Things to Do

Sunnyside Oyster Bar in Eastern North Carolina

Chloe Tuttle — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 19:00:00 +0000

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 soon as you enter the front door, you can smell that famous Sunnyside Sauce, and it is served hot.

One of the owners told me that only five people know the recipe. He grinned and said it has ketchup, vinegar, and one special ingredient you could buy at the grocery store if you only knew what to look for. He also laughed and said they paid almost as much for the Sunnyside sauce recipe as they did for the oyster bar. I do know that horseradish plays a big role. And no, he didn’t share the recipe. Not even a hint.

I remember going to the Oyster Bar back when my mother’s cousin, C.T. Roberson, owned it. Honestly, not much has changed over the years. Every season those bead-board walls were painted a bright, glossy white and trimmed in that same cheerful, bright green.

Today, the walls are still glossy white and the trim is still bright green – a look that’s become part of Sunnyside’s charm. It has changed just a wee bit, and I think that’s a good thing. Now you can enjoy a really good glass of wine with those fabulous oysters. You’ll spot a couple of pinball machines for the younger crowd, too.

But I do miss the old Wurlitzer.

The Oyster Bar at Sunnyside still follows the old rule: it’s only open during the months that have an “R” in them – September through April. That tradition goes all the way back to the days before refrigeration, when oysters spoiled quickly and folks had to pay close attention to the seasons.

Sunnyside’s oysters come from all over the country, depending on the weather. A heavy rain in Idaho can change the salinity of oysters in Louisiana – it’s all connected. Most oyster lovers want that perfect touch of salt, so the crew at Sunnyside keeps a close watch on weather patterns across the map.

I asked about the North Carolina oysters because we have plenty of oysters right here in the Pamlico Sound. Our local oysters are called “Little Salties,” and they often grow in clusters, still attached to one another. They’re all different sizes – that’s part of their charm – but it does make steaming them tricky if you want every single oyster to come out just right.

Some of the best oysters still come from Apalachicola, but Sunnyside also brings in oysters from Massachusetts, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, and right here at home from Core Sound. Every batch has its own flavor, shaped by the tides, the storms, and the places they come from.

You can get Alaska King Crab at Sunnyside

You can get oysters raw or steamed, steamed shrimp, Alaska King Crab legs and scallops. A new concession is broccoli with cheese sauce. But don’t worry; you won’t see a trendy blooming onion or nachos in this oyster bar.

The oysters are steamed out back in galvanized buckets with gashes cut into them to allow steam to penetrate.

Your shucker will disappear through the back door and reappear with your peck (or more) of oysters. He then dumps them in the trough behind the bar where everyone sits. They can seat 32 oyster-eaters at a time. The shucker then deftly opens each oyster for you, just as they have done for years.Our shucker Nate has been shucking for 27 years right here at Sunnyside. Griff has been shucking for 38 years. He also has a day job with the city of Williamston. Four years ago, some folks did the math and figured that Griff had shucked 1.37 million oysters at Sunnyside.

If you are serious about your oysters, you might order a Red Rooster: this is an oyster on a saltine cracker, with a dollop of horseradish, a hot pepper soaked in vinegar and a lethal dose of hot sauce.

Not for the faint of heart is the Oyster Shooter: in a shot glass you have a slug of beer, an oyster, 2 Tablespoons of Sunnyside sauce and a dash of hot sauce – then down the hatch just like any other shooter. Oysters aren’t really beautiful, but don’t tell all those folks at Sunnyside.

Sunnyside Oyster Bar is on the National Historic Register. It has been highlighted in the Raleigh News and Observer, Southern Living and Down East magazine.

Sunnyside Oyster Bar, 1102 Washington Street, Williamston, NC. Tel. 252-792-3416

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They are open every day at 5:30 from September or October through April. Go early if you don’t want to wait for a spot at the bar. But the waiting is fun too.

Green Tip: The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries has launched an oyster shell recycling program and I am thrilled that Sunnyside is participating. When these shells are reintroduced into the coastal waters, they help establish new oyster reefs, thus producing more oysters and making a habitat for other beneficial organisms in the sounds and brackish waters of North Carolina. Oysters also help keep our waters clean: one oyster can filter 50 gallons of water a day. I guess it is our turn to build some shell mounds or middens.

Call for exact opening and closing dates.

Distances From:
Raleigh, NC – 102 miles
Greenville, NC – 27 miles
Manteo, NC – 89 miles
Big Mill Bed & Breakfast in Williamston, NC – 3 miles (252)792-8787

View Sunnyside Oyster Bar in a larger map

Looking for extended stay lodging in Eastern North Carolina? Big Mill Extended Stay offers quiet, fully furnished rentals ideal for traveling nurses, medical professionals, contractors, and guests relocating to the area. Our accommodations provide comfort, privacy, and Southern hospitality, perfect for short-term and long-term stays. We also have three RV rental spaces.

