north carolina weekend

Boone, NC

Boone is a cute little mountain town in northwest north carolina!

Boone Tips: 

  • You can definitely see this small town in a weekend! Fall is absolutely the best time to visit so you can leaf peep your heart out, but it is also the most crowded time to visit so keep that in mind!

  • Boone is also home to Appalachian State University so just be aware of things like Homecoming and football games that can lead to traffic.

Lost Province Brewing

Adventures & Ales Top Boone Recommendations: ​

  • Stay at Glamping Unplugged: I have stayed here twice and absolutely loved it! They have secluded domes on a peaceful river just 20 minutes from Boone!

  • Lost Province Brewing: A great brewery right downtown with delicious food options! I love their pizza and that they have a dog-friendly enclosed patio space. They have a rooftop seating area as well with a fun atmosphere.

    • Their second taproom, Lost Province Hardin Creek, is home to their production facility and a small taproom. Coyote Kitchen is also owned by Lost Province with their beers on tap and Southwest Caribbean Soul Food.

  • Stick Boy Kitchen: The best spot for breakfast in town! Get there early or order ahead online to avoid a wait.

  • Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway: This gorgeous drive has numerous viewpoints, picnic areas, and trails to explore.

    • Rough Ridge via Tanawaha Trail: 5.5 miles long with 839ft of elevation and takes just under 3 hours. The Linn Cove Viaduct and Rough Ridge are both gorgeous but they are at the start and end of the trail, the rest of the time you’re just in the forest with no views.

    • Flat Top Mountain Trail: 5 miles with 593ft of elevation gain and takes just under 2 hours. It is only 13 minutes from downtown Boone. This trail is rated moderate but not bad at all, just a moderate incline the whole way up to a fire tower.

    • Bass Lake: There is a 1 mile flat loop trail around the lake or you can just stop for a good spot for a picnic or beer.

    • Skip: Green Knob Loop Trail which is 2 miles long with 528ft of elevation gain and takes just under an hour. There are no views aside from the pond at the trailhead (AllTrails address is incorrect, it is the next pull-off west of AllTrails). It is buggy and boring.

  • Hike at Elk Knob State Park: I did the Summit Trail that was a little over 4 miles—2 of which are straight up and 2 of which are straight down. There were great views throughout the trail and at both viewpoints. The trailhead is about 25 minutes north of Boone.

  • Booneshine Brewing: A solid brewery right on the edge of town with a full food menu and beer garden.

Glamping Unplugged

Other Boone Things to Do:​​

  • Appalachian Mountain Brewery: Another brewery option located near ASU’s campus with a large tap list.

  • Local Lion: A cute coffee shop with baked goods selection as well!

  • Visit Blowing Rock! This is another cute mountain town just a few minutes from Boone. The picturesque downtown is full of restaurants and shops. Parking here can be awful as a forewarning.

    • Blowing Rock Brewing Company: A cute brewery in downtown Blowing Rock with a full food menu and outdoor seating. If the main taproom has a wait they have a back window for beer and snacks too.

    • Hike the Boone Fork Trail! This trail is less than 10 minutes from downtown Blowing Rock and right off the Blue Ridge Parkway. It ended up being about 6.5 miles and there were a couple of ladders and steep stairs to keep in mind for dogs/kids.

Want to explore more of the area? Here is my guide to a weekend along the Blue Ridge Parkway! It includes nearby Banner Elk and other great stops!

Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, NC

Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill make up the Research Triangle in Eastern North Carolina, but don't fret, it's more than nerds doing computer science! There is a fantastic beer scene here as well

​Triangle Tips: 

  • This area is pretty large, so be sure to plan ahead for your adventures.

  • Chapel Hill is all centered around UNC’s campus, so keep in mind the college vibe and throngs of students as you plan.

  • If you only have time to visit one of the cities definitely go for Raleigh, but each area has it’s own vibe so I’d recommend visiting all 3 if you have the time!

Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations in Raleigh:

  • Burial Brewing: Burial is based in Asheville, NC and opened their second taproom in downtown Raleigh at Transfer Co. Food Hall. Burial has incredibly phenomenal beers, not visiting their taproom and bottle shop would be a mistake!

  • Funguys Brewing: Some of the best Sours in the state! They’ve got a small little industrial taproom but their Fruited Sours and Juicy IPAs are worth the trip!

  • Trophy Brewing and Pizza: Delicious pizza and a sweet brewery, what more do you need? 

  • A Place at the Table: A great spot for breakfast sandwiches and you can support others through their pay-what-you-can model. Extremely delicious + doing good!

  • The Morning Times: A super cute newspaper themed coffee shop that is the perfect way to start your morning. However, the bagels here are not great FYI.

  • State of Beer: Owned by Trophy Brewing, this is a nice beer bar with a solid tap list and a large outside patio.

  • Crank Arm Brewing Company: A bike themed brewery with lots of board games, a small patio up front, and quite a large beer list to choose from. I’d recommend a flight to try as many beers as you can!

  • North Carolina Museum of History: I had low expectations for this museum but was pleasantly surprised. Extremely good exhibits on the Civil Rights Movement in particular. Free to enter!

