[upbeat music] - Next on North Carolina Weekend, join us from Battleship North Carolina as we highlight classic Carolina destinations.

We'll visit the Andy Griffith Museum in Mount Airy, the Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville, and Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge in Shelby, coming up next.

- [Announcer] Funding for North Carolina Weekend is provided in part by VISITNC, dedicated to highlighting our state's natural scenic beauty, unique history and diverse cultural attractions from the Blue Ridge and the Great Smoky Mountains across the Piedmont to 300 miles of Barrier Island beaches.

You're invited to experience all the adventure and charm our state has to offer.

[upbeat banjo music] - Welcome to North Carolina Weekend everyone I'm Deborah Holt Noel, and this week it's all hands on deck as we highlight quintessential North Carolina attractions from the USS North Carolina in Wilmington.

Also known as Battleship North Carolina, this vessel was the first of 10 fast battleships to join the American fleet in World War II.

During the war, the USS North Carolina became the most highly-decorated American battleship in the Pacific theater.

It was decommissioned in 1947 and in 1962, it was dedicated as a state memorial to our World War II veterans.

Today you can discover Battleship North Carolina on a self-guided tour, several guided tours, or their digital video tours.

The ship is huge and not air conditioned.

So be prepared to savor her as the sailors did and be sure to wear the right shoes.

Our first classic Carolina destination takes us to a small community in Surry County that actually inspired a beloved TV series.

Let's head to Mount Airy and visit the Andy Griffith Museum.

- It was a long ride from the big city and I was hungry.

I wanted a famous pork chop sandwich.

And Bob needed a haircut.

- Just a little off the top today.

- Just a little bit.

I see one right there.

I'm going to try to weasel it out and try to cut it.

I got it.

- All right.

- There's so much to see around Mount Airy.

Plenty of looking and shopping and so many places to eat.

The squad car tours take you to all the highlights from Wally's Store, and you know where to go if something breaks down.

And they're still lining up to go in.

Careful now.

[jail door slams] From this small home and humble beginnings we can follow Andy Griffith's life story.

We start our tour at the Andy Griffith Playhouse, which was once the Rockford Street Elementary School that Andy attended.

And on this very stage, Andy had his first performance in third grade.

His life's work is now preserved next door.

Thanks to Surry Arts Council and executive director, Tonya Jones.

- Andy's childhood friend Emmett Forrest began collecting memorabilia about 30 years ago.

And we began sharing that collection with the public in the '90s and built the museum in 2009.

Upfitted it last year with wonderful new exhibits that you're seeing today.

- Here there's displays of Andy's life's work from comedy, stage, TV and movies to gospel and country music soundtracks.

♪ I can find me the fishing pole ♪ ♪ And meet me at the fishin' hole ♪ - Andy Griffith show ran from 1960 to 1968 with 249 half-hour episodes for eight seasons.

And the show is still much loved today.

- One thing I've always really loved about the show is just that it has really good strong family values.

I have a nine-year-old son, and it's just a really refreshing show to be able to watch something with him.

- As director of collections, Abigail is responsible for all the memorabilia.

You can choose a self-guided tour or rent an audio guide.

- I see he went to the University of Chapel Hill.

- He did.

Initially he began studying to be a minister.

That of course evolved into acting and we see here, he's in "The Lost Colony".

He was in the production from 1947 to '53.

- There are so many familiar show items.

And then there are some surprises.

- Cindy and Andy Griffith gave us the sheriff's shirt that he wore in the Andy Griffith show.

And it is our prize shirt.

Also in the museum, we have Don Knott's salt and pepper suit.

Both suits you know, he wore when he went on date night or on Sunday, especially on his dates with Thelma Lou.

- I love the show.

I still love it.

I watch it all the time and I'm never tired of it.

I think it's the greatest show ever on television and it is, and people love it from all over the world.

They come here and they tell me stories of how it affected their lives.

I'm like an old aunt to people.

They grew up with me.

And it's really kind of sweet and wonderful.

And I don't think of anything else I ever did that meant as much to me as the Andy Griffith Show.

- The Andy Griffith Museum is at 218 Rockford Street in Mount Airy and it's open daily.

For more information go to their website at surryarts.org/agmuseum.

- Did you know, 2300 sailors lived and worked aboard the USS North Carolina?

That's right.

It was like a small floating city at sea.

And now let's continue our classic Carolina destinations.

You know, the history of North Carolina cannot be told without recognizing Native Americans and descendants of the Cherokee who resisted relocation now live on land that's known as the Qualla Boundary.

Let's visit Qualla Arts and Crafts in the western part of our state to see some of the unique traditions that were handed down for generations.

