36 Hours in Randolph County, The Heart of North Carolina

Prior to my 36 hours in Randolph County, my knowledge of The Heart of North Carolina was limited.  I knew Randolph County’s city of Asheboro is home to the North Carolina Zoo, however, I did not expect to find miles of pottery, orchards, camels and breweries, among other things.  I often travel alone, however, this trip would be different.  Along with The Heart of NC tourism team, I had the pleasure of traveling with other like-minded professionals.  Together, we explored The Heart of NC Fall Bucket List Tour.

Visiting Randolph County, The Heart of NC

Ramseur

Millstone Creek Orchards

Millstone Creek Orchards is a family friendly destination in Ramseur that sits on eighty acres of lush Carolina land.  The orchard is composed of blueberries, blackberries, peaches, grapes, apples, pumpkins and pecans.  Visitors can either pick their own fruit from the orchard or purchase fruit from The Apple Barn Country Store.  Along with the orchard, Millstone is home to a bakery, a cannery and a cider mill.

One of my favorite Millstone Creek activities is their cider press demonstration.  If you have the opportunity to press cider, like I did, do take part in the experience.  Children and adults will not only enjoy the experience, but they will love the fresh pressed apple cider.

Apples such as Stayman Winesap, Granny Smith and Golden Delicious are methodically chosen to produce a sweet and delicious cider.  My visit to Millstone not only proved to be educational and entertaining, but also interactive.  Along with fresh pressed cider, visitors must sample Millstone Creek’s apple cider slushies.  The delicious frozen drinks are made using fresh apple cider with no added sugar.

Another delicious highlight that is not to be missed is Millstone Creek bakery’s Chardonnay Cake.  Visiting the orchard and not purchasing at least one slice of the wine cake is a huge mistake.  The ultra-moist wine cake has hints of cinnamon and other unique flavors that are hard for me to pinpoint.  Although I ate one slice, my mistake was not purchasing a whole cake to take home.  It is THAT delicious!  Other baked goods sold at Millstone Creek Orchards include apple cake, carrot pineapple cake, seasonal pies and more.

The eighty acre orchard, cider mill, cannery and bakery is a beautiful place for kids of all ages to visit in Ramseur, NC.  Visitors can also take an orchard hay ride, play on the tire swings or walk the nature trails.  Millstone Creek Orchard is open seven days a week, however, they are closed from December 23rd to the first week of March.

Carolina Camel Rides

When I think of North Carolina, camels do not exactly come to mind.  It was a big surprise to me, albeit pleasant, that Carolina Camel Rides is located in The Heart of NC.  The Randolph County based company not only has a camel station, but is also home to a petting zoo.  Carolina Camel Rides hosts special events including birthdays, school groups, wedding receptions and corporate gatherings.  Event tents and indoor climate controlled facilities are available to accommodate large groups.

Guests have the opportunity to both interact and learn facts about all the animals, including the differences between Bactrian and Dromedary camels.  Do you know the difference?  Although there are several differences, Bactrian camels have two humps and long shaggy hair that helps them keep warm during cold winters.  Dromedary camels have one hump and short hair.

Although I met Carolina Camel Rides’ three camels, Oscar, a Bactrian camel, was the most social the day of our visit.  Camels love attention and social interaction and Oscar is no exception.  He likes guests to rub his fur, loves posing for photos and is quite photogenic.  We not only took a selfie together, but I was able to ride him inside the camel corral.

Although the last day of the season to visit the camels was November 18th, you can call Carolina Camel Rides to arrange a camel trek.  Of all my North Carolina excursions to date, a trip to Carolina Camel Rides tops my list.  I only hope to visit again in 2019 to experience a camel trek.

Seagrove

The Town of Seagrove is considered “The Handmade Pottery Capital of the United States”. The town garners this title with its 250 year storied history of pottery and the more than 100 individual potters located in the town.  Although my Randolph County trip took place over a 36 hour period, Seagrove visitors will need more than 36 hours to visit the 100+ potters.  During The Heart of NC Fall Bucket List Tour, we had the opportunity to visit five different potters, each owning a distinctive artistic style.

North Carolina Pottery Center

First time visitors to Seagrove’s pottery scene should start their exploration by visiting The North Carolina Pottery Center.  Along with exhibitions, the facility offers classes, workshops, summer camps, artist in residence programs and more.  In addition to touring the campus, new visitors should collect the information available in the center as a guide to determine which potters to visit in the area.

Potts Pottery

Jeff and Linda Potts are a lovely couple that produce a combination of beautiful stoneware and face jugs at Potts Pottery.  I could not help but fall in love with the tableware produced by the couple.  In addition to a tour of the workshop, Jeff Potts offered a live pottery demonstration.  With the guidance of Mr. Potts, I had the opportunity to play a little bit with clay and attempt to create a bowl.  As a novice, I was not able to produce my own tableware.  However, I did purchase a gorgeous collection of bowls.  I suspect several trips to Potts Pottery are in my future as I grow my stoneware collection.

