There Goes Connie

Cartersville, Georgia and Lottie Moon

09/06/2019 By: CCPearson8 Comments

Growing up as a Southern Baptist and continuing in that denomination for almost 70 years now, I thought I knew a lot about Lottie Moon. But, last week I learned she has a strong tie to Cartersville, Georgia and that the townspeople are very proud of their connection to her.

Within a few minutes of my time with a group of writers and tourism representatives in Cartersville, the person most closely tied to the town said, “Is anyone here a Baptist?” My quick response was, “Yes, I’m a life-long Southern Baptist, tried and true!” She then said, “So, I suppose you’ve heard of Lottie Moon.”

I absolutely have, and it pleases me to know that non-Baptists also acknowledge the great work she did.

Lottie (whose given name was Charlotte Digges Moon) was born in 1840 to wealthy parents. Their wealth allowed her to have a fine education which far exceeded most women of the day. She was actually one of the first women to receive a Master of Arts degree from a southern school. She exhibited a real flair for languages and knew Latin, Greek, French, Spanish and Italian, which certainly helped her later when she needed to become fluent in Chinese.

Lottie is most noted for the nearly 40 years she served in China as a single, female missionary, teaching, evangelizing and so devoting herself to the people that she often starved herself in order to give her own food to them during times of famine. She died on Christmas Eve in 1912, weighing only 50 pounds because of this starvation.

Her connection to Cartersville, Georgia was short but significant. She and a friend, Anna Safford, moved there and opened the Cartersville Female High School in 1871. She also contributed to the ministry of First Baptist Church in Cartersville by helping poor families. It was in Cartersville that she acknowledged God’s call on her life, succeeded in being appointed as a missionary by the Baptist convention and left for China in 1873. Cartersville has a plaque acknowledging her importance on the Fence of Fame near the town’s historic depot, a book about her life is for sale in the Bartow History Museum, and there are displays at the First Baptist Church that I am eager to return and see. It was, after all, that church which first gathered offerings with her name attached to support her work in China.

Plaque chronicling the impact of Lottie Moon hung on the Fence of Fame in downtown Cartersville.

It is very fitting that the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual offering to support international missionaries is named for Lottie Moon. My husband and I were supported by this very offering during our four years in Ecuador. Approximately 5000 missionaries are sharing the Gospel in foreign countries each year thanks to this offering.

“Send the Light” a book about Lottie Moon in the gift shop of the Bartow History Museum in Cartersville.

This tiny woman — 4′ 3″ tall — made a huge difference when she was alive and still inspires us today.

She believed these verses and followed the command of Jesus —

Matthew 28:19-20 – “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:²⁰Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

Cartersville, GA: Rusty Cars and Rustic Diners

09/02/2019 By: CCPearsoncomment

Before last week, the only time I’d heard about Cartersville, Georgia was when my daughter who lives in Rome, Georgia said, “That’s where we go to shop at Target.” Needless to say, that meant my knowledge was practically non-existent. Everything changed when I had a chance to explore the town and pretty much all of Bartow County with several fellow travel writers and people familiar with the attractions of Cartersville. As a result, you can anticipate several posts about various aspects of this surprising destination.

OLD CAR CITY U.S.A.

Definitely getting the award for the most unusual attraction in Bartow County, Old Car City U.S.A. was a big surprise! Six miles of trails, 34 acres, 4400 old cars — really? Who knew that could be so fascinating and so appealing to photographers? It truly was, though. For folks like me, it was a step back in time as I spotted cars I used to be picked up in for dates or cars my parents had when I was growing up. No, these aren’t mint condition, car show cars. These are a part of what the owner Dean Lewis proudly calls “the third most famous junkyard in the world.” His parents originally opened the junkyard in 1931, but Lewis has expanded the business and marketed it very effectively.

Inside the large building at the entrance, you will also found a car once belonging to Elvis Presley, an antique toy collection and an eye-popping display of Styrofoam cups that have been used as canvasses to create folk art pieces. The Styrofoam cups, by the way, are identical to the ones used for serving beverages across the street at Wes-Man’s Restaurant. Somehow I don’t think that’s a coincidence.

A sample of the vast Styrofoam cup collection at Old Car City U.S.A.

