Brent_Campbell's Blog

Oh my gosh!  I could kick myself for never going before now. As the manager at the Lake Lure Inn told me, the landscape, the views and the beauty at Lake Lure and Chimney Rock are just short of masterpieces. While I can show you some pictures I took, (first of my sidekick and photographer Kenny Cravens) you have to see it all yourself to truly appreciate the area. 

 

 If you're looking for a Vegas style weekend of clubbing and fast paced restaurants this is not the place. But, if you want relaxing afternoons by the Rocky Broad River, on the lake's beach, or taking in some amazing views.... I really recommend taking a weekend to explore this area. There is any and everything an outdoors lover would want to do.

 

From hiking to the top of Chimney Rock (or taking the elevator like we did), there are waterfalls, hiking trails and all kinds of gorgeous places to have a picnic in and around the state park.  There are also rock climbing classes for the more adventurous or something as simple as a wildlife nature hike for the little ones.  There really is a lot to see and do at Chimney Rock.  Once your done up top, hang out below! 

 Back down along the lake, the Lake Lure Inn is a really unique place.  Built in 1927, this inn is the centerpiece of the small town surrounding the lake.  Dirty Dancing, Last of the Mohicans, and Firestarter are some of the movies shot in and around Lake Lure.  And the inn itself has been a part of it all.  With a long history of popular guests like Patrick Swayze and Franklin Roosevelt the inn is exactly what it was meant to be, the perfect place to stay in this wilderness playground.  The inn was built the same year the Rocky Broad was damned to form Lake Lure. The updated rooms and classy spa make it just sophisticated enough,  but one step back outside and the wilderness that brought you there still reigns supreme. 

 

With the beach, waterpark, boat tours and rentals, fishing and hiking around the lake coupled alongside everything Chimney Rock has to offer a weekend in this part of Rutherford County is a perfect way to escape the everyday headaches in the Triad.  I know now why they named it Lake Lure!  The lure...is obvious. 

Go see for yourself and let me know what you think! 

You've likely been to the top, but do you know what else it has to offer? Pilot Mountain is just about as "North Carolina" as you can get. Probably made most famous by Andy Griffith, Pilot Mountain towers over the Piedmont kind of like it's guarding the landscape below.  It is as close to the mountain landscape as you can get, without ever going to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Getting there is easy, and enjoying it is even easier. 

If you've never been, start at the top.  The drive up is simple and the views are amazing.  You can see downtown Winston-Salem on a clear day.  It is really wild to be so high after being on Highway 52 just minutes before.  There is literally nothing blocking your view except the occasional hawk or vulture circling the mountain. The trails around the "big" pinnacle offer some unique rock formations. The hiking isn't that tough, but it is very scenic.  It was interesting to find out that the actual mountain is really what's left of where the piedmont used to be. No it's not a volcano, it's actually rock that hasn't eroded as fast as everything around it over the past few thousand years. 

Once you've seen the top, did you know there was more?  Yes! The park extends down the mountain side nearly 20 miles all the way to the Yadkin River.  You can hike from the top to the river.  We chose to drive, ha!  Either way it is interesting to get a wide vareity of landscape within one park. On the river's edge you can take your horses, camp, fish and even see where years ago people tried to change the flow of the Yadkin River so they could use it for boating trade.  It's very interesting and just as pretty as the rocky pinnacle! 

So while you think you have seen the entire park, you probably haven't.  Check out our Road Trip site there is more information on the park and all the different things it has to offer.  One word of advice, whenever you go...get there early.  There isn't a lot of parking but you can't blame anyone, because once you see it...you'll know why so many want to see the Piedmont from the top! 

 

  

  

Swirl, sip, savor, sit and enjoy!  That is what a wine tour with Yadkin Valley Wine Tours is all about. It is a fantastic day enjoying friends, unique scenery and interesting wine.  It all starts with a 15 minute lesson that helps anyone understand what to look for and how to develop a taste for this craft that is something we can truly call a part of the Piedmont. So even the novice, can feel like a pro! 

