Exploring North Carolina with KathieyV

Its time to start planning your weekend.  Here are just a few things to do in NC this weekend... *Aug 30 you can attend the  Cashiers Antique Show  in Cashiers NC *Aug 31- Sept 3 is the 72nd Annual North Carolina Apple Festival  in Hendersonville NC *Aug 31- Sept 1 is the  Annual Smokey Mountain Folk Festival   in Lake Junaluska NC *Aug 31-Sept 1 is the  Jerome Davis Professional Bull Riding Invitational  in  Arcdale NC *Sept 1-2 is the  Mile High Kite Festival  in Beech Mountain NC *Sept 1-2 is  Art on the Greene  in Banner Elk NC *Sept 1-2 is the  John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival  in High Point NC *Aug 31  Last Friday Concerts  in Hillsborough NC *Sept 1is the  Coco Fiesta Fantastica  in Raleigh NC *Sept 2 there is a  Food Truck Rodeo  in Durham NC *Sept 2 is   A Pop of Music Summer Concert Series  in Cameron Village, Raleigh NC Aug 29-Tug of War Day Aug 30- International Cabernet Sauvignon Day Aug 31-National Eat Outside Day Sept 1-Bacon D

I had the exciting opportunity to visit  Gregory Vineyards  in Angier North Carolina with several other wine-loving buddies.  What a beautiful location.  Join me as I revisit the event. Quotes from their website: "Escape to a quiet country setting and enjoy a picturesque view of rolling hills,  vineyards, and spring fed lakes" "Gregory Vineyards features lakefront Vineyards, a Winery, Distillery, Tasting Room, and Lane’s Seafood and Steak House. Learn the art of making Wine, Moonshine, Brandy, and Fortified Wines. Enjoy award winning Unfortified Wines and Fortified Wines. Relax by the fireplace, front porch or have a delicious meal." When we arrived, they had a lovely meal prepared for us.  We enjoyed this yummy lunch along with a tasting of the Gregory Vineyard wines. My favorite wine of the tasting was the Bald Eagle.  I did try one of their Brandy Wines.  I had the Fearless Brandy Wine because that is what I want to believe that I am:-)   Fe

I love the performing arts, and I love wine.  I thought I would look ahead into Sept and find some shows and wine events in my area of North Carolina that I would like to attend.  I wish I could attend every event but as my mom used to say "If wishes were horses then beggars would ride," another quote she used to throw around was "champagne taste on a beer budget."  I can dream though and sometimes dreams do come true. Curtain Calls *Sept 15 at the Meymandi Concert Hall in Raleigh the NC Symphony is playing  "The Music of Queen" *Sept 16 in Raleigh is the  Raleigh Symphony Orchestra Fall Pops Concert *Sept 22 you can go to a dinner theater where you become part of the event.   It's called  Tony n' Tina's Wedding  and it held at The Glenwood in Raleigh *Sept 25 at DPAC in Durham you can enjoy an  Evening With Sarah McLachlan *Sept 28-30 the Cary Players are putting on  Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat  in Cary

Its time to start planning your weekend.  Here are just a few things to do in NC this weekend... *Aug 23-25 is the  2018 Winterville Watermelon Festival  in Winterville NC *Aug 24-25 is the  9th Annual Dirty Dancing Festival  in Lake Lure NC *Aug 25-26 is the  Railroad Heritage Weekend  at Tweetsie Railroad in Blowing Rock NC *Aug 25 is the  Tri County Horse Show  in Halifax NC *Aug 25-26 is  Cary Lazy Daze Art and Crafts Festival  in Cary NC *Aug 25 is  Faith Fest  in Wtilkesboro NC *Aug 25-26 is  Jurassic Quest  in Raleigh NC *Aug 23 you can learn more about  Ice Cream Science  at the Science Cafe in Raleigh NC *Aug 26 there is a  Downtown Food Truck Rodeo  in Fuquay-Varina NC *Aug 26 is the  Village Art Walk  at Lafayette Village in Raleigh NC Aug 22-National Tooth Fairy Day Aug 23-National Sponge Cake Day Aug 24-World Daffodil Day Aug 25-National Banana Split Day Aug 26-National Dog Day Aug 27-Just Because Day Aug 28-Pony Express Day A

It was going to be an exciting day, and I could not wait to get started.  I was headed out with a group of wine tasting buddies to a couple of vineyards and wine stores in the great state of North Carolina. Before we get started on our first tour, I want to share with you an NC wine fact. "North Carolina is home to 186 wineries.  More than 525 individually owned grape vineyards on 2,300 acres are spread across the state." NC Wine Our first stop, Grove Winery and Vineyards. Grove Winery & Vineyards 7360 Brooks Bridge Rd Gibsonville NC 27249 A bit about them from their website, Grove is recognized as one of the most awarded wineries and estate vineyards on the East Coast. European grapes are dry farmed and used for a limited production of about 3100 cases of premium wine each year. We grow more than 80% of the grapes we use each year here at our estate vineyards which were first planted in 2002. Grapes we grow here include Cabernet Sauvignon,

It was a beautiful winter day.  A perfect day for a stroll in downtown Cary NC. View from the  Downtown Park .  The  Cary Arts Center .  There is a lot going on at the Arts Center from shows to classes.  Check out their  events calendar .  I love the  Mayton Inn  in downtown Cary.  I have been many times.  I have not stayed at the Inn, but I hear that the rooms are lovely.  I have been for lunch at the  Verandah , I have taken a  Skillpop  class held in one of their meeting rooms, and enjoyed a Christmas Market held at the Inn. Downtown Cary Sculptures... Churches... I was excited to find a mural...  Not sure what this is but it is interesting:-) I will leave you with good advice I found on my walk around town.   We should all be doing this. Get out and explore.  If you ever near downtown Cary I suggest you take a stroll. Happy Travels! KathieyV:-)