The mad scientists of Johnston County have won hearts and awards with their smoked pork, chicken, and beef brisket. And the experiments continue: At The Redneck BBQ Lab in Benson, they’re always cooking up something new.
I-95 Road Trip: A Beacon of Hope in Lumberton
Six years ago, a U.S. Marine established a safe space in Lumberton for the imagination to flourish. Now, after a challenging 2020, his visual and performing arts center expands to a historic building in the heart of downtown.
I-95 Road Trip: Down by the Riverside in Weldon
A former cotton mill just off the interstate in Halifax County has taken on a new life. Today, the enormous 122-year-old building is an antiquarian’s playground packed with rare treasures and stories around every corner.
4 Classic Spots to Eat Bright Leaf Hot Dogs
Get yer red hots! Bright Leafs are so popular in Johnston County that the visitors bureau cooked up the Local Red Hot Dog Trail, with many of the choice spots just a jump off I-95.
19 Showstopping Fourth of July Fireworks Shows in North Carolina
Let freedom ring! Pack a blanket or a lawn chair, head out to one of these spots across the state, and celebrate Independence Day underneath a night sky filled with colorful fireworks.
Our State Presents Made in NC Awards
The Made in NC Awards are for all you North Carolina makers, bakers, crafters, and creators. Whatever it is that you make and sell, we know you’re proud to produce it right here in North Carolina — and we want to help you show it off to the entire state.
Our StateĘĽs Dogs of Summer Contest
In honor of our June Coastal issue, which features Seamus the Bernedoodle, we’re celebrating our four-legged friends all month long. Find out how you and your pup can enter our Instagram giveaway, and check out what the Our State staff has to say about their tail-wagging buddies.
Port Town Bounty at The Friendly Market
From its humble roots as a roadside farm stand, The Friendly Market has evolved to become the community’s kitchen, serving up classic comfort foods to fuel fishing trips, beach days, and backyard picnics in Morehead City and beyond.
The Lure of Rod & Reel
Although Holden Beach has grown over the past 50 years, not much is different in this Brunswick County community. Really. Even less has changed at The Rod & Reel Shop, which has become an unofficial welcome center for vacationers — complete with worms.