It is open Tuesday – Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission for ages 13 and up is $15, for ages 7-10 it’s $10, and children 6 and under are free. If you have a camera or plan to have your picture made on the lot, the price is $25.

If you’re a “car person,” you’ll like this place. Even if you don’t think you’re a car person, I believe you’ll be surprised at how peaceful it is.

DINERS WITH HISTORY AND CHARACTER

Wes-Man’s Restaurant, as I mentioned above, is right across the highway from Old Car City U.S.A. In keeping with that theme, there is a rusty truck in the parking lot that has been used for special greetings for years. When my fellow writers and I arrived, our names were already painted on the truck, and it acknowledged the birthday of my new friend Laurie.

The important truck in the parking lot of Wes-Man’s Restaurant.

The decor can best be described as vintage, and the menu is truly Southern with lots of fried choices — even an ear of corn and cheesecake! Owner Wes Wesley does a good job of making his customers feel special, and if you’ve seen the movie “The Fundamentals of Caring,” the diner scene was filmed inside of Wes-Man’s.

Wes Wesley greeting guests with part of his impressive license plate collection displayed in the background.

Fried green tomatoes, field peas, mashed potatoes and a hoecake at Wes-Man’s.

4 Way Lunch is billed as “Georgia’s Oldest Restaurant Without a Telephone.” In reality, it is a tiny diner with a single row of stools that opened in 1931 and is pretty much serving the same menu it served at the beginning. Typical breakfast fare can be ordered from 5:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., then hamburgers, cheeseburgers, steak and chicken sandwiches, chili and peach cobbler for lunch. The prices are unbelievably low. You can find it on East Main Street near the center of town.

Ross’ Diner, established in 1935 and located at 17 Wall Street, is slightly larger than 4 Way with approximately 2 dozen stools arranged in a u-shape. Ross’ also offers expected breakfast dishes and an array of sandwiches for lunch, but it goes a step further with lunch-time meat-and-three plates. No reservations are taken, of course. You just arrive and wait for an open stool. The prices are great here, too, with nothing on the menu topping $10.

Sausage, scrambled eggs and grits at Ross’ Diner.

Ross’ is open Monday through Saturday from 6:30 – 2:30 but extends its Friday hours to 8:00 p.m.

Doug’s Place on Georgia Highway 293 in Emerson, GA, grew from a roadside country store to a full-fledged cafe when Interstate 75 was being built and a large detour took drivers right past the store. Those drivers looked mighty hungry to Doug, so he decided to offer biscuits, then meat-and-threes and a variety of Southern comfort dishes. The interstate has long been completed, but the parking lot at Doug’s stays impressively full.

Doug’s is open for breakfast and lunch Tuesday through Sunday and for dinner on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Western omelet and hash browns at Doug’s Place.

Next Monday I’ll give you even more reasons to visit Cartersville and Bartow County.

Why Act Like a Know-It-All?

08/30/2019 By: CCPearson3 Comments

I bet you’ve had a similar experience. Recently, I was with a person who truly thought they knew it all. Any subject you could name? They knew something about it . . . or knew more than anyone else in the room regarding that subject/person/situation. Furthermore, this person was a card-carrying name-dropper. They knew who the most in-the-know person was in any setting mentioned during our group conversations and was on a first-name basis with them. Grrrrrr. Wasn’t it just last Friday that I wrote about ‘The High Cost of Anger?” (Click here for a review). Words that came to my mind to describe the person: unteachable, arrogant, irritating, puffed up, self-serving, etc.

A long list of Bible verses address that kind of attitude, particularly in the Book of Proverbs —

Proverbs 16:18 – ” Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”

Proverbs 27:2 – “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.”

Proverbs 16:5 – “Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished.”

As the person droned on and on ad nauseum, I became aware of several feelings — no, let me go ahead and call them what they were, SINS — creeping into my own heart. Clearly, I was judging when I definitely didn’t know enough about the person to understand the motivations or the background. I found myself listening for a mistake or wanting to jump in with a correction or a “better idea” — sins that must have been equally despicable to God. I didn’t like myself because of the thoughts I was having. I recognized that I like to be the one with the knowledge, the expertise, the advice to give those around me, and I DON’T like listening to someone else be the “know it all.” It was not my finest hour or series of days. Hopefully, by confessing this to God and to all of you, I can get my heart straight again and be able to acknowledge the good traits that the person possesses rather than focusing on their traits that brought out the worst in me.

