Secrets Revealed

While it is not a secret to anyone who lives in Stokes County, it seems to surprise many of our friends nearby just how beautiful and relaxing our area is. Below is part of an article in today's Winston Salem Journal talking about Hanging Rock State Park, the Dan River and Priddy's General Store. If your are looking for a relaxing way to spend a weekend, you can't beat it.

By Lisa O'Donnell | Journal Reporter

Published: May 27, 2010

Updated: 05/26/2010 08:05 pm

The holiday-shopping season has Black Friday.

The camping season has a gateway day, too. A Green Friday, if you will.

And it begins in about 24 hours.

Oh sure, those of us who love to knock around outdoors don't need a season. But that stretch between Memorial Day and Labor Day is a golden period, custom-made for dipping your toes in mountain streams, hiking through banks of rhododendrons and falling asleep to tree-frog serenades.

What follows are a few suggestions for a holiday outing:

Stokes County

Sticking close to home, a float down the Dan River near Danbury has become an annual rite of summer for many folks. You can rent tubes at the Danbury General Store and the Hillside Market & Deli. If paddling is more your speed, the Dan River Company runs trips and shuttles down the Dan. Many trips end at Moratock Park, which has a nice little swimming hole.

Of course, if you are in Danbury, you may want to take a short hike to Hanging Rock State Park or jaunt over to Pilot Mountain State Park. Expect throngs of people to have that same idea, however. Hanging Rock's lake won't open until June 1.

One of the my favorite spots in the area is Priddy's General Store, which has been serving folks since the early 20th century. You can load up on drinks and homemade goodies or order a sandwich near the back of the store. Pickin' at Priddy's, a series of bluegrass shows, begins Saturday from 3 to 7 p.m. Bring a chair