Story Ideas
All Aboard! Learning Vacation
Train enthusiasts must visit the New Hope Valley Railway in Apex. Those at least age 16 can participate in the Operate a Locomotive Program, and actually drive a diesel electric locomotive with a qualified engineer along side.
Best Carolina BBQ
Barbecue Lodge of Garner, where king pig still rules.
Cooper's Barbeque, a local landmark since the '20's in downtown Raleigh's City Market area.
Cheap Thrills
Check out the world's only (Ray Price) Legends of Harley Drag Racing Museum located on the second floor of one of the largest Harley-Davidson dealerships in the United States. The newly-expanded 50,000 square-foot showroom is the home of world-famous drag racing champion Ray Price.
Exotic Fare
Knightdale Seafood & BBQ has a reputation for its exotic fare – including farm-grown venison, quail, rattlesnake, kangaroo and emu.
Fabulous Farmers Market North Carolina State Farmers Market offers a bounty of organic and fresh produce.
Holy Places
The state's only Mormon temple is in Apex (Price tag, $5 million).
The area's largest Hindu Temple, operated by the Hindu Society of North Carolina, is in Morrisville.
White Dove Wedding Chapel in Wendell is housed in the last mission revival style church built in North Carolina in 1947. The chapel's exterior is reminiscent of the early mission churches found in the Caribbean. The interior has been decorated to reflect the elegance of the churches found in Europe (Switzerland in particular).
Hotdog Heaven
Kannon's Cafe in Zebulon offers chili, made from a generations-old Italian recipe, for its hot dogs. It's not unusual to see the initiated stand in line 45 minutes just for a wiener.
The Roast Grill in Raleigh serves up over 200 Southern style blackened hot dogs a day – WITHOUT ketchup. It's not even allowed on the property!
Founded in 1916 to attract students of then-nearby Wake Forest College, Shorty's Famous Hot Dogs is equally renowned for its pool tables, chili dogs and atmosphere. After the school had packed up and left Wake Forest in 1956, enterprising friends still revisit the town and stop at Shorty's to take a box full of hot dogs back to Winston-Salem.
Microbreweries
Carolina Brewing Company in Holly Springs offers tours and tastings.
Greenshields Brewery in historic City Market was voted "Triangle's Best Draft Beer"!
Old-Fashioned Soda Fountains
At the Ice Cream Shop in downtown Apex, enjoy an old-fashioned milkshake, banana split or any of 24 flavors of Hershey's ice cream.
Step back in time at the family-owned Ashworth Drugs, in downtown Cary, where young and old mingle at the sandwich shop/soda fountain inside.
Saunder's Pharmacy in Wendell has an old-time lunch and ice cream counter where the flavors of the day are posted on handwritten signs.
At Elliots Pharmacy in downtown Fuquay-Varina, you can still order an old-fashioned milkshake at a real soda fountain.
People Watching
42nd Street Oyster Bar & Seafood Grill was once a grocery store that served oysters and beer on the side and has been a Raleigh institution since serving its brand of fresh and fried seafood since 1931. It has long had the reputation of being "the" political and deal-making haunt.
Scuba Diving
Fantasy Lake Scuba Park, a former rock quarry just northeast of Raleigh in one stoplight Rolesville, is a national center for training and testing divers for emergency rescue. Ft. Bragg Special Forces train here, and you can check it out for $15 per day if you're a certified diver.
Stock Car Racing
Garner is home to another Southern tradition, stock car racing. The quarter-mile, semi-banked, asphalt circle track hosts racing every Friday night!
Superb Southern Cookin'
Big Ed's, in Raleigh's City Market, serves up 8 hot meats and 12 fresh vegetables from the State Farmers Market daily. Breakfast is always on the menu, including brains and eggs.
At Paul's Cash Grocery in Knightsdale, locals swear by the homemade biscuits and authentic Southern cooking.
Natives still congregate for traditional Southern treats and gossip at Toot-N-Tell Restaurant in Garner.
Tea Rooms
Olde English Tea Room and Gift Shoppe in Wake Forest is every lady's favorite.
Unique Apex is home to That Unique and Wonderful Place, Antiques 2,500 square feet of antiques, home furnishings, gifts and
toys.
At Gold Leaf Tea Room, located on the bottom floor of Bostic & Wilson Antiques in Fuquay-Varina, everything is for sale including the chair you sit in.
At Dewar's Florist Antiques and Interiors in Holly Springs, you can pick up one of those spring bouquets along with an unusual piece for your home.
Winery Tours
Morrisville is home to two wineries, Chatham Hill Winery and Innovative Winery.
Chatham Hill Winery uses only North Carolina vinifera grapes, which results in a drier wine. Chatham Hill offers nine varieties under its label.
Innovative Winery is home to the concept of "bottle your own wine." Innovative Winery wines are made in small 6 gallon batches (30 bottles), made on premise, and are ready now or can be ready in as little as 4 weeks. Grape juices are acquired from some of the best known growing regions in the world. We have over 35 different wines on hand now with many more available by special order.
As a quick fact: North Carolina was the country's leading wine producing state before the Civil War.
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