by Chika Gujarathi In what seems like a page out of a storybook, McIntyre’s Books in Pittsboro, North Carolina, is quite easily one of the most magical book stores one may ever encounter. Located in Fearrington Village, an English-inspired community on a former dairy farm, it is not unusual to pass a few grazing … Continue reading Fearrington Village’s McIntyre’s Books In Pittsboro, NC
by Stephanie Edwards Whether it’s your first or tenth time visiting Biltmore Estate, it’s easy to see why George Vanderbilt chose the foothills of the Blueridge Mountains to build his summer home in 1888. During our most recent visit, my husband and I hiked to the Vista overlook, where we paused to soak in … Continue reading Autumn Is Amazing At Biltmore Estate In Asheville, NC
by Chika Gujarathi If you're are anything like me, then chances are that you are looking for your next vacation getaway - even the short but restful weekend kind. Thankfully, living in North Carolina means that the beaches and the mountains are never too far for a few days of rest and relaxation. But … Continue reading The Inn At Celebrity Dairy In Siler City, NC
by Chika Gujarathi Adding to the hustle and bustle of Raleigh’s Warehouse District in downtown, is Morgan Street Food Hall, the first eatery of its kind in the Triangle to introduce the booming trend of food-halls that is sweeping the nation. This 22,000 square feet facility at the corner of Morgan Street and West … Continue reading Chowing Down At Morgan Street Food Hall in Raleigh, NC
by Angela Zontek Every book lover longs for their perfect marriage of themes. My personal favorite is a tightly woven mix of southern women and magic—that mystical, enchanted kind of magic. Karen Hawkins’ new novel brings all the drama of small-town southern women together with the glittering gift of magic to craft a beautiful … Continue reading The Book Charmer by Karen Hawkins
by Nikki Terpilowski On one of my recent trips to the Outer Banks during the off-season, I went solo and with the express purpose of visiting every single book store in the area. Fortunately, I was able to visit all but one store on my list which was closed that day. The commonality between all … Continue reading Seven Bookstores To Visit In NC’s The Outer Banks
By Chika Gujarathi I will be the first one to admit that as a Raleigh resident, I often bundle Cary, North Carolina with all the other suburbs nestled in and around the Research Triangle Park. However, as any Caryite will tell you, this obvious oversight is all of my own making. With a flourishing population … Continue reading A Family Day Out In Cary, NC
Fuquay-Varina is a small town, but you'd never know it by the number of successful coffee shops located there. Further proof that drinking coffee never goes out of style. Our list of five coffee destinations is an eclectic mix. Several offer scratch-made in-house baked goods, another crafts exquisite chocolates on-site and one is a tiny-house of … Continue reading Five Places To Find Great Coffee In Fuquay-Varina, NC
by Tracey Holloway The sight of a good ‘ole-fashioned white picket fence always give me a feeling of nostalgia, evoking warm thoughts of the small town where I was raised. I was delighted to find one framing the entrance of Cultivate Coffee Roasters. Standing on the sidewalk in front of the coffeehouse, I had instant … Continue reading Savoring The Day At Cultivate Coffee Roasters In Fuquay-Varina, NC
by Chika Gujarathi Set in the tiny fictional community of Waves, North Carolina in the Outer Banks, is Jenny Hale’s newest romantic novel, The Summer House. As someone who loves to align her reading with the current season, I was so excited to pick up this book which is filled with new beginnings, friendships, and … Continue reading We’re Reading The Summer House by Jenny Hale
by Dianna Dames Walking into The Peppered Cupcake, I anticipated the sweet buttery smell of baking cupcakes would meet me first but was completely surprised and charmed by the quaint decor of the shop. The Peppered Cupcake has two locations – one close to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and the other, downtown … Continue reading The Peppered Cupcake Has The Best Cupcakes In Wilmington, NC
by Chika Gujarathi The smell of butter and sugar was in the air as I pulled into a small parking lot off of Lead Mill Road in Raleigh. So much so that even though I didn't see the sign for Southern Sugar Bakery right away, I already knew I was in the right place. I … Continue reading Southern Sugar Bakery in Raleigh, NC
by Taylor Brooks Just when I thought I knew of all the best spots to grab a beer around downtown Raleigh, I ventured a little further down West North Street to find Little City Brewing + Provisions, a hidden gem of a brewery. Pull up a seat, and stay a while is written on the window outside, … Continue reading Popcorn And Beer At Little City Brewing + Provisions in Raleigh, NC
by Chika Gujarathi In an unassuming strip mall on the outskirts of Cary’s thriving downtown, is a sweet spot that the locals love. Vida Dulce - Spanish for the sweet life - is an ice cream shop with a deliciously Mexican flair. Opened in May of 2018, Vida Dulce is still new to the … Continue reading The Best Ice Cream Shop in Cary, NC Is Vida Dulce
by Dianna Dames I noticed Old Books On Front Street about a year ago. It’s nestled towards the end of the shops on Front Street, closer towards Cape Fear Community College. They had a chalkboard easel set up on the sidewalk in front of the store that said, No one loves that old Kindle smell. … Continue reading The Story Behind Old Books On Front Street in Wilmington, NC