Matthew 7:1-5 – “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. ²For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. ³“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Clearly, I need to find a good “Plank Removal Service.” Anger one week, judging the next. God has His hands full keeping me convicted and straightened out.

And to Steve, my beloved Silver Fox. If you’re reading this, let me tell you how sorry I am for the times that I play the “know-it-all” role, when it is completely obvious to everyone who knows both of us that YOU are the one with the gift of wisdom. Please forgive me. I’ll try to do better.

Curry’s: Great for a Girlfriend Lunch, Decatur AL

08/26/2019 By: CCPearsoncomment

If you’re not careful, you’ll miss it. Turn into the parking lot off of Johnston Street, and you will be able to see the Decatur Farmers Market and the railroad tracks in the distance. The building was originally built in 1890 and served as the Cotaco Opera House. Curry’s on Johnston Street (the restaurant) actually resides in the basement.

Diners may choose to sit indoors surrounded by quirky art or “outside” in the glass-enclosed porch surrounded by nature. If you just don’t have time to linger, carry-out orders are prepared frequently.

This is not a frou-frou place, meaning you won’t find china, silver or crystal, and you’ll need to go to the counter to place your order and pay. But then, once you’re seated, someone will gladly bring your order to you and check on you from time to time. The casual atmosphere adds to Curry’s charm, it seems, and makes it a great spot to meet a friend for lunch.

The hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but that basically means lunch, if you’re dining in, or hours before and after for picking up orders to carry-out. A special bonus is that you can also purchase a frozen entree to take home for dinner if your day has been crazy busy and there’s no time to cook.

The menu basically consists of a wide variety of salads and sandwiches, and they have a daily hot lunch special. The Spring Roll Salad, the Fried Oyster Salad and the Fried Scallop Salad may be the most unusual menu items, but they are very delicious — so light and flavorful. Chicken salad and strawberry pretzel salad are possibly the most popular sellers. I don’t know how they manage to always have perfect strawberry pretzel salad — firm and fruity on top, sweet, creamy center and crunchy crust on the bottom. When I make it at home, my crust invariably gets soggy. Thus the need for places like Curry’s, right?

I recently took a chicken salad plate home and put it on one of my china plates. Voila! A great meal without lifting a finger. 🙂

Chicken salad, strawberry pretzel salad, a banana bread sandwich and a pickle.

Once, when I was “between houses” and needed to host Thanksgiving, I enjoyed Curry’s great holiday catering service and ordered a fabulous meal — turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, sides, dessert — without having to buy any groceries or get my own kitchen dirty. It was worth every penny.

Curry’s does a great job — consistently and at a reasonable price. I recommend it.

The High Price of Anger

08/23/2019 By: CCPearsoncomment

I know from personal experience that getting angry and staying angry can make you sick. Yes, physically ill. I’ve had times when I was so mad my blood pressure soared, my heart raced, my stomach revolted and sleep became impossible. I’m not talking about so-called “righteous indignation” (whatever that might be) or being deeply hurt. No, I’m talking about having a burning, boiling rage inside that seems to grow and fester.

Fortunately, I seldom get angry (as Steve is my witness), but when I do, I’m ashamed of how ugly I become in looks, thoughts and actions. It goes against everything I know about being Christlike and exhibiting the Fruit of the Spirit in my life.

The Bible very specifically warns against it:

James 1:19-20 – “Remember this, my dear friends! Everyone must be quick to listen, but slow to speak and slow to become angry. Human anger does not achieve God’s righteous purpose.”

Psalm 37:8 – ” Don’t give in to worry or anger; it only leads to trouble.”

Colossians 3:8 – ” But now you must get rid of all these things: anger, passion, and hateful feelings. No insults or obscene talk must ever come from your lips.”

Ephesians 4:26 – “If you become angry, do not let your anger lead you into sin, and do not stay angry all day.”

God knows us. He knows our human tendencies to bristle, seethe and burn inside. He also knows how harmful it is to our bodies, to our witness for Christ, and ultimately how damaging it is to furthering His kingdom.

