The Forever Inn Bed and Breakfast Inn

Wadesboro NC

More Day Trips from The Forever Inn, Wadesboro, NC
On the Way to Oakboro North Carolina
On the Way to Oakboro NC

5.  Over the Hills and Through the Woods

Take a drive down 2-lane country roads through rolling hills, dotted with old oak trees, grazing cattle, picturesque old houses for a relaxing day in the country, stopping at antique stores, visiting an art gallery and enjoying a great meal at a country store & restaurant.

From Wadesboro, head west on Hwy 74. Take Hwy 218 to Tucker Road, then turn right for approx. 1 mile to reach The John Tucker Store (Antiques & Collectibles) which is actually 2 stores. The old general store is packed with interesting old stuff and even includes old food items (spices, face creams, baking powder, vintage Spam, etc.). Across the street is The Annex, a house full of antiques, glassware, art and more collectibles.

From The John Tucker Store, continue north on country roads to the small old town of Oakboro (at intersection of 742 and 205) which is undergoing a revitalization. On Main Street in downtown Oakboro, there’s an old-fashioned hardware store, an antique store and a great art gallery (Ron Taylor Fine Arts) with original watercolor paintings and limited edition prints.  Ron also offers pottery, photography, automotive art, baskets, woodcarvings and decoys from other local and regional artists. In this same location is a separate gallery displaying pieces of art from the collection of Andreas Bechtler. (Mr. Bechtler’s extensive collection will eventually be displayed in the Bechtler Art Museum scheduled to be built in downtown Charlotte.)

Oakboro also has the Fountain Music Hall featuring bluegrass music (see www.oakboromusichall.com). Right next to the Music Hall is Big John's Smokehouse restaurant, 704-485-2221, with barbeque, fish, steaks and chicken served with bluegrass, beach, boogie and the blues. Oakboro is home to a monthly "cruise-in" when hundreds of people converge on downtown Oakboro with old cars and compete in a "burn-out" (www.oakborocruisein.com) (4th Friday of every month from 5:00 pm).
Or when you’re ready for lunch or dinner, continue north on Hwy 205 to 24/27. When you reach 24/27, turn left and in a few miles you’ll reach Locust. Pass the intersection with Hwy 200, and on the left in a mile or two, you’ll find The Fresh House, a popular country store & restaurant with very good food and a warm & friendly atmosphere. If you need a hug, just ask.

Return to Wadesboro via Hwy 742, a beautiful drive through the country.
Details:

The John Tucker Store, Tucker Road, 1 mile north of Hwy 218, Peachland, NC. 704-272-9357. Hours: Fri. & Sat. 10:00 am – 4:00 pm; Sun. 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm.

Ron Taylor Fine Arts, 113 North Main Street, Tues. – Fri. 10:00 am – 5:00 pm and Sat. 9:00 am – 1:00 pm. 704-485-8080. Part of Ron Taylor’s Art Gallery is the Bechtler Art Gallery, a rotating collection of art from the collection of Andreas Bechtler. See: www.rontaylorfinearts.com.

The Fresh House, Hwy 24/27, Locust, NC.

6.  North Carolina Wineries

Wineries have become very popular in North Carolina. In our area, there are four great wineries you can visit. Three are in the Albemarle area, about ½ hour north of Wadesboro. The fourth winery is near Lexington, NC, about 1 1/2 hrs north of Wadesboro.  (Note:  There may be a charge for some wine tours.)

1.  Stony Mountain Vineyards, 26370 Mountain Ridge Road, Albemarle, NC. 704-982-0922. www.stonymountainvineyards.com. Open Fri. and Sat. 12-6 pm. Check for other hours of operation. Wine tastings (fee includes keepsake wine glass). Tours as available. Fabulous views.

DIRECTIONS: From Wadesboro, take Hwy 52 North to Hwy 24/27, turn right (east). In several miles (past the turn for Morrow Mountain State Park), turn left at Stony Mountain Road. (If you come to Lake Tillery, you’ve gone too far.) At the fork in the road, take the right fork, onto Mountain Ridge Rd. Go 1 mile and you’ll see the sign for Stony Mountain Vineyards.

2.  Dennis Vineyards, 24043 Endy Road, Albemarle, NC. 1-800-230-1743. 704-982-6090. www.dennisvineyards.com. Open Mon.-Sat. 10-6. Winery tour (fee includes keepsake wine glass for wine tasting).  No charge for just wine tasting (plastic cups).

DIRECTIONS: From Albemarle, head west towards Charlotte on Hwy 24/27 approximately 5 miles to Endy. Turn right (north) on Endy Rd. Winery is 1/2 mile on left. ).

3.  Uwharrie Vineyards, 28030 Austin Road, Albemarle, NC. 704-982-9463.  www.uwharrievineyards.com.  Open Tues.-Fri. 10-6, Sat. 9-6, Sun. 12-5. Tours begin every hour on Sat./Sun.  Tours on Tues-Fri. are dependent on winery schedule and operations. No charge for winery tour.  Wine tasting (fee includes wine glass).

DIRECTIONS: In Albemarle, take Hwy 73 west to Austin Road, turn right. (Hwy 73 is also W. Main Street in Albemarle.)

4. Childress Vineyards, 1000 Childress Vineyards Road, Lexington, NC. 336-236-WINE (9463). Bistro serves lunch. www.childressvineyards.com. Open Mon.-Sat. 10-6 and Sun. 12-6. Tours at 12, 2 and 4. Lunch Mon.-Sat. 11-3; Sun. brunch 11-3. Music on weekends 12-3 beginning May 3, 2008.  Winery tour. Tastings range from $9 - 15 / person and incl. souvenir glass.

DIRECTIONS from Albemarle – Continue on Hwy 52 North from Albemarle to Salisbury. Then right (north) on I-85 towards Lexington. Take exit for Hwy 52 North again heading towards Winston-Salem. Then take Hwy 64 West exit. Proceed to Childress Vineyards.


 

Returning to Wadesboro - From Childress Vineyards, pick up Hwy 52 South. Then take I-85 South (towards Salisbury and Charlotte). In Salisbury, take Hwy 52 South (Exit 76) to Albemarle. From Albemarle, continue on Hwy 52 South to Wadesboro, turn left once you reach Hwy 74 and then right on Hwy 109 (Greene Street). The Forever Inn is 4 blocks in on right hand side.

More time? Head up to Morrow Mountain State Park. At the top of the mountain, there are beautiful views of Lake Tillery and the PeeDee River. Hiking trail available. Canoes available.

Places to eat:

Yadkin Valley Steakhouse, 140 Hwy 740 Bypass, Albemarle. 704-983-2020. (Near the intersection of 24/27 and 740 in Albemarle, just beyond Blue Bay Seafood.)

For guided winery tours - Uwharrie Tours offers guided winery tours of three wineries - Uwharrie Vineyards, Stony Mountain Vineyards and Dennis Vineyards.  Price includes transportation to wineries, lunch, a souvenir wineglass and all winery tour/tasting charges.  Check www.uwharrietours.com for more information.  They also offer canoeing, kayaking, horseback riding and other adventure packages.