Going to a pick-your-own farm is a good time if you go alone, make it a family outing or a destination for your date. You're outside getting some fresh air and sun, you're becoming one with nature, getting back to simpler times... and coming home with a bucket of dessert. Whether you eating fresh strawberries alone, … Continue reading Four Best Places To Pick Strawberries In North Carolina
We're drinking all the strawberry beer this Spring. And why not? What better way to kick back and enjoy the fresh fruity flavors of the season than to drink the best strawberry-inspired beers we could find? It's the beginning of the strawberry season after all. Our roundup of seasonal favorites includes three beers from North … Continue reading Four Strawberry Beers To Drink This Spring
by Dianna Dames The Azalea Festival first came about in 1948 after Dr. Houston Moore, MD spent several years cultivating the Greenfield Lake area of Wilmington, NC. Inspired by the Rhododendron, or Azalea flower, he successfully rallied the support of community leaders to create a festival in its honor. Over the years, the festival has … Continue reading Weekend at The Azalea Festival In Wilmington, NC
by Tracey Holloway Located on the corner block of a quintessential Main Street, USA, The Mill stands as a newer addition to downtown Fuquay-Varina in North Carolina. Upon entrance, wafts of aromatic roasted beans tantalized my nose and lured me in. I do love a good gut job and The Mill, with its brick-walled interior, … Continue reading Taking A Coffee Break At The Mill in Fuquay-Varina, NC
by Taylor Brooks If you are a fan of beer, or just a fan of having a good time, you will definitely be a fan of at least one of Trophy Brewing’s three locations. For your food truck days with friends, pizza nights with the family, or dinner dates downtown, Trophy has a location to … Continue reading Fun And Games At Trophy Brewing and Taproom In Raleigh, NC
by Dianna Dames Located on the outskirts of Wilmington, in a suburb called Ogden, I've passed The Sour Barn many times and thought about stopping there. The parking lot is always packed, a variety of food trucks are frequently on hand and I've heard nothing but good things. I decided Saint Patrick’s Day was the … Continue reading The Best Taproom In Wilmington, NC is The Sour Barn
By Anika Williams Walking around Lafayette Village in North Raleigh is one of my favorite ways to pass the time. It's an adorable European-style village in the middle of suburban Raleigh that approximates a small town in France but actually houses locally-owned gourmet restaurants and upscale shopping. It was on one of my strolls around … Continue reading Coffee And Biscuits At Jubala Village In Raleigh, NC
by Debbie Burdick The search for donuts often leads to well-known national chains, some of which have kiosks even in the local gas stations. However, one Durham donut shop can be found not in, but next to a corner gas station, and the owners and bakers are often right inside rather than at corporate headquarters. … Continue reading Stopping For Donuts At Baker’s Dozen In Durham, NC
by Nikki Terpilowski Visit one of our favorite bakeries in Fuquay-Varina in the early morning hours, and you'll be greeted by the smells of butter, cinnamon and the tantalizing scent of rising bread. You'll hear the sounds of the staff calling out to each other, the dull thump of hands pounding dough and the low chatter … Continue reading Scratch Made Goodness at Stick Boy Bread Company in Fuquay-Varina, NC
by Debbie Burdick Helado. The Spanish word for ice cream slides over the tongue as easily as ice cream itself. At Pincho Loco, the ice cream and dessert shop tucked between Broad and Ninth streets in Durham, this creamy delight takes on many forms. True to a Latin American sense of style, the little shop announces … Continue reading Enjoying An Ice Cream At Pincho Loco In Durham, NC
by Chika Gujarathi When it comes to family fun, Raleigh has a lot to offer. So much so, that sometimes it’s precisely the abundance of options that makes it tricky to plan for a fun and relaxing day out. Well, today, I have an itinerary that is slightly off the beaten path, but it still … Continue reading A Family Day Out In Raleigh, NC
by Debbie Burdick Pristine nature is a relative rarity. Just ask any seasoned hiker how many times she or he has been enjoying a “natural” view and then stumbled upon an old cellar pit or a stone wall that once marked the edge of a farm. Nature taking back its own has its charms though, … Continue reading What Does Hiking And NASCAR Have In Common? The Occoneechee Speedway Trail
cby Taylor Brooks As if you needed another reason to venture into downtown Raleigh, I’m about to give you one more. Ashley Christensen is an award-winning chef, located in Raleigh and she owns five restaurants and bars scattered around downtown. This past weekend, I had the opportunity to visit one of her restaurants, Chuck’s Burgers. … Continue reading Dinner At Chuck’s Burgers In Raleigh, NC
By Anika Williams I love downtown Raleigh with it's hustle and bustle, sights and the many spontaneous events that it hosts. Parades, street festivals, and arts and crafts shows are just a few that come to mind. Now that the weather is taking a turn for the warmer, I took my family and headed downtown … Continue reading Getting Creative At Read With Me Bookstore In Raleigh, NC
by Nikki Terpilowski I thought I knew all of the coffee shops in Fuquay-Varina. But recently, I drove down Broad Street and saw a new sign on one of the historic buildings I've always found so intriguing. It was the location for a butcher for a while, was empty and now it's filled with chocolates, … Continue reading Love And Chocolate At Tsuru Sweets & Coffee In Fuquay-Varina, NC
