the Issue 113 Local & Regional Destinations & Experiences Off The Beaten Path
In This Issue
Find Your Quiet Place
We Tell You Where To Go!
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Local & Regional Destinations & Experiences
Go Gaston. Get Outside. Whether you hike, bike, paddle or climb, our area offers abundant natural spaces to explore. Conveniently located on I-85 just west of Charlotte, Gaston County is an outdoor enthusiast’s perfect getaway weekend destination.
704-825-4044 | GoGastonNC.org
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August 2020 Issue 113
the
W
e tell you where to go! Whether you are a long time resident or new to the area, you’ll find local & regional events, destinations and experiences in the Destination Magazine™ that will give you memories for a lifetime The Destination Magazine™ is about new destinations and experiences to discover on your own, or outings with friends and family. We hope you will find a new memorable experience every month in the Destination Magazine™ .
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Contents DayTrip Destinations
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Burke County Getaway Party Of Two
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We Really Encourage You To Get Outdoors
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Dry Falls Brewing Company
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Search For Most Photographed Spots In Stokes County
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Two New Vineyards Join Crest Of The Blue Ridge Wine Region
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Banner Elk: Cabins, Adventure And Cool Mountain Breezes
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Contributing Photographers: Andrew Zachary Digital Imagery, Paul Newton, Sam Dean, Todd Bush
A Bizarre Trip To Wilmington
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Cover: Table Rock, Burke County
Pick A Place On The Parkway And Park It
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Where2GO... Stress Distancing Destinations
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We know we are on to something! Lisa & Andy Jay Publishers Published by: Magic Table Media Group LLC Business Development: Lisa Jay Creative: Andy Jay Contributing Writers: Lisa Jay, Craig Distl, Leah Hughes, Kate Gavenus, Tory Mabe.
The list of events in this publication is compiled from various sources dates & times are tentative & subject to change. the Destination Magazine™ is published by Magic Table Media Group LLC 369 Dovefield Drive Summerfield, NC 27358 (704) 706-2365 www.theDestinationMagazine.com ©2020 All rights reserved. Magic Table Media Group LLC, Agents & Advertisers do not necessarily condone any activities or advertisement listed in this magazine. The Publisher and its officers, employees, agents, volunteers, and sponsors are not responsible for any loss or damage which might be associated with patronage of any party named in this publication, and is not responsible for any Act of God such as inclement weather, fire, flood, natural or man-made disaster, etc., that are out of the control of the Publisher, which affect the publishing of this magazine.
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Destinations
DayTrip Destinations 10th Annual Running the Vines 5k/10k and Kid’s 1/2 Mile Fun Run August 1, 8:00 am Shelton Vineyards, 286 Cabernet Lane Dobson, NC 27017 sheltonvineyards.com
Summer Camp Out September 12th Round Peak Vineyards 765 Round Peak Church Rd Mount Airy, NC 27030 www.roundpeak.com
Eden Great River Race September The Big What? 2020 August 6, 12:00 19th at 9:00am Klyce Street River pm - August 8, 11:00 pm Shakori Access - End of Klyce Street Eden, Hills Community Arts Center, 1439 NC 27288 www.exploreedennc.com Henderson Tanyard Rd Pittsboro, NC 27312C thebigwhat.com Over 150 NEW
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Local & Regional Destinations & Experiences
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ESCAPE. UNWIND. INDULGE. 8
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CABIN RENTALS CASUAL &Destinations FINE DINING& Experiences Local & Regional OUTDOOR ADVENTURE SHOPPING & GALLERIES
Burke County Getaway Party Of Two
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ummer is the time to get outside and discover the foothills, the mountains, and the waterways in Burke County. We have put together itineraries of things we suggest doing during your visit. When you stay at least one night in one of our partner accommodations you will have access to these great deals with our partners. Get out of town with your significant other and come see what you have been missing in Burke County.
Accommodations:
the stunning and rugged Linville Gorge, our far mhouse brewer y sits on 9 acres of beautiful pastureland surrounded by Lake James State Park. Once a dair y farm known as Whippoorwill, this land is currently home to a 15Bbl brewhouse and will eventually be transformed into a working and educational far m with annual gardens and fruit groves. If pints are not your thing, yo u m i g h t wa n t t o ch e ck o u t pontoons. Benfield’s Landing Boat Rentals & Marina located on Lake James, Benfield’s Landing has everything you need for a day on the lake! Including pontoon boat rentals.
