The beach resort lifestyle does not have to be pricey. One example is Cape Hatteras RV Resort and Campground in Rodanthe, North Carolina. Waterfront tent camping for two people is as low as $57 per night during the peak season of May 28 to September 5, and RV camping for two people starts at $68 per night. Prices are lower during the rest of the year. The resort offers a $5 discount for pop-up campers without air conditioning, and it charges additional fees for cable TV hook-up, extra people, and pets. The price is $5 higher on Memorial Day weekend and Fourth of July weekend. Resort amenities include wireless Internet access, three pools, indoor hot tub, bath houses, laundries, three fishing ponds, a playground, a tennis court, a 9-hole miniature golf course, a recreation staff, a clubhouse, and more. The facility also offers jet ski and kayak rentals. Rodanthe is located on Hatteras Island in North Carolina's Outer Banks. It is accessible by car from the mainland.
Camp Hatteras RV Resort and Campground
24798 NC Highway 12, MP 40.5
Rodanthe, NC 27968
(252) 987-2777
camphatteras.com
North Carolina's capital, Raleigh, is centrally located within the state and offers numerous opportunities for free activities and inexpensive room rates. More than 30 free activities center around arts, entertainment, and history, in this city of more than 388,000 people, according to the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau. Visitors can take in the city's long history at the Raleigh City Museum; enjoy a relaxing afternoon in the Raleigh Municipal Rose Garden; check out local artists at Artspace; learn how beer is made during a brewery tour; or visit the governor's historic mansion, to name a few options. A complete list of free activities is available at the visitors bureau website noted below. After a busy day, it is easy to find an affordable hotel to relax and unwind. Hotel rates in the city start at as little as $50.99 plus tax, as of early 2010. Best Western and Days Inn offer rooms in this price range.
Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau
visitraleigh.com/visitors/free.php
Best Western Raleigh North
2715 Capital Blvd.
Raleigh, NC 27604-1509
(919) 872-5000
bestwesternnorthcarolina.com/hotels/best-western-raleigh-north/
Days Inn Raleigh Downtown
300 North Dawson St.
Raleigh, NC 27603
(919) 828-9081
daysinn.com/DaysInn/control/Booking/property_info?propertyId=14390
Nestled on the east edge of the Great Smoky Mountains, which straddle the North Carolina and Tennessee state line, is Asheville, North Carolina. The outdoor adventurer will find hiking, camping, and fishing opportunities at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, one of only four national parks that does not charge an entry fee. Overnight camping fees range from $14 to $23 per night, and the park offers car tours, biking trails, horseback riding for a rental fee, wildlife watching, picnicking, and more. Back in Asheville's eclectic downtown, there is much more to do. The village boasts more than 30 art galleries, as well as museums and shops. The Asheville Art Museum charges entrance fees of $8 for adults and $7 for students. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. The North Carolina Arboretum showcases 434 acres of plants, including 65 acres of cultivated gardens, and is dedicated to helping people explore and understand plant life. Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for children and youth ages 5 to 18. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Asheville even has its own minor league baseball team, the Asheville Tourists, which is affiliated with the major league team the Colorado Rockies. The season runs from April to September, and visitors may call for schedule information. A list of these and more affordable activities is available from the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority at the website noted below.
Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority
exploreasheville.com/what-to-do/index.aspx
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
nps.gov/grsm/index.htm