Big Mill Bed & Breakfast 252-792-8787

Ride the Wind: Hang Gliding on the Outer Banks

Chloe Tuttle — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 12:00:23 +0000

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 Ridge isn’t just for climbing – it’s also one of the best places to try hang gliding. Kitty Hawk Kites has been teaching folks to fly there since 1974. And yes, anyone can do it.

Take a beginning Hang Gliding Lesson for $158.00. With this beginner hang gliding lesson, you will “take flight” just a few miles from where the Wright Brothers flew their first aircraft. Start with a 30-minute “Ground School” introduction, take a short break, and then begin the flight portion of your lesson. Don your helmet and harness, and head out to the dunes near Jockey’s Ridge – from there, take five training flights over two hours. Read more about – Beginner Hang Gliding Lesson

You start with Ground School, move on to a tethered flight, and then – if you’re feeling brave – you get to soar solo. It’s thrilling, a little wild, and absolutely unforgettable.

When you’re staying at Big Mill B&B Extended Stay, hang gliding at Jockey’s Ridge makes for a pretty unforgettable day – 94 miles from our front porch to the launch site – but the views, the thrill, and the bragging rights? Worth every mile.

Big Mill B&B Extended Stay to Jockey’s Ridge Hang Gliding School, 94 miles

To arrange Hang Gliding lessons and experience the freedom of flight over North Carolina’s sand dunes, contact Kitty Hawk Kites Hang Gliding School, Jockey’s Ridge State Park, Nags Head, NC (252) 441-2426

Big Mill B&B Extended Stay 252-792-8787

Quiet rentals for traveling nurses & professionals in eastern North Carolina

North Carolina Road Food – Mom and Pop Diners

Chloe Tuttle — Sat, 30 May 2026 19:30:46 +0000

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 to premiere this Big Mill B&B video:

We’ve featured the “must see” spots for off-the-beaten path diners and dives throughout Eastern NC. We begin in Williamston and end up in Morehead City, stopping in some little towns that don’t even have a stoplight. Buckle up!

One thing you should know – you’ll have to ask a local where these restaurants are and when they are open. These cafes can have some seemingly odd hours to outsiders – but it all makes sense to any North Carolinian. Sunnyside Oyster Bar is open only in months with an “r” in them; Cypress Grill is only open four months a year – when the herring are running. (Sadly, The Cypress Grill burned and it is no longer with us). Take notes and map your route to the best road food east of Raleigh, NC.

View Road Food in eastern North Carolina in a larger map

Sunnyside Oyster Bar in Williamston – 3 miles north of Big Mill B&B
Cypress Grill in Jamesville (closed, fire)
Bunn’s Barbecue in Windsor Closed, too many floods)
Bill’s Hot Dog Stand in Washington – 19 miles south of Big Mill B&B
Brenda’s Country Kitchen -(closed)
B’s Barbecue in Greenville – 29 miles west of Big Mill B&B
Skylight Inn in Ayden – 44 miles southwest of Big Mill B&B
Bum’s Barbecue in Ayden – 44 miles southwest of Big Mill B&B
Lovick’s Cafe in Kinston – 58 miles northwest of Big Mill B&B
El’s Drive-In in Morehead City – 88 miles southeast of Big Mill B&B
A new find: Ella’s Cafe, 17 miles north of Big Mill B&B

P.S. – Thanks to my nephew, Barney, for his amazing video editing and voice over narration skills. What a gem.

Big Mill Bed and Breakfast 252-792-8787

Black Bear Festival in Plymouth, NC

Chloe Tuttle — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:00:20 +0000

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

Bears in North Carolina are usually black with a cinnamon color muzzle

Increasingly, we are seeing bears here in eastern North Carolina. They are mostly in the coastal regions – bears love our coastal Pocosin habitat.

In one of the articles I read, eastern North Carolina was said to have the highest Black Bear population of all the states. There are over 8,000 black bears in the Albemarle region, the largest concentration in North Carolina.

All 100 counties in North Carolina have reported black bear sightings. A 500-pound bear is not at all uncommon and bear biologist, Colleen Olfenbuttel, confirmed that they are seeing “an increased frequency of 700+ pound bears.” All 100 counties in North Carolina have reported black bear sightings.

Bears come in all sizes – remember Mama isn’t far away

When I was a child we had two gardens: one near the house and one early garden down near the woods. Every year, we saw bear tracks in the early garden. My mother told me that they were moving from the Pocosin (upland swamp) to another habitat. In the fall, the tracks went back the other way.

The small Inner Banks town of Plymouth, NC (located on the way to the Outer Banks) has a Black Bear Festival every June. In June the farmers harvest the winter wheat and the bears come out to forage. Bears also like acorns, frogs, fruit, fish, peanuts, seeds and even small mammals. I love that this bear is so trendy eating the dandelions!

This Black Bear is so trendy in his diet of dandelions

Have you seen a bear? If you want to see one, then be sure to pop in at the North Carolina Black Bear Festival in Plymouth, NC, June 5 & 6, 2026.

