NC Travel Chat

Send us a textCarl and Christina are excited about spring in North Carolina! In this episode, they share a handful of places and events to visit during this bright and warmer season! Mentions (linked to more info) Sarah P. Duke GardensBotanical GardensStrawberry PickingDreamville Music FestivalNC Tribute to the KingMerlefestComment here or email us (info@nctripping.com) Visit NCTripping.com to Plan Your North Carolina Travels! Subscribe and Become an Insider Follow us on social media

Send us a textCarl and Christina get romantic in this episode of NC Travel Chat. We share our favorite romantic restaurants in North Carolina, followed by picks from email subscribers and Instagram followers. Comment here email us (info@nctripping.com) Visit Us at NCTripping.com to Plan Your North Carolina Travels! Follow us on social media @NCTripping! Subscribe to our emails at NCTripping.com/subscribe.

Send us a textCarl and Christina read answers to this question answered by you on social media: What surprised you most about living in North Carolina? Comment here email us (info@nctripping.com) Visit Us at NCTripping.com to Plan Your North Carolina Travels! Follow us on social media @NCTripping!

Send us a textCarl and Christina talk long-distance and things they want to do in North Carolina in 2025! It immediately becomes a contest and you'll never guess who wins. If you live here or have a trip planned, what are you going to do in 2025? Comment here email us (info@nctripping.com) Visit Us at NCTripping.com to Plan Your North Carolina Travels! Follow us on social media @NCTripping!

Send us a textCarl returns with Christina for more NC Travel Chat, a little re-introduction of us, and what we plan to do going forward. Comment your questions here or by email to info@nctripping.com! Visit Us at NCTripping.com to Plan Your North Carolina Travels! Follow us on social media @NCTripping!

Send us a textFor Today's NC Travel Chat, we focus on Watauga County, North Carolina, which includes Boone, Blowing Rock, and other places that Emily and her colleagues at Explore Boone market to the world. Shoutouts and Helpful LinksExplore Boone: exploreboone.comVoluntourism Opportunities in Boone: exploreboone.com/boone-sustainability/voluntourism-opportunitiesBoone Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation: boonechamber.com/foundationCoyote Kitchen: coyotekitchen.comSamaritans Purse: samaritanspurse.orgBeacon Heights: nctripping.com/beacon-heights-overlook-trailMoses Cone Memorial Park: nctripping.com/moses-cone-memorial-parkBlue Ridge Conservancy: blueridgeconservancy.orgRiver Girl Fishing Company: rivergirlfishing.comElk Knob State Park: nctripping.com/elk-knob-state-parkHospitality House of NWNC: hosphouse.org/aboutFARM Cafe: farmcafe.orgBlue Ridge Women in Ag: brwia.orgAppalchian Ski Mountain: appskimtn.comSugar Mountain Resort: skisugar.comBeech Mountain Resort: beechmountainresort.comHawksnest Snow Tubing: hawksnesttubing.comChoose n Cut Christmas Trees in Boone: exploreboone.com/outdoors/farms-agriculture/christmas-treesTweetsie Christmas: nctripping.com/tweetsie-christmasVisit Us at NCTripping.com to Plan Your North Carolina Travels!

Send us a textIn this episode of NC Travel Chat, Katherine Christie of Burke County, North Carolina, which includes Morganton, the Linville Gorge, and more. She shares many ways we can all help the people and businesses of her region. We also get Katherine's thoughts on the spooky Brown Mountain Lights, her favorite barbecue restaurant in the area, and more. Shoutouts and Helpful LinksBurke County Tourism: discoverburkecounty.comDowntown Morganton: morgantonnc.gov/main-street/page/come-downtownDowntown Valdese: townofvaldese.comShop WNC: shopwnc.comApple Hill Orchard and Cider Mill: applehillorchard.comFonta Flora Brewery: fontaflora.comHamilton Williams Gallery & Studio (pictured above): hamiltonwilliams.comPerry's Berry's Vineyard & Winery: perrysberrys.comSilver Fork Winery: silverforkwinery.comBurke County United Way: www.bcuw.orgNC Tripping's Guide to Morganton: nctripping.com/things-to-do-in-morgantonVisit Us at NCTripping.com to Plan Your North Carolina Travels!

Send us a textWilkes County and other less affected areas of Western NC are in a tough and sometimes impossible position of helping while also needing support from visitors like you. We chatted with Tourism Director Thomas Salley about things to do this fall and beyond in Wilkes County, North Carolina. Shoutouts and Helpful LinksWilkes County Tourism: https://www.wilkescountytourism.com/Wilkes County Chamber of Commerce: https://www.wilkeschamber.com/ High Country Host: https://highcountryhost.com/homeHillside Horror: http://www.hillsidehorror.com/North Wilkesboro Speedway: https://www.northwilkesborospeedway.com/NC Tripping: https://www.nctripping.com/wilkes-county/Visit Us at NCTripping.com to Plan Your North Carolina Travels!

