By Elizabeth Poland Shugg
Backroads transport us to the places in between. This regularly occurring feature takes you to and from two southeastern destinations via winding rural roads lined with pristine woods, spacious farmland, historic sites, and locally owned businesses. Take one route there and another back to experience two unique journeys. Stop by a cafe, restaurant, or farm for a seasonally-inspired coffee or bite to eat; or to shop for fresh produce, blooms, or artisan treasures.
For Backroad Portfolio’s first “There and Back Again” feature, we’re connecting the towns our founders live in: Pittsboro and Statesville. Not accounting for time spent at stops, this drive from Pittsboro to Statesville and back adds 52 minutes to the typical interstate drive (U.S. 64 to Interstate 85 to Interstate 40), while the route back adds about 30 minutes. Both options meander through small towns and communities, offering picturesque views of farmland, crumbling tobacco barns and old country stores.