Blue Skies and Apple Butter

Posted on November 19, 2014 by mreilova

By Katie Stewart – 2014

As we merged onto Highway 64 to head to Taylorsville, one of the first things I noticed was how perfect the weather was. The best kind of day for a drive: Carolina blue skies without any clouds to block the warm sun. It was late October, but the dash read 74 degrees as we drove toward the orange and yellow-spotted mountains, the smell of campfire seeping through the car’s vents.

Our first stop was Deal Orchard’s, off of North Carolina Highway 16, where my first priority was to find some apple butter from the market. Gina bought a jar of apple butter in Bat Cave, but it had added sugar in it, something neither of us are a fan of. I made sure to grab a jar of freshly made apple butter with a “no sugar added” label on the lid when we arrived at the orchard. During our drive to Taylorsville along the straight, empty road, I bored Gina with a story about a realtor in my hometown who occasionally brings goodies to every house in the neighborhood. Every fall, I look forward to my favorite treat from him: apple butter. But this year he came by with pumpkin butter instead. To most, an equally good treat, but to me, a slight disappointment Oddly enough, when I told my mom that I bought apple butter she happily told me that our friendly realtor had come by the same day that we were in Taylorsville with a fresh jar of apple butter. He must have been feeling extra generous this fall, because he doesn’t usually come by twice in one month.

As we got closer to our destination, we reveled in the beautiful fall-colored mountains that had seemingly grown larger as we drove, and I was in still disbelief of the perfect weather we had. We lost track of how many times I said how great of a day it was, because I simply could no get over the gorgeous clear skies, the higher than average temperature, and the behemoth mountains looming over us, just out of reach.

We pulled into the parking lot of a modest white rectangular building, and when I got out of the car, I likely mentioned the perfect weather again. Sorry Gina. When we walked in, the market was crowded with customers looking for fresh apples of all varieties: Gala, Golden Delicious, Fuji. You name it, they probably had it. Each type of apple was labeled with its taste – sweet, tart, mild tart, extra sweet – and marked with its best use. Many of the apples are great for both eating and cooking, but some are better for just one or the other. For example, Red Delicious apples are “excellent for eating” and the dark, almost plum-colored Arkansas Black apples are best for cooking. The market also sold jams, preserves, butters, mixes for bread and muffins, cookbooks, and the largest sweet potatoes I have ever seen.

After standing in line for a few minutes with the long awaited jar of apple butter, we asked the woman behind the counter what she could tell us about the orchard. Deal Orchards was started by her grandfather, Brack Deal, and has been passed down through the family for three generations.With the help of a mule, Brack and his wife, Belle, cleared 15 acres of land in the Brushy Mountains to make way for their apple trees. Since then, the orchard has been expanded and replanted, but one of Brack Deal’s original trees still stands on the sloped land of Deal Orchards.

I have a personal appreciation for family-owned businesses, and I especially like learning how they were started. So many family businesses have stories of modest beginnings that reflect hard work, determination, and persistence. I like this story in particular because it reveals the possibility of continuing and improving family businesses through many generations. Today, Brack’s son Lindsay, and his son Alan run the orchard. They grow, harvest, and package the fruit grown on Brack’s land, while Lindsay’s wife and daughters manage the market nestled between mountains and the sprawling orchard.

As we left Deal Orchards, apple butter in hand, we looked across the street and saw rows and rows of apple trees lining the mountainside. I again spoke of how unbelievable the weather was. It was a beautiful day for enjoying this rural part of North Carolina that often goes unnoticed. Driving off with apple butter in the backseat, we smelled another trace of campfire and I watched as the mountains behind us slowly became smaller in the rearview mirror.

A Scoop from the Ice Cream Man

Posted on November 19, 2014 by mreilova

By Katie Stewart – 2014

In downtown Mocksville, Gina and I found a brightly painted ice cream shop called Scoops. Inside, one man stood at the counter, a football game played on the TV, and a couple of teenagers played air hockey in the arcade in the back. Monte, or the “Ice Cream Man” as one younger customer called him, immediately greeted us and offered samples of his many ice cream flavors. Gina went with two flavors, coconut and double vanilla, and I decided on strawberry. While we ate, Monte showed us his toy moose that dances and sings “Moves Like Jagger.” Monte is a toy collector, and he has some of his collection on display on a shelf above the picnic-style tables in his shop. He seemed to know everyone that came into the shop, except us of course, which I guess is why he referred to me as “Miss Strawberry” as we were leaving. The Ice Cream Man promised that if we return he will remember us, and we hope to take him up on that bet.

