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Time is tight, money is tight - and you're wound up tighter than a rusted monkey wrench.
Relief - a real change of pace from workaday Charlotte - is closer than you think. Try these short-drive getaways, arranged by driving time from central Charlotte.1 HOUR: The Yadkin River wineries are a straight shot north on Interstate 77. There are about 100 wineries in North Carolina, and the largest concentration is between Statesville and the Virginia line. Some operations are quite elegant, others simple. You can easily visit several on a relaxing afternoon. Download a map at www.visitncwine.com.90 MINUTES: Morrow Mountain State Park and Uwharrie National Forest flank the Pee Dee River east of Albemarle, and offer great hiking, pastoral vistas of ancient mountains and plenty of elbow room. Check out Kings Mountain Point, a newly developed recreational day-use area in the Badin Recreation Area of the forest. Details: www.ncparks.gov (type "Morrow" in the search window). Area info: www.uwharries.com.1 HOUR, 45 MINUTES: Greenville, S.C., is a gem of a small town that many have discovered. A lesser-known jewel there is the Furman University Asian Garden, which sits along a huge pond and stream and contains an ornamental waterfall. The grounds include Place of Peace, a contemplative spot whose centerpiece is a classic temple that was disassembled in Japan, shipped here in 2,400 pieces, and reassembled without nails. Details: www.furman.edu (click Campus Map).2 HOURS: Pretty Galax, Va., just a tad west of I-77, is a hotbed of traditional mountain music. Catch a live show on a Friday night at the Rex Theater ( www.rextheatergalax.com); visit the Blue Ridge Music Center on the nearby Blue Ridge Parkway. Walk or bike the New River Trail State Park, a linear park that starts downtown - or browse the town's antique shops. Details: www.visitgalax.com.2 HOURS, 30 MINUTES: Among the beautiful N.C. mountain towns, Burnsville is a standout. The Yancey County seat has two original treats: The Parkway Playhouse is the oldest continually operating summer theater in the state - its first season was 1947 ( www.parkwayplayhouse.com); the Nu-Wray Inn ( www.nuwrayinn.com) has been in business since 1833 - both Mark Twain and Elvis slept here. The quaint downtown has a still-operating one-screen 1939 cinema. Area info: www.yanceychamber.com.3 HOURS: Balsam is so small it's no longer a whistle stop. But it was: Nearby Balsam Gap was a high-elevation passage during the golden age of railroads, and tourists would get off here to stay at the sprawling Balsam Mountain Inn. Trains no longer stop, but the inn - on U.S. 74, near the Blue Ridge Parkway - is still in business ( www.balsaminn.com). It's charming, has no TVs or radios (try the walking trails behind the hotel or just relax on a porch) and has an elegant indoor/outdoor restaurant. It's a grand old getaway.