  • Boulted Bread: Delicious breads and pastries in a cute little bakery!

  • Heyday Brewing: A new brewery in Northeast Raleigh with Louisiana vibes. They’ve got impressive beers, a great outdoor space, and yummy food.

  • Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing: A great spot for brews, food, and a view! Their patio overlooks downtown and their food is absolutely delicious.

  • Altered State Brewing: A new brewery in central Raleigh. Don’t be scared off by their tiny taproom they have outdoor seating as well and the beers are worth it!

  • Stay at The Origin! This boutique hotel is conveniently located right downtown and is super cute. The staff goes above and beyond to ensure you are happy, they are super dog friendly, and they have a great onsite bar and restaurant Good Day Good Night that I would highly recommend!

  • North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences: Dinosaurs and hands on activities galore. Perfect for kids. Free if you just want to pop in and wander for a bit!

Fullsteam Brewing

Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations in Durham:

  • Fullsteam Brewing: Fullsteam has incredibly delicious food and a large variety of beers to choose from. They’ve got a large taproom and some outdoor space as well. I’d definitely recommend one of their North Carolina-shaped flight boards to try a few of their brews.

  • Ponysaurus Brewing: Ponysaurus has a massive outdoor beer garden definitely worth checking out!

  • Barrel Culture: Barrel Culture’s original taproom is in Southeast Durham. They specialize in Sours and Wild Ales and have a small patio as well.

  • Hi-Wire Brewing: Hi-Wire is based in Asheville, NC and has a wide variety of beers to choose from. Their Stouts are my personal favorite style that they make!

Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations—Chapel Hill:

  • Steel String Brewery: Yummy beers, a cute outdoor patio, and super friendly beer-tenders

  • Stay at: The Carolina Inn—it was amazing. It was like traveling back in time to the 1920's. Highly recommend!

  • Carolina Brewery: The traditional UNC brewery and restaurant, pop in for a UNC themed beer like the Sky Blue Golden Ale

  • Top of the Hill Restaurant and Brewery: Plan ahead if you are thinking of checking out Top of the Hill, it is definitely the most popular spot in town so be sure to go during off-peak hours or make a reservation if you'll be visiting while school is in session

Breakfast Sandwich from A Place at the Table

Other Things to do in Raleigh:

  • Raleigh Brewing Company: Your standard brewery with average beers. That have a lot of special events here though so be sure to check out their calendar!

  • Clouds Brewing: They have several locations in the Triangle area, but I wasn’t super impressed with their beer or their food unfortunately.

  • Lonerider Brewing: Average beer in a cowboy-themed space. The Shotgun Betty is solid.

  • Gizmo Brew Works: Located right near the Northwest border of Raleigh and Durham, Gizmo did not live up to the hype. I found their beers to be mediocre at best, but their patio is nice, though it is in the parking lot.

  • Humble Pie: A popular restaurant with a large patio in downtown Raleigh, but I found their food to be below average and the service to be mediocre at best.

Other Things to do in Durham:

  • Durty Bull Brewing: They’ve got a large patio space and are in walking distance from Fullsteam!

The Outer Banks, NC

The Outer Banks of North Carolina are a series of barrier islands known for their beaches and wild horses

OBX Tips: 

  • Try to stay near the middle of the island chain so that you can venture both north and south without having to drive forever.

  • Don’t plan to leave on a Saturday morning or do much driving—most rentals are Saturday to Saturday so there is a mass exodus causing a lot of traffic and delays.

  • If you’re traveling with a dog be sure to check individual beach regulations beforehand—each area has different rules during each season, but generally OBX is quite dog friendly.

Adventures & Ales Top outer banks Recommendations:

  • Eventide: I am obsessed with this spot. They have cheese boards, sandwiches and salads alongside beer and wine. The water views are fantastic, especially for sunset. Located in Duck—don’t skip this one!

  • Swells’a Brewing: A great brewery in Kill Devil Hills. Their Hazy IPAs are what they do best and they also serve wine, cider, hard kombucha and frozen slushies. It is a cute spot with an upper deck, outside yard space, and upper and lower seating inside.

  • Duck Donuts: The original location for this fantastic donut chain is in Duck and worth visiting. They have tasty, customizable donuts served hot and fresh. This is a popular spot so go early or be prepared to wait.

  • Barrier Island Bagels: Solid bagels in Kitty Hawk. They have dine in seated service or take-out. They offer bar drinks but no espresso. You can also order online.

  • Art’s Place: A delicious restaurant and bar serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They have a cute spot and great back patio. They are best known for their burgers, which are absolutely delicious. The Sway Bar up top has ocean views. Located in Kitty Hawk.

Bodie Island Lighthouse

top Touristy Spots in obx Actually Worth Visiting:

  • Explore Cape Hatteras National Seashore: The drive itself isn’t super scenic since the water is blocked by sand dunes, but this 67 mile long stretch is full of beaches surrounded by small towns. It is more quaint in this section of the Outer Banks than the central area. You can drive on certain sections of the seashore as well with 4 Wheel Drive and a permit.

    • Be sure to check out Bodie Island Lighthouse and Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, both of which you can climb up for a view.

