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North Carolina Brings Shoppers A-StompingMake this year’s shopping excursion a date with fun. Handmade arts and crafts, bargain spots and one-of-a-kind gift shops abound in North Carolina. North Carolina offers malls, galleries and fine specialty shops. "Bowls with Attitude” in the mountains, the Brew Thru convenience store on the coast and a Chapel Hill cooking store with an entire room dedicated to salt….these are just a few of the unusual stores to be found. IN THE MOUNTAINSARTISTIC HEIGHTSA studio store tucked into the mountains features The
Travis Collection of Fused Glass, known for its celebrated “Bowls With
Attitude.” Colorful glass images are melded into bowls, platters, trays, wall
art, hand sinks, night-lights, tables and garden works (you’ll love the garden
collection’s whimsical butterflies, birds and flowers). Tour the studio “rooms”
from the kitchen to the foyer, walk in the grounds outside and talk to the
artists as they make each unique selection. You’ll never look at glass the same
way again after basking in the warm hospitality and merry spirit of this
artists’ enclave. Specializing in Southeastern fine art and crafts Blue
Spiral 1 spans three floors connected by an open stairway. The work of nearly
100 artists is on display with intriguing sculpture, photography, objects and
paintings. A special gallery is dedicated to Will Henry Stevens, an early
20th-century modernist whose oils and pastels are featured in major American
museum collections. The nearby Biltmore Estate, exquisitely decorated for the
holidays, can be toured after your gallery visit. UP SCALE BOUTIQUESThe oldest boutique in charming Blowing Rock
beckons…designer men’s and women’s clothing such as Brighton, Tommy Bahama,
Coogi, Bobby Jones and more. The owners promise sensible pricing and great
sales, too. ROCK BOTTOM CLOTHINGBalance the splurges made in downtown Blowing Rock at this
bargain hunter’s outlet paradise. With 30 manufacturer and designer outlets,
displaying apparel, footwear, house wares, home furnishings, accessories and
specialty items. STEP INTO CHRISTMASPerfect for the holiday shopper, this historic house is
bursting with specialty holiday merchandise, Christmas decorations and
collectibles, such as Department 56, Byers’ Choice, Precious Moments and Boyds
Bears. While you’re in Dillsboro, take a ride on the Polar
Express™ or the Polar Express™ Dining Train via the Great Smoky Mountains
Railroad. TURN RUSTIC WITH THE LOCALSImmerse yourself in a 1920s- and 1930s-style mountain
village with more than 40 restaurants and shops. Specializing in local Native
American artists’ work, find out why the Featherheads logo says, “It’s more than
a shop, it’s a vibration.” You can outfit a rustic cabin at Bearwallow Mountain
Traders, visit Bubba O’Leary’s General Store, and then stay the night in a
rental cabin or cozy inn. PIEDMONT REGIONSHOPPER’S HAVEN
At Carolina Premium Outlets you could save 25% to 65% at
over 80 designer and name-brand outlet stores such as Brooks Brothers, Carolina
Pottery, Coach, Gap Outlet, Eddie Bauer, Liz Claiborne, Mikasa, Polo Ralph
Lauren Factory Outlet, Reebok, Timberland, Tommy Hilfiger. At Charlotte’s SouthPark Mall shoppers will find Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom. Crate & Barrel will open in the Village at SouthPark this month. Durham’s Nordstrom is located at Southpoint and Main. ARTISAN WARES
Dine at nearby Sweet Potatoes and stay at the Brookstown
Inn or another convenient downtown hotel. FURNISHINGSInternationally recognized artist/designer Bob Timberlake
makes his home in Lexington. His art, home furnishings and accessories are
featured in his gallery and retail store. His furniture line is also
manufactured on the premises. Hickory has been called the Furniture Capital of the World.
They have a diverse selection of home furnishings with more than 1000 furniture
manufacturers in over 100 outlets. SOUTHERN DELIGHTSThe ‘New York Times’ Craig Claiborne described this
Piedmont hot spot as "wall to wall and floor to ceiling, a visual and gustatory
delight." This is the only cook shop we’ve found that has an entire room
dedicated to salt—and that’s just one small part of the store. Attend the
store’s cooking school or take a wine tasting class. ON THE COASTLEARN NEW SKILLSOriginal beaded jewelry, art made by eleven North Carolina
sculptors, painters and potters and classes in jewelry, sketching and painting
can all be found at The Bead Diva Studio. Revel in the hand-dyed scarves,
sketched landmarks and hand-poured candles. All About Quilting owner Kirsta Meadows has 16 years of
experience teaching and advising her customers. Beginners and advanced quilters
can find classes, fabrics, Elna sewing machines and top-brand notions in this
inspirational setting. AN AFRICAN EXPERIENCEAfter more than 25 years as a dealer in African Art,
Charles Jones specializes in antique traditional African art—tribal art made for
ritual use within a culture. Visitors to this studio may bump into collectors
from across the country or curators from museums and art institutions, looking
at sample pieces from Cameroon, Congo, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and more. HISTORY? FEAR NOT!Eight graciously restored buildings from the early 1900s
are connected by brick walkways and open-air courtyards in the Cotton Exchange.
The area overlooks the Cape Fear River in historic downtown Wilmington and
features around 30 specialty shops and restaurants. Dining options include a
Victorian pub and excellent German cuisine. DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE!The Outer Banks’ original drive-thru convenience store has
been supplying ice-cold beer, wine and soft drinks to coastal residents and
visitors for more than 25 years. Check out the prices, pick up one of their
trademark t-shirts, and be ready for a party at a moment’s notice after swinging
by the Brew Thru. OUTLET RETAILERSFor bargain hunting at its best, track down the only outlet
mall on the Outer Banks. Nearby Sam & Omie’s, a seafood restaurant, is loved by
the locals. Call 1-800-VISIT NC or go to
www.VisitNC.com www.travellady.com/Issues/September04/1006CharlottesPoshSouthPark.htm Edited by Sarah Wilman |
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Floor-boards creak as you walk into Mast General Store. The 115-year-old
landmark is one of the best remaining examples of a true country store. Locals
might be playing checkers or picking banjos; others might be looking to pick up
a nickel cup of coffee or their mail. An extensive selection of shoes, outdoor
gear, and yes, hardware is found here. Shoppers also head down the street to the
Annex for a delectable selection of old-fashioned candy and a variety of women’s
and men’s clothing. 
Concord Mills is another popular complex, featuring more
than 200 stores, including manufacturer and retail outlets, off-price retailers
and unique specialty stores. A festive food court, theme restaurants, a
24-screen AMC theatre and interactive retailers are also part of the shopping
adventure. Located 20 minutes from uptown Charlotte, the larger stores include:
Bass Pro Shops, Outdoor World, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Books-A-Million, Burlington
Coat Factory, Group USA, Jillian's, T.J. Maxx and NASCAR SpeedPark. 
With nearly 95 potters within a 10-mile radius, this
handcrafted pottery mecca has been home to potters since the 1700s. Once you
enter Seagrove, stop at any shop to pick up a map of the pottery studios. The
North Carolina Pottery Center offers a representative collection of pottery in
the area, demonstrations, guided and self-guided tours. 
Walk into the open, airy gallery in the Downtown Arts District of Winston-Salem,
and treat yourself to a visual feast of roughly 350 fine craft artisans from
across the Southeast. One-of-a-kind works span glass, clay, metals, mixed media,
print, photography, fiber and jewelry from a wide range of traditions and
styles.