bwuphoto.com

Wilkesboro is a town and the county seat of Wilkes County in North Carolina.

It is situated on the south bank of the Yadkin River opposite North Wilkesboro town.

The town was founded in 1800 and was established on top of a broad ridge that runs along the south bank of the Yadkin River.

Wilkesboro is also known for the infamous “Tory Oak,” a large oak tree where Colonel Benjamin Cleveland hanged Loyalist militia leaders who opposed American independence from Britain.

As of the 2020 census, the population in this town reached 3,687.

Its total land area is composed of 6.43 square miles of pure land.

Wilkesboro was also once tagged as the “Moonshine Capital of the World.”

This area is highly popular for young professionals and retirees looking for a place to settle down.

With its parks, museums, and other interesting attractions, Wilkesboro is a place you should visit at least once in your life.

Are you curious about what this town has in store for you?

Here are the best things to do in Wilkesboro, North Carolina:

Visit The Wilkes Heritage Museum

The Wilkes Heritage Museum is s a private and non-profit organization established in 1968, located on East Main Street.

This two-story museum includes a tour of the Old Jail and the Robert Cleveland Log House.

The Wilkes Heritage Museum also features the McNeil Genealogy Collection, which is a computerized database of genealogy information that pertains to gravesite locations of people from the area.

Among the things you can see inside are artifacts, images, and documents that tell stories about the rich military, agriculture, medical, and educational history of Wilkesboro.

Savor Delicious Food at Dooley’s Grill & Tavern

Dooley’s Grill & Tavern serves huge portions of your favorite food.

From burgers, pizzas, and salads, Dooley’s Grill & Tavern doesn’t disappoint!

Dooley’s Grill & Tavern also ensures that each menu item is cooked with the freshest ingredients that bring savory and mouth-watering flavor to every bite.

On your visit, try out the five-pound homemade New York-style cheesecake.

Aside from delicious food, Dooley’s Grill & Tavern is also popular for hosting live entertainment such as music performances, music trivia nights, DJ performances, and more.

You can find the restaurant on East Main Street.

Unwind with a Drink at Call Family Distillers

Call Family Distillers is a craft distillery on Industrial Drive.

This is where you can taste flavorful and smooth spirits made from a one-of-a-kind distillation technique.

Call Family Distillers is a perfect afternoon or evening destination with friends and family.

You’ll be amazed by its wide selection of alcoholic drinks.

You can try the Ocean Water, made from vodka, peach schnapps, hypnotic, and coconut Red Bull, or the Spiced Pie, made from an apple pie, moonshine, and spiced rum.

What makes Call Family Distillers stand out is its Mash House Entertainment, where you can watch concerts and other music events after or while enjoying your drinks.

Foothills Outdoor Adventures is a water adventure rental shop on West NC Hwy.

It provides river tubs. kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, fishing boats, tubes, pontoon boats, camping equipment, and shuttle services for your next weekend’s adventure.

Foothills Outdoor Adventures has rentals available on both Yadkin River and W. Kerr Scott Lake.

Your whole family will have a great time here, and you can even bring your furry friends.

No need to worry if you don’t know how to swim, as Foothills Outdoor Adventures also provides life jackets for non-swimmers.

Remember that there are no guides on river adventures, but the overall surroundings are guaranteed to be safe and calm.

Admire the Beauty of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is a historic landmark on West Cowles Street.

This church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 as one of the historic places in the county.

The grounds of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church also serve as a cemetery.

It was designed by Bertram Goodhue under the Gothic Revival style, but the materials used for its construction reflect an English Perpendicular style.

You’ll easily recognize St. Paul’s Episcopal Church through its blue-gray slate roof, square tower, and limestone ornaments.

It also boasts a huge Gothic stained glass window.

Choose Your Favorite Drink at Copper Barrel Distillery

Copper Barrel Distillery was founded in 2013 by President and CEO George Smith and Master Distiller Buck Nance.

This is where you can taste top-notch handcrafted spirits made of rye, cane sugar, and corn.

Copper Barrel Distillery is the first in the world to produce legal beverage alcohol via a direct steam-injection distillation process.

While here, try their signature White Lighting, famous for its smooth spirit that warms the palate and has a clean finish.

