Sure, it’s nice to be home for the holidays, but don’t waste away your entire break on mom’s sofa. Take advantage of your time off and do some exploring. A day trip, like those suggested below, will help break up your winter break boredom.
Self-guided culinary tour (Asheville, North Carolina):
If you have yet to visit Asheville, the hub of southern hipsterdom, you are sorely missing out. Here you will interact with more street musicians and peddlers thrusting donation-based copies of the Bhagavad Gita at you than perhaps anywhere else in the Southeast. For the most thorough tour possible, it’s best to eat and drink your way through the city. Asheville prides itself on inventive and healthy cuisine, and vegetarian and vegan dining options abound. You don’t have to spend a fortune for a good meal either. Try the Creole cooking at Mayfel’s or a selection of tacos at White Duck Taco Shop. Hit the breweries next — the craft beer craze is alive and quite well here. Or, if you’re not yet of the legal drinking age, swing by Vanuatu Kava Bar to sample their intriguing caffeinated concoctions. To round out your trip, catch a show at Asheville’s iconic music venue, the Orange Peel.
The Barter Theatre (Abingdon, Virginia):
The quaint town of Abingdon is like Asheville’s less-hip older cousin. Cobblestoned streets, marvelous antiquing and a prestigious theater company are some touches of old-world charm you’ll find here. The Barter Theatre has been a mecca for theater enthusiasts since 1933, when Depression-era patrons traded produce, dairy and livestock in exchange for admission. Check out the theatre’s show schedule for a cultured night on the town. Be warned, though: to truly experience Abingdon requires a little extra cash lining your pocket. Pinch your pennies and whisk your significant other away on a romantic retreat, or make a family outing of it. Your folks will surely be impressed by your refined taste (and perhaps be willing to book a room at the elite Martha Washington Inn). Be sure to make pre-show dinner reservations at The Tavern, a former Civil War hospital, in advance.
The Minister’s Tree House (Crossville, Tennessee):
Down a quiet country road in Crossville, one can find the most wholly unexpected of structures—the world’s largest tree house. Horace Burgess, who began the 11-year construction of the house in the 1990s, has claimed the project was divinely inspired and the product of a vision. Spanning across seven trees and soaring 100 feet into the sky, the tree house was built without blueprints and covers an estimated 10,000 square feet. Unfortunately, the Minister’s Tree House is now temporarily closed to the public. Although Burgess welcomed the masses of tourists who once flocked to his property, the Tennessee Fire Marshall determined the number of visitors warranted that the structure conform to state building codes. If “No Trespassing signs” deter you, it is recommended you do not visit this unconventional, and seemingly abandoned, attraction (wink, wink).
Foamhenge (Natural Bridge, Virginia):
Can’t make it to England this Winter Break? With a visit to this curious site, you can at least fool your Instagram followers into thinking you did. Dotting the vista of the Blue Ridge Mountain range is Foamhenge, North America’s most realistic replica of Stonehenge made entirely out of– you guessed it– Styrofoam. Local artist Mark Cline took great pains to ensure the authenticity of his masterpiece, carving each “stone” to the exact measurements of the originals and even placing them in their astronomically correct positions. While there, be sure to check out the neighboring Natural Bridge, known as one of the United States’ oldest tourist destinations. Look for the graffiti work of a famous founding father at the bridge’s base.
Unclaimed Baggage Center (Scottsboro, Alabama):
Suitcases on airplanes, much like single socks in the dryer, have a habit of mysteriously disappearing. Ever wonder where they all end up? Head to the United State’s only lost luggage store and find out. The Unclaimed Baggage Center is a maze of forgotten parcels available for sale, and you’ll never know exactly what you’ll find. Buried between dusty business suits and hundreds of bottles of Calvin Klein’s “Eternity,” you could unearth long-lost treasure. As the store’s website states, “You never know what people may pack. You could be one of the lucky shoppers to scoop up an African mask, vacuum-packed frogs, or even a snowboard.” Bring some friends and make a game of the outing: whoever finds the strangest item under $20 wins. Go on Dec. 13 and you may even be greeted by a special guest (spoiler alert: it’s Santa).