All packages offer special hotel rates- you choose the property at Hilton, Choice and Marriott properties in Morganton. Each guest room receives $25 in “DownTown Bucks” towards dinner at participating restaurants in downtown Morganton. If you book on Or perhaps a pour of Bordeaux AIRBNB or other accommodations, contact the Burke Visitor Center to re- with a panoramic view at South ceive your “Bucks.”You must mention Creek Vineyard & Winery. Enjoy an “Discover Burke’s Treasures”to receive award winning Bordeaux style blend Continued On Page 11 the discounted hotel rate. If you fancy yourselves as a crafty couple, Burke County is home to four distinctly unique craft breweries: One of the Burke breweries, Fonta Flora Whippoorwill Farm is located under the backdrop of
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We Really Encourage You To Get Outdoors
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n Gaston County’s eastern edge, along the Catawba River, lies a 1,300-acre playground. The nonprofit U.S. National Whitewater Center has one goal: to encourage people to get outdoors. The centerpiece is the largest manmade whitewater course in the world, where paddling novices as young as 8 years old navigate class II and III rapids and elite athletes up their training on class IV rapids in preparation for the Olympic games. The center also embraces its natural neighbor, sending kayakers and paddlers along the Catawba River’s flat water. River trips afford floaters wildlife views and a peaceful serenity that comes with gently drifting water. In all, the USNWC offers more than 30 land- and water-based activities. The center also supports complementary components of an active lifestyle, such as live music, fresh food and craft beverages. A visit here stirs a desire to make the outdoors a daily destination. Whitewater rafting is a must at USNWC — it’s in the name after all. Rapids range from classes II to IV, and experiences vary from beginner
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to advanced. All options include a professional guide. Experienced paddlers may take on the whitewater course by kayak. For a flat-water float on Catawba River or Long Creek, choose from single and tandem kayaks and stand-up paddleboards. Zipline courses stretch across the center’s campus. Varying from 200 feet to more than 1,000 feet long, ziplines carry passengers above the tree canopy and across the whitewater course. Traverse platforms, cargo nets and bridges on one of several ropes courses, or inch to the top of the rock at one of the region’s largest outdoor climbing facilities. The property contains 45 miles of trails ideal for hiking, mountain biking and trail running. Most USNWC activities require a pass. All-access passes cover every activity for one to two days, or single activity passes cover one activity for a certain day. Annual passes are also available. Gaston County offers visitors a variety of attractions to enhance your trip including museums, botanical gardens, extreme sports, hiking, dining and entertainment parks, art and history and more. www.GoGastonNC.org
Local & Regional Destinations & Experiences
Burke County Getawy For 2 Continued From Page 9
in a century old Italian Renaissance Fa r m h o u s e. Ta ke i n t h e v i e w complemented by grazing horses, meander through the vineyards, and spend an afternoon of serenity at South Creek Winery. For more Burke Treasures, Adventures and Decompression Destinations visit Discover Burke County on Facebook on Facebook at DiscoverBurkeCounty or visit www.discoverburkecounty.com
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EXPERIENCE NATURE’S PLAYGROUND WITH ITINERARIES YOU CAN RELATE TO.
#2
www.DiscoverBurkeCounty.com
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ummer is the time to get outside and discover the foothills, the mountains, and the waterways in Burke County. We have put together itineraries of things we suggest doing during your visit. When you stay at least one night in one of our partner accommodations you will have access to these great deals with our partners. Get out of town with your friends and come see what you have been missing in Burke County.
There is so much to do in the wide open spaces in Burke County, come see for yourself!
3 Packages to Choose From Girls - Couples - Adventure All packages offer special hotel rates- you choose the property at Hilton, Choice and Marriott properties in Morganton. Each guest room receives $25 in “DownTown Bucks” towards dinner at participating restaurants in downtown Morganton. If you book on AIRBNB or other accommodations, contact the Burke Visitor Center to receive your “Bucks.” You must mention “Discover Burke’s Treasures” to receive the discounted hotel rate.
