Tucked in the breathtaking foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, in the heart of the Yadkin River Valley, Wilkes County is one of my go-to weekend destinations for adventure. Only two and a half hours from Raleigh, ninety minutes from Charlotte, and an hour from Winston-Salem and Greensboro, it is the perfect weekend rendezvous, offering something for every traveler from its rich history, natural scenery, small-town charm, music, wine and spirits, and good eats…
I first discussed Wilkes during road trips to Boone and Blowing Rock, and while I love both of those cool mountain towns, I quickly realized that Wilkes County shouldn’t merely be the shortcut detour, but a main destination in its own right. Whether you are digging for history, ready to hit the trails, toast to world-class wine, or take in award-winning Bluegrass to Americana, roots music, and beyond…Wilkes County is ready to welcome you!
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Here is just a snapshot of what Wilkes has to offer:
Crossroads of History: Time travel through Wilkes’ fascinating history at the Wilkes Heritage Museum from Native American heritage, to early settlers and trailblazers on the Wilkes Frontier including Daniel Boone and his family, to the Revolutionary War patriots like Benjamin and Robert Cleveland and the Overmountain March to Kings Mountain…investigate the notorious murder of Laura Foster and trial of Tom Dula who inspired the folk song ‘Tom Dooley’ to Moonshine and the origins of NASCAR…
Yadkin AVA – A Wine Lover’s Paradise with over 50 wineries within an hour of Wilkesboro. This region’s unique soil and geography are similar to Tuscany in Italy, leading to world-class wines.
Good Food and Spirits: Wilkes has long been a rich farming region powered by the Yadkin River Valley and is a foodie paradise with excellent local restaurants. You can even take a culinary tour highlighting the diverse foodie scene in North Wilkesboro with Blue Ridge Food Tours…
Discover Natural Beauty: The Brushy Mountain Range within the Blue Ridge rises above the Yadkin like a canvas hand-painted by God’s palette. Rendezvous Mountain State Park and Kerr Lake Dam are two of my favorite area sites to take in the scenery… Charming Small-Town Charm: Wilkes County is anchored by charming small-town communities and cities like the sister cities of the Yadkin River, Wilkesboro and North Wilkesboro.
Music Roots: When I’m not blogging, I’m a singer-songwriter (listen to my music here) and music buff who loves traveling for concerts. Each April, thousands of music lovers from around the world come to Wilkesboro for MerleFest, a roots music festival that hosts the best in national roots, Americana, Bluegrass, World Music, and everything in between. MerleFest was started by renowned bluegrass master Doc Watson in honor of his son, Merle, who died in a tractor accident in the 1980s. MerleFest is a homecoming for music lovers with acts like Jim Lauderdale, The Kruger Brothers, Nickel Creek, Molly Tuttle, and countless others appearing on the stage…However, throughout the year, Wilkes County is a music hub with local talent taking the stage, as well as the ‘Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame’ at the Wilkes Heritage Museum.
Arts and Cultural Heritage: Follow the NC Fresco Trail at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, home to the Ben Long Frescoes…catch a play with the Wilkes Playmakers. Wilkes is also a great basecamp for regional adventures (Boone, Blowing Rock, Blue Ridge Parkway, Stone Mountain State Park).
In this edition of American Nomad Traveler, get ready for a fun adventure into the heart of Wilkes County’s History, Scenic Spaces, Small-Town Charm, Good Eats, and more!
Crossroads of History: Wilkes County is a history lover’s dream, from Native American Heritage, to stories of early settlers like famed frontiersman Daniel Boone and his family who came down the Great Wagon Road to settle the rich farmland of the Yadkin River Valley, to the drama of the Revolutionary War and Overmountain Patriots like Benjamin and Robert Cleveland, to the legend and truths of Tom Dula who later inspired the popular folk song “Tom Dooley”…add in moonshine, racecar driving, Lowe’s Home Improvement and Lowe’s Foods, to Doc Watson and Music…Wilkes County is a place where you can experience the stories of the past where they happened, while creating your own memories that will last a lifetime.
