Hike: East Fork Creek Trail
by HasTowelWillTravel
This trail in Shining Creek Wilderness rises along the pretty gurgling (or roaring, depending on what time of year it is) of the East Fork Creek. This hike is a one-way trail, but it allows you to connect with many other trails ranging through the area; at the top of the ridge you'll find the Art Loeb Trail, which can lead you through the wilderness and make the hike an extended loop if desired. This is not a difficult hike per se, the trail is well laid out and easy to follow up to the Art Loeb Trail at the ridge. It rises through rhododendron thickets and the mixed forest characteristic of the Pisgah Forest. There are several small creek crossings, but nothing too horrible or requiring a lot of fording skills.
The greatest part of this trail, as in all of the Shining Creek Wilderness, is the number of opportunities to camp out in the back country. With no requirements for wilderness or camp permits, you can just hike till you find a quiet spot and pitch a tent. I camped along the creek, with a beautiful view and totally devoid of other human contact. It was sheltered and very relaxing. I highly recommend spending a night out under the stars.
Trail length: 4 miles (one-way)
Trail time: 2-3 hours (one-way)
Difficulty: Moderate
US Hwy 276, about 10-20 minutes south of Waynesville, NC. At the hairpin turn in the road, two parking lots are on the right side. Take the second one.
Lily's Pizza
by TimDaoust about Lily's Pizza
Anything you'd expect from a pizzeria, including non-pizza items like calzones or stromboli, all organic ingredients, a chilled out rock and roll atmosphere, outdoor eating, a list of specialty pizzas, build-your-own pizza possibilities, wine and beer on tap, let's see am I missing anything. It's a great locale and situated in a great part of town. Not to be missed.
The atmosphere may be a little too loud for some but I like it. And on a nice day it's great to eat out on the patio. I like to build my own pizza often when I go, their crust is excellent. Just about any topping you can imagine from the conventional pepperoni to artichoke hearts plus a variety of sauces from marinara to pesto to alfredo.
eclectic
by MovingMere about NOFO at the pig
A restaurant unique to North Carolina, NOFO stands for North Fourth St in Wilmington, which is it's first location. It is now open in three cities, each with their with their own tagline:
In Raleigh: NOFO at The Pig (the building used to be a Piggly Wiggly grocery store)
Wilmington: NOFO at The Forum (actually in Wrightsville Beach)
Charlotte: NOFO on Liz
Featured in both Southern Living and Our State magazines, this eclectic restaurant is a local favorite. I've been for Sunday bunch, where they serve delicious dishes ranging from the Southern classic shrimp & grits to a crab cake salad. The food was great and reasonably priced, and wandering around the restaurant level as well as the other shopping upstairs was a fun way to finish the meal.
All three locations have received numerous awards, but perhaps the most interesting is one for NOFO at The Pig:
Sir Walter Raleigh Award for Community Appearance, for Outstanding Contribution Toward Enhancing the Beauty of the City of Raleigh, by Encore Magazine in 2002 shrimp and grits
NC State Fair
by queensgirl
This is here down the road from NC State U. and Meredith College. I spent quite a bit of time in this place too. It is a big fair with alot of good food, shopping, people watching, rides, and activities for the kids.
Raleigh, NC
by biglad919
Relocated to Raleigh from Philadelphia in September of 2004. In all honesty, am having a hell of a time adjusting to non-metropolitain, southern living. There are some cool things peppered around the area but nothing is close to each other.
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north carolina museum of natural history
Untitled: Ledelle Moe
Postcards from North Carolina
The Gates
