We’re checking out an awesome town halfway between Charlotte and Asheville that’s named after a bar. Yep, the first building in the town was a tavern along an old stagecoach route built under a huge tree. A hickory tree.
That’s right this town was originally named Hickory Tavern. And the name was eventually shortened to just Hickory. It became famous as one of the furniture capitals of the world, and today we’re exploring its vibrant downtown and popping into a few can’t-miss places for your weekend adventures.
We’re starting things off getting properly caffeinated at Taste Full Beans Coffeehouse, where we’re ordering up some amazing beverages and delicious bites.
Taste Full Beans has been a staple of downtown Hickory since 2001. This coffee and tea house, cafe, and gallery is committed to specialty coffee and teas, healthy food, local art, and their vibrant downtown community. They even have a high tea experience in the afternoons if you’re feeling like a little extra culture. And speaking of culture…
Up next, we’re visiting Trade Alley Art Gallery, a member-owned gallery of artists and artisans who create for the good people of Hickory, and us visitors too.
This place showcases up to thirty local artists presenting a wide range of media and styles, including a beautiful variety of paintings, sculpture, pottery, glass, jewelry, textiles, furniture, wood creations, and more. The vibe here is friendly, informal, and certainly inspiring.
Finally, we’re finishing things up with a little childlike wonder here at Lou Lou’s Corner. This place is two floors of fun featuring a little bit of everything for the young and young at heart.
Lou Lou’s Corner got its start in 2008 and since then has been delighting visitors with a unique collection of items that you just can’t find at a lot of the big box stores. With lots of local items and some of your classic favorites, there’s something for everyone here.
And that might just be the case for the town of Hickory itself. Definitely a place to put on your list for your next adventure.