The Latest From Carolina Traveler

Have you received the summer 2024 issue of Carolina Traveler yet? If not, it's on the way to your mailbox! In this issue of the Carolina Traveler weekly newsletter, we're shining a spotlight on some of our favorite 2024 summer destinations and traveling to Thomasville NC to get the scoop on the Memorial Day Parade & Celebrationย (it's the biggest Memorial Day celebration in the southeast US!)

Celebrate summer break early by taking the kids to the Fair at Heritage Park in Simpsonville, SC. From May 17-26, each day features a new out-of-this-world concert, attraction, or event. You can check the website daily for special admission discounts and free ticket opportunities!

For an experience that's just as visually stimulating, dialed down on volume, and dialed up on olfactory sensations, head to Mount Airy Blooms on June 8. You don't have to sniff through the summer 2024 issue to find free tickets to this floral feast for the senses…

Finally — and this is a big one — we've been enchanted by enough small-town ambassadors (some of whom you'll see featured in the summer 2024 issue) that we've decided to dedicate a new ongoing “My Town” segment to the quirky, humble, intriguing, and sometimes a little eccentric town ambassadors. If you live in a small NC or SC town and someone immediately comes to mind as a town ambassador, head to our My Town page to nominate them. You might see them featured in the mid-summer 2024 issue of Carolina Traveler or a future issue!

Stay up to date with the best 1-page trips, festivals, and family-friendly itineraries in the Carolinas — follow us on Facebook where we regularly offer free tickets and other giveaways and become a 2024 subscriber to Carolina Traveler magazine!

Have You Climbed One Of NC's Largest Monadnocks?

Rock-climbers, hikers, and thrill seekers, convene! Our 1-page trip through Stokes County NC includes all the outdoor fun you're looking fun on a perfect summer day or weekend excursion. Our Stokes County 1-page trip includes the best summer things to do in the area, including climbing one of NC's largest monadnocks.

Monadnocks are geological land formations characterized by a solitary hill, knob, or small mountain that rises abruptly from an otherwise flat or gently sloping surrounding landscape. These formations are usually composed of hard, erosion-resistant rock types, like granite, that endure while softer rock erodes over millions of years. Fun fact: Poet Ralph Waldo Emerson coined the term ‘monadnock' after witnessing an unusual mountain formation in New Hampshire. In addition to enjoying two of NC's most-visited state parks, including monadnocks Hanging Rock and Pilot Mountain, our Stokes County 1-page trip includes the following activities:

  • Witnessing the Colonel Jack Martin Rock House
  • Embarking on a rock-climbing expedition with Rock Dimensions
  • Learning about cheese-making and sampling farm-made goat cheese
  • Perusing unique finds at two local general stores
  • Meandering through The Arts Place of Stokes

๐Ÿ”’ย 1-page trips are for subscribers onlyview subscription plans

Can't get enough of Stokes County NC? Keep reading for fun fall suggestions

River Club Madison and Blue Octopus

Top: Good beer and good music at River Club Madison; Bottom: Bring home a piece of Rockingham County at Blue Octopus Antiques

Rockingham County NC 1-page trip

You won't find many reasons to stay indoors with this exciting 1-page trip to Rockingham County NC! In the summertime, a perfect trip to Rockingham County includes a downtown mural tour, paddle session through Lake Reidsville, and walks through wildflower fields. Rockingham County is also a prime location for bird-watching and fly-fishing. Whether you're traveling with an RV, looking for lakeside camping, or seeking more luxurious accommodations, our Rockingham County 1-page trip has you covered. Check out of the work week hustle and tune in to the good stuff in Rockingham County NC.

