A Weekend Trip to the North Carolina Mountains | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Kathy Manos Penn is a native of the “Big Apple,” who settled in the “Peach City” – Atlanta. A former English teacher now happily retired from a corporate career in communications, she writes a weekly column for the Dunwoody Crier. Read her blogs and purchase her book, “The Ink Penn: Celebrating the Magic in the Everyday” on her website theinkpenn.com.

    We don't need an excuse to visit the mountains, especially when the summer heat arrives in Hotlanta, but the excuse for this trip was a book signing in Highlands. We gathered up some friends and headed to Otto, North Carolina to stay in my sister-in-law's cabin.

    Once everyone arrived, we sat on the porch with wine and snacks as a thunderstorm raged overhead. When the rain let up, we drove to Franklin to eat at Root and Barrel. Several of us had eaten there on a girls trip last year. Though the name had changed since our first visit, the menu was the same and the food just as good.

    Day two, we girls went back to Franklin to browse the shops while the boys visited the local hardware store and toured the mountain roads. We never know which shop will catch our attention. This time, it was the kitchen shop where I bought my first micro planer. Next was a stop at Books Unlimited to say hi to Suzanne, the owner, since she's been kind enough to carry my book.

    From there, we wandered into the Art Room. As one of my friends is an artist, we usually do find at least one gallery to explore. We spent time with a local artist as she showed us a cat portrait she was painting. By then, it was time for lunch, and our new artist friend recommended Rockin Rollie Pollies.

    We weren't starving but wanted a little something to tide us over 'til dinner. The three of us all wanted to split the grilled pimento cheese sandwich. Overhearing our dilemma, the waitress suggested we order a sandwich and a half. Problem solved. It was a delicious choice.

    Dinner that night was at the cabin. I'd made Bolognese sauce and brought the ingredients for a Greek salad, and another couple had made bread and butter to bring the mountains. Yes, you read right, they made butter. Is your mouth watering yet? I tried out my new micro planer on the asiago cheese I'd brought, and we enjoyed a Mediterranean feast.

    Day three, we headed to Highlands for my book signing. While the gang investigated other shops, Banjo and I spent several hours at The Molly Grace, the gift shop that carries my book. Banjo's book, "Lord Banjo the Royal Pooch" comes out soon, so he worked on perfecting the royal act of rolling over for belly rubs as I signed books and shopped. I could easily have come home with bags and bags of treasures but bought only a purple shirt made by Trust Your Journey, a company founded by two women with the simple message: "Wherever life takes you--Trust your Journey." That's just one of the many unique items you can find.

    Meanwhile, my friends visited the hardware store-a recurring theme-the Highland Hiker, Highlands Mountain Paws, and a few other shops. One friend had been on an unsuccessful quest for stoneground grits to take back to her husband. Stephanie, the owner of The Molly Grace, called the Dusty Rhodes Superette to see whether they had them, and sure enough, they did. That was our last stop on the way out of town.

    We all had a grand time and agreed we needed to schedule a return visit. Lord Banjo already has plans for a book signing at The Molly Grace on the day of the Highlands Christmas Parade, so hopefully, that date will work for all of us-if we can wait that long.

    Look for Kathy's new book "Lord Banjo the Royal Pooch" due out in late August and find her collection of columns, "The Ink Penn: Celebrating the Magic in the Everyday," on Amazon. Contact her at inkpenn119@gmail.com.