I recommend starting your Wilkes County History Adventures at The Wilkes Heritage Museum. Located in the heart of downtown Wilkesboro, this regional museum brings the fascinating history of Wilkes County and the region to life. I spent over four hours at the museum during my last visit and could have spent an entire day.
The main museum is housed in the 1902 Beaux-Arts and Neoclassical Revival style courthouse. The main museum building alone has 20,000 square feet of exhibit space. Also on the museum grounds, you can tour Wilkes County’s oldest extant building, Patriot Robert Cleveland’s 1779 Cabin, the Old Wilkes Jail that once held criminals like Tom Dula and Otto Wood, as well as Judge Finley’s Law Office, which is home to a lovely bookshop, ‘The Book Room.’
Highlights include:
- Native American History
- Early Settlers and Daniel Boone Legacy: Did you know that Daniel Boone’s family moved to North Carolina (and what would later be Wilkes County) circa 1750 from Pennsylvania; The museum has a piece of the foundation of Boone’s cabin in their collection.
- Revolutionary War History: The Tory Oak, Terror of Loyalists, and the Road of the Overmountain Men
- Women’s History in Wilkes County: Dr. Carolyn Taylor Williams and Sara Lou Harris were two trailblazing women I enjoyed learning about. Williams was the first female dentist in Wilkes County. Sara Lou Harris Carter was an early African American novel who later began a diplomat and humanitarian. Learn more about her here
- African American History: There are many exhibits about the important stories of African American heritage in Wilkes
- Military History: Did you know that during the Civil War, Wilkes was deeply divided, with many having Union sympathies? The war came to Wilkesboro with Stoneman’s Raid on March 29, 1865...read more here
- Moonshine and Distillers
- Racecar roots of NASCAR and Junior Johnson: Did you know that Wilkes County’s role in the moonshine industry during prohibition led to one of its most popular pastimes—racing? The museum shows how moonshiners would have hidden compartments for their moonshine in the cars to avoid capture, and the cars were engineered to outrun the law. Junior Johnson started in the moonshine business as a runner before becoming a major racing star. You can see his car in the Wilkes Heritage Museum today!
- Fun fact: The North Wilkesboro Speedway reopened a few years ago and is bringing back NASCAR to Wilkes County.
- Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame is a must visit stop for music lovers…with exhibits about amazing Blue Ridge inspired musicians. They occasionally have concerts in the museum as well! Website
Get to Know the Cleveland Brothers, Colonel Benjamin Cleveland and Captain Robert Cleveland…
The Wilkes Heritage Museum stands at the crossroads of the regions contentious Revolutionary War past. Steps from the museum once stood the dread of Loyalists – ‘The Tory Oak,’ and also you can step back in time to 1779 at the Robert Cleveland Cabin
Robert Cleveland Cabin:
Originally stood in the town of Purlear in Wilkes County, the home was built in 1779 right in the heart of the American Revolution. It is Wilkes County’s oldest building that remains standing today. It was moved to the Wilkes Heritage Museum site in the late 1980s to help preserve its heritage and educate visitors about the life of the Cleveland family that lived here, as well as life for early settlers on what was then the North Carolina frontier.
The Cleveland Brothers and The Terror of the Tory Oak:
Colonel Benjamin Cleveland was one of the key leaders at the Battle of Kings Mountain. He earned the nickname “The Terror of the Tories” for his at times brutal approach to dealing with Loyalists in the Carolina backcountry. His brother Robert, though not as widely known, was also a staunch Patriot who served as a captain at the Battle of Kings Mountain.
Benjamin was born in 1738 at Bull Run, Virginia, and married his wife, Mary Graves, in 1758 in Orange County, Virginia. His brother Robert was born in 1744, also in Orange County. In 1769, Benjamin moved to North Carolina with Robert and his father-in-law, Joseph Graves, settling on Roaring Creek near the present-day town of Ronda. Benjamin established his estate on a bend in the Yadkin River called “Roundabout.” He was famous for his imposing physical figure—standing tall and weighing upwards of 300 pounds. Outside of chasing down Tories, he was fond of wine and known to be a jolly, hospitable host.
