Editor’s Note: This story was published in 2018. Edward and Alyssa Movsesyan bought Hazelwood Soap Company in 2021.
No matter which direction you walk down the red-brick sidewalks on Main Street, mountains rise up ahead of you. It’s a reminder that in Waynesville, an adventure is never too far away. For more than 200 years, this town has been a gateway to the beauty that surrounds it.
In the 1800s, tourists came for the purported health benefits of the clean mountain air. Today, they also come for the town’s vibrant personality: Around every corner, you’ll find art galleries and studios. Cozy wine bars and craft breweries. A gourmet grocery and a colorful kitchen shop. Ask a local where to eat, and be ready to take notes on the farm-to-table restaurants.
You could ready your hiking boots — head into Great Smoky Mountains National Park or hop onto the Blue Ridge Parkway — but you could also just stay put. Settle in. Because there’s plenty to admire and explore right in front of you.
Tucked into a historic neighborhood, a backyard in Forsyth County holds hundreds of Southern wildflowers collected by one wild flower woman.
John Champlin has traveled across the state — and the nation — in search of hard-to-find spots that serve an unforgettable hot dog. After 11 years, what he’s discovered goes way beyond the bun.
In the early 20th century, textile mill owners sponsored baseball teams, providing entertainment for their employees and nurturing a passion for the game that’s been handed down through generations of North Carolinians.
Our writer reflects on where his love of vinyl began, and how the snap, crackle, and pop of a needle sliding across a turntable will always satisfy his soul.
