The May 2025 Issue

Whether you want to stroll among the vines, sip a flight, or attend a springtime event in a beautiful outdoor setting, here’s where to get started in our state’s first designated wine area.

The close relationship between butterflies and flowers is obvious, but swallowtails and azaleas take it to another level.

In Chapel Hill, items that were once the stuff of everyday life in North Carolina are part of a growing collection that’s invaluable to understanding our state, its culture, and its history.

Inspired by the roar of car engines and the speedway crowds, a writer documented the tales and triumphs of one of North Carolina’s favorite pastimes.

Before her voice captivated the world, Roberta Flack — who was born in Black Mountain during Jim Crow — began her career in Pitt County, teaching and encouraging choral students.

In appreciation of our military, a North Carolina-based nonprofit helps active-duty soldiers make memories in the great outdoors.

Plump strawberries top a writer’s shopping list. But after a morning at the State Farmers Market, the intangible gift of gratitude may be the true take-home treat.

At a market that’s anything but ordinary, you’ll want to set aside plenty of time to explore. Read on for how to plan a dawn-to-dusk market day in our state’s capital city.

It’s always teatime in the Old North State, from a steaming morning mug to an elegant afternoon gathering — and every sweet sip in between.

Enjoy the traditional practice of afternoon tea and pastries in spots across the state — from lush, green gardens to elegant parlors and cafés.

Amid the chaos and tragedy of Hurricane Helene, a writer found respite in a soothing, familiar blend from Asheville Tea Company.

The oldest hotel in North Carolina was saved from the wrecking ball and has returned to its former glory on the square in downtown Burnsville.

The prize is in the journey, not the destination — unless you’re driving Carolina back roads on the hunt for hoop cheese.

Sheri Castle’s recipe is delightfully melty and full of flavor; plus, her top tips will help you craft the ultimate grilled cheese every time.

Grab a wedge of nostalgic cheese at these markets and country stores across the state.

When a young chef met an aspiring farmer, the two formed a friendship as strong as their love of the land and all it provides.

An unexpected combination of fresh herbs and citrus zest gives these buttery cookies a refreshing flavor that keeps guests coming back for more.

Join Chef Lynn Wells as she prepares a spring dish that she first made with the late Ginnie Tate — her close friend and cooking companion who started Goat Lady Dairy.

Crunchy cashews, creamy goat cheese crumbles, and tender baked sweet potatoes give this vibrant salad a medley of textures and flavors.

This hearty, meaty rice is a customer-favorite side dish at Prime Barbecue in Knightdale that Chef Chris Prieto prepares the way his mother taught him.

This quick and easy treat from the owners of Louie & Honey’s Kitchen in Winston-Salem calls for mixing crunchy cookie pieces into a cool and creamy base.

Baking these three-ingredient biscuits in a skillet gives them crisp edges and butter-soft centers.

A daughter’s dream of a floral oasis came true, bloom by bloom, thanks to the unconditional love and support of her mother. Now, the two share the beauty they’ve created on this farm in Vilas.

The influence of a mother’s love — and sometimes her recipes — can be found in restaurant kitchens and on plates in dining rooms across North Carolina.

There was a time when the shores of Ocean Isle Beach were empty save for one family. In the decades since, generations of Sloane women have helped turn this place into a vacationer’s paradise.

In Durham, the Ella West Gallery embodies the values that its namesake imparted to her daughter: community, love, and an appreciation for the beauty in all things.

For more than 400 years, the Mother Vine has grown on the Outer Banks. Her story is that of one legendary plant, its many careful caretakers, and the will to keep her public.

A quest to learn about her mother and grandmothers led a genealogist to the untold stories of her Outer Banks ancestors.

For one family, summiting Stone Mountain is a tradition that strengthens the bond between parent and child.

Everyone knows that when it comes to barbecue, North Carolinians claim pork primacy. In the early ’70s, Gov. Bob Scott made it official.

Hungry? Fill your calendar with 15 festivals and cook-offs across the state.

In North Carolina, Pig Pickin’ Cake is an essential companion to any good barbecue (noun, not a verb).

Two brothers from Alexander County started a business that honors their hometown and turns plastic and wood into music-making art.

It’s simply impossible to resist a sweet, juicy berry picked fresh from the field. Nobody knows that better than the families behind these you-pick strawberry and blueberry farms in North Carolina.

In Concord, at the Southeast’s largest antiques mall, treasures abound — if you have the stamina to search the aisles. But even if you don’t, a tastier prize awaits.