The Penny Path Cafe and Crepe Shop

My family and I recently wanted to try something new for breakfast while they were down to visit so I searched the web and found a family owned crepe cafe. Owned by a guy named Miro, The Penny Path Cafe and Crepe Shop is small restaurant that is located in High Point. The atmosphere is very welcoming and comfortable. Their goal was to make it feel like home when you walk in the door. It has a very laid back and relaxed concept.

This is the street view of The Penny Path Cafe and Crepe Shop
photo credit: Google Images

They offer only a few things on the menu, but they go a long way. Most importantly, they offer crepes. They have a very unique taste and every flavor is handmade and added by hand. I like things on the sweet side so I got the original crepe with nutella, strawberries, and bananas. It was AMAZING. On top of the crepe was whipped creme, chocolate drizzle and a little bit of powdered sugar. It was baked and prepared to perfection and was only a little over $6.

The Original Crepe which is fried batter stuffed with nutella, fresh fruit, and chocolate.
photo credit: Google images 

 They have honey, cinnamon, and different baked options as well. One of the popular crepes that they offer is called the kitchen sink. It includes sun dried tomatoes, hummus, marinated mushrooms, spinach, Pesto, cheese and few other flavors. It is definitely a fan favorite.

They also offer different kinds of coffee and espresso. I am a huge coffee drinker so this was important to me and I have to say I was very pleased. They can whip just about any type of drink you want. They can do it straight or make cappuccinos, and flavored drinks.

Everything is priced very well. It is all reasonable (which is helpful when it comes to a college student's wallet).

The best kind of businesses are the ones that owned by caring people, which is definitely an accurate representation of The Penny Path Cafe and Crepe Shop. I really enjoyed coming here. It was such a relaxing experience and the service was so great. If you get a chance, check it out!

Click here for more information!

Located at 104 E. Kivett Drive High Point, NC

Hours of Operation-
Tuesday-Thursday: 10:30am-8:30pm
Friday & Saturday: 10:30am-9:30pm
Sunday: 10:30am-4:30pm

Emerywood Fine Dining

Emerywood Fine Dining is a mix of family-style and elegance. It is high class restaurant with delectable plates, but still has the atmosphere of that of a family owned business. Their unique style compliments all pallets and is sure to leave you pleased.

Emerywood Fine Foods Cafe & Catering serve lunch and dinner.
photo credit: Google Images

It is owned by Steve and Amy Shellberg and his been in business for over 15 years. Emerywood Fine Foods doubles as a catering service which is their main specialty. The staff and chefs are talented in the culinary field and put special attention on their various dishes in and outside the restaurant. 

They have separate lunch and dinner menus. The lunch menu consists of appetizers, soups, fresh salads, sandwiches and wraps. The dinner menu has more substantial options like salmon, a New York strip, seafood pasta, pizzas, and gourmet burgers. Everything is priced fairly well. The portions are pretty filling and most of the entrees come with a side option as well. 

Their catering service offers these meal in large portions along with the option of alcohol. Emerywood had a full ABC license on and off premises. Catering parties can be hosted in the restaurant or off campus. The restaurant also has occasional wine tastings or you can schedule to have one. They have a large variety of wines that you can choose from. This is a great opportunity to get together with friends for a holiday, birthday, or special occasion. 

I went there for a friend's birthday and the experience was really great. It is a true representation of southern hospitality. We were greeted at the door by friendly faces and our waitress was more than helpful with entree selection advice. 

Emerywood's Prime Pork Chop made with fresh-cut prime pork
chop served over smoked Gouda grits with spiced tomato, mustard
greens and cranberry orange jus.
photo credit: Google Images

I got the Calamari for an appetizer. It was very tasty and fried to perfection It had just the right amount of crunch and chewiness to it. For my main course, I decided on the Seafood Pasta. It comes with a variety of different seafoods, shrimp, calamari, scallops, and crab over a pasta linguini. It was very tasteful and you could taste the individual flavors that were added in the marinade. For dessert, I ordered the key lime pie. It was so good. I am a huge critic of key lime pie because my dad makes it the best so finding a good one is hard and I have to say, they made it pretty well. 

Overall, my experience here was awesome and I would definitely go back again. The atmosphere was very inviting and the staff were great. 

Click here to visit the website and learn more about their catering services!

Located at 130 West Lexington Avenue High Point, NC

(336) 882-6971

Hours of Operation for Lunch:

Monday-Friday: 11am-2:30pm

Saturday: 11am-2pm

Dinner:

Tuesday-Saturday: 5pm-9pm

The Deck at River Twist

When you're looking a fun night out, there are many options in the Piedmont Triad area, but if you looking for a real experience, The Deck at River Twist is the place to go.

The Deck has many different features to offer to its guests. In regards to the big picture, it is a bar. But it also doubles as a variety of other things. They serve food through a separate business that is located in the same building. The company is called The Fresh Manna Cafe and they serve different types of bar food such as sandwiches, sliders, salads, and baked goods. 

