Triangle Land Conservancy: Backyard Adventure - All Aboard for White Pines and Studio Finds

All Aboard for White Pines & Studio Finds

The weeks before the holidays can be a flurry of errands, events and eggnog. With so much to do, it’s hard to find time to just enjoy the season. Well, do we have a suggestion for you! For December’s do-it-yourself tour of the Triangle, we are offering a respite from the rush, and a way to accomplish some of the items on your list for all you multi-taskers!

The Details

Have a good breakfast (complete with a cookie or two – I won’t tell!). Then head out to White Pines Nature Preserve for a late morning hike to the confluence of the Deep and Rocky Rivers. Keep your eye out for birds – White Pines Nature Preserve is part of the North Carolina Birding Trail, and a great place to find Ruby Crowned and Golden Crowned Kinglets, Slate Colored Juncos, Winter Wrens, and Brown Creepers. You might even see a Belted Kingfisher or Great Blue Heron fishing over the Deep and Rocky rivers. And to keep you in the spirit of the season, take time to enjoy all the pines (of course!) and holly along the trail.

White Pines is TLC’s flagship nature preserve. It is a nationally significant natural area that is home to the easternmost stands of white pine in the state, along with several other plant species more commonly found in the mountains. The Deep and Rocky rivers here are also home to the endangered Cape Fear shiner, a small fish that lives in only a few other NC rivers. Now 288 acres, White Pines Nature Preserve is the epicenter of TLC’s successful work to conserve more than 1,800 acres in this area of Chatham and Lee counties traditionally known as “Forks of the River.”

Next, jump in the car and drive to Pittsboro to grab a bite to eat at the General Store Café. Featured in Bon Appétit and Southern Living magazines, the Café is a favorite community gathering place and a destination in itself. Be sure to check out the local art and the schedule for live music events.

While you are at the Café, pick up a map for the Chatham Studio Tour, happening the first two weekends in December. With artists ranging from sculptors to potters to painters to quilters – all selling their wares in addition to sharing their craft – the Chatham Studio Tour offers a great opportunity to finish up some of that holiday shopping.

What better way to end the day than with a train ride in the country – with the jolly old elf himself! The New Hope Valley Railway and Santa Claus are teaming up for special train rides the first two weekends in December. This is your chance to tell Santa how good you’ve been all year! Be sure to buy tickets early, as this is a favorite activity for boys and girls, naughty or nice, throughout the region.

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What they’re saying

From Triangle City Search
This funky cafe has incredible food, exceptional live music, and tons of personality. If you are looking for a cookie cutter eatery where you'll have no sense of place, then do not go to the General Store Café. However, if you’re interested in supporting live music, great food, and community, then give the cafe a shot. You'll keep going back for more! This community oriented venue in Pittsboro is quite a gem.

Directions

To White Pines Nature Preserve:
From Pittsboro: Go south on US 15-501 for 8 miles from the Chatham County Courthouse traffic circle. Turn left on River Fork Road (SR 1958), the first left after crossing the Rocky River bridge. On River Fork Road, turn right immediately and proceed for 1.7 miles. Turn right at the stop sign and continue 0.5 miles to the TLC Preserve sign. Turn left and drive about 1/8 mile to the parking area on your right. More parking is available through the small lot, under the powerline.

From Sanford: Take US 1 to US 15-501 and proceed north for 8 miles. From 15-501, turn right on River Fork Road (SR 1958), the first right after crossing the Deep River bridge. On River Fork Road, turn right immediately and proceed for 1.7 miles. Turn right at the stop sign and continue 0.5 miles to the TLC Preserve sign. Turn left and drive about 1/8 mile to a parking area on your right. More parking is available through the small lot, under the powerline.

From Chapel Hill / Durham: Take US 15-501 south to Pittsboro and follow directions above from Pittsboro.

From Raleigh / Cary: Take US 64 west to Pittsboro and follow directions above from Pittsboro. Or take US 1 south to Sanford, take exit for US 15-501 north and follow directions above from Sanford.

From White Pines to the General Store Café:
Follow River Forks Road back to US 15-501. Turn right onto US 15-501 and continue to the traffic circle in Pittsboro. Take the 4th exit from the traffic circle onto West Street. The General Store Café will be on your left.

From the General Store Café to New Hope Valley Railway:
Head east on West St. At the traffic circle, take the first exit onto US 15-501. After about a mile, turn left on Moncure Pittsboro Road. Continue on Moncure Pittsboro Road for 8 miles. Turn left onto US-1 North. After nearly 5 miles, take exit 84 for Old US 1. Go north, toward Apex, for almost 2 miles. After going under two railroad bridges, turn right on Bonsal Road. Parking is on the right before crossing the railroad tracks.

Be sure to check back next month, when we explore the Lower Haw State Natural Area!

Adventures
Click below to find information about each of our Backyard Adventures

Milling About in Orange County
(September 2008)

Paddles and Battles
(October 2008)

Agriculture Empires
(November 2008)

All Aboard for White Pines & Studio Finds
(December 2008)

Lower Haw and Animal Paws
(January 2009)

Rocky River Romance
(February 2009)

Swift Creek Skateaway
(March 2009)

U-Pick Raleigh
(April 2009)

Flowers and Farm Life
(May 2009)

Juneteenth
(June 2009)

Harmony on the Haw
(July 2009)

Birds, Blooms and Baseball
(August 2009)

Be sure to sign up for TLC E-News to learn about new itineraries as they become available.

Also, check out Places to Visit to see other options for adventure in the Triangle.