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Where would you go within 2 - 3 hours drive if you want to get to a place where it is reasonable and nice to escape this heat. Since I am not a native to the area I am looking for your feedback to places that are not known as "tourist destination". Stay cool everyone.
Where would you go within 2 - 3 hours drive if you want to get to a place where it is reasonable and nice to escape this heat. Since I am not a native to the area I am looking for your feedback to places that are not known as "tourist destination". Stay cool everyone.
Blowing Rock area is nice..but its warm up there too..get used to the heat..it wont go anywhere till September...you cant escape it.
You won't escape the heat within 2-3 hours drive, but you could visit the mountains or the beach. Both have places to cool off. There are lots of swimming holes up in the mountains, or you can tube down the frosty Nantahala or French Broad.
I've asked myself the same question and always end up with the same answer - my living room!! Being from California the water here (pools, lakes, etc.) just really don't help at all since the water gets so warm during the summer. And going to the mountains here doesn't provide the 15-20 degree improvement that I got in California!
You could go to Boone - it IS a tourist destination, more in the winter than in the summer, but Floridians typically summer there. It is cooler and less humid than Charlotte - this weekend, the forecast is for 95 here, 82 in Boone. The nights are a little cooler, too, so you can at least get a break.
I remember when the drought was here - was that '88? '89? My sister lived in Boone, and we went & stayed with her; it was a lovely, cool respite. The streams there stay cool in the summer, unless it's unusually hot for a long time.
If you are the outdoorsy type, pack a lunch and head to one of the many waterfalls/swimming holes up toward the Blue Ridge! My favorite is the Dupont State Forest, plenty of falls near parking or to hike to, not usually as crowded as some of the more popular spots like Looking Glass Falls.
You can swim in them if you want, or just bring a blanket and relax nearby and enjoy the cool spray!
Just to give you a sample - yesterday, the high was 95 in Charlotte, 87 in Boone, and 76 on Grandfather Mountain. The hottest temp. recorded at the swinging bridge on Grandfather Mountain in the past FIFTY-FOUR years is 83 degrees. That's it.
The Mount Mitchell recommendation is also good. Here is the current weather there: http://www.nc-climate.ncsu.edu/cronos/?station=MITC. 70 degrees right now. The high there yesterday was 72. I really like the nearby Craggy Gardens, especially in the coming months when the rhododendrons come into bloom. It'll be on your way up to Mount Mitchell from Asheville if you go that route, and the temp. will be nearly as cool.
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