Scoops Ice Cream Shop

Larkin’s on the Lake

Posted on November 6, 2014 by mreilova

By Dustin Swope – 2014

You don’t have to look very hard to find reasons to visit the town of Lake Lure. The pristine beach, crystal-clear water, and mountainous view in the distance make this place an excellent destination, whether it’s just for the day or as a rewarding vacation. Whatever your reason for visiting, there’s one restaurant that I don’t think anyone in the neighborhood should pass up: Larkin’s on the Lake.

Tucked away in one of the lakes many inlets overlooking its own private docks, Larkin’s is any easy spot for boaters to break for a casual lunch or tie the day off with a fresh meal. The same can be said for drivers along Highway 64, too. The restaurant’s parking lot is a quick turn off the road and hidden from approaching views by a strong tree line, so you might need to double back if you don’t already know where you’re headed. If you do manage to get turned around and into the parking lot, you’ll find your last-minute maneuver happily rewarded.

The restaurant is a two-story log cabin-style lake house by design, an apt aesthetic complement to the woods surrounding. The outside seating for co-occupant Bayside Bar and Grill on the first story continues the unpolished theme, but the restaurant of the second story is a class act. Not so much so that one feels underdressed in a t-shirt, but the interior decor at Larkins is by no means that of a roadside truck stop. The logged walls and carpeted floor do wonders to keep the noise level down, even in a full house of around thirty other diners. Not one component of the hardware at Larkin’s spoke of corners cut, from the table setting, to the furniture, and even the vintage decor lining the walls. And good luck maintaining any bad mood with a view like Larkin’s;I couldn’t help but enjoy myself.

The wait staff was also quite impressive during my visit to Larkin’s. Friendly but not intrusive, knowledgeable, happy to accommodate requests and dietary restrictions, and fast; what more could I ask for? Plenty of specialty drinks keep things interesting, like ice cream floats and margaritas that can make any hour of the day feel like five o’clock.

Essentially American offerings like babyback ribs, burgers, and a collection of grilled dishes take center stage, but I came here for the seafood. As a native Floridian, I may be out of my element when it comes to barbecue but I know my way around a fish filet and Larkin’s seafood combo platter (pictured below) was calling my name.

It might’ve had something to do with a 6:30am alarm or the hours of driving I’d clocked, but I found the portion size wanting, especially under a $24 price tag. To Larkin’s credit though, this meal was great! The shrimp weren’t otherworldly but they were large enough to carry flavor and texture, and the minimalist mashed potatoes were well-executed and a solid supporting act. The flounder was the real triumph though. Tender but composed, it separated cleanly for each bite. The seasoning was present and appreciated, and while far from tasting like low tide at the pier, the filet still retained the light flavor that assures diners that they’re actually eating seafood.

In retrospect, I wish I hadn’t liked each element of the dish so much – it would’ve made the portion sizes much easier to get over.

Mezzaluna II in Hendersonville

Posted on December 6, 2013 by dswope

By: Anna Mokas, 2013

Traveling to Hendersonville was a breath of fresh air. Hendersonville was much more city-like than any of the other towns we visited on our trips. The town is centered on main street, and the side roads are where many visitors park. It was a Saturday night, so the streets had lots of people and were a busy place to be. I could feel the sense of weekend excitement from the smiles on people’s faces and the slow pace they walked on the sidewalks. This town had many shops and restaurants, many of which seemed to have costumers. A few stores on the mains street closed at 5pm, which seemed odd since it was a Saturday night. I would say that this was one of Hendersonville’s flaws, since the town could get even more business if all of its shops stayed open later on weekend nights.

There were many owners walking their dogs on the sidewalks, adding even more life to the streets. Even horses were roaming the streets, either leading people in carriages, or being showed-off by their owners. There were multiple street performers playing music with each other, creating these makeshift bands whom sang, and played guitars and harmonicas. This town had a friendly vibe that made you not worry about your safety one bit. There were multiple bear sculptures along the main street, and each one was painted in different, vibrant colors. I assumed that the bear is Hendersonville’s mascot since it seemed like such a prominent figure in the town.