Just this past week, I observed two women suffering ill effects from their anger. Both of them, no doubt, feel completely justified with their anger. I don’t know the whole story in either case. They may have some valid points. But, what I DO know is that they are suffering consequences because of their anger. The anger itself is doing them no good. They’ve lost their ability to see things logically and with true discernment.

Jonah got mad at God. Yes, God. Jonah was mad because God chose to forgive the Ninevites and to spare them and their city. He lost complete sight of the BIG PICTURE, and God called him on it.

Read about it here in Jonah 4:1-11 (The Message):

Jonah was furious. He lost his temper. He yelled at God, “God! I knew it—when I was back home, I knew this was going to happen! That’s why I ran off to Tarshish! I knew you were sheer grace and mercy, not easily angered, rich in love, and ready at the drop of a hat to turn your plans of punishment into a program of forgiveness!

³“So, God, if you won’t kill them, kill me! I’m better off dead!”

⁴God said, “What do you have to be angry about?”

⁵But Jonah just left. He went out of the city to the east and sat down in a sulk. He put together a makeshift shelter of leafy branches and sat there in the shade to see what would happen to the city.

⁶God arranged for a broad-leafed tree to spring up. It grew over Jonah to cool him off and get him out of his angry sulk. Jonah was pleased and enjoyed the shade. Life was looking up.

^7-8But then God sent a worm. By dawn of the next day, the worm had bored into the shade tree and it withered away. The sun came up and God sent a hot, blistering wind from the east. The sun beat down on Jonah’s head and he started to faint. He prayed to die: “I’m better off dead!”

⁹Then God said to Jonah, “What right do you have to get angry about this shade tree?”

Jonah said, “Plenty of right. It’s made me angry enough to die!”

^10-11God said, “What’s this? How is it that you can change your feelings from pleasure to anger overnight about a mere shade tree that you did nothing to get? You neither planted nor watered it. It grew up one night and died the next night. So, why can’t I likewise change what I feel about Nineveh from anger to pleasure, this big city of more than 120,000 childlike people who don’t yet know right from wrong, to say nothing of all the innocent animals?”

So, anyway, I’ve been thinking about the high price you and I pay when we get angry and stay angry. I want to learn from my past mistakes. Don’t you?

Morgan Price Candy Company in Decatur, AL

08/19/2019 By: CCPearsoncomment

English toffee from Morgan Price Candy Company in Decatur, Alabama, is on the list of “100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama Before You Die.” No wonder! The stuff is heavenly. What’s not to like about butter, sugar, chocolate, and crushed almonds prepared precisely and perfectly?

I visited recently when expert candy-maker Annie was preparing several fresh batches. She knows the formula and turns out tray after tray of crunchy sweetness.

Annie has perfected the process of making perfect English toffee.

Sprinkling the crushed almonds onto the chocolate.

Morgan Price Candy Company has been serving Morgan County sweets-lovers for 32 years and has been in their present location on 6th Avenue (Highway 31 S) for about 3 years of that time. It’s a great store full of attractive gifts and, of course, candy-themed baskets and boxes.

Gelato was added to the summertime offerings a year or so ago and will continue to be made this year until the end of September. So, go quickly, while it’s sweltering outside and enjoy this creamy, cool treat.

I spied something new on the shelves — Ruby cocoa beans! I’m kicking myself for not trying it while I was there, but that gives me a great reason for a return visit.

For toffee, gelato, or beautiful gifts, I highly recommend a trip to Morgan Price Candy Company. Please tell my friends Terry Mayfield and Linda Williams (who help make the magic happen) that I sent you.

Enjoying Encounters With Long-Time Friends

08/16/2019 By: CCPearsoncomment

My mother used to be sure she had her hair fixed and her makeup on whenever she went to the grocery store. She expected to see people there that she knew, and she looked forward to exchanging a quick hug and a greeting. I was my mother’s daughter today.

As I was coming out of one deli/cafe, I got a fun hug from a girlfriend in my church. We see each other a lot on Sunday mornings. Our youngest daughters are the same age. We go WAY back.

When I walked into a local candy store, I was immediately greeted by a former colleague from the last school where I taught. We, too, exchanged hugs then she led me around to the back of the kitchen where the “magic” was happening. While photographing the process, a sweet voice whispered in my ear, “You had the world’s sweetest in-laws.” I looked up to see one of my mother-in-law’s dearest friends, and we shared some fond memories. She works there now, too.

