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Project Watt-Ahh-Melon from Hardywood Park Brewery and Sheetz
A gas station beer you say? That’s right! Sheetz is releasing a brand new limited edition craft beer!
Project Watt-Ahh-Melon is a Watermelon Wheat Ale brewed in partnership with Hardywood Park Craft Brewery in Richmond, Virginia. This beer is only available for a limited time in Sheetz stores across Virginia and North Carolina. Check out the link here to find a store near you! 4-packs of 16oz beers are just $7.99!
Project Watt-Ahh-Melon is brewed with over 100 pounds of Sheetz watermelon gummy rings and comes in at 5.3% ABV. It is the perfect end of of summer beer! The watermelon rings were added during the whirlpool to ensure they melted and smoothly combined with the other ingredients. Project Watt-Ahh-Melon is light and refreshing but still packs a tart punch.
Hardywood Park Craft Brewing based in Richmond, Virginia. Hardywood opened in 2011 and now have two locations in downtown Richmond and West Creek. Hardywood’s motto is “brew with purpose” which they embody by using local ingredients and operating on 100% renewable energy.
Sheetz first beer release was named Project Coffee Hopz, a limited edition coffee bean IPA. They partnered with Rusty Rail Brewing in Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania. This one released in May 2019 and was available in Sheetz stores across Pennsylvania.
Their second beer release was Project Brewberry Muffinz, a limited edition Blonde Ale with Sheetz blueberry muffins. This collaboration was brewed with Evil Genius Beer Company based in Philadelphia and it was released in August 2019.
Sheetz released Project Hop Dog in May 2020, a collaboration with Nashaminy Creek Brewing Co. out of Pennsylvania. Project Hop Dog was a Dry Hopped IPA brewed with Sheetz hot dogs. What a wild idea!
What ingredient should Sheetz add to their next special release beer?! Let us know in the comments!
2 Days in Asheville, NC
Asheville is one of my favorite places to visit! It can be overwhelming to plan a visit to Asheville because there are just so many breweries and parts of town to explore. Check out my blog on the best breweries in Asheville here!
I’ve put together this guide for a two day trip to hit the highlights of this adorable mountain town. If you’ve got more time to explore check out my full guide to Asheville here!
Asheville Day 1
For your first day you have to go all in and hop around the South Slope area of town:
Start your adventure at Vortex Doughnuts to fuel up for a day full of brewery hopping.
Walk 2 minutes to Burial Beer, arguably the best brewery in North Carolina. Get there early to avoid the masses of people who will inevitably want to visit this great spot.
Walk 7 minutes to Hi-Wire Brewing. Their South Slope location is small but their beers are delicious!
Walk 12 minutes to Dssolvr, a newer brewery in central downtown. They are absolutely crushing it and I highly recommend a visit.
From the downtown strip walk 8 minutes to Terra Nova Beer Co for a tasty side pull Lager and some pizza to soak up your beverages.
If you are ready for another beer, pop over to Green Man, a 5 minute walk from Terra Nova.
Asheville Day 2
Start your day at Taco Billy for delicious breakfast tacos! You can order online ahead of time as well to save time.
Hike part of the Mountain-to-Sea Trail from the Folk Art Center to the Haw River Overlook. The views are gorgeous at the lookout of this 5.5 out and back trail. Plus, it is just a 15 minute drive from town!
After your hike take some time to drive part of the Blue Ridge Parkway for more stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
On your way back into town, check out New Origin for tasty beers and pizza and then the secret brewery Cursus Keme next door
Head to the Biltmore Village area for a relaxing afternoon:
Grab beers and lunch at Hillman Beer
Sit on the rooftop patio and drink delicious beers at Forestry Camp by the team at Burial
If you’ve got more time in Asheville, here are my other recommendations!
What are your favorite Asheville stops? Let me know in the comments!
Cincinnati, OH
Cincinnatti is a fun sports city with Midwestern Vibes
Cincy Tips:
This city takes their sports very seriously so if you’re visiting during one of the major seasons (i.e. MLB or NFL) make sure to check the game schedules so you don’t end up in insane traffic or mobs of people
Located right on the river, Cincinnati basically spreads across the border into Covington, Kentucky as well which has a cute little downtown to explore.
Adventures & Ales Top Cincinatti Recommendations:
Explore the Over-The-Rhine neighborhood: This area is full of restaurants, bars, and shops to bop around!
Standard Beer: A cool beer bar with 16 taps and a huge to-go selection!
Fabled Brew Works: A bit off the beaten path in Erlanger, Kentucky—this brewery has a book theme throughout and a good variety of beers. Their PB&J series in particular is quite tasty.
North South Baking Co: Nice spot in Covington for baked goods!
Devou Park: A beautiful overlook of the city—great for sunrise.
Highgrain Brewing: A solid stop with a full food menu and friendly staff.
MadTree Brewing: MadTree is absolutely massive. They have a huge indoor space and large outdoor patio in an old railroad production facility that is quite unique. They have a large tap list and a full food menu.