Taylor and I went to Mezzaluna for dinner, since it seemed enticing when we were looking in from the window, and we were eager to eat some delicious Italian food. This beautiful restaurant was one big room, with Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” painting displayed on the back wall. It became very busy around dinnertime so we were lucky that we came around 5:30pm. Since I am a vegetarian, I ordered the kale salad and a side of pasta. I couldn’t have been happier with my decision since they executed the meal so wonderfully. We began our meal with a warm basket of bread and homemade garlic and herb butter that we quickly devoured. The kale salad was fresh and delicious, while the spaghetti was warm and its sauce was so yummy and on the sweeter side. I wasn’t planning on eating the whole side of pasta, but found that I was scraping the bowl for more pasta and sauce. I definitely left Mezzaluna with a full stomach and a smile. The waiting staff was polite and managed the large crowd of dinners very gracefully. I could tell that they were used to having large crowds on the weekends, which shows how popular a restaurant they are.

As Taylor and I walked down the street, we were drawn by a sweet smell of brownies that led us to a quaint candy shop. This shop had lovely fudges, caramel corn and ice cream to satisfy any sweet desire the costumer might have. Many families swarmed the store as the kids scavenged for what their mouths watered for and what their parents would allow them to eat. I too felt like a child in this store, and got chocolates for the ride home, which were just the perfect treat after my scrumptious dinner. The sweet shop was a little too crowded to walk around, but there was a bench that we could sit on until there was more room to look around. I will always remember Hendersonville fondly because of that complete and decadent meal, as well as the friendly vibe I got from the town’s people and shops. Hendersonville proved to be unique since it contained so many different cultures, types of people, and provided a very welcoming place for people to enjoy. For more information about Hendersonville, visit there the town’s website: http://www.hendersonville.com/

A Review of Piccolo’s

Posted on December 6, 2013 by dswope

Anna Mokas, 2013

There was quite a crowd at Piccolo’s on the day I dined there, mostly because there was an antique car show in town going on. Piccolo’s was recommended to myself and a group of my classmates by one of the Farmer’s Market owners across the street, as a great restaurant to eat at, which means that it was also crowded due to popularity. Piccolo’s is a casual Italian restaurant on one of Lenoir’s main streets. At this restaurant, you order at the front counter and then find a picnic table or booth to wait at for your homemade Italian meal. What makes Piccolo’s truly special is that it is decorated with fifties-themed décor, making each diner feel like they are eating sixty years in the past. This large room is graced with antiques such as an old gas pump, giving it the fifties vibe that created a physical time warp for all of its diners. The tables even had old tomato cans to elevate the pizzas on each table. Piccolo’s also had their whole restaurant decorated for Halloween during the first week of October, which combatted with the already fifties themed room. There were both skeletons and tin posters hanging on the walls, creating a blend of the past and the present. Also present, close to the seating area, was their famous brick oven in which they cook all of their homemade pizzas.

I ordered the veggie pizza and it was fresh, warm and doughy. It had a savory red sauce, sautéed spinach, mushrooms and tomatoes, and warm gooey mozzarella. I ended up eating the entire individual pizza since it was that scrumptious and hard to stop eating. I was very pleased by how well the brick oven cooked this pizza, since it was doughy but not too mushy, and cooked through. If I ever find myself in Lenoir again, I will be sure to stop in for another pizza pie. If you are looking for a good Italian meal in the foothills of North Carolina, check out Piccolo’s. For more information, visit Piccolo’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Piccolos-Pizza/379629232135936

For Lovers of Crafts and Good Times

Posted on December 6, 2013 by dswope

By Taylor Hill, 2013

It would seem that the town of Lake Lure has its fair share of attractions; of course with the expansive lake itself, which visitors get a mesmerizing view of while traveling Highway 64, the Blue Ridge Mountain range, its regal stature impossible to oversee, or the Town Beach, a man-made body of water that sits at the forefront of the large mountains, littered with floating inflatable platforms and plastic sliding tubes that lead into the depths of the water. These, being the most noted, are understandable reasons why Lake Lure is a recognizable western North Carolina tourist location, however, the town gives you yet another motive for visiting, specifically during the rustic fall months.

Lake Lure’s Arts and Crafts Festival – a title that holds no secrets- is a celebration of everything creative and locally made. From hand-crafted furniture, to intricately pieced jewelry, the Festival has no shortages in merchandise, and the sellers are not shy about informing visitors on the techniques and strategies implemented to produce such fine crafts. A product of the Hickory Nut Gorge Outreach–a charity organization that caters to the needs of residents within the Hickory Nut Gorge vicinity– the Arts and Crafts Festival is an annual event that hosts any artisan (after they have gone through the proper application process) who would like to showcase and/or profit from their talents . In 2013, the festival spanned the weekend of October 19th-20th, lasting from 10am-5pm each respective day, and was stationed, as it is every year, in the lot of the Arcade Commerce Center with a gorgeous view of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance.