Then, I went into a popular Italian eatery to “do some research” (a.k.a. sample something delicious) for this blog, and there sat more teacher friends from another school where I worked over 20 years ago. More smiles, more happy greetings.

I was so glad I had fixed my hair, put on my makeup and decided to wear my new earrings. I had no idea I would see friends everywhere I went today, but it warmed my heart when it happened.

Each person I encountered today has enriched my life. They were put in my path at the exact time God knew I needed them all along my journey. I’d like to think that in some way they feel the same toward me.

My advice? Put on your lipstick the next time you run errands. Anticipate seeing people you might know. Give those hugs and enjoy the ones you get in return. Unglue your face from your cellphone and really LOOK into the faces of those you pass. After all, life is the sum of our relationships. Wouldn’t you agree? Enjoy those from your past. Form new ones according to the place/life stage you are in right now. Twenty years from now, you’ll smile when you see them coming.

Proverbs 27:9 – “Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.”

Psalms 133:1 – ” Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers (and friends) dwell in unity!”

Proverbs 27:17 – ” Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”

COOK MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE and Supper Heroes — 2 Cousins Camp Winners

08/12/2019 By: CCPearsoncomment

Two places were new to us during our recent Pearson Cousins Camp. One is a fabulous new attraction in Decatur, AL. and the other is a fun eatery in Huntsville. Both received rave reviews from our grandchildren and are highly recommended by me.

COOK MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE

Cook Museum of Natural Science opened to the public on June 7, 2019, after a long, but well-worth-it period of planning and construction. Cook Pest Control and its owners provided the major impetus and inspiration for the museum with other corporations and organizations making significant contributions, as well.

The facility and grounds are stunning, and the exhibits are done with excellence and careful instruction in mind. I was especially impressed with the well-trained, friendly staff. Steve and I hope to return soon to study each exhibit in more depth, to browse through the gift shop and to sample some goodies in the cafe. Cook Museum opens Monday through Saturday at 9:00 a.m. and at noon on Sunday. Here are some photos from our visit:

SUPPER HEROES

I was looking for a kid-friendly place to have lunch after our time at the Alabama Space and Rocket Center on Monday morning, and voila! A real hit popped up.

Supper Heroes, on Winchester Road, is about a 15-minute drive from the Space Center, and their kids’ menu has a grandparent-friendly price. Woohoo! The walls are covered in paintings and comic book covers with Super Heroes as the theme.

Burgers are the specialty, and I can attest that they are wonderful. Steve opted for the chicken salad and liked it, too. At the end of the week, when we were talking about our favorite meals of Cousins Camp, Supper Heroes was mentioned by everyone.

It is open Monday – Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and on Sunday from 10:30 to 2:30.

Whether you’re a grandparent or just a “kid at heart,” I believe you’ll like both of these places — one for amazement and education, the other for good food at a great price.

New Life, Unexpected Death and So Much in Between

08/09/2019 By: CCPearson4 Comments

Last Sunday morning, after an abbreviated lesson on Solomon and godly wisdom, our Life Group celebrated the imminent arrival of a precious baby girl to one of our families. We brought diapers and wipes, ate pink cake and finger foods and had a great time.

Less than 24 hours later, we learned of the sudden passing of the brother of one or our members — gone in an instant of an apparent heart attack at the age of 46, leaving a wife and two young sons.

One group of people joined together by our faith, ages/life stages, and membership at First Baptist but two events that are polar opposites. One full of joy, expectancy, laughter and excitement. The other full of shock, grief, tears and confusion. Both events will cause major disruptions to well-ordered lives, but one is anticipated happily, while the other will have serious repercussions for those left behind.

It’s often referred to as the Circle of Life, but that circle has both ecstasy and agony as we travel along its rim.

Before these two events happened, I attended a family picnic hosted by my uncle in Athens, AL. This uncle, in his 80’s, is coming out of one of the hardest years of his life. Heart surgery, dire complications, months in the hospital, months of rehab, caregivers 24 hours a day when he finally got home, THEN slowly but surely climbing his way back to a semblance of normalcy, even driving. Wanting to express his gratitude to God for being alive and to family for supporting him through the year, he invited 50 of us over, hired people to spruce up his backyard and provided food for all of us, insisting that “nobody bring anything.” He gave a rousing speech before the blessing. He’s a walking miracle, and he knows it.