Send us a textAfter Christina Riley from NC Tripping traveled to Swannanoa, North Carolina, to help serve meals to community members in need, she shared this short statement of gratitude for those coming together from all over to help Western North Carolina. In her words, "Gratitude is such a strange word to use in juxtaposition of tragedy. But here we are." If you want to help the people and businesses of Western NC, check here: https://www.nctripping.com/help-western-nc/https://www.nctripping.com/support-western-nc-businesses/Visit Us at NCTripping.com to Plan Your North Carolina Travels!

In this episode of NC Travel Chat, we focus on 7 October Events in NC that you can't miss:No spoilers but here are some things we mention along the way: Bolton in Columbus County (near Lake Waccamaw)Cabarrus CountyGreensboroHuntersvilleLexingtonMooresvilleOxford in Granville CountyRandolph CountyRaleighStatesvilleAre you also looking forward to October events in NC? Is there one that you want to tell me about? Email me at carl@nctripping.com. Further Readingnctripping.com/things-to-do-in-north-carolina-in-octobernctripping.com/fall-in-north-carolinaMusic Credit"Go Get 'Em Tiger" by The Whole Other

We shared a handful of Blue Ridge Parkway stops on the NC side last time. In this episode, we will cover 5 more. No spoilers but here are some things we mention along the way: AshevilleBlack Mountain CampgroundBlowing RockBooneBiltmore EstateCherokeeClingmans DomeGrandfather MountainThe High CountryJockey's Ridge State ParkAre you also looking forward to hopping on the Blue Ridge Parkway this fall? Is there one stop on the North Carolina side that you want to tell me about? Email me at carl@nctripping.com. Further Readingnctripping.com/blue-ridge-parkway-stopsnctripping.com/fall-in-north-carolinanctripping.com/north-carolina-road-tripsnps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/roadclosures.htmMusic Credits"Go Get 'Em Tiger" by The Whole Other

We continue our dive into things we love about Fall in North Carolina. In this episode, we cover a handful of scenic roads from the mountains to the sea. No spoilers but here are some things we mention along the way: AshevilleRough Ridge Trail  Linville FallsCraggy Gardens Crabtree FallsBrevardLooking Glass Falls Moore Cove FallsSliding Rock FallsFrench Broad Falls (Mill Shoals Falls) and Bird Rock Falls (aka Cathedral Falls)MorgantonTable Rock MountainWisemans ViewHanging Rock State ParkOcracoke IslandBodie Island Lighthouse Cape Hatteras LighthouseSpringer's PointPortsmouth IslandAre you also looking forward to driving our beautiful roads? Is there one in North Carolina that you want to tell us about? Let us know by emailing me at carl@nctripping.com. Further Readingnctripping.com/fall-in-north-carolinanctripping.com/north-carolina-road-tripsMusic Credits"Go Get 'Em Tiger" by The Whole Other

The most popular thing to do during fall in North Carolina is to find the best fall colors. In this episode, we share the 5 most colorful fall hikes in NC from our personal experiences. Remember to leave no trace when hiking in North Carolina or anywhere else!Our Top 5 are also mentioned here: nctripping.com/fall-hikes-in-north-carolinaFall in NC Guide: nctripping.com/fall-in-north-carolinaMore NC Travel Guides: nctripping.comAdditional Episode Shoutouts: The Blue Ridge ParkwayMorganton, North CarolinaTable Rock MountainHawksbill MountainShortoff MountainThe Hanging Rock TrailStone Mountain State ParkMusic Credits: "Go Get 'Em Tiger" by The Whole Other

After a bit of a hiatus, NC Travel Chat is back. We had a lot going on in the past year, including the birth of our son, and lots of new adventures. I can't wait to share them on a more regular basis with you. Stay tuned as we find something awesome in North Carolina in each episode. Until then, take care. Learn more at nctripping.com/nc-travel-chat/

To get ready for one of the busiest times of the year, Christina and I have made a bucket list for ourselves! Here are 5 things that we're looking forward to this summer. You can read more of our NC Bucket List at nctripping.com/things-to-do-in-north-carolina-bucket-list/Follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!  

Mark Bastin from Yonder Luxury Vacation Rentals joins us to talk about his company and what people should expect when staying with them. We were NOT paid to say the following: Every time we’ve stayed at a Yonder property, we’ve been blown away at the quality and the service they offer. I’ve been wanting to chat with Mark for a while and here we are for this episode of NC Travel Chat.For more info about Yonder, visit yondervacationrentals.com.Follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!  

