Celebrate fall with a day trip to Morganton -- Mountains and beer closer than Asheville

As a Charlotte native, nothing brings me more joy than fall in the Carolinas. The prospect of hopping in the car and driving a couple hours up the road to Asheville or Boone brings back tons of leaf-filled memories.

But over the years, I have overlooked another local destination entirely. One that is not filled with tourists, yet equally attractive – Morganton.

Just about an hour and a half northwest of Charlotte, Morganton (and the surrounding Burke County area) has shot to the top of my list for fall road trips.

I was first introduced to the town on a recent media tour with a group of travel journalists. As an aspiring beer drinker and low-key adventure seeker, I was in for a grand surprise.

Hiking

I suggest taking advantage of the nearby mountain range and starting the day with a hike up Table Rock Mountain.

Hikemore Adventures, a local mountain outfitter, offers a large menu of guided hikes ranging from stargazing and photography lessons to wilderness survival. The experienced guides provide any needed equipment and encourage beginners to join in the fun.

Overlooking the Linville Gorge (deemed “The Grand Canyon of North Carolina”), hikes offer a range of 3,000-foot views and a number of natural surprises. I was beyond delighted to find blueberry patches, all from which I willingly sampled.

Eating

After a few hours of hiking, eating is a welcomed event. If you were looking for a restaurant with granola and a menu that does NOT consider mac and cheese to be a wholesome side item, turn around now.

JDs Smokehouse is a local paradise. I was summoned by the smell of wood-smoked BBQ as soon as I pulled into the gravel parking lot and greeted by a slew of down-home pleasantries.

Be prepared to wait in a line about 25 people deep around dinnertime, but don’t worry, it moves fast. Use this time wisely to decide what you will order (trust me, this is not an easy decision). The locals recommend the brisket.

Drinking

After a meal like this, nothing sounds better than kicking back with a drink. I was led to Fonta Flora Brewery – an award-winning beer destination that has put Morganton on the map.

The vibe in the bar borders that of a coffee shop or lumber town hangout, and the offerings are as numerous as the mountains that surround the area.

With house microbrews on tap, I had my choice of flavors ranging from carrots and dandelions to La Loblolly – the local pine tree in Burke County.

You might be familiar with their brews, as they are also sold at locations in South End, Plaza Midwood and NoDa.

You can also check out Catawba Brewing Company in Morganton.

I drove home the next day feeling nothing less than satisfied and a little more adventurous.

Photos by Craig Distl

This story was originally published October 8, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Celebrate fall with a day trip to Morganton -- Mountains and beer closer than Asheville."