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Surf City – Monday, April 10th

Posted on April 18, 2023January 23, 2026 by Emily

The drive down to Surf City was blissfully quiet. My two boys (5 years old and 20 months old) each slept for half of the trip, albeit alternating halves. My dog, a 9-year-old blue heeler/husky mix, sat in the passenger seat, staring out the window in a bit of a panic.

For 5 hours.

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Day Trip: NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island

Posted on April 19, 2019January 22, 2026 by Emily

Not far from where we live is the Outer Banks. Since becoming a work-at-home mom, I’ve been making regular trips to the Outer Banks for meet-ups, beach trips, and playground adventures. I had been wanting to take Caleb to the NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island but held off because I felt this was a family adventure. I didn’t want Robb to miss out on this moment so I waited… and waited… and waited… and reminded Robb that children 2 and under are free, then the prices jump up.

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Hi, I’m Emily — the creator behind Nothing to Do WNC.

My family and I moved to Western North Carolina in 2021 from the coast, drawn here by the mountains, the slower pace, and the feeling that this was a place meant to be lived in — not just passed through. We now call a six-acre patch of land home between Lenoir, Morganton, and Hickory, where we’re slowly building a life surrounded by gardens, animals, and a deep appreciation for the seasons.

Nothing to Do WNC began as a way to explore our new home, but it’s grown into something more: a love letter to Western North Carolina and the everyday beauty of life here.

This is a place to celebrate backroads and small towns, gardens and trails, local food and community gatherings — the simple, meaningful things that make this region feel like home. My hope is to help both locals and visitors fall in love with where they live (or where they’re visiting), and to see Western North Carolina not just as a destination, but as a way of life.

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