by Taylor Brooks I enjoy visiting new bars and was excited to visit The Blind Barbour. Pulling up to the strip mall, I had to double check my GPS to make sure I put in the correct address. At first glance, you wouldn’t expect a bar to be behind one of the doors, but it doesn’t take … Continue reading Drinks At The Blind Barbour In Raleigh, NC
Who doesn't like fluffy buttery sweet pancakes for breakfast? Or lunch? Or dinner? It's one of those meals that can appease the finickiest of eaters, both child, and adult. We know it's pretty hard to mess up pancakes and they're actually really good, whether you get them at a drive-thru window at a fast-food restaurant, … Continue reading Three Best Places To Eat Pancakes In North Carolina
by Anika Williams Don't marry into murder. No Good Tea Goes Unpunished is the second book in the Seaside Café Mysteries series by Bree Baker. Set in a coastal community, it’s a fabulous breezy mystery for anyone looking for a little fun with a side of danger. Tea shop owner, Everly Swan is back home in Charm, North … Continue reading We’re Reading No Good Tea Goes Unpunished by Bree Baker
There are two things we like to do in Hillsborough, NC. One is touring historical sites and the other, hiking. While there is much to learn from this area's historic houses and museums, today we're focusing on hiking with three unique trails. Riverwalk The Riverwalk is just like it sounds, a beautiful paved greenway … Continue reading Three Best Places To Hike In Hillsborough
North Carolina has so many wonderful bookstores, it was a real challenge to find the best of the best. But we've come up with an excellent selection of bookstores that are bound to please even the finickiest of book lovers. With curated book collections, helpful staff and creative spaces, we think you'll agree these are … Continue reading Five Best Bookstores In North Carolina
There's nothing we love more than a soft, flaky buttery biscuit. Whether you're making a sandwich of it with fried chicken, slather it with butter and molasses or use it as a side to a traditional southern entree, there's nothing quite like it. And we absolutely had to compile a list of the best biscuits … Continue reading Five Best Biscuits In North Carolina
Isn't it annoying when you're mad for some good Polish food, you do an internet search and find a bunch of German or vaguely European restaurants? Hello, they're not the same. Don't worry, we've done the search for you - hey, we know how hard it is to find a good Polish place to eat … Continue reading Three Best Places To Find Polish Food in North Carolina
Just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, good fried chicken is subjective. If you were born in New Jersey, your idea of fried chicken will not be the same, as say, someone who grew up in South Carolina. Well, we're southerners, and our bar is high. We're not looking for fancy-pants fried … Continue reading Three Best Places To Find Fried Chicken In Raleigh
It's not difficult to make a good burger and every restaurant and diner seems to have one, and yet some burgers are just better than others. We've done our research, cross-referenced the results and finished off with the ultimate in taste tastes. Hard to believe it, but we've compiled the seven best hamburgers in North … Continue reading Seven Best Burgers In North Carolina
Every now and again, we like to put together a fun day trip agenda for our more adventurous readers. Bored? Not sure what to do? Leave it to us and we'll help you explore the small towns around you and the communities within larger cities. Today, we're talking Smithfield, North Carolina. Yes, as in Smithfield's … Continue reading Where To Go: Smithfield, NC
There's just something about a nice cozy mystery. If you've read one, or two or three, you know what I mean. They are a bit addictive with the cute town, eccentric cast of characters and mysteries you want to solve for yourself. And let's not forget the themes! It's so entertaining to read a story … Continue reading Six Cozy Mystery Series Set In The South We Love
I remember discovering craft beer. And then I realized I was a porter and stouts kind of gal. The darker and the thicker the brew, the better. And almost immediately after that, I recall thinking that the stout beer I was drinking would probably taste awesome in a cup of vanilla ice cream. I immediately … Continue reading Six Best Places To Find Boozy Ice Cream In The South
Craft beer is booming everywhere, but it's fairly blossoming in the Tarheel State. You can't walk for tripping over a brewery. And just when you think you've got a grasp of all the breweries in your neighborhood, a new one pops up. We've done the footwork for you (someone has to) and made a list … Continue reading Five Best Breweries in NC
Whether you're interested in the Revolutionary War, a fan of Outlander (if you've read the book or seen the television series, you know what I mean) or just interested in learning more about North Carolina history, the Tryon Palace is a great destination for your day or weekend trip. Completed in 1770 for Royal Governor William … Continue reading Have You Visited Tryon Palace in New Bern, NC?
We are always down to celebrate the awesomeness of fried chicken. And what better way to enjoy some good eatin' and travel the south, than to plan your travel around three of our favorite fried chicken festivals. If you live in Louisianna, North or South Carolina, Tennessee or Georgia, these events might not be new … Continue reading Five Must Visit Fried Chicken Festivals In The South