Things to do in North Carolina?

[Ben Brewcat]

Hey crew, I'm planning perhaps a week getaway in Cornelius to visit a friend sometime in March. I'll be an hour south of Brushy Mountain I know, and my host is my first brewing protege so the breweries and pubcrawl should be no problem :). I've heard the botanical gardens at the University are cool. Not into Nascar. Could bring the flyrod but no boat and transportation pretty limited.

Any suggestions for when my buddy's at work?

[beehoppers]

When will you be visiting The Old North State?

[drobbins]

the botanical gardens (I'm guessing you mean at Chapel Hill) are a pretty good drive but happen to be pretty near my house (note to self, brew up a special batch:))
the trout fishing is much closer
I have a buddy with a cabin near there, what's your schedule look like?
we got the beach and the mountains and the cities in between, sounds like you're going to be on the mountains end of the state
definitely go to BM, nice folks

just had to go figure out where Cornelius is
hmm, Lake Norman, bet that's a dive:) nice neighborhood
the zoo is near there
if you wanna go to the mountains let me know
our mountains ain't like yours:)
more like bumps

Dave

[Beaches' Bee-Haven Apiary]

Not familiar with the area, or your location, but the Biltmore Estates (near Asheville) is an awesome visit. Especially in the Spring!

-Nathanael:cool:

[Barry Digman]

Don't overlook a Nascar race if you get the chance. I've only seen one, and have absolutely no desire to attend another, but the spectacle is worth going once in your lifetime. It's really a rather interesting piece of American theater. I saw a Coca Cola 600 race in North Carolina when Dale Earnhardt was racing. The guy sitting in front of us had a life-sized portrait of Earnhardt tattooed on his BACK! Said fan got so drunk during the rain delay that preceeded the start that he passed out and missed most of the race.

[drobbins]

>Said fan got so drunk during the rain delay that preceeded the start that he passed out and missed most of the race.

now that's entertainment:)

Dave

[Ben Brewcat]

Looking like March 6ish to 12ish. Apparently there's a spot on the Divide trail we might hike to. In years past this friend Steve flies out here from whatever elevation he's at, drives up to 9+000 feet, parks, backpacks up to 12000 and catches up with us mid-backpacking trip with wheaties enough to party and fish. Most flatlanders trying that start puking and need oxygen after about mile 1.5. I better have my game face on for this hike :).

[Bizzybee]

Early March is a wee bit early to see the nice floral displays up in the hills, especially if you're going to be traversing the tops. The conifers should be somewhat close to what you are used to seeing at the higher elevations and the Rhodies will still be green, maybe some of the others starting to take off.

If you've never been in the Appalachians before, I think you'll be in for a nice change. They like the rockies have a beauty of their own, just maybe not as tall.

There's about a gazillion divides though. No telling which one you might be on but I'm sure you'll enjoy it where ever it is. If you're into fly fishing, take along some small tippet. Maybe 1/4 to 1/2 pound and some nymphs (16 or 18's). The rainbows will be active in the little creeks up there. Maybe a few specs but that's a tad early for them.

Wish I was there!!!! :)

[dcross]

I can't be bothered to watch NASCAR on TV, but go to a race if you get the chance.

[sqkcrk]

Hiking in Joyce Kilmer National Forest (virgin timber), tubing, kayaking, canoeing or rafting in the Nantahala Gorge, hiking or driving The Smoky Mountains and that's just part of the western part of the state. There's lots to do from Murphy to Manteo, NC.

Biltmore House in Ashville, not to mention the Farmers Market near by.

[kenr]

Well Ben when people from not around here ask what we do for entertanment I usually tell them hunting & loving they usually get the loving part but ask what do you hunt for this time of the year just grin at them and say someone to love.

[Ben Brewcat]

I'll bring the 12GA. :D

[kenr]

with slugs.

[kc in wv]

Ben
An hour south of Brushy Mountain puts you near Gold Country. There are some places to pan or metal detect for gold if you are so inclined.
kc

[dcross]

http://www.newsobserver.com/1565/story/908517.html

You could pick up a moonshine tax stamp, seems right for a brewshop:)

[Ben Brewcat]

That's funny; I actually thought of seeking out some 'shine. Some 'shiners in the area here bought stuff from me and brought me a sample or two, so the regional comparison I think is an important aspect of my ongoing palate training. :D

[GeeBeeNC]

Asheville is an interesting city in itself. It's difficult to describe in a way that does justice to it's beauty.