Other Things to do in the cincy area:
Rhineghist Brewing: A popular brewery with a rooftop as well. Not my favorite spot personally.
Northern Row Brewing: A solid spot for beers and eats near Rhineghist!
Cappy’s Bottle Shop: Great to-go beer selection at their Norwood location!
Gomez Salsa: A solid spot for Mexican eats with two locations in Cincy. Great prices!
Have you been to Cincy? What are your favorite spots? Let me know in the comments!
Hocking Hills, Ohio
Hocking Hills is a gorgeous area of Ohio with awesome hiking options and a quaint town to explore. It is a perfect weekend escape to relax in the forest and get away from the hustle and bustle of your daily life.
The park is nestled in the southeast corner of Ohio, near the West Virginia border. It is 6 hours from Charlotte, North Carolina, my home base. It is also just one hour southeast of Columbus, so if you are looking for a longer adventure you could visit the city as well. Check out my Columbus recommendations here!
I would definitely recommend renting a cabin for your time in Hocking Hills. There is nothing better than a day of hiking followed by a nice relaxing campfire! We stayed at an Airbnb in the forest and thoroughly enjoyed it. Get $35 off your first Airbnb stay using my link here!
Hocking Hills State Park
Hiking Hocking Hills
Hocking Hills State Park offers a lot of different hiking options depending on what you want to see and how far you want to go. We did a 7.5 mile loop trail to Old Man Cave, Whispering Cave, Cedar Falls, and Rose Lake that I would definitely recommend.
When we visited it was quite crowded at Old Man Cave and Cedar Falls because those are two areas that you can park near and just do a short hike to see. Outside of those popular spots we saw very few people along the trail which was really nice.
There are a few waterfalls in the park but expect them to be quite dry if you are visiting in the summer months. It looks like in the spring after the snow melts they are flowing at their full potential.
The first half of the hike varied in difficulty. It was mostly flat but there were areas that were quite rocky making it a little harder to traverse. After Cedar Falls, which is essentially the halfway point, there is a quick suspension bridge and then the ridge trail that leads you back to the parking lot is flat and easy along top of the cliff faces.
We really enjoyed the change of scenery throughout the hike. There were waterfalls, caves, rivers, cliffs, gorges, boulders, forests, and lakes all in the 7.5 miles we hiked.
Rose Lake
Hocking Hills Area things to do:
The local brewery has a wide variety of beers on tap for you to enjoy in their beer garden or tap room. We enjoyed their light and refreshing beers after hiking in the sun all morning. The Fruity Tooty Gose was my personal favorite!
Brewery 33 doesn’t have any food besides some pretzels and snacks, but you can get food delivered from local restaurants. They are dog and kid friendly.
Wine Slushie at Hocking Hills Winery
The local winery has a fantastic outdoor space surrounded by nature that was super nice to relax on.
Their wines were all tasty and you can sample 8 of them for just $10. I would also highly recommend the wine slushie option, especially if you’re visiting during the heat of summer!
The winery also has charcuterie boards to help you refuel after your hike or you can get a meal delivered from a local restaurant. The winery is dog and kid friendly.
Depending on where you are staying, Jackie O’s is around 30-45 minutes from the park and absolutely worth visiting. They are one of the top breweries in the country and definitely the best in Ohio. Their Stouts, Porters, and Wild Ales in particular are incredible and I would highly recommend checking them out!
They have a brewpub and a taproom in Athens, Ohio. Depending on where you are visiting Hocking Hills from, you potentially might drive through Athens given that it is one of the major cities nearby, so definitely check it out!
Brewery 33
Have you been to Hocking hills? What was your favorite part?! Let me know in the comments!
Lagers for the Lake
The Best Weekend Trips from Charlotte
Whether you are looking for a beach, mountain, or city getaway, there are some really great options within driving distance of Charlotte! These trips range from an hour and 45 minutes drive to four hours for a further escape:
Sierra Nevada Brewing
Asheville, NC
Asheville is a brewery mecca nestled in the mountains well worth visiting.
Start your day at Taco Billy for fantastic breakfast tacos!
Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway for stunning views.
Don’t miss Burial Beer Co. and Dssolvr, two of the best breweries in North Carolina! Hang out in the outdoor space at Sierra Nevada Brewing and be sure to order the pimento beer cheese.
Check out my full Asheville guide here!
Time from central Charlotte: 2 hours
Rainbow Row Charleston
Charleston, SC
Charleston is a beautiful beach town with a plethora of history, restaurants, bars, and breweries.
Hit the beach! There are several options depending on what vibe you are looking for—Folly Beach, Sullivan’s Island, and Isle of Palms.
Be sure to grab beers at Westbrook Brewing and Edmund’s Oast Brewing! Get a cheese plate at Wine and Company and tacos and a frozen screwdriver at Taco Boy.
Check out my full Charleston guide here!
Time from central Charlotte: 3 hours
Forsyth Park Savannah
Savannah, GA
Savannah is beautiful historic city oozing historic charm.
Two Tides Brewing is an absolute must visit, they make incredible beers in an adorable converted house.
Grab lunch at Bull Street Taco in between wandering the historic squares!
