Heading to Clemson U.

NJPOLKER
NJPOLKER Posts: 3,474
edited January 2010 in The Clubhouse
On March 26th my father in-law will be noticed by Clemson University for being the first Clemson University PhD. In addition his entire career will be honored.

We are all heading down to Clemson March 25th to see Richard be honored, he deserves it! After we finish at Clemson we are planning on heading to Asheville and spend half a day at the Biltmore Estate. After that heading over to Cherokee NC and do some sight seeing.

For those of you familiar with the area, Asheville/Smokey Mountains, please let me know where else we should visit while in that area. And if you know of anything we should do while we have some free time at Clemson please let me know about that too.

Thanks in advance.
Post edited by NJPOLKER on
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  • polktiger
    polktiger Posts: 556
    edited January 2010
    Have you ever been to Clemson?
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  • NJPOLKER
    NJPOLKER Posts: 3,474
    edited January 2010
    I have not. I believe we are staying at the school.
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  • edbert
    edbert Posts: 1,041
    edited January 2010
    Only a half day at the Biltmore? That's a shame. Enjoy the nice scenery though, that area of the country is just beautiful.

    Congrats to your dad! I remember when my dad completed his doctorate. It's pretty awesome.
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited January 2010
    If he can't drink a boot the degree means nothing to 99.9% of the college students on campus that day. Good for him.
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  • polktiger
    polktiger Posts: 556
    edited January 2010
    They are likely putting you up at the Madren Center which is the hotel/meeting place adjacent to the golf course. (Actually, if you like to play golf, that is a pretty good course.)

    Clemson University is in the town of Clemson, and it is your typical college town. The town has a population of about 15,000, and the Clemson has undergraduate enrollment of about 13,000.

    The University Campus itself is very scenic especially in the area near the President's Mansion, The Calhoun Mansion, and the library reflection pond area.

    It may be early, but at that time of the year spring should be in swing, and the landscaping should be looking very good. There is also a botanical garden at the prerimiter of the campus.

    Clemson is in the foothills, and if you like hiking, you may take the time to visit Table Rock State Park. I would suggest letting your GPS be your friend at take Highway 11 from Clemson on the way to Asheville. It will make for a very scenic trip.

    Out from Asheville, you may go to Chimney Rock or Caesar's Head. The real sight seeing trip up near Asheville (other than the Biltmore) is just to ride along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

    Over near Cherokee, there used to be a Cherokee villiage attraction with shows and educational type activities. Adults can enjoy it, but some of it is catered to children.

    (I am a Clemson grad - hence the "tiger" part of "polktiger")
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  • skipf
    skipf Posts: 694
    edited January 2010
    Make sure you grab a beer at the ESSO Club across from the stadium. You might consider going to Asheville through Walhalla, SC to Highlands, NC, then on through Cashiers and Brevard to Asheville. It's about an hours drive from Clemson to Highlands and 2 1/2 hrs from Highlands to Asheville. Very nice scenery on the way. The Hwy 11 suggestion is a good one too if you don't like mountain roads.
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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,077
    edited January 2010
    A half day at the Biltmore? That's a full day, EASY.

    BDT
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  • everpress
    everpress Posts: 862
    edited January 2010
    NJPOLKER wrote: »
    After that heading over to Cherokee NC and do some sight seeing.

    I spent many years' worth of summers in the Smoky Mountains.... There is shite in Cherokee but some tourist traps and a casino. That casino has good food for the area, however.

    If it were spring or summer time, I'd say, bust your butt to travel the extra 30-40 miles to get over and visit the Nantahala Gorge; it's beautiful and one of the whitewater companies has a decent eatery and outfitter shop... both right on the water (and separate buildings 'cause that'd be odd). It still might be worth the drive if you are an outdoors lover. If trees and mountains and water aren't your thing, I'd say don't bother.

    If you crave a cheap casino, depressing native american habitats and possible violence, mixed with tourist trappings and sprinkled with closed "boiled p-nut" stands (since it's damn cold outside), Cherokee might be worthwhile.

    Otherwise, I'd stay in Asheville, see the Biltmore in it's entirety (the basement is the **** where the Biltmore girls painted the walls, close to the private bowling alley) and maybe catch a movie and a brew in one of the theatres in town.

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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited January 2010
    A quick drive through Cherokee is all that you need....30-60 minutes tops. There is really nothing there to see other than the casinos and tourist traps. Of course there is always "Santa's Land"....(picture taken just last Nov.)

    4312625634_ba0231b007_o.jpg

    Plus the drive from I-40 to Cherokee is anything BUT panoramic.

    Like everpress recommended, if you do go to Cherokee, Nantahala Gorge is worth a sidetrip if you like the outdoorsy stuff.

    If you would like to take another nice drive/side trip, take US 441 out of Cherokee into the Great Smokey Mountains up to Newfound Gap. Great views of TN and NC. A few more miles (7) gets you to Clingmans Dome. There, a short but very steep 1/2 mile hike up a paved path gets you to and observation tower on the 2nd highest point East of the Mississippi river (by only 50 ft.)

    4312670200_08aa7755b3_o.jpg

    I would definitely plan on spending a full day at Biltmore. If you go, pay the extra for the "behind the scenes" tour. It's worth it IMO. There are several excellent restaurants on the Biltmore property. Pricey but very good. I highly recommend the lunch buffet at the Deerpark restaurant. Also do the tasting tour at the winery. A few bucks and you get to taste some nice wines.

    If interested there is also a pretty good audio and A/V and HT shop in downtown...Ashville, Audio Inc. They carry some pretty nice gear and used to have some nice demo rooms. Here is their web site.

    http://www.audioinc.net/audioinc/home.html

    I'm just a little over an hour away from Asheville and a couple of hours from Clemson. Send me a PM if you have any questions about the area.

    Enjoy your trip and congrats to your Father in Law for the honor.
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  • I-SIG
    I-SIG Posts: 2,238
    edited January 2010
    Clemson's first PhD in farming? Wow! ;)
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  • Sherardp
    Sherardp Posts: 8,038
    edited January 2010
    My cousin is a graduate of Clemson. Excellent school. Enjoy the Carolinas, I grew up there also. Drive on out to Charleston and Beaufort while your out there, very nice out there also.
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,788
    edited January 2010
    I Live about two hours from Clemson and about the same to Asheville. The Hwy 11 suggestion is spot on. Gimme a buzz when you gets to these here parts.
    I have moonshine.:cool:
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  • skipf
    skipf Posts: 694
    edited January 2010
    lightman1 wrote: »
    I Live about two hours from Clemson and about the same to Asheville. The Hwy 11 suggestion is spot on. Gimme a buzz when you gets to these here parts.
    I have moonshine.:cool:

    SC shine or NC shine?
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,788
    edited January 2010
    skipf wrote: »
    SC shine or NC shine?
    NC. There is no other, IMHO.;)
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  • NJPOLKER
    NJPOLKER Posts: 3,474
    edited January 2010
    My wife extends her thanks to you guys for helping us make our trip more enjoyable.
    The honoree will be here for the grand children's basketball games and I will have him read your great advice. He will comment then.
    Thanks,
    Drew
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  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,079
    edited January 2010
    The Biltmore needs a full day if possible. Very nice and bring the camera. We went a while back and that place is amazing:
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