Its aroma exudes flavors of ripe green apples with a hint of sweetness.

Copper Barrel Distillery also hosts the Moonshine Heritage Day and Shinetopia Festival.

You can find the distillery on Main Street.

Watch a Drag Race at Wilkesboro Dragway

Wilkesboro Dragway is the oldest dragway in North Carolina, located on Dragway Road.

The Olish and Salvatore family own it and also operate several businesses like farms, shops, and markets.

Wilkesboro Dragway maintains a solid and exciting lineup of activities for the whole year.

Overnight camping is allowed here, but they don’t have RV hookups available.

Go Biking at Cub Creek Park

Cub Creek Park is a 203-acre natural oasis on South Bridge Street.

This park features four mountain bike trails, making it the town’s primary park.

Cub Creek Stream is also located within the park.

Cub Creek Park is perfect for a chill and relaxed stroll amid nature.

Picnicking, fishing, and outdoor exercises are also allowed.

Aside from that, Cub Creek Park also has six baseball fields, two batting cages, three basketball courts, two tennis courts, eight pickleball courts, and children’s playgrounds.

You might also want to explore its butterfly garden, community garden, and birdhouses.

Your furry friends will also have a lovely time at Cub Creek Park’s dog park.

Play Golf at Rolling Pines Disc Golf Course

Rolling Pines Disc Golf Course is a town-owned park on Old US 421 Road.

It was established in 2015.

This dog-friendly golf course measures 70 acres with three tees on each hole.

Players of any skill level will enjoy this golf course.

Rolling Pines Disc Golf Course is a Par 56 course with 18 baskets.

It is open to the public, and well-maintained restrooms are available.

Spend the Afternoon at Berry Mountain Park Shelter

Berry Mountain Park Shelter is situated in Berry Mountain Park just within the West Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir.

It measures 1,475 acres and is ideal for swimming, boating, kayaking, and canoeing.

Some of the fish you can catch here are channel catfish. bluegill, large and smallmouth bass, striped bass, and threadfin shad.

Berry Mountain Park Shelter is ADA accessible, so everyone in the family can enjoy this place.

It also has six eight-foot picnic tables, perfect if you want to rest while having a snack.

There is no electricity at Berry Mountain Park Shelter, which will force you, in a good way, to appreciate and explore your surroundings.

You can also bring your camera and practice your nature photography skills while walking on its trails.

This park has a playground, grill, basketball court, and shower.

Other Things to Do Nearby

Go Birdwatching at Rendezvous Mountain

Rendezvous Mountain is nestled on Blue Ridge Mountain in Purlear, just 22 minutes from Wilkesboro.

This park offers a 5.5-mile hiking trail that will lead you to the most scenic spots in the area.

Rendezvous Mountain State Park is also one of the best places for birdwatching, so make sure to bring your binoculars.

It is home to 11 species of warblers, woodpeckers, northern cardinals, vireos, and scarlet tanager.

Rendezvous Mountain State Park also has relaxing picnic shelters with grills and a large stone fireplace.

Hunting, shooting, and injuring any kind of animal are not allowed.

It is also highly encouraged to keep the cleanliness and serenity of the area.

Let Your Kids Enjoy Smoot Park

Smoot Park is located on Chestnut Street in North Wilkesboro.

You can reach this place within a six-minute drive from Wilkesboro.

This park is connected to the Yadkin River Greenway Trailhead, which will take you to Memorial Park.

Smoot Park is a popular destination for kids and for the entire family.

It has playground equipment like slides, swings, and monkey bars.

You can also use Smoot Park’s swimming pool, basketball courts, and sand volleyball courts.

After tying out all outdoor activities in this park, you can grab a bite and relax in one of its picnic shelters.

Pick Juicy Apples at Perry Lowe Orchards

Perry Lowe Orchards is a sixth-generation apple orchard on NC-16, Moravian Falls, a quick 10-minute drive from Wilkesboro.

Perry Lowe Orchards boasts more than 100 acres of land perfectly nestled in the picture-perfect foothills of North Carolina.

This orchard grows over 30 varieties of apples.

You’ll have fun picking apples while surrounded by beautiful scenery.