Check out my full Savannah guide here!
Time from central Charlotte: 3 hours 45 minutes
Monday Night Brewing
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta is a huge city with a ton of places to explore and things to do.
Monday Night Brewing is the best brewery in the city in my opinion and they have two locations to check out! The Porter Beer Bar is another great option to grab beers at in the Little 5 Points neighborhood.
The Center for Civil and Human Rights is an amazing museum that is a must visit.
Check out my full Atlanta guide here!
Time from central Charlotte: 4 hours
Pretentious Beer Co
Knoxville, TN
Knoxville has a booming downtown district and plenty of charm to keep you entertained.
Start your day at OliBea, a great little brunch spot with delicious food.
Get outside at Ijams Nature Center for hiking and family friendly options.
Check out Abridged Beer Company and Pretentious Beer Co. for fantastic beers!
Check out my full Knoxville guide here!
Time from central Charlotte: 4 hours
Second Street Mural in Wilmington
Wilmington, NC
Wilmington is a relaxed beach town with several distinct areas to explore.
Start your day at Bespoke Coffee, a cute coffee shop right downtown.
Hit the beach! Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach are both great options.
Explore the breweries and don’t miss New Anthem Beer Project and Wilmington Brewing Company.
Check out my full Wilmington guide here!
Time from central Charlotte: 4 hours
The Eighth State Brewing
Greenville, SC
Greenville is a charming little town in upstate South Carolina. Their downtown is perfect to wander around and there is hiking nearby as well!
Start your day at Swamp Rabbit Cafe for amazing sandwiches on stecca bread.
Grab beers at The Eighth State Brewing Company and Birds Fly South Ale Project! The Whale is a fantastic beer bar to check out as well.
Check out my full Greenville guide here!
Time from central Charlotte: 1 hour 45 minutes
Views from the Blue Ridge Parkway
blue ridge mountains, nc
Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway along the mountains and explore the small towns of Marion, Banner Elk, Boone, and more. There are cute little towns along along the Parkway in the mountains!
Check out my full guide here!
Time from central Charlotte: dependent on exact destination—Boone is 2 hours for example
Barrel Culture Brewing
The Triangle, NC
Raleigh, Chapel Hill, and Durham make up the triangle area of North Carolina.
Start your day at The Morning Times, a fun cafe with a newspaper theme in downtown Raleigh.
Brewery hop the area and don’t miss Trophy Brewing and Pizza in Raleigh and Barrel Culture Brewing in Durham. State of Beer is a great beer bar as well.
Check out my recommendations for Raleigh and Chapel Hill here!
Time from central Charlotte: 2.5 hours
Another popular weekend getaway option is Gatlinburg, Tennessee! Check out my guide to Gatlinburg here, it was not my favorite destination so I didn’t want to include it as a recommendation on this list, but there is plenty to do and it is nestled right in the mountains!
What are your favorite weekend trips from Charlotte? Let me know in the comments!
The Best Weekend Trips from New Orleans
There are a ton of great places to check out for a couple of days within driving distance of New Orleans. These recommendations range anywhere from an hour drive to six hours for more of an escape!
For my New Orleans Guide, click here!
The North Shore, LA
Covington and Mandeville are the two main towns north of Lake Pontchartrain. I lived in Covington for six months and got to explore all the North Shore offers! Here are my top recommendations:
Visit Abita Brewing for small batch brews from Louisiana’s largest brewery. Also check out Old Rail Brewing Co, a brewery and restaurant with delicious food options. Chafunkta Brewing Company is a small brewery with tasty brews as well!
Opt outside: Explore Fontainebleau State Park—Camp, kayak, hike, or lounge at the lake shore. Bike the Tammany Trace! It spans 31 miles across the North Shore. Float the Bogue Chitto River—there are several companies that have setups for BYOB tubing. Just keep your eyes peeled for gators and snakes!
Barley Oak is a lakefront bar with a small food menu. A fun spot to hang out! The Chimes is a restaurant with a large tap list and delicious spinach and artichoke dip!
Lounge on the outdoor patio at Coffee Rani, which has delicious coffees and a small food menu. Another great spot to start your day is Liz’s Where Y’at Diner, which is a great spot for breakfast!
Time from central New Orleans: 1 hour
Bay St Louis, MS
Lounge at the beach! This is the closest beach getaway from New Orleans.
Grab food and drinks at The Blind Tiger, a fun spot right on the water!
Visit Lazy Magnolia Brewery, it is just north of Bay St Louis in Kiln and has fantastic dark beers!
Time from central New Orleans: 1 hour
Pensacola Beach
Pensacola, FL
Start your day at The Drowsy Poet Coffee Company. The view of the bay is fantastic!
Lounge at the beach—Pensacola has incredibly soft and white sand to relax on!
After the beach head to Pensacola Bay Brewery. They are located right downtown and have great beers!
Time from central New Orleans: 3 hours
Lafayette, LA
The main reason to go is to visit Parish Brewing in neighboring Broussard, LA. They are one of the top breweries in the country and put out insanely good IPAs.