With over 60 artisans present, however, it is hard for visitors to even take notice of the majestic mountains along the horizon, between maneuvering through curious and awestruck attendees and meeting the likes of guests who come from all over. The vendors, usually amongst the older crowd, have separate tents for the purpose of housing their setups and are welcoming to any buyers or people who are just intrigued by their artistries. Regardless, there are trades to appease everyone in attendance, some being more abundant than others.

Among these are the artists who bring self-made paintings and drawings to the festival. These range from pastel watercolors, with unbelievably vibrant hues and elaborate detail to penciled and chalk abstract sketchings of intangible figures. The subject of the pieces varies from vendor to vendor, some taking a keen fondness for recreating natural environments in the artwork including animals, bodies of water, landmarks etc., while others had a knack for portraits of others and household objects like coffee mugs, tea kettles and furniture. Along those lines, there are always artisans present who represent the craftsman’s league and display hand-made chairs, ottomans, and benches, all of which exude a brilliant shine from being polished thoroughly. Materials for these pieces cover mahogany, oak, pine, birch walnut and maple and often contain personalized inscriptions from their creators. Another large numbered group of crafts, which is always in attendance, come from proclaimed jewelers whose pieces showcase the mastery of complex beading patterns, glass welding and delicate carving.

As if this bevy of designs was not enough to satiate visitors, vendors supply a variety of food and guests are more than welcome to eat in the picnic area adjacent to the creek. To accommodate festival goers further, entertainment is provided through song and dance from performers who emphasize the Bluegrass ambiance of the area, wielding guitars, fiddles, harmonicas and banjos.

Festival coordinators Yvonne and Kevin Cooley take explicit time and effort in constructing a lineup that accentuates the diversity of craftsmanship and variety of expertise alive in North Carolinians, which is why the Lake Lure Arts and Crafts Festival is always a success. It is a flawless exhibition of the cultural elements that comprise of the interesting and never dull foothills region.

Visit the Arts and Crafts Festival’s site!

Balloons Rise

Posted on December 3, 2013 by bbantley

By Jeffrey Flitter and Immanuel Bryant, 2013

The Statesville Balloon Festival is an event held every year in Statesville, NC that brings together more than 30 hot air balloons for a competition. Our group of four – Immanuel Bryant, Anna Mokas, Taylor Hill, and Jeffrey Flitter – followed a massive line of cars through the back roads of Statesville to find the festival on a local airport’s property. We arrived to a massive open field filled with spectators, balloons preparing to take off, food booths, artists booths, and a concert stage. The hill was filled with lots of people watching the balloons set up and prepare for the event. We began by standing at the top of the hill and waiting for the balloons to take off.

We didn’t have to wait long before the first balloon hit the air. We cut it close, but thankfully made it just in time for the balloon race to begin. As we watched the balloons begin to take off, we, along with everyone else at the festival, grabbed our cameras and started to snap tons of pictures. Everyone at the festival enjoyed watching the balloons and took up the challenge of skirting around children, families, and photographers to get pictures of the balloons, their children, and others. The ascension of the balloons took about thirty minutes in total, but it felt like the blink of an eye before they were all in the air. We felt there had to be more to this than simply balloons rising into the air; otherwise, what was the point.

A volunteer working the festival’s ticket exchange explained to us what was actually happening during the festival: a hot-air balloon competition. He described the different types of competitions that could take place to us. He said that day’s competition involved the first balloon taking off while all the other balloons chased after it. The first balloon would sometimes leave a trail of items in trees that the other balloons would have to retrieve. Sometimes it is an old fashioned race where the only goal was to reach the place where the first balloon lands before all the other balloons.

After the balloons were in the air and the competition had been explained to us, we began to look around the rest of the festival. We noticed many tents set up featuring local artisans displaying their crafts, local vendors with fudge and alcohol, a music stage, and the large food tents with the boards that anyone who has ever attended a festival in the south would recognize. We all decided to get different foods from the tent so that we had a variety of opinions. Jeff was adamant that the food was good but that it was the same food you would find at any festival or fair. Having some extra tickets, Jeff went to buy a beer. He was disappointed when the local brews were not part of the ticket system, but he bought a local brew anyway and thoroughly enjoyed it. While eating, we sat down and watched the musical performance.