Mountain people are an unusual intertwining of conservative and socially active. The downtown reflects that enigma. Maybe what Haite Ashbury (sp?) would have been if it had been developed by Beekeepers.

Walk the city, enjoy a few of the restaurants and the spot of urbaness in the midst of a rural mountain paradise.

There's lots of Civil War scattered all across the state. Tobacco history(Duke Homestead) and Duke University in Durham (a gothic chapel with caralon and Sarah Duke Gardens). The arboretum and UNC at Chapel Hill. (Franklin Street is an interesting contrast to Asheville). Rural North Carolina is a study in poverty. Winston Salem has Old Salem and the Moravians.

Film industry of the east is in Wilmington. A charming port city with a great aquarium and a battle ship. Off season resorts can spoil you at low cost. The outer banks has miles of unmolested sea shore in contrast top the resorts. The extensive inner banks are unique with historic Edenton and Dismal Swamp, bears and aligators.

do you realize that if you saw all that I mention you will have covered about 500 miles?

[iddee]

I know you said no nascar, but Mooresville is only a few miles away, and is the center of all nascar. Many of the big name garages in Mooresville allow tourists in.

Also, if you make it to Asheboro to the NC zoo, I will take you in at no charge.
We will see the construction in process of the year round bee exhibit, along with the rest of the zoo.

I might possibly have a little shine sitting around, too. :rolleyes: :D

[Ben Brewcat]

Ooh, now that's an offer I can go to the pals with! What does a year-round bee exhibit look like?

[iddee]

At the moment, it looks like mud.

http://www.ncbeekeepers.org/zoo.htm

I posted before looking. I thought they had begin construction, but they haven't yet.

[Gregory and Susan Fariss]

NC State Beekeepers Association will be March 7 & 8 in Burlington, NC... a couple of hours from where you'll be.
Susan

[Ben Brewcat]

Cool idea. Not sure I ever heard of bees in a zoo!

[Joel]

"I'll be an hour south of Brushy Mountain"

I love the fact we beekepers give directions according to the nearest beekeeping landmark! :)

Visited, broked down and traveled through NC many times, great, down to earth people!


Have a great trip Ben. Being from Colorado you'll see alot of "Hills" people will call mountains. Share all the details with us when you get home and have some uniques brews for us while your there.

Anyone in Colorado need Ben to pick up some supplies while he's at Brushy Mtn? Hawk?

[nursebee]

Have some NC mead, Desi's Dew from Louisburg NC.
Have some Duck Rabbit beer, farmville NC.
I think there are some Western NC brewers and vintners
Miller Bee Supply is near Brushy Mtn also.
Drink some Muscadine wine.
Furniture in High Point area

[berkshire bee]

My mom was from NC. We went back there once by bus when I was young. Some things I remember were:
my mother showing me banks of red clay as the sun came up. everyone else on the bus was still asleep
staying at our aunt and uncle's house that had no indoor bathroom
going to the henhouse to collect eggs for breakfast
being fed really well
getting stung in the armpit by a wasp
visiting the field where my uncle grew some tobacco
Watching him race his stock car and flip it over on the dirt track
going to his watermelon patch. He went out and came back with a big watermelon and all us guys sat around eating it while the girls were off visiting an aunt that had grape vines.
I really enjoyed that vacation.

[Gregory and Susan Fariss]

My mom was from NC. We went back there once by bus when I was young. Some things I remember were:
my mother showing me banks of red clay as the sun came up. everyone else on the bus was still asleep
staying at our aunt and uncle's house that had no indoor bathroom
going to the henhouse to collect eggs for breakfast
being fed really well
getting stung in the armpit by a wasp
visiting the field where my uncle grew some tobacco
Watching him race his stock car and flip it over on the dirt track
going to his watermelon patch. He went out and came back with a big watermelon and all us guys sat around eating it while the girls were off visiting an aunt that had grape vines.
I really enjoyed that vacation.

Those sound like really nice memories, except for the car flipping over and the wasp sting. While we do have indoor plumbing, we do still collect eggs for breakfast at our house. And yes, one look at Greg and me and you would say that we are "well fed."