Perry Lowe Orchards also produces fresh cider, glass cider, dried apples, and even vegetables like corn, squash, green beans, zucchini, and scuppernongs.

Try Glamping at Growing Faith Farms

Growing Faith Farms is a 125-acre farm on Russell Gap Road, Moravian Falls.

It is only 14 minutes away from Wilkesboro.

Growing Faith Farms started as a 15-acre farm but has grown into a large and highly visited destination where you can feel closer to nature and cute farm animals.

Growing Faith Farms also offers glamping tents where you can have a luxurious and unique camping experience.

You can also pick your own bouquets here at Growing Faith Farms.

Boating and hiking are also highly recommended.

Just like any other natural and man-made attraction, keep the cleanliness and tranquillity of Growing Faith Farms so that others can enjoy its astonishing beauty too.

Admire Artworks at Wilkes Art Gallery

Wilkes Art Gallery is located on C St. North Wilkesboro, only six minutes away from Wilkesboro.

This gallery was founded in 1962 within the parlor of Annie Winkeler’s home.

Its location was transferred in 2004 to the renovated North Wilkesboro Post Office building.

Wilkes Art Gallery features paintings, drawings, sculptures, and other art exhibitions of local artists.

You can enroll in art classes here, such as basket weaving, pottery, painting, and clay art making.

Aside from these, Wilkes Art Gallery also offers an Artist Support Grant funded by N.C. Arts Council and the Grassroots Arts Program Grant for non-profit organizations that promote diverse cultural arts in the county.

Final Thoughts

The breathtaking views of mountains and rolling hills that surround the town of Wilkesboro are truly exceptional.

It invites and warmly welcomes visitors with a promise of unforgettable adventures and experiences.

It has museums, shops, farms, mountain trails, and zoos which will make your visit worthwhile.

If you’re looking for a place to de-stress and create new memories, consider visiting Wilkesboro.

Once you’re here, use this guide and try all the best things to do in Wilkesboro, North Carolina.

Art inspired by the beauty of trees are one of the most common natural elements that art lovers collect. Whether paintings, photographs of trees, sculptures or other various types of media, there is no denying the wonder, power and inspiration of trees. People enjoy tree images because they’re often easy to incorporate into an existing gallery, due to how natural elements tend to flow well with both organic and inorganic subjects.

As a photographer, and lover of trees myself, I am inspired by the great painters who themselves turned to nature for inspiration, creating some of the masterpieces of our time that showcase the art of trees. I have had the honor of producing high quality wall art for thousands of clients over the past decade to be used as primary focal points in their homes and when it comes to popularity, without question, my tree photography art towers above all.

Telling Stories With Art

Both paintings and photographs can tell a story, though most of the time, paintings are more open ended along with the artist’s style and intent. Both art forms are connected, as photography aims to preserve a moment in time and an element of nature, like trees, exactly as they are at that time. Paintings take the sources of those same images and change them into a work of art that’s influenced by societal elements of the time, the artist’s mindset, and other factors that make the work unique.

When we think of history’s most famous paintings, masterpieces such as the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper often come to mind. Taking a dive into the most famous tree paintings of all time provides us with a wealth of beautiful artwork, inspired by nature.

Seven Famous Tree Paintings

Trees are often used in art to symbolize new life, though the nature of the painting can place both positive and negative connotations on the points made. For example, a bright, blooming tree might be painted to celebrate the birth of a child or recovery from a long illness. On the other hand, dark, gnarled trees might display sorrow and melancholy surrounding the death of a loved one and the life that continues from that point on.

Let’s explore seven of the most famous tree paintings in existence to gain perspective on this type of symbolism.

Olive Trees with Yellow Sky & Sun by Vincent Van Gogh

Vincent Van Gogh barely needs introduction for even entry-level art enthusiasts, as he is well known for both the mental health struggles he suffered from during his lifetime, and the body of beautiful paintings he created. Van Gogh was born in the Netherlands but spent much of the latter part of his life in France.

Van Gogh created this painting during the time he spent in Saint Paul de Mausole Asylum, which is located in Saint Remy de Provence, France. The artist had just recovered from a recent illness and decided to go outside to take in the natural views, which included the olive trees included in his famous painting.

