The Tampa Tribune from Tampa, Florida • 52

TBO.com THE TRIBUNE SUNDAY, APRIL 19, 2015 BAYLIFE AND TRAVEL The Yadkin Valley is a TA-hour drive north of Charlotte, North Carolina. I flew nonstop to Charlotte on US Airways and rented a car. I highly recommend the modern Hampton Inn Suites In Dobson ((336)353-9400), where a standard room runs about $130 on weekends. The hotel offers complimentary breakfast, free bike rentals and shuttles to Shelton Vineyards. If you plan to visit wineries, other convenient towns for lodging include Elkin and Mount Airy.

Be sure to have a good road map before you set out on your wine weekend. You will encounter many winding dirt roads that meander through the countryside, and it's easy to get turned around. Don't expect your cell or GPS to connect everywhere. You can find a great broqhure with a map of the Yadkin Valley Wine Trail, including wineries, lodging, dining and nearby attractions, at www.winetineraries.com or by contacting the Surry County tourism office at (877) 999-8390. The main tourism website is yadkinvalleync.com.

Coming events: The 14th annual Yadkin Valley Wine Festival is May 16 in Elkln, with live music, country crafts, food and tastings from dozens of local vineyards; go to www.yvwf.com. The 11th annual Yadkin Valley Grape Festival will be Oct. 17 in Yadkinville; go to www.yvgf.com The 26thannual Mayberry Days (www. mayberrydaysxom) takes over Mount Airy from Sept. 23 to 27.

Festivities include parades, guest appearance's, musical performances, variety shows, children's activities and a barbecue cook-off. Some 25,000 visitors are expected, so if you don't like crowds, you should consider visiting at another time.ontact the Mount Airy Visitors Center at (800) 948-0949. Shelton Vineyards Harvest Festival is October 9 to 11, with local arts and crafts, live music, free tours, grape stomping, antique tractors and a variety of other family activities. pitality. I can claim without a doubt that the planet's best handmade pumpkin ice cream and sonker (a traditional North Carolina fruit cobbler) can be found at Miss Angel's Heavenly Pies.

It's here where I even got to shake hands with the real Floyd, who despite his advanced age continues to hold court at Floyd's Barbershop up Main Street. From Mount Airy, it's just a 15-minute drive to Round Peak Vineyards. There are 33 wineries and vineyards on the Yadkin Valley Wine Trail, and most are within an hour's drive. Some wineries are just minutes apart. For this trip, I made home base in the town of Dobson, which is not only centrally located but also the home of the venerable Shelton Vineyards.

The highly-respected Shelton brothers, Charlie and Ed, opened the valley's flagship winery in 1999 and paved the road for viticultural designations across the state. Shelton Vineyards is now the largest family-owned estate winery in North Carolina, with 130 acres of grapes. A tour and tasting departs every half hour and includes a visit to the winery. Visitors can meander along walking trails, set for a spell on the benches and swings on the lake, or dine at the highly-rated Harvest Grill. My dinner at Harvest Grill was a highlight of the trip, with excellent food, wines and service in an upscale atmosphere.

Chef Paul Lange offers sophisticated comfort food and a menu that changes seasonally to take advantage of regional produce, dairies and farms. Not far from Dobson is the historic town of Elkin, which is ideal for an afternoon of browsing antique shops and a stop at Brushy Mountain Winery. With its artsy jazz club ambiance, this intimate wine bar is all about charming and a delightful surprise for its knockout red wines. As owner Jason Wisemen told us, the Brushy Mountain wines have more depth and character than other valley wines because they are more mature, some aging since 2007. With so many wineries on the Yadkin Valley Wine Trail, choosing which to visit during one weekend can be a real challenge.

The final solution, though, seems to be easy. Yall come back now, y' hear? Marcla Biggs is a freelance travel writer living in Safety Harbor. Wine From Page i 2008 from the San Francisco area. "We also produce a variety of semi-sweet and semi-dry blends under the Skull Camp label and we opened a craft brewery last year. I guess you could say we're busy." I am pleasantly surprised with every wine Gulaian pours.

A semi-dry red blend of cherry, blackberry and raspberry has just the right fruitiness for my palate. A perfectly chilled rose" is dry, crisp and perfect for a hot afternoon. I even like the tasty beer samplings. As much as I would like to while away the day in reverie at Round Peak, it's time to move on. I am on a "winetinerary" along the Yadkin Valley Wine Trail, and the next stop is waiting just up the road.

