For those who’ve made the roughly nine-hour journey from western North Carolina to the state’s farthest reaches along the coast, you’ve likely already gained a sense of how important it is to stop along the way to not only stretch your legs, but also to smell the roses, in a manner of speaking. When it comes to getting from Asheville to the popular Emerald Isle on North Carolina’s Crystal Coast, there are a few routes to take to get there. But nothing beats the mostly rural route that we’ll map out here. It’s on this route that you’ll pass right through the charming small town of Wadesboro – which happens to be halfway between Asheville and Emerald Isle.
One of Wadesboro's most unfamous (yet notable) people was actually the man who founded Family Dollar.
Leon Levine was born in Wadesboro in June of 1937 and would go on to start one of the largest retailers of its kind when he was just 22 years old. Levine actually grew up in neighboring Rockingham, but there was no hospital in 1937 in that town, so little Leon was born right here in Wadesboro.
It may be difficult to conceive, but this tiny town of just over 5,000 residents has a historic district overflowing with notable historic architecture.
The downtown area has shops, galleries, restaurants, and more.
Stop for lunch. But skip over those fast food joints you'll pass on the way into town in favor of some local cuisine. Oliver's Restaurant (pictured here) is a wonderful spot for a meal.
Few things beat a family vacation along the beautiful coast in North Carolina. Take this mostly rural route over to Emerald Isle from the Asheville area and discover some fun in Wadesboro!
Did you know Wadesboro is halfway between Asheville and Emerald Isle? Will you be making it a point to stop and check out all this small town has to offer?
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