Burke County Tourism Development Authority 110 East Meeting Street, Morganton, NC 28655 www.discoverburkecounty.com (828) 433-6793
TRAIL POST Dry Falls Brewing Company
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ry Falls Brewing Co. started out as a dream between father and son while sitting in a brewery on a family vacation. Romanticizing the idea while drinking a flight of twenty-four different brews, Jeff and Evan found their next father/son hobby. Jeff took to idea first brewing extract kit beers with a co-worker. After the first brew day, Jeff was hooked. He called his son and they talked at great length about starting to brew as a hobby. They dove into books on brewing and purchased homebrewing equipment. They decided to brew full grain, just like the pros. Over a six-month period, they built a small working brewer y inside Jeff’s garage. Jeff built a kegerator out of an old refrigerator and turned a chest freezer into a climate controlled area to house fermenters. They started out brewing every three weeks, mostly just to have craft beer on tap at home. Friends, family, and neighbor s started coming over and sharing pints. After hosting a tasting party, Jeff and Evan revisited the idea
that sent them down this path; to open their own brewery. In 2015 Evan’s mother finally pushed her boys in the direction they needed. She gave the ultimatum “Do it, or stop talking ab o u t i t .” I n Au g u s t 2 0 1 6 , D r y Falls Brewing Co. was founded and later purchased the Kanuga Rd location. They saw the old body shop for what is could be; a great place for a brewer y.
Dry Falls Brewing Company 425 Kanuga Rd, Hendersonville, North Carolina www.dryfallsbrewing.com
The Carolina Craft Passport is a reward program to nudge you to get off the well worn path and experience boutique craft beverage destinations across the region. CraftPassport.app
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Search For Most Photographed Spots In Stokes County
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h a ke i t l i ke a Po l a r o i d Picture”, post it on Social Media to claim bragging rights for finding some of the most photographed locations often seen when scrolling past or following local hashtags on Instagram. There’s a certain challenge in searching out and recreating the view of most popular selfie opportunities in Stokes County. Sometimes the illusion of a daredevil photo capture, too good to be true, is the inspiration but where does one start? An insider’s guide for finding most shared locations and strange, slightly odd roadside attractions known to stop folks in their tracks. “I did it for da Gram”You’ve seen it, the photo that looks too good to be true, is it photo-shopped? Did my friend lose their mind? The view of someone sitting on the edge, feet dangling, or body suspended under a rock by lose hand grip, thousands of feet in the air. A point of view that looks strikingly similar to the actual peak of “hanging rock” protruding out over trails below from rock outcroppings of the Sauratown
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Mountains. This tricky photo op is only a few feet, in walking distance, due right of the 1.3 mile trail endpoint. Hidden behind a rock outcropping and trees, you step across a dip onto another rock, at which point a “mini” hanging rock is visible and in easy reach above you. Hand your phone to a friend, make sure they’re ready to snap the image by omitting the rocky base just below where you use upper body strength to suspend in the air. “Smarter than the average bear?” You’ll spot a bit of above average “strange” and guaranteed “double take” when driving Main Street through historic downtown Danbury, NC. Just outside of The Arts Place of Stokes meet face to face with a 9 foot tall BEAR attraction named Rocky. Mascot to a new homemade The perfect mountain getaway, closer than you think. Experience hiking trails, waterfalls, rock climbing, mountain biking, horseback riding, camping, fishing and more. Enjoy a leisurely float down the Dan River by canoe, kayak, paddleboard, or tube. www.hangingrock.com
Local & Regional Destinations & Experiences
ice cream and coffee shop by the same name. The struggle is real to frame a perfect selfie or group photo with this gargantuan before enjoying a cold treat. Inside friendly faces welcome you, serving various Ice Cream creations from another Piedmont favorite “Smitty’s of Burlington. Shop the retail art market or enjoy a gourmet coffee. Oddities continue in Germanton outside Creekside Supply with a “Sasquatch in the Wild” – Harry and his bright pink pig“Wilber”. Both serve as a friendly welcome into Stokes County from the south when entering on Highway 8. Travel through the City of King, just south of the Sauratown Mountains, for a scavenger hunt of sorts. Locate one or all of the wall murals, quickly becoming an attraction, on once empty walls of Main Street buildings.Various murals depict
likenesses of the village at Five Forks, so named because of five roads that converged there. Or the Dalton Train Depot, where if not for a few locals building a Depot, the area would have only been a whistle stop on the line. Don’t forget to proudly share and tag your captures #StokesROCKS. www.hangingrock.com
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Two New Vineyards Join Crest Of The Blue Ridge Wine Region Stone Ashe Vineyard
H
enderson County’s Crest of the Blue Ridge wine region is now home to six wine producers following the openings t h i s s u m m e r o f M a r ke d Tr e e Vineyard and Stone Ashe Vineyard.