    • The seashore allows dogs and alcoholic beverages, unlike some other beaches in the area.

    • Be forewarned that there are some crazy flies that tend to be wherever the wind is not blowing and they bite, hard.

    • Haulover on the sound side is a popular spot for paragliding and calm waters—there are also bathrooms and showers here unlike most of the seashore.

  • See the wild horses on Corolla Beach: You’ll either need to sign up for a tour (numerous companies) or have a car with 4 Wheel Drive and get a permit to drive on the beach. Some folks say you can see them walking, that is not reliably accurate.

  • Explore Manteo Island: This is a quaint little island to hop around with shops and restaurants. It was home to the first English-speaking colonists in America and there are historical markers throughout the island.

Barrier Island Bagels

Other things to do in the outer banks:

  • Outer Banks Brewing Station: The first wind-powered brewery in the US! The beers here are average and they have a full food menu. Their backyard space is nice with frequent live music, a playground, and ample seating.

  • Jeanette’s Pier: A popular spot for fishing. It costs $2 to walk out on the pier and $14 to fish. The beach around the pier is great for surfing and beach hanging.

  • Hurricane Mo’s Beachside Bar & Grill: A solid spot for dinner or drinks. They have an upstairs bar that is dog friendly and has frequent live music. The food is tasty and the drinks are cheap. Heads up it is pretty loud both inside and outside here, so don’t plan on an intimate dinner.

Asheville, NC

Asheville has repeatedly been ranked Beer City USA and is a cute little beer-centric town in the middle of the mountains.

AVL Tips: 

  • Wear layers! The weather here fluctuates quite a bit with the elevation so be prepared to be hot one minute and chilly the next.

  • The downtown area can get quickly overwhelmed with tourists and bachelor/bachelorette parties. Be sure to get out of ‘South Slope’ and see more of the city, you won’t regret it.

  • Hiking isn’t as close as you would initially expect, you’ll need to drive a bit to hit the trails even though the city is nestled in the mountains

  • Asheville is unique in that there are ~30 breweries, but there are multiple outposts of some breweries that make that number as high as it is. Burial, Hi-Wire, Wedge, Wicked Weed, Green Man, Asheville Pizza & Brewing, Thirsty Monk, One World, and Catawba each have more than one location all within five or so miles, something that is not common in other cities. I would definitely recommend checking out each location individually if you have time because each atmosphere can be very different!

  • Looking for more of a small town vibe? Hendersonville is a cute area just south of Asheville.

Adventures & Ales Top Asheville Recommendations: ​

  • Burial Beer: The mecca of Asheville beer! This is a MUST. Expect it to be busy as a result of how fantastic the beers are, so try to visit on a weekday if you can. They are constantly changing things up but 100% of what they make is fantastic, especially their IPAs. Their original taproom is in South Slope with patio seating and a small food menu.

    • Forestry Camp is their second venture in the city. It is in the Biltmore Village neighborhood a bit south of downtown. They’ve got a food menu, cocktails and wine, guest taps, a rooftop patio, and chill vibes.

    • Eulogy is their music venue next to the South Slope taprooms. On Saturday afternoons it is open as a beer hall. The space has Burial beers, occasional guest beers, cocktails, Visuals wine, and Good Hot Fish inside. On top of Eulogy is Visuals Wine and Cocktail Bar. This rooftop bar is home to Burial’s wine line, cocktails, a handful of their beers, and a small food menu.

  • Cellarest Beer Project: A great brewery in West Asheville. They are particularly focused on Farmhouse Ales and Lagers. Cassia is their onsite food truck with incredibly delicious Asian eats.

  • Dssolvr: A killer brewery with delicious beers. They are located right downtown and you can get food delivered from nearby restaurants as well.

  • The Whale: An awesome craft beer bar with a variety of taps, cans and bottles. They have three locations in the Asheville area: West Asheville, South Slope, and The Outpost in Haw Creek.

    • The Masters Park to Haw Creek Valley Overlook trail is located 3 minutes from their Outpost location. It is a great way to get in a quick workout with a view before your brew. The trail is 2.3 miles long with 551ft of elevation gain and takes about an hour to complete.

  • Stay at The Glamping Collective: This is an amazing property with geodomes and glass cabins located 30 minutes west of Asheville in Clyde. The domes are incredibly luxurious with kitchens, full bathrooms, hot tubs, fire tables, air conditioning & heat, and so much more. The property has three onsite trails as well, so you don’t even have to get in your car to go for a beautiful hike. The Sunset Summit Trail was my favorite—the views are incredible, even not during sunset! Plus they even have Adirondack chairs at the summit to sit and relax.

    • Another great lodging option is Asheville River Cabins: These are cozy stays on the French Broad River right off the Blue Ridge Parkway. The cabins are complete with full kitchens, grills, hot tubs, fire pits, coffee nooks, and everything you could need for your stay. They are located 15 minutes south of Asheville proper. In addition to the cabins they have A-frames and RV spots.

  • Taco Boy is a great spot for tacos, nachos and cocktails next to The Whale in West Asheville and in Biltmore Park.

