There are so many amazing things we got to do and see on this trip to North Carolina. In planning our trip originally I would have missed this little gem. As I was planning for what to pack I thought about a few books to take. I must admit up front that I barely read a thing on this adventure but I had the next book in the Mitford series in the stack, Come Rain or Come Shine. I chose it because it was about a wedding in North Carolina and I thought it fitting since we were going for a wedding in North Carolina. LOL

I realized upon picking that book I had not been to the Mitford website in ages to see what was happening with Jan and her writing. I did a search to find the official website and something else popped up, too.

A link for The Mitford Museum showed up and I thought, “Is this the same Mitford?” Well, folks, it is! There is now a Museum for all things Jan Karon and Mitford and it opened in October 2021. I immediately searched for where it was and when it was open and then we added it to our travel plans. It is located in her childhood home of Hudson, NC in the actual school where she attended as a little girl. It is not a huge museum but a cozy stroll through the life and works of Jan Karon that just gave me all the feels. Feel free to click on any individual photo to see it more closely…. especially that desk!

Emily and I toured the museum and my patient husband and youngest son sat and enjoyed a bit of quiet reading while they waited. They were so kind to let us go and do this. I guess it makes up for the Texas Ranger Museum I went through with Dan one time long ago. Although, don’t tell him this, I enjoyed that somewhat, too. LOL I am a museum kind of gal. If you go on the right day there is also a little coffee shop and of course, there is a gift shop open when the museum is open. You know I bought something… a little stacking pot, cup and saucer to enjoy tea as I read. It was specially designed just for sale in the Mitford Museum store.

I could not believe how much Blowing Rock reminded me of Mitford as we drove through. They happened to have a “contaminated water ban” the day we went through so we didn’t stay super long but everyone I talked to knew who Jan Karon was and about all her books. She is very famous there.

I won’t share too many surprises so that you can make a plan to go and enjoy the loveliness of it all for yourself. Hudson is a quaint little town and the drive off the main roads into the town are gorgeous. just up the road is another little town called Lenoir and we stopped for lunch there at the 1841 Cafe. It is an old hardware store that has been converted.

Blowing Rock is a beautiful town just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. We spent some time driving on that, too, on our way back to Asheville that day. Dan has a cousin that lives in Asheville and she let us stay two nights with them so we could do some touring around.

The day we drove on the Blue Ridge Parkway it was overcast and rainy but perfect for photo taking. My daughter has been putting up photos of our adventures since we got back if you want to check some of those out. You can see her Photography Instagram stuff @photos_by_emily316

Add these stops to your North Carolina itinerary if you make it there. I have some more adventures to share so stay tuned. Until next time…

Happy Travels!

~Leann