Another great spot to hang out at is The Wurst Biergarten!
Time from central New Orleans: 2 hours 15 minutes
Southern Prohibition Brewing
Hattiesburg, MS
Hattiesburg is a small little Southern town. While in the area be sure to check out Laurel, MS as well!
Southern Prohibition Brewing is arguably the best brewery in Mississippi and located right downtown in Hattiesburg.
Hike in De Soto National Forest while in the area!
Time from central New Orleans: 2 hours
Baton Rouge, LA
Go up for an LSU game, concert, or just to hang!
Relax at Tin Roof Brewing. They have a wide array of delicious beers, outdoor seating, and frequent live music.
Time from central New Orleans: 1 hour 15 minutes
Great Raft Brewing
Shreveport, LA
Shreveport and Bossier are right next to each other and both have plenty of bars and restaurants to keep you entertained.
Great Raft Brewing is the main attraction you want to be sure to check out. They make incredible IPAs and have a really fun atmosphere!
Time from central New Orleans: 5 hours
Natchez, MS
Natchez is a small historic and charming town!
Start your day at Steampunk Espresso Bar, it is cute and they make great coffee!
Check out the Antebellum mansions like Longwood and Stanton Hall.
Hang out on the river! Spend some time lounging by the water (hopefully with a beer in hand).
Time from central New Orleans: 3 hours
Natchez, MS
Birmingham, AL
I am still surprised by how much I enjoy Birmingham. It is an up and coming city with plenty of things to do!
I highly recommend the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute!
There are several good breweries to check out, such as Trim Tab Brewing, Cahaba Brewing, and Avondale Brewing.
Time from central New Orleans: 5 hours
Houston, TX
Houston is incredible massive so be sure to plan ahead for your visit!
There are a tonnnn of breweries in the Houston area—my top recommendations are Urban South, Buffalo Bayou, Saint Arnold, SpindleTap, and B-52.
Time from central New Orleans: 5 hours
Ocean Springs/Biloxi/Gulfport, MS
This stretch of Gulf Coast has pretty nice beaches and is conveniently close to New Orleans.
In Ocean Springs The Shed BBQ has live music and a fun atmosphere!
In Gulfport Chandeleur Island Brewing Company is located right in the heart of town with a variety of beers on tap.
Time from central New Orleans: 1.5 hours
The Center for Civil and Human Rights
Atlanta, GA
ATL is another massive city with a ton to see and do, be sure to plan ahead to make the most of your visit.
Monday Night Brewing is one of my favorite breweries in the US and has two locations in ATL!
The Vortex is a touristy restaurant but absolutely delicious! I prefer their location in the Little 5 Points neighborhood. The Porter Beer Bar is right around the block and has a wide variety of beers to choose from.
The Center for Civil and Human Rights allows you to explore the Civil Rights Movement and human rights movements around the world.
Time from central New Orleans: 6.5 hours
Orange Beach, AL
Gulf Shores and Orange Beach have the nicest beaches on the Gulf Coast aside from the Florida Panhandle, plan to spend most of your time on the sand!
Flora-Bama is a fun bar on the border of Florida and Alabama. It is very country style and can be a wild place so visit during the day if that’s not your scene.
Check out Fairhope Brewing on your way out of town.
Time from central New Orleans: 2 hours
Memphis, TN
Check out the Blues capital of the world! Memphis is more than just Beale Street so be sure to explore!
Wiseacre Brewing has great beers, be sure to check them out while you’re in town!
Time from central New Orleans: 6 hours
What are your favorite weekend trips from New Orleans? Let me know in the comments!
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The Best Breweries I’ve Visited in the United States
I’ve been to over 575 breweries in 30 countries, so when people ask me what my favorite brewery is that is a tough question. This list encompasses my top 20 breweries I’ve visited in the United States. For breweries outside of the US, check out my favorite breweries abroad here!
This list is in no particular order, because that would be impossible for me to rank, they are all so good!
Courtyard Brewery: New Orleans, LA
Juicy IPAs, frequent food pop-ups, a super friendly staff, and amazing guest taps—what more do you need?! After living in New Orleans for almost 5 years I can firmly say that Courtyard is incredible!
Check out the rest of my New Orleans recommendations here!
Monday Night Brewing: Atlanta, GA
Monday Night was the first brewery I ever visited and I have loved it ever since that June day in 2014. They have evolved so much since that first visit, including their Garage location in ATL and a soon-to-open taproom in Birmingham. They brew a wide variety of beers that are all incredibly delicious!
Check out the rest of my Atlanta recommendations here!
Resident Culture Brewing: Charlotte, NC
Resident Culture’s Hazy IPAs are some of the best in the entire country in my opinion—specifically their Double and Triple IPAs are what really set them apart. Their taproom is a fun and welcoming environment, their staff is incredibly nice, and they truly are a community-based brewery.
Check out my guide to Plaza Midwood, Charlotte here!
Burial Beer: Asheville, NC
Burial has long been revered as one of the best breweries in the Southeast. They are good at making essentially every type of beer but their juicy IPAs and adjunct-loaded Stouts are my favorites! Their taproom can be packed on the weekends so visit on a weekday if possible. They have a small food menu if you’re hungry and great merch to bring home with you.