  • TRVE Brewing: A metal-themed brewery coming out of Denver with solid beers.

  • Terra Nova Beer Co.: A solid brewery with two locations in the Asheville area: South Slope and Swannanoa. At their South Slope location they have Mission Pizza inside serving up ‘za, a nice patio, and a large variety of taps including 4 Czech side pulls.

Dssolvr

  • Summit Coffee: An extremely cute coffee shop located in The Foundation, a complex covered in 14 acres of street art that is super trendy. Get the lavender latte & don’t look back!

  • Zillicoah Beer: Located right on the French Broad River, this is the perfect spot north of town to relax on a beautiful day. It’s super chill, family friendly, and dog friendly outside. They specialize in fantastic Lagers.

  • Sunny Point Café: A delicious spot for brunch every day of the week! This spot is incredibly popular so expect a wait and try to avoid it on Sundays. They are also open for dinner Tuesday-Saturday. Located in West Asheville.

  • New Origin Brewing: A small brewery with a large variety of beers that are all great. They have a nice patio space and 900 Degreez food truck onsite for pizza.

  • Cursus Keme: The “secret brewery” in Asheville that’s not quite a secret anymore. This spot used to be a tractor trailer repair shop and is now a large bright and airy taproom. The outside seating near the river is lovely as well. They have a limited number of beers on tap that are usually quite unique and delicious. Located a block past New Origin at the end of the road.

  • Biscuit Head: A tasty spot for—you guessed it—biscuits! They have sweet or savory options as well as drinks. There are 3 locations in Asheville: downtown, West Asheville, and Biltmore Park.

  • Catawba Falls: Another great spot to hike just 30 minutes from downtown. This is very family friendly and relatively flat to the falls. If you’re feeling adventurous you can climb up the falls via a rope on the right-hand side. The trail is short and sweet but still provides great views!

  • Taco Billy: Delicious tacos! Highly recommend their breakfast tacos but they’ve also got beers if you go for lunch or dinner. You can order online to avoid a line as well.

Summit Coffee Asheville

Top Touristy Spots Actually Worth Visiting in Asheville:​

  • Blue Ridge Parkway: An amazing scenic drive with viewpoints to pull over and admire from. Bring snacks, take your time, and enjoy!

  • Float the river with Zen Tubing! Bring your cooler and speaker and enjoy the relaxing journey along the river.

  • Sierra Nevada Mills River: This is a HUGE outpost of the California-based brewery with a private drive, full kitchen and taproom, and concert space. The outdoor space is great, with a firepit, game space, dog space, kid space, and all nestled in the forest. Do not miss the pretzels with pimento beer cheese! The staff here is also super friendly and great!

    • Located right next to the airport so it’s a perfect spot on your way in or out of town if you’re flying! Driving distance from downtown Asheville is about 20 minutes.

  • Highland Brewing: Asheville’s first brewery! This is a unique spot with shipping containers inside and out, frequent live music, cool artwork, and a meadow onsite. The also have hiking trails on their property and chill vibes all around.

  • North Carolina Arboretum: A lovely outdoor space with gardens, trails, educational programs and events. It is $16 to enter the parking area.

  • New Belgium Brewing: Based in Fort Collins, CO., New Belgium calls Asheville its second home. They are located right on the Catawba River and have a fantastic outdoor space. You can also tour the incredibly massive brewery.

  • LaZoom: Bus comedy tours that share a bit of Asheville history, comedy skits, and a stop at a local brewery. They also offer haunted tours, band tours, and kids tours.

Sierra Nevada

Other Things to do in Asheville:

  • Lookout Mountain & Rattlesnake Mountain: Most of the hiking near Asheville is a solid hour drive from the city, but these trails are just 25 minutes away in Black Mountain, NC. Lookout is crowded and there are a lot of manmade steps, but the views are good from the top. I would highly recommend going over the back end of Lookout and continuing up to Rattlesnake where there is generally no one else on the trail and the views are even better.

    • Montreat Rainbow Road, Toll Road, Lookout Mountain Trail: This trail is 4.3 miles long with 889ft of elevation gain. If you go straight up to the Lookout Rocks you’ll gain all of that elevation in about half of a mile, if you end with the rocks it’s a gradual ascent. This trail is a bit boring at times but the Lookout Rocks are great—most folks just go straight up and back down. Parking is limited so avoid this trail on weekends if possible.

  • Pop up to Weaverville, 10 minutes north of town and visit Leveller Brewing Company and Zebulon Artisan Ales. Leveller has a cute patio space and stellar Farmhouse-focused beers. Zebulon has funkier styles in a tucked away taproom a block away.

  • Trombatore Trail: A solid hike up to a pasture-style view of the surrounding mountains. AllTrails listed it at 4.7 miles but it is actually more like 6 as a heads up.

  • Hillman Beer Co: Lots of outdoor seating and a full food menu. They’ve also got a location in Old Fort, east of Asheville.

  • Mountain Madre: A great Mexican restaurant and Agave bar in downtown AVL. Their food and drinks are delicious and their patio is very cute.

  • Vortex Donuts: A great spot to grab a donut and coffee! If you go close to closing time it’s buy one get one free donuts! Highly recommend the peanut butter chocolate.

