Category: North Carolina

Destinations, North Carolina, Packing Lists, Style, Travel, USA

Traveling Light: Packing List for Pinehurst and Southern Pines, North Carolina

Alyssa wears a white sweater with white jeans and a camel coat

Opening up my suitcase and sharing my real-life packing list for a chilly weekend in Pinehurst and Southern Pines, North Carolina What is the closest you’ve cut it while packing for a trip? For a recent trip to the Sandhills, I think I set a new personal record: only an hour before I needed to …

Destinations, North Carolina, Travel, USA

Weekend Retreat in the Sandhills: Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Southern Pines, North Carolina

View of the platform at the Southern Pines Amtrak Station

Spend a weekend in the Sandhills! Explore the towns of Southern Pines, Aberdeen, Carthage, and Pinehurst with this weekend travel guide.

Destinations, North Carolina, Travel, USA

Beyond the Greens: A Day Trip Guide to Pinehurst for Non-Golfers

Alyssa stands on the steps of Agora in Pinehurst

“Oh, do you golf?” If I had a dollar for every time I heard that in the weeks leading up to a recent trip to Pinehurst, well, I could probably afford to buy a set of clubs and hire an instructor. No, sorry, to answer your question, I don’t golf (but I am flattered you …

Charlotte, Destinations, Food, North Carolina, Restaurants, Travel, USA

The Sweetest Spots in the Queen City: A Guide to Charlotte’s Best Bakeries

Alyssa sits at a bistro table with a pastry and holds a cup of coffee

As anyone who’s ever tried to bake a cake or a loaf of bread from scratch knows, baking is a labor of love. And as much as I do enjoy baking at home, sometimes it’s nice to outsource the task to a professional. But not just any bakery – my love for small businesses extends …

Charlotte, Destinations, North Carolina, Travel, USA

The Essential Day Trip Guide to Waxhaw, North Carolina

The Waxhaw water tower in the background with a brick building in the foreground

Sharing your ultimate day-trip travel guide to Waxhaw, North Carolina, a charming town just 45 minutes from Charlotte.

Charlotte, Destinations, North Carolina, Travel, USA

19 Essential Day Trips from Charlotte, North Carolina

Alyssa stands outside of a vintage car in Kannapolis

Rounding up my curated picks for the best day trips from Charlotte If you ask someone why they chose to move to Charlotte, chances are you’ll hear the following reason first: “It’s two hours from the mountains and three hours from the beach.” Now, I don’t agree that the best part of living in Charlotte …

Charlotte, Destinations, North Carolina, Style, Travel, USA

Shop Local: 10 Charlotte Shops You Should Know About

A Charlotte store with clothing and accessories

I frequently highlight small businesses in my travel guides, so I figured it’s finally time to share some of my home city’s best local shops and boutiques! Charlotte is home to nearly every major retailer (although, famously, not Zara) – but those shops receive enough attention as it is, so this post isn’t going to …

Charlotte, Home, North Carolina, Style, Travel, Travel Products, USA, Wish Lists and Gift Ideas

2023 Holiday Gift Guide: Local Gifts from North Carolina

A collage of gifts from North Carolina makers

Happy Small Business Saturday, friends! As has become a tradition around here, I’m thrilled to share a curated guide of local gifts from my current home state in honor of this day. Today’s carefully edited list features a variety of unique and beautifully made items that support North Carolina artists and makers that you should …