Home: North Carolina Ramble (NCR)

North Carolina is many things to many people. First, it is big and diverse--especially in the urban areas. The latest census lists NC as the 10th largest state in the country with 9.3 million people.

NC is Southern, it is Mountains, the Hurricanes (hockey), Charlotte and the banking business, the coast, the Outer Banks, the Smokies, Blue Ridge Parkway, basketball, Duke, the Tar Heels, more basketball, the Bobcats (NBA), Asheville-the-new-Boulder, the new South, growing, traffic, beautiful, coast-plains-mountains all in one, Blue Heaven,  tall pines, Pinehurst and golf, NASCAR, the Research Triangle Park, growing Hispanic population, retirement in the Highlands, just plain Heaven, the only place to live and work: say it one more time: the ONLY place to live and work.

And definitely the ONLY place to play, shop, trek, browse, spend the night, sample restaurants... to live!

North Carolina Ramble is about North Carolina travel; North Carolina events; North Carolina places; North Carolina sights; and North Carolina things to do.

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Azaleas Abound

by Stephen on March 15, 2011 0 Comments

 

The 64th Annual North Carolina Azalea Festival will be held April 6-10, 2011 in the greater Wilmington area. The Festival is a celebration of Wilmington’s exceptional artwork, gardens, rich history and culture during its five days of entertainment that includes: a parade, street fair, circus, concerts, pageantry, and all that is Southern.

 

Since its Inception in 1948, the Festival has blossomed into an extended weekend celebration that attracts more than 300,000 people. The Festival is a non-profit civic organization and this year is sponsored in substantial part by its four (4) major sponsors: Progress Energy, Wachovia Bank, the Hilton Wilmington Riverside, and Coastal Beverage.For more than 50 years, the folks of Southeastern North Carolina have been throwing the best party in the South and you're invited! There's something for everyone among our community's rich array of artwork, gardens, history and culture. 

World's Largest Chest of Drawers

by Stephen on November 18, 2010 0 Comments

The "Home Furnishings Capital of the World" is crowded with furniture manufacturing operations, pier wall bargain hunters, even a Furniture Discovery Center. So it should be no surprise that High Point has taken the lead in the big furniture battle with not one, but two giant chests of drawers.

The original chest of drawers was built in the 1920s by the High Point Chamber of Commerce. The twenty foot tall building-with-knobs served as the local "bureau of information." In 1996, the building was completely renovated and converted into a 38-foot tall Goddard-Townsend block front chest. A real chest was used as a prototype -- it can be viewed in the Lobby of the local visitor information center.

Two gigantic socks dangle from a drawer, officially symbolizing "the city's hosiery industry."

It's an impressive leap from the old chest of drawers, clearly shoving the big chair brouhaha into a dusty ...

read more

Why you Must get to Old Salem

by Stephen on November 10, 2010 0 Comments

Salem was founded in 1766 by the Moravians – a Protestant group of people that began in what is now known as the Czech Republic. The Moravians were missionaries who established an earlier settlement in Bethlehem, PA before beginning "Wachovia" in the North Carolina backcountry in 1753. In the Wachovia Tract of nearly 100,000 acres, Salem was the central administrative, spiritual, craft, and professional town surrounded by five outlying congregations.

The Moravian Church and Salem residents kept meticulous records and accounts of their lives, their interactions, their buildings and landscapes, and their evolution into the town of Winston-Salem. These records, diaries, and accounts provide accurate details to tell the stories of those living and working in Salem.

Salem residents were also well respected for their architecture and attention to detail. The architecture and landscape of Salem are still quite accurate, as many of the Historic Town buildings are original structures ...

read more

Spotlight: Pittsboro

by Stephen on September 6, 2010 0 Comments

For those of you who have no history, so to speak, with North Carolina or Pittsboro, NC in particular (my mother grew up there) then you wouldn't truly understand the transformation: from small, off-the beaten-path crossroads to growing Chapel Hill suburb; from small gas stations and storefronts to trendy restaurants and arts displays.