Kings Pottery

In addition to functional stoneware, Kings Pottery is best known for their face jugs, also known as ugly jugs.  The quirky, yet, charming style of folk art has a rich history dating back to the 1840’s.  During our Kings Pottery tour, I quickly learned that not all face jugs are the same.  Each creation has its own personality.  That said, this personality is what likely drives some of the eccentric names given by the artist.  During our tour, Terry created an elaborate face jug which he named Willard.  In addition to being potters, Terry and Anna King consult the PBS’ Antiques Road Show as face jug experts.

Seagrove Stoneware Pottery Gallery

Seagrove Stoneware offers two distinctive varieties of decorative and functional pottery from husband and wife potters, David Fernandez and Alexa Modderno.  As you walk through the gallery, you will find tableware, custom designed golf putters, vases and other decorative pottery.  The couple also owns and operates the Seagrove Stoneware Inn .  The Inn features individual pieces of art that the couple has created and collected over the years.  Each room dons a unique decorative style and is the perfect accommodation for those wanting to immerse themselves fully in the Seagrove pottery experience.

Pottery by Frank Neef 

Our tour group met Frank Neef during a dinner at the Seagrove Stoneware Inn, catered by Hop’s Bar-B-Q.  The Inn has a couple of Frank Neef’s pottery pieces on display, which caught the eyes of everyone in our tour group.  Consequently, we added a visit to the Neef Gallery to our agenda.

Seagrove’s historic Auman house, a 100-year-old blue Victorian house, is home to the Neef Gallery.  The potter creates decorative and functional carved crystalline glazed porcelain vases, globes, three-piece jars, and large plates.  As visitors make their way through Seagrove, they will quickly see the vast differences in styles among the 100+ potters.

Thomas Pottery

Thomas Pottery is located on Seagrove’s gorgeous countryside.  A cabin serves as a sales gallery and pottery workshop for Bobbie Thomas’ creations.  One of the unique and interactive offerings from Thomas Pottery is Bobbie’s behind-the-scenes pottery experience.  The Hands on Clay Party is a fun, educational and a creative way to spend time with family, friends or groups, like ours. The experience does require a minimum participation of six individuals and advanced scheduling with Bobbie Thomas.  In the spirit of the upcoming Christmas holidays, we had the opportunity to create our own Christmas ornaments using cookie cutters, stamps and other tools that Bobbie provides.

Celebration of Seagrove Potters

Seagrove recently hosted their 11th Annual Celebration of Seagrove Potters in November.  The show featured unique art pieces as well as decorative and functional pottery.  In addition to the pottery show, there is a gala, live auction, entertainment and more.  Although the event has passed, pottery enthusiasts should plan to attend the 12th annual event in 2019.

Holiday Open House

Holiday shoppers wanting to purchase pottery as gifts, should visit Seagrove’s Holiday Open House, Saturday, December 8th and 15th, 2018.  For more details, visit https://discoverseagrove.com/holiday-open-house-2018/.

Asheboro

Historic Downtown Asheboro Ghostwalk

Truth be told, I am a little bit of a scaredy cat.  I am not a fan of horror flicks, post apocalyptic tv shows or scary stories.  Despite that, I do put forward every effort to participate in all activities.  The goal in my travel series is to offer a variety of activities available in the cities I visit.

The Historic Downtown Asheboro Ghostwalk offers a one mile stroll with eery, historically rooted stories about many downtown Asheboro locales.  The tour runs through select dates and times in September and October.  In spite of that, I do recommend visiting The City of Asheboro’s Special Events page for potential tour dates and times.

Food and Drink in Randolph County, The Heart of NC

It is no secret that my favorite part of any trip is exploring restaurants and discovering new food and drink.  Randolph County was no exception.  Whether you are in Ramseur, Seagrove or Asheboro, you will not go hungry.  The food and drink scene features family restaurants, fine dining, a local brewery, bakeries and more.

Asheboro

The Table

The Table Farmhouse and Bakery will impress you with its modern-chic design, yet, countryside vibe.  The Table boasts an eatery, bakery and market.  The restaurant offerings include breakfast, lunch and brunch featuring fresh, seasonal and local produce.

Coffee aficionados will enjoy traditional handcrafted espresso drinks featuring Counter Culture Coffee.  Guests can not go wrong ordering a cappuccino or more adventurous espresso based drinks like a caramel latte or maple bourbon latte.  Dairy intolerant guests will be elated that oat milk and coconut milk are some of the non-dairy options available.  Pair your latte with The Table’s Cinnamon Roll.  The impressive pastry is a great way to kick off any morning.

My dish of choice at The Table is the Grits & Greens.  This menu item has all of my favorite Southern elements in one bowl.  Stone ground grits are topped with braised greens, hickory smoked ham, pimento cheese and a sunny side up egg.  While every bite of this dish is delicious, the intense flavors of the braised greens are most impressive.  Other table favorites include the Porridge with Sliced Apples and the Breakfast Granola with Sliced Apples.

