Have Tennis, Will Travel: North Carolina

Longer days and warmer temperatures— combined with travel starting to feel more accessible—means the season is ripe for tennis getaways. Ready to get back into the swing of things? Pack your gear and point your compass towards one of these southern states.

The call of the cool forest has made the village of Cashiers in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina a popular spot for beating the heat since the late 1800s.

High Hampton, Cashiers Valley

• This April, one of the area’s historic resorts, High Hampton, reopens after an extensive renovation, upgrading its rustic charm with modern convenience. Four Har-Tru courts and a hard-top court with views of Rock Mountain are available to resort guests via High Hampton’s residential membership club.

Omni Grove Park Inn, Asheville

• Another resort for tennis-lovers in the Blue Ridge Mountains is Asheville’s Omni Grove Park Inn—which has three outdoor and three indoor tennis courts. President Obama vacationed there with family and friends in 2010.

Village of Pinehurst

• Off the court, the Historic Walking Tour of the Village of Pinehurst is a great way to see homes dating back to 1895, while a hike in the Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve lets you view the oldest example of N.C.’s official state tree, the Longleaf Pine. Need an activity for restless kids? Visit Paradox Farm Creamery, where you can watch the farmers make goat cheese, and your kids can help socialize four-legged kids, through the Goat Cuddling Program. If a beach escape is more your speed, head to the Outer Banks, with its miles of shoreline and seaside villages. In the town of Duck, choose from coastal-styled hotel rooms or vacation homes at Sanderling Resort, and enjoy access to the Pine Island Racquet & Fitness Center. Sanderling also offers SUP, hang-gliding and, for more meditative moments, sea glass jewelry-making classes.

Check out the other southern states featured in the "Have Tennis, Will Travel" Series:

• Georgia
• South Carolina