Sunnyside Oyster Bar is an eastern North Carolina tradition and folks from all over the country come to taste these special, just-shucked oysters. OPEN NOW September, 2026, at 5:30 every night. They shuck and steam the same way they did in 1935, when Charles Roberson, Sr. first opened his restaurant and called it Sunnyside. As… Click to read more about Sunnyside Oyster Bar
Things to Do
A few years back, my friend Marion and I hiked up Jockey’s Ridge – the tallest living sand dune on the Atlantic coast. Back then, I made it to the top without much fuss. These days? I’d probably need a week and a good pep talk … but I’d still give it a go. Jockey’s… To See How you can learn Hang Gliding click here
Remember the Mom and Pop restaurants that were in every town? Well, we still have ’em here in eastern North Carolina. A few have closed since I did this video but many are still here and they’re worth a trip. Take a ride with me to find the best local food east of Raleigh. I’m delighted… Read more
No matter what you think about bears, when someone says, “I saw a bear,” you listen. If you want to see a bear, then you must attend the Black Bear Festival in Plymouth, NC, June 5 & 6, 2026 Increasingly, we are seeing bears here in eastern North Carolina. They are mostly in the coastal… Click to read more about Black Bears and the Black Bear Festival in eastern NC
Strawberry Picking Time Strawberry picking is a spring tradition in eastern North Carolina. Guests at Big Mill B&B Extended Stay have several great options nearby. For pick-your-own strawberries, visit Griffin’s Farm Market on US 17 in Washington, NC – about 15 miles south of Big Mill – or SouthSide Farms in Chocowinity, roughly 25 miles… Read more about strawberry picking in eastern North Carolina
The Message of Easter – free outdoor drama near Williamston, North Carolina 2026 is the 47th year that the folks of Piney Grove Baptist Church in the Farm Life Community near Williamston, NC, have been performing this 90-minute outdoor drama of the life and death of Jesus Christ. North Carolina loves its outdoor dramas. Every… Click to read about the Message of Easter Outdoor Drama in easatern NC
I had never heard of Chicken Mull until a few years ago. And then I found out that the Chicken Mull Festival happens 8 miles from me in Bear Grass, NC, population 69. This year, the festival was on Saturday, October 24, 2026. And I forgot to go! Chicken Mull – What Is It? 3-4… Click to learn the history of Chicken Mull and to see about the Festival
Griffin’s Quick Lunch is an Eastern North Carolina Icon – Sadly Griffin’s has closed…An Icon since the 40’s, it is gone. Griffin’s Quick Lunch, just like many Mom and Pop diners in eastern North Carolina, is a landmark. Unfortunately, we are losing many of these cafes; Williamston is lucky to still have Griffin’s. If… Click to see specialties of the house at Griffin’s Quick Lunch…
Dig for Fossils in Aurora, North Carolina Big kids and little kids like to dig in the dirt. When I was growing up on the farm here in eastern North Carolina, if we dug deep enough we could find a fossil. It was so exciting to get those remnants from the past and to know… Click to read more about Fossils and the Fossil Museum in Aurora, NC
The Hen and The Hog Restaurant in Halifax, NC, is a wonderful surprise. I love to explore local gems and this one is perfect. The restaurant is located in an old hardware store and the old floors remain – no trendy marble tiles here. But don’t be fooled – this is an upscale place; it just… Read more about Hen & Hog