There's not as much tobacco being grown as there once was, but plenty of watermelons, more grapes that there once were and more than our share of red clay where we would like to have dark soil.

What part of NC is your mom from?

Susan

[GeeBeeNC]

sorry but the watermelons aren't quite ripe yet. (Or even planted!)

[Gregory and Susan Fariss]

sorry but the watermelons aren't quite ripe yet. (Or even planted!)

I don't think Berkshire Bee was talking about February. I know I wasn't. Just less tobacco in general, plenty of watermelon still grown though, in season of course :) and more grapes than when I first moved here in 1982.

Susan

[berkshire bee]

Those sound like really nice memories, except for the car flipping over and the wasp sting. While we do have indoor plumbing, we do still collect eggs for breakfast at our house. And yes, one look at Greg and me and you would say that we are "well fed."

There's not as much tobacco being grown as there once was, but plenty of watermelons, more grapes that there once were and more than our share of red clay where we would like to have dark soil.

What part of NC is your mom from? Susan

Susan, I think she grew up in Carthage or Troy, but I'm not sure. That may be where we visited relatives. She died when I was 15 1/2. I wish I could go back and ask her questions that I never thought to ask. I know that when we got there we ended up in a small town called Star NC. We were at a diner. It seemed like the middle of nowhere. Our relatives came there to pick us up.

I remember that she had a brother who lived in Charlotte. We thought our aunt looked just like Jackie Kennedy. She worked as a telephone operator, so she used to be able to call us for free. I loved hearing her southern accent.

[Gregory and Susan Fariss]

Susan, I think she grew up in Carthage or Troy, but I'm not sure. That may be where we visited relatives. She died when I was 15 1/2. I wish I could go back and ask her questions that I never thought to ask. I know that when we got there we ended up in a small town called Star NC. We were at a diner. It seemed like the middle of nowhere. Our relatives came there to pick us up.

I remember that she had a brother who lived in Charlotte. We thought our aunt looked just like Jackie Kennedy. She worked as a telephone operator, so she used to be able to call us for free. I loved hearing her southern accent.

Troy is south-east of my little town. I'm not familiar with Star, NC, but looking it up on the google map I see that its not far from Troy. I enjoy living in a small town. Most people know each other. I can count on one of the four neighbors who live on my road to notice if someone who doesn't belong is at my place and let me know, yet we are far enough away from each other that we may go days without seeing the people who do belong. Unfortunately, the city that I moved away from is spreading out and threatening to swallow many of the small towns in its wake.

I am sometimes entertained by people's reactions to southern accents. Some people enjoy hearing them. I once had a store clerk ask me to "say something else" when I was in Wilmington, Delaware. When I said, "Like what?" (not knowing why she wanted me to say something else) she turned to another clerk and said, "Did you hear that? That's so cute."

Then, some people assume that if you have a southern accent you are an ignorant hick. That's not so cute. I'm glad to hear that you are not among these people.

When my husband first moved to the south, every time one of our local good ol' boys would say something to him he would give me a bewildered look and I would have to translate. Now in all fairness, Davie County speech is somewhat of a mumble. Now that Greg can understand "daviecountese", I tell him that he is multi-lingual.
Susan

[kc in wv]

Now in all fairness, Davie County speech is somewhat of a mumble. Now that Greg can understand "daviecountese", I tell him that he is multi-lingual.
Susan

You are in Davie County? My Dad lives in Yadkin and my M-I-L is in Stokes Co
When you mentioned what is being grown to replace the tobacca you forgot housing developments :) The big allotment across the road from my M-I-L was sold to the government and then the land sold to a developer.

[Gregory and Susan Fariss]

You are in Davie County? My Dad lives in Yadkin and my M-I-L is in Stokes Co
When you mentioned what is being grown to replace the tobacca you forgot housing developments :) The big allotment across the road from my M-I-L was sold to the government and then the land sold to a developer.

I don't know how I missed this post for so long, KC! Yes, way to many houses going up around here. I moved out of Winston Salem to escape from the city 20+ years ago and it is following me.

Susan

[kc in wv]

I just got back from Wilkes/Yadkin Counties this morning. I had the pleasure of going to see "Thunder and Lightning" with my Dad. This is the story of Junior Johnson's rise from a 'Shine Runner' to a race car driver.