When the Revolutionary War broke out, the area that is now Wilkes was still part of Surry County, which maintained a militia regiment of about 1,000 men. Cleveland was with the Surry County militia when they marched south to assist the Patriots against the Loyalists at Moore’s Creek Bridge, making it as far as Cross Creek (present-day Fayetteville) before receiving word of the decisive Patriot victory. Choosing local defense over continental service, Cleveland opted to remain with the local militia rather than accept a commission in the 2nd North Carolina Regiment of the Continental Army.
When Wilkes County was created from Surry in 1778, Cleveland was appointed colonel of its newly formed militia regiment. Around this time, North Carolina began requiring all suspected Loyalists to swear an oath of allegiance to the Patriot-led state government or face the total confiscation of their property. While many militia leaders executed this duty without harming non-combatants, Cleveland developed a ruthless reputation as “The Terror of the Tories.” He relentlessly pursued Loyalists who fled into the mountains hoping to avoid the conflict. In one notable incident recorded in a deposition by William Sparks, 150 Loyalists had raided the Sparks family home (though leaving the family unharmed). Cleveland pursued the Loyalist party; the resulting skirmish and aftermath left thirty dead, many captured, and at least six later hanged.
Echo of the Tory Oak:
Though this spot today is a seemingly ordinary picnic area, a nearby sign reminds passersby of its haunting Revolutionary past. Here, until 1992, stood a 300-year-old black oak known as the Tory Oak. For centuries, this tree was not only a witness to history, but a forced participant when Wilkes County Patriot Benjamin Cleveland used it on several occasions to enact summary, or what we would call vigilante, justice on local Loyalists. While the Tory Oak no longer stands, a section of its trunk remains on view inside the Wilkes Heritage Museum, a silent witness to a contentious, often brutal backcountry conflict.
he Deadly Legacy of the Tory Oak: I love witness trees because they lived through history; even if they can’t speak, their roots are grounded in both the past and the present. But what happens when a witness tree becomes part of the battle? Until the early 1990s, the Tory Oak stood as the infamous “hanging tree” for Tories, while also witnessing Civil War events like Stoneman’s Raid before finally succumbing to decay and wind damage in 1992. A piece of it remains as a testimony in the Wilkes Heritage Museum today.
History records that Cleveland had at least five men hanged from the Tory Oak between 1779 and 1781:
- Brown and Cowles (1779): In the fall of 1779, two Tories (Loyalists) named Brown and Cowles were apprehended and brought to the Wilkes County Courthouse (present-day downtown Wilkesboro) after robbing the home of Lincoln County Patriot Major George Wilfong. The Tories grabbed as much as they could load on horseback, including Major Wilfong’s clothesline to use as halters. When they arrived in Wilkes County, Benjamin Cleveland—who had earned the nickname “Terror of the Tories”—showed no mercy. He ordered them hanged on the Tory Oak using the very clothesline they had stolen from Wilfong. Although many local residents felt Cleveland’s actions were justified, others believed he had committed murder by using vigilante justice without a trial. In the end, Governor Richard Caswell officially exonerated Cleveland of murder charges.
- The Tory Oak and the Road to Kings Mountain: Although the town of Wilkesboro was not formally incorporated until after the war, the Wilkes County Courthouse near the Tory Oak was a central gathering spot. It was near the Tory Oak and the Yadkin River that Major Winston, Colonel Cleveland, and Captain Robert Cleveland camped with their combined force of around 350 men before making their way toward William Lenoir’s home at Fort Defiance in neighboring Caldwell County. (Following the victory at Kings Mountain, Cleveland would also be involved in the controversial Biggerstaff hangings.)
