Exploring North Carolina with KathieyV

As Cindy and I continued on our NC adventure we decided to stop by an off the beaten path vineyard.    Zimmerman Vineyards in Trinity NC.  We seemed to be in the middle of nowhere.  GPS told us to turn into a field but luckily we did not listen and we went a bit further down the road.  Finally we saw a sign.   We turned in and then proceeded down a single lane unpaved road.  Cindy was humming the theme song from Deliverance.  We were wondering if we should turn around when all the sudden we saw it...Zimmerman Vineyards.   Here is what they say on their website... " Zimmerman Vineyards  wine labels depict an image, sketched by Leslie Zimmerman, of Sisyphus, the Greek mythological King of Corinth, who was forever condemned to pushing a great boulder uphill. We mirror our experiences to those of Sisyphus with one exception, that our efforts have been goal-driven and have led us to the realization of a dream." ZV ...

I love to try different restaurants.  A few weeks ago Cindy and I were in Raleigh NC.  We asked a local where we should eat dinner.  They suggested Assaggio's Italian Restaurant.  We decided Italian food sounded good so off we went.   Here is what they say on their website... " Assaggio's   was started on April 26th, 2004 by Dean Biales. A New York Resident for 20 years, Dean wanted to offer authentic Italian Cuisine to the residents of North Carolina."  " Assaggio's has now grown to one of the finest Italian Restaurants in Raleigh!" They have a lot to choose from on  their menu .      Our meal was served with Garlic Knots.  They were warm and soft.  Really good.  I had a nice glass of red wine along with a house salad. I choose the Lasagna.  Cheesy and delicious.  I would order it again. Had to get a hug from my new friend on the way out... Phone: (919) 785-2088 Address: 35...

It's fall, my favorite time of year.  Now is a good time to travel up to the Blue Ridge Mountains to feel the cool crisp air and hopefully see the colorful fall leaves.  Erica and I decided to stop a few of the many wineries in NC on our mini vacation.  On the way to Blowing Rock we took a slight diversion to  Shelton Vineyards in Dobson NC Here is what they say on their website... Located in the Yadkin Valley American Viticultural Area, the vineyard shares a similar climate and growing season to that of some of the best wine growing regions in Europe. The vineyard is one of the largest on the East Coast. One thing I like about Shelton Vineyards is the fact that they have a restaurant. We decided to eat lunch and enjoy some of their delicious wines.  First stop was the  Harvest Grill   We decide to try their wine flight.  It came out on a tiered display.  Five wines of your choosing.  As they brought the flights out t...

Cindy and I decided to check a local winery,   Cloer Family Vineyards in Apex NC.   We went with a meetup group that we are members of.  What a fun afternoon of wine, music and friendly folks. Here is what they say on the website... "When you visit Cloer Family Vineyards, you will be welcomed by a member of the Cloer family. We love growing the grapes and making the wines, but we also enjoy meeting the people who come to our winery and buy our products. Our goal is to ensure everyone who visits our vineyard feels at home. That means no stress and no pressure – just friendly folks enjoying a common interest." I found that to be true.  We were warmly welcomed and and did feel right at home:-) We enjoyed a wine tasting and sampled all of their wines.  As we sipped we listened to the history of this winery and information regarding their wines.  Yummy and informative! We took a walk around the property...  Furry Friends... Lovely Vin...

A few weeks ago just after the peak leaf season Erica and I had the pleasure of going on a mountain trip.  One of our favorite things to do is to explore some well marked mountain trails.  A nice hike is Rough Ridge off of the Blue Ridge Parkway,  Milepost 302.8 Here is a web site that will tell you all about the trail.   Rough Ridge   I will have information from this site in quotes. "The trail goes up over a wooden footbridge spanning a tributary of Wilson’s Creek, then leads on up the hill. You’ll need to pick your way through some boulders.  The trail ascends about 25 stone steps of varying height before semi-leveling out. This section of the trail is right around a quarter mile, so it takes just a few minutes to get to the top. High bushes obscure the view at this point, but then- you climb a few wooden steps onto the boardwalk, and you’re treated to the best view the High Country has to offer. Over 180° of panoramic I-can-see-for-miles views." I...

One place that has become a regular stop for me on my Blowing Rock Adventures is Woodlands Bar-B-Que.  Rustic atmosphere, great barbecue and, every time I have been there, live music. "Our  Restaurant’s Menu  features barbecue beef, pork, chicken and ribs plus home style Mexican food. Family oriented with a rustic atmosphere." Woodlands "Serving North Carolina Barbeque in Blowing Rock NC since 1977." Woodlands It was my first time getting their chicken BBQ.  It was great. One of my daughters favorite desserts at Woodlands is the Blackberry Cobbler. They ran out the night we were there.  No worries because we will be back:-) If you find yourself in the Blowing Rock area I suggest you visit Woodlands Bar-B-Que.  I know you will enjoy it:-) Happy travels and eating. KathieyV