[lively music] - Next on North Carolina Weekend, join us from Escazu Chocolates in Raleigh, as we take you to romantic destinations around our state.

We'll suggest places to stay, drink wine, and of course, sample chocolate.

Coming up, next.

- [Announcer] Funding for North Carolina Weekend is provided in part by Visit NC, dedicated to highlighting our state's natural scenic beauty, unique history, and diverse cultural attractions.

From the Blue Ridge and the Great Smoky Mountains, across the Piedmont, to 300 miles of Barrier Island beaches, you're invited to experience all the adventure and charm our state has to offer.

[lively music] - Hi, everyone, welcome to North Carolina Weekend.

I'm Deborah Holt Noel.

And this week we are highlighting romantic destinations across the state from Escazu Chocolates in Raleigh.

Whether you're looking for a fairytale getaway, a fine wine to share, or sweets to give your loved one, we've got you covered.

The roots of a romantic getaway near Hendersonville can be traced back to an actual romance between a couple that met in the Caribbean decades ago.

That experience led to the creation of a mountain inn that offers elegance without compromising comfort.

- [Marc] I don't tire of that view one single day.

It's always different.

It changes from day to day, season to season.

- [Marianne] We so appreciate it.

- [Narrator] Marc and Marianne Blazar love the view from their Orchard Inn.

They love each other, too.

It's a romance that began more than 40 years ago.

- [Marianne] We met in the Virgin Islands.

Both of us had a charter boat.

So we basically had a BNB on the water.

And that's how we met sailing.

- [Narrator] They later worked as corporate photographers, traveling the world with their Fortune 100 clients.

- [Marianne] It was a wonderful gig.

- [Narrator] The Blazars' travel was an education in the hospitality industry.

They decided to stop traveling and search for a bed-and-breakfast in Dubai.

- From Napa valley to Vermont, for places where we either had friends or family, or we know it was very pretty.

We didn't really find anything that totally spoke to us until somebody told us about Saluda.

We had no idea about Saluda, but we came here, and I think it was love at first sight.

[light, happy music] - [Narrator] The Blazars bought the Orchard Inn in 2010.

- [Marc] We looked at each other and said, we can really do something special here.

- [Narrator] A railroad union originally built the house in 1926 as a retreat for clerks and agents.

- The concept was for the average working guy to be able to vacation like a Rockefeller.

- [Narrator] The railroad union owned it until the mid-'50s.

After that- - It was a number of different incarnations, different owners.

- [Narrator] It became a bed-and-breakfast inn in 1980 and had several owners until the Blazars purchased it and put their own spin on this inn.

- [Marc] What we've tried to create here is an elegant, stress-free environment where people can come and relax, renew, refresh.

- [Narrator] When you arrive, you may be greeted by Clayton and Murray.

- [Marc] When people arrive, they go out to the car and wag their tails and welcome them to the inn.

- [Narrator] Past the expansive front porch and inside the front door is the main living area.

It's large, but cozy with comfortable chairs, sofas, and a stone fireplace.

Downstairs is the game room with a pool table and fireplace.

- [Marc] That space gets used a lot and is very well appreciated.

- [Narrator] It also has a 60-inch television.

- I gotta say it it's the least used TV in North Carolina.

[laughs] - [Narrator] Even though there are no TVs in the inn's guest rooms, the Blazars say their guests wanted it that way.

There are nine rooms in the main house, and there are five cottages alongside.

Four each sleep two people, and a larger one sleeps eight.

In 2018, the Blazars built this addition.

Upstairs, there are two luxury suites with mountain views.

- [Marc] We have 16 different accommodations in total, and they vary in price and amenities so that there's really a nice variety and something for everybody.

- [Narrator] Below the suites is a spa offering facials and massages.

- Very simple, very zen, no frou frou, just a very relaxing place.

- Colored by the foothills experience.

- [Narrator] Next door is a yoga room that doubles as a meeting space.

But the inn's centerpiece is Newman's Restaurant with its stunning mountain views.

It's named for one of the Blazars' cats, who is named for- - Paul Newman, blue eyes.

- For me, it was Seinfeld.

- [Narrator] A stay here includes breakfast at Newman's.