It's true. Pittsboro is now one of the places to be in the Triangle are of NC (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel-Hill).

A must stop: The General Store Cafe, 39 West Street.

In the unlikeliest of places lies one of the most happening hot spots in the Triangle area. Its popularity is growing. Visitors show up from different states often to see what all the fuss is about. Take a stroll through downtown Pittsboro on a weekend evening and you may hear the music, see the lights and smell the wonderful aromas emanating from the General Store ...

read more
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Shelton Vinyards

NC Wine

  • North Carolina is home to more than 90 wineries. The number of wineries has more than quadrupled since 2001. The industry has two focuses - native muscadine grapes and European-style vinifera grapes.
  • Commonly planted vinifera grape varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay and Viognier. They are planted in the Western and Piedmont regions of the state.
  • Plantings of native muscadine grapes, also known as Scuppernongs, are relatively pest resistant and thrive in the hot sandy conditions of the Coastal region. Muscadines contain high levels of Resveratrol and other health-enhancing antioxidants. Some wineries even sell grape skins to nutraceutical companies.
  • North Carolina is home to more than 90 wineries. The number of wineries has more than quadrupled since 2001. The industry has two focuses — native muscadine grapes and European-style vinifera grapes.
  • Commonly planted vinifera grape varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay and Viognier. They are planted in the Western and Piedmont regions of the state.
  • Plantings of native muscadine grapes, also known as Scuppernongs, are relatively pest resistant and thrive in the hot sandy conditions of the Coastal region. Muscadines contain high levels of Resveratrol and other health-enhancing antioxidants. Some wineries even sell grape skins to nutraceutical companies.
  • Scuppernong is the first grape cultivated in the United States and is the official fruit of North Carolina. The Mothervine in Manteo on Roanoke Island, North Carolina is a 400-year old Scuppernong vine and is the oldest known cultivated grapevine in the nation.
  • North Carolina ranks 7th for wine production in the United States.
  • More than 400 individually owned grape vineyards are spread across the state, covering 1,800 acres.
  • According to a recent study, the annual economic impact of the North Carolina wine and grape industry is $813 million with 5,700 jobs created.
  • The Yadkin Valley is North Carolina's first federally recognized American Viticultural Area (AVA). It is located in northwestern North Carolina, and there are nearly 30 wineries and 400 acres devoted to vineyards in the Yadkin Valley.
  • Swan Creek AVA was established in 2008 in northwest North Carolina and includes five wineries.
  • Haw River Valley AVA is North Carolina’s third and newest AVA, established in 2009. It is located in central North Carolina and is home to six wineries.
  • Asheville is home to the Biltmore Estate Winery, which receives more than one million visitors annually and is the most visited winery in the United States.
  • Medoc Vineyard in the town of Brinkleyville in Halifax County was the first commercial winery established in North Carolina and led the country's wine production in 1835.
  • At the turn of the century, 25 wineries operated in North Carolina, making it one of the most productive wine states in the U.S. The industry closed with the onset of Prohibition.
  • A 2007 national survey sponsored by the Travel Industry Association (TIA) in partnership with Gourmet magazine and the International Culinary Tourism Association (ICTA), cited North Carolina as one of the top five state destinations for wine and culinary tourism activities in the United States.
  • Duplin Winery, the largest and oldest winery in the state, is the world’s largest producer of Muscadine wine.

Charlotte Motor Speedway and NASCAR

 

The city of Charlotte is known as the headquarters for all things NASCAR. Technically, the real NASCAR adventures are just slightly north of Charlotte in Concord, NC — the home of the Charlotte Motor Speedway, which hosts three NASCAR Sprint Cup races each year.

For those who don’t want to just sit in the stands, a few miles west of the speedway is NASCAR SpeedPark — an amusement area with go-karts, mini-golf, NASCAR simulators, a video game arcade and Laser Tag — attached to the Concord Mills Mall.