For this episode, we’re going to focus on 7 of our favorite places to stay, including a bonus rental company at the end. We’ll share a few hotels from west to east, a campground in Western NC, and an inn on the coast. You can read our full guide to these and more favorites at NCTripping.com/hotels-in-north-carolina. Follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!  

Following up on our guide to Spring Break destinations (check it out if you haven’t yet), I want to focus on our current favorite spring hikes in this 34th episode of NC Travel Chat. We've covered them and many more at nctripping.com/hiking-trails-in-north-carolina.Follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!  

[SPOILER ALERT]Fingers crossed but we think things might be picking up with spring travel in North Carolina. You might be eyeing some more popular places like Asheville, the Outer Banks, and Wilmington, but we want to share some lesser-known places you should visit during these times. For a full roundup, visit nctripping.com/spring-break-destinations-in-north-carolina.Here's a breakdown of the list with links to more info about each place. Bryson City: nctripping.com/things-to-do-in-bryson-cityFayetteville: nctripping.com/things-to-do-in-fayettevilleJacksonville: nctripping.com/weekend-things-to-do-in-jacksonville-ncWilkesboro: nctripping.com/things-to-do-in-wilkesboroBoone: nctripping.com/things-to-do-in-boone

I’m probably making a mistake here but in this episode of NC Travel Chat, I’m going to share our 10 favorite waterfalls in North Carolina. This list will probably change tomorrow but I’m trying my best to stay in the present and own it. Read about them and more here: nctripping.com/waterfalls-in-north-carolinaFollow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!  

Kevin Adams is one of the foremost writers and photographers of waterfalls in North Carolina. After many years of visiting, photographing, and sharing waterfalls with us, he founded Waterfall Keepers of North Carolina, a non-profit volunteer-led organization dedicated to the wellbeing of waterfalls and "waterfallers." For more about them, visit waterfallkeepersofnc.org and for more of Kevin's work, visit kadamsphoto.com. 

This episode is a follow-up on famous NC food brands. We chat with Justin Raymond from Carolina Packers, the company that produces Brightleaf Hot Dogs and more. You can learn more about them at carolinapackers.com. Follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

This episode is dedicated to famous food brands from North Carolina. That includes snacks, soft drinks, hot dogs, and more! For more famous NC food, visit nctripping.com/famous-north-carolina-foods.Follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

To say Leesa Payton Jones is a big contributor to Washington and its Eastern NC surroundings is an understatement. She is a crucial part of that community and serves as executive director of The Washington Waterfront Underground Railroad Museum. For more info, visit facebook.com/washingtonundergroundrailroad. Follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

For the last of this four-part series on Black History Sites in North Carolina, we mention 6 more places to visit. This NC Travel Chat episode begins with the Oliver Nestus Freeman Roundhouse Museum in Wilson and closes with the Young Men's Institute in Asheville. For a full list and breakdown, visit nctripping.com/black-history-in-north-carolina.

In part 3 of our Black History Sites series, we uncover 5 more places to visit. NC Travel Chat starts with Hood Huggers International Tours in Asheville and finishes up with the NC Museum of History in Raleigh. Highlights include the International Civil Rights Center in Greensboro. For a full list and breakdown, visit nctripping.com/black-history-in-north-carolina.

For part 2 of our series, we'll share 5 more places to visit, starting with the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Historic Site in Sedalia and ending with Charlotte's Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture. For a full list and breakdown, visit nctripping.com/black-history-in-north-carolina.

February is Black History Month and we are getting a head start on it here at NC Travel Chat. We’re going to share 6 places to visit, starting with the African-American Heritage Tour in New Bern and Finishing with Bull City Laughs in Durham. A full list and breakdown can be found at nctripping.com/black-history-in-north-carolina.

Tonya Council is an entrepreneur and one of the biggest supporters of local makers in North Carolina. Follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

Take a break from doom-scrolling and just listen to these 5 things that I’m looking forward to in North Carolina in 2021. Follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

2020 has been a tough year for so many people. That's why I think it's important for those of us who can to be grateful for what we have and where we live, especially if it's North Carolina! Follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

Ron Pringle is the President and CEO of Inter-Faith Food Shuttle based in Raleigh. For more about North Carolina's Food Banks, stay tuned. Also, follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

Brian Lampkin is an owner of Scuppernong Books on Elm St in Downtown Greensboro. For more about how to support businesses like his, visit nctripping.com/support-local-businesses. Also, follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

Ben Owen is a descendant of the original Seagrove Potters that came to Randolph County as farmers and eventually emerged as world-renowned artists. For more about Seagrove and elsewhere in and around Asheboro nearby, visit nctripping.com/things-to-do-in-asheboro-weekend/. Also, follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

