Mother/ Daughter Weekend Getaway
Mother/Daughter Weekend in the Sandhills
By Anna Cook, Blogger, Stuck on the Go
If you’re looking for a fun girl’s getaway for some Mother/Daughter bonding, Moore County is the perfect spot! With lots of cute local shops, excellent restaurants, and unique things to do, there is plenty to fill a weekend. Its central location in the state also makes it easy to get to no matter where you’re coming from especially Raleigh, Charlotte, or nearby Fayetteville. Here’s exactly what to do for some quality Mother/Daughter time with a weekend in the Southern Pines & Pinehurst area!
Day 1 in Moore County
Today is all about sticking close to Southern Pines and checking out what this adorable town has to offer.
Breakfast at Betsy’s Crepes
Betsy’s Crepes is one of the top places for breakfast in Southern Pines. While they have a huge selection of crepes, that isn’t the only thing on the menu. They also have amazing homemade waffles, breakfast sandwiches, and traditional egg plates. The décor is incredibly cute with mismatched chairs and cozy booths. Betsy’s stays busy all day so you’ll want to try and get there early if you don’t want to wait in line.
Stroll Broad Street and Visit the Local Shops
Along Broad Street in downtown Southern Pines, you’ll find so many unique, locally-owned shops. Against the Grain carries many products from North Carolina artisans and you can find anything from home décor to bath products to kitchenware and clothing. R. Riveter was started by two military wives and they make beautiful handbags, duffles, and accessories. The Country Bookshop is an adorable independent bookstore with so many books to choose from.
For outdoor enthusiasts, you’ll want to stop in at River Jack Outdoor Trading Co where they have a huge selection of outdoor clothing and shoe brands. Nani’s Soap Boutique has so much more than just soap. They have all kinds of skincare products, laundry detergent, shampoo & conditioner bars, and candles. Mockingbird on Broad is another cute and quirky shop with a wide variety of items. It’s perfect for gifts! They have home décor, baby items, accessories, and so much more. This is just a sampling of the stores you’ll find downtown! Enjoy your morning popping in and out of the shops and stop at Swank Coffee if you need a pick-me-up.
Lunch at Chapman’s Food & Spirits
Chapman’s really delivers on delicious food, amazing service, and a great atmosphere. I had the Haddock & Fries while my Mom tried their daily salad special. We were both very happy with our choices and they have some of the best fries! They are known for their amazing burgers but you really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu.
Take a Walk in Weymouth Woods
Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve is part of our state parks system so all the trails are very well-marked and well-maintained. One of the most popular trails in the park to take is the Pine Barrens, Light Stump, and Pine Islands Loop. This walk will take you through stands of long-leaf pines, a wetland environment, and a hardwood forest so you get to see a variety. The boardwalks along the Pine Islands Loop are especially neat. We saw many birds on our walk so be sure to bring some binoculars if you have them!
Grab a Drink at Southern Pines Brewing
My Mom is a wine drinker and I prefer beer so Southern Pines Brewing was perfect for both of us. If you’ve never been before, I recommend trying a flight – the Man of Law, Prioress, and Nav were especially good. They also serve wine, James Creek Cider, seasonal cocktails like boozy hot chocolate, and non-alcoholic drinks. If you don’t want to drive out to their taproom location, they also have a second location in downtown Southern Pines along West Pennsylvania Avenue.
Dinner at Ashten’s Restaurant
With the number of fine dining restaurants in Southern Pines, you have to splurge on at least one meal while you’re here! Ashten’s was fabulous in every way. The Joyce Farms Chicken Breast was juicy and well-seasoned and went perfectly with the collard greens. My favorite part may have been the cornbread though! Don’t skip out on dessert here – their famous chocolate cake was delicious. Make sure to add ice cream to it.
Day 2 in Moore County
Day 2 centers more around Pinehurst but I recommend exploring rural Moore County in the afternoon too. Breakfast at Agora Bakery I can’t tell what I liked better at Agora Bakery – the aesthetics or the food. Built in an old bank building, this adorable café is bright and airy with large chandeliers. Their breakfast sandwich is a local favorite, the cinnamon roll waffles are to die for and they make it incredibly hard to choose from their pastry selection. Their mocha was one of the best ones I’ve had too.
Walk Through Sandhills Horticulture Garden
No matter what time of year you visit, the Sandhills Horticultural Gardens has something beautiful to offer. They have eleven different garden areas plus a native wetland trail. Even in the winter, you can enjoy the Conifer Garden, Margaret H. Ambrose Japanese Garden, and the Succulent Garden. It’s easy to spend an hour or two meandering the winding paths and they have plenty of places to sit and enjoy the peace and quiet.
Visit Local Shops in the Village of Pinehurst
After a walk through beautiful landscaping, head back into the Village of Pinehurst where you can stop by plenty of local shops. Pinehurst Olive Oil Co. carries specialty olive oils, balsamic vinegar, and many locally made North Carolina products. Eclectic in the Village is a unique consignment store. The Given Tufts Bookshop is a bookstore with The Roast Office coffee shop inside. Head to Cooper & Bailey’s Boutique for clothing or Purple Thistle Kitchen & Co for kitchenware. Just take a walk around the village and stop in any shops that catch your eye!
Lunch at Pinehurst Brewing
A short walk from the local shops, you’ll find Pinehurst Brewing Company where you can pick up lunch and drinks. Their beer cheese appetizer is amazing and they’re known for BBQ. They also serve sandwiches, salads, and pizza. You’ll find a good selection of beers on tap and usually one cider option.
Tour Misty Morning Ranch
If you’re looking for a unique experience to share, then be sure to tour Misty Morning Ranch, a local ostrich farm. You need to call in advance to make an appointment but it is well worth it! Ostriches are very curious creatures so you’ll get to see juveniles as well as adult ostriches up close. They also have goats, a pig, a few cows, and some horses. Wear shoes you don’t mind getting dirty!
Try Cider at James Creek Cider House
This cozy cider house has tons of options to choose from and is in a beautiful location. They have a beautiful outdoor area that would be so nice to enjoy on warm days. In addition to ciders, they serve non-alcoholic drink options and food trucks are here on Fridays and Saturdays. When we visited they had a special flight paired with Girl Scout cookies so I had to try it.
Dinner at Red’s Corner
Finish your weekend off at one of Southern Pines’ newest additions – Red’s Corner. This is a beer garden with permanent food trucks and rotating guest trucks. The guest trucks change daily and you can find out who is there on the Red’s Corner Facebook page. This is a family-friendly spot with lots of area to play and even heaters for the colder days. They also have a bar on-site with 12 beer taps, wine, slushies, non-alcoholic root beer, and more.
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