Fun fact: After the Battle of Kings Mountain, Ben Cleveland took Patrick Ferguson’s prized white horse as a spoil of war. Legend says that on cold mornings, when fog rises above the Yadkin River near Ronda, the horse can still be seen running. While it’s just local lore, it’s a neat story to picture Ferguson’s horse back in Wilkes County! - Riddle, Reeves, and Goss (1781): In the spring of 1781, the Tory Oak was the site of three additional hangings by Colonel Cleveland. That April, Cleveland was captured by a Tory band at a plantation he owned in present-day Todd, North Carolina (Ashe County). During the ambush, Cleveland was held at gunpoint by Zachariah Wells, who turned him over to Tory leader Captain Riddle and his men, Goss and Reeves. They intended to take Cleveland to Ninety Six, South Carolina, which was still under British control.
Luckily for Ben “Old Roundabout” Cleveland, his brother Robert caught wind of the kidnapping. Robert assembled a group of Patriots and launched a rescue mission at what is now called Riddles Knob in Watauga County. Upon seeing his brother arrive, Ben shouted: “Huzzah for Brother Bob, and give ’em hell, boys!”
Riddle, Reeves, and Goss were captured, taken back to Wilkes County, and hanged from the Tory Oak. Wells initially escaped, but Cleveland hunted him down and hanged him from a sycamore tree overhanging the Yadkin River near his Roundabout plantation. When two local boys reportedly asked Cleveland to show Wells mercy, lore holds that he replied: “Now boys, he is a bad man and we must hang all dangerous Tories.”
Cleveland was viewed as a complex figure even in his own time. Many were shocked by his “Terror of the Tories” tactics, while others saw them as a necessary response to the harsh realities of backcountry warfare. Neighbors were pitted against neighbors in what was truly an American civil war. For Cleveland, his actions were justified retaliation against Loyalist violence and destruction; for local Loyalists, some were simply trying to survive while believing true liberty lay with the British Crown. These moral gray areas make visitors pause and put themselves in the story, inviting you to reflect on the past as you stand at the Tory Oak site at the Wilkes Heritage Museum.
While Wilkes County was not the site of major set-piece battles like Moore’s Creek Bridge (Pender County, near Wilmington) or Guilford Courthouse (Greensboro), it was a cauldron of backcountry unrest and guerilla warfare. Through it all, both Cleveland brothers played defining roles in shaping the history of Revolutionary Wilkes County and the drive toward American independence.
Old Wilkes Jail and Tom Dula: One of the most haunting sites is the Old Wilkes Jail, and I’m not talking about ghosts, but the fact it puts you right on the site where some of the region’s most notorious criminals were once held, including Tom Dooley who was accused of murdering Laura Foster. You can play detective on the case when you visit, which is a drama that became a sensational crime of the era in post Civil War North Carolina. Escape artist, Otto Wood, a criminal known for escaping prison, was held here at age thirteen for stealing a bicycle and the jail is the only jail he didn’t escape from.
- Learn more about Tom Dula here
Pro-Tip: I’m a museum buff who loves to pack in as much history as I can, but it’s okay to break up your museum visits over a day or two, or focus on one time period that interests you. I also challenge you to be curious about exhibits or time periods you usually don’t explore. Prior to visiting Wilkes and the museum, I wasn’t a big race car fan, but after learning the history of Moonshine, racer Junior Johnston and Wilkes roots in the origins of NASCAR, my interest was piqued. I need to attend a race at the newly reopened Wilkes Speedway.
I was fortunate to take a tour with museum curator Eden who provided a wealth of knowledge.
Official Wilkes Heritage Museum
Daniel Boone Trail in Wilkes County and Whippoorwill Academy
For all his frontier adventures, Daniel Boone lived in Wilkes County more years of his life than any place and his family continued to live in Wilkes and the Greater Yadkin Valley even after he headed into Kentucky and eventually Missouri…(His parents are buried in Mocksville NC). The Wilkes Heritage Museum as a piece of a stone foundation from Boone’s cabin near Beaver Creek.
