Friends Laurie Benken, Linda Plevyak (Lin), Linda Wade and Audrey Schoninger (shown here in 1998, from left to right) have taken a December trip to North Carolina nearly every year for the past two decades. Benken and Wade have made the trip every year.
20 years of travels: 1998 —
Friends Laurie Benken, Linda Plevyak (Lin), Linda Wade and Audrey Schoninger (shown here in 1998, from left to right) have taken a December trip to North Carolina nearly every year for the past two decades. Benken and Wade have made the trip every year.
Courtesy Laurie Benken and Linda Wade
Wade (shown here in 1999) has been known to fill a car trunk with her shopping finds. As a result, the four women have made friends with at least one local retailer who opens the store just for them.
20 years of travels: 1999 —
Wade (shown here in 1999) has been known to fill a car trunk with her shopping finds. As a result, the four women have made friends with at least one local retailer who opens the store just for them.
Courtesy Laurie Benken and Linda Wade
The ladies love their Christmas decorations and will stop by a town luminary display or restaurant for its Christmas decor. Schoninger, Plevyak, Benken and Wade visited this Waynesville, North Carolina, bed and breakfast in 2000.
20 years of travels: 2000 —
The ladies love their Christmas decorations and will stop by a town luminary display or restaurant for its Christmas decor. Schoninger, Plevyak, Benken and Wade visited this Waynesville, North Carolina, bed and breakfast in 2000.
Courtesy Laurie Benken and Linda Wade
The four friends often stop at this overlook between Dillard, Georgia, and Highlands, North Carolina. Wade, Plevyak, Schoninger and Benken are shown here in 2001.
20 years of travels: 2001 —
The four friends often stop at this overlook between Dillard, Georgia, and Highlands, North Carolina. Wade, Plevyak, Schoninger and Benken are shown here in 2001.
Courtesy Laurie Benken and Linda Wade
Whiskey sours in the Jacuzzi are always popular, as Benken and Wade (shown here) can attest at the Jonathan Creek Inn in Maggie Valley in 2004.
20 years of travels: 2004 —
Whiskey sours in the Jacuzzi are always popular, as Benken and Wade (shown here) can attest at the Jonathan Creek Inn in Maggie Valley in 2004.
Courtesy Laurie Benken and Linda Wade
Benken, Plevyak and Wade enjoyed the wine-tasting at Wild Thyme Gourmet in Highlands in 2006.
20 years of travels: 2006 —
Benken, Plevyak and Wade enjoyed the wine-tasting at Wild Thyme Gourmet in Highlands in 2006.
Courtesy Laurie Benken and Linda Wade
Benken's whiskey sours (shown here with Wade, right, at Mountain High Motel in Highlands in 2008) have made an appearance on many trips.
20 years of travels: 2008 —
Benken's whiskey sours (shown here with Wade, right, at Mountain High Motel in Highlands in 2008) have made an appearance on many trips.
Courtesy Laurie Benken and Linda Wade
As they did in 2001, Benken, Wade, Schoninger and Plevyak stopped at the overlook between Dillard, Georgia, and Highlands, North Carolina, in 2009.
20 years of travels: 2009 —
As they did in 2001, Benken, Wade, Schoninger and Plevyak stopped at the overlook between Dillard, Georgia, and Highlands, North Carolina, in 2009.
Courtesy Photo
Benken, Schoninger, Plevyak and Wade returned to the Biltmore in 2011 to enjoy the wine at Cedric's Tavern.
20 years of travels: 2011 —
Benken, Schoninger, Plevyak and Wade returned to the Biltmore in 2011 to enjoy the wine at Cedric's Tavern.
Courtesy Laurie Benken and Linda Wade