I love small towns that are like stepping back in time. Take note, there are two Saludas so let’s make sure you know I’m referring to North Carolina close to the state line, not the one in South Carolina.

It’s a good day trip from Maynardville or a halfway point to the South Carolina beaches. We go for lunch to a restaurant called the Purple Onion. I’m particularly fond of their desserts. The setting has character―it’s in an old store with lots of woodwork and aged brick walls. They have live music a couple of days a week, so make sure to look them up online at PurpleOnionSaluda.com and plan accordingly. They also have a nice patio that’s dog friendly, which makes it a good stopping place when we’re traveling.

An interesting attraction is the train museum that reflects the history of the town being a train stop. The Saluda Historic Depot & Museum preserves the legacy of the Saluda Grade—once the steepest mainline railroad grade in the nation—through exhibits, artifacts, and community storytelling that highlight the town’s railroad heritage.

The main street has the old storefronts that you see in the movies. I loved taking Mom and my aunts to the general store. They reminisced of how it was set up like my grandparents’ store. They treated themselves to the ice cream and sat on the bench out front and discussed the good old days watching the world go by. The fond memories made it all the more special.

Don’t miss the fruit and vegetables stand close the interstate. It’s good to support the local farmers and their produce is good. No road trip is complete without tuning in to the locals.

Look for some of the festivals where they close off the street for music and arts and crafts. It’s a slower pace, and that’s part of its charm.