Good people of Cary,

Welcome to Issue No. 3 of The Cary Report. I hope you had a good long weekend (if you had one).

This week, we are starting a new segment called “Field Trips” where we highlight day trips you can make from Cary. Local Cary photographer (and notorious social media troll) Curt Suneson is taking control over this section. You can check out his photos on his Instagram account here.

As always, we also have your weekly local news digest, upcoming events, and a local spot that I think you should check out.

Thanks for being here and for continuing to support local.

James

A group of monks participating in a 2,300-mile “Walk for Peace” has officially entered North Carolina and is expected to reach Raleigh this weekend.

The group has been walking across the country with stops in major cities and state capitals to promote peace and awareness around global conflict. According to organizers, the Raleigh stop is scheduled for Saturday, where the monks are expected to walk through parts of the city and meet with community members.

If you spot a group of monks walking through downtown Raleigh this weekend, now you know why.

Additional reading: myFox8, WRAL, N&O

Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht announced this week that he has terminated his consulting contract with engineering firm WithersRavenel.

In a statement, Weinbrecht said he did not conduct business with the Town of Cary while working with the company and noted that North Carolina law allows elected officials to work with firms that do business with municipalities under specific ethics and disclosure rules.

However, the mayor said the current environment at Town Hall following the former town manager’s departure and what he described as a “false narrative” surrounding WithersRavenel influenced his decision.

“I do not want the current environment to cause harm to any individual or business,” Weinbrecht wrote. “The last thing we need is for good people or a good company to be unfairly damaged.”

He added that the decision was made to avoid further controversy and said he will not provide additional interviews on the matter.

Additional reading: Mayor’s Blog

By: Curt Suneson

Field Trips is a section of The Cary Report where we highlight day trips that you can do from Cary, complete with a itinerary you can follow. This week, we are highlighting a coastal favorite.

If you’ve ever woken up on a Saturday, looked outside, and thought “I need to be near the ocean today,” Wrightsville Beach might be the easiest yes you can make from Cary.

It’s about a two hour drive, which makes it a fairly easy day trip (and traffic off-season is super reasonable). What makes Wrightsville special is how much you can do in such a small area. Beach, pier, walking trails, coffee shops, restaurants, and even a botanical garden are all stacked right on top of each other.

It’s simple, walkable, and if you haven’t been, it will have you thinking “wait, this beach was this close to me this entire time?!"

A huge pro tip is parking at Johnny Mercer Pier. During the off-season it’s free, there are bathrooms on site, and the views alone make it worth it. You can park once and explore most of the area on foot.

Another underrated gem is Airlie Gardens (300 Airlie Rd, Wilmington, NC 28403). It’s a waterfront botanical garden right next door to Wrightsville Beach and only $10 for admission. Spanish moss, massive oak trees, and water views make it one of the most peaceful spots in the area.

If you want to see the island from every angle, the Wrightsville Loop is a must. It circles much of the island and gives you a mix of beach views, marsh views, cafés, boutique shops and local neighborhoods. It’s about 2.45 miles and fully paved.

And yes, sunrise here is elite (as evidenced in the photo above). If you time it right, you can watch the sun come up over the Atlantic and still be back in Cary before dinner.

Leave Cary:
Plan to leave Cary roughly 2.5 hours before sunrise. This gives you buffer time for traffic and parking.

Sunrise at Johnny Mercer Pier:
Drive straight to Johnny Mercer Pier (23 E Salisbury St, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480) and park there. During the off-season, parking is free and there are bathrooms available. Walk onto the beach or pay $2 to walk out on the pier and catch the sunrise.

Coffee Stop:
After sunrise, head to SUNdays Cafe (708 B S Lumina Ave, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480) to grab your morning beverage of choice. It’s close, easy, and a solid post-beach stop. From the pier, it is 2 miles, you can either walk or drive.

Walk the Wrightsville Loop:
After you grab your coffee, head to the Wrightsville Beach Loop. It’s a 2.45 mile paved path that circles most of the island and passes shops, neighborhoods, marsh views, cafés, shops, and beach access points. You can keep your car parked at or drive back to the Johnny Mercer Pier, which is right next to the loop.

Lunch at Dockside:
After your walk, hop back in the car and take a short drive over the island to Dockside Bar & Grill (1308 Airlie Rd, Wilmington, NC 28403). Waterfront seating, casual vibes, and perfect fuel before heading home.

Head Back to Cary:
Try to leave around 2 pm to beat the worst of the return traffic. You’ll be back in Cary before dinner.

Laugh & Paint

Comedy Show: Erin Jackson & Feature Performer
What: Stand-up comedy night featuring Erin Jackson and a special guest.

Where: The Cary Theater

When: Friday, January 23 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM.

White Song Birds Painting & Wine Night
What: Guided paint-and-sip session creating a “White Song Birds” canvas.

Where: Painting with a Twist

When: Saturday, January 24 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Each week, I’ll highlight a spot in Cary that I think you should go check out.

Located right off of Robert V. Godbold Park, Northwoods Greenway is a blissful .9 miles of shade, wildlife, and calmness.

There is plenty of parking at Robert V. Godbold Park (2050 N.W. Maynard Road). After parking, walk past the skatepark and dog park and you will see plenty of signs pointing you in the right direction. This greenway is also accessible through Black Creek Greenway.

Northwoods Greenway is delightful thanks to the abundance of trees providing cover. During your walk, you will experience a mostly flat hike, though there are a couple of hilly sections (especially near the end of the trail if you’re starting from Robert V. Goldbold Park). As this is an in-and-out trail, you will have to walk 1.8 miles to cover the whole trail.

There is a section half-way through where you have to cross the road to continue the trail. The road is located on a quiet cul-de-sac, and you likely won’t experience any issues with speeding cars as you cross. While you’ll likely experience some other walkers, this is not a very busy greenway, so you can expect a good amount of solitude compared to some of the others located in Cary.

I’ve seen lots of wildlife on this trail, including deer. Obviously I can’t promise you anything, but keep an eye out for tree branches shuffling around.

Thanks for reading! If you liked or disliked this issue, feel free to reply and let me know! I love hearing from you.

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