New guidebooks point travelers to North Carolina cultural and agricultural destinations North Carolina’s diverse culture has inspired many distinctive guidebooks, including “Blue Ridge Music Trails,” “Farms, Gardens and Countryside Trails of Western North Carolina,” “Cherokee Heritage Trails Guidebook,” and “Craft Heritage Trails of North Carolina.” The new books below provide travelers with two more options for experiencing ing cultural landscapes. —Karen Olson s House son
“Literary Trails of the North Carolina Mountains: A Guidebook” ook” For a state so grounded in heritage it’s not surprising that North Carolina’s native and visiting writers historically have been a talented bunch, all relaying their stories in ways as varied as our geography. “Literary Trails” links the lives of 170 of North Carolina’s visiting and native writers with mountain region destinations. The North Carolina Arts Council commissioned Georgann Eubanks to research and write “Literary Trails.” Her book is the first of three regional volumes. The next two books will cover the western Piedmont and eastern regions of North Carolina. The “Mountains” guidebook includes 18 half-day and one-day tours, organized geographically. They take travelers through the landscapes of Sequoyah, Thomas Wolfe, Kathryn Stripling Byer, Kay Hooper, Robert Morgan, and Wilma Dykeman, among others.
Glimpses mpses into literary history include de the William Bartram Trail followed wed by Inman, the protagonist of Charles arles Frazier’s novel “Cold Mountain;” the little town of Celo, where novelist Anne Tyler spent some of her childhood; and Blowing Rock, where a stop at Sonny’s Grill affords a chance to try fried livermush—favored by a parishioner in Jan Karon’s “Mitford” series. Tours include maps, driving directions, and 103 color illustrations, along with area libraries, museums, colleges and bookstores. The book’s companion Web site is www.ncliterarytrails.org. “Literary Trails” is published by the University of North Carolina Press in Chapel Hill. Softcover, 426 pages, $18.95. (800) 848-6224 or www.uncpress.unc.edu.
“Homegrown/Handmade: Art Roads and Farm Trails” This insider’guide to 72 Piedmont and eastern North Carolina counties blends genuine agricultural and arts experiences with interesting sites and people. The self-directed driving tours cover 16 regions and include color photographs of art galleries, artists’ studios, performing arts, hands-on farm experiences, you-pick organic produce, favorite restaurants, festivals, music, crafts, farmers’ markets, specialty shops, wineries, museums, historic houses and picturesque bed-andbreakfast inns. Diverse destinations include funky Moring Arts Center in Asheboro, Jackson Brothers farm near Sanford, Fickle Creek Farm Bed & Breakfast in Efland, Peoples General Store in Halifax, Jones Nursery in Advance, Craftibarb in Sanford, Pocosin’s
Art’s Steamed Blue To Red-Hot Crab Dinner and Auction in Columbia, Martin Orchard & Vineyards on Knotts Island, Clay Gardens Pottery Studio in Elizabeth City, and Brady C. Jefcoat Museum of Americana in Murfreesboro (where you can see a dog-powered washing machine). The North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources and the North Carolina Cooperative Extension teamed up with community leaders to make the book. The book’s companion Web site is www.homegrownhandmade.com. “Homegrown/Handmade: Art Roads and Farm Trails” is published by John F. Blair in Winston Salem. Softcover, 304 pages, $19.95. The book isn’t available until May but can be ordered now. (800) 222-9796 or www.blairpub.com. Carolina Country APRIL 2008 21
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