Laurinburg

Day Trips

Stroll along Main Street admiring early 20th-century brick facades and browsing locally owned boutiques. Pause at the visitor center to collect brochures on Laurinburg’s founding and its railway heritage. Enjoy the friendly buzz of residents starting their day with coffee on shaded benches.

Have a leisurely lunch at the Purple Cow Diner sampling their famed pimiento cheese sandwich. Join a guided walking tour highlighting the Scotland County Courthouse and surrounding historic district. Chat with a local historian about notable town events that shaped the community.

Dine at Jim’s BBQ for tender smoked ribs served with collard greens and cornbread. Catch a live acoustic set at a downtown coffeehouse featuring regional musicians. Sip sweet tea on the porch of a restored Victorian home under string lights.

Step into the Scotland County Heritage Museum to explore rotating exhibits on agriculture, railroads, and local crafts. Handle antique farm tools in the interactive gallery and learn about early settlers’ daily lives. Wander through displays of historic photographs capturing Laurinburg’s evolution.

Tour the 1908 Scotland County Old Jail to see original cell blocks, iron bars, and guard towers. Hear spooky stories of past inmates and early law enforcement tactics. Snap evocative photos of the aged brickwork in the fading daylight.

Enjoy a hearty supper at Coach & Four Restaurant known for country-fried steak. Join a themed ghost walk around the historic municipal complex by lantern light. Feel the hush of the night air as guides recount local legends.

Begin the day at Mandale Woods Preserve with a serene hike along winding pine-lined trails. Listen for cardinals singing and watch squirrels scurry among leafy undergrowth. Cross a small wooden footbridge arching over a babbling creek.

Settle by the pond for a homemade picnic featuring local cheeses and artisanal bread. Forage for blackberries (seasonal) to add a sweet touch to your snacks. Sketch the towering loblolly pines and reflective water in a nature journal.

Return to town for a farm-to-table dinner at Wellspring Kitchen, where produce is sourced from nearby fields. Unwind on a bench overlooking Snug Lake Park at sunset, watching golden light shimmer across the water. Breathe in the fresh evening air as the cicadas begin their chorus.

Drive out to a family-owned organic farm for a behind-the-scenes tractor tour of vegetable fields. Learn about sustainable growing practices while hand-picking sun-ripened tomatoes and peppers. Meet the farm animals—chickens clucking in their coop and goats grazing nearby.

Participate in a cooking workshop using the morning’s harvest to craft heirloom tomato jam and fresh herb pesto. Roll up your sleeves as the chef demonstrates rustic bread baking techniques. Sample your creations alongside crisp garden greens drizzled with seasonal vinaigrette.

Sit down to a communal farm dinner hosted under string lights in a rustic pole barn. Delight in goat cheese salad, roasted vegetables, and honey-glazed pork loin. End the night stargazing across open fields, far from city light pollution.

Tee off at Highlandwalk Golf Club, admiring rolling fairways and Pete Dye–designed bunkers bathed in morning sun. Feel the crisp air as you drive down impeccably manicured par threes. Pause at the 10th tee for panoramic views of the Sandhills landscape.

Indulge in a deep-tissue massage and hydrating facial at the club’s full-service spa. Lounge poolside with a refreshing fruit-infused water and a good book. Wander the lush grounds to discover hidden garden nooks and meditation benches.

Dine at the clubhouse restaurant offering fresh Carolina shrimp and grits or farm-raised trout. Toast to your day over a glass of locally produced white wine. Enjoy soft jazz melodies drifting from the lounge on the veranda.

Launch a kayak from the public boat ramp onto the glassy surface of Lake Snug. Paddle through quiet coves flanked by cypress trees draped in Spanish moss. Spot blue herons wading gracefully along the shoreline.

Dock at a secluded sandy shore for a lakeside picnic of deli sandwiches and lemonade. Rent a stand-up paddleboard to glide across calm waters under clear blue sky. Explore hidden inlets and small islands teeming with wildlife.

Gather at the lakeside pavilion for a casual fish fry grilled to order. Join local paddlers around a bonfire to roast marshmallows and share fishing tall tales. Let lantern light dance across rippling water as night falls.

Join a friendly pickup softball game on the park’s sun-dappled diamonds. Cheer on youth soccer matches as kids dash across lush green turf. Practice your backhand on well-maintained tennis courts surrounded by pines.

Cool off at the sprayground splash pad with family-friendly water features. Rent a bike to explore miles of paved multiuse trails looping through shaded woodlands. Pause at picnic shelters for a snack break and people-watching.

Settle onto folding chairs for an open-air movie night under the stars on a giant inflatable screen. Share popcorn and sodas while a classic family film plays. Feel community camaraderie as neighbors chat softly by lantern glow.

Browse rotating exhibitions at the Scotland County Arts Council gallery showcasing paintings, sculptures, and photography. Attend an artist’s talk to learn about creative techniques in clay, metal, or fiber arts. Purchase handmade crafts from local artisans for a meaningful souvenir.

Try your hand at a guided pottery wheel class, crafting bowls or vases under expert instruction. Watch sweetgrass basket-weaving demonstrations, learning how to braid and coil native grasses. Savor light refreshments of tea and Southern-style cookies in the courtyard.

Attend a community theatre production at the Scotland County Cultural Arts Center, enjoying comedic or dramatic works by regional playwrights. Applaud talented actors bringing local stories to life. Cap the night with late-night dessert and coffee at a cozy downtown café.

Embark on a coffee crawl sampling freshly roasted beans at independent cafes downtown. Pair each brew with homemade buttermilk biscuits or pastries from local bakeries. Chat with baristas about their favorite seasonal blends.

Lunch at a classic soul food spot for crispy fried chicken, collard greens, and candied yams. Afterward, visit a nearby microbrewery for a tasting flight of craft beers featuring corn dog–inspired stouts. Stop by the farmers market to pick up artisanal honey and moon pies.

Join a hands-on cooking demonstration led by a resident chef teaching you to make Brunswick stew and cornbread. Feast on your creations alongside pulled pork sliders and fresh salads. Finish with a decadent pecan pie topped with scoop of ice cream.

Drive 30 minutes to Pinehurst Village and stroll through charming boutiques and antique shops. Tee off at the Hatley Disc Golf Course winding through towering pines. Capture photos of the iconic 1895 Pinehurst Inn and its golf museum.

Head to Southern Pines for lunch at a historic inn offering farm-to-table Southern fare. Explore the Weymouth Center for the Arts & Humanities, admiring period furnishings and rotating art exhibitions. Sip sweet tea in the period-style garden overlooking lush lawns.

Return to Laurinburg for a farewell dinner at a cozy bistro specializing in local seafood and seasonal sides. Share stories from the week over glasses of Carolina white wine. End the night with a moonlit stroll through downtown, soaking in the town’s quiet charm.