There are danishes, scones, homemade granola, Greek yogurt and fruit, steel cut oatmeal, and a main course like Austrian crepes, or eggs any way you like.

- [Marianne] A lot of time, our guests say, "Well, we don't need lunch.

It was a big breakfast."

- The Blazars decided to open Newman's to the public for Sunday brunch and for dinner Thursday through Saturday nights.

- [Marc] We limit the number of people we serve each night because quality is the most important thing for us.

- [Narrator] Chef Aaron Edwards creates dishes using locally sourced and organic ingredients whenever possible.

- My style is new American, which simply means that we borrow flavors from world cuisines.

- [Narrator] The lobster cauliflower gratin is cooked in Mornay sauce and infused with white wine.

- [Aaron] I've always loved the combination of cauliflower and shellfish.

- [Narrator] The duck confit is slow cooked until tender.

- [Aaron] And it's finished under a broiler to give a crisp to the skin.

- [Narrator] It's served with apple butter, polenta, grilled apples, sauteed Brussels sprouts, and a carrot and parsnip salad.

And Edwards puts his own twist on chocolate cake.

- [Aaron] That is paired with a Belgian chocolate cremeux, which is basically a frozen chocolate custard that's gelatinized.

- [Narrator] It's served with whipped cream, toasted hazelnuts and raspberries.

- More than anything, I just want to make people happy.

I want to make good food.

- [Narrator] The dining and everything here make Steve and Gail Dula happy.

- They strive for perfection and get there most of the time.

- [Narrator] That's brought the Dulas back more than 30 times.

- [Gail] It's just like coming back to see a group of friends.

- [Narrator] And how do they spend most of their time here?

- Read, sit in front of the fireplace- - Take a nap.

- [Narrator] There is plenty to do around Saluda.

- [Marc] Downtown is a lovely place to stroll or shop.

- [Narrator] The area offers hiking, kayaking, fly fishing, and zip lining.

- [Marc] It's a very ecotourist destination.

- [Narrator] But the Orchard Inn is its own destination.

- [Marc] There are a number of guests who come multiple times a year and they never leave the property the whole time they're here.

- They just sit out there and just enjoy and soak in the views.

When people ask me, how do you define the Orchard Inn, I said, if you come to the Orchard Inn and they can't relax, there's no hope for you.

- [Narrator] Let the Blazars show you how.

- We can actually sit there and relax.

It's just wonderful.

You get never tired of this.

This is a gift to be in this place.

- The Orchard Inn is at 100 Orchard Lane #9706 in Saluda.

To book a room or find out more, give them a call at 828-749-5471, or visit them online at OrchardInn.com.

If you want to impress your loved one with some wine knowledge, you need a little wisdom, right?

Well, there's plenty of that in Elkin where there's a wine shop, a wine bar and an education center, all in one at The Wisdom Table.

[gently happy music] - So Elkin, it's in the heart of the Yadkin Valley.

Here at The Wisdom Table, we're located in downtown, right on the corner of Bridge Street and Main.

Originally a textile town that in the late '90s, early 2000s started to see a lot of that vanish.

But now with the resurgence of all the wineries and agritourism, there's a lot more attention coming to downtown Elkin.

- Everyone's very nice to everyone, even if you don't know them.

Just a nice, small friendly town.

- [Teresa] With the burgeoning wine industry in the area, it made perfect sense to Jeremy and Krystle Stamps to capitalize on their passion for wine and open a business that catered to wine enthusiasts.

- We realized there's this huge demand for after hours.

Why can't you just come to one place, try four or five different North Carolina wines at once?

- [Teresa] So it was decided early on that educating people about wine would be important in creating a business model.

Hence the name, The Wisdom Table.

- He's got a lot of knowledge.

He brings that to the table, as far as that goes.

He's got several wine makers in the area.

They'll come out here and they're growing these same grapes in their vineyards.

And he'll give them a schooling on how it works, maybe in France or how it works over in New Zealand or how it works somewhere else around the world.

- Have you ever been able to put a French tannat, a tannat from, you know, Uruguay, one from Oregon, and one from North Carolina, all in one setting,, you know, put that all in one flight and realize, okay, what is the difference between North Carolina tannat.

