NC Travel Chat: Recent Episodes
NC Tripping
NC Travel Chat is our North Carolina travel podcast that’s an interview series, offering a more behind-the-scenes look at the people and the places that we feature in our posts.
In this episode of NC Travel Chat, we focus on 7 October Events in NC that you can't miss:
No spoilers but here are some things we mention along the way:
- Bolton in Columbus County (near Lake Waccamaw)
- Cabarrus County
- Greensboro
- Huntersville
- Lexington
- Mooresville
- Oxford in Granville County
- Randolph County
- Raleigh
- Statesville
Are you also looking forward to October events in NC? Is there one that you want to tell me about? Email me at carl@nctripping.com.
Further Reading
- nctripping.com/things-to-do-in-north-carolina-in-october
- nctripping.com/fall-in-north-carolina
Music Credit
- "Go Get 'Em Tiger" by The Whole Other
We shared a handful of Blue Ridge Parkway stops on the NC side last time. In this episode, we will cover 5 more.
No spoilers but here are some things we mention along the way:
- Asheville
- Black Mountain Campground
- Blowing Rock
- Boone
- Biltmore Estate
- Cherokee
- Clingmans Dome
- Grandfather Mountain
- The High Country
- Jockey's Ridge State Park
Are you also looking forward to hopping on the Blue Ridge Parkway this fall? Is there one stop on the North Carolina side that you want to tell me about? Email me at carl@nctripping.com.
Further Reading
- nctripping.com/blue-ridge-parkway-stops
- nctripping.com/fall-in-north-carolina
- nctripping.com/north-carolina-road-trips
- nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/roadclosures.htm
Music Credits
- "Go Get 'Em Tiger" by The Whole Other
We continue our dive into things we love about Fall in North Carolina. In this episode, we cover a handful of scenic roads from the mountains to the sea.
No spoilers but here are some things we mention along the way:
- Asheville
- Rough Ridge Trail
- Linville Falls
- Craggy Gardens
- Crabtree Falls
- Brevard
- Looking Glass Falls
- Moore Cove Falls
- Sliding Rock Falls
- French Broad Falls (Mill Shoals Falls) and Bird Rock Falls (aka Cathedral Falls)
- Morganton
- Table Rock Mountain
- Wisemans View
- Hanging Rock State Park
- Ocracoke Island
- Bodie Island Lighthouse
- Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
- Springer’s Point
- Portsmouth Island
Are you also looking forward to driving our beautiful roads? Is there one in North Carolina that you want to tell us about? Let us know by emailing me at carl@nctripping.com.
Further Reading
- nctripping.com/fall-in-north-carolina
- nctripping.com/north-carolina-road-trips
The most popular thing to do during fall in North Carolina is to find the best fall colors. In this episode, we share the 5 most colorful fall hikes in NC from our personal experiences.
Remember to leave no trace when hiking in North Carolina or anywhere else!
Our Top 5 are also mentioned here: nctripping.com/fall-hikes-in-north-carolina
Fall in NC Guide: nctripping.com/fall-in-north-carolina
More NC Travel Guides: nctripping.com
Additional Episode Shoutouts:
- The Blue Ridge Parkway
- Morganton, North Carolina
- Table Rock Mountain
- Hawksbill Mountain
- Shortoff Mountain
- The Hanging Rock Trail
- Stone Mountain State Park
Music Credits:
- "Go Get 'Em Tiger" by The Whole Other
After a bit of a hiatus,
NC Travel Chat is back.
We had a lot going on in the past year, including the birth of our son, and lots of new adventures. I can’t wait to share them on a more regular basis with you. Stay tuned as we find something awesome in North Carolina in each episode.
Until then, take care.
Learn more at nctripping.com/nc-travel-chat/
To get ready for one of the busiest times of the year, Christina and I have made a bucket list for ourselves! Here are 5 things that we're looking forward to this summer. You can read more of our NC Bucket List at nctripping.com/things-to-do-in-north-carolina-bucket-list/
Follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
Mark Bastin from Yonder Luxury Vacation Rentals joins us to talk about his company and what people should expect when staying with them. We were NOT paid to say the following: Every time we’ve stayed at a Yonder property, we’ve been blown away at the quality and the service they offer.
I’ve been wanting to chat with Mark for a while and here we are for this episode of NC Travel Chat.
For more info about Yonder, visit yondervacationrentals.com.
Follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
For this episode, we’re going to focus on 7 of our favorite places to stay, including a bonus rental company at the end. We’ll share a few hotels from west to east, a campground in Western NC, and an inn on the coast. You can read our full guide to these and more favorites at NCTripping.com/hotels-in-north-carolina.
Follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
Following up on our guide to Spring Break destinations (check it out if you haven’t yet), I want to focus on our current favorite spring hikes in this 34th episode of NC Travel Chat. We've covered them and many more at nctripping.com/hiking-trails-in-north-carolina.
Follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
[SPOILER ALERT]Fingers crossed but we think things might be picking up with spring travel in North Carolina. You might be eyeing some more popular places like Asheville, the Outer Banks, and Wilmington, but we want to share some lesser-known places you should visit during these times. For a full roundup, visit nctripping.com/spring-break-destinations-in-north-carolina.
Here's a breakdown of the list with links to more info about each place.
Bryson City: nctripping.com/things-to-do-in-bryson-city
Fayetteville: nctripping.com/things-to-do-in-fayetteville
Jacksonville: nctripping.com/weekend-things-to-do-in-jacksonville-nc
Wilkesboro: nctripping.com/things-to-do-in-wilkesboro
Boone: nctripping.com/things-to-do-in-boone
I’m probably making a mistake here but in this episode of NC Travel Chat, I’m going to share our 10 favorite waterfalls in North Carolina. This list will probably change tomorrow but I’m trying my best to stay in the present and own it.
Read about them and more here: nctripping.com/waterfalls-in-north-carolina
Follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
Kevin Adams is one of the foremost writers and photographers of waterfalls in North Carolina. After many years of visiting, photographing, and sharing waterfalls with us, he founded Waterfall Keepers of North Carolina, a non-profit volunteer-led organization dedicated to the wellbeing of waterfalls and "waterfallers."
For more about them, visit waterfallkeepersofnc.org and for more of Kevin's work, visit kadamsphoto.com.
This episode is a follow-up on famous NC food brands. We chat with Justin Raymond from Carolina Packers, the company that produces Bright Leaf Hot Dogs and more. You can learn more about them at carolinapackers.com. Follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
This episode is dedicated to famous food brands from North Carolina. That includes snacks, soft drinks, hot dogs, and more! For more famous NC food, visit nctripping.com/famous-north-carolina-foods.
Follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
To say Leesa Payton Jones is a big contributor to Washington and its Eastern NC surroundings is an understatement. She is a crucial part of that community and serves as executive director of The Washington Waterfront Underground Railroad Museum. For more info, visit facebook.com/washingtonundergroundrailroad.
Follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
For the last of this four-part series on Black History Sites in North Carolina, we mention 6 more places to visit. This NC Travel Chat episode begins with the Oliver Nestus Freeman Roundhouse Museum in Wilson and closes with the Young Men's Institute in Asheville. For a full list and breakdown, visit nctripping.com/black-history-in-north-carolina.
In part 3 of our Black History Sites series, we uncover 5 more places to visit. NC Travel Chat starts with Hood Huggers International Tours in Asheville and finishes up with the NC Museum of History in Raleigh. Highlights include the International Civil Rights Center in Greensboro. For a full list and breakdown, visit nctripping.com/black-history-in-north-carolina.
For part 2 of our series, we'll share 5 more places to visit, starting with the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Historic Site in Sedalia and ending with Charlotte's Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture. For a full list and breakdown, visit nctripping.com/black-history-in-north-carolina.
February is Black History Month and we are getting a head start on it here at NC Travel Chat. In Part 1, We’re going to share 6 places to visit, starting with the African-American Heritage Tour in New Bern and Finishing with Bull City Laughs in Durham. A full list and breakdown can be found at nctripping.com/black-history-in-north-carolina.
Tonya Council is an entrepreneur and one of the biggest supporters of local makers in North Carolina. We learn about her, discuss Mama Dips tidbits, talk about National Southern Food Day, and more! Follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
Take a break from doom-scrolling and just listen to these 5 things that I’m looking forward to in North Carolina in 2021. Follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
2020 has been a tough year for so many people. That's why I think it's important for those of us who can to be grateful for what we have and where we live, especially if it's North Carolina! Follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
Ron Pringle is the President and CEO of Inter-Faith Food Shuttle based in Raleigh. His organization is one of North Carolina's hard-working food banks. Also, follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
Brian Lampkin is an owner of Scuppernong Books on Elm St in Downtown Greensboro. For more about how to support businesses like his, visit nctripping.com/support-local-businesses. Also, follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
Ben Owen is a descendant of the original Seagrove Potters that came to Randolph County as farmers and eventually emerged as world-renowned artists. For more about Seagrove and elsewhere in and around Asheboro nearby, visit nctripping.com/things-to-do-in-asheboro-weekend/. Also, follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
Tal Galton lives in Yancey County and owns Snakeroot Ecotours, which leads guided hikes through the forests of Yancey Co and the South Toe valley around Mount Mitchell. For more on Tal and other hikes in the area, visit nctripping.com/black-mountains-hikes. Also, follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
This interview with Jake Blood of NC High Peaks and Explore Burnsville is the first of a two-part series on the Black mountains that surround Burnsville and Yancey co. For more on the area, visit https://www.nctripping.com/things-to-do-in-burnsville/. Also, follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
For this episode of NC Travel Chat we’re talking with Daniel Sasser, Board Member of Statesville’s Carolina Balloonfest and also a Balloon Meister.
