The Latest From Carolina Traveler
Stay up to date with the best ways to explore Women's History Month and history in the Carolinas, hidden gem day trips, and more things to do and see; follow us on Facebook, where we regularly offer free tickets and other giveaways, and make sure to become a 2024 subscriber to Carolina Traveler magazine!
Brookgreen Gardens houses 2000+ works by 425 artists—including more than 100 by Anna Huntington and many others by women sculptors.
Famous Women In History: Women's History Month Edition
Pop quiz! In honor of Women's History Month in March 2024, we're shedding light on eight of the most iconic women of NC and SC history. Can you name these famous women of history?
Test your NC Women's History Month knowledge (view answers here)
- Known as “Lady Edison,” ______ patented over 100 inventions and was one of the most successful NC inventors.
- You can visit _____'s home in Edenton, NC, where she lead other women in protest against British taxation at the Edenton Tea Party.
- Black Mountain, NC is home to _____, the Grammy Award-winning song-writer and singer behind “Killing Me Softly.”
- _____ — one of the most beloved First Ladies in U.S. history — has a unique connection to Guilford County, NC.
Test your SC Women's History Month knowledge (view answers here)
- St. Matthews, SC is home to ______, one of the few Hollywood performers to win an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award (EGOT).
- Responsible for creating two of the most-visited destinations in South Carolina, ______ is a philanthropist and sculpture artist with an SC state park named after her.
- _______ of Lake City, SC was the first woman to be featured on the cover of Forbes Magazine.
- In Bennettsville, SC, you'll find a library named after ______, who founded what would become the National Children's Defense Fund.
Two thumbs way up for the annual Hang Gliding Spectacular in Nags Head, NC | Photo credit: @flykhk (Instagram)
Incoming! The Spring 2024 Is Flying To Your Mailbox
Springtime in the Carolinas — a sight we've long wanted to behold! Soon, the dogwoods and azaleas will burst into color like the whole town's dressed up for a Sunday picnic. The air gets just right, not too hot, not too cold – just perfect for strolling down a small-town Main Street and exchanging howdy-dos with friendly neighbors. And don't even get me started on the barbecues – the sweet aroma of hickory smoke fills the air, and everyone gathers 'round for some good ol' fashioned cookin'.
Take a sneak peek:
- Mark your calendars to take on these three 2024 spring day trips in Cayce, SC; Weaverville, NC; and Concord, NC.
- These 2024 spring events are fun for all Carolina Travelers!
Become a Carolina Traveler subscriber to unlock our feature articles for Spring 2024:
- 2024 Spring Beach Guide: we're awarding superlatives to more than 20 of the best beaches on the NC Coast and SC Lowcountry/Grand Strand. Looking for the best pet-friendly beaches? Secret spots for finding shark teeth and seashells? OBX camping? Epic surf? Additionally, we're naming our #1 best beaches in NC and SC — vacation spots merging fun and relaxation.
- From Tee to Tea — Dueling Couples Itineraries in the Carolinas Top Golf Vacation Spots: we're featuring two itineraries for Pawleys Island, SC and the NC Sandhills — two areas known for their exceptional golf courses and less known for their incredible cuisine, eclectic shopping, and natural beauty. Whether you're putting on the green or enjoying a luxury picnic in the park, our itineraries will get you and your friend couples outside and enjoying spring in the Carolinas.
- The Carolinas' 6 Most Magical Experiences: If you (or your family/friends) love fairy tale kingdoms, enchanted forests, mythical mermaids, Mad Hatter tea parties, secret gardens, dragons, and unicorns, you'll probably want to check out this article. And when we say unicorns, we mean it. SC is home to the only unicorn farm in the world!
The Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival takes place at the Live Oak Bank Pavilion at Riverfront Park.
Beer, Bourbon, and BBQ: Win Free Tickets!
What better way to celebrate Women's History Month than with delicious food cooked by spicy pitmasters and madames? Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 16, 2024 'cause Wilmington's Beer, Bourbon, and BBQ Festival is back for the 6th round of Southern revelry! Get ready for a day of pure Southern bliss – beer, bourbon, barbeque, boots, bacon, biscuits, bluegrass – it's the real deal. Sip on the finest brews, savor smoky bourbons, and feast on BBQ that'll make your taste buds two-step. Read more about the Beer, Bourbon, and BBQ Festival.
With a VIP ticket, you're in for a treat – extra sampling hours, a BBQ feast, and a swanky VIP lounge. The Shrine of Swine is making a comeback, with whole hogs stealing the show. Jam to live tunes, explore the Tasting Theater, and dive into a new gaming area – it's a wild ride! Grab your boots, unleash your inner kid, and let the Southern good times roll! Discover more fun things to do in Wilmington, NC.
How can you enter? Only VIP subscribers age 21 and older are eligible to enter. Check your inbox/spam for the “VIP Wilmington Beer Bourbon BBQ” email sent March 4 that you're interested in attending. Each Friday, we'll draw two tickets from our pool of interested Carolina Traveler VIPs. Too easy, right?!
More great news for VIP subscribers: Carolina Traveler is partnering with the Beer, Bourbon, and BBQ Festival series through November, which means we'll have more ticket giveaways for fun festivals all over the Carolinas, including “Tacos and & Taps” “Wine & Food” and more! There has never been a greater time to become a 2024 subscriber to Carolina Traveler magazine!
The Eastern 4-H Center is one of the best hidden gem field trips in the Carolinas.
Let's Take A Trip! Spring Destinations and Field Trip
Now that we've gotten our first random warm days out of the way, we can set our sights on some of the best places to visit and things to do in the Carolinas during spring. Discover 2024 field trips.
Whether you're looking for museums dedicated to Women's History Month, thrilling animal encounters, outdoor excursions, or miscellaneous fun, you can join us as we explore these 2024 spring destinations:
Museums and Planetariums
- U.S. Army Airborne and Special Operations Museum — Fayetteville, NC
- Schiele Museum — Gastonia NC
- Richard Petty Museum
- North Carolina Pottery Center
- North Carolina Aviation Museum and Hall of Fame
- Neal Agricultural and Industrial Museum at Linbrook Heritage Estate
- American Classic Motorcycle Museum
- Catawba Science Center — Hickory, NC
Animal Attractions and Outdoor Adventures
- Tiger World — Rockwell, NC
- Animal Park at the Conservators Center — Burlington, NC
- Currituck National Wildlife Refuge — Currituck, NC
- Eastern 4-H Center — Columbia, NC
- Cook's Sports — Wilkesboro, NC
- Hanging Rock State Park — Stokes County, NC
- Holly Shelter Game Land — Pender County, NC
Miscellaneous Fun
- Yadkin Valley American Viticultural Area — Dobson, NC and Elkin, NC
- Duplin County Wine Trail (NC)
- Mystery Hill — Blowing Rock, NC
- Rockingham Speedway (NC)
- Spring Daze 2024 Festival — Thomasville, NC
Many holiday events in Blueberrytown take place at the Historic Burgaw Train Depot — the oldest railroad depot in North Carolina.
