The Sweet Carolinas

Hey There,

NextTribe’s co-founder & CEO, Jeannie Ralston grew up in a big family near the Tennessee border with North Carolina. Now, she lives in Asheville.

Jeannie’s bestie from college, Ellesor Holder, lives in South Carolina.

They’re the perfect pair to lead our upcoming trips to Charleston and Asheville, and here’s why you don’t want to miss out:

Spring weather. From the first crocus to azaleas, tulips, and daffodils, the South puts on quite a show in the spring.

The food. If you think everybody’s eating hush puppies and fried chicken, think again. There are some great restaurants in the Carolinas.

The people. “Southern Charm” is a real thing, and it goes far beyond the welcome you’ll receive as a visitor in these two charming cities. On both trips you’ll get to meet local women, learn about their lives, and have fun with your small group of fellow travelers.

Kelli T chose the Charleston weekend as her first NextTribe trip, and said she was “stunned at how close we all got in such a short time!” You can read about it in NextTribe magazine here: Can 11 Women Become Best Friends in One Weekend?"

And here's a story about an earlier trip to the city where the first museum, playhouse and it’s the city that readers of Travel + Leisure rate as the #1 city in the U.S. 11 years in a row!

And how does Asheville compare? First, our fearless leader, Jeannie Ralston, lives there now. She could have moved anywhere in the United States and she decided to buy a home in Asheville.

Why?

“Where would you live if you could live anywhere? That's the question I was asking after my divorce,” Jeannie said. “High on my list were both Charleston, SC--where I'd spent a lot of time while in college at the University of South Carolina--and Asheville, NC. Both extraordinary cities--one beach, one mountain. I ended up choosing Asheville, mostly because I grew up about an hour away. There's so much happening in each place, I knew I couldn't go wrong. This spring, I'm happy to share my love and knowledge of these two treasures.”

Yes, the Biltmore is the Eiffel Tower of Asheville. You have to see it, even if you don’t go in.

On the NextTribe trip here, you’ll be wined and dined and meet artists and authors, but you’ll also get a good dose of nature as you hike and forage for fixins for your dinner! Forest-to-table anyone?

This is the first year we’re doing a trip to Asheville, and we’re lucky Jeannie will be there to show everybody around. Since she moved in, she’s made friends with local artists, entertainers, and entrepreneurs, and nobody’s surprised that she’s already setting up a local NextTribe group in her newly adopted hometown!

As with all of our trips, there will be plenty of time for you to rest, or go explore on your own. We’re not the flag waving/put out your suitcases/giant bus tour people. On all of our trips, especially in the South, we want you to find your own pace, and enjoy the rhythms of life in the land of “Yes ma’ams” and “All Ya’ll’s” an “Come Again’s.”

Which Sweet Carolinas trip for you? 

Jeannie and Ellesor will take you behind the scenes in Charleston and Asheville and give you an experience you couldn’t have on your own. 

In Charleston, you’ll discover the joys of Gullah cooking and stay and dine in some of Charleston’s best (we didn’t say most expensive, we said BEST) restaurants.

In Asheville, you’ll get a taste of Blue Ridge Mountain life by hiking the soft, ancient trails of the Appalachians and finding edible plants and mushrooms along the way.

Anyone who travels a lot has noticed the homogenization of American culture through the many chain stores and restaurants that dot the landscape. Charleston and Asheville are two cities that have held onto their distinctive identities and southern charm. We chose them because we know them, and now you can, too.

Did you see The Notebook? Partly filmed in Charleston. How about Forrest Gump? Patch Adams? Last of the Mohicans? All were partly filmed in and around Asheville. 

Want to get in the mood for a trip to the Carolinas? We recommend “Where the Crawdads Sing,” “Cold Mountain.” and “Big Lies in a Small Town.”

Some of our trips have sold out this year, but there are a few spots left for Charleston and Asheville, and you can secure yours for $300 today.

Ya’ll have fun!
Marcy