The performance featured a small band, but it was more than enough for the audience. People were dancing in front of the stage, children were running around, and many people sat and simply enjoyed the music. One number brought children and adults on stage to do a “chicken dance” to the amusement of everyone in the audience. Seeing a wide range of people from an elderly woman to young toddlers shaking their “tail feathers” was an amusing site for sure.

Having extra tickets from the dinner, especially since Jeff could not use them for his beer, we collectively purchased a funnel cake. Eating the funnel cake as the sun faded from view and was replaced with a darkening sky was a perfect setting to end the day on. We finished our funnel cake, finished taking some notes in our travel journals, and headed for the exit.

Of course exiting an event like this is never as easy or quick as one expects. On the way out, we thought it would be a wise idea to stop at the information tent and get some information and make sure we had our facts straight. We instead had a discussion with the workers about what brought them to the fair and why they did it. One woman described how she had been on the committee for the festival for many years and loved it. She also explained to us that the festival supports a non-profit or social cause every year. This year the event was supporting Relay For Life of Statesville & local charities, but the discussion to change it came up every few years and they would vote to keep it the same or change it. Having all the information we needed, we began to leave. We paused as we came up with an idea and decided to turn around and make our way back to the tent. We arrived back and promptly asked to take a group photo with the information tent workers, to which they happily agreed.

Having our pictures, information, and experiences compiled within our minds and journals, we piled into the car and made our way to the hotel for the night.

When Jeff Met Jeff: Lenoir Downtown Farmer’s Market

Posted on December 3, 2013 by hdooley

By Jeff Flitter, 2013

Throughout my life, I have experienced many farmer’s markets. I have visited farmer’s markets so large that they have permanent fixtures or sections and markets so small that trucks drive up and set up tables. However, I have never seen a farmer’s market that was indoors before. When I arrived in the Lenoir Farmer’s Market, I met Jeff Crane and felt the need to ask him all about his life and the indoor farmer’s market he manages.

Jeff Crane is the co-market manager of the Lenoir Downtown Farmer’s Market and herb farmer. The farmer’s market is an indoor farmer’s market in Lenoir, NC specializing in local produce, crafts, and meats. Everything in the market is from the local community. They offer produce, herbs, paintings, word working, alpaca goods, and various other local products. All the products in the store are from about 20 to 30 miles away. The coffee is from local roasters, which means that the beans are not grown local, but they are roasted locally.

An indoor farmer’s market is not the typical choice, which makes the store stand out from others. “We could offer more stuff with an indoor market than outside,” Crane says. “It gives the farmers a few more days to sell.” Crane hopes to continue growing their stock, the number of farmers and artisans they partner with, and educational programming. Currently, Crane does educational events on herbs and where food comes from at elementary schools.

“North Carolina has a lot to offer,” says Crane. “People are getting more away from the interstate and into downtown.” He explains that more businesses are returning to the downtown areas and how more towns are trying to bring that small downtown feeling back. In regards to introducing the farmer’s market into Lenoir, he says “it all adds to downtown.” Crane describes how Lenoir has been revitalizing downtown for the last four years, but states that it is still behind Hickory in revitalizing. He is excited to see people get off the interstate and return to the small highways, claiming that Highway 64 “seems to be used more now.”

Crane grew up in Hickory, right down the road from Lenoir, and migrated to Lenoir later in life. Right out of high school, Crane began working in green houses and his interest in herbs grew. He began growing herbs ten years ago after talking to older farmers at farmer’s market. He began going into the woods to pick herbs and began to read more and more about them. He currently grows mushrooms, dry herbs, fresh herbs, and seventy-five different types of herbs. These herbs are sold fresh as well as in BBQ sauce and herbal teas. The farmer’s market is located at 905 West Avenue, Lenoir, NC 28645 and is closed on Sunday.

Starry Nights at Mezzaluna

Posted on November 21, 2013 by bbantley

By Anna Mokas and Taylor Hill, 2013

Of all the eateries in Hendersonville, something specifically drew us to Mezzaluna. Part of this could have been the enchanting name of the restaurant (which translates to “half-moon” in English), the enticing aroma of baking bread and Italian spices emitting from the doors that relentlessly teased our empty stomachs, or the seemingly satisfying menu that was displayed on the outer windows. Whether or not it was one or a mixture of these things was irrelevant because, regardless of cause, our appetites were about to lead us to severely scrumptious Italian cuisine.

