Long before there was Burgaw, there was the Historic Burgaw Depot. Built in 1850 as a wood and water stop on the Wilmington to Weldon rail line, the depot predates the town by 29 years, making it the oldest standing train depot in North Carolina — and one of only two remaining antebellum depots (the other one is in Selma). Renovated in 2009, parts of the original structure can still be seen, including wooden doors and ceiling beams charred by an 1863 fire set by Union troops. Now, the depot is used for weddings, administrative offices, and a year-round transportation museum — a small piece of history making its way into our modern-day lives.
Split-rail fences don’t shout “keep out.” They lean, they shift, they invite. And in western North Carolina, they remind us that some lines are meant to hold, not harden.
Each May, spring climbs nearly 3,000 feet to the seat of Alleghany County. Here, as the rhododendrons blush, a beloved mountain town welcomes visitors with its food, art, and flourish of color and creativity.
Brief but delicious, soft-shell crab season is cherished by diners as well as the folks who work around the clock to put these native pinchers on our plates.
When it comes to poultry, the best is raised close to home.