They are known for their drinks and offer a list of drink specials every week. This week the drink specials include: 

Many people that come here go for the entertainment. The Deck is a place for local bands and artists to perform for the public. The bar portion and most of the restaurant is outdoor. They utilize an open concept plan which makes the space look bigger and more inviting. On the lawn area, there are lawn chairs, small fire pits, and comfortable lounge couches that sit around a homey looking, urban stage. 

They host many artists each month. For the month of May, a few of the artists in the line-up are Chasin' Fame, Todd Foley, Radio Revolver, The Vibes, and Honeysuckle Ridge.

The interior design of the bar is very abstract. There are several different antique looking items, decorations hanging from the ceiling and walls, various lights, and small VIP rooms with seating. There is a space for everyone and it is prefect for a warm summer night. 

Entertainment at The Deck at River Twist
photo credit: (thedeckatrivertwist.com)

I recently had a sorority social here and I couldn't have asked for a better night. Everyone that worked there was so hospitable and friendly. They were very aware of who need what and made sure everyone was taken care of. They were constantly asking if I needed another drink or something to eat. The venue was beautiful and the sound system was great. They gave us access to their stereo system and allowed us to play music form our iPods and phones. It was a great location and it accommodated all 200 of us comfortably. 

I would certainly recommend this bar to a friend. I have not yet been to one of their performance nights but I will definitely making a stop there while I'm here. 

To get more information about The Deck, click here

Located at 118 East Main Street Jamestown, NC

Hours of Operation-

Monday: Closed

Tuesday: Closed

Wednesday: 5pm-12am

Thursday: 5pm-12am

Friday: 6pm-1am

Saturday: 6pm-1am

Sunday: Closed

Blue Water Grill

Named and designed after the ocean, Blue Water Grill represents the adventure and unknown secrets that we feel under the sea.

This unique restaurant offers a great experience for any occasion whether it be a family event, a romantic evening, or a birthday celebration. The plates are all hand picked by the chef and owner, Paul Riggan. He takes his ideas from different cuisines such as French, Asian, Caribbean, and low country.

One of the many unique dining experiences at Blue Water Grill
photo credit: Jennifer Pascale

Some of his famous dishes are the Potato Crust Salmon, the Stealhead Carolina Trout, and the BBQ Duck Confit served over smoked cheddar polenta, locally grown collard greens smothered in a sweet BBQ sauce. Not only do they serve a wide range of freshly caught seafood, but they also offer a variety of different non-seafood entrees such as chicken and beef tenderloin. All plates are carefully put together and designed in an ornate design.

Blue Water Grill's mission is to be a place for all occasions. They have the tools for a regular night out, but they specialize in special events. This can include corporate and social gatherings, receptions, rehearsal dinners, engagements, and customized private parties. In the restaurant, they can fit parties of up to 80 people and including the outdoor patio, they can cater to 130 people. Offsite, they can cater to a whopping 1,000 people! For special occasions, they make sure to set up the food in a elegantly plated design and with creations that will make the event or occasion a memorable one. To book a catering service, contact Katie Arrington, Catering and vents Coordinator.

Beautifully plated entree at Blue Water Grill
photo credit: bluewatergrillnc.net

For my birthday, my parents treated my to an all expensed dinner for myself and a friend at Blue Water Grill. They had gone when they came down to visit me and said it was such great experience and that I had to give it a try. I was not expecting anything like what I found it to be.

When I walked in, I instantly felt at ease. The lighting is dimmed to give the whole atmosphere a calming ambient feeling. The hostess led me to my table which was located next to a huge fish tank that was designed in a way that it looked like the fish were "on stage". There were many different kinds of tropical fish in the tank, and throughout the whole restaurant.

I ordered the Boursin Crab Dip, the Black Grouper, and for dessert, the Creme Brûlée. It was very filling and so delicious. I had never had grouper that had so many different flavors. It was cooked perfectly. The crab dip was the perfect starter to this meal. It was just filling enough to hold me over until the entree and the dessert was just the cherry on top to the whole meal. Everything was so flavorful and I cannot say I had any complaints. It was the perfect birthday dinner.

My birthday dinner at Blue Water Grill
photo credit: Brittany Matters

I would recommend this restaurant to any of my friends. If you want to check it out, visit their website: Blue Water Grill

Location: 126 East State Avenue, High Point, NC
(336) 886-1010

Hours of Operation:
Monday-Thursday: 5:30pm-9:30pm
Friday & Saturday: 5:30pm-10pm
Sunday: Closed

Bar opens Daily at 5pm

Piedmont Environmental Center

Beneath the trees is nature's ultimate beauty. Piedmont Environmental Center provides a plethora of different indoor and outdoor activities for all ages. 

