Mecklenburg, VA
Ahhh. . . lake life. There’s no denying life revolves around the water in this neck of the woods. Here’s your guide to get the most out of your trip to Mecklenburg County. Fish a quiet cove. Cruise with a lively group on a pontoon. Swim from a soft beach. Hike through shaded forests. No need to research the best wineries and restaurants. Your tour is ready to go.
Low Activity
3 days | 17 stops
Day 1
STOP 1: Breakfast: The Donut Shop
If you’ve ever wondered if donuts think about you as much as you think about them, this is the place to find out. The Donut Shop in South Hill serves, you guessed it, donuts. Sprinkled. Glazed. Powdered. Iced. You name it, they’ve got it. Stop in early and get in your hole foods for the day. You donut want to miss this stop.
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STOP 2: Robert Munford Hiking Trail
Strap on your hiking boots and get ready to get your steps in for the day. This moderate to advanced trail around Kerr Lake is seven miles one way and takes you up and over various terrain and in and out of beautiful lakeside views. Take the trailhead off Greenwood Road and the short hike to Robert Munford’s gravesite. The influential Mecklenburg County land-owner lived in the late 1700s, and is best known for penning the first two comedic plays written in the New World. Now that’s worth an extra 500 steps.
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STOP 3: Bondurant Brothers Distillery
Pop over to the Bondurant Brothers Distillery and sample a bit of history served up one mason jar at a time. This family owned distillery first made a name for itself as an illegal moonshine operation during prohibition. Their spirits were in such high demand they quickly became the envy of the county -- and the enemy of local law enforcement. Today, the entire operation is entirely legit. As owner Rober Bondurant says, “The only difference between a distiller and moonshiner is taxes.” Check times before going.
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STOP 4: Kahill's Restaurant
Kahill’s Restaurant has perfected the culinary art of Pub Grub. Grab ample amounts of napkins and prepare your stomach for some mouth-watering goodness. You can order up every day favorites like barbecue ribs or a massive angus burger. Or you can be adventurous and try the open-faced brisket with sunny side eggs. Oh, and save room for some mega bite milky way cake. This place is why diet is a four-letter word. What are you waiting for? As the locals say, “Get in here!”
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Day 2
STOP 5: Michelle’s Home Cooking
If you believe that sleep is just a time machine to breakfast, this is the right place. Michelle’s Home Cooking rewards early morning visitors with an inexpensive hearty country breakfast served by friendly folks. Eggs, grits, spicy sausage, country ham, hash, they have it all served with your choice of biscuit, bun, or toast. Don’t forget the coffee. We can’t have you walking around half asleep.
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STOP 6: Fishing Charter on Lake Gaston
This is the big one! Kerr Lake and Lake Gaston have some of the best fishing holes in the state of Virginia, if not the country. In fact, the world’s largest Blue Catfish was reeled in right here. So we recommend you rent a fishing charter for the day and try your luck. You may end up with your own fish story and dinner for the next few months.
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STOP 7: Lunch: Risin' Smoke
Love is in the air. No, wait, that’s barbecue. Welcome to Risin’ Smoke. Here, the onion rings are perfectly breaded, the brisket is tender with a nice char and the service comes with a smile. We suggest you head over early to grab a space in line. You may also want to grab a fist full of napkins.
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STOP 8: Rosemont Winery
Ready to sample art served by the glass? Then head over to Rosemont Winery. The 450 acres that make up the Rosemont Estate has been in the Rose Family since 1858. Today, 32 acres of that land are planted with grape vines. All wines are handcrafted --100% estate grown, produced and bottled. Raise your glass to a wonderful afternoon --that you may or may not remember.
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STOP 9: Sunset at Liberty Hill Beach
Shuck off your shoes and dip your toes into the warm white sand at Liberty Hill Beach. Take in views of Kerr Lake and the Dam as the sky offers a brilliant pink, orange, and purple light show at sunset. Access to the beach is free and there’s ample parking. It’s a great spot to catch sight of osprey, bald eagles, and other birds native to the area. Or just work on your tan, you pick.
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STOP 10: Dinner: Cooper’s Tavern
At the intersection of comfort and yum, you’ll find Cooper’s Inn and Traveler’s Tavern. Dine in the main restaurant for a quaint and cozy vibe or catch some live music on the covered patio, festooned with blooming wisteria and dozens of twinkling lights. In true farm-to-table spirit, the menu changes seasonally and features the freshest, locally sourced meats, herbs, vegetables and ingredients available. Signature items include Black Angus beef, wild caught game, steamed seafood and organic produce. So come hungry. You can’t live a full life on an empty stomach.
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Day 3
STOP 11: Breakfast: Bringletons Coffee house
Prepare for a day out on the water. Burt before you head out, grab a fresh cup of joe and a breakfast pastry or three. Friendly, attentive service from the county’s most charming personalities will set you up with a tall skinny vanilla latte, a fresh blueberry muffin, or the morning fuel of your choosing. Remember, a yawn is simply a silent scream for coffee.
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STOP 12: Clarksville Water Sports
Don’t just look at the lake, get out on it. Paddle the lake with a kayak or stand up paddle board rental from Clarksville Water Sports. Pick up your boat at the main boat ramp at Occoneechee State Park. Glide through Buggs Island Lake and venture into Kerr Lake Reservoir, the same waters navigated by the indigenous Occoneechee people, the park’s namesake. Cool off with a dip in the lake and make a game out of how many waterfowl you can identify.
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STOP 13: Lucky’s Dairy Bar & Grill
Two words: S’mores sundae. Just as you pass the John H. Kerr Dam, right before you get to North Carolina, stop into Lucky’s Dairy Bar and Grill. Open from May through September, Lucky’s is the spot to recharge after a day of boating, paddling, fishing, and swimming. Order from their old school grill menu of hot dogs, burgers, and fries, and, of course, don’t forget the ice cream.
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STOP 14: Disc Golf at North Bend Park
It’s all in the wrist. Wind up for lakeside disc golf in North Bend Park. There’s plenty of natural shade on this well-maintained 9-hole course that takes you by the campground, swimming beach, and park amphitheater. Don’t miss the great view of the Kerr Dam on hole #8.
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STOP 15: Discover Kerr Dam
It’s not just water under the bridge at Kerr Dam. Built in the 1950s to control floods and produce energy, the Kerr Dam is a modern feat of engineering. Standing over 15 stories tall, it contains over 624,000 cubic yards of dam concrete, 578,000 barrels of dam cement, and 1.2 million tons of dam stone and sand. Its seven main generators average 425,000-megawatt hours of electricity annually. That’s enough to power over 42 million homes for a year. That’s Dam fantastic.
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STOP 16: Model Railroad Museum
Get ready to feel like a giant. Hop over to the Train Depot in South Hill. Inside you’ll find a full-scale miniature of the city as it appeared in the 1950s. The model represents over 200 miles of real track and includes a working train, a peek at the Kerr Dam construction, and a UFO marking the site of our visit by aliens in 1967. We promise it’s out of this world.
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STOP 17: Shady Shack Grill
Great music meets flip flops, meets outdoor tables with colorful umbrellas and plentiful drinks --welcome to the Shady Shack. Located on the shores of Lake Gaston, this is the perfect place to say your goodbyes to the weekend, meet a few new friends, have a few drinks, maybe even buy a boat. (NOTE: Drinks and boat purchases are unrelated, in most cases).
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