Our State: Celebrating North Carolina

Capt. Tommie Jarman handed me a pair of “Sneads Ferry sneakers,” or white rubber boots — rubber so that I wouldn’t slip on the wet deck of the boat; white so that I wouldn’t leave scuff marks — and I climbed aboard his 35-foot wooden shrimp trawler named Faith & Hope. Captain Jarman runs Reel Livin’ Fishing Charters in Sneads Ferry, a small fishing village on the New River in Onslow County that’s been christened the “Shrimp Capital of the East Coast” and is home to the North Carolina Shrimp Festival. Only about 2,700 people live here year-round, and judging from the number of trawlers and fishing boats I saw outside of Davis Seafood, outside of Mitchell’s Seafood, outside of Grant’s Oyster House, I’d say it’s a safe bet that there…

1 Beck’s Restaurant was started in 1940 and is still owned by the same family. This legendary spot is located in which town, whose name also describes the style of seafood cooking that Beck’s is know for? • A. Calabash• B. Little River• C. Murrells Inlet 2 Big Oak Drive-In & BBQ is a small joint in Salter Path that opened in 1976. One of the most popular items on the menu is a burger made with which crustacean? • A. Crawdad• B. Shrimp• C. Conch 3 The Bridge Tender restaurant, founded in 1976, specializes in steak and seafood. This establishment offers views of the Intracoastal Waterway from which New Hanover County beach? • A. Atlantic• B. Garden City• C. Wrightsville 4 Since opening in 1938, the Sanitary Fish Market and Restaurant in Morehead City estimates…

The story on Jones Lake was a wonderful stroll down memory lane (“The Safest Place,” April, page 144). This state park was my generation’s go-to recreation spot. Visiting the lake for a picnic, a swim, and fellowship with the Powell family made for fond childhood memories. Thank you, Velvet Powell and Charles McKoy, for sharing your personal histories with us. A trip back with my mother is definitely in our future. Nettie Hayes Miller FAYETTEVILLE PICNIC PERFECT I worked at Mount Mitchell State Park (“Natural Wonder,” April, page 90) in 1977 and 1978. During my time there, I helped build the log picnic shelters just below the summit-area parking lot. It’s a beautiful spot — even when it’s foggy! Jim Jennings VIA INSTAGRAM Mother of the KITCHEN VIA FACEBOOK I stumbled across Mama Dip’s cookbook at the Barker House…

NAGS HEAD The effects of hurricanes that form in the Atlantic ripple out to the swells between two Bodie Island landmarks: Jennette’s Pier (pictured) and the Outer Banks Fishing Pier. One of the most popular surfing spots on the Outer Banks, Nags Head sees rideable waves throughout the year, but experienced surfers keep an eye out for storms forming off the coast. Such weather events often create challenging conditions and massive barrel waves, like these from Hurricane Lorenzo in October 2019. SURF CITY For families that spend summer vacations on Topsail Island, this bridge is a sign that sandy toes and afternoons in the sun are just around the corner. The new bridge, which replaced the 1955 swing bridge in 2018, stands 65 feet above the Intracoastal Waterway between the mainland and Topsail…

EXPLORE ON HORSEBACK Experience North Carolina’s coast, Piedmont, and mountains from a new perspective — on horseback. Equestrian experts across the state offer unforgettable tours of our summer landscapes. Equine Adventures A horseback ride to the beach begins at the sound end of Hatteras Island and winds along sandy trails through Frisco’s maritime forest. And keep your eyes peeled for the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in the distance. For riders seeking speed, guides will demonstrate how to canter along the water’s edge. 52193 Piney Ridge Road Frisco, NC 27936 (855) 629-7669 equineadventures.com Country Time Equestrian Events Enjoy a relaxing summer evening with a guided horseback ride just outside of Charlotte. Follow your guide through cornfields and farmland as the sun sets. You’ll return just in time for an old-fashioned cowboy dinner featuring grilled chicken, pork chops, mashed potatoes, and baked…

Wherever Rodney Kemp goes, people tell him stories — about their families and ancestors, about their own lives growing up in Morehead City, about the town and its history. “If I go to Walmart, they’ll stop me in the aisles and say, ‘I need to tell you this story,’” Kemp says. “They’re all storytellers, but they won’t perform them. They just want to share them because they know I’ll tell them.” Kemp has been giving lectures through the History Museum of Carteret County since 2001, but he’s been a historian and storyteller — and self-proclaimed “fish house liar” — for most of his life. He got hooked on local history when he was 10 years old, during the parades and performances of Morehead City’s 1957 centennial celebration. His collection of newspaper clippings,…