[native American music] - Cherokee has become a destination for a lot of people because we're up here in the mountains right next door to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is the most visited park in the country.

- When I woke up this morning, I was near a brook in the colorful woods with the trees of all different colors and the sun was shining and it just felt like a slice of heaven here.

- People have come to enjoy these things about Cherokee since the area first began attracting tourists in the 1940s.

For generations before that and all those since however, it has been home to the proud nation of Cherokee people, and their many traditions.

- Most every house seems to have an artist or someone that does some type of traditional art or singing or dancing or something that goes along with that one.

- It's no surprise then that the town of Cherokee is home to a one-of-a-kind collection of Native American arts and crafts.

- It almost feels like a museum with everything for sale.

You know, the quality of the work is top notch.

The feel you get when you walk in there is that you're in the middle of Cherokee.

You know, the people that made these, you can almost feel them standing there and almost see them sitting there working on their projects.

- This is as authentic as it's going to get as far as Cherokee art.

- It's called the Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual.

- Qualla is how you would say the name Polly in the Cherokee language.

And it was a woman that was well-liked within the community.

I think she had a store or post office - The cooperative named after her represents the work of more than 250 artisans.

- Qualla Arts and Crafts is the oldest Native American cooperative in the United States and has been a source of income for the local artists since it was established and really has helped us as people to supplement our income.

And at the same time it has helped us preserve our traditions in the arts by affording us a place to market our work.

- The work represents techniques handed down for generations.

- Everything here at Qualla Arts and Crafts is authentically handmade, everything from basketry, the pottery, bead work, finger weaving, painting, drawings.

- Highlighted are the baskets.

- Every basket is different.

I could make this right here and come back maybe two, three days later and try to get it to be the same size, same shape.

It don't do that.

Every basket you make might shape out just a little bit different than every other basket that you might make.

- Their expertise is evident before the weaving even begins.

- The basket weavers would go out and cut a white oak tree probably four or five in diameter.

They use a ax to quarter it.

And then from there, it's just a pocket knife that they use.

From there they just scrape the splints and trim it down and everything's handmade.

And then they go out and gather the blood root for the dyes.

They gather the walnut.

- Aside from the many original items for sale, Qualla Arts and Crafts also houses a permanent collection of artwork.

It's a historical perspective from generations of artisans that came before and handed down their talents.

It's a gift that is vitally important to all the future generations who call this place home.

- If we lost all the arts and crafts, then the Cherokee people, we lose our identity.

- I would just remember my father always telling me stories of my grandma and my grandpa and how they would make baskets for like two weeks.

And they would put all they could fit into a sheet and put it on their shoulders and bring them to town to sell.

- It just gives me good feeling because it's something that my mother handed down to the me.

So history, it's in the baskets.

- Qualla Arts and Crafts is at 645 Tsali Boulevard in Cherokee, and they're open daily.

For more information, give the co-op a call at 828-497-3103 or go online to quallaartsandcrafts.com.

- Right now I'm here with Captain Terry Bragg who's the executive director of Battleship North Carolina.

Captain Bragg, thank you so much for hosting us.

Now, if I decided to take one of the self-guided tours, how much time should I expect to spend just doing one of those tours myself?

- So the Battleship North Carolina has the most spaces and an area available for touring of any historic ship in the world.

A good brisk pace takes about two hours without reading the sign.

And we have some people here come in the morning and don't leave until we close down.

- And it's just fascinating that you have this piece of history here in North Carolina.

It's pretty significant right?

- Yes, the Battleship North Carolina is the state of North Carolina's memorial to the 10,000 north Carolinians who served and died during the Second World War.

We're also one of the most popular attractions in the state.

We're a center of education.

- Now there are several tours that you offer but I want you to tell me a little bit about the one called the city at sea.

What's on that?

- Yeah, so everyone has to remember that the battleship was designed to leave port and be gone for as long as years.

So she had to have her own cooks, her own bakers.

Experience with a post office, with stores, with retail, shoe repair.

Everything is reflective of that living in a city or a village downtown.

- What would you say is the main message that you want visitors to take away with them when they visit the Battleship North Carolina?

- The battleship is fun.

We're open 365 days a year.

You can do study on our website, our history.

You can come run the decks.

You can climb to the highest levels of the ship.

Play with the guns.

Learn about the city at sea.

We have people from every age group every different ethnicity, every place in the world come and have fun at the Battleship North Carolina.

Thank you so much, Captain.

- Thank you.

Thank you.

Welcome.

- Wow, how cool is this, a self-guided tour of the Battleship North Carolina takes you downstairs, upstairs, in and out of all kinds of spaces.

And if you have limited mobility, not to worry you can do an above-deck tour.

