The July 2025 Issue

Northwest of downtown Winston-Salem, the lush grounds of Reynolda hold art, history, shopping, and a gateway to enjoying the outdoors.

From sea turtles to nutria, wildlife makes Ocracoke a world of its own.

Bottle hunters go to great lengths — and depths — to unearth glittering remnants of North Carolina’s past.

A Carrboro author’s career has been marked by unforgettable experiences in nature and a deep desire to preserve all that shapes the South.

A luthier in Yancey County crafts instruments with backstories as rich as the people who play them.

Decades spent on High Country waters prepared one fishing guide to dispense wisdom about life and trout.

When two childhood friends travel to High Hampton Resort for a weekend of relaxation and memory-making, they revive their happy camper spirit amid grown-up luxury.

The whimsy of summer camp knows no age limit.

Let us tell you about a place we know, where culture and creativity flow like the river that runs through it.

In 1968, a couple of potters built a kiln hut and studio in an old tobacco field in Creedmoor. Today, their daughter — guided by the spirit of her late father — leads the community of artisans they crafted.

As summer heats up, sweet corn’s return gives us a reason to smile.

This recipe deserves the freshest corn available. Thick corn “milk” should flow from the kernels. Be sure to scrape the cobs to remove every drop.

Settle beneath the trees with a sandwich, salad, and friends to enjoy one of summer’s most delightful pastimes.

Assemble these simple yet flavorful sandwiches on one long baguette and then slice them into individual servings for a lightning-fast lunch.

Gussy up steamed rice with bell peppers, fresh herbs, olives, and earthy-sweet golden raisins to create this vibrant, textured salad.

Crisp and airy with chewy centers, these citrusy cookies brighten any occasion.

At Clemmons Educational State Forest in Clayton, rangers help North Carolinians understand why trees matter and how almost every phase of their lives will be affected by the woods around them.

Did you know, forestlands blanket 61 percent of our state? Beginning with Clemmons in 1976, the NC Forest Service created a series of educational forests to teach North Carolinians about the management and practical importance of trees.

On the outskirts of our state capital, a gardener turned a lifeless farm field into the lush Juniper Level Botanic Garden.

The Gate City is getting greener — one tree, one memory, and one leafy neighborhood at a time.

In North Carolina, the history of rope hammocks is as intricate as the nets that cradle us on a hot summer day. More than 50 years on, they’re a tradition that’s woven deeply into our coast.

A Macon County milliner taps into her ancestral roots to create hats of all shapes and sizes, each a true work of art.

Through a child’s eyes, the Little River’s shady banks upon which one writer grew up fishing transformed into a playground where her imagination ran wild.

Sure, you could camp out in the air-conditioning, but there are more creative ways to keep cool, while also enjoying a summer breeze and North Carolina’s natural beauty. We ranked these experiences from hot to cold — and we won’t judge if you skip ahead.

In 1960s Wilson, summer meant box fans in the windows, curtains drawn against the sun, and the quiet work of beating the heat.