  • Hi-Wire South Slope: A small little taproom with fun vibes and good beers.

  • White Labs Kitchen and Tap: A production facility, education hub, and brewery based in San Diego with a second location in Asheville. This taproom has a variety of beers on tap and each style has two beers to choose from using different yeasts which is fun! They’ve also got a full food menu with wood fired pizzas that are delicious. Service is mediocre.

  • Diatribe Brewing: This is a chill spot in West Asheville where the tap list is Lager and old-school styles heavy.

  • One World Brewing: Two taprooms, one in West Asheville and the original is downtown in a basement setting.

  • Green Man Dirty Jack’s: The historic original Green Man location with semi-grunge vibes (hence the name).

  • Asheville Pizza and Brewing: 3 locations in town, each with solid pizza and solid beer. Their South Slope location also has a cute little outdoor patio. Their location on the north side of town has a full movie theater!

  • Wedge Brewing at Wedge Studios: The original Wedge outpost. They have a large outdoor space but a small indoor space. Be sure to ask for peanuts.

Highland Brewing

  • Hi-Wire Big Top: A really chill spot compared to their South Slope location. This is where their production happens so it is pretty industrial. They’ve got a permanent food truck onsite, Foothills Meats. The 10W-40 Stout series is delicious!

    • Hungry & don’t love the food truck options? Standard Pizza is a one minute walk away and has great pizza! The slices are huge!

  • Archetype Brewing: A brewery in West Asheville with average beers. They have a nice rooftop patio and Pizza Mind is located next door for some ‘za.

  • Asheville Retrocade: A game bar with craft beer! They’ve got Dance Dance Revolution, Pac-Man, Skee-Ball, and so much more! If you go after 9pm it is 21+

  • The Brew Pump: A craft beer bar in a gas station! No, really. They’ve got $3 specials and well…gas!

  • All Sevens Brewing: Another brewery in West Asheville, they’ve got a full food menu, a pool table, and basic beers that you can get pitchers of.

  • Rattlesnake Lodge Trail: This is a close to town but pretty boring hike that is 4.3 miles long with 882ft of elevation gain and takes 2 hours to complete.

  • Wicked Weed Funkatorium: Wicked Weed was bought out by Anheuser-Busch so I try to avoid their beers and drink small/craft. The Funkatorium specializes in farmhouse ales and barrel aged sour beers that are small batch.

  • Thirsty Monk: Overhyped Belgian brewery and seltzery where neither the beer nor the seltzer is good.

Charlotte, NC

Charlotte is where I’ve called home for a few years now so I figured it was time to write a beer & Travel guide for the Queen City! CLT is a large southern city with a plethora of breweries, great places to eat, and fun neighborhoods to explore!

CLT Tips: 

  • The Queen City is distinctly organized into neighborhoods, each with different things to offer and different vibes. If you’re visiting try to organize your time by neighborhood so you’re not crisscrossing all over the place as traffic can be less than ideal.

  • Charlotte is moderately large and somewhat spaced out but once you get to a particular neighborhood you can walk everywhere, so if you are visiting a car is not entirely necessary.

  • What we call Uptown is what you think of as Downtown in any other city.

  • As I said, I live in Charlotte so I could list out hundreds of places to go, but these are my top recommendations overall! Additionally, this guide is focused on the city of Charlotte itself, but there are lots of great options to explore in the suburbs of CLT too! Blog coming soon.

Adventures & Ales Top Charlotte Recommendations:

  • Resident Culture Brewing Company: The best brewery in Charlotte, hands down. Their beer is top-notch no matter the style, but I would highly recommend their Hazy IPAs, Lagers, and Stouts. At their original taproom in Plaza Midwood they have a great patio, + frequent events and food trucks. At their newer taproom in South End they have a great BBQ menu and coffee bar.

  • Burial Beer: The Charlotte taproom of this Asheville-based brewery has killer beers and a great space. Highly recommend checking them out in Plaza Midwood for their IPAs, Lagers, Stouts and rooftop patio.

  • Salud Beer Shop & Cerveceria: The best beer bar in America. You don’t have to take my word for it, they’ve won the national title 3 years in a row from USA Today. They have a phenomenal tap list, huge can and bottle selection, and mouthwatering pizzas. If that wasn’t enough already they also have their own brewery and coffee shop upstairs with fantastic beers, particularly their Dairelynerweisse Fruited Sour series. The upstairs and downstairs are very different but both offer chill vibes and incredible food/beer. Located in the heart of the NoDa neighborhood.

  • HopFly Brewing: A great brewery in the Gold District of Charlotte right by the Bank of America Stadium. Every style of beer they make is fantastic, they have a great rooftop patio, and for food Katsu Kart is usually onsite.

  • Inizio: Some of the best pizza in the city! They are located in the Dilworth neighborhood and have a small patio and frequent specials.

  • Supperland: A fancy restaurant with a killer cocktail list and a food menu designed for sharing. Their stunning building is a converted church in Plaza Midwood. They also have a bar next door for drinks and a speakeasy.

