Have a Good Beer and Good Times in Morganton with Insider Keith Suttles

Hi there! Keith Suttles here, longtime Morganton resident, outdoor enthusiast, collector of Smokey Bear and forestry memorabilia, and self-proclaimed beer snob. If you’re in Western NC and looking for a good adventure followed by a locally crafted beer – and perhaps a little solitude – start with my tried-and-trues in the Morganton area.

Where I'm eating and drinking

In case you can’t tell, I tend to gravitate toward a certain kind of spot ... 

Beer 

• Brown Mountain Bottleworks: This bottle shop has my heart. When my sons owned this spot and I was bartender, I knew more about some of the locals than I knew about my own family. Ten years later, and I still maintain a close relationship with many of the customers.  
• Fonta Flora Farm: beer, food and views. Try the Oyster Stout. 
• Hillman Beer: This is a new spot that has a lot of great outdoor seating. I like the Old Fort Original – a gold lager – here.

Mom 'n' pop shops

• Pat's Snack Bar: This is where you gotta go to see the real Morganton. It’s not just about the food – though that’s good too, especially the smash burgers – but the people. Pro tip: It’s cash only. 
• JD's Smokehouse: This is some of the best barbecue west of Lexington.  
• 100 Main Restaurant and Bar: The drink menu is great here, and there’s a large selection of taps behind the bar. For food, the Reuben is always top-notch, and I order either a side of soup or cucumber salad. 
• 64 Restaurant: What can I say, the places with a hometown feel and comfort food just pull me in. And all their comfort food is good here. 

My go-to outdoor spots 

With two state parks, a state trail, a wilderness area, numerous city and county parks, a major river and a national forest all within the county, I'm pretty sure there is no better place to live than in the greater Morganton area.

• The Mountains-to-Sea Trail: Literally any section of this trail is my favorite trail. 
• Catawba River: I love floating on this river from the dam to the greenway in Morganton.  
• Oak Hill Park: This new park has become one of my go-to spots for mountain biking and a bit of hiking. 
• Lake James State Park: If I’m feeling a paddle on a weekday, I love to head out to some of the islands here.  
• Upper Creek: Hike down to the creek, hang a hammock, and relax with a book and a beverage. There’s not much better!

Where to stay

Sleep well so you’re rarin’ to go in the mornings!

• The Fairfield Inn: location, location, location. This hotel will put you right across the street from Fonta Flora in Morganton, and it’s an easy walk to everything else downtown offers. 
• Vacation rentals: There are also some really nice rentals around, ranging from cabins with views to downtown lofts.  
• Camping: Both Lake James State Park and South Mountains State Park have some great tent and backpack campsites, and Lake James even has paddle-in campsites.

Fall is here! Plan your travel with insiders Sarah Jones and Elizabeth Clark for Hickory tips, Matthew Busche for Brevard info and Karen Gould for Crystal Coast must-dos.