Thank you all for coming.

So let's go ahead and start off with a little pinot noir from Oregon.

You're going to get a lot more cherry, bright, lower tannin off of this.

Basically with red wine, it gets its color, with a few exceptions, it gets its color through the skins and the seeds and stems.

It gets that tannin to it.

So the skins are actually what creates the pigment, and you're dyeing, that juice that comes out clear, you're dying that to whichever red color you'd like to add to that.

- [Teresa] The mission statement at The Wisdom Table is sip, learn, repeat.

Drink something different and expand your knowledge of wine.

- We wanted to have a sense of community, be one, a central place where different winemakers and growers and wine enthusiasts and customers and patrons and local folks and people from out of town can all come in and learn about wine.

- [Teresa] Jeremy, a certified sommelier, offers classes periodically that share his knowledge of wine and food.

- Back to that educational piece.

You want to teach those classes, educate people, unwind, make it not so much afraid of something and have it more kind of a friendly space for people to kind of get that education.

- We're doing a, from what I understand, a wine pairing with sparkling wines.

And tonight we're going to serve a sort of a fall/winter salad type of thing.

It'll have some roasted butternut squash, some craisins, some apples.

It'll have a champagne vinaigrette to sort of go with what we're doing out here.

- He's just so incredibly knowledgeable.

Like I never forget the first time she brought me here, said "You got to come to Wisdom Table, like it's such a great place."

And he came in, he was like, "So what kind of wines do you like?"

I was like, "I like Italian wines."

He starts naming all these different characteristics of wine it was like, I never really thought about that I liked.

I was like, he's right, this guy knows his stuff.

- So it's a different type of experience.

A lot of places you go, into you just order a glass.

Here, you find out what it's all about as well.

- You can come in, you get the knowledge, you get the fun time.

You get to really hang out with people.

It's very personable.

- The Wisdom Table is at 101 East Main Street in Elkin.

And they're open Thursday through Monday.

For more information, give them a call at 336-258-8077, or go online to WisdomTable.com.

Chocolate is one of the most popular indulgences this time of year.

Escazu Chocolates offers bean-to-bar craft chocolates, drinks, ice cream, and confections.

I spoke with owners Tiana and Danielle about how they make their award-winning flavors.

Tiana, Danielle, are you chocolatiers or chocolate makers?

- So we're actually both.

We're chocolate makers first and foremost, and chocolatiers second, in a sense.

So a chocolate maker is the one that makes the chocolate from the bean, source them, roast them, grind them, turn them into chocolate.

And chocolatier is one that takes that chocolate and turns that into the pretty things or the bars, you know, the final product that we actually eat.

For many years, I was one of the chocolatiers.

So a lot of the designs are what I came up with years ago, back in 2008, 2009.

- [Deborah] They're so bright and beautiful.

You would hardly believe it's chocolate inside.

- [Tiana] Some people don't.

[laughing] - [Danielle] They don't want to eat, what you said.

- [Deborah] So we know Valentine's Day is coming up soon.

Is that a busy time for you guys?

- [Danielle] It's the busiest time ever for the business.

- So there's a lot of stuff that we do just for Valentine's, but then like we have ice cream and hot chocolate and bars and confections and like specials all year round.

- [Deborah] The last time we were here was about 13 years ago, we did a story.

What's changed over the years?

- We've changed locations.

So we used to be in Glenwood Avenue in a small little shop.

This place opened and was supposed to be an auxiliary production facility.

But then the retail business actually took off because of this great neighborhood and the people in it who were really excited about it.

So the chocolate that's coming out of here is the exact same as it's always been.

- Or better.

- Or better, arguably better.

- And I have a new business partner since 13 years ago.

So yeah.

- Yeah.

- We love our chocolate.

We think, you know, we use really good quality beans, good quality sugar.

And I know it sounds a little maybe silly, but I do think that a huge part of why our chocolate is delicious and pretty is because we all work in like a very warm, happy environment and are allowed to just, you know, chip into whatever our heart desires.

- Tiana.

Danielle, thank you so much for hosting us here at Escazu.

