The Pitstop That Turned into So Much More
Wanting to split up our long drive to our annual girls’ vacation in Florida, we decided to stop at Weldon Mills Distillery in northern North Carolina, both for a break and to pick up some spirits for our week away. Remembering our love for spirits during our youthful days at college, we signed up for a tour and taken in by the historic and interesting information we learned about the distillery and the area, we decided to spend the night in Weldon to learn more about this region.
The distillery itself is on the banks of the Roanoke River, so we lingered here, taking in the beautiful views over cocktails made with award-winning spirits while planning our stay. We really took to heart founder Bruce Tyler’s goal of making a bourbon that’s meant to be shared and enjoyed among friends. We could taste the team’s workmanship and pride in each sip. With several bottles packed away for later in the week, we checked into the Days Inn in Weldon and set about planning our adventure for the next day.
Rising to a sunny morning, we took advantage of the warm weather to explore River Falls Park. We strolled along the Roanoke Canal Trail, then paused at the Weldon Boat Landing to watch a group of kayakers battle the rapids.
With the walk stimulating our appetites, we stopped at the Sunshine Grill for a real diner-style lunch. The hamburgers and hot dogs—with all the toppings, of course—reminded us of the mom-and-pop cafes near our university. We all agreed that sometimes you just want a delicious burger and fries.
On the advice of the distillery team from the previous evening, we decided to venture to Littleton, just west of Weldon, to check out the shopping and dining there. After the once-booming tobacco and cotton industries died out, Littleton had to reinvent itself. Thanks to the efforts of some local families, several newer businesses here are thriving, including restaurants and art galleries. Plus, with its location near the shores of Lake Gaston, it makes for a great outdoor activity destination.
Our first stop was Frank’s Fine Arts, a gallery featuring work from both established and up-and-coming artists. Upon entering the space, the brick walls evoked a real hometown vibe, and we each were drawn to different displays, from unique handcrafted bags to metal sculptures with interesting patinas to minimalist black-and-white charcoal drawings. One thing we all agreed on: the coolness of the Art-O-Mat. This former cigarette machine dispenses artwork for $5. Initially created by Winston-Salem artist Clark Whittington for a 1997 show, the machine was so popular that today more than 200 of them serve up art from more than 400 artists around the country and internationally. We each walked out with a unique piece as a souvenir of our visit here.
After wandering through town a bit, we took a table at Blue Jay Bistro to sample some local cuisine. Expecting a small-town-diner vibe, we were surprised to enter what felt like a big-city, fine-dining establishment, with its leather booths and darker decor. Executive chef Ashleigh Fleming, who came from Durham, works to build relationships with small local farmers, and she spends quite a bit of time in the fields, checking out the variety of produce grown in the area.
We started with the charcuterie board and a couple of small plates to share, including ribs and potatoes with a mouthwatering Dr. Pepper-based barbecue sauce and—of course, because we’re in the South—fried green tomatoes. According to our server, the menu changes frequently, depending on what fresh ingredients are available day to day, but the enticing variety of entrées, from steaks to chicken to seafood to vegetarian dishes made it difficult to choose just one! Satisfyingly stuffed after our meal, we opted to split a piece of caramel brownie cheesecake four ways, just to get a taste of this scrumptious treat.
After heading out the next morning to continue our drive to Florida, we all agreed that this was the best pitstop we’d ever made together. From learning about the area’s history to seeing its revitalization, to enjoying some perfect meals together, we’re thinking of making this area a permanent stop along our annual vacation voyage.