Now another classic Carolina destination that's really fun to explore features beautiful sunsets, gingerbread houses, and a world-class lavish spa.

Let's go to the Omni Grove Park Inn.

Embraced by the glorious peaks of the Blue Ridge stands the enduring Omni Grove Park Inn.

- She was constructed out of native granite stone mined right from this mountain.

This is Sunset Mountain.

And this mountain was purchased by EW Grove back in 1909.

He purchased this property and constructed the hotel and opened it on July 12, 1913, as a place of respite.

In 2013, we were acquired by Omni.

So much has changed with Omni, but primarily I would say our focus on Asheville and what is local to these mountains.

Our great hall, which is known as western North Carolina's living room, got a little bit of a facelift and had some things added that were created by hand.

We have several signature shops, including one that offers a Colonel Littleton leather working.

We have fantastic clothing and cloth.

Then we also happen to have an in-house pastry shop but we also have to have something we call the Pink Pig.

It is the most decadent and wonderful place you have ever been.

Any candy you've been looking for, I will bet you it's in the Pink Pig.

We offer 513 luxury guest rooms.

If you're looking for a romantic getaway, joining us on the club floor with a gorgeous view of these Blue Ridge Mountains, there's pretty much nothing better than that.

And these exclusive suites are stunning.

Not only do you get a little living area, you get a ridiculous king size bed.

You get an oversized bathroom with that.

You also have access to the spa every day that you're on the club floor.

- And the spa at Grove Park is an indulgence open to any visitor.

- The spa is 43,000 square feet of space.

Almost half of that are just amenities for you to use.

You'll find inside we have a subterranean pool area.

There's a relaxation pool and a lap pool.

Both feature underwater music.

We have two therapeutic waterfall whirlpools.

We have our outdoor whirlpool which overlooks the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Inside you'll find several fireside lounges.

We also have a eucalyptus inhalation room.

We have a sauna, steam room, as well as our contrast pools.

- While you're visiting the Omni Grove Park you can also enjoy fresh farm-to-table cuisine or craft cocktails like this classic called the bee's knees, whose hint of sweetness comes from honey.

- Clover honey is your go-to for any kind of cocktail.

It is the most versatile and for anyone who's trying to make cocktails for their home bartending needs, it's perfect.

- Thank you.

- The Edison Craft Ales and Kitchen is one of the newest additions to the Omni Grove Park a beautiful space to receive their craft cocktails, craft beer and more.

Chef de cuisine Phillip Bonlhoffer is creative and passionate about sustainability, and he does amazing things with honey.

- There's so many different types of honey.

There's dozens that we can get in.

And there's hundreds of different varieties and the flavor, it's like wine.

It's like beer.

There's just so many different flavor profiles.

One of our most popular appetizers in Edison is our honey pale ale chicken wings.

It's Joyce Farm chicken wings with St. Teresa's pale ale and local honey.

This is the Edison salad.

It's local mixed greens, candied pecans, and we use local fruit with it.

Right now we're using South Carolina peaches.

There's Goat Lady Dairy goat cheese.

We have a strawberry rhubarb pie and instead of a traditional meringue we make a local honey meringue.

Right now we're using our lavender flowers from our [indistinct] garden as well on this dish.

- Just one more reason to make it a sweet stay at the Omni Grove Park in Asheville.

For North Carolina Weekend, I'm Deborah Holt Noel.

The Omni Grove Park Inn is at 290 Macon Avenue in Asheville.

For reservation and more information visit their website@omnihotels.com and search for Grove Park Inn.

Did you know the Battleship North Carolina is more than 700 feet long and could reach speeds up to 28 knots?

Well, the ship that brought over some of our first explorers was called the Elizabeth and it was only 69 feet long.

And it took two months to arrive here from England.

The fascinating story of that ship and the colonists who settled here is vividly told in the outdoor drama :"The Lost Colony", and that is certainly classic Carolina.

- Night begins to fall over Albemarle Sound with a view from Roanoke Island that mimics what the first settlers must've seen for themselves.

Back then they set up camp here.

Today it's the waterside theater where their story is told.

- I tried to imagine how it must've appeared to the brave souls who made the first dangerous voyages.

Some nights, like tonight, I can actually feel their presence and I can almost see them gathering here with us.

- The narrator, posing as a modern day park ranger is Don Bridge, an important player in the history of the theater production that is celebrating its 80th year.

- It's hard to explain to somebody who does not live here what the lost colony means to Dare County and the outer banks and Roanoke Island, but it is kind of the heart and soul of the island.

- In 1937, Lillington, North Carolina native Paul Green, a UNC alum and a Pulitzer prize winner put forward this production, the first of its kind.

A historical piece played out on the very ground where history was made.

