Cardinal & Pine

Have This Celebrity NC Chef Make A Meal Just for You, and Other NC-Centric Holiday Gifts This Year

Cardinal & Pine searched the state for experience gifts, handmade products and unique presents for the art-loving, crafty, food-crazed, locavores (eat local foods), hodophiles (travel lovers) and all the drinkers (beer, spirits, tea and wine) on your list. Photo: James Ward

Elk, Chainsaw Carving, and Building a Good Drum: Our Guide to NC’s Blue Ridge Craft Trails

The Blue Ridge Craft Trails, a curated list of more than 300 artist studios, galleries and arts organizations in Western North Carolina counties. The user-friendly website allows guests to choose from suggested craft itineraries or create their own adventure by searching a particular craft... Photo: Courtesy of Blue Ridge Craft Trails

The Perfect Holiday Drinks, As Selected By NC Bartenders and Mixologists

The best drink makers across the state, from Elizabeth City to Charlotte to Morganton, give their picks for the best cocoa, cocktails and smoothies to sip this holiday season. Photo: Courtesy of Tonidandel-Brown Restaurant Group

15 Dog-Friendly Breweries to Take Your Four-Legged Friend To in North Carolina

From the mountains to the coast, our picks for breweries that welcome your pup. Plus a trainer shares what skills every dog owner should know before heading to a brewery. Photo: Izzy at Southern Pines Growler Company

Sweets, Spices, and a More Inclusive Wine Community: Here Are 8 Women-Owned Businesses to Shop in Durham

In my younger days, I never gave thought to where I purchased an item. It was just an exchange of money for a product. Photo: Melanated Wine and Spirits

12 Must-See North Carolina Attractions This Season That Are Free

These spots are perfect for a day trip—no cash required. With the holidays quickly approaching, we wanted to share this important reminder: You don’t have to spend money on things you and others don’t need. (That ugly sweater can only be regifted so many times, if you know what I mean.) Photo: Visit Jacksonville

You Love It, North Carolina. But Did You Know Pimento Cheese Comes from New York?

I’m not here to start an argument about where pimento cheese originated, but it wasn’t in the South. It was first created in New York. Photo: Matt Ray Photography

New to NC? Here Are 9 Travel-Worthy Destinations to Visit in Your First Year

Since moving to North Carolina (many moons ago), I’ve roamed the state’s cities and small towns—finding culture, food, and history, almost all unfamiliar to me. Photo: Courtesy of Heart of NC

Each of These 20 Indie Bookstores In North Carolina Has a Story to Tell

Independent bookstores are still the place for people to meet up with friends and listen to authors talk. North Carolina’s indie book stores lure customers in with safe spaces, reading suggestions and entertainment. The business model thrives on connections. Photo: Courtesy of The Country Bookshop

11 Dining Spots You Don’t Want to Miss Next Time You’re in Downtown Asheboro

Downtown Asheboro’s bakeries, tea shops, and restaurants are buzzing with culinary delights.

For many, traveling to the heart of North Carolina means only seeing the elephants and polar bears at the North Carolina Zoo. Whatever you do, you’ll want to make dining in Asheboro’s most charming downtown restaurants and cafes a part of your day. Photo: Heart of NC

Meet the People Behind North Carolina’s Emerging Wine Scene

In 2005, Gabbard, a member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, opened Native Vines Winery with a tasting room and bottling area in the farm’s barn. She and her husband, Nicholas Gabbard, grow pinot grigio, vino blanc and zinfandel on five of the vineyard’s 50 acres. Photo: Native Vine Winery

11 Funky Places to Stay in North Carolina This Holiday Season

With the holidays coming, family get-togethers are inevitable. If the visit necessitates an overnight stay, consider a unique rental in North Carolina, rather than booking a room at the local hotel. It supports local business owners and sometimes the prices may be more reasonable than national brands. Photo: Courtesy of Modern Beach Container Home