1. As you begin your day in Wilson, make a beeline for one of the legendary cat-head biscuits at Flo’s Kitchen, which are bigger than your fist, buttery as all get-out, and ooze gooey hoop cheese.
2. At the Whirligig Conservation Headquarters, get an intimate view of the restoration of whirligigs — massive, spinning contraptions that are quirky cousins to the windmill — made by the late folk artist Vollis Simpson.
3. Before there was Interstate 95, U.S. Route 301 was the area’s biggest thoroughfare, running right through Wilson, which cemented the town’s legacy as a pit stop in more ways than one. Wilson is home to the beloved barbecue institute Parker’s, where the succulent fried chicken is as a good as the pig.
4. Celebrate North Carolina’s role in America’s favorite pastime at the North Carolina Baseball Museum, located at Fleming Stadium. Exhibits display memorabilia from baseball players with ties to the Old North State, including the likes of Jim “Catfish” Hunter, Luke Appling, and Buck Leonard.
5. If you love rib eye, you’re in luck, because it’s the only thing on the menu at The Beefmastor Inn. But what seals The Beefmastor’s legend is the fact that patrons will happily tailgate in the parking lot before enjoying a filling meal comprising a steak — cut as thickly as you’d like it — a baked potato, and a salad.
Mark our words: Whether they nod to North Carolina or were penned by its residents, these notable, quotable passages remind us of the power of speech inspired by our state.
When one stream flows into another, the two chart a new course for the future — together.
When the weather outside is frightful, one chef serves loved ones dishes so delightful.
A historic Rose Bowl pitted Duke University against Oregon State in Durham. Then, in the dark days of World War II, those same football players — and a legendary coach — joined forces to fight for freedom.