Viticultural landscape In recent years, something's been brewing in them thar hills, and it's not moonshine. Across North Carolina, wineries have been increasing steadily in three viticultural areas that provide the ideal climate, elevation and soil for growing grapes. Savvy entrepreneurs are taking a leap of faith by turning farmland and former tobacco fields into vineyards. Today, more than 400 vineyards and 100 wineries dot the state. The Yadkin Valley became North Carolina's first federally-approved American Viticultural Area (AVA) in 2003.

The result has been the emergence of an agricultural industry that is bringing increasing numbers of jobs and "wine vacationers" to this region throughout the year. "The wineries have really had an impact, not only in increased tourism but also in increased restaurants and lodgings, like bed and breakfasts and cabins," says Jessica Roberts, director of tourism for Surry County, which is home to most of the Yadkin Valley wine operations. Helping fuel the Yadkin Valley wine economy, Surry Community College (SCO in Dobson is the only college on the East Coast that offers a two-year degree program in Viticulture and Enology (winemaking) With its own vineyards, state-of- the-art laboratories and winery, SCC is cranking out a steady supply of graduates who remain in the region to lot Mountain, the couple and their two children moved from the Fort Lauderdale area three years ago. J.W. spent several years studying winemaking, then designing and building and planting.

Today, he owns JoLo Winery Vineyards, a high-end boutique winery with 5 acres of grapes that already has won numerous awards in regional wine competitions. In addition to tastings in the rustic elegance of the lodge, JoLo offers visitors a five-star gourmef dining experience at its End Posts restauraman outdoor garden patio with relaxing views, and even a cozy cabin perfect for a rorrtantic weekend. Special wine dinners and tasting events are almost always sold out. "We are living the dream," says J.W., a successful entrepreneur whose background in hospitality helped propel his vision to reality. "The plan was to create a very personalized and upscale boutique winery with high-quality wines and a five-star dining experience.

The response has been phenomenal. We get people from Winston-Salem, Raleigh, Charlotte, as well as out of state, who are hearing about the Yadkin Valley and want to experience it." Like most in the region, Ray is planting grapes that grow well in Burgundy, France, where the climate and elevation are nearly identical, he says. Typical grapes grown in the region include mer-lot, cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, sangiovese, chardonnay, Riesling, viog-nier, sauvignon blanc and petit verdo. Ray has even chosen to age his wines in French oak barrels. From Mayberry to Merlot In the past, the area's main claim to fame and tourism dollars was golf, fishing and Mount Airy, the hometown of actor Andy Griffith.

The fictitious town of Mayberry in the popular 1960s television series "The Andy Griffith Show'' was modeled after Mount Airy, which in turn created an enduring identity to match. Annual events like Mayberry Days each September, classic car shows and music concerts, and gift shops packed with Mayberry memorabilia, make this town a magnet for nostalgic baby boomers and families looking for a wholesome vacation destination. I enjoyed exploring Mount Airy for its old-fashioned charm and Southern hos I Vo to www.sheltonvineyards. com or call (336) 366-4724: work. Count J.W.

and Kristen Ray among the new wave. After purchasing 80 acres of wooded property in the shadow of Pi just as observers of the efforts and research, but as participants. Daily events like presentations, animal encounters, behind-the-scenes tours and a range of boat and kayak tours inform and involve. The Bright House Theater shows films about Winter, the intrepid dolphin who swims with a prosthetic tail, and her buddy, Hope, who was rescued five years later. These amazing animals have attracted more than attention to the aquarium; they offer a sense of possibility and optimism to people with physical challenges of their own.

Both of the "Dolphin Tale" movies were filmed at the aquarium; the Winter's Dolphin Tale Adventure takes you into the movies via rebuilt scenes and movie images. For information: www. seewinter.com Chihuly Collection Dale Chihuly's dazzling, otherworldly glass creations have gained much notoriety over the last 10 years or so, but the first museum created solely to house and complement his work was built in none other than St. Petersburg quite a coup for a city of its size. Located on Beach Drive, the museum is walking distance from a number of downtown attractions, including the Fine Arts Museum, the Dali and the Vinoy Resort.