Walking into Mezzaluna, it was difficult not to take notice to the mural of Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” displayed largely on the expansive back wall. Adorning the painting were beautiful brass light fixtures, which were a reoccurring theme throughout the restaurant. The ceilings were lined with an arrangement of dull pewter, emerald green and blood orange rafters that merged fittingly with the surrounding rustic features. More art pieces lined the walls, while classical jazz created a soothing ambiance, despite the influx of more diners coming in to partake of dinner.

The two of us noticed our obvious fortune with having arrived at the restaurant at 5:30, because in the minutes following, droves of hungry patrons arrived simultaneously. By then, we had already been seated comfortably and were given warm, fresh rolls of bread with our choice of homemade garlic and herb butter that we quickly devoured. Upon first observing the menu, we noticed that the prices were higher than the places that we had been accustomed to dining at so far on the trip; the entrees averaging at around $17. After much perusing and browsing however, one of us settled for the classic calzone with Italian sausage and pepperoni, while the other ordered kale salad with a side order of spaghetti and marinara sauce.

The kale salad was fresh and delicious, dressed with crunchy pine nuts, juicy tomato and a tangy lemon vinaigrette that unified all of the flavors beautifully. It was the perfect healthy choice that also had a kick of zest that was hard to miss. The side of spaghetti was warm and its sauce was pleasantly sweet, deeming a scraping of the bowl necessary.

Calzones are hard to do wrong, and Mezzaluna hit the nail on the head. This particular one was bloated with thick and melted parmesan and ricotta cheese, spicy pepperoni and perfectly seasoned Italian sausage that was oozing with a blend of glistening grease and herbs. The entire thing reeked of fresh basil and good times, and was not a problem to consume. Although not the most healthy option, it was extremely delectable and filling, it remnants fitting perfectly inside the to-go box.

The waiting staff was polite and managed the large crowd of guests that surrounded us with poise and grace. It was evident that they were used to appeasing larger crowds on the weekends, which shows how popular a restaurant they are, and for good reason. The meals were respectively $9 for the calzone (one of the cheaper items) and roughly $13 for the kale salad and side of pasta. Our pockets were not too damaged because we chose to take part in some of the some of the more inexpensive options, but we are sure that the heftily priced options were well worth the dollars.

In all, Mezzaluna represents the perfect cohesion of striking inner décor, delicate ambiance and heartwarming and flavorsome Italian cuisine that aims to please, and does just that.

Visit Mezzaluna’s site here!

The Valley Court Riverside Motel: A Review

Posted on November 21, 2013 by bbantley

By Taylor Hill, 2013

Snuggled at the foot of Chimney Rock mountain, sits the small and locally owned Valley Court Riverside Motel. A tiny and very quaint establishment, the motel is easy to miss as it sits on Highway 64, along with many other small buildings, in close proximity of Chimney Rock Village, which is where most tourists come to eat, peruse souvenirs and prepare to hike the mountain. The location of the motel was perfect though, given its nearness to Bat Cave and Lake Lure, and provided us with a stunning view of the mountain right in the backyard. The motel also sits on the Rocky Broad River, and luckily my teammates and I were able to obtain a room that had a window view of the river. Guests are allowed to walk down to the river, where there are tables and chairs for when the owners have barbeques and cookouts. The stay costs us a little over $100, which resulted in each of us paying around $25.

Our room was very small, with wooden walls, carpeted floors and low beds. The tacky floral sheets that adorned the beds gave the already dimly lit room an outdated look and were not very pleasing to the eye. The bathroom was a comfortable size, however the showerhead was oddly short which presented us with discomfort as we each had to stoop when taking our showers. There was a small box television available for entertainment and a small lamp on the nightstand which was placed in between our respective beds.

Sleeping in our beds was a bit uncomfortable due to the cold and a lack of thick sheets. I would not advise travelers to stay in the hotel during the cooler months, because the rooms are only equipped with small, portable heaters and there is little insulation within the walls. This made for an unstable night’s rest with much tossing and fidgeting in order to find warmth somewhere underneath the considerably thin sheets, but I am sure the stay is more enjoyable in the warmer months.

We spent one night at the Riverside Motel, and I will again applaud it on its location, which is conveniently between Lake Lure and Bat Cave, two towns that we had to research and travel to. Also, the surrounding landforms are stunning and will unleash the nature lover in any of the welcomed guest. Even with those benefits however, I would not stay at the motel a second time if given the chance, due to its shortcomings.

*To check out more of our day near Lake Lure, check out my travelogue “The Winding Road to Lake Lure”