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heartland towns
Aiken, SC
Bennettsville, SC
Camden, SC
Cary, NC
Chapel
Hill, NC
Charlotte, NC
Cheraw, SC
Columbia, SC
Durham, NC
Fayetteville, NC
Florence, SC
Greensboro, NC
Greenwood, SC
Hartsville, SC
Hickory, NC
High
Point, NC
Lexington, SC
Lincolnton, NC
Manning, SC
Marion
County, SC
Newberry, SC
North
Augusta, SC
Orangeburg, SC
Pinehurst, NC
Pittsboro, NC
Raleigh, NC
Research
Triangle, NC
Sanford, NC
Santee, SC
Sumter, SC
Vance
County, NC
Winston-Salem, NC
Books About The
Carolinas
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Carolina Clay.
The North
Carolina Pottery
Center in
Seagrove, near
Sanford, is a
destination in
itself. Perhaps
it's the native
clay, or the
generations
who've gone
before, but the
end result is a
pottery culture
that brings rave
reviews from all
who visit.
NC Division of
Tourism, Film &
Sports
Development -
www.visitnc.com |
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Sanford |
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ike and Marie Losquadro settled on the Carolinas as a retirement destination because of its delightful climate, change of seasons and relaxed lifestyle.
They chose Carolina Trace Country Club, near the community of Sanford, because of its golf amenities, many clubs and groups, and friendly people.
“My husband is a golfer, and I enjoy the outdoors,” she explained. “Living on a lake with ample garden area that I can cultivate has been a dream for me. And now it’s a reality.”
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he couple visited their daughter and her family, who were living near Raleigh. While there, friends from Massachusetts who had moved to Carolina Trace invited them over for a visit. “We bought a house that same day,” Mrs. Losquadro laughed. During the past two years, she’s joined two different garden clubs, a yoga class, a dinner club and a group that travels around the state. And, she works full time, teaching online classes. Her husband was very active in theater when the couple lived on Long Island, and since the move, he’s had roles in the Temple Theater productions of Footloose, A Christmas Carol, and has a large role in an upcoming production of South Pacific.
“We wanted to be close to a major airport,” Mrs. Losquadro added. She and her husband enjoy scuba diving in the Caribbean as well as returning to New York to visit family and friends. Lately, though, folks have been traveling to visit them. “At first people were surprised that we would move to a location they had never seen. After visiting, they all say the same thing: ‘Oh, now I understand.’ Perhaps because everyone comes from somewhere else, they’re all friendly and welcoming. And, the roads don’t have bumper to bumper traffic like they did in New York.”
Sanford is the county seat of Lee County. It’s a charming, well-centered town with all of life’s necessities, plus a lot more. Sanford’s Central Carolina Community College offers continuing education classes for adults in areas such as creative writing, computers, art and music. Tuition is free for adults over 65.
A sense of history is everywhere from local Revolutionary and Civil War sites, to the Lee County Historical Society and Railroad House Association. For outdoor enthusiasts, wildlife programs, walking trails and picnic areas can be found at San-Lee Park. Raven Rock National Park, on the Cape Fear River, is just 20 minutes away. Another popular destination is the Airborne and Special Operations Museum in nearby Fayetteville.
Businesses thrive in the area. The Lee County Economic Development Corp. is a nonprofit organization established to attract industry, enhance job opportunities and promote sound planning across Lee County. The Committee of 100 is an organization of business leaders committing time, energy and resources to enhance the economic well-being of Lee County and its citizens.
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Corporate and individual members assist the Lee County Economic Development Corp.
by establishing venture capital projects to expand local industry, helping to promote
economic growth and enhancing working relationships among government, business and the community.
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As Mrs. Losquadro has discovered, arts and culture flourish here as well. A number of regional theaters, museums and performance venues bring Broadway to the area, as well as symphony, opera and dance.
And shopping must start with the remarkable artisans in the region who produce pottery valued throughout the world. The Sanford Pottery Festival, North Carolina’s largest such event, is held each year on the weekend before Mother’s Day. Visitors enjoy dining at the Bella Bistro, where the bacon-wrapped North Carolina Trout is a menu standout.
And for the little ones, Sanford has recently been named one of the nation’s 93 “Playful City USA” communities by KaBOOM!, a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing play opportunities for children. The group commended Sanford for providing, “quantity, quality and access” to playspaces and recreational programs designed to improve childhood wellness, public safety and the overall quality of life.
That’s good news for the Losquadro family, happily settled at Carolina Trace. Their grandchildren visit often.
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Katherine O. Pettit has worked as a writer, magazine editor,
printer and public relations consultant. The Columbia resident has published more than 250 articles in
magazines and newspapers. Her writing explores a variety of subjects including travel, lifestyles,
business and management.
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