 

 

First..... Swirl! If you're like me, you enjoy wine, but the art of truly understanding how to taste it and pick out the flavors is not something you have perfected.  After taking this wine tour, a quick lesson really helped me understand how to swirl and let air into the wine so the true flavors come out. It is here that you can appreciate the time that goes into all the intense mixing and matching of grapes, fruits, and time that end up making the wine what it is.

 

 

Sip! Once you've swirled you sip and understand why it is so important to take small tastes.  Smelling the aromas and sipping can make the difference between a wine you really like and really don't! This is also the time at many of the wineries where they explain why some wines are better with certain foods.  Its a good way to learn about how wine is meant to compliment a meal.

 

 

Savor!  Next you take time to really taste the wine.  The second sip helps you see if it is truly something you like, or not.  Not to mention while you are tasting wine, you can savor in the beauty that surrounds you on many of these farms. So many of them, old farms with lots of character.  It was interesting to see how different people have put different spins on the farm, the vineyard, the stores and of course the wine.  You can savor the wine, savor the moment and enjoy your surroundings.  It is really very relaxing! 

 

 

 They call it a relax and learn tour and I can attest, that is what you do.  You really do relax and enjoy while learning how this very detailed drink is made.  Bottom line, if you are looking for a great day, riding around the North Carolina Wine Country, enjoying some wine, seeing places you've never seen and making new friends, then this is the trip for you. Any questions about the tour, please ask! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No it's not what you think and yes you can do it.  For me, those are the answers to the two major questions I had about fly fishing.  I will admit, this assignment led me to my first ever pair of waders, fly fishing pole and trout stream.  But I must say, it was simply amazing! 

 If you're like me and haven't ever done it, you likely have these grand visions of wide open streams, big long casts and the need for many hours of practice before you're ever able to fool a fish.  But let me tell you, fly fishing in North Carolina isn't what you see on the movies, it isn't that hard and you can fool the fish!

   Step one...getting a fishing license.  Yes you have to have one, even if your just going to fish once.  You can get it online (ncwildlife.org), and it only cost 15 dollars.  

   Step two...setting up time with a guide.  Our guide, Scott Cunningham (On the Fly Guide Service) can do everything from full day trips to entire weekends. He provides the equipment so all you have to do is show up.

Step three....suiting up and learning to cast. Thank goodness, Scott was patient.  I am not.  I wanted to throw to hard, sling too high and rush to the areas where I could see the fish.  Scott had to slow me down, teach me to let the weighted rod worry about actually throwing the cast, and he had to show me the art of gracefully landing the lure on the water so it looked natural. 

Step four...practice. After getting stuck in a few trees and learning where to place the lure you start to feel comfortable with the rod and your cast and its game on.  Then you want to catch one. 

While Scott's goal isn't solely to catch fish, I finally did, but I also got out of it what Scott wanted.  He wants his fishermen to enjoy a relaxing day in a North Carolina stream, away from the office, and walk away with a feeling of accomplishment. 

Did fly fishing hook me? Yes.  I think I will go again.

 

 

    

                                                    
            

It's so close, yet so far away!  Being from Davie County, you would think something just a few counties over would be something I would know about.  But it wasn't until working in TV news that I ever went to Hanging Rock State Park. Wow!  If you haven't been let me be your quick tour guide.  

There is so much to do inside the gates of this 7 thousand acre park.  If your a wlidlife watcher, no telling what you will see.  We saw deer, turkeys, hawks,  and thank goodness only heard of snakes,  but I am sure they are there.   There are really nice camp sites, amazing trails through some great waterfalls and of course there is boating and fishing.  It's a place that is so easy to get to, but wow do you feel like your in another world. The lake is surrounded by mountains.  The facilities are extremly nice, in fact the state just built new cabins you can rent for the entire weekend.  There is rock climbing for those unlike me who love heights!!  Whether it's a day trip or a weekend trip, pack a cooler, take your bike and hiking shoes and just explore. It is really worth the short drive and the best part,  most of the activities are free!!  Who can beat that!  It's a great place to go spend some quality, quiet time with friends and family.  Check out the link to the website as there are also educational programs for all ages. If your not at a college football game, spend a Saturday at Hanging Rock.  