A spectacular 20-foot sculpture created especially for the museum marks the entrance. Docent-led tours occur hourly on the half hour Monday through Friday; "floating" docents are available on Saturday and Sunday. If your visit leaves you wanting to learn more about glassblowing, explore the Glass Studio and Hot Shop at the Morean Arts Center (less than a mile west on Central Ave nue), which features glass-blowing demonstrations and the works of local and regional glass artists. For information: www. moreanartscenter.org Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) Just across the street from the University of South Florida, MOSI whose core conviction is to make science real for people of all ages and backgrounds is a crazy treasure trove of learning for anyone with an inquiring mind.

With more than 450 exhibits covering everything from astronomy and robotics to 3-D printing as well as a ropes course and zip line, the Saunders Planetarium and Florida's only IMAX Dome Theatre MOSI's displays and attractions are mind-boggling and wicked fun. For information: www. mosi.org This little one is utterly adorable and is said to be particularly vocal around feeding time. There are more than 1,000 animals at the 56-acre zoo, all of them suited to our local climate. You can see meerkats, elephants, white rhinos, wallabies, birds of prey, manatees, primates and more.

Interactive experiences include feeding giraffes, colorful lorikeets and goats, and touching and feeding stingrays in Stingray Bay. There are two kids' water play areas, and zookeep-ers hold informative talks throughout the'day. From now through the end of May, Zoomina-tions, the dazzling one-of-a-kind Chinese lantern festival, brings the night to colorful, magical life (separate tickets required) and is a can't-rniss event Fotinformation: www. lowryparkzoo.com. Clearwater Marinex AquariumX the Bay Spirit II to look for wild dolphins in Tampa Bay (separate tickets required).

This year is the aquarium's 20th anniversary, and celebrations and special events will pay tribute to the occasion throughout the summer, including the SeaGrapes Fine Wine Food Festival from 8 to 1 1 p.m. Saturday (separate tickets required). For information: www. flaquarium.org. Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo Named the No.

1 zoo the nation forklds.by Parents and Child maga zines, Tampa's Lowry Parkv Zoo is all about protecting habitats and endangered species. Case in point: the clouded leopard kitten born to dad Yim and mom Malee, who arrived at the zoo four years ago when they were 6 months old. Clouded leopards are endangered due to a rapidly disappearing habitat and are the smallest of the big cat species. Adults typically weigh 30 to 50 pounds. Pass From Page i Busch Gardens Tampa If you live in the Tampa Bay area and haven't been to Busch Gardens, it's kind of like living in New York and not visiting Times Square just plain wrong.

The Africa-themed Busch Gardens is a fantastic, ever-changing place, and there's enough going on in its 335 acres to keep you busy for a very full day. The park is holding its first food and wine festival oaweekend days through April 26. And animal ex--. pert "Jungle Jack" Hanna will be at the Stanleyville Theater telling stories and presenting wild animal shows at 1 1 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

today, so there's no better time than the present to visit. (FYI, Adventure Island is right across North 40th Street from Busch Gardens, if you have a hankering for some refreshing, splashy fun and there's a discount coupon in your CityPASS booklet.) For information: www. buschgardens.com The Florida Aquarium One of the top aquariums in the country is right here in Tampa. The Florida Aquarium is a beautifully designed, soothing blue paradise of waterscapes, educational exhibits, interactive touch experiences and ongoing research, animal rehabilitation and protection. Its cool inside space is a particular delight on hot days and offers a chance to learn and be amazed by the variety of underwater species.

Start your exploration viewing wetlands under the incredible glass dome. Outside is Explore A Shore, a water adventure zone for kids. Consider a cruise on With a motto of "Res i 1 If A I I rl I cue Rehab Release," the Clearwater Marine Aquarium's mission is evident. And it includes us, not Best of Ireland Tour Amazing Irish Vistas 12 days from $1399 Departs July September'2015. Start in historic Dublin with a city tour including the Bank of Ireland and St Patrick's Cathedral.

Head south with a stop at the Rock of Cashel followed by Waterf ord with an included tour of the famous crystal factory Continue to Cobh, visit Blarney Castle, and perhaps kiss "The Blarney Stone, en route to Killarney. Drive the spectacular "Ring of Kerryf and tour Bunratty Castle Folk Park, built in 1425. View the Cliffs of Moher, discover Galway, the Connemara region, Kylemore Abbey and the Sligo area Enjoy a guided tour of Belleek Pottery visit Ulster American Folk Park, and explore "The Giant's Causeway Complete your tour of the "Emerald Isle" In Belfast with sightseeing, including the impressive Parliament buildings, and visit the world's largest Titanic visitor experience, "Titanic Belfast" Return to Dublin for your flight home. Tour includes 16 meals. 'PPDO.

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