1. Pottery Treasure Hunt
Discover small pottery studios and galleries in the beautiful rolling hills of the Seagrove area. The Pottery Highway is dotted with signs listing pottery studios and galleries for you to explore. There are about 100 potters in the area, some tucked away on the winding side roads off Hwy 705. Some galleries offer a collection of works from local potters. Some are studios featuring the works of one potter. (Directions from Wadesboro: North on Hwy 109 to 24/27 and east into Troy. Continue through Troy to Biscoe. At RR tracks, turn left (north) on Alt. 220; go through Star and continue on into Seagrove at intersection of Alt. 220 and 705.)
Start at the North Carolina Pottery Center (www.ncpotterycenter.com) and you'll get an interesting introduction to North Carolina pottery. They'll have a special collection of pottery on display as well as their regular exhibits that bring to life (with words, photos and actual equipment) the world and history of North Carolina pottery in the Seagrove area. Gift shop. Admission fee of $2 (and well worth it). Free maps are available in the Pottery Center lobby. (250 East Avenue, Seagrove, (336) 873-8430. Tuesdays through Saturday 10 am - 4 pm.)
There are a number of pottery shops at the main intersection of Alt. 220 and 705. You can park and walk to them. From this location, you can drive down the Pottery Highway (705) to discover more potters.
Another "must see" place is Ben Owen Pottery at 2199 Highway 705 South (www.benowenpottery.com), a few miles east of the main intersection of Alternate 220 and 705. This is an "art gallery" of extraordinary pieces. There is also a small museum of the Ben Owen legacy. Open Tues. - Sat. 10-5. Closed January.
Recommended shops: NC Pottery Center, Blue Moon Gallery, Ben Owen Pottery, Jugtown Pottery, Seagrove Pottery.
For lunch, try the Jugtown Cafe, on Alt. 220, on the left about 2 ½ miles north of intersection of Alt. 220 and 705. This is a diner-type cafe with sandwiches and burgers with an emphasis on desserts. For dinner or lunch, try the Westmoore Family Restaurant, on Hwy 705, on the right, several miles from the intersection of Alt. 220 and 705. Very nice nautical decor. Seafood is their specialty.
2. Antique Shops Line the Streets
Cameron, North Carolina is a quaint little town that still retains its turn-of-the-century character. You can spend the day here discovering the dozen or so antique shops lining the main street. From Wadesboro, take Hwy 74 east to Rockingham, then Hwy 1 North to Cameron. Don't miss the exit for Cameron. Sixty-one buildings on Carthage Street, from U.S. 1 to the railroad tracks, are on the National Register of Historic Places. Cameron's architectural styles range from late Victorian to Craftsman/Bungalow. For more information on Cameron and its antique shops, check out http://www.antiquesofcameron.com. Have lunch at The Dewberry Deli, an old-fashioned soda fountain & cafe underneath The Old Hardware Antiques shop on Carthage Street. Cameron hosts a huge Antique Festival twice a year, the 1st Saturday in May and October (rain or shine).
3. Wineries, Antiques and Fabulous Mountain Views
Wineries are a growing business in North Carolina and you can visit three North Carolina wineries near Albemarle, just 30 miles north of Wadesboro - Dennis Vineyards (www.dennisvineyards.com), Stony Mountain Vineyards (www.stonymountainvineyards.com) and Uwharrie Vineyards (www.uwharrievineyards.com). (See our next page "More Day Trips" for a more in-depth description of the winery tour.) Drive up to the top of the mountain at Morrow Mountain State Park to enjoy a panoramic view of the area and the Pee Dee River. There are hiking trails of varying skill levels. During the season, you can rent a canoe at Morrow Mountain State Park for a picturesque outing on the lake. Here's a descriptive narrative from two of our guests who enjoyed a canoe trip on Badin Lake:
"I just wanted to let y'all know a little bit about the canoe trip we took last weekend. It was very easy to find by following the signs, and the rental price was just $5 for the first hour and $3 for every hour after per canoe. They allow you to have three adults per canoe, but I saw some with 2 kids and 2 adults as well. The park rangers help carry the canoe down to the water for you, then you are off! From the launch we decided to head up river and immediately you can see the dam in the distance. It's actually very nice to look at and has several little islands around its base. The lake was pretty narrow so we paddled across and headed upstream to explore the islands. The current wasn't strong enough for this to be physically demanding, but it did take about 30-45 minutes to get there and only about 20 to get back. The islands were very small with shallow waterways dividing them all from each other. The trees hung out over the water and made it very pretty. We saw a lot of wildlife as well, including turtles, herons, and even some fish jumping. They also have concessions if you are hungry or thirsty when you get out. All in all I would highly recommend it as something worth while to do."
When you're ready, there are restaurants in Albemarle for a delicious lunch or dinner. Or you might want to continue west on Hwy 24/27 to Locust and enjoy a delicious meal at The Fresh House, a charming country store & restaurant. On the way back to Wadesboro, pick up Hwy 205 into Oakboro for a little antique and old hardware store shopping in downtown Oakboro. From Oakboro on Hwy 742, it's a short trip through rolling hills and picturesque countryside to Wadesboro.
For guided tours, Uwharrie Tours offers Wine & Adventure Tours including sightseeing, kayaking, canoeing, mountain & road biking, horseback riding, ATVing and winery tours. Check www.uwharrietours.com for more details.
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