This is a truck we saw traveling west on I-40 Labor Day Weekend.
The Flea Market in Hillsville, Virginia
The preliminary estimates for the crowds attending the 42nd Annual VFW Flea Market and Gun Show in Hillsville, VA., (pop. 2,500) Labor Day 2009 ranged from 300,000 to 500,000. We were there. And we may have been the only ones who went to the flea market without taking our dog either on a leash or in a baby carriage. It sure seemed that way.
The Hillsville flea market is billed as the largest flea market east of the Mississippi, and this year had approximately 2,000 vendors. 2,000 vendors? That’s right. If you can imagine it, they were selling it. Crafts, army surplus, antiques, slot machines, assault rifles, jewelry, garden flags…..you get the idea. In need of a change purse made out of a tanned bullfrog? You came to the right place. They were even selling pain-relieving jewelry and over-the-counter medicine—including one booth running a special on “out-of-date medicine” for only fifty cents! Who knew?
Not only does the flea market offer something for everyone to buy, there’s also entertainment and things to do. There was a bounce room for children, a climbing wall, and do-it-yourself sand art. There were infomercial product demonstrations that always drew a crowd. And you didn’t have to walk too far between gospel singers with microphones. I guess you’d have to include people watching in the stuff-to-do category. Off the top of my head I can’t think of any place else where you can see the sights we saw at the flea market. It’s worth the trip.
Oh, and the food. Food vendors are everywhere. The entire flea market is bathed in mouth-watering smells. Everything smells delicious, looks delicious, and actually tastes delicious. The food ranges from your standard hot dogs to the ever-popular chicken-on-a-stick, Thai food, and even taco in a bag. (Sorry, I didn’t try the taco in a bag this trip, so I cannot offer an explanation.)
Mark your calendar for Labor Day 2010. Delicious food, unique items, beautiful setting, perfect weather, good family time, Hillsville, VA, is the place to be. The only drawback is you might come home with something you don’t quite know what to do with…..like maybe your son buys a coyote pelt to go with the coyote skull he bought last year.
That’s Life in Raleigh.
Mountain Trip!
Raleigh has such a great location in the State of North Carolina – – centrally located between the Atlantic Ocean and the Appalachian Mountains. And these vacation hot spots are not far in either direction. In fact, in about three hours with Labor Day weekend traffic, we were soaking in the sights on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Not bad at all.
So to get to the mountains we headed down I-40 West. Same road we take to get to the beach, just the opposite direction. Soon after hitting the road, there was an “1-800-By Train” sign. I don’t really know what these train signs mean, but we figured they must be connected to the mountains somehow and we were excited to see them.
The main difference between the reasonably short trip to the beach and the reasonably short trip to the mountains is that on the way to the mountains there is actually stuff to look at along the way. Sure, the trip starts with what appears to be the same dense, green scenery and the same strict billboard regulations, but things start to change near Burlington and it only gets more interesting the further west you travel.
There’s life along this stretch of highway. It’s almost like a business route. You can see businesses, shopping, food, motels, and traffic on other roads. You don’t have to wonder how far off the exit you’ll have to travel to get to the local Hooters. You can see it from the highway. It’s that close. There are also homes close to the road and even brand-new, high-rise apartment buildings so close to the 8-lane highway that you could probably spit your gum onto their front mat. Really. And once you turn off of I-40 for the final leg of the trip, then the scenery really gets interesting in that quaint, small-town, charming sort of way. It’s a preview of the fresh, change of pace awaiting you a short distance up the road.
A visit to the Blue Ridge Parkway requires you to slow down and appreciate the breath-taking views. It is like taking a step back in time, while surrounded by postcard-beautiful scenery. All this less than three hours away? That’s a day trip. I’m in.
That’s Life in Raleigh.
Overdose at the Farmers’ Market
Here at the end of summer is a great time to visit the State Farmers’ Market. The stalls are still overflowing with summer vegetables. The vegetables are so plentiful and colorful they provide a feast for the eyes, too. And it’s always an interesting place to visit. After all, a venue that hosts events such as Colossal Collard Day and Watermelon Day can’t be dull, even if it is owned and operated by the State of North Carolina.
On their official website, the Farmers’ Market boasts of selling over 300 different items. That’s easy to believe. Between all the varieties of produce, bushes and plants, salsa, crafts, specialty meats (hmm..), Christmas trees, and even restaurants, they have something or a lot of things for everyone. Plus they have an ATM onsite so you can buy even more than you planned on buying.
If you like crowds, hit the Farmers’ Market on a Saturday or on a Sunday afternoon. It is jam-packed on the weekends. On weekdays, the crowds are not as big, but there are still plenty of people and often even a field trip or two!
The people are one of the best parts of the Farmers’ Market, especially the vendors. They’re always friendly, knowledgeable, and eagerly offering you samples of their wares. It’s easy to leave there with a full belly from sampling fresh, delicious produce from one end to the other. You have to keep moving, though. Too many samples in one spot, and they’ll run you off!
Take a crowd with you when you go. Not only will everyone enjoy the trip, but you’ll need all those extra hands to carry all your goodies to the car.
That’s Life in Raleigh.
Picture This: Moore Square Museums Magnet Middle School
Picture This: N.C. Legislature Building