  • Stable Hand: A coffee shop with beer, natural wine, food, and chill vibes. They are located in the South End neighborhood with some patio seating as well.

  • Divine Barrel Brewing: A delightful brewery in the NoDa neighborhood with a wide array of beers and a fun patio space.

  • Zada Jane’s Corner Café: A neighborhood spot for breakfast and brunch in Plaza Midwood. They have a diverse menu and patio seating.

  • Dilworth Tasting Room: An adorable wine bar in the Dilworth neighborhood with cheese plates, tasting menus, and a fabulous garden space.

  • Petty Thieves Brewing: A fun brewery located between Camp North End and the NoDa neighborhood with a spacious patio, frequent food trucks and events, and delicious beers.

  • The Hobbyist: A lovely coffee shop, beer bar, and bottle shop in the NoDa neighborhood.

Fahrenheit

  • Common Market: A convenience store, deli and bar with unique vibes. Their breakfast and lunch sandwiches are my top recommendation. They have locations in Plaza Midwood, South End, and Oakwold.

  • Edge City Brewing: A beautiful brewery with top notch beers and a great patio. Located in the MoRa neighborhood off Independence Avenue.

  • The Cellar at Duckworth’s: A classy restaurant in a basement cellar providing almost speakeasy-esque vibes. They have really tasty food, a huge beer selection, and craft cocktails. Located in Uptown.

  • Pop the Top Craft Beer Shop: A great beer bar and bottle shop in South End. They have 24 taps and a large selection of cans and bottles to choose from as well.

  • Rosie’s Coffee & Wine Garden: A stunningly gorgeous coffee and wine garden! Grab a drink and wander McGill Rose Garden.

  • Fahrenheit: A rooftop bar and restaurant with incredible views located above Skye Condos in Uptown. Their food is superb and the vibes are unbeatable.

  • Legion Brewing: A popular brewery with locations in Plaza Midwood, SouthPark, and West Morehead. Their brunch menu is super delicious and they have tasty beers as well. Juicy Jay IPA is the most popular beer in the city, but I prefer their Sours and darker beers..

  • Rhino Market & Deli: A great spot for breakfast, sandwiches, soups, and salads. They also have a market for grab and go options as well as beer taps. They have locations in Uptown, NoDa, Wesley Heights, and South End.

  • Not Just Coffee: A great coffee shop with several locations around town!

Fonta Flora at Optimist Hall

The Classic Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting in Charlotte:​

Camp North End

Other Things To do in Charlotte:

  • Undercurrent Coffee: A cute coffeeshop in the Plaza Midwood neighborhood with patio seating, delicious drinks, and a small food menu.

  • Triple C Brewing: A solid brewery in the South End neighborhood with an onsite food truck and nice patio space.

  • Food trucks to hunt down: Studelteig, What The Fries, The Dumpling Lady

  • Two Scoops Creamery: A fantastic ice cream shop located in the Plaza Midwood neighborhood.

  • Ruru’s: Yummy Mexican food and a great patio. Located in the Myers Park neighborhood.

  • Amelie’s French Bakery and Café: Incredible pastries, but also a full food menu of soups, salads, and sandwiches. Located in NoDa and on Park Road.

  • Aqua e Vino: A small Italian restaurant with incredible food. This gem is located in Providence Park.

  • Hawkers: A fun spot for Asian Street Food mainly in the form of small plates. This popular spot has a unique cocktail menu and is located in South End.

  • Seoul Food Meat Company: A Korean Fusion BBQ restaurant with a plethora of delicious sides as well. They are located in the Gold District with a second location coming soon to NoDa.

  • Moo & Brew: A fun spot for brunch or burgers in the Plaza Midwood neighborhood. They are best known for their Large Marge, a 20-ounce Bloody Mary with two shots of Tito's Handmade Vodka topped with a jalapeño firecracker, Wisconsin cheese curds, an angus burger slider, Applewood smoked bacon and a mini Miller High Life on the side.

  • Pins Mechanical Co.: A game bar in South End with a ton of different activities to keep everyone entertained.

Brunch at Legion Brewing SouthPark

Hickory, NC

Hickory is a cute little town 1 hour from Charlotte, 1 hour from Asheville, and 1 hour from Boone. It is truly “small town America” with a Main Street of bustling shops and restaurants alongside incredibly nice folks.

The staff (almost) everywhere were incredibly kind and exuded southern hospitality. Downtown is very cute with lots of outdoor seating and green space. Hickory also has a Downtown Social District where you can grab to-go drinks from any business in the downtown radius.

Check out all of my recommendations for both downtown Hickory and the greater Hickory area below!

Standard Oyster

Standard Oyster

Downtown Hickory Recommendations:

  • Stay at 2nd Street Inn: This is a great loft-style space with individual apartments. It is walkable to everything downtown and very convenient.

  • Hickory Wine Shoppe: A lovely spot that is cheese and wine focused with other menu options available as well. They have a great front patio with heaters that is dog-friendly. The team here is also super nice.

  • Barley Market: A beer bar and bottle shop with a great selection of taps, cans and bottles. They are dog-friendly with a friendly team and chill vibes.

