It’s National Travel & Tourism Week and we start by celebrating the launch of our heart trails, filled with places we love! Join us in the annual salute to the tourism industry and celebration of guests to our area.
Chatham County and the towns and cities within it have always drawn interest from couples looking for a romantic getaway and/or celebrating major milestones, including their wedding day, anniversaries, vow renewals, etc. The Pittsboro-Siler City Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) considers the county the unofficial rustic elegant wedding capital of North Carolina, with venues for intimate events and weekend escapes. Bed & breakfast inns, some with just two rooms, offer a place for a quiet getaway with all the conveniences. Accommodations vary in location and amenities; some are pet-friendly, family-friendly, are within walking distance of shops and eateries, offer a free mini-bar, occasionally host farm-to-fork dinners, etc.
The CVB created the Heart of NC Bed & Breakfast Trail in 2009, and three of the five are still operating, with two new ones joining the group. Once the county was home to more than two wineries, the CVB formed the Heart of NC Wine Trail and it included four Chatham County wineries and one in Wake County that fit well into the driving path for visitors. The purpose of the Trails was to celebrate the collection of bed & breakfast inns and wineries while showcasing our area for a long weekend.
Chatham County has since grown in its other beverage offerings, for craft beer and distilled spirits. Moreover, our assets are distinct—a “beer farm,” mobile nano-brewery that offers craft beer at events, etc. The new Heart Trails continue to offer excellent accommodations for a midweek or long weekend getaway plus a variety of places to explore that offer award-winning craft beverages. Stay tuned for more information online and, in the meantime, enjoy a cold beverage, paired with local eats, music, a conversation with the wine maker, brewmaster, or distiller. Make it an indulgent visit with an overnight at a romantic bed and breakfast inn.
- 458 West bed & breakfast
- Heartfriends Inn
- Inn at Celebrity Dairy*
- Rosemary House Bed & Breakfast*
- Small B&B and Café
Heart of NC Craft Beverage Trail
- 580 Craft Beer
- Bear Creek Brews
- Carolina Brewery & Grill
- Cloer Family Vineyards*
- Doyle’s Vineyard
- Fair Game Beverage Co.
- Farm Boy Farms
- SilkHope Winery*
- Starrlight Mead*
- Vino!! Wine Shop
*Original Heart of NC Trail business
Discover 
[…] Start your day at Bluebird Hill Farm in Bennett, a certified organic grower whose fields feature unusual fruits and herbs you won’t find anywhere else in our region. They grow everything from native plants to medicinal and culinary herbs, and raise free-range chicken and guinea hen eggs too. Sign up for one of their many workshops, where you’ll learn new skills such as soap making and growing and using herbs. Afterwards, drive over to Willett Farm and hear owner Crystal Willett share her extensive experience on raising small livestock. The two-hour visit details the challenges and rewards of running a small family farm, and includes a tour of the hatchery and nursery, hen house, and several small coops. Visit Wally Butler, wine maker, at SilkHope Winery, which is one of the original wineries on the Heart of NC Trails. […]