Starting 1972, citizens of the city of High Point wanted to secure a place near the High Point City Lake Park as a plant and animal preserve. They ended up creating a lot more than they expected. It is now the first environmental education place of programs and activities in Guildford County.

The street view of the Piedmont Environmental Center
photo credit: winstonwanderers.com

The trails the cover the 376 acres of land are covered by  pine forests, lakes, rapiers, and 11 miles of hiking walkways. There are three different loop trails that are used for classes which are about three-quarters of a mile each. Piedmont Environmental Center's mission in to get people outside and experiencing all that mother nature has to offer.

The foot trails range from easy to hard. They are deigned in a way that you have to work to get to the end, but at the same time, you get to experience a good time with the people you are hiking with and see all of the beautiful lakes and forestry around you. 

The forest and lakes that surround the trails are breathtaking
photo credit: JB Oman

In PEC's main building, there are active and passive solar technologies, tower ventilation, natural lighting, recycled materials that make up the infrastructure, and a wrap-around covered deck. There are exhibits, and auditorium, and classrooms for workshops. Everything you will see is very environmentally friendly.

The PEC offers a Mapscape Exhibit that us a walk-on topographic relief map representing North Carolina and the surrounding states. In a concrete surface, there are mountains, valleys, rivers, and geographic landmarks that are carved so visitors can get an idea of what everything looks like in more detail from one perspective. 

There are also field trips that you can go on through schools in the nearby area. PEC offers trips, programs, and summer camps for kindergarten through high school including herpetology camps, bird and bug camps, rock and nature camps, kayaking and water sport camps.

There are so many fun and exciting activities that you can experience when you visit the Piedmont Environmental Center. 

Go to the PEC website for more information

Located at: 1220 Penny Road High Point, NC

(336) 883-8531

J.H. Adams Inn

Tucked away in downtown High Point, the J.H. Adams Inn is a hidden treasure.

The J.H. Adams Inn is elegant and built with class
photo credit: jhadamsinn.com

Built in 1918, the estate was used as a home for John Hampton Adams, his wife, Elizabeth Barnes, and their two daughters. They resided there for almost two decades. Adams was a successful business man in the city of High Point, overseeing the consolidation of several hosiery mills with High Point Hosiery Mill which formed the Adam-Millis Corporation in 1927. That next year, it was listed in the New York Stock Exchange. He was director of Wachovia Bank & Trust, Trustee of Oak Ridge Institute, investor in the local newspaper in 1920, and one of the founders of the High Point Country Club and Mason.

In 2000, a complete renovation was done to the old mansion and was later opened in 2001 as the J.H. Adams Inn. It is not a historical building that serves as a place of hospitality and service to the guests of High Point.

Upon your arrival, you are welcomed in by caring staff. The grand staircase, beautiful furnishings, marble hard-wood floors are only a small detail in its all around elegant feel. The guests that stay at the J.H. Adams can shoos from 31 differently styled rooms to fit their needs and wants to make them feel as comfortable as possible.

The Grand Staircase that is located in the lobby of the J.H. Adams
photo credit: jhadamsinn.com

Each room comes with Egyptian-style cotton bedding, Sealy mattresses, comfortable robes, elegant bathrooms, high-speed internet with free Wi-Fi, and wake-up calls each morning. For those who like to keep in shape, the Inn offers a fitness studio with flexible hours. There are also private meeting rooms and business services.







They offer 3 types of packages for their guests. The first is the Veranda package, which includes:

• Veranda Room with Balcony overlooking Courtyard
• Dinner Voucher for 2 (valued up to $60.00 tax, gratuity and alcohol excluded)
• Champagne for 2 in Guestroom
• Fresh Cut Flowers in Guestroom
• Chocolate covered Strawberries
• Complimentary glass of Wine for Each Guest
• Continental Breakfast

The Whirlpool Package:

• Drexel Suite or Main Street King Room with Whirlpool Tub)
• Dinner Voucher for 2 (valued up to $60.00 tax, gratuity and alcohol excluded)
• Champagne for 2 in Guestroom
• Fresh Cut Flowers in Guestroom
• Chocolate covered Strawberries
• Complimentary glass of Wine for Each Guest
• Continental Breakfast

The Play and Stay Gold Package

• Gallery Guestroom
• Dinner Voucher for One (up to $30.00 tax, gratuity and alcohol excluded)
• 3 Pack of Balls
• Complimentary Beer upon Check-In
• Continental Breakfast
• Golf at Local Preferred Course

The J.H. Adams Inn has many great amenities to offer and is in the perfect location to reach any destination in the Piedmont-Triad area. Hospitality is their main focus; they service your every need and the staff's goal is to make you feel at home. 

If you would like to learn more about staying at the J.H. Adams Inn, visit: J.H. Adams Inn

Located at 1108 North Main Street High Point, NC

(336) 882-3267