Marked Tree sits at an elevation of 2,300 in a picturesque setting along the Eastern Continental Divide. A unique tasting room offers enclosed and open-air seating areas, along with two patios. There are also sitting areas and tents on the lawn. Marked Tree cultivates European vinifera and French-American hybrid grapes, including Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Grüner Veltliner, Chardonel and Vidal Blanc. The wine lineup features four reds, four whites and two rosès. The tasting room welcomes guests Thursday through Monday, with vineyard tours offered on Saturdays.
Fr a n c e , w i t h s t e e p s l o p e s , a moderate climate and similar soil conditions. They found their perfect terroir on a 2,700-foot mountain outside Hendersonville. Thirteen acres of vines, cloned from legacy vines in Bordeaux, grow the following varietals: Riesling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Caber net Sauvignon, Caber net Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Stone Ashe is open Thursday through Sunday offering three white wines, one rosè and one red. A 3,100-square-foot tasting room includes a catering kitchen, bar, covered patio and deck. The atmosphere is airy and spacious with a 25-foot cathedral ceiling framed in Douglas fir timbers. The tasting room opened July 17, and the Littles are excited their vineyard is the sixth to put down roots in Henderson County’s federally designated Crest of the Blue Ridge American Viticultural Area.
Stone Ashe owners Craig and Tina Little wanted to replicate the “Having that AVA designation vineyard experience of Bordeaux, is going to bring more and more
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Local & Regional Destinations & Experiences
The Cabin
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RUSTIC - Craft Beer - Groups - Cigars
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Marked Tree Vineyard
prestige to this area,” says Craig L i t t l e. “ Th e w i n e r i e s h e re a re making superior wines and really elevating the process.”
T
For info on Hendersonvillearea wineries and craft spirits, visit www.CheersTrail.org For more information about For more information about the Cheers! Trail in Henderson Henderson and County andCounty additional additional - go to attractions attractions - go to www.VisitHendersonvilleNC. www.VisitHendersonvilleNC. org org or or call call (800) (800) 828-4244. 828-4244.
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Todd Bush
Banner Elk: Cabins, Adventure And Cool Mountain Breezes
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ooking for a socially distanced getaway in the North Carolina mountains? One spot worth considering is the small resort town of Banner Elk. Banner Elk welcomes summertime visitors with cool breezes, outdoor adventure and plenty of rental cabins. The town sits at an elevation of 3,700 feet in the Blue Ridge, surrounded by the majestic peaks of Beech, Grandfather and Sugar mountains. Visitor s choose from many outdoor activities, such as Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster, the state’s only alpine coaster. Grandfather Mountain, among the largest and best-known attractions in the High Country, is just 15 minutes away. Grandfather’s nature preserve includes hiking trails, animal habitats and the famous Mile High Swinging Bridge.
Folks wishing to stay in Banner Elk and visit Grandfather Mountain can do so via special lodging packages that include accommodations and admission tickets to Grandfather Mountain. Apple Hill Far m is another popular outdoor attraction. This working farm allows guests to interact with alpacas and llamas, as well as goats, chickens and other animals. Tours are available daily by appointment only. More outdoor fun is available at Beech Mountain Resort and Sugar Mountain Resort. Beech Mountain Resort offers scenic chairlift rides, downhill mountain biking, disc golf, and food and beverage options, including outdoor service at the 5506′ Skybar.