I can't wait to come back and try some chocolates and ice cream.

- [Tiana] Thank you so much.

We appreciate you guys coming and checking out our shop.

- [Danielle] Thank you.

- Escazu Chocolates is at 936 North Blount Street in Raleigh and they're open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

For more information, give them a call at 919-832-3433 or check them out online at EscazuChocolates.com.

The designs on these confections are just gorgeous, like tiny works of art.

Makes them perfect for gift giving.

Now, if you want a romantic destination in the Triangle, look no further than Durham, where elegance, excitement, and hospitality come together at the Morehead Manor.

[lively music] - Where we're situated in historic Morehead Hill, which was founded by people who worked at the tobacco companies, actually tobaccoists that were here.

This house was originally built by James Cobb, who was one of Durham's founding tobaccoists.

Downstairs is about 3,500 square feet, mostly of common area.

We have a large collection of backs throughout the house, paintings, sculptures and different things like that.

- [Deborah] The backs have been curated by Monica's husband, Daniel, who following a critical accident, gained new appreciation for this body part that often holds everything together.

In addition to the indoor spaces, guests are welcome to stroll the outside of this late 19th century, colonial revivalist mansion.

- As part of our relaxation here at Morehead Manor, we have a hammock out in the backyard as well as swings, so our guests can come and relax with their lemonade.

Or if they provide their own wine, they're welcome to come out and hang out.

In the rear garden, we have a mannequin by the name of Crystal who is our staff psychologist.

We tell our guests that she handles all the guest problems that we can't handle.

And if you need to speak with someone and hide, it's just confidence.

You can come out and speak to Crystal because she's guaranteed not to repeat what you say to her.

What I enjoy most about being an innkeeper is providing a respite for our people, guests that are coming to Durham.

- I currently reside in Norfolk, Virginia, but I am a North Carolinian.

I have gotten to know the city of Durham much better since we have been traveling in and out of Morehead Manor.

You have the universities, you have the arts.

You have great entertainment at DPAC.

You have the sports.

- All of our guest rooms are located on the second floor.

We do have five bedrooms with five baths.

The Magnolia Suite is actually the largest guestroom.

It has a king-size wooden canopy bed with lights in the headboard.

There's a sitting area in the room with a separate seating area.

Then we have the Jasmine Room, which is a another room that faces the front.

That's actually our smallest guest room.

We just recently redid that.

So it's in a nice turquoise and purple coloring.

but then on the backside here, we have the Tiger Room, which is on the western side of the building.

We have a king-size canopy bed that's wrought iron that is surrounded by windows.

And because it is on the western side of the building, it gets all the afternoon sun.

So it is a very bright room.

Then the Eagle's Inn, perfectly chosen because both my husband, Daniel, and I are North Carolina Central alumni.

So that room has two queen-size beds in it.

I would say the feature of that room other than the two queen size beds is the fact that it has a seven-head shower.

That was the original seven-head shower.

And most of my guests who have stayed in that room have deemed that the human carwash.

[laughs] I tell people don't let it make you be late for breakfast.

- [Deborah] Monica runs the inn alongside her husband, Daniel.

Monica's partner in crime is also a crime fighter.

He says it's his duty to protect and to serve.

- I think it's fun.

It gives me balance.

So one of the things I do bake is the Carrot Coconut Crush, as I call it.

- [Deborah] Another staple at the manor is, of course, breakfast.

- I'm making one of Morehead Manor's signature dishes, pecan-stuffed croissants with homemade raspberry sauce.

- [Deborah] Breakfast is served in the Pecan Dining Room, a space that enjoys another of Daniel's artistic touches.

- We wanted an eating scene.

So we were inspired by another picture that we saw that was of Cafe du Monde in New Orleans.

- [Deborah] After breakfast, to help visitors get out and enjoy what Durham has to offer, taxi by pedicab is available.

- Hello ladies, how are you doing today?

- What has been so interesting and so enjoyable is the welcome reception and the hospitality, which I think of as being southern hospitality, and it has been absolutely delightful.

- Bringing you the comfort of home with special guest treatment and access to big city attractions, the Morehead manner is the getaway that's not too far away.