Cairn in Snow by Caspar David Friedrich

Caspar David Friedrich was a 19th-century German artist who became famous for his symbolic landscape paintings. Often dark in tone, Friedrich’s paintings provoked thoughts and a search for deeper meaning due to the stirring imagery he used to make a statement.

Friedrich painted Cairn in Snow, an image capturing a pagan burial site among barren oak trees, in 1807. It’s a winter image, and as such, the trees are without leaves. The setting is quite somber and meaningful, illustrating a lonely area near a German town. Notice the stacked stones amongst the trees, which signify a secret burial area.

Avond (Evening) the Red Tree by Piet Mondrian

Piet Mondrian is a well-known Dutch painter who was one of the creators of De Stijl (“The Style”), a concept that placed emphasis on the power of abstract art. In the early 1900s, Mondrian expanded upon his current art style in ways that allowed him to express his unique talents through the use of colors and abstract shapes.

Possibly influenced by Van Gogh’s work, Mondrian completed Avond (Evening) the Red Tree in 1908. The image depicts a bright red tree against a deep blue background, which was part of what set him apart from other artists of his time. He embraced non-traditional painting and used colors that defied nature’s depictions of his subjects.

Almond Blossoms by Vincent Van Gogh

Appearing again in this list is Vincent Van Gogh, who painted another one of the world’s most famous tree paintings called Almond Blossoms. The image displays branches and blossoms of an almond tree set against a beautiful blue sky. He was influenced by Japanese printmaking during the creation of this piece, which was made as a gift for his brother and sister-in-law, who’d just had a baby. Van Gogh’s nephew, Vincent Willem (named after Van Gogh) later founded the Van Gogh Museum.

Forest in Autumn by Gustave Courbet

Gustave Courbet was a well-rounded French painter who captured his subjects using a Realist art style that defied traditional methods of the time. Many of his paintings in the 1840s gained him considerable success in the art world, and in addition to the beauty his work displayed, it often made social commentary as well. Courbet created portraits, still lifes, landscapes, nudes, and political subjects.

Forest in Autumn displays, as the title states, a forested area during the Fall season. As such, the painting contains rich orange, red, and yellow color elements. While it embraces Realism as a style, Courbet’s individual techniques shine through to enhance the whimsical tone of his landscapes.

Giant Redwood Trees of California by Albert Bierstadt

Albert Bierstadt, a 19th-century German-American artist, painted this famous image around 1874 when he was in his 40s. Part of what sets this painting apart from other landscape images of the time is Bierstadt’s perspective. Rather than using horizontal canvases to exhibit wide scenes, he used a vertical canvas to showcase the sheer height of the American redwood trees that inspired the creation of this painting.

La Grenouillere by Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Renoir created this Impressionist painting alongside his friend and fellow artist Claude Monet, a session that allowed each artist to create their own version of the same image. The painting depicts people on a floating dock in La Grenouillere, and the trees in the image serve as both a contrast to the water and a focal point for the image. It’s a classic painting that captures the depth of Renoir’s work.

Working with natural sources like trees gives those who appreciate art the ability to take a close look at the individualized elements that make one artist’s painting stand out from others. Despite having similar styles or being painted around similar times, trees are such a versatile subject that they enable the spirit and intent of the artist to shine.

Inspired By Nature | Tree Photography

I think it is safe to say that all humans, whether artists or not, are inspired by nature in one way or another. All of us stare up in wonder at the towering giants that offer beauty and the oxygen that fills our lungs. Since my very first days as a photographer I have explored the wonder of trees through the lens of my camera and don’t plan to stop anytime soon.

More people went to the Khao Yai National Park than any other during the New Year’s holidays, according to the parks officials.

More than 18,000 visitors were recorded at the kingdom’s sprawling first national park of the 555,000+ visitors in total to visit such parks during the holidays, the national parks department said today.

From Dec. 30 to Jan. 2, officials estimate that (the park system/Khao Yai) benefited by THB17 million (US$500,000).

The other most popular national parks were Khlong Lan in Kamphaeng Phet province (8,621 visitors), Phu Chi Fah in Chiang Rai province (7,751 visitors), Doi Inthanon in Chiang Mai province (6,404 visitors), and Chae Son in Lampang province (5,802 visitors).