The go-karts at NASCAR SpeedPark do not come close to reaching the speeds of an actual stock car, but the SpeedPark offers some thrills for the entire family. The park offers four large go-kart tracks that guests taller than 56 inches can drive on, and one track designed for younger children. Each track is distinctive, as “The Rookie” replicates a NASCAR-like quarter-mile oval, the “Family 500” is a 1,200-foot track with plenty of turns, “SlideWayz” is a polished track with tight corners, and “The Champions” is a figure-eight indoor track with electric karts.

Guests can purchase single go-kart rides for $7, or opt for a daily-unlimited pass for $31 (depending on the season). The unlimited pass grants access to non-stop driving fun, along with mini-golf, Laser Tag, bumper boats, the NASCAR Reactor Simulator and the indoor climbing wall. The SpeedPark also offers an unlimited month pass for $41.99, a two-month pass for $59.99 and a six-month pass for $79.99.

NASCAR SpeedPark also has a concession stand and a gift shop for NASCAR memorabilia.

-From Mike D'Avria

 

Pocono Raceway founder Mattioli dies at 86

NASCAR officials say that Pocono Raceway founder and chairman Dr. Joseph Mattioli has died. He was ...

MillerCoors signs extensions with NASCAR, Penske

MillerCoors has signed contract extensions with NASCAR and Penske Racing.

Kentucky Speedway still adding more parking

Kentucky Speedway officials promised more improvements Wednesday to prevent a repeat of the parking ...

Ford unveils 2013 Ford Fusion

Ford on Tuesday became first manufacturer in NASCAR to unveil its 2013 car.

Target celebrates Ganassi's run of championships

Chip Ganassi says his NASCAR organization was "just pathetic" last season, and that led to sweeping ...

Federal appeals court hears Mayfield's drug case

Attorneys for former racecar driver Jeremy Mayfield are asking a federal appeals panel to reinstate ...

Danica Patrick won't run Indy 500 this year

Danica Patrick will not run the Indianapolis 500 this season. Patrick will instead compete in the ...

NASCAR Hall of Fame welcomes diverse class

Family was the prevailing theme as NASCAR inducted its third, and most diverse, class into the Hall ...

Kyle Busch signs brother Kurt for Nationwide team

Kyle Busch has hired his older brother Kurt to help him launch his new team in NASCAR.

Waltrip headlines NASCAR's 3rd Hall of Fame class

Darrell Waltrip has made a living from running his mouth, with a trash-talking style that helped ...

North Carolina Ramble is about North Carolina travel. About North Carolina events, North Carolina things to do, North Carolina activities, North Carolina places, North Carolina people, North Carolina culture, North Carolina cuisine.

North Carolina Ramble: all things North Carolina.

North Carolina events

North Carolina things to do

North Carolina activities

North Carolina places

North Carolina people

North Carolina culture

North Carolina cuisine

Azaleas Abound

by Stephen on March 15, 2011 0 Comments

 

The 64th Annual North Carolina Azalea Festival will be held April 6-10, 2011 in the greater Wilmington area. The Festival is a celebration of Wilmington’s exceptional artwork, gardens, rich history and culture during its five days of entertainment that includes: a parade, street fair, circus, concerts, pageantry, and all that is Southern.

 

Since its Inception in 1948, the Festival has blossomed into an extended weekend celebration that attracts more than 300,000 people. The Festival is a non-profit civic organization and this year is sponsored in substantial part by its four (4) major sponsors: Progress Energy, Wachovia Bank, the Hilton Wilmington Riverside, and Coastal Beverage.For more than 50 years, the folks of Southeastern North Carolina have been throwing the best party in the South and you're invited! There's something for everyone among our community's rich array of artwork, gardens, history and culture. 

World's Largest Chest of Drawers

by Stephen on November 18, 2010 0 Comments

The "Home Furnishings Capital of the World" is crowded with furniture manufacturing operations, pier wall bargain hunters, even a Furniture Discovery Center. So it should be no surprise that High Point has taken the lead in the big furniture battle with not one, but two giant chests of drawers.