Whippoorwill Academy is a historic site with ties to Boone and Tom Dooley heritage. The site has a reconstructed Daniel Boone Cabin. I recommend visiting this historic site near Ferguson (community in Wilkes County)
Natural Wonders in the ‘Great State of Wilkes’ You can walk in the footsteps of history and encounter stunning natural beauty in spaces like Rendezvous Mountain State Park and Kerr Lake Dam. Both of these locations are tied to the Overmountain Patriots’ march to take on ‘The Bulldog’ Major Patrick Ferguson at Kings Mountain on October 7th, 1780.
Rendezvous Mountain State Park The lead single off my EP American Nomad was ‘Rendezvous Heart,’ inspired by a love of traveling and weekend getaways to discover scenic spaces and cool cities…to me, Rendezvous Mountain embodies the spirit of my song: a beautiful park that invites you to discover the wonder of Blue Ridge Mountain ecology, natural history, and the legend and history of Rendezvous Mountain over the years.
I had the opportunity to visit in early March, when the mixed forest of deciduous and evergreen trees was in anticipation of spring after a hard, frozen winter in the Brushy Mountain Range. The mist rose up in the hills as I drove the winding road to the main visitor center, which offers stunning views that literally made my jaw drop.
I met with the head ranger on site who shared what makes Rendezvous Mountain so special:
“This region is filled with unique ecology, from the low-elevation rocky summits to acidic and rich cove forest features. The scenery is breathtaking, and you’ll discover a diverse forest ecosystem here. You can discover the natural wonders of Rendezvous Mountain in the visitor center, where we offer a number of Ranger-led programs, as well as 5.5 miles of trails, including self-guided trails that provide tree identification signs and history about the region’s forestry industry.”
“This is my first time visiting and it’s so beautiful…you have the wonders of the Blue Ridge Parkway, but it’s super quiet and secluded,” I noted as we both peered out at the vista from the cabin-style visitor center.
“Rendezvous Mountain is actually North Carolina’s newest State Park, established in 2022, but its legacy runs much deeper. In 1926, Judge Finley of Wilkesboro donated much of the land for the creation of NC’s third State Park after Mt. Mitchell (highest elevation peak east of the Mississippi River) and Fort Macon (at the coast). The Civilian Conservation Corps helped with park projects in the 1930s, including the historic CCC cabin. You can also hike up to the historic fire tower. In the 1950s it was transitioned to a state forest, and in the 1980s became a NC State Educational Forest, before becoming a State Park again in 2022. It’s not as well known as other regional parks like Stone Mountain, but we’re working to get the word out because it’s a treasure.”
During my March visit, I was researching a Revolutionary War feature on Wilkes about the Overmountain Men. The name Rendezvous Mountain has Revolutionary War roots, as tradition holds that Colonel Benjamin Cleveland and his brother Captain Robert Cleveland blew the horn to call the Overmountain Patriots to come together to chase down British Major Patrick Ferguson at Kings Mountain (Oct 7, 1780), which helped turn the tide towards victory in the South and on the road to Yorktown.
While no physical documentation has tied the site to this oral history, logically it makes sense. This was a popular meeting site halfway between the Cleveland brothers’ two homes.
Highlights: self-guided interpretive trails and exhibits about forest education, a visitor center, and 4.5 miles of backcountry trails through a diverse forest of chestnut oak, dry coniferous, pine-oak, and oak-hickory trees. In the spring and summer, you can enjoy the beauty of wildflowers and blooms, while fall is peak season for the fire reds and oranges of autumn in the Blue Ridge.
Pro-Tip: A few miles from Rendezvous Mountain State Park, you can grab a delicious bite to eat at local favorite ‘The Igloo’…they have mouthwatering burgers, fries, and ice cream. You can grab the food and then picnic at Rendezvous Mountain (just remember to leave no trace). (Address: 4337 NC-16, Millers Creek, NC 28651 (sitting across from Millers Creek School))
W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir: Natural Beauty, Where Patriots Walked About ten years ago on a return trip from Blowing Rock to Raleigh, my mom suggested we pull off and explore the W. Kerr Scott Dam. “It sounds interesting, let’s check it out.” My mom has a ‘rendezvous heart’ like me, and we pulled over. Instantly, we fell in love with this hidden high country gem. The 1,475-acre reservoir is a dammed reservoir of the Yadkin River (partially created to control flooding on the Yadkin) and has ample access for recreation, from boating and angling (fishing) to trails and picnicking.