He called the new genre outdoors symphonic drama.

- When they started lost colony in 1937, there were no bridges to the mainland.

People came, thousands of people came over you know, on ferry boats to see "The Lost Colony".

- In that first summer, 80 years ago, President Franklin D Roosevelt's calender included a date at the waterside theater.

His car was transported by Coast Guard from Elizabeth City.

And once on the Roanoke island he watched the show from here.

Over the many years, great names of theater have worked here.

Andy Griffith played Sir Walter Raleigh.

Tony award winner Terrence Mann directed and another multiple Tony winner, William Ivey Long, is currently in his 47th year of production design for the show.

By the way, all three of those distinguished members of the Lost Colony family are natives or have lived in North Carolina.

This show is living history for North Carolinians.

The show has shortened a bit since Paul Green last signed off on the script in 1971, but CEO Bill Coleman says it has largely stayed true to its history while beefing up its action.

Well you know, in 80 years, I mean, I have to say technology has changed and I'm happy to say we've been investing in technology a lot in the past few years and we have new lighting and new sound systems and things that people expect.

A lot of the fight scenes, a lot of the technology, that happens on stage during big battle is all new.

So we have some really neat effects that people enjoy - And of the holy ghost, amen.

- At the waterside theater in Manteo.

I'm Rick Sullivan for North Carolina Weekend.

- "The Lost Colony" is at 1409 National Park Drive in Manteo and the show runs nightly through August 21st.

For tickets and more information go to thelostcolony.org.

The galley at Battleship North Carolina fed more than 2300 sailors for months at a time without ever restocking.

Can you imagine?

And I hear they ate a lot of Spam.

Fortunately, there's an iconic North Carolina food.

That's way better than Spam.

Barbecue.

Let's learn about Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge in Shelby from our partners at Our State magazine.

[mellow music] - One thing that makes Red Bridges unique is we never change.

We don't like change.

We don't want any change.

We want the barbecue place you ate back in 1995 to taste exactly the same as it does in 2018 right now.

And we try to treat our customers that's the best utmost respect as we can, because at the end of the day, that that's all we have is barbecue and hospitality and a customer's always right no matter what.

[country banjo music] My name's Chase Webb.

I'm co-owner at Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge.

I'm third generation carrying over [indistinct].

My grandfather was a cook in the Army and when he come home from the Army, he wanted to pursue it and open a restaurant.

So he opened a barbecue place.

My grandfather was taught how to cook my Warner Stamey.

He taught my grandfather and Austin's how to cook back in the '40s.

And they been cooking on hickory and oak and long story short, that's exactly where our style barbecue came from.

We cook it fresh every night.

We don't put any additives on it.

So, I mean, it's just pit cooked, fresh smoked barbecue.

And we do it the exact same every night and we've done it the exact same for 72 years.

So we don't like change it on.

We don't want any kind of change.

Here in the western side of the state, we love our kechup vinegar based.

And like, if you go down towards South Carolina, down towards the other side of the state, they like to put mustard in their barbecue sauce and this okay, to me, it's not the best.

Our ketchup vinegar base is the best for me.

But I think it's a lot about what you were raised on.

They do have a big debate on that.

And some people come in here and can't stand ours and some people come in and like ours better.

John our pit master, he come in and he's actually been cooking barbecue for around 20 or 30 years.

[mellow music] He'll fire four to five, six hours, depending on the temperature and all that, then he'll flip them and then he'll fire them another four to five, six hours.

And they're done.

So, I mean, it's very simple but at the same time, it's complicated.

[mellow music] Anytime I'm cooking or eating barbecue or even talking about barbecue, I just feel close to my family just because my grandfather started it.

And my grandmother started it and that warms my heart up, keeps me feeling good.

They worked so hard to get this place going and where it's at.

I want to keep it going and striving and even more powerful and better than it was when they had it.

Just to keep their legacy going.

[mellow music] - Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge Is it 2000 East Dixon Boulevard in Shelby.

And they're open Wednesday through Sunday.

For more information, give them a call at [704] 482-8567 or visit them online at bridgesbbq.com.

Well, that's it for tonight's show.

We want to thank the folks at Battleship North Carolina for hosting us.

It is a great destination for visitors of all ages.

And if you miss anything in today's show, just remember you can always watch us again on PBSnc.org.

Have a great North Carolina weekend everyone.

[happy music] - [Announcer] Funding for North Carolina Weekend is provided in part by VISITNC, dedicated to highlighting our state's natural scenic beauty, unique history, and diverse cultural attractions from the Blue Ridge and the Great Smoky Mountains, across the Piedmont to 300 miles of Barrier Island beaches.

You're invited to experience all the adventure and charm our state has to offer.