  • Battle Axe Mead House: A bar with local North Carolina meads available in bottles, flights or pours. They are dog-friendly and just behind the main hustle and bustle of downtown. They have frequent live music and occasional food trucks.

  • Cowa-Saké: A trendy spot for sushi, sliders, and cocktails. This is a delicious spot for dinner that I definitely recommend. If it is a busy evening you can get on the waitlist via their website in advance.

  • Plant Based Boss: A delicious spot for vegan eats downtown. They have weekend brunch, tacos, burritos, cookies and more in a beautiful space.

  • City Walk Brewery & Distilling: A fun spot for drinks—the brewery is on one side and distillery (coming soon) is on the other. There is a cool back patio space with games. They have a small snack menu for eats.

  • Hickory Museum of Art: A free art museum connected to the Catawba Science Center. It is pretty small but there are a good variety of displays.

  • Olde Hickory Tap Room: A restaurant-style brewery with pub vibes. The beers here are average.

  • The Coffee Nook: A nice spot downtown with for coffee, tea and pastries. They also have a plant exchange which is fun!

  • Olde Hickory Station: A popular spot for brunch from Olde Hickory Brewery. It is housed in an old train station with a nice patio space.

Hickory Aviation Museum

Hickory Aviation Museum

GReater Hickory AreA things to do:

  • Warehouse Distillery: A woman owned and operated distillery in nearby Newton. They have a nice cocktail lounge with great drinks. They are also super dog-friendly!

  • Blowing Rock Draft House: A solid brewery in town with a full food menu. They have a nice covered and heated patio space that is dog-friendly. They are housed in an old mill with several other businesses.

  • Palm Berries: A cute spot for açaí bowls and smoothies. They are just outside of downtown and have a nice interior space along with tasty eats.

  • Taproot Coffee: An adorable coffee bus that moves around town. There is seating inside the bus and it is a total vibe. They have coffee and tea, no food.

  • Riverwalk: This is a nice area at Geitner Park on Lake Hickory. The Loop Trail takes about 50 minutes for 2.5 miles. It is a combination of paved greenway and woodsy trail that is mostly flat. There are also a lot of bike trails here.

  • Standard Oyster: A fantastic spot for delicious oysters. They also have other seafood dishes and small plates. On the drink side their Bloody Mary is large and delicious and they also offer bottomless mimosas. They have a heated, dog-friendly patio in the back.

  • Hickory Aviation Museum: A fun museum with an inside “typical museum set-up” and outside you can actually explore the old planes! This museum is free and dog-friendly. It is housed at the Hickory Regional Airport.

  • Bakers Mountain Trail: A 2.5 mile long trail with 633ft of elevation gain up to the highest point in Catawba County. The trailhead is just 15 minutes from downtown and the trail takes just shy of 1.5 hours. The overlook at the top has nice views.

Blowing Rock Brewing

Have you been to Hickory? What are you favorite spots? Let me know in the comments! Cheers —Alexis

Winston-Salem Beer Guide

Winston-Salem, North Carolina is a small city an hour north of Charlotte with college-town vibes and a thriving brewery scene. I did the excruciating work of visiting every brewery in town (most spots multiple times) in order to learn more about the Winston-Salem beer scene.

Lesser-Known Beer Co

Lesser-Known Beer Co.

Lesser-Known is the newest brewery in Winston-Salem and already the best brewery in town. They focus on underrepresented beer styles, the majority of which are Lagers. Lesser-Known is just south of downtown and has a nice patio space as well as a small indoor taproom. They have a small food menu when they don’t have a food truck onsite. They are quickly gaining notoriety and should not be missed. Inside their taproom The Walk In has guest taps and guest bottles as well.

incendiary brewing

Incendiary Brewing Company

Incendiary makes great beers in a variety of different styles. Their IPAs in particular are fantastic. They are located at Bailey Power Plant with a huge shared patio space and Cugino Forno Pizzeria is next door with delicious ‘za to accompany your beers. Incendiary also has a second location in Lewisville.

Radar Brewing Company

Radar makes unique and delicious beers. They have a small taproom and a nice patio space. Radar and Wise Man are just a block away from each other north of downtown Winston-Salem.

Hoots Beer Co. & Hoots Satellite 

Hoots has two locations in Winston-Salem: The original taproom and their satellite taproom in the heart of downtown. The original taproom has a nice outdoor patio, pinball and chill vibes. Hoots Satellite is a smaller space with a covered patio and a small tap list. If you only have time to hit one, go to the original for the authentic vibes and more beers available.

Fiddlin' Fish Brewing

Fiddlin’ Fish Brewing Company

Fiddlin’ Fish is in downtown Winston-Salem with a wide variety of beers. They have a pretty large taproom and a nice patio as well. They offer specials during the week and have solid beers all around.

Foothills Brewpub

Foothills has a restaurant-style set-up with solid beers and delicious food. They make a wide variety of beers but specialize in Stouts. They are located right on the edge of downtown Winston-Salem with patio seating and spacious taproom.

Wise Man Brewing

Wise Man has a very large tap list and makes a wide variety of beers. They have both indoor and outdoor seating and frequent events. They are located just north of the city in the Industry Hill neighborhood.