It was here my Overmountain Patriot passion began as I first toured the Kerr Scott Dam Visitor Center, which is part of the Overmountain Victory Trail with exhibits chronicling the legacy of the Overmountain Patriots—not only those from Wilkes and Surry County who passed through the region (Sept 27-28, 1780) en route to Kings Mountain, but the story of all the Overmountain Patriots from VA, present-day eastern TN, Western NC, SC, and GA…what they fought for and how their courage helped forge the path of liberty.
While portions of the Overmountain Trail lie under the reservoir, you can walk eight miles of the Overmountain Victory Trail hiking path in the literal footsteps of patriots.
What is the Overmountain Victory Trail? Established to commemorate the routes of the Overmountain Men in their march to Kings Mountain SC (October 7, 1780) and also movements immediately after the battle it is a 330-mile motor route with eighty miles of walkable trails following the footsteps of the Overmountain Patriots…Plan your Overmountain Victory Trail Route Here: https://www.nps.gov/ovvi/ Area stops in Wilkes/Surry Counties include: Elkin Muster Grounds (Surry), Wilkes Heritage Museum, Kerr Lake Dam (and Rendezvous Mountain should be included)
Pro-Tip: I love picnicking here right before dusk and enjoying the sunset. It feels ethereal.
Wine Down in Wilkes County – Tuscany of North Carolina
I had the pleasure of visiting Italy in 2023 and fell in love with Tuscany’s art, food, and, of course, wine, including the popular Chianti made with Tuscan-grown Sangiovese grapes.
While I was aware that North Carolina has a wine scene in the Yadkin Valley, having tried regional wines purchased in my homebase in Raleigh, it wasn’t until I visited a few of the region’s wineries in person that I began to understand just how unique the Yadkin Valley’s viticulture is.
- The Yadkin Valley is one of seven designated AVA wine regions in North Carolina. AVA means American Viticultural Area. Learn more about NC AVA Regions here: https://ncwine.org/american-viticultural-areas/
The unique red clay and rich soil from the Yadkin River Valley, along with the climate, are very similar to Tuscany. While other wine-growing regions of North Carolina are known primarily for their sweet muscadine wines, the Yadkin excels in Italian varietals, including serving as a growing region for Sangiovese grapes and Chianti blends.
Each of the over fifty wineries in the region has its own unique wine blends, but all are rooted in the rich soil and unique climate that is perfect for wine production.
Wilkes and neighboring Surry County are ground zero for a number of award-winning wineries. There are wine bus tours, or you can go on a wine discovery trail. In March, I had a blast visiting Piccione Vineyards, which felt like Tuscany in Carolina. I also always keep a Raffaldini in my cabinet.
While I love visiting each of the wineries and their tasting rooms…
I recommend you start off your Wine Trail Adventures at C’est la Vin Wine and Provisions in North Wilkesboro. It was included as a stop on my Blue Ridge Food Tour in March…C’est la Vin offers flights of local wines as well as international wines, along with delicious hors d’oeuvres. They also have amazing food and wine events!
Wilkes County Food – Your Culinary Passport
Given Wilkes’s rich agricultural legacy, it makes sense that it is a foodie hub. Here you can discover a variety of eateries that will tempt any palate. Whether you are looking for comfort food to fine dining – Wilkes County has you covered.
One of the best ways to experience the various flavors of Wilkes County is by taking a Blue Ridge Food Tour. The tour was started by a high school student Mya (she recently graduated) along with her parents and the tour is one of the best food tours I’ve taken. The tour takes place in Downtown North Wilkesboro where Mya shares the history of North Wilkes from the location of the first Lowes Hardware Store and historic Train Depot. I learned that North Wilkes was nicknamed ‘The Key City’ as an important crossroads for industry across time.
