There’s loads of food festivals dedicated to different kinds of snacks, fried things, and other goodies. However, the key to finding a good festival is to seek out the festival that best represents a famous foodstuff. That’s where Lexington, North Carolina comes in with its annual Barbeque Festival. No clever name here, it just is what it is, and it celebrates one thing—delicious smoked pork.

Annual festivities have been running for over a quarter century, and every year the town’s population swells as over 100,000 visitors hit the town to check out the latest and the greatest related to all things barbeque. The town is famous for their vinegar-based sauce; so don’t come here looking for some super-sweet ribs or brisket. They might have some other cuts of meat for out of towners, but it’s primarily going to be pork shoulder that you’ll be enjoying. Just make sure you save room for some of the area's unique coleslaw. It’s like regular slaw except you replace the mayonnaise dressing with one based on the almighty power of ketchup—don’t knock it until you try it. ]]> kjb 2009-10-16T14:23:38-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/8/18/82524/6376

Of course we’re sad that summer is winding down right before our eyes, but Labor Day is usually a good send off into the crisp days of the fall. That’s why we’ve picked the North Carolina Apple Festival as a cool way to ease us into an autumnal attitude. After all, a few apples in the system will probably help counteract all the overindulgences we’ve experienced this summer.

Set in the western part of the state, among the mountains, is Hendersonville, and their main street area is going to be buzzing with the sights of Red Delicious, Galas, and Rome Beauties. The state is in the top ten of apple production in the country, and they certainly want you to know it. Music, arts and crafts, and of course food will all ring in the harvest season. Make it a priority to get an applejack; it’s pretty much an apple fritter, but with a better name and a better taste.

]]> kjb 2009-08-18T14:09:36-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/7/20/8813/27023

We’ve been tempting you this month with some of our picks for the best tubing spots around the country. However, we understand that tubing might not be everyone’s idea of a great summer afternoon, and that’s why we've tracked down some more ways too cool off. This next one happens to be a little more natural and a little less commercial.

Located within the Pisgah National Forest, about an hour outside Asheville, North Carolina, sits nature’s own water slide. Sliding Rock is a huge, smooth-faced rock that constantly has cool water running down its surface thanks to a mountain spring. The rock is about 60 feet tall and gladly deposits visitors into chilly water at its base all summer long. We’d recommend wearing something a little sturdier than a bikini for your trip. It is a rock after all, so pack your favorite pair of cut-off jean shorts—you’ll fit right in; it’s the South.

The rock slide is open daily throughout the summer, and usually wraps its season up around Labor Day. Parking is only $3 and you’ll have access to the slide all day long. Just remember to bring your own picnic with you as there’s nothing for sale, not even overpriced candy and souvenirs.

Related Stories:
·Sliding Rock - A Natural Water Slide [ExploreAsheville]
·Celebrate Beautiful Living at Bele Chere [Jaunted]
·North Carolina Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: LouisL] ]]> kjb 2009-07-20T16:48:11-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/6/15/81254/0248

One of the New York Times’ best travel features is their 36 Hours series. For those with no attention span, like us, it’s a short and sweet way to get a taste of a location in only 1,500 words. This week’s article featured a jaunt to the Research Triangle region of North Carolina.

Having called this area home for the last couple of years, we were pleasantly surprised to see a feature focused on the area in and around Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill.

The NYT recommends it, but we always get sidetracked before making it to the North Carolina Museum of Art. Maybe now that the museum got a big shout-out, we’ll finally get to see some American favorites like Winslow Homer and Georgia O’Keeffe. Their permanent collections are free to visit, so we just have to stop making excuses and finally get a little culture. ]]> kjb 2009-06-15T10:08:45-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/6/2/91920/90736

Jon and Kate Gosselin seem to be handling the stress of a crumbling marriage and 8 kids in very different ways. Over the weekend, Jon was spotted partaking in some retail therapy at the Riverside Square Mall in Hackensack, New Jersey. He reportedly spent more than $2,000 at the Barneys CO-OP while one of the women he was with ("family friends," he said) dropped $595 at Tumi on a bag. Jon definitely wasn't bargain shopping since he also checked out the mall's Louis Vuitton, Cole Haan and Godiva stores.

Meanwhile, Kate and the plus 8 had some fun in the sun on Bald Head Island, North Carolina. Kate showed off her famous post-babies tummy tuck in a bright orange bikini. Her bodyguard and rumored paramour, Steve Neild, was also on hand to spend some quality time with the family. ]]> cmb 2009-06-02T12:32:05-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/5/19/8956/21530

If past summer vacations stuck behind SUVs on I-95 had you wondering what the heck that "OBX" sticker referred to, then we've got you covered. Keep reading to see what North Carolina's famous shoreline has to offer.

· Where Is It?: The Outer Banks of North Carolina are located on the northeastern shore of the state. Although barrier islands buffer the entire coast of the state, the area specifically known as the OBX runs about 150 miles along NC Highway 12 from Corolla, near state's border with Virginia, to where it ends just after Ocracoke Island.
Basically, it's more than just a town or two, it's a whole coastal section.

· Who Goes There?: The OBX is a big draw for families on the eastern seaboard. Most visitors come from Virginia and the Carolinas, but you’ll see plenty of license plates from New York, New Jersey, and even the Midwest. The area is very family friendly, with the exception of the occasional college kids, but the attention-seeking crowd is usually nowhere to be found.

Jon, Kate, and all those kids were here a couple summers ago, and we're pretty sure they stayed in this place. Of course, Richard Gere loves him some Rodanthe; oh wait, that was just a movie.
]]> kjb 2009-05-19T10:36:57-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/5/13/65331/5208

With the economy in the toilet, you might not have the funds to head out on once in a lifetime diving trip, and with that Swine Flu constantly lurking around every corner the only safe place is under the sea. That’s why we’ve compiled some strange SCUBA spots right here at home. If you’ve got a better one (or a worse one), please let us know!

Are you sick and tired of crystal clear water and colorful exotic fish? Then how does a murky, abandoned quarry just outside Raleigh, North Carolina sound? For almost 30 years, Fantasy Lake Scuba Park has been training new divers and giving experts something less exotic, but more industrial to look at and enjoy. You see, back in the day, quarry workers hit a spring and the place slowly filled up around all of the original quarrying equipment, which was just left in place. Their misfortune is now your reward. ]]> kjb 2009-05-13T10:11:54-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/