Just west of Charlotte, Gaston County has the unmistakable charm of a region with roots in the textile industry. Cut from similar fabric, each of the county’s towns remains distinct and unique. Gastonia is filled with historic sites transformed into new and vibrant spaces, like the 1927 movie theater-turned-steakhouse and the 1922 high school that now houses upscale apartments. Source ..read more

Joyce Wilburn won’t say what country she was in — “I don’t want to speak badly” — but she remembers the exact moment she took a tour bus and, out of boredom, closed her eyes and fell asleep. “When I woke up, my first thought was, ‘Danville has so much to show off, and we’re not doing it.’” As soon as she returned to her Virginia home, a town just across the border from Rockingham and Caswell… Source ..read more

Wear your jeans and bring your camp chair. “It’s a big party, not a wine-and-cheese reception,” Katie Murray says. As director of the Orange County Arts Commission, Murray loves that Hillsborough’s First Fridays at the Mill and Last Friday Art Walk feel far from stuffy. “Our exhibits are diverse and accessible — reflective of everything we do here.” Historic Hillsborough’s lively Last Friday… Source ..read more

You’re Welcome in Greensboro, NC, where the opportunities for unforgettable memories await! From public art and murals to Greensboro’s cultural, dining, and brewery scenes plus 135 attractions, there’s something here for everyone. Explore the difference in Greensboro. Source ..read more

photograph by Tim Robison Yield: 1 pie. 1½ sleeves of saltine crackers ⅓ to ½ cup softened unsalted butter 3 tablespoons sugar 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk 4 egg yolks ½ cup lemon or lime juice, or a mix of the two Fresh whipped cream and coarse sea salt for garnish Preheat oven to 350°. Crush the crackers finely, but not to dust. You can use a food processor or your… Source ..read more

Murphy to Manteo: Finding new adventures, historic detours, and the soul of North Carolina on the state’s longest highway: U.S. Route 64. Read the series. Here’s a little tip: When you’re winding your way down U.S. Highway 64 from Franklin to Highlands, make sure to stop for gas before you pass Whistle Stop Depot Antiques. If you don’t, you may find yourself sandwiched between the side of a… Source ..read more

From the top of the hill, where the race cars are waiting, the track looks steep. And scary. Bexley Fredrickson, 8, stands at the starting line with her cousin Hazel Palmer, staring down the asphalt slope. Bexley’s stomach hurts. She can’t even finish her Bojangles biscuit. “They wanted me to do this last year,” she tells her cousin. “But I made them wait until you could do it with me. Source ..read more

Located within Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina’s southern Appalachian Mountains, Highlands’ geographic location shapes its status as an upscale destination that’s as high class as its lofty elevation. Much of the area’s charm comes from its combination of contrasting elements: The rugged mountain setting provides a gorgeous backdrop to downtown’s luxurious spirit (Click here to read… Source ..read more

Join The New York Times best-selling author and North Carolina native Wiley Cash as he highlights great writers across the state and their work each month. Listen in on conversations between Cash and his author friends as they discuss how North Carolina inspires them on the Our State Book Club podcast. Lee Smith’s fiction is marked by women whose yearning for joy is rivaled only by their… Source ..read more

By design, bridges are pieces of a journey — ones you’re meant to roll right over without a second thought. But in North Carolina, a few lone bridges are destinations. In Catawba County, the Bunker Hill Covered Bridge is visited more often than it is traversed. History buffs make the trip west to see where the bridge lies on Island Ford Road — an old Native American trading path and the route of… Source ..read more