The original chest of drawers was built in the 1920s by the High Point Chamber of Commerce. The twenty foot tall building-with-knobs served as the local "bureau of information." In 1996, the building was completely renovated and converted into a 38-foot tall Goddard-Townsend block front chest. A real chest was used as a prototype -- it can be viewed in the Lobby of the local visitor information center.

Two gigantic socks dangle from a drawer, officially symbolizing "the city's hosiery industry."

It's an impressive leap from the old chest of drawers, clearly shoving the big chair brouhaha into a dusty ...

read more

Why you Must get to Old Salem

by Stephen on November 10, 2010 0 Comments

Salem was founded in 1766 by the Moravians – a Protestant group of people that began in what is now known as the Czech Republic. The Moravians were missionaries who established an earlier settlement in Bethlehem, PA before beginning "Wachovia" in the North Carolina backcountry in 1753. In the Wachovia Tract of nearly 100,000 acres, Salem was the central administrative, spiritual, craft, and professional town surrounded by five outlying congregations.

The Moravian Church and Salem residents kept meticulous records and accounts of their lives, their interactions, their buildings and landscapes, and their evolution into the town of Winston-Salem. These records, diaries, and accounts provide accurate details to tell the stories of those living and working in Salem.

Salem residents were also well respected for their architecture and attention to detail. The architecture and landscape of Salem are still quite accurate, as many of the Historic Town buildings are original structures ...

read more

Spotlight: Pittsboro

by Stephen on September 6, 2010 0 Comments

For those of you who have no history, so to speak, with North Carolina or Pittsboro, NC in particular (my mother grew up there) then you wouldn't truly understand the transformation: from small, off-the beaten-path crossroads to growing Chapel Hill suburb; from small gas stations and storefronts to trendy restaurants and arts displays.

It's true. Pittsboro is now one of the places to be in the Triangle are of NC (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel-Hill).

A must stop: The General Store Cafe, 39 West Street.

In the unlikeliest of places lies one of the most happening hot spots in the Triangle area. Its popularity is growing. Visitors show up from different states often to see what all the fuss is about. Take a stroll through downtown Pittsboro on a weekend evening and you may hear the music, see the lights and smell the wonderful aromas emanating from the General Store ...

read more
Page 1 of 1.
Shelton Vinyards

North Carolina's 11th Annual Wine Festival

by Stephen on May 1, 2011 0 Comments

Increasingly, North Carolina is becoming a noted wine producing state. If you are a novice win drinker, or a veteran with a sophisticated palate, you'll want to check out this festival.

The largest wine festival in North Carolina. Your ticket provides you tasting from all wineries, artist and crafter displays, great food choices and music all day featuring The Chairmen of the Board, The Band of Oz and The Plaids! You may also purchase by the glass and the case and stock up on all the North Caroilna wines that you love! www.ncwinefestival.com get tickets now online or at Triad Harris Teeter customer service desks in May!

Page 1 of 1.

The Steeplechase is On

by Stephen on April 21, 2011 0 Comments

Be in Tryon, NC on Saturday, April 23, for the 65th running of the Block House Steeplechase.

Did you know that the Block House is the longest running steeplechase in the state of North Carolina? It's occurred continuously since 1947. The National Steeplechase Association sanctions four of the races with total purses reaching $60,000. One amateur race showcasing local jockeys takes place after the Carolina First Block House Cup feature race.

Tickets are sold in advance to some 18,000 plus spectators in attendance. The day is filled with family, friends, tailgating, a hat contest, and, of course, horses! From carriage club and Paso Fino demonstrations to the thundering sounds of the thoroughbreds striving for a win, you're sure to enjoy a day in Tryon Horse Country.

Romance Just Outside of Chapel Hill

by Stephen on March 28, 2011 0 Comments

Fearrington Village is definitely not off the beaten path--it is nearly mid way between Chapel Hill and Pittsboro, a heavily traveled route--but it feels as though it is. It is the perfect romantic getaway in the Research Triangle area.