Check out my guide to Asheville here!
Our Mutual Friend Brewing: Denver, CO
When I visited OMF for the first time I was shocked at how many different IPAs they had available, and I loved it! They now have a much larger variety of beers available and Saisons are more so their specialty. Their atmosphere is extremely welcoming and the vibes are chill. They have a small patio to enjoy your beers on and are located right in heart of the RiNo neighborhood of Denver.
Check out the rest of my Denver recommendations here!
Two Tides Brewing: Savannah, GA
Located in an old renovated house, Two Tides is absolutely adorable. They have separate rooms with different vibes in each room, a balcony, and board games. Their Sours are my favorites but everything I have had from them has been delicious! If you’re visiting in the summer months they also do beer slushies.
Check out my Savannah guide here!
Parish Brewing: Broussard, LA
Parish’s location is small and intimate and located in a small town in Louisiana, but it’s worth venturing to. Their IPAs are absolutely incredible and their specialty releases are some of the best out there. If coffee beers are more of your thing, Reve is always a good choice!
Check out my recommendations for Lafayette here!
Other Half Brewing: Brooklyn, NYC
Another IPA mecca! Other Half cranks out juice bombs that are incredibly delicious. Their fruited sours and pastry stouts are also top notch, so don’t forget to give those a try. Their taproom is small for how popular they are but the intimate atmosphere adds to the experience. Try to visit on a weekday if at all possible as it will usually be standing room only during the weekends (pre-COVID, not sure how that will play out in our new reality). Their team is some of the best in the biz & incredibly nice!
Check out my NYC guide here!
Photo courtesy of Cellarmaker Brewing, I somehow failed to take any photos while visiting
Cellarmaker Brewing: San Francisco, CA
Cellarmaker’s modest taproom pumps out a huge variety of small batch experimental beers. They don’t have flagships like most breweries, they switch things up consistently and are always pushing themselves to try new things. They’ve also got a pizza restaurant with Detroit-style pies and its own distinct tap list!
Check out my San Fran recommendations here!
Modist Brewing: Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis has a ton of great beer, but Modist goes above and beyond. Their taproom has a welcoming environment and it is filled with local artwork and flair. They make unique and creative beers that are packed with flavor and surprise your taste buds with each sip! No matter what style of beer you are in the mood for, Modist does it well, but I recommend their IPAs the most.
Check out my guide to Minneapolis here!
The Eighth State Brewery: Greenville, SC
Eighth State is always doing something funky and I am here for it. Their sours pack a punch, their stouts are luxurious, and they are never afraid to throw something crazy into a beer. Kool Aid? Yes. Carrot Cake? Yes. The list goes on, but don’t worry their beers are delicious and well worth checking out! The taproom also has food from Swamp Rabbit Cafe which is incredible!
Check out my guide to Greenville here!
Vista Brewing: Driftwood, TX
Vista is a Farmhouse-style brewery that has an amazing outdoor space with 21 acres and a beautiful taproom. They brew a wide variety of beers, but their Wild Ales are particularly fantastic. They also have a full farm-to-table food menu that is incredibly delicious, so come hungry! Vista is located outside of Austin in the gorgeous Texas Hill Country.
Check out the rest of my recommendations for the Austin area here!
Crime and Punishment Brewing: Philadelphia, PA
It’s a brewery located in a neighborhood called Brewerytown, they were bound to be successful! Crime and Punishment has a small taproom and a small tap list, but their beers are worth standing up in a corner for. Their taproom also smells incredibly delicious thanks to their Russian-inspired food menu specializing in dumplings.
Check out my guide to Philly here!
Pretentious Barrel House: Columbus, OH
Pretentious Barrel House makes all Sour beers! Not everything is incredibly tart and makes you pucker, they have beers across the spectrum that are each barrel aged to cultivate a different flavor. This unique spot has a fun taproom with a few arcade games and frequent events.
Check out the rest of my Columbus recommendations here!
Speciation Artisan Ales: Grand Rapids, MI
Speciation specializes in Wild Ales using natural yeast and bacteria, making each of their beers uniquely delicious. They also make their own wines, ciders, and hard seltzers, so they have something for everyone! Their new taproom is on Wealthy Street in central Grand Rapids and will be opening soon.
Jackie O’s Brewery: Athens, OH
Jackie O’s flew under the radar for me for far too long, and I am so glad to have remedied that mistake. They have two taprooms and a restaurant in the college town of Athens, I recommend visiting the brewery and taproom on Campbell Street. Their Stouts are some of the best I have ever had.
Fonta Flora Whippoorwill Farm: Nebo, NC
A brewery on an old dairy farm ten minutes from Lake James State Park with a plethora of outdoor seating, a farm-to-table food truck onsite, and delicious beers. Fonta Flora makes a wide variety of beers but their Wild Ales and Lagers are my personal favorites. They use local ingredients to cultivate distinct flavors and support the community. Visiting their Whippoorwill location is an incredibly relaxing and joyful experience.