Hanging Rock is a great family fun find, but I need more ideas.  Let me know what you think of the park, but also start sending me some ideas...  bcampbel@wghp.com .  Kenny and I need more places to explore, more places to show you!  Safe travels!

 

 

  

I certainly can't complain about my job!  I recently got the awesome assignment of finding some unique, fun places to show you.  The producers were quick to say not the typical, instead places off the beaten path.  They want places that have unique,unusal, different forms of entertainment and fun. I think on this first one...we succeeded!

 Carolina Ziplines is a fun place to spend some quality time with friends and family.  Believe it or not my photographer, Kenny, and I stumbled upon it by accident.  We were up near Hanging Rock State Park covering the search for a missing motorcyclist when owner Robert Nickell stopped us.  Robert and his wife Joanna built the zipline course and opened it in July.  They were proud to show it off and they should be.  If you saw the story you got somewhat of an idea of the views and how much fun it is, but I will admit on this one....TV does not do justice. 

First it's easy to get to!  It is really not far from anywhere in the Piedmont. We got a map set up next to the story for exact directions.   Second, it's just plain fun!  I will admit I am not a fan of hieghts. If I am more than a few feet up and not buckled or secured in, well let's just I get a litle weak in the knees. (I would never make it as a skyscraper window washer!!)  For this story,  I was worried about how high this would be off the ground!  But for the most part, it's really not bad.  You do feel secure. You're harnessed in and strapped to a security line the entire time.  You take a short hike to the top, and then zip your way down the course.  Platform to platform there's at least 11 different lines through the entire course.  Once you've zipped down the first one, any fear you have is gone!! You just want to keep going. It really feels like your flying!  After I did a few of the lines and got comfortable with controlling my speed, I could enjoy the views.  Soaring through the trees, the breeze against your face, and nothing but nature all around....it's just amazing!  I like to hike, but this is really a very different way to explore the woods from a whole new prespective. And as you go from platform to platform it is fun to watch those with you enjoy the views, laugh and smile.  Between each line you can talk about all you saw!  Not to mention, it doesn't take a lot of energy and is extremly calming and relaxing.   

Give yourself a good hour to get there (that's taking your time from most places around here).  Once in Stokes County, stop at the little store on Highway 66 before you get there, grab some ol' time snacks or maybe pack a lunch.   And then head to Carolina Ziplines and find out why all over the world ziplining is something people love.  You don't have to go out of state or country to experience it anymore!!

As for this travel segment of sorts, we would love to make it a regular. We have got more on the way and  I'll try to update you with each one.  I hope I can tell you a little more here than we can in the 2 minute story, and give you some tips about getting there, stops on the way and so on. 

To make this work....I need your help!!  If you have any ideas, remember family oriented, easy to get to, and fun most anyone can enjoy - PLEASE let me know!  bcampbell@wghp.com  I'd love to share some of the Piedmont' s hidden secrets! 

Let me know what you think of ziplining!  Safe Travels!

 

 

  

It's just not the holidays without a parade. Macy's In New York I think kicks it off for most of the country but for many communities here at home the local march down Main Street is the official start to the season.
Having worked in Winston-Salem now for 8 years, I have watched what was once a parade totally outshined by communities much smaller, transform into something that truly awakens the holiday spirit.
This year as my dear friend and colleague Julie Luck and I greeted loyal viewers along with those just looking to get into the holiday spirit. As we rode down Fourth street we both decided to take a quick glance behind us. WOW, what we saw all the way up Fourth Street was nothing short of magic! The parade that once had less than 60 entries and streets lined with more trees than spectators was no where to be found. In its place, a magical march full of light and splendor. The sidewalks packed with young and old. The parade full of everything from spectacular marching bands and floats to unusual pets, everyone of course welcoming the holiday in their own special way.
All I can say, is way to go Jaycees! What a parade, what a transformation. If the packed streets, the sparkle of the lights in the cool night sky, the sound of bands and the enthusiastic crowd are any indication, the Winston-Salem Parade is alive again! Changing the format, the time and adding the tree lighting finale' seems to have helped bring the magic back downtown.
To those of you that said hi to us there, thanks for coming out! If you missed it, you want to give it a try next year. If you have a favorite parade of your own...I'd love to hear what makes it special!
Happy Holidays!