Magnolia 23

Magnolia 23 is celebrated as having some of the best fried chicken in the state.  It has garnered accolades from both Trip Advisor and Our State Magazine.  The Asheboro restaurant serves traditional Southern down-home cooking.  Table favorites during our dinner included the chicken and dumplings, collards and persimmon pudding.  In addition to Magnolia 23’s fried chicken, I love the potato salad and lemonade.  Rumor has it that diners must arrive extra early to grab a table and to avoid a very long wait time.

Carriage House Tea

After lunch or dinner at Magnolia 23, swing by Brightside Gallery and visit the Carriage House Tea Bar.  Carriage House produces the purest form of small batch blended and hand packed loose leaf tea.  Brightside Gallery’s owner, Lady Mary Murkin, prepared our group a delicious hot pumpkin tea topped with whip cream.  After that experience, I realized that I have been drinking the wrong tea.  The pumpkin tea was both sweet and bold and was only elevated by the dollop of whip cream.  Together with Carriage House Tea, the Brightside Gallery features local and national artistic works that include quilts, paintings, jewelry and more.  I highly recommend you peruse the many rooms of the gallery while you sip on Lady Mary’s Carriage House Tea.

Four Saints Brewing Company

North Carolina is home to many craft breweries, many of which are located in large cities like Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham.  Recently, I find more breweries are establishing their roots in smaller NC towns and cities.  One such brewery is Four Saints Brewing Company.  The Asheboro brewery’s name plays homage to four patron saints of beer that include Saint Wenceslaus, Saint Nicholas, Saint Luke and Saint Augustine of Hippo.

Whether you want to grab a beer and decompress after a camel trek, fruit-picking or hours of pottery shopping, the brewery is a perfect stop before or after dinner.  Four Saints offers seasonal, limited editions and year-round brew as well as beer to go.  In addition to Saturday brew house tours, the brewery hosts themed trivia nights, lip synch contests, cinema Sundays and more.  Although I am not a beer connoisseur, I did enjoy and do recommend the St. Augustine Jalapeño Smoked Brown Ale.  The jalapeño notes are not overwhelming and after a full day, the brew is quite refreshing.

Seagrove

Seagrove Family Restaurant

Every town needs a diner that serves up traditional home cookin’ and Randolph County’s Seagrove Family Restaurant is that diner.  The charming family restaurant lists their daily menu special’s on a dry erase board, so take a look before your order from their traditional menu.  The diner serves classic favorites like meatloaf and unique specials like the Big Pig Sandwich.  All portions are generous, so if you have a sweet tooth like me, save room.

After 10 years of living in NC, I finally tried my first Pig Pickin’ Cake at the Seagrove Family Restaurant.  The cake is a traditional Southern dessert that got its name from barbecues where an entire pig was roasted.  Although there are different variations of this dessert, I can guarantee this Southern classic is a must have when visiting Seagrove Family Restaurant.  If you are too full, I recommend taking a piece to go.

Accommodations in Randolph County, The Heart of NC

Asheboro Comfort Inn

Asheboro Comfort Inn is located off I-74 and near Route 220.  The hotel’s location is convenient to navigate between Ramseur, Seagrove and Asheboro.  Though our group explored several eateries, the hotel does offer a free hot breakfast and most importantly, hot coffee.  Free WiFi and free parking are other excellent amenities, if you are traveling on a budget.  As a blogger, having a good WiFi connection is a must and I can confirm that I had no connectivity issues at this hotel.  Inclusive of the hotel’s amenities are a fitness center and an outdoor pool.  The rooms feature a work desk, flat-panel tv, microwave and refrigerator.  During my travels, a refrigerator is always a useful amenity to store late night snacks such as Millstone Creek Orchard’s Chardonnay Cake and Seagrove Family Restaurant’s Pig Pickin’ Cake.

Leaving Randolph County, The Heart of NC

My travels through the Carolinas never cease to surprise me.  Although I relish in the eateries and places that are a part of my travel series, it’s the people who I meet along the way that play a large role in my experience.  I am in awe of the many brilliant individuals that I met during The Heart of NC Tour.  Leaving a town or city is always hard for me, especially when I have the opportunity to meet so many wonderful individuals.

 

The distance to Randolph County from Raleigh-Durham was one of my shortest trips, measuring a one hour and twenty-minute drive.  Though the drive is short, I recommend planning a trip in advance to ensure businesses and restaurants you plan to visit are open during your travel dates.  It is important to note that there are many more offerings in Randolph County such as the North Carolina Zoo, the Richard Petty Museum, and the North Carolina Aviation Museum and Hall of Fame, just to name a few.  Randolph County is an integral part of NC with rich history, culture, art and a thriving food and drink scene. I think it is safe to say that not visiting The Heart of NC is truly not experiencing North Carolina.

If you love traveling the Carolinas, another great city that is a one hour and thirty minute drive from Raleigh-Durham is Fayetteville, NC.  Read about my 24 Hours in Fayetteville and discover which bakery makes amazing cream cheese stuffed croissants, where to have amazing barbecue and more.