular appetizer. Diners are also fond of the veal tenderloin and free-range chicken, a true rarity in the Carolinas. If you're a fish eater, you should definitely try the salmon, tuna or grouper. When you're finished with your main course, try the apple tart or some of Noble's homemade ice cream. The restaurant sits on two levels: street and basement. There's a jazz trio on Thursday, Friday and Saturday for your further entertainment. Note that you'll also find a Noble's in Winston-Salem. Sugar Magnolia No, it's not the song by the Grateful Dead, but one of High Point's most popular restaurants. The menu changes after each High Point furniture show (there's one in the fall and spring), but the establishment boasts enough regular diners that the chef prepares a wide range of specials. Ambiance here is supplied by a wide patio, a bar with a fireplace and a nonsmoking dining room. Appetizers include baked Brie or a special dish called Three Musketeers, which is marinated beef tips. Once you've disposed with D'Artagnan and shouted "One for all and all for one," it's time to choose a main course. How about angel hair pasta with garlic and wild mushrooms? Or baked sea bass? Or crabcakes? The fish and veal specials change every night, plus there's a solid variety of beef and chicken. Round everything off with an espresso or glass of port or a stirring rendition of the song named after this eatery. "Takes the wheel when I'm seeing double; pays my ticket when I speed." Par-3 Bistro One of the most remarkable restaurants in the world, the Par-3 Bistro expertly combines two of America's--and the authors'--favorite pastimes: golf and eating. The nine-hole par 3 course features bermudagrass greens and quite a bit of water. The restaurant is fine dining all the way. Try the roast duck or one of the many veal or beef dishes, all created by chef Michel Claire who has served up fine culinary fare in California, Atlanta and France. It's probably the only place in the world where you can play golf and eat rack of lamb for less than $25. Szechwan Palace Tucked away in a somewhat innocuous strip mall in the Hanes Mall area is one of Winston-Salem's best Chinese restaurants. The decor is somewhat clichéd, with a dominant theme of meandering scenes of the Great Wall of China interspersed with red dragons. The menu, however, is less predictable; you'll find some unique creations that go well beyond your typical sweet-and-sour fare--even the name implies some hot and spicy entrees. You can also sip a Chinese beer, although the Chinese are not especially renowned as world leaders in the production of quality adult malt beverages. Twin City Diner Twin City Diner is a relaxed and fun neighborhood restaurant where locals meet and mingle. There's a well-stocked bar where you can swap stories or watch a sports event on the discreetly placed televisions. The menu is extensive. The wings, served in multiples of five, are excellent. Sample some traditional pub fare--hamburgers and sandwiches--or delve into a more substantial entrée, such as Cajun salmon. Vincenzo's Vincenzo's is one of those great institutions where you feel right at home the second you walk in the door. The restaurant has been serving up Italian dishes since 1964. There's veal parmigiana, spaghetti, eggplant parmigiana, lasagna, veal marsala, a delightful clam sauce and steamed clams. Plus there's lots of Italian vino to help you wash down all that great pasta.
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Refer to our Preface for an explanation of the pricing code. Best Western Windsor Suites Best Westerns are best known for clean and pleasant but basic motel-type rooms and good locations. The Windsor Suites is a step up from the usual--it feels more like a fine hotel. Rooms are elegantly decorated, and there's lots of faux wood paneling. Unlike many hotels, you can actually open the window to the outside world. You'll find plenty of restaurants just around the corner as well as easy access to I-40. In addition to your larger-than-usual room, amenities here include a separate sitting area, microwaves and refrigerators in the rooms, a complimentary breakfast, a TV with thirty-eight channels, free HBO and ESPN, plus an exercise room with sauna. Courtyard by Marriott If you've seen a Courtyard by Marriott before, then you won't be surprised to find this clean, well-kept hotel in a convenient location and run by an efficient staff. Suites boast two TVs and a separate second bedroom with a pullout couch. Amenities include an outdoor pool, an indoor whirlpool and an exercise room. A restaurant on the premises serves breakfast daily. Embassy Suites Enormous and efficient, the Greensboro Embassy Suites is everything you'd expect from the hotel chain that popularized the free-breakfast concept. As the name implies, at Embassy Suites you get a suite, and there are 221 of them here, 118 of them nonsmoking. This is a great choice if you're taking a family golf vacation--you'll all have room to spread out. The facility has a restaurant, lounge, cable TV in every suite and a large indoor swimming pool with an adjacent Jacuzzi. If you're the fitness type, we'd recommend a trip to the well-appointed exercise room. Holiday Inn Four Seasons With 522 rooms, the Holiday Inn Four Seasons is one of the largest and most impressive hotels in Greensboro. As you drive by on I-40, you can't miss the place--it's about 30 stories tall. This hotel offers meeting and convention facilities in addition to a nightclub with live entertainment, a weight room and other amenities, including an indoor/outdoor pool to keep you active. You'll also find four restaurants on site, including Stinger's Bar & Grill and Joseph's, serving Italian cuisine. Shoppers will enjoy the nearby mall as well. Holiday Inn - Market Square
Convention Center Large and extremely busy during the two annual furniture markets, High Point's Holiday Inn is primarily a business hotel, featuring plenty of meeting rooms. There's an outdoor pool, a restaurant offering three meals a day and a lounge where you can hoist a quick one after a hectic day at the market. Rooms feature coffee machines and full cable TV with free Showtime. Radisson Hotel High Point Located right downtown adjacent to the Furniture Market, the large Radisson is targeted at the business traveler who might really enjoy the eighth floor Business Class level. Here, in addition to all the regular amenities, you get free local phone calls, free fax service, free access to the special lounge and free breakfast for two. So, when you're in town for business but also to get in a round or two on the area's great courses, here's your home base. If you're just a regular traveler, the hotel is still pretty spectacular, offering indoor swimming, a Jacuzzi, cable TV (with ESPN) plus a full-service restaurant. Super 8 Motel You'll find 44 fully renovated rooms here at High Point's outpost of the popular chain. Super 8 offers a host of amenities including satellite TV (with HBO), swimming pool, complimentary breakfast, available waterbeds and a choice of king- or queen-size beds. The convenient location is just a mile from the Furniture Market. You can get AAA rates, commercial rates, family rates, senior rates and special furniture market rates, which are just a hair above regular rates. Right. Adam's Mark One of Winston-Salem's largest hotels (315 rooms), the Adam's Mark offers all the amenities you might expect from a top hotel, including an indoor pool, an outdoor sundeck, 24-hour room service, two restaurants, a lounge and a gift shop. Hampton Inn This Hampton Inn exemplifies the trademark quality that has gained this chain a reputation for clean, well-appointed rooms and friendly service. We recommend the Jacuzzi suites on the third floor as a pleasant and slightly more spacious version of the standard rooms. There's nothing better than a hot bath with swirling jets of water to relax you after a hard day on the links. And once the muscles are loosened up, head for the workout room to tighten them again. Business travelers will appreciate the meeting facilities as well. The hotel is convenient to I-40. Regency Inn You probably have seen plenty of Best Westerns around the country on your travels, but this one is a little different from others: It's not the typical motel-style that defines the chain. The Regency Inn is a downtown hotel that's a great place to stay at a sensible price, with cable TV in every room and a full range of amenities. Enjoy the outdoor pool when the weather is right, and don't miss the complimentary continental breakfast. |
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