Maplewood Brewery and Distillery: Chicago, IL
Maplewood’s taproom has a distinct vibe with their lounge set up that is different from most breweries. It feels almost speakeasy-esque, making your visit even more enjoyable. They specialize in IPAs which I highly recommend. They have their own liquor program as well, so if a craft cocktail is more your style you won’t be disappointed.
Check out my guide to Chicago here!
Fifth Hammer Brewing: Long Island City, NYC
I had never heard of Fifth Hammer before I wandered into their taproom in NYC while hopping around the breweries in the Long Island City neighborhood, but now it is one of my absolute top recommendations. Their beer is incredibly delicious, the vibes are super chill, and it is just all around a great place to hang out. Their fruited Sours in particular were what impressed me the most—they are jam packed with flavor!
Check out my guide to NYC here!
Southern Grist Brewing: Nashville, TN
Southern Grist’s cans of delicious beer stole my heart a long time ago, but visiting their taprooms this year really deepened my love. They do every style of beer well and with flair. Adjunct loaded Stouts, fruit packed Sours, hop loaded IPAs, crisp clean Lagers, you name it. They have two taprooms, the original in East Nashville and their second location on the west side of town, Nations Taproom.
Check out my guide to Nashville here!
What are your favorite breweries in the US you’ve visited?! Let me know in the comments!
The Best Hikes Near Charlotte
There’s nothing better than morning hikes followed by afternoon beers! I live in Charlotte and I’ve put together my favorite hikes that are close to the city—anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours driving distance away.
AllTrails is my favorite website and app to look up hikes and use as a map when on the trail! The distance of the hike always seems to be a bit longer than what AllTrails says though as a heads up!
Views of the Linville Gorge from the summit of Shortoff Mountain
Shortoff Mountain
This is a fantastic hike in the Linville Gorge Wilderness. The trail is 5.7 miles long with 1200 feet of elevation gain and takes about 2 hours and 45 minutes. There are incredible views of Lake James and the gorge throughout. Plus it is only 15 mins to Fonta Flora’s Whippoorwill Farm location, so be sure to swing by for a beer afterwards!
Time from central Charlotte: 1 hour 45 minutes
Lake James and the surrounding Appalachian Mountains from Fonta Flora State Trail
Fonta Flora State Trail
This is a lovely trail around Lake James. It was about 4 miles long and mostly shaded. It is a new trail and they are continuing to expand it so you have options to do longer hikes here if you’d like to as well! It is very well marked and a nice loop. There is lake access about halfway through on the right you will see a trail that goes down to the water. Not long after this there is a great viewpoint of the lake and surrounding mountains. This trail is very close to Shortoff Mountain, and both are great choices. This one is much easier than Shortoff, so it just depends on what you’re looking for. Either way swing by Fonta Flora afterwards!
Time from central Charlotte: 1 hour 30 minutes
Views from Mount Morrow overlooking the Uwharrie Forest
Mount Morrow Trail
I did this trail paired with the Loop Trail at the top of the mountain to add a bit more and get some better views. It was around 6.5 miles and 90 flights up, so be prepared for a steep climb at the end! The views are awesome at the top, but there is also a parking lot at the top so be prepared to share your views. I was lucky that the parking lot was closed on our visit due to COVID-19, so it was very quiet and relaxing!
Fall Mountain Trail is in this park as well, which is a 4.1 mile loop in a different area of the park. You start off walking along the Yadkin River which is quite nice and then you get into some moderate elevation. There are not very great views here it is still nice overall.
Time from central Charlotte: 1 hour 15 minutes
Mountain views at South Mountains State Park
South Mountains State Park
This is a really nice park with lots of different trails of various lengths and difficulty. We did the High Shoals Waterfall and H.Q. Loop Trail. This one had a gorgeous waterfall and mountain views and I would highly recommend it! It was quite steep at parts and had a lot of man-made steps near the waterfall, but it was worth it! The trail was a little over 5 miles total.
Time from central Charlotte: 1 hour 20 minutes
Haw Creek Overlook
Mountains to Sea Trail: Folk Art Center to Haw Creek Overlook
The Mountains-to-Sea trail stretches 1175 miles across the state of North Carolina from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Outer Banks. There are a ton of different segments of this trail you can do in various places around the state. This particular section starts at the Folk Art Center near Asheville to the Haw Creek Overlook. It is about 5.5 miles round trip out and back. The overlook is gorgeous! This trail is close to the Blue Ridge Parkway so sometimes you can hear some car noise, but overall it didn’t bother us. This one is super close to Asheville, so be sure to head into the city to grab some beers afterward! If you’re looking to explore the Blue Ridge Parkway and surrounding area more, check out my blog here.
Time from central Charlotte: 2 hours
Stone Mountain State Park
Stone Mountain has both an awesome peak and a great waterfall, something you don’t see too often in North Carolina. AllTrails says this trail is 4.5 miles but it actually ended up being almost 6 miles, as a heads up. I would recommend starting the loop going to the right (the signs towards the peak) first, as the back half of the mountain is a lot of manmade steps that are easier to go down than up. The trail was relatively busy but in no way crowded, just know that you won’t have it all to yourself like some of the others on this list. If you are looking for something shorter/easier the waterfall and one lookout point are both close to the trailhead so you could just go to one or both without doing the full loop.