During the picnic, I watched 2 other family members in their 80’s giving hugs, a cousin showing off her new engagement ring, young second and third cousins splashing in the pool, and we all drank sweet tea and lemonade out of Alabama Crimson Tide cups. Yikes! We Auburn folks are in a minority in this crowd. 🙂

The point is this. If we’re breathing, we are somewhere on this great Circle of Life. How are we managing the stage where we find ourselves? Are we content? Are we doing things that help others? Are we maintaining a good relationship with our family and friends? Do we spend time with God regularly? Are we grateful in good times and in bad? Are we generous with our time and our resources? Do we view each day as a gift? Most of all, are we certain that we will be in heaven with Jesus if our lives come to a sudden end?

I wish I could remember where I was when I took this photo. At any rate, I loved the sentiment. Baggage is detrimental to enjoying the journey, don’t you think?

Proverbs 27:1 – “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.”

Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

1 John 2:17 – “The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”

Ecclesiastes 3:11 – “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”

Carolina Beach, NC: 6 Foodie Finds

08/05/2019 By: CCPearsoncomment

In last Monday’s post, I gave you 5 reasons to visit Carolina Beach, North Carolina. Review it here. One of those reasons, of course, is the food. Oh my, the food! Warning: This post will stimulate your appetite, make you drool and cause you to start planning a trip to Carolina Beach.

An insider tip — Straws will only be given when they are requested, and most of them are the non-plastic, biodegradable type. Considering the location and the emphasis on preserving the environment and protecting the marine life, this is certainly understandable.

JACK MACKEREL’S ISLAND GRILL

Technically, Jack Mackerel’s has a Kure Beach address, but in this part of the Atlantic, one beach tends to blend right into the next. The place is colorful, lively, bustling and noisy. Seafood reigns supreme, but non-seafood-lovers will find plenty to enjoy as well.

Calabash platters can be fried or broiled and consist of a choice of shrimp, flounder, oysters, scallops or all four.

2. STOKED RESTAURANT

Stoked recently opened in a great location on Canal Drive with views of boats outside and within an easy walk of the Boardwalk. Everything is sleek and fresh inside, and the service is friendly. Food is flavorful, and the prices are reasonable.

My friends and I went for lunch, but I want to try it for dinner when I return. Stoked now serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and opens at 6:00 a.m. seven days a week.

Quesadillas or deviled eggs, anyone?

3. MICHAEL’S SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

Michael’s, open for lunch and dinner seven days a week, is a Carolina Beach tradition. The chowder is so famous that it has won numerous awards and is shipped worldwide! You could make it your whole meal it’s so thick and rich. But, if you’re hungrier, then a large selection of menu items are available. As a special bonus, Michael’s offers a shuttle service during dinner hours and will actually pick you up at your house or condo and take you back home. Wow! Parking can be a challenge because of the restaurant’s popularity.

4. HAVANA’S

Although the dress code is always “island casual,” Havana’s has an upscale feel to it. That could be due to the vintage atmosphere of the building itself, which was a private home built in 1916. Fresh ingredients and chef-prepared meals are the order of the day, and Havana’s is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week with brunch on Sunday. In addition to the wonderful seafood, you’ll find plenty of chicken, steaks, pork chops and even crispy duck.

5. THE DECK HOUSE

The Deck House resides in the former Carolina Beach Presbyterian Church, which you will readily guess by its exterior appearance. No reservations are accepted, so you can expect to wait. But, there are plenty of places to wait comfortably. Baby back ribs and hand-cut steaks are featured menu items along with the ever-present seafood.

Tip: try to get a table by a window on Thursday nights, so you can enjoy the fireworks from the Boardwalk while you savor your delicious meal.

6. KATE’S PANCAKE HOUSE

What’s a beach trip without a hearty breakfast, right? And, the island choice for locals and visitors is Kate’s Pancake House. It’s only open until 1:00 p.m., so they are serious about focusing on their hungry breakfast guests. Plentiful portions, great prices and very friendly service will impress you in this casual island tradition.

Tags