Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/514143
18 UCW MAY 20-26, 2015 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM 484-6200 www.upandcomingweekly.com Turn to our calendar every Wednesday and see what's happening! a VISITING SPRING LAKE The Fayetteville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau represents 9 municipalities that comprise Cumberland County. Each municipality has its own story and offers Cumberland County visitors a unique experience. In today's column, I will highlight some of the amenities Spring Lake can offer both locals and out-of-town visitors. Incorporated in 1951, Spring Lake offers 6 hotels, 50+ restaurants and lots to see and do, including lots of outdoor activities. Cumberland County's first state park, Carvers Creek, opened 18 months ago in Spring Lake. Current facilities include 1.75 miles of hiking trails, including a hike to fish at the millpond, the historic Long Valley Farm, the winter estate of John Stillman Rockefeller, and other historic structures. Many activities are available including picknicking, fishing, birding and more. A full list of activites and an ecology checklist are available at www.ncparks.gov. The Sandhills Farmers Market opens Saturday, June 6 for 2015. It is open every Saturday through September. At this market, you can buy fresh produce, flowers and herbs, straight from the hard- working people who grow it. Plus, you can learn about old home remedies that you can still use - turpentine, poke salad and pine top tea to name a few. Special events and workshops are held throughout the summer. Spring also Lake boasts two world-class sports facilities. The Clay Target Center is one of the largest skeet and trap shooting facilities in the country. Managed by Fort Bragg MWR, the Clay Target Center is open to both the military and civilian population and hosts a number of regional and national events each year. Last summer, Spring Lake and the Clay Target Center hosted the Junior World Skeet Shooting Championship. Designed by Davis Love III. Anderson Creek Golf Course was rated 4.5 stars by Golf Digest, which puts it up against some of the finest courses in the country. Because of its proximity to Fort Bragg, It's no surprise that Spring Lake offers a patriotic and heartfelt Memorial Day celebration. This year's ceremony will be held May 22 at 10 am at Veteran's Park on Ruth Street. Event highlights include a performance by the 82nd Airborne Chorus and a keynote speach from incoming 82nd Airborne Division Artillery Commander, Colonel Christopher S. Moretti, Sr. This is just a taste of the things to see and do in Spring Lake. Head to our Spring Lake web page to learn more about Spring Lake. www.VisitSpringLakeNC.com Bethel A.M.E. Zion Church Spring Lake has many sites on Cumberland County's Cultural Heritage Trails. One site, the Bethel AME Zion Church is on both the African-American Heritage and Religous Freedom Trails. Bethel AME Zion Church was first started in 1873 as a mission called Little Ark. Jack Murchison built a Bush Shelter to preach to the neighboring plantations. A few years later, a Presbyterian minister preached at Little Ark and established it as a Presbyterian church. Subsequently, a Methodist minister from Fayetteville arrived and converted them to Methodism, which later became a part of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church movement. Learn more: visitfayettevillenc.com/culturalheritagetrails FEATURED ATTRACTION ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Melody Foote Director of Communications Fayetteville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Liberty Point Bulletin