One of the best aspects of Greensboro is the city’s proximity to several destinations. In a previous post, we listed 14 Greensboro, NC Day Trips. In this article, we’re covering seven of the most notably unique sites within a four-hour drive from Greensboro, including – a producer of Italian-style wine, a faux-Mexican-themed attraction, an annual event celebrating Chinese culture, a town succumbing to the waves of the Atlantic Ocean, a Wild West theme park, a real-life Wild West town, and the largest privately owned house in the U.S.
Raffaldini Vineyards
Ronda, NC – 1-hour drive
Raffaldini is a producer of Italian-style dry white and red Appassimento wines. The vineyard is in the Yadkin Valley wine region, which competes with the wines of Napa Valley.
South of the Border
Hamer, SC – 2-hour drive
South of the Border is a “world famous” campy Mexican-themed attraction in South Carolina on the halfway point to Myrtle Beach from Greensboro. It is so named because it is just south of the border of N.C. The theme alludes to Mexico’s location south of the U.S. border. South of the Border uses comedic billboards to advertise the strange attraction aggressively. At one time, more than 250 billboards were dotting I-95 and other highways from Philadelphia to Daytona Beach. Today, the billboards are more contained, spanning north and south from the Virginia/North Carolina to the South Carolina/Georgia state lines.
The NC Chinese Lantern Festival
Cary, NC – 1-hour drive
The festival is held annually from Nov – Jan to celebrate Chinese culture, mythology, and arts. The lanterns showcase the artistry of Chinese culture, which Chinese artisans handcrafted.
The Inn at Rodanthe
Rodanthe, NC – 4-hour drive
The Inn at Rodanthe is the film location of the big-screen adaptation of the Nicholas Sparks novel Nights in Rodanthe. The Atlantic Ocean seems to be claiming this Outer Banks town. In 2010, the owners moved the Inn to another oceanfront lot. The Inn is still available for rent for as low as $2,395 – $6,995 per week – What a deal!
Tweetsie Railroad
Blowing Rock, NC – 2-hour drive
Tweetsie is a family-oriented Wild West theme park and the second oldest theme park in the South. The main attraction is a 3-mile ride on a train pulled by a historic narrow-gauge steam locomotive. While on the ride, keep your eye out for bandits! That’s right; this ride has live entertainment featuring the Wild West Marshal and his posse fending off outlaws.
Love Valley
Love Valley, NC – 1-hour and 20 minute drive
Love Valley is a town in the N.C. foothills, modeled after the Old West towns in Hollywood films. The town has a saloon, a general store, hitching posts, and rodeos. People use horses and horse-drawn vehicles because automobiles aren’t allowed in town limits.
Biltmore Estate and the World’s Fanciest McDonalds
Asheville, NC – 2.5-hour drive
The Biltmore is a historic house, museum, and tourist attraction. The Biltmore is a Châteauesque-style mansion, the largest privately owned home in the U.S.
To maintain the luxurious feel of the estate, the Biltmore Estate is home to the “world’s fanciest McDonalds.” Most of the fast food restaurant’s building is red oak and wrought iron. There is a grand chandelier, a gold leaf fireplace, a baby grand piano, and servers in bowties.
