Blog - Carolinas For Boomers

Things to Do in the Carolinas: February 2019

It might be a little cooler than usual throughout the Carolinas during the month of February, but that doesn’t stop our communities from hosting a wide range of festivals and events to keep everyone busy.

Whether you are looking for art and history, food and beverages, music and film, or nature-related events, we have got you covered with all of the very best festivals happening throughout the Carolinas this month.

Art & History

Cabin Fever Reliever XIX Annual Craft Retreat

If you are looking to get out of the house, one of the best ways is to attend a weekend crafting retreat like Cabin Fever Reliever in Columbia, NC. This four-day retreat starting on February 21 will feature a number of world-renowned crafters leading a variety of workshops for all skill levels.

Food & Beverage

Hilton Head Island Seafood Festival

The entire Hilton Head Island community will be coming together from February 18 through February 24 for the Hilton Head Island Seafood Festival. In addition to some outstanding seafood, there will also be live entertainment, local artists, and an Iron Chef-style competition of local chefs.

Yadkin Winter Reds

Yadkin Country in North Carolina is the place to be during the last two weekends in February, which is when the 10th Annual Yadkin Winter Reds will be held this year. Many of the best Yadkin Country wineries will be on hand for the event serving up their winter reds.

Music & Film

Heart ‘N Soul of Jazz

Jazz music will be the focus of the day at the Heart ‘N Soul of Jazz concert event on February 16 in Pinehurst, NC. This annual concert will feature vocalist and trombonist Aubrey Logan of Postmodern Jukebox playing a wide range of songs that you know with her own unique twist.

Beaufort International Film Festival

The Beaufort International Film Festival will be taking place in the Carolina Lowcountry from February 19 through February 24 with a nonstop schedule of film screenings during that time. There will also be an art walk and art show to complement the event.

Nature Festivals

Upstate Outdoor Festival

If the great outdoors is your passion, then the Upstate Outdoor Festival on February 8 to 10 in Simpsonville, SC should definitely be on your bucket list. This event is dedicated to all things outdoors, like hunting, fishing, and camping.

Southeastern Wildlife Exposition

Charleston, South Carolina will be hosting the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition over the weekend of February 15-17. This is one of the largest nature and wildlife events in the world, and there will be more than 500 artists and experts on hand promoting everything from wildlife painting to falconry and retriever demonstrations.

Southern Spring Home & Garden Show

The Park Expo and Conference Center in Charlotte will be bustling with activity on the weekend of February 22-24. The Southern Spring Home & Garden Show is a massive event that will include 18 landscaped gardens all under one roof. If you are looking for inspiration for your Carolinas home, this is the place to find it.

68th Annual Tidewater Camellia Club Show

Anyone who loves camellias won’t want to miss the 68th Annual Tidewater Camellia Club Show in Wilmington, NC on February 23. There will be more than 1,000 different camellia blooms submitted for judging at this historic show, and many more to be seen on top of that.

With all of those options, you should be able to find something to get excited about just about every weekend throughout the month of February. And if you need one more reason to love the Carolinas, don’t forget to check out the Outhouse Races at Sapphire Valley Ski Resort on February 16. They are going to be just as ridiculous as they sound.

Trilogy Lake Norman Lifestyle Video

Located just a few miles from Charlotte and renowned Lake Norman, Trilogy® Lake Norman is so close to so much, yet feels like a secluded getaway destination.

Check out all of the fun to be had at Trilogy Lake Norman in this great lifestyle video:

With so many ways to relax, be pampered or get active, owners here will be able to enjoy a Club offering world-class resort amenities and service. Inspiring architecture define the Club, which offer a fitness center, terrific dining, special interest clubs such as an art and culinary studio, enriching classes, exciting travel opportunities. This exclusive community also features an extensive trail system weaving throughout the whole community, tennis courts, pickle ball, bocce ball, and sport and game rooms.

Trilogy® Lake Norman combines thoughtfully designed floor plans with quality construction, energy-saving innovations, and architectural inspiration in all of our homes. New Homes start from the high $200’s.

Get More Information About Trilogy® Lake Norman

48 Hours in Charlotte, NC

Located in south-central North Carolina, Charlotte is a sprawling city of unique neighborhoods that is absolutely packed full of fun and exciting things to see and do. Whether you are looking for arts and culture, outdoor activities, professional sports, or just a great meal, the Queen City has got you covered.

To introduce you to some of the best that Charlotte has to offer, we put together a three-day itinerary that will take you through some of the city’s greatest hits and expose you to a number of different things you might want to explore further on follow-up trips.

