Opening
Back in the Day: First in Surf
by Caroline Kelly
More than a century ago, Wrightsville Beach became the first successful community to bring surfing, a popular West Coast sport, to the East Coast.
June 2018 Welcome Letter: And Many More
by Elizabeth Hudson
Our State celebrates its 85th birthday this year, but for its employees, it feels like Year One.
Our State Quiz: Below the Surface
by Alan Hodge
With more than 5,000 shipwrecks lying off our shores, it’s no wonder that the North Carolina coast is known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic.
Letters
We Live Here
Downtown: Swansboro
by Katie Schanze
In this quaint, laid-back town in Onslow County, every turn leads you back to the water.
Wehrloom Honey in Robbinsville
by Bryan Mims
At Wehrloom Honey, Aron and Jessica Wehr turned a sweet gift into a passion they share with the community.
Promise’ Land Market in Morehead City
by Susan Stafford Kelly
In Carteret County, a market between the sidewalk and the sound pays tribute to coastal history.
Annex Surf Supply in Wrightsville Beach
by Katie Schanze
Whether you’re a wave chaser in search of a surfboard or a coffee lover looking for a pick-me-up, Annex Surf Supply has you covered.
Toad & Wee: Off to the Races
by Drew Perry
At Millbridge Speedway in Salisbury — where go-karts roar around a red-clay track — a family on the hunt for excitement hits pay dirt.
A Cherokee Elder’s Words of Wisdom
by Bailey Sherrill
Lloyd Arneach shares the tribal lore that helped shape him — and his people.
Eats
Recipes: Shrimp
by Lynn Wells
Miller’s Restaurant: A Burger’s Best Friend
by Jimmy Tomlin
More than 60 years ago in Davie County, hamburger met pimento cheese. The rest is history.
Features
Our State: The Photo Essays
Ramblin’ Man: His Time, Her Time
by T. Edward Nickens
When an avid outdoorsman marries a devotee of Crystal Coast no-wake zones, compromise is a necessity.
Field of Dreams
by Philip Gerard
At a rural crossroads in Halifax County, black farmers chart a new destiny for their families through the Tillery resettlement program.
Beyond the Beach: Brunswick Islands
by Katie Saintsing
Chances are, one of our southern barrier islands — Bald Head, Oak, Holden, Ocean Isle, or Sunset — has been your beach for years. Look beyond the sand and surf, and you’ll find charming villages, acres of nature, and signature fried seafood, generations in the making.
The Surf Issue
If This Wave Could Talk
by Lane DeGregory
It might boast: Outer Banks breakers are the envy of the East Coast. Or it could share a tale: The world’s best surfer first got his feet wet in the shadow of Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Ask nicely, and it might divulge a secret or two: About legends and landmarks — even where to find a clam cookout or a fine fish supper. After all, our waves have plenty of those, too.
The Towns: Where Sea Meets Soul
by Krista Bremer
A Feast of Love
by Andrea Weigl
Craig Love has turned surf culture into his own culinary style. Now, he’s got a kitchen full of surfers — from managers to cooks — who share his deep appreciation of the sea and all that it provides.
Cool Sold Here
by Linda Dunn
In the 1980s, three Atlantic Beach surf shops — Bert’s, AB, and Marsh’s — gave teenagers a social network as connected as Facebook and as immediate as Twitter. Before long, surfer fads turned into fashion, gossip became news, and young people found their community.
Gidget Grown Up: Jo Pickett
by Robyn Yiğit Smith
Legendary East Coast surfer Jo Pickett travels the world, chasing waves. But she makes her home in Wilmington, where Carolina’s blue swells remind her of family and the importance of living fearlessly.
Professor Longboard: Tony Silvagni
by Drew Perry
If you want to learn to ride the waves, one of the world’s best surfers is more than happy to teach you.
Closing
Carolina Calendar: June 2018
by Our State Staff
Cool evenings and plenty of sunshine inspire us to head outside, where outdoor dramas, open-air concerts, and berry festivals beckon.
NC Primer: Arrgh State
by Susan Stafford Kelly
North Carolina remembers its most fearsome pirate — and one who tried his best, bless his heart.