Fearrington (pronounced FAIR-ring-ton) is a community located on an historic farm near Chapel Hill, North Carolina. At the heart of Fearrington is the Village Center, with boutique shops, gourmet restaurants, a spa and an independent bookstore surrounded by extensive gardens and pastures.

The Fearrington House Country Inn and Restaurant, a Relais & Chateaux property, offers fine dining and lodging and hosts weddings, corporate retreats and other special events.

Do yourself a favor and plan a weekend stay there.

Page 1 of 1.

Azaleas Abound

by Stephen on March 15, 2011 0 Comments

 

The 64th Annual North Carolina Azalea Festival will be held April 6-10, 2011 in the greater Wilmington area. The Festival is a celebration of Wilmington’s exceptional artwork, gardens, rich history and culture during its five days of entertainment that includes: a parade, street fair, circus, concerts, pageantry, and all that is Southern.

 

Since its Inception in 1948, the Festival has blossomed into an extended weekend celebration that attracts more than 300,000 people. The Festival is a non-profit civic organization and this year is sponsored in substantial part by its four (4) major sponsors: Progress Energy, Wachovia Bank, the Hilton Wilmington Riverside, and Coastal Beverage.For more than 50 years, the folks of Southeastern North Carolina have been throwing the best party in the South and you're invited! There's something for everyone among our community's rich array of artwork, gardens, history and culture. 

World's Largest Chest of Drawers

by Stephen on November 18, 2010 0 Comments

The "Home Furnishings Capital of the World" is crowded with furniture manufacturing operations, pier wall bargain hunters, even a Furniture Discovery Center. So it should be no surprise that High Point has taken the lead in the big furniture battle with not one, but two giant chests of drawers.

The original chest of drawers was built in the 1920s by the High Point Chamber of Commerce. The twenty foot tall building-with-knobs served as the local "bureau of information." In 1996, the building was completely renovated and converted into a 38-foot tall Goddard-Townsend block front chest. A real chest was used as a prototype -- it can be viewed in the Lobby of the local visitor information center.

Two gigantic socks dangle from a drawer, officially symbolizing "the city's hosiery industry."

It's an impressive leap from the old chest of drawers, clearly shoving the big chair brouhaha into a dusty ...

read more

Why you Must get to Old Salem

by Stephen on November 10, 2010 0 Comments

Salem was founded in 1766 by the Moravians – a Protestant group of people that began in what is now known as the Czech Republic. The Moravians were missionaries who established an earlier settlement in Bethlehem, PA before beginning "Wachovia" in the North Carolina backcountry in 1753. In the Wachovia Tract of nearly 100,000 acres, Salem was the central administrative, spiritual, craft, and professional town surrounded by five outlying congregations.

The Moravian Church and Salem residents kept meticulous records and accounts of their lives, their interactions, their buildings and landscapes, and their evolution into the town of Winston-Salem. These records, diaries, and accounts provide accurate details to tell the stories of those living and working in Salem.

Salem residents were also well respected for their architecture and attention to detail. The architecture and landscape of Salem are still quite accurate, as many of the Historic Town buildings are original structures ...

read more

Spotlight: Pittsboro

by Stephen on September 6, 2010 0 Comments

For those of you who have no history, so to speak, with North Carolina or Pittsboro, NC in particular (my mother grew up there) then you wouldn't truly understand the transformation: from small, off-the beaten-path crossroads to growing Chapel Hill suburb; from small gas stations and storefronts to trendy restaurants and arts displays.

It's true. Pittsboro is now one of the places to be in the Triangle are of NC (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel-Hill).

A must stop: The General Store Cafe, 39 West Street.

In the unlikeliest of places lies one of the most happening hot spots in the Triangle area. Its popularity is growing. Visitors show up from different states often to see what all the fuss is about. Take a stroll through downtown Pittsboro on a weekend evening and you may hear the music, see the lights and smell the wonderful aromas emanating from the General Store ...

read more
Page 1 of 1.
Old Salem