Our editor in chief remembers the excitement of the first day of school and how the same sights and sounds of her childhood — trays clattering in the lunchroom, sneakers squeaking against the floor — remain in North Carolina schools.
Go! Fight! Win! North Carolina’s college mascots do more than hype up fans during a game: They help us unite under a shared love for our schools.
On his namesake show, the Mount Airy native shared the spotlight with a fictional version of his hometown.
Soon after getting married, a couple transformed a Victorian house into a space that preserves its history while reflecting both of their personalities.
After working for home decor businesses in big cities, an artist started her own design company, inspired by the colorful simplicity of life on Hatteras Island.
In the Sandhills, knitters and crocheters gather at a local yarn shop to swap tips, share encouragement, and form friendships.
A farm boy grew up listening for the clang of a bell. Today, in Johnston County, his large, loud, and heavy collection rings on.
In a Cabarrus County conservancy, a rare sunflower is making a comeback.
In the early 19th century, fortune seekers headed to Rowan County to strike it rich. While the mines are now closed, locals still celebrate their community’s history.
After some 30 years spent writing tales of North Carolina and its people, author Michael Parker moved away to explore a new setting. In an unexpected twist, he returned home, where undiscovered stories await.
At her restaurant in downtown Durham, Preeti Waas serves homestyle Indian meals full of bold flavors and familiar comfort. The award-winning chef’s welcoming spirit invites diners to experience amazing dishes and the past that inspired them.
For this chef, afternoons spent cheering for NC State University were followed by a special dinner in Raleigh — plus a homemade sweet treat.
Inspired by the chateaubriand from The Angus Barn in Raleigh, our recipe developer re-creates the steak dinner she shared with her father during one of her most memorable birthday celebrations.
Loaded with bits of salami, feta, peppers, mozzarella, and more, this highly textured and flavor-packed salad can be enjoyed as a hearty side or light meal.
A classic orange cheese spread, complete with a rainbow medley of crunchy celery and apple slices for dunking, is welcome at any appetizer spread.
Topped with a swirl of cream cheese frosting, these festive cupcakes make any occasion feel celebratory.
Abloom year-round, the Elizabethan Gardens feel fit for a queen. Beyond their beauty, they’re also a living memorial to one of our state’s enduring mysteries.
Buttressed between three sounds, a small island is home to big history, from early English colonists to beloved actors. Today it’s home to a picturesque downtown, some of the freshest seafood, and ever-evolving ways to discover and experience its past.
From sweeping vistas to secluded coves, North Carolina’s four national forests conserve our untamed lands for wildlife and human explorers alike.
Every September, Gorges State Park celebrates the monarch butterfly — and the awe and wonder of its annual migration — with a festival fit for a king.
Creating habitat for migrating monarchs can be a blast. Make this easy mixture to support wildflower growth in your yard and draw in pollinators.
Saddled with high prices brought on by the Great Depression, enterprising North Carolinians came up with a unique way of getting around that became an international fad.
Like its former residents — farmers and moonshiners, all fiercely independent — The Harricanes stands apart. In defiance of the fast-growing cities around it, the region has mostly returned to nature, a steadfast reminder of a vanishing landscape.
A career in economic development trains you to lean into data. Yet when it comes to describing the value of rural life, one writer finds more meaning in memories than metrics.
In Randolph County and across the state, volunteer firefighters never hesitate to help a neighbor in need.
Across North Carolina, small-town newspapers make a major impact by reporting on the people and events that shape local communities.
When you grow up in Clinton and your dad runs one of the few newspapers in your small town, being a part of the “staff” isn’t really an option.
After more than 70 years, football is back at Barton College, a small liberal arts school in the heart of Wilson County. Now, student athletes from rural high schools across North Carolina are finding not only a place to play, but also futures beyond sports.
The Shipley family is again raising cattle on their picture-perfect farm near Vilas — just as the first Shipleys did more than 150 years ago.
In Carteret County, the North River does more than divide the land. It defines a specific, once-remote region of North Carolina and the distinct culture and traditions that took root there, shaped by sound and sea.
A little white schoolhouse once served as a hub for Black students and farming families in Currituck County. Lovingly restored and filled with memories, it remains an enduring point of pride.
In the tiny town of Pollocksville in Jones County, the placid Trent River roared to life during Hurricane Florence, threatening homes and businesses. A group of volunteers formed to clean up the mess, one neighborly smile at a time.
A network of food hubs helps growers bring more varieties of fresh, locally grown produce to tables across the state.
Cast a line, grab a snack, or shoot the breeze: In a quiet corner of Granville County, locals find peace and community on the water.
Like many congregations across the state, members of Franklinton United Methodist Church support each other through life’s hardships. And for this small group of big-hearted people, that benevolence reaches deep into the surrounding communities.
Patterned after traditional heirloom blankets yet displayed like bright rural billboards, quilt blocks bring color, symbolism, and visitors to our mountains. See these pieces of American folk art as we wind past the barns and buildings of the Carolina countryside.