Joymongers Barrel Hall

Photo courtesy of Joymongers as I failed to take any pictures here somehow

Joymongers Barrel Hall

This is the Winston-Salem location for Greensboro-based Joymongers Brewing. They are located in the West End neighborhood and have warehouse-style vibes and a small patio. Their Barrel Aged beers are brewed at this location and what they are best known for.

Small Batch Beer Co.

Small Batch feels more like a dive bar than a brewery and is located right downtown. The small tap list has average beers but they also have wine, cider and cocktails. They have a food menu as well if you are hungry.

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My Favorite Places I've Stayed Around The World

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I get asked all the time where I stay when I travel and it is 100% dependent on where I am at. Generally speaking I am a somewhat frugal travel. I try not to spend too much on hotels/Airbnbs because I would rather plan another trip with that money. Sometimes where I stay is based on a hosted collaboration, sometimes it is a basic, reliable chain hotel that is reasonably priced (usually a Hilton), sometimes it is an Airbnb—it all just depends on the circumstances.

I have spent hundreds if not thousands of nights at different lodgings around the world and here are my favorite places I have stayed at:

Latin America

Tortuga del Mar Jaco

Tortuga Del Mar

Tortuga Del Mar: Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica

I absolutely loved my beachfront room. The owners are so sweet and it’s nice and small so there’s barely anyone else around. The black sand beach is gorgeous and there are a couple of restaurants and a store within walking distance. Check out my Costa Rica guide here.

La Casa Verde: Banos, Ecuador

This eco-hostel is super relaxing, and the hosts are incredibly nice. There are hammocks, delicious snacks, and great views. Don’t let the word hostel throw you off—I had a private room and bathroom and nothing about it felt hostel-style, it was just a normal hotel with a variety of lodging options. Check out my Ecuador guide here.

Popa Paradise

Popa Paradise

Popa Paradise: Bocas del Toro, Panama

This is a gorgeous property! The pool, beach, walking trails and facilities were all stunning. The team here is also super nice and helpful. The food was fantastic and the place is quite small so you’re not overwhelmed by other guests. Check out my Panama guide here.

Arakur Resort and Spa

Arakur Resort & Spa: Ushuaia, Argentina

If you find yourself in Ushuaia at the very bottom of the content, Arakur is a must-stay. The outdoor pool and hot tub was one of the highlights of my entire trip! The views from the entire hotel are unreal. is Check out my Argentina guide here.

New Zealand

Taupo Airbnb

Edge Hill Hut: Taupo

The views from this Airbnb are superb! It is overlooking Lake Taupo and Mount Tauhara with sheep and farmland abound. The outdoor deck is packed with amazing amenities—an outdoor tub, fireplace, grill, comfy seating and more. There are thoughtful touches throughout the home and it was very clean and comfy. This airbnb is only a 15 minute drive from downtown Taupō and a little over an hour away from Tangariro National Park. It was also ridiculously affordable for such a nice spot. Check out my guide to New Zealand’s North Island here.

The United States

Kinn Guesthouse

Kinn Guesthouse Bay View: Milwaukee, WI

The set-up of Kinn Guesthouse is very cool. Each room feels more like a loft apartment and there is a shared kitchen and living room. It is housed above an Italian restaurant and walkable to several great coffee shops, bars and restaurants. Check out my Milwaukee guide here.

Fenway Hotel

Fenway Hotel: Dunedin, FL

The Fenway Hotel is a delightful spot. The hotel is gorgeous, the views from the rooftop bar are superb and the food and drinks are delicious. There is a trail on along the inlet in front of the hotel and you can easily walk into downtown Dunedin which is full of breweries, restaurants, shops and coffee shops. Check out my Dunedin blog here.

Orchards Inn

Orchards Inn: Sedona, AZ

Orchards Inn is right in the heart of downtown Sedona and the rooms offer spectacular views of the red rocks. Each room is a bit different, but my suite included a lovely fireplace, a spacious balcony, and an extremely comfortable bed. They have their own restaurant as well, 89Agave Cantina, which is delicious. Full Sedona guide coming soon!

North Carolina

Bryson City Airbnb

Bryson City Cabin

This cabin on Airbnb: Bryson City, NC

This cabin had magical mountain views and was the perfect spot for a weekend getaway. Outside there is a fire pit and inside their is a fire place so that you can have cozy vibes inside or out. The hot tub was excellent and there were lots of thoughtful amenities. Bryson City & Western North Carolina guide coming soon!

Aloft Wilmington: Wilmington, NC

Aloft Wilmington has loft-style vibes and is right on the Cape Fear River. The rooftop bar has great views and it is centrally located in downtown Wilmington. Check out my Wilmington guide here.

Glamping Unplugged

Glamping Unplugged

Glamping Unplugged: Boone, NC

Glamping in a dome on a creek in the middle of nowhere? Yes please. This is a fun and unique stay just 20 minutes from Boone. Make a fire, stargaze, fish in the creek, go for a hike—the outdoor possibilities are endless. Check out my Boone guide here.

Where are your favorite places you’ve stayed around the world? Let me know in the comments! Cheers—Alexis