Morehead Manor Bed and Breakfast is at 914 Vickers Avenue in Durham.

To book a room or find out more, give them a call at 919-687-4366, or visit them online at MoreheadManor.com.

Big fat heart for big love, little tiny heart, it's so cute.

Now maybe your idea of a romantic getaway is more like a fairy tale.

Well, we found the perfect place, a treehouse community in Asheville, where you can live among the branches and gaze at the stars.

[lively guitar music] - [Narrator] This is the view from any one of the featured structures you're about to see, just 10 minutes from Downtown Asheville.

Who knew that 12 acres of prime hilltop property would become a village of treehouses.

Heavy beam architecture with lots of handcrafted and custom work outside and in.

There are seven of them built so far, a dozen or more still in the planning stages.

They are formally known as Treehouses of Serenity.

- It started, was let's build one and see what happens.

- [Narrator] Caroline Parrish and her husband, Mike, saw that first treehouse finished back in 2017.

It's called Sanctuary, and it wasn't easy.

- It was extremely scary at the beginning.

There were many days that we were scared to death going, are we gonna be able to pay the bills come the end of the month.

- [Narrator] They'd gone out on a limb for sure, but they didn't have to wait long to realize they'd made the right decision.

- It took off and has been wildly successful.

We couldn't have asked for anything more.

So, yeah, we're in the phase of let's get more built and let's go.

All of our houses are different.

We don't want any of them to fell the same, to look the same, because we want our guests to come and stay in one, and then while they're here, look at the differences and say, oh, next time I want to stay at the Aerie, or next time I want to stay at Hobbit Knoll.

And we have so many guests that do exactly that.

- - [Narrator] While Sanctuary is dear to Caroline, since it's the first, and it's the only one built entirely in the trees, Wizards Hollow is by far the popular favorite.

This dwelling has been featured in magazines and TV shows nationwide.

Harry Potter would feel more than comfortable here.

- You're truly going to see a castle.

You're going to see, you know, round turrets.

You're going to see spiral staircases, big chandeliers.

- [Narrator] And of course, there are hidden passageways and rooms.

Now, if living the high life isn't for you Hobbit Knoll just might be.

This one's built into the side of the mountain, near the edge of the shire.

- You're gonna see a lot of round doors at Hobbit Knoll.

I think, you know, when people think about hobbits or Tolkien, Lord the Rings, it's the iconic door.

And we had a wood worker here in Asheville that built us a round door.

He also built a round door, sliding pocket door, that separates the bedroom from the living room.

You're getting the earth elements, you're getting the round elements, but at the same time, the house itself has nine-foot ceilings.

So you're not gonna feel like you're in a hole.

- [Narrator] Each of the rentals has its own themes or personalities.

The ideas come from a collective process between the Parrishes and their building engineer.

- Your dream is to get a project where you're allowed the creativity to do something.

It's not just something that's out of a box.

I mean, you're really given free reign.

- He's all in with getting as crazy as we want to get.

And he brings some crazy ideas, too, so it all works.

- It was definitely a childhood dream to have, you know, a really cool tree house, not just one, you know, built out of logs and tied with ropes in the trees.

You know, I was even told in college, I'd say, oh, it'd be great to build a tree house.

And you're like, oh, you could never do that, you know.

Of course, people are doing it now.

It's amazing to do it and be a part of it myself, to be able to design.

- Treehouses of Serenity are located in North Asheville, only about 10 minutes from downtown.

Only guests are allowed on the property.

So to book a room, go to TreehousesofSerenity.com.

Well, that's it for tonight show.

We'd like to thank the folks at Escazu Chocolates for hosting us.

It's a great place to visit for Valentine's Day or any day.

And if you missed anything in today's show, just remember, you can always watch this again online at PBSNC.org.

Have a great North Carolina weekend, everyone.

[lively music] - [Announcer] Funding for North Carolina Weekend is provided in part by Visit NC, dedicated to highlighting our state's natural scenic beauty, unique history, and diverse cultural attractions.

From the Blue Ridge and the Great Smoky Mountains, across the Piedmont, to 300 miles of Barrier Island beaches, you're invited to experience all the adventure and charm our state has to offer.

[lively piano music]