Wrightsville Beach
Sitting at the base of the Wrightsville Beach Drawbridge, this restaurant is known for its Angus beef steaks, refined seafood dishes, and view of the Intracoastal Waterway. John and Catherine McLatchy bought the place from its original owners in 2003, and Catherine has kept the tradition going since John’s death in 2017.
1414 Airlie Road
(910) 256-4519
thebridgetender.com
Split-rail fences don’t shout “keep out.” They lean, they shift, they invite. And in western North Carolina, they remind us that some lines are meant to hold, not harden.
Each May, spring climbs nearly 3,000 feet to the seat of Alleghany County. Here, as the rhododendrons blush, a beloved mountain town welcomes visitors with its food, art, and flourish of color and creativity.
Brief but delicious, soft-shell crab season is cherished by diners as well as the folks who work around the clock to put these native pinchers on our plates.
When it comes to poultry, the best is raised close to home.