Time from central Charlotte: 1 hour 30 minutes
Along the river on Mason’s Bend Trail
Mason’s Bend Trail
This is a nice and easy 3.5 mile long trail right along the Catawba River. It is mostly shaded by tree cover as well which is a nice protection from the sun. The entrance to the trail is in a subdivision neighborhood but don’t fret, it is actually incredible peaceful and you’ll quickly forget that you parked next to someone’s house. There is also a launch area where you can get in the river for dogs or yourself to cool off but be cautious of the fast moving water.
Time from central Charlotte: 30 minutes
Hazy views from Crowder’s Mountain
Crowder’s Mountain State Park
Crowder’s is easily the most popular trail in the Charlotte area. There are a few different options to get to the top where you can see the Charlotte skyline and surrounding area. The Pinnacle Trail is the most popular trail and right around 4 miles. The Backside Trail is quicker and less crowded and around 2 miles. Crowder’s in general is usually quite crowded and the trails are quite steep, especially as you get closer to the peak.
Time from central Charlotte: 35 minutes
Lake Norman State Park with Oskar Blues & Sophie
Lake Norman Lakeshore Trail
Lake Norman’s Lakeshore Trail is on the north end of the lake and 5.9 miles long. It takes about two and a half hours to do the full loop. There are several beaches you can stop at along the trail to enjoy the view or cool off in. The trail is pretty crowded during peak times but still relaxing and generally quiet. As a note, I would not recommend Monbo Loop at Lake Norman State Park. It is mainly for cycling and provides very little to look at.
Time from central Charlotte: 50 minutes
Vertical Mile Challenge to Hollow Rock Loop
Rocky Face Mountain Recreational Area is home to the Vertical Mile Challenge, which is not as intimidating as it sounds. The full loop up to Hollow Rock is just under 4 miles and takes a little under 2 hours to complete. If you start the trailhead to the left you will encounter a few switchbacks early on and then two nice viewpoints before walking straight down the mountain face. If you start the trail to the right from the parking lot you will climb straight up the mountain face first. This is also a popular area for bouldering and rock climbing if that peaks your interest.
Time from central Charlotte: 1 hour 10 minutes
Near the lake at Latta Plantation
Latta Plantation Park
Latta is a nice, mostly flat park with a lake. There are lots of trail options here so you can make your hike as short or long as you want. I like the Hill Trail, Cove Trail, Split Rock Trail Loop which is about 5.5 miles long and takes about 2 hours. It has good lake views though there is gravel in some areas that takes away from nature vibes. Conveniently very close to the city!
Time from central Charlotte: 30 minutes
Seven Oaks Preserve Trail
This is an easy but pretty trail along Lake Wylie near Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. AllTrails has it at 4.6 miles but it ended up being closer to 5 miles. It is a well-shaded trail that doesn’t have too much traffic for being so close to Charlotte.
Time from central Charlotte: 30 minutes
McDowell Nature Preserve
This 4 mile loop meanders through McDowell Nature Preserve out to Lake Wylie. It connects multiple trails in the preserve so if you want a shorter distance there are several options as well. This is a relatively flat and easy trail that is pretty heavily trafficked.
Time from central Charlotte: 30 minutes
Fall colors at Lake Haigler
Lake Haigler Loop
This easy trail is part of the Anne Springs Close Greenway. There are a few different trails here with a section near the parking lot with historical markers. This loop from the parking lot around the lake is around 3.5 miles and mostly flat. You need to pay to park so be sure to bring cash with you. The Greenway Gateway is a restaurant on the Greenway you can stop at for a snack or drink!
Time from central Charlotte: 25 minutes
Pump House Biergarden in the Whitewater Center
U.S. National Whitewater Center
The Whitewater Center has several trails of various lengths, most of which are geared towards mountain bikes. I hiked the East Main Loop, which is about 7 miles. There is not too much to see, but there was a variety of landscapes and not too many bikers. It is $6 to park at the center so be sure to bring cash or card. Grab a beer at the Pump House Biergarden in the center afterwards and watch the rafters go by!
Time from central Charlotte: 25 minutes
The well marked Ribbonwalk Nature Preserve
Ribbonwalk Nature Preserve Inner and Outer Loop
It is a little under 4 miles to do every trail in this park in one hike. You can also make it a shorter hike and do one section or one loop, as they all to come together. This trail is nothing too special, but it is super close to the city and nice and quiet.
Time from central Charlotte: 15 minutes
King’s Mountain State Park
I did part of the King’s Mountain National Recreation Trail which overall is more than 15 miles long. There was little signage and little to look at, but it was nice to get out and get onto such a long trail. At the park there is also a really nicely maintained soft path that leads up to a monument that is a one mile loop that you can do with kids/an injury/casually. You are potentially supposed to pay a $3 entrance fee at the park, but somehow I skipped that, so bring some cash with you if you’re going!
