The falls are pretty and peaceful. We walked to the bottom of the falls as well as a hike on the…read morehiking path to the swinging bridge.

I actually went 30 minutes out of my way to visit when I hiked South Mountains State Park and I…read morewasn't disappointed! A calm, beautiful spot for families, couples, and even a solo trek. There is a beautiful waterfall with a water area that you can swim in warmer months. An historic mill provides a nice flavor of previous times in the area. There are some trails in which you can walk around and enjoy the stream beauty. This is also great spot for a nice run. It is clean, well-maintained, and there are two really nice scenic overlooks. There are a few picnic areas.

We were running a bit early for our motel check-in in Morganton, so we decided to dive off…read moreInterstate 40, and see what the little town Valdese was all about. It is located in Burke County, less than 10 miles East of Morganton, and has a total population of less than 5,000. One of the largest Waldensian congregations in the United States founded the town in 1893. The town was settled by immigrants from the Cottian Alps in the Piedmont region of Italy. The small, historic downtown section could be a poster child for quaint - it is clean, loaded with charm (almost all the "store fronts" were decorated for Halloween, flowers, etc), a beautiful church with a side garden and fountain, the wonderful smell of freshly baked bread emanating from a family owned bakery on the hill, and a feeling of 1950's serenity was all around. We walked around the three or four blocks (both sides), sat on a bench in the sun, wandered into a retro '50s diner called Myra's, had a great soft serve ice cream cone, and one bite of a bad hot dog - good times x2!

Went to the Children's Park today October 25. Had a large group and was so disappointed that the…read morerestrooms were locked. Why would they be locked during nice weather? No one could enjoy the park under those circumstances. Why would a park be open if the bathrooms were locked. Unbelievable and no excuse for that. As a tax payer and resident of Valdese I am very disappointed. Valdese do a better job!!

This is a lovely little jewel of a garden located on the north side of Downtown Statesville on the…read morecorner of Center & Water Streets. Plenty of street parking is available. Yes, it is tiny, but they have been able to put a lot of effort into making it a bit of a magical wonderland. You step through the entry and are immersed in lovely plants and fantastical sculptures. Take your time as you wander around, look up, down, and all around. Some sculptures are huge and others are tiny. The plants, flowers and foliage around the sculptures are just as whimsical. Kudos to the City of Statesville for creating and maintaining this lovely space for all of us to enjoy.

This unexpected find takes up the lot next to the Statesville Historical Collection at the corner…read moreof Center Street and Water Street a couple of blocks from the center of Statesville. The garden has a wrought iron gate around it and a smooth concrete path with entrances at two sides. There is street parking on both corners. Inside the garden, a half-dozen or so interesting sculptures in a variety of styles and materials. "On Top of the Whirled" is a polished steel structure. "Blue Cadence" looks like a large iron vase. "Blue Tower" is a cut steel structure and the "Wish You Were Hare" is a large woven wire sculpture of a large seated rabbit. Many, if not all, of the sculptures are for sale if that's something that interests you. But even if not, they are free to view and appreciate here. [Review 14550 overall, 48 of 2021, number 2786 in North Carolina.]

A few days of exploring Hickory and enjoying it. Hickory is located in Catawba County though…read moreneighboring Newton is the county seat. The origins of Hickory's name stems from a tavern made of logs beneath a hickory tree during the 1850s. The spot was known as "Hickory Tavern." In 1870, Hickory Tavern was established as a town. Three years later in 1873, the name was changed to the Town of Hickory, and in 1889 to the City of Hickory. Hickory is the home of Lenoir-Rhyne University, founded in 1891 by four Lutheran pastors. It remains a private Lutheran university with the motto "The truth shall set you free." The school has over 50 undergraduate majors and nearly 30 graduate programs. Hickory is home to one of the oldest furniture manufacturers in the United States that is still located and operated on the original site. Hickory White, formerly known as Hickory Manufacturing Company, was built in 1902 and has been in continuous operation ever since. During World War II, the factory made ammunition boxes for the U.S. military instead of furniture. Hickory was known in the years after World War II for the "Miracle of Hickory". In 1944 the area around Hickory (the Catawba Valley) became the center of one of the worst outbreaks of polio ever recorded. Residents who were then children recall summers of not being allowed to play outside or visit friends for fear of contracting the disease. Since local facilities were inadequate to treat the victims, the citizens of Hickory and the March of Dimes decided to build a hospital to care for the children of the region. From the time the decision was made until equipment, doctors, and patients were in a new facility, took less than 54 hours. Those events are memorialized at Miracle of Hickory park. And on that topic, many parks in Hickory. Lots of food. A dense downtown area with restaurants, shopping and coffee. Nice place! If you're looking for the mural I posted with my review of Hickory, it's on the side of 117 Government Avenue SW. [Review 15863 overall - 3081 in North Carolina - 1367 of 2021.]

Hanging out at Christmas in Morganton NC no place I'd rather be than with this happy little guyread more

Downtown Morganton was a surprise. The biggest of all surprises and the highlight was the Catawba…read moreBrewing Company in an old warehouse downtown. Walking distance from restaurants, a neat old square complete with the typical memorial to the war of "northern aggression". Lots of shops around the square. Not a "destination" per se, but also "not not" a destination. There is a really great restaurant just around the corner from the Brewery. Churchill's. Upstairs is fine dining...downstairs a sports bar environment with live music.

The Ben Long Fresco is located inside the CoMMA Performing Arts Center lobby. You can visit when…read morethe box office is open. There is plenty of parking in the free lot. The title is "Sacred Dance & the Muses". It was completed in April 2004 and is 24 by 33 feet. It is the largest single-panel ceiling fresco in the United States. The fresco uses the nine figures of the Greek muses. This one celebrates theatre, music and comedy with dancing tying it all together. You won't miss the two theatrical masks that represent comedy and tragedy. Long used real-life residents of Morganton, family, friends and his dogs for models. Long paid tribute to his mentor Pietro Annigoni, whom he apprenticed with for eight years in Florence, Italy. He even has a self-portrait with him holding his paintbrushes. It is an absolute must-see stop on the North Carolina fresco trail!

Installed in 2019, this whimsical art piece stands on a traffic circle at the entrance to Hickory…read moreCity Park. The nearly 9-foot-tall metal sculpture depicts a catlike figure riding a vintage bicycle. According to the city's website, "Several members of the Public Art Commission first experienced the sculpture, described as a "children's book come to life," while on display at the 2018 Caldwell Arts Council Sculpture Celebration and later presented it to the commission for consideration in September 2018. The sculpture was selected for its whimsical nature and connection to Hickory's growing bicycle community." New York-based metal sculptor Corky Corrado created the work of art. Corrado's sculptures have been featured in Plattsburgh, New York's prestigious Museum Garden Tour and at the North Country Cultural Center for the Arts. [Review 15418 overall, 921 of 2021, number 2968 in North Carolina.]