Come with an empty stomach because you’ll be eating at a variety of amazing sites in North Wilkesboro, learning about each spots dishes and how they are inspired by Wilkes County agriculture.
A few spots on our tour included:
Dom’s Pizza and Bakery (delicious salad, Perry Lowe Orchard Cider and gluten free treats)
Cinder Bistro (hard cider and BBQ) – Delicious BBQ!
C’est la Vin (wine and charcuterie)
Wilkes Best Popcorn at the Historic Liberty Theatre – this popcorn was the star of the show!
Sweet Adaline’s (delicious Gluten Free desserts)
Lost Wombat (Aussie inspired burger)
At the Lost Wombat I got to try some legal Moonshine from historic Distiller – Call’s. It was strong stuff!
We also shopped at local shops including Key City Antiques (a treasure trove of cool antiques and modern finds)
Wilkesboro also has a lots of great restaurants, including:
- Dooley’s Tavern: Paying homage to Wilkes County’s Tom Dula who’s story became a hit folk song for the Kingston Trio in the 1960s…this is a perfect spot to enjoy delicious Americana food including their famous burgers. The restaurant is steps away from the Wilkes Heritage Museum, and is housed in the old Hotel Wilkesboro or ‘Smithey Hotel.’
Smithey’s was a popular regional department store that actually inspired Sam Walton, as Smithey’s saved consumers money by buying in bulk and their revolutionary methods in managing a department store. Smithey’s was known for its burgers, a condition that continues to this day. The upper levels of the building were once a popular hotel with fine accommodations. I love restaurants with history.
- Two Boros: Loved this Pizzeria and Brewery across from the Wilkes Heritage Museum…they have gluten free pizza on the menu (I have Celiac disease) as well as lots of in house and local spirits
- #destinationcoffee Wilkes Coffee Company and Talia are two of my favorite coffee shops in the area.
Apple Cider in Wilkes: Wilkes County is one of the highest producers of apples in North Carolina and known for their cider…I highly recommend Perry Lowe Orchards…perfect in the fall especially!
Wilkes County is known for their amazing apples. Perry Lowe Orchards is a local favorite for cider products. https://www.perryloweorchards.com/ They are a sixth generation family orchard in Moravian Falls. P.S. There is a nearby scenic waterfall here. – Moravian Falls
Music and the Arts:
- Merlefest: America’s Roots Music Festival (every April)
- Ben Long Fresco Trail: Explore the moving frescoes by internationally acclaimed fresco painter Ben Long at St. Paul’s Church, part of the North Carolina Fresco Trail…Plan your visit here
- Wilkes Playmakers – Great local theatre company!
- Wilkes Art Gallery
While we covered a lot of ground in this adventure, this is only a sample of all the fun Wilkes provides…
Here are some additional resources to help plan your Wilkes Adventure:
Where to stay: https://wilkescountytourism.com/places-to-stay/ (I’ve stayed at Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn, both are nice…)
Tourism Website: https://wilkescountytourism.com/ (great resource for planning your adventures)
Have you visited Wilkes County? What are your favorite spots? Let me know in the comments.
About American Nomad Traveler:
I’m Adele Lassiter aka The American Nomad Traveler…I started this blog to share my passion for travel, history (love all history, but Rev War is close to my heart), scenic spaces, national parks, cool coffee shops, museums, art history and more…
In addition to my main blog here, I also post on Substack...I’ve also written features for Wilkes County, Randolph County (NC), Wilmington CVB (NC), Abingdon VA, Museum of the Waxhaws and more.
Follow along for daily history and travel:
Note: I don’t use AI and if you run into a typo (or em-dash, I’ve used them since the 1900s in high school!) trust this is human written. I take hours in research and boots on the ground adventures to bring an authenticity.
When I’m not blogging, I am a singer-songwriter who has recorded in Nashville (Beaird Music Group) – my original songs are available for purchase on Bandcamp
Interested in collaborating on a story or have an idea for a feature. Email me: americannomadtraveler@gmail.com
