FAYETTEVILLE: HISTORY, HEROES, AND DOWN-HOME HOSPITALITY

BY: JANET STEINBERG

The sixth-largest city in North Carolina, Fayetteville is located in the Sandhills, on the Cape Fear River. This city of approximately 200,000 people was the first city in America to be named for General LaFayette.  In 1825, Lafayette traveled to Fayetteville in a horse-drawn carriage that is on display at the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry Armory & Museum.

The Market House is the focal point of downtown Fayetteville. Originally the site of the State House, this National Landmark was built in 1832 after the big fire of 1831. Architecturally unique in North Carolina, the Market House is one of the few structures in North America to use the town hall scheme found in England.

The Museum of the Cape Fear Historical complex encompasses The Museum, the 1897 Poe House, and Arsenal Park.

The magnificent Cape Fear Botanical Garden sits on 77-acres between the Cape Fear River and Cross Creek.  

CAPE FEAR BOTANICAL GARDEN

HIGHLANDS: NORTH CAROLINA’S HIDDEN GEM

BY: JANET STEINBERG

The village of Highlands, in the southern Appalachian Mountains  is the perfect destination for city dwellers in need of a retreat.

Highlands was founded in 1875 after its two founders, Samuel Truman Kelsey and Clinton Carter Hutchinson, drew lines from Chicago to Savannah and from New Orleans to New York.  They felt that the place where these lines met would eventually become a great trading center and commercial crossroads.  In the 1930s the town became a golfing mecca when Bobby Jones of Atlanta, and some of his well-heeled golfing buddies, founded the Highlands Country Club.

The Highlands area offers stunning Blue Ridge Mountain panoramas.  With more than its share of natural beauty, there are cascading waterfalls of every variety.  Bridal Veil Falls (that you can drive under)…Dry Falls (where you can stay dry)…and Bust your Butt Falls (where you can…use your imagination!)

DRIVE UNDER BRIDAL VEIL FALLS

ASHEVILLE: GOING TOPLESS IN THE MOUNTAINS

BY: JANET STEINBERG

Hopping into a shiny black convertible…top down…sun on my face and wind in my hair…my husband and I set out for a 1458-mile drive through North Carolina, dubbed the “Tar Heel State”. 

GOING TOPLESS IN THE MOUNTAINS

 Greeted by mountains, my spirits soared.  Crisp air filled my lungs and the scent of the forest was nothing short of overwhelming.  I knew I was about to encounter a timeless natural beauty…a place where nature transcended the ordinary…a place called Asheville, North Carolina, “The Land of the Sky”.