Continued On Page 20
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Local & Regional Destinations & Experiences
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Banner Elk Continued From Page 18
Sugar Mountain Resort provides scenic chairlift rides and downhill mountain biking, including the new Easy Street trail for beginning and intermediate riders. Other outdoor activities include Elk River Falls, two whitewater rafting outfitters, and numerous hiking trails at Grandfather Mountain State Park and the Emerald Outback. After a day of recreation, Banner Afterwards, retire to the front Elk satisfies the appetite with an porch of your rental cabin, where impressive collection of restaurants. the chilly mountain air is a welcome The town has earned the nickname respite in the dog days of August. “Culinary Hot Spot of the High Country� for its cuisine. From white linen dining to casual bistros, Banner Elk serves up a variety of choices. To plan your mountain getaway, go to www.BannerElk.com.
Wheels Through Time Museum
62 Vintage Lane, Maggie Valley North Carolina 28751
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Local & Regional Destinations & Experiences
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A Bizarre Trip To Wilmington
S
ometimes side streets make for the best discoveries on a road trip.
Wi l m i n g t o n i s a ch a r m i n g escape. The port city blends history with the vibrant energy of a college town. The beautiful Cape Fear river is flanked by homes with porches that make you want to sit on them and waste away the after noon sipping a mint julep. There’s enough to see and do without checking out the side streets… BUT… the next time you are walking the waterfront for a little shopping or in the mood for the best shrimp and scallop dish of your life at the Pilot House, stop at the small museum tucked along a side street. I’m not talking about the Cape Fear Museum of Histor y and Science or the Wilmington Railroad Museum or the Cameron Art Museum. I’m talking about the Museum of the Bizarre. It’s a big one room display of oddities and curiosities that are fun for the imagination!
It’s worth the 3$ admission. Besides, you’ll still have plenty of time left to stop at the Battleship North Carolina or lay around at one of the three beaches within a 30 minute drive.
Allison Andrews is on a journey to visit 50 places she’s never been the year she turns 50. For more information check out www.museumbizarre.com and see Among the exhibits: Alexander what else Allison Andrews did on Hamiltons Hair - Houdini’s Ouija her trip to Wilmington on Instagram Board - A 2 headed calf - The sup- @milemarker_50. posed remains of a mermaid found on Fort Fisher - A unicorn horn. There’s even a selfie station with some classic creepy movie characters.
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You can see video of this trip and others and follow all the adventures of Milemarker 50 on Instagram at @milemarker_50 and milemarker50.com.
Local & Regional Destinations & Experiences
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Local & Regional Destinations & Experiences
Pick A Place On The Parkway And Park It
I
n North Carolina, 7,000-acre Doughton Park is the setting of another historical mountain cabin and farmstead, as well as thirty miles of pleasant walking trails, some involving stream crossings. The historic Bluffs Restaurant, also located at Doughton Park, has undergone restoration and is scheduled to reopen in 2020 after 10 years of closure.
serpentine bridge hugs the rugged eastern slope of Grandfather Mountain while still protecting the fragile habitat beneath it. The completion of this final section of the parkway in 1987 brought and end to the construction of the Blue Ridge Parkway, a project begun in 1935. Trails wander under and around this bridge over land, beginning at Many recreation opportunities a museum and visitor center at the are available to the motorist at southern end of the viaduct. Moses H. Cone Memorial Park and Julian Price Memorial Park by The late John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Blowing Rock, North Carolina. Then landscapist, lover of natural beauty, at Milepost 304, travelers find an and benefactor of parks, considered international engineering marvel. this road a favorite and traveled it on The Linn Cove Viaduct is one of the special occasions. Today motorists most photographed views of the are reminded of his generosity and Blue Ridge Parkway.The quarter-mile Continued On Page 26
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Park It On The Parkway Continued From Page 25
foresight as they camp or picnic under shady trees and enjoy the trails to lovely Linville Falls and the wild and mighty Linville Gorge, eastern America’s “Grand Canyon,” which he purchased and presented to the National Park Service. South of Asheville, North Carolina, those who travel the parkway’s full length will find the second lodge, Pisgah Inn, at the base of Pisgah Ledge west of Asheville and close to Cold Mountain of Civil War fame. There is also a campground nestled in rhododendron just across the parkway from the Inn. In addition to these facilities, resorts, motels, B&Bs and private campgrounds are located in surrounding communities.
lower elevations. Autumn is typified by the beauty of brilliant foliage, including red maple, “color king of the Appalachians.” Finally, winter is the time for solitude and quiet adventure (though parkway sections may be temporarily closed because of snow and ice). At Cone Park, near Blowing Rock, North Carolina, and other snowy high points where state-maintained roads cross the unplowed parkway, cross-country skiers enjoy the southern Blue Ridge’s natural snow.