Tal Galton lives in Yancey County and owns Snakeroot Ecotours, which leads guided hikes through the forests of Yancey Co and the South Toe valley around Mount Mitchell. For more on Tal and other hikes in the area, visit nctripping.com/black-mountains-hikes. Also, follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

This interview with Jake Blood of NC High Peaks and Explore Burnsville is the first of a two-part series on the Black mountains that surround Burnsville and Yancey co. For more on the area, visit https://www.nctripping.com/things-to-do-in-burnsville/. Also, follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

Sabrina Bengel is a longtime New Bern resident, a business owner, currently Alderman of the First Ward. She’s passionate about her town and happy to share what she loves about it. For more about New Bern, visit https://www.nctripping.com/things-to-do-in-new-bern/Follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

It’s been a rough year and that’s why I want to spread some cheer in the form of "Good News North Carolina." Show notes will go out in our weekly emails each Monday. For more info, visit https://www.nctripping.com/subscribe/.

For this episode of NC Travel Chat we’re talking with Daniel Sasser, Board Member of Statesville’s Carolina Balloonfest and also a Balloon Meister. For more episode info, visit https://www.nctripping.com/nc-travel-chat-13/. Follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

For this episode of NC Travel Chat, we followed up on the previous one, which was with Toe River Arts Executive Director Nealy Andrews. This episode consists of two on-site interviews with Toe River Artists who reside in Yancey County.For more episode info, visit https://www.nctripping.com/nc-travel-chat-13/. Follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Nealy Andrews is the Executive Director of Toe River Arts and during the first of our two-part series, she shares the ways she and her team help area artists and the community as a whole. For more episode info, visit https://www.nctripping.com/nc-travel-chat-12/. Follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Uli Bennewitz is the owner of Weeping Radish, North Carolina’s first microbrewery. He joined us for NC Travel Chat to talk about his journey from arriving in America on a Visa to NC Beer Pioneer and beyond.For more episode info, visit https://www.nctripping.com/nc-travel-chat-11/. Follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. For our NC Bucket List Book, visit https://www.nctripping.com/nc-bucket-list-book/.

This episode is a special one because Carl shares his feelings on releasing the NC Bucket List Book, which came out Friday, September 4. For more info, visit https://www.nctripping.com/nc-bucket-list-book/

Carl flies solo to look back on the first episodes, share thoughts on the journey, and where we're going with topics on NC Travel Chat. For more episode info, visit https://www.nctripping.com/nctravelchat/. Follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Rick Bell is one of the owners of Engadine Inn and Cabins in Candler, near Asheville. He shares interesting stories about the property, how they're faring these days, his favorite places to visit, and tips to help avoid crowds. For more episode info, visit https://www.nctripping.com/nc-travel-chat-10/. Follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Kate Pearce has worked on Dorothea Dix Park since its opening in 2015. She knows its ins, outs, where it's been, and where it's going. For more episode info, visit https://www.nctripping.com/nc-travel-chat-9/. Follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Beverly Mooney is a second-generation farmer who owns Millstone Creek Orchards in Ramseur, Randolph County. For more episode info, visit https://www.nctripping.com/nc-travel-chat-8/. Follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Gerri Grady has owned Grady’s Barbecue in Dudley, Wayne County with her husband Steve since 1986. For more episode info, visit https://www.nctripping.com/nc-travel-chat-7/. Follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Calvin Reyes is the owner of the Henry River Mill Village outside Hildebran, very close to the Burke County side of Hickory. I tried my best to hold back the Hunger Games fandom but failed more than a few times. For more show info, visit https://www.nctripping.com/nc-travel-chat-6/

On this episode of NC Travel Chat, Brandon Wright of Bull City Laughs shares a bit about himself, the awesome comedy history tour he co-founded, and his favorite place to get pizza in Durham. Shoutouts Include:Durham: Ponysaurus, Clouds Brewing, Beer Durham, Hi-Wire Brewing at Golden Belt, Pie Pushers, Hutchins Garage, Randy’s Pizza, and comedian Dink Kearney (Mr Ghettorauchi)Asheville: LaZoom

For this episode, we talk with Lee Rankin, the owner of Apple Hill Farm in Banner Elk. She's an inspiration to anyone who tours the farm and is lucky enough to meet her. I've been wanted to reconnect with Lee for a long time and she was gracious enough to talk about her journey, the farm, and even her favorite place to visit outside the High Country. If you haven't already, you can book a tour of Apple Hill Farm via their website. I also recommend that you follow their fun animal-heavy Facebook page, too!