The April 2022 Issue

What we’re looking forward to this month: lovely landscapes, drinks in the garden, and statewide stargazing.

Inspired by her family’s deep Wayne County roots, a business owner showcases her hometown’s multicultural cuisine, rich history, and vibrant arts scene.

From sweet Southern phrases to sweet tea, in North Carolina, smelling, feeling, eating, and being sweet starts early.

A pitmaster in Chowan County was raised on North Carolina pork. At Old Colony Smokehouse in Edenton, he draws on his family’s heritage — as well as barbecue traditions from across the South.

Whether you want a simple bouquet for the kitchen table or stunning flowers for a special occasion, fill your bucket with fresh blooms at pick-your-own farms across the state.

Enjoy a day of hiking, walking, climbing, or kayaking, then sit down to some tasty brews and bites.

Forgo take-out in favor of this delicious, no-fuss homemade stir-fry.

Fill your skillet with the spring produce we dreamed of all winter long when you make this vegetable-packed frittata.

Flaky, crumbly pastry makes the perfect case for sweet egg custard topped with nutmeg.

We’ve rolled all of the classic breakfast ingredients, plus a spicy avocado salsa, into one packed burrito.

Behind the second-largest franchisee of Eggland’s Best is a fourth-generation family business in Nash County known for its generosity and carefully tended flock.

In Morehead City, a father’s gift to his daughter reflects the lessons of parenthood. Loved and nurtured, the garden box they share grows with grace, confidence, and beauty.

The University of North Carolina Press began in 1922 with a mission to publish books that help people understand the South. One century and thousands of publications later, it’s still educating, engaging, and inspiring readers.

Over the past 100 years, North Carolina authors — scholars and chefs, photographers and naturalists — have found a place to celebrate their communities and tell their stories at UNC Press. These are the titles that helped shape the people’s press.

Find out what three hiking experts have to say about hitting the trail, the gear they’d never leave behind, and North Carolina’s must-do mountain treks with stunning views.

This spring, we’ve curated a roof-raising, harmony-laden Spotify playlist featuring 20 great gospel songs by North Carolina artists.

From a 6,684-foot peak in the west to a shape-shifting sand dune in the east, our state parks hold the best of what North Carolina has to offer. Together, they tell the story of the place we call home.

As he looks to the future of North Carolina’s protected natural areas, the director of the State Parks system draws inspiration from his youth growing up in Kinston, and from his wide-ranging experience listening to children.

In Wayne County, the effects of time and nature are visible at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park, where, for millions of years, the river has carved a winding path to the sea. A closer look at some of the park’s tiniest residents provides insight and answers to questions great and small.

Through the eyes of Greensboro artist Katie Podracky, a challenging year was an opportunity for adventure: In 2020, she and her family visited every state park in North Carolina. Her paintings turn each park into a joyful kaleidoscope of color and memory.

In Bladen County, before integration, a former military man and his family were stewards of the first North Carolina state park open to Black families. There, amid acres of longleaf pines and a sprawling lake, families and friends gathered to eat, play, and pray.

Two North Carolina State Parks rangers met while working a wildfire in Rutherford County. They got to chatting and realized that they didn’t want to stop. Now, the duo hosts a podcast that answers all kinds of questions about the great outdoors.

A father takes his young son on the camping trip of his dreams and faces a bittersweet truth: At a certain age, sons move beyond the dreams of their dads and begin to realize dreams of their own.

Within this 5,000-acre respite from urban life in Raleigh, when you get off the map, you might just find yourself.

This rugged area of rivers, canyons, and waterfalls still holds mysteries.

On secret spots, swimming holes, and the Mayo River.

This state park — home to the crown jewel of the Coastal Plain’s Carolina bays — is worthy of wonder.

When two scientists from Research Triangle Park win a Nobel Prize, their victory represents the fulfillment of the park’s original mission: to make world-class science part of North Carolina’s DNA.

How one Durham woman helped save the Eno River.