Time from central Charlotte: 45 minutes
Recommendations further away from Charlotte:
Pearson’s Falls near Saluda, NC
Where is your favorite place to hike?! Let me know in the comments!
Divine Barrel & Vitamen Sea Perception is Spoonfed
Summer Beer Release Roundup
A Weekend on the North Carolina Coast
Sometimes you find yourself in tiny towns hunting down good beer, which was the case for me last summer on the North Carolina Coast! I was on my way to Emerald Isle and wanted to make an adventure out of it and I ended up at some really cool spots! Check out my route and recommendations:
KINSTON, nc
Your first stop on the way to the coast is Mother Earth Brewing located in downtown Kinston, a small little industrial town. This brewery has won a ton of awards and has a variety of beers on tap. They’ve also got a small outdoor patio to relax on! From Kinston you are headed on to the small town of New Bern.
New bern, nc
New Bern is a cute little town located on the Neuse River. It is the original home to Pepsi, so if you’re into that kind of thing head to the museum! There are two good spots to grab a beer in town that I would recommend:
Brewery 99 is a tiny shack brewery open on Fridays and Saturdays with a small tap list and a rotating cask ale. Snag a bar stool and hang out with the locals!
Beer Army Burger Company is a popular restaurant and brewery in downtown New Bern. Skip the pretzel bites.
From New Bern you are headed across the Croatan National Forest to the coastline!
Morehead city, nc
Morehead City is a more industrial town up the road from New Bern. They were severely impacted by Hurricane Florence and some areas are still rebuilding.
Tight Lines Pub & Brewing recently reopened from hurricane damage, check them out!
atlantic beach, nc
Atlantic Beach is your classic beach town!
Crystal Coast Brewing is located here and has a bright and airy taproom. They have cute North Carolina shaped flight boards and solid IPAs.
beaufort, nc
Beaufort is a cute Southern beach town with an established downtown. You can avoid paying for street parking by just parking on a side street. Skip Front Street Grill.
Fishtowne Brew House is a fun little spot right in the heart of downtown. Their sours are delicious and they have a small area for outdoor seating.
Mill Whistle Brewing is on the grounds of an old mill slightly outside of town. When I visited they had 8 of their own beers and 8 of Crystal Coast’s beers. It is a very small indoor taproom but they’ve got a nice outdoor area as well.
Newport, NC
Shortway Brewing has a nice back beer garden to lounge in and solid beers!
Emerald Isle, NC
I would highly recommend heading over to Emerald Isle for some quality beach time. It is absolutely gorgeous!
The Growler Bar is the best place on the island to grab a beer and kick back with the locals!
If you’re making a full trip of the North Carolina coast, check out my guide to Wilmington here!
Edge City #Squadgoals
The Best Breweries to Drink Outside at in Charlotte
Warm weather is here and so is patio season! Here are the best breweries in Charlotte to enjoy your brewski outdoors at:
Both the South End and NoDa locations for Wooden Robot have great outdoor seating options. At The Chamber in NoDa there is a nice outdoor patio plus there is a rooftop bar! At the original location in South End they have a large patio and garage doors that roll up when the weather allows.
Resident Culture is my favorite brewery in Charlotte and you can enjoy their delicious beers on their an expansive outdoor area. You can choose to go for the deck option or the lawn option, depending on availability and whether you’re looking for sun or shade.
Edge City is located in the MoRa neighborhood and has a beautifully designed patio space! They also have massive fans for the warmer days to keep you comfortable.
An eclectic brewery in northwest Charlotte with a great patio! They have a large pergola, a fire pit, and plenty of seating options.
Ample outdoor options between their patio and the courtyard area. They’ve got an outdoor bar and $3 beers on Thursdays and Sundays!
NoDa has a plethora of outdoor space with fire pits, yard games, and a walk-up bar. Their menu always boasts a variety of beers to choose from for any palate. They’ve got frequent events as well!
All of Blue Blaze is outdoorsy, so it’s no surprise that they’ve got a great outdoor space! Their nature-y outdoor area is along the trees and has fire pits and rustic vibes.
Olde Meck has a huge beer garden with ample seating, fire pits, multiple outdoor bars, and even a playground! Plenty of space to enjoy their traditional German beers!
Devil’s Logic has a fantastic rooftop patio with views of the Charlotte skyline! It is a great place to hang out on a beautiful day.
Birdsong has a strong environmental focus as a solar powered brewery and many green practices, so it is no surprise that they value their outdoor space! Choose whether you’re feeling picnic table vibes or relaxing in an Adirondack chair.
Town has a relaxed outdoor area to enjoy their beers and full food menu. Get the pretzel, you won’t regret it!
A huge outdoor space that even includes an outdoor stage! Get yourself a Hazy IPA and soak up some Vitamin D. They also have great pizza from their partner Livy’s!
For many Sycamore is probably the first brewery that comes to mind when thinking about drinking a beer outside—they have a large outdoor beer garden! Expect to find it packed when the weather is nice.