One Place Where the Dollar Stretches the Farthest
Jordan Lake State Recreational Area in North Carolina offers numerous opportunities for camping, sailing, hiking, birding, and more. A visit to the Pittsboro area, which is part of the Research Triangle Region, is a great driving vacation for families, groups, couples, and/or business travelers. Located in the heart of North Carolina, between the Triangle (RDU) and the Piedmont Triad (GSO), possible itineraries include:
- A stay at the family-friendly Celebrity Goat Dairy Bed & Breakfast (Siler City). Also considered the Goat Hilton, it’s a farm famous for its cheese and they milk goats twice daily, morning and evening; watch and/or help!
- Fearrington House Country Inn (NC’s only five-diamond, five-star inn) and Restaurant (five-diamond) or Laurel Ridge Bed & Breakfast (romantic and secluded) or Rosemary House Bed & Breakfast (in downtown Pittsboro among nifty shops and eateries). For a five-star inn, the rates are incredible—stay includes gourmet breakfast and English afternoon tea.
- Take advantage of packages that include golf (championship golf courses designed by Jack Nicklaus, Fred Couples, and Davis Love III), spa treatments, culinary schools, and much more!
- Carnivore Preservation Trust – See an ocelot, serval or binturong-what are they?! More than 125 exotic animals reside in a “big cat” sanctuary (Pittsboro).
- Tour of Southern Supreme Gourmet Confections in Bear Creek (remember the I Love Lucy episode with all the chocolates? Take the tour and watch the goodies being made—you finish at the Sample Bar Area so you can taste their renown nutty fruitcakes, jams, jellies, mustards, pecan pralines, cheese florets, maple crispy nuts, gingerbread spice tea biscuits, cinnamon pecans, coffee or cider, and more!)
- Don’t forget to pet the Belties, also fondly known as Oreo cows, at Fearrington Village! Signature gardens, shops (including a toy store), café, cozy bookstore (a child’s dream) and much more.
- More than 50 small farms and nurseries abound in Chatham County—tour a few or visit Chatham Marketplace to eat healthy, organic, and local foods.
- Kids will enjoy the Talking Trail at Jordan Lake State Educational Forest–bring a picnic lunch and bask in the warm weather.
- Splash the day away…canoe, kayak, swim, sunbathe, sail, or fish. Explore, hike, bike, picnic, bird watch, and more at Jordan Lake State Recreation Area, Jordan Lake State Educational Forest, Camelback Bridge, Deep River, Haw River, and/or Rocky River!
- Drive along Devil’s Stomping Ground Road—a North Carolina scenic byway, which is a scenic route from Pittsboro to Bear Creek (home to Southern Supreme). For more ideas, a visitor packet, or any questions, 800.316.3829 or browse http://visitpittsboro.comNeha M. Shah is a freelance travel writer living in North Carolina and works for Pittsboro-Siler City CVB. She is a regular contributor to the Sandhills Business Times, PeterGreenberg.com, and other publications. Learn more at her site.
I’ve stayed at the goat dairy and their cheese is wonderful.