For more episode info, visit https://www.nctripping.com/nc-travel-chat-13/. Follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
For this episode of NC Travel Chat, we followed up on the previous one, which was with Toe River Arts Executive Director Nealy Andrews. This episode consists of two on-site interviews with Toe River Artists who reside in Yancey County.
For more episode info, visit https://www.nctripping.com/nc-travel-chat-13/. Follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Nealy Andrews is the Executive Director of Toe River Arts and during the first of our two-part series, she shares the ways she and her team help area artists and the community as a whole.
For more episode info, visit https://www.nctripping.com/nc-travel-chat-12/. Follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Uli Bennewitz is the owner of Weeping Radish, North Carolina’s first microbrewery. He joined us for NC Travel Chat to talk about his journey from arriving in America on a Visa to NC Beer Pioneer and beyond.
For more episode info, visit https://www.nctripping.com/nc-travel-chat-11/. Follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. For our NC Bucket List Book, visit https://www.nctripping.com/nc-bucket-list-book/.
This episode is a special one because Carl shares his feelings on releasing the NC Bucket List Book, which came out Friday, September 4. For more info, visit https://www.nctripping.com/nc-bucket-list-book/
Carl flies solo to look back on the first episodes, share thoughts on the journey, and where we're going with topics on NC Travel Chat.
For more episode info, visit https://www.nctripping.com/nctravelchat/. Follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Rick Bell is one of the owners of Engadine Inn and Cabins in Candler, near Asheville. He shares interesting stories about the property, how they're faring these days, his favorite places to visit, and tips to help avoid crowds.
For more episode info, visit https://www.nctripping.com/nc-travel-chat-10/. Follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Kate Pearce has worked on Dorothea Dix Park since its opening in 2015. She knows its ins, outs, where it's been, and where it's going.
For more episode info, visit https://www.nctripping.com/nc-travel-chat-9/. Follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Beverly Mooney is a second-generation farmer who owns Millstone Creek Orchards in Ramseur, Randolph County.
For more episode info, visit https://www.nctripping.com/nc-travel-chat-8/. Follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Gerri Grady has owned Grady’s Barbecue in Dudley, Wayne County with her husband Steve since 1986.
For more episode info, visit https://www.nctripping.com/nc-travel-chat-7/. Follow us @NCTripping on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Calvin Reyes is the owner of the Henry River Mill Village outside Hildebran, very close to the Burke County side of Hickory. I tried my best to hold back the Hunger Games fandom but failed more than a few times. For more show info, visit https://www.nctripping.com/nc-travel-chat-6/
On this episode of NC Travel Chat, Brandon Wright of Bull City Laughs shares a bit about himself, the awesome comedy history tour he co-founded, and his favorite place to get pizza in Durham.
Shoutouts Include:
Durham: Ponysaurus, Clouds Brewing, Beer Durham, Hi-Wire Brewing at Golden Belt, Pie Pushers, Hutchins Garage, Randy’s Pizza, and comedian Dink Kearney (Mr Ghettorauchi)
Asheville: LaZoom
For this episode, we talk with Lee Rankin, the owner of Apple Hill Farm in Banner Elk. She's an inspiration to anyone who tours the farm and is lucky enough to meet her. I've been wanted to reconnect with Lee for a long time and she was gracious enough to talk about her journey, the farm, and even her favorite place to visit outside the High Country.
If you haven't already, you can book a tour of Apple Hill Farm via their website. I also recommend that you follow their fun animal-heavy Facebook page, too!
On this episode of NC Travel Chat, we're going to focus on Fayetteville and its Cumberland County surroundings in Eastern North Carolina. We've written quite a bit about the area but Jenny Bell of the Fayetteville Convention and Visitors Bureau has covered it in even greater detail. She joined us to talk about her journey to arrive here, what she does behind the scenes promoting Fayetteville as a tourist destination, and even her favorite place to get a beer.
You can follow more of Jenny's work either at Go Fayetteville or the Fayetteville Area CVB.
Before we get into featuring individual places in North Carolina, we reached out to the well-traveled writer Jason Frye to talk about some of his favorite places in the mountains of Western North Carolina, the coast of Eastern North Carolina, and other spots in between.
Follow Jason on Instagram (@beardedwriter) and buy his books from local book stores (preferred) or via Amazon.
On this first episode of NC Travel Chat, my wife Christina joins me to talk about our plans for the podcast, how we arrived in North Carolina, starting NC Tripping, and a little more about us.
About Us: https://www.nctripping.com/about/
For advertising info, please email info@nctripping.com.