There will be skydiving bears, biplane rides, pontoon boat rides, Bandits flight formation team, classic air show and more.

Information for the festival tours can be found on the festival website.

The festival promises “relentless food” and great music – something for everyone. Don’t wait too late to book your place and pontoon rides and flight rides!

Hover over Photo to PIN FOR LATER

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

North Carolina Black Bear Festival
Plymouth, NC
June 5 & 6, 2026
Telephone: 252-799-9099
Washington County Travel & Tourism

DISTANCES:

20 miles east of BIG MILL B&B Extended Stay
124 miles east of Raleigh, NC
94 miles south of Norfolk, VA
48 miles east of Greenville, NC

Big Mill Bed & Breakfast Extended Stay
Williamston, NC 27892
Telephone: 252-799-8787

Berry Pickin’ Time – You Pick

Chloe Tuttle — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 19:30:28 +0000

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 away.

If you prefer fresh, already picked berries, Ross Farms, 1536 Garrett Road , Williamston, NC, is just 3 miles from Big Mill and offers beautiful, ready to enjoy strawberries.

Discover the best strawberry You-Pick experience while you are here. Pick, weigh, and take home gallons of ripe berries. Then the fun begins? Will it be Strawberry Jam or Strawberry Bread or maybe a great smoothie?

Every year, I try to make sure each of my guests gets a taste of fresh North Carolina strawberries – they’re one of the sweetest parts of spring here on the farm. Strawberry picking is a beloved spring tradition and I, as innkeeper, feel obliged to make sure everyone tastes fresh NC Strawberries.

Folks say berries from different fields have different flavors, and I believe them.

I love making strawberry jam for our Big Mill B&B guests. Don’t think I’m bragging, but my jam is an award-winning Strawberry Jam! It won best-of-show at our Farm Heritage Fair. And it surely does taste good.

When I was growing up, we would pick the berries, make jam and, on the very same night we ate homemade biscuits with jam and homemade butter. My biscuits aren’t nearly as good as my mother’s were, so I have to buy the frozen ones, but they’re still good.

Growing your own food and buying local is more than a trend in eastern North Carolina – it’s a way of life, and a good one. All around us you’ll find farmer’s markets, roadside vegetable stands, and local folks selling fresh produce straight from their fields. We even have vendors who sell collards right out of the back of a pickup truck. Supporting them keeps our community strong.

Plan to Visit:

Griffin Farms in Washington, NC 252-721-8277
Southside Farms in Chocowinity, NC 252-946-2487
or if you want the berries picked for you, then try Ross Farms in Williamston, NC 252-792-8829 or J&J Farms in Jamesville, NC 252-799-8110

Big Mill Bed & Breakfast Extended Stay – Peaceful Lodging for Traveling Nurses & Professionals 252-799-8787

Settle into a quiet, fully furnished space at Big Mill Extended Stay in Eastern North Carolina. Our rentals are perfect for traveling nurses, medical professionals, contractors, and guests who need a comfortable home base during long assignments. Enjoy privacy, farm views, and the welcoming charm Big Mill is known for. Three RV rental spaces are also available for extended stays.

Message of Easter Outdoor Drama

Chloe Tuttle — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 12:15:00 +0000

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 year, our hometown folks pour their time and talent into this production that feels every bit as grand as a big city show, sharing a powerful story with all who come to listen.

In its first few years, The Message of Easter was performed on the lawn. Now visitors enjoy the performances in a large outdoor theater that seats 3,000 folks with special lighting, surround sound, and ample parking. And all this is offered at no charge.

Big buses often roll in, and on some nights the crowd reaches into the thousands. If you go, remember the bleachers are hard, and they can get chilly as the night wears on. Take a cushion, a blanket, and a flashlight never hurts.

It is more than amazing what this small community has done – all hometown folks, and many of them are my cousins. “Pilot” was my first boyfriend – he was three and I was two. Billy’s wife Betty Jo says she is tired of hearing that story! (Sadly some of these folks are gone)

(A special thanks to Piney Grove Church for use of photographs)

For information call: 252-792-1342

The Message of Easter drama is just a few miles from Big Mill Bed & Breakfast Extended Stay 252-799-8787. At this time, we are only taking Extended Stay rentals.

PERFORMANCE DATES in 2026: This year’s 2026 drama is the 47th year.

Spanish Performance is March 27 , beginning at 8 p.m.

English performances: March 28, 29 and April 2, 3, 4, 5 at 8 p.m. For information about the Message of Easter call 252-792-1342. Remember, spring can be chilly. If our Big Mill B&B Extended Stay guests attend the Easter drama, we send them off with cushions and blankets.

DISTANCES FROM:
110 miles of Raleigh, NC
114 miles south of Norfolk, VA
54 miles north of New Bern, NC
39 miles east of Greenville, NC
8 miles south of Big Mill Bed &Breakfast in Williamston, NC 252-792-8787