Day One – BBQ, Tours, The Cellar, and Cocktails

There are going to be a lot of choose-your-own-adventure options during our stay in Charlotte, but lunch on our first day is not going to be one of them. Welcome to North Carolina, now let’s get you some decent BBQ. Midwood Smokehouse is one of the top rated BBQ joints in all of Charlotte, and you can’t make a trip to the Carolinas without getting some pulled pork.

Once we have our bellies full of some good Q, it’s time to get out and tour the city. And the three best ways to do that are Charlotte Center City Carriage Tours, Queen City Rides, and Charlotte Comedy City Tour. Depending on your preference for horse-drawn carriages, stretch golf carts, or raunchy comedy, you can pick the option that sounds most appealing.

For dinner on our first night in Charlotte, we’re heading underground to The Cellar at Duckworth’s. This American gastropub will blow your mind with their high-end versions of classics like Hand Cut Truffle Fries, Tuna Tartare, and Lamb Chops. You’ll also want to try their House-Made Waffle Cones that come filled with Pone Poke Tuna, Coconut Shrimp, and Sriracha Honey Chicken.

The cocktail menu at The Cellar at Duckworth’s is quite impressive, but when you are ready for a change of scenery, The Cotton Room is just a short Uber ride down the road, and the cocktail craftsmen here will blow your mind with their creations. No matter what your drink preference, there is something new and creative for everyone to try here.

Day Two – Museums, BBQ, Nature, Fine Dining, and Live Jazz

Our second day in Charlotte is going to kick off with a visit to either the NASCAR Hall of Fame or the Billy Graham Library. If you are a race fan or a religious person, this will be an easy choice, but each of these attractions is popular among a much broader base of visitors than you would initially expect, which is why they both rank highly on just about every list of things to do in Charlotte.

For lunch today, we are going to try a very different type of BBQ from what you would expect here in North Carolina. Seoul Food Meat Co. prefers to be known as a southern BBQ restaurant with heavy Korean influences, which means that you are going to get some amazing pork belly and kimchi here. And don’t forget to order the Soy Garlic Wings!

Since we are going to need to work off some calories before dinner, the next stop on our 48-hour tour of Charlotte is either going to be the U.S. National Whitewater Center or Freedom Park. Adventure junkies will jump at the chance to go whitewater rafting on the Catawba River, and those of us who are a little calmer can opt to enjoy the sights and sounds of a calm stroll through Freedom Park.

We’re going classy for our second dinner in Charlotte with reservations at The Fig Tree. The menu here will feature a seasonal selection of French and Italian inspired dishes where seafood and chops are always the stars of the show. You can feel free to order anything off of the menu, but the Elk Chop is the dish that gets the most compliments.

After dinner, we’re heading over to The Imperial where you can almost always enjoy some live jazz music along with one of their famous signature cocktails. And if you need help selecting something from their menu, start off with a Royal Apple Mule, which comes with a flaming lime boat!

Day Three – More Museums, Brunch, and Shopping

On our third day in Charlotte, we are going to start with a trip to either the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art or the Levine Museum of the New South. Whether your preference is for modern art or the history of Charlotte, both of these options will get your mind moving in a way that only Charlotte can.

And once your mind is running, it’s time for one of the best brunches in the area at Haberdish. They like to call themselves a “Mill Town Kitchen,” but we tend to think of Haberdish as THE place in Charlotte for fried chicken, waffles, and biscuits…preferably all mixed together with a healthy side of grits.

Our last stop before leaving Charlotte will be one of the outstanding shopping areas you can find located around the city. If mall shopping is your preference, you can stop at the SouthPark Mall, the Northlake Mall, or the Carolina Place Mall. And if you would rather have a more boutique shopping experience, then head down to NoDa for an eclectic collection of shopping options.

Where to Stay in Charlotte

If your preference is to stay right in the heart of Charlotte, then it doesn’t get much better than the accommodations you will find at The Westin Charlotte. And anytime you can take advantage of sleeping on one of those glorious Westin Heavenly Beds, you should absolutely do it!

Another option that offers more of a resort feel is The Ballantyne Hotel, which provides the ultimate in southern hospitality mixed with first-class amenities. The regular rooms are stunning here, and they also offer larger suites, as well as spa packages and golf course access.

After seeing and doing everything that we have packed into these 48 hours in Charlotte, you are probably going to be pretty exhausted. But you are also going to be excited to start planning your next trip to the Queen City because we have only just begun to scratch the surface of everything that this destination has to offer.

Interested in sticking around for a little or a lot longer than 48 hours? Check out our Charlotte Retirement Guide here.

One of a Kind Mountain Estate

I came across this video on youtube of a custom estate home located in one of our featured communities, The Coves Mountain River Club, and the place was so impressive I just had to share here.

