Our State magazine comes to life with music, history, humor, storytelling, and food at the 26th annual Best of Our State, a lively weekend of learning and luxury designed to excite and inspire you for the new year. This year, we’re back at the beautiful Pinehurst Resort!
January 9-11, 2026
Weekend Package Includes:
- Two nights’ accommodations at Pinehurst Resort
- Two Southern-style breakfasts
- Friday night concert with the Kruger Brothers
- Saturday night dinner
- Saturday night performance by Benjy Springs’s Our State Little Big Band
- Admission to all seminars
- Taxes, resort fees, and parking
The Best of Our State is sponsored by:
Speakers & Entertainment:
Kruger Brothers
A unique blend of bluegrass, folk, and classical influences
Benjy Springs
Our State Little Big Band
Elizabeth Hudson
Editor in chief of Our State magazine
Jan Karon
No. 1 New York Times best-selling author of the Mitford series
Katie Wyatt
Executive director of Weymouth Center for the Arts and Humanities
Dr. Elliot Engel
Humorist, historian, and stand-up scholar — “Scarlett Fever: The Greatness of Gone With the Wind”
Eleanor Spicer Rice
PhD entomologist and author of North Carolina, Naturally — “The Science and Wonder of Our Natural World”
Eddie Huffman
Author of Doc Watson: A Life in Music
More to be announced soon!
Accommodations:
We’ve introduced a new tiered pricing system to offer you more flexibility in your accommodations (see below for details). Pinehurst Resort has various lodging options: The Carolina Hotel is where all included meals and programming will be held. The Holly Inn and The Manor are also on resort property, and a shuttle will be available to transport guests.
The Carolina Hotel
For more than a century, the “Queen of the South” has welcomed guests to Pinehurst. Come stroll across the hotel’s spacious verandas and into one of 215 Four-Diamond rooms and suites, which, along with its grand lobby, have been newly renovated. The Carolina Dining Room, home to the best breakfast in golf, continues to tempt the palate of every guest, while the new Coffee House located in the lobby serves up quick bites and freshly brewed java. This cornerstone of Pinehurst also offers a heated pool complex, a putting green on its West Lawn, and three retail outlets for your shopping needs.
The Holly Inn
Pinehurst’s very first hotel, The Holly Inn has welcomed guests since 1895 and is situated in the heart of the Village, offering easy access to all resort venues. The architecture here is part Queen Anne revival and part Arts & Crafts, but the overall effect is pure Pinehurst. Fine touches adorn every nook and cranny, from the Tiffany lamps illuminating the space to the antique bar that once dwelled in Scotland but now welcomes thirsty patrons in our Tavern. This unique property has engendered much affection over its century-plus lifespan, and we’re sure you’ll love it as well.
The Manor
A year-long renovation completed in 2019 has transformed The Manor, originally opened in 1923, into a contemporary hotel wrapped in classic charm. Beyond the communal lobby lie well-appointed rooms waiting to immerse guests in comfort. The North & South Bar offers a wide selection of fine whiskeys and cocktails, while just outside, Pinehurst Brewing Co. pours craft beer brewed on site. The Village of Pinehurst is also just a short walk away, making The Manor as convenient as it is memorable.
Package Rates & Registration:
The Carolina Hotel:
Regular rate: $2,242 per couple
Single rate: $1,567
The Holly Inn and The Manor:
Regular rate: $1,815 per couple
Single rate: $1,158
Early arrivals* and late departures: $279 per room per night
*Please note: The Carolina Hotel will be closed Thursday, January 8. If you plan to stay overnight before the event, please book one of the other hotel options.
For more information and to register for The Best of Our State, please contact Pinehurst Resort at 1 (800) 487-4653.