The Smokies are unbroken for a distance of 70 miles astride the North Carolina-Tennessee border, except for the trans-mountain link with the Blue Ridge Parkway. Road viewpoints reveal the continuing vistas of wilderness, occasionally screened by the bluish or smokelike haze from which the mountains This region lies within a day’s derive their name, caused by the drive of more than half the nation’s terpenes released by the conifers of population. Yet in the Appalachian the Smokies. E m p i re a m a n o r wo m a n c a n escape momentarily the speed and Bird watcher, flower lover, nature crowding of modem life.“I am taught photographer, hiker, bicyclist, fisher- the poorness of our inventions, the man — all find the Blue Ridge and ugliness of towns and places,” EmerSmokies sheer delight. So too does son wrote in his renowned essay on the tourist motorist. And the season nature. In the sanctuary of the high matters little; the road is a year- places one learns what he meant. round experience. Spring brings a procession of wildflowers, dogwood, by Michael Frome flame azalea and rhododendron. Blue Ridge Parkway Association www.blueridgeparkway.org Summer invites picnics, hiking, camping, and relief from the heat of
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Local & Regional Destinations & Experiences
3rd Annual Craft Beer, Wine & Cider Tasting Festival
Saturday, October 3rd, 2020 West Jefferson, NC • E. Main Street Lot Downtown General Admission 12 pm-4 pm • VIP 11 am-4 pm
LIVE MUSIC•FOOD TRUCKS CLASSIC CAR SHOW•CRAFT VENDORS
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Where2GO... Stress Distancing Destinations
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This year the live music will be George Smith and the Bearded Hunnies, the dinner provided by the infamous Skull Camp Smokehouse with a great selection of Skull Camp beer, and round out the options, Round Peak Winery will be offering On September 12th Round Peak up their great wines. Vineyards will be hosting an all-time The view is spectacular and an favorite The Skull Camp Out. incredible way to end the night; Campers come from all over to hanging around the campfire, singing, pitch a tent or pull in the RV to come dancing, laughing, and staring up at and enjoy the festivities. I love bringing the moon and stars. my friends and family out to enjoy They won’t let you leave on an sitting around the campfire, listening to music, making smores, reminiscing empty stomach so they will have a over old times, and making a few new continental breakfast ready for you to enjoy in the morning before you ones for the coming years. head off for your next great adventure! Check-in is as early as 11 am SaturThe event is on “pause,” not day morning, which gives you ample time to go exploring downtown Mt. canceled as of July 22nd. Check Airy. Here you can see The Whittling www.roundpeak.com for current Wall by Sculptor Brad Spencer, pop information on the event. We hope to into one of the antique shops or a see you there! quick stopover to Miss Angels Farm for some fresh fruit & veggies. You can be a bit more adventurous if you are up for it and head over to Pilot Mountain State Park, Stone Mountain State Park, or a bit smaller and closer Fisher River Park. Either way, you’ll enjoy a great Follow our GOventures on Where2GO.app or see where hike, beautiful scenery, and be ready we are going next at facebook. for the evening festivities. com/thedestinationmagazine amping is always an adventure but seriously camping in a vineyard has got to be an all-time winner! Being among the grapevines, on the mountainside, and in the rolling hills is just breathtaking!
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Local & Regional Destinations & Experiences
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Granville County offers a wide array of restaurants and eateries. Come gather with friends and experience what makes Granville County “Uniquely Delicious.”
www.visitgranvillenc.com theDestinationMagazine.com 704-706-2365
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Local & Regional Destinations & Experiences
O
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theDestinationMagazine.com 704-706-2365
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CraftPassport.app Discover & Support Artisan Producers and Supporters of Craft Beverages
CiDeR SPiRiTS BeeR WiNE Cocktails
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REWARDS
Download the FREE Passport and begin your journey discovering artisan producers and supporters of the craft beverage industry. If you are an artisan who would like to be featured, visit our website for information on how to get in the Carolina Craft Passport!
Visit CraftPassport.app For More information