๐Ÿ”’ย 1-page trips are for subscribers onlyview subscription plans

All-A-Flutter Farms siblings with butterflies and crafts

Siblings by birth, butterfly buddies by choice | Photo: All-A-Flutter Farms (Facebook)

Here's Your “High Point” Of The 2024 Summer…

Sure, you may know High Point NC for its World's Largest Chest of Drawers, but have you experienced all the area has to offer? Summer is one of the best times to visit High Point NC, especially now that the High Point City Lake Park has just undergone some updates. Once home to the largest swimming pool in the southeastern US, High Point's ๐ŸšฒCity Lake Park ๐Ÿ›ถ boasts the following amenities:

  • Arnold J. Koonce, Jr. City Lake and pedestrian bridge
  • High Point Greenway and Bicentennial Greenway
  • Piedmont Environmental Center
  • Aquatic Center
  • Marina
  • Rides and Amusements (train, carousel, miniature golf, boat rides)
  • Picnic Shelters

Honestly, we could probably pack all of City Lake Park's fun into a 1-page trip for the High Point area. High Point is a great place to take the kids — the ๐Ÿฆ‹ย All-A-Flutter Butterfly Farm ๐Ÿฆ‹ has been gaining traction as a surefire way to captivate the heart of any child and anyone young at heart.

Check out our two other summer 2024 day trips in Anderson SC and Kure Beach NC.

Mount Airy Blooms could be included on the list of NC scenic hikes.

Demo topics include gardening with native plants, therapeutic gardening, and the edible landscape.

Mount Airy Blooms: Free Tickets For VIP Subscribers

๐ŸŒธ๐ŸŒฟ Get ready to immerse yourself in one of the most beautiful summer 2024 events in the Carolinas: a floral paradise at Mount Airy Blooms on June 8! You could definitely include this entire event on your list of NC scenic hikes! Presented by Mount Airy's esteemed garden clubs โ€” Garden Gate, Modern Gardeners, and Mountain View โ€” Mount Airy Blooms promises a delightful tour of private gardens nestled just a stone's throw away from the charming downtown.

From cozy cottages to sprawling mini-estates, witness a tapestry of successful garden practices that will ignite your own green thumb. But the excitement doesn't end there! Dedicated Master Gardener volunteers will be on hand to share their expertise, answering all your burning gardening questions and offering captivating exhibits and demos.

Discover the wonders of the edible landscape, the beauty of gardening with native plants, and the secrets behind cultivating herbs. Plus, learn how to combat pesky invaders like the spotted lantern fly, and explore the therapeutic benefits of gardening.

What's more, Carolina Traveler is getting ready to offer FREE tickets to this enchanting event! ๐ŸŒบ๐ŸŒฑRead more about Mount Airy Blooms 2024

Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival logo.

What's better than beer, bourbon, and barbecue? Having it all in the same place!

Last Chance! Beer Bourbon & BBQ Takes Place 5/18

You can still enter daily to win tickets to four of the hottest food festivals in Charlotte this year! The May 18 Beer Bourbon & BBQ Festival takes place soon, with the August 24 Tacos ‘N Taps fiesta on deck. While the Whiskey, Wine & Fire Festival doesn't belong on our list of summer 2024 events (it takes place November 2, 2024), it's still worth starting your salivating engines over!

Haven't read up on the details for Beer Bourbon & BBQ? Get ready for a day filled with beer sippin', bourbon tastin', and BBQ eatin'. With over 60 beers and 40 bourbons to sample, as well as mouthwatering BBQ delights, this festival is a true Southern extravaganza. Don't miss the Shrine of Swine, where whole hogs are smoked to perfection, or the VIP Lounge for an extra special experience. Plus, enjoy live music, seminars with master distillers and pit masters, and plenty of yard games to keep the fun going all day long. Early purchase general admission is $45. Carolina Traveler VIPs get FREE tickets.ย Sound like a perfect summer day? ENTER TO WIN FREE TICKETS!ย 

Mother and son ride a zipline in Stokes County, NC

Race through the canopy and across meadows at Carolina Ziplines in Westfield, NC.

Carolina Traveler Poll: The Best Thrill Seeking Adventures

If you've been a Carolina Traveler reader for a while, you know that we publish our annual Thrill Seekers issue in midsummer. We're elbows deep in pluff mud searching for the most physically and mentally thrilling adventures in NC and SC. From hiking to secret swimming holes to diving for buried treasure, we want to hear directly from Carolina thrill seekers themselves — what are the best places to get your thrill seeking fix in the Carolinas? Email our writer with your favorite places! Then, check out our thrill seeker destinations from 2023 and 2022.

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