Wine, Furniture & Fun
Sometimes the coolest thing about getting away is surprising your friends with the unexpected delights of the destination. Most everyone knows North Carolina has a wine-growing region, but your friends probably don’t know how much fun there is to be had exploring the hills and dales of the Yadkin Valley and the small towns that lie in and around it.
Start in the countryside and walk the vine-covered hills of an estate winery like Raffaldini, where you can then sample the wines at the Italian-villa-style tasting room. Find something you like and share a bottle over a picnic on the sunny terrace. Then chart a course to other tasting rooms and wineries in the area, taking in the mountain scenery as you go.
When you’re ready for a break from the wine trail, find your way to Elkin or Mount Airy, where you’ll find tasting rooms, but also coffee shops, antique stores, gourmet restaurants and galleries selling the creations of local artists. Pick a quiet bed and breakfast to spend the night in or maybe a cozy cabin where the gurgle of a creek will lull you to sleep.
Should you be on the hunt for more than crafts and wine, venture south to the furniture capital of the world, High Point. Twice a year, designers and tastemakers from around the globe convene in this small city to check the prevailing winds of style. The rest of the year, there are deals to be had in High Point’s stores and outlets. Even if you don’t find the deal of the century, you’re bound to find inspiration in the variety of designs on display.
Make sure to snap a keepsake photo in front of the world’s largest chest of drawers, a downtown building built to celebrate the town’s furniture-making prowess. The foothills of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains promise a getaway full of discoveries.
By Amber Nimocks
added: December 4, 2008
updated: June 18, 2009
Ideas & What To Do
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