North and South Carolina
Charlotte, N. Myrtle Beach, Raleigh-Durham
Charlotte: Stayed at the one and only hotel on this trip in downtown (referred to as Uptown). This place had a true downtown to walk around. Since this city is the financial center for many, the feeling was much more cosmopolitan, many more suits walking around. This is the city that encourages craft brews, as we discovered the Duckhorn restaurant with 150 rotating taps. Overall, very easy to navigate, very clean. Nothing not to like in this City. We visited the aviation museum, where flight 1549 is housed (crash into the Hudson River), which turns out to be timely since I hear there will be a movie about it soon...
N. Myrtle Beach was crow-ded. Goodness. The beach is lovely, with miles and miles of nice sand and perfectly tame waves. It was nice not having to worry about sneaker waves and undertows. The water was WARM, wow. The downside is you are sharing it with thousands of other people. I guess I am used to my wild shores, with few people. But, then again, I don't spend much time in the water on the Pacific side of the US either. The main street at Myrtle beach was so, so tacky. Not even remotely cute. I noticed lots and lots of retirees milling around and families with young kids. Not a whole lot in between. Interesting.
Raleigh (or more specifically, Cary). This was probably the city that would be the most tempting to relocate to, if I were in the market. Three major Universities, big enough companies to make a decent salary at, and an incredible low cost of living. The Capitol is much smaller than I would have expected, and I'd say it feels small-townish. Ok, there are some memorials to the Civil War on the confederate side, but I thought the people pretty easy going in general.
Impressions: after miles of road travel, I am impressed with the dedication to keeping the front yards trimmed with cute bushes for landscape. There is not a lot to see inbetween cities. Cracker barrel: you have to eat there if you get a chance. Definitely brewing beer is an art and encouraged. People are not afraid to drive fast. The traffic light system confuses me...the lights are strung over a wire, and I noticed at least 9 lights hanging at one intersection at one point!