Southern Manners Restaurant, Columbus, NC, Delicious Baked Oatmeal

Southern Manners is located in Columbus, North Carolina. From the time that you walk in the doors till the time you leave, you know that you are in the south. The décor has a southern feel, the staff has southern charm, and the food is simply delicious. 

The ordering procedure at Southern Manners is different from most other cafes. Instead of taking your seat and placing your order, you will visit a countertop where you order and pay. There are menus on the left as you enter and there are two cashiers available, so the lines moved swiftly. After paying, you will get your own coffee and find your way to a table. 

A Trump rally was happening in Columbus on the day we were in town, and we wanted to enjoy the show. We chose to sit upstairs and by a window, yes you read correctly, they do have upstairs seating. From our upstairs window overlooking the street below, we had perfect seats. As we waited for our food to arrive, we enjoyed watching the Trump flags and signs waving from the cars and truck driving by.

Due to the ordering process, it can be a bit difficult to carry multiple drinks and silverware up the stairs.  However, on the plus side, once at our table we had everything we needed to enjoy our breakfast. Our server helped with refills and any additional items we needed. As you may be able to tell, I wasn't crazy about the ordering process, but overall, I was happy with the alternative approach. 

While ordering, I noticed “baked oatmeal” on the menu. I was intrigued, so in addition to our eggs, grits, bacon, and sausage, (a true southern breakfast) I added a bowl for my family of three to try for the first time. Everything we ordered came out hot and fresh, but the baked oatmeal was by far the best dish on our table. There was a mountain of baked oats topped with fresh strawberries, blueberries, pecans, and served with a small cup of milk. This ended up being a breakfast dessert that my son loved. 

I highly recommend Southern Manners restaurant. If I'm in Columbus, NC again, I know where I will be having Breakfast. 

Southern Manners

The Lost Treasure Mini Golf - North Myrtle Beach, SC

Professor Hacker's Lost Treasure miniature golf is one of the best mini golf courses that my family has ever played. The entire 36-hole course is well designed and very well maintained. Each round begins with a short but enjoyable train ride around the entire course and up to the top of the mountain. This is where you will begin your journey, along rivers, over bridges, under waterfalls, and through the mysterious caves. 

This adventurous putt-putt course is highly entertaining and very kid-friendly. Many of the holes have a themed storyline revolving around the adventures of the incredible Professor Hacker. The storyline adds an entirely different element for kids, and it really helps to keep them involved throughout the entire game. At the time of our visit, our son was seven years old. He enjoyed the course so much that we played both the diamond and the gold courses in a single outing. We ended up playing a total of 36 holes and having hours of fun. 

However, please do not mistake “kid-friendly” to mean “easy”. Each green on this course presents some interesting challenges for the adult golfers to enjoy. Regarding difficulty, I would say that The Lost Treasure is on par with most other minigolf courses. I'm no Arnold Palmer, but I have played my share of golf and minigolf. While it may not present you with as much difficulty as it did me, this course did include some challenges and obstacles.

If you do decide to give Professors Hacker's Lost Treasure a shot, then be sure to take advantage of the discounted second round. At the time of our visit, the second round only cost six dollars per person. I highly recommend The Lost Treasure and I can't wait to experience other Professor Hacker mini-golf adventures. If you have experience with any of the other Professor Hacker courses, please leave a comment and share your experience.

Continue Reading:

Professor Hackers MAYDAY Golf, North Myrtle Beach

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Patriot Point Maritime Museum, Full Review, Charleston, SC

The Fighting Lady is Very Impressive

Visiting Patriots Point, the nation’s oldest aircraft carrier museum was an awesome family experience. We visited on a very rainy morning in the fall but the weather cleared by lunch and we were able to enjoy the flight deck. The remaining clouds provided decent cloud cover, and as it turns out, they also provided a great backdrop for many of the photos. 

Retired warplane located on the flight
deck of the Yorktown CV-10

The USS Yorktown CV-10, The Fighting Lady as she is referred to, is a retired World War II aircraft carrier. She is not plush or pristine, but at over 70 years old she is well taken care of and still very impressive. The inside of the USS Yorktown, CV-10 it is laid out similar to a museum. There are lots of military artifacts, scaled models, and several full-size airplanes. When you step out onto the massive flight deck, which is small by todays standards, you will be in the midst of even more full-size jets and military planes. This part of the tour was especially exciting to my seven-year-old son as we inspected each retired aircraft one by one. 

The Destroyer

The USS Laffey (DD-724) is more interactive, my son enjoyed this exhibit more than the CV-10. This amazing vessel is much smaller than the CV-10. Touring this nostalgic destroyer made me realize the sacrifice that many brave men made to call this home for months on end. The USS Laffey does not feel like a museum. I have already mentioned that it is more interactive and there are far less exhibits and artifacts inside as well. My advice would be to resist the urge to go straight for the enormous aircraft carrier. Take in the military destroyer and all it has to offer before embarking on the journey of exploring the CV-10.

USS Laffey (DD-724) Retired Military destroyer

I am not a huge military buff nor do I typically enjoy touring museums. I thought this would be a fun and educational day trip for my family and as it turns out, I was correct. I highly recommend visiting this exhibit, I would suggest that you allow at least 4 hours to enjoy this tour. Keep in mind that the the CV-10 was designed for young marines, not for those with bad knees. Many of the stairways are more like ladders than steps and it may be necessary to duck as you enter certain doorways. So plan accordingly and be sure to wear your walking shoes.

Note: Due to Covid-19, the retired submarine was closed. This gives us a good reason to return and to continue or tour.

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www.patriotspoint.org