The Coves Mountain River Club is a spectacular master-planned and gated community. Vacationing families and active retirees have found Western North Carolina to be ideal for thriving cultural locales, year-round enjoyable climate and a multitude of recreational opportunities. The Coves Mountain River Club offers all of these qualities in a single 3,600 acre gated community, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Lenoir and Blowing Rock.

Far from being a resort community or weekend getaway, The Coves is loaded with built-out amenities designed for 365 days of activities and events. Active adults can take advantage of the beautiful natural environment while enjoying a full social calendar of gatherings with other like-minded residents.

Walk along gentle mountain paths, challenge yourself with a high-country hike or Kayak 5 miles of the Johns River without ever leaving the community. Spend a morning in the garden and then attend a community barbecue or concert that evening. Rejuvenate yourself in our state of the art fitness center. While away a winter afternoon in our library, or spend lazy summer days on horseback.

With such a wide array of homesites to choose from, it’s easy to pick your perfect getaway.

Get The Coves Mountain River Club Brochure

Retirement Spotlight: Mount Airy, NC

Vineyard near Mount Airy, North Carolina.

Located near the North Carolina/Virginia border, Mount Airy is one of the most unique destinations in all of the Carolinas because it is better known by another name: Mayberry.

This small community in North Carolina wine country was the original home of TV star Andy Griffith, and it is believed to be the inspiration behind the famous town of Mayberry that we saw on The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry RFD.

A stroll through downtown Mount Airy will definitely bear a striking resemblance to Mayberry, but there is much more to the area underneath its appeal to Andy Griffith fans. The location also offers access to exploring the Yadkin Valley wine region, the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway, natural landmarks like Pilot Mountain, and the original home of bluegrass music.

Mount Airy History

The history of Mount Airy dates back to the 1750’s when it was a popular stop on the road from Winston-Salem, North Carolina up to Galax, Virginia.

The name was borrowed from a nearby plantation, and the city was officially incorporated in 1885. Furniture making, textiles, and a local granite quarry have all been important to the area economy over the years.

Mount Airy Lifestyle

The lifestyle in Mount Airy is all about embracing the small town atmosphere that Mayberry represents, and the best dive right into that lifestyle is to sign up for a Mayberry Squad Car Tour. This will take you past many of the local treasures like the Mount Airy Visitors Center, Andy’s Homeplace, the Andy Griffith Playhouse, the Old Jail, and the Andy Griffith Museum.

Mount Airy is also an excellent starting point for exploring the Yadkin Valley Wine Region, and you will find more than 40 wineries, distilleries, and breweries surrounding the community. Known as “Napa of the East,” there is a nearly endless amount of local wine to enjoy here.

Mount Airy Culture

Mayberry also plays a central role in the culture of Mount Airy, and there are always events and activities happening at the Andy Griffith Playhouse and the Andy Griffith Museum. These two attractions are located right next door to each other and are filled with possibilities for locals who want to participate in the arts, culture, and history of the region.

Residents can also catch performances at the Blackmon Amphitheatre and the Historic Earle Theatre, and there is even more local history on display at the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History.

Mount Airy Shopping

In a town with as much interesting history as Mount Airy, it should come as no surprise that shopping for antiques is a popular way to spend a day. There are more than a dozen local antique dealers that are constantly rotating their inventories, so no shopping trip is ever the same.

Sweets are also a favorite item for shoppers in Mount Airy, and you can find plenty of them to choose from at Bear Creek Gifts and Fudge Factory, Opie’s Candy Store, and Prudence McCabe Confections.

Mount Airy Dining

The Mount Airy dining scene offers up something for just about everyone to enjoy. People who enjoy the classic small-town dining experience will feel right at home at Snappy Lunch or the Mill Creek General Store, but there are also international options like Thai Cafe and Chile Rojo to keep things fresh.

Located just a bit outside of downtown Mount Airy is where you will find dinner spots like Chase & Charli and 13 Bones. Chase & Charli has a fantastic seafood menu with a great view of the water, and 13 Bones is the place for steaks and ribs.

Nearby Communities

The Coves Mountain River Club is a spectacular master-planned and gated community, located about 90 minutes southwest of Mt. Airy. Vacationing families and active retirees have found Western North Carolina to be ideal for thriving cultural locales, year-round enjoyable climate and a multitude of recreational opportunities. The Coves Mountain River Club offers all of these qualities in a single 3,600 acre gated community, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Lenoir and Blowing Rock.

You can request more information here.

While there are some more modern options when it comes to dining, the rest of Mount Airy is all about celebrating a simpler time and enjoying the lifestyle that comes with that. So if you have always dreamed of living in Mayberry, Mount Airy is the perfect destination for you.