North Carolina Has One Of The Best Restaurants For Pancakes In The U.S.

In anticipation of National Pancake Day on September 26, we will spotlight one of the most popular breakfast dishes in the country. Travel and Leisure recently named the 25 best pancake restaurants in America, and a North Carolina establishment was among them.

“Really, there are no rules when it comes to flapjacks — Pancake Day can happen any time you’re craving a short stack topped with butter and maple syrup,” Travel and Leisure explains. In fact, pancakes are not just for breakfast anymore. All types of restaurants or diners serve them for any meal. Furthermore, if you really want to see your kids’ faces light up with excitement, tell them you are making breakfast for dinner.

Travel and Leisure did not consider fast food chains. While McDonald’s hotcakes are also delicious, and IHOP still serves perhaps the most distinctive-tasting plate pancakes worldwide, the list focuses on more local establishments.

In North Carolina, the restaurant recognized for having the best pancakes is a waterfront establishment with a health-focused menu.

Located in Nags Head, FreshFit Café offers a unique take on this sweet breakfast dish. "We are nutrition-oriented and health-focused and want to help you eat better, increase energy and reduce stress," they say.

Their menu offers four different pancake variations. They are espresso, banana, and blueberry, in addition to the standard plain recipe. Plus, each order has a side and can be gluten-free or vegan. The "Great Plates" section of the menu is where you can find pancakes served alongside an omelet. Lastly, you will want to wash this all down with one of the many coffee or smoothie options. There are 15 different smoothies at FreshFit, six of which are considered "adult," as they are mixed with wine.

This restaurant is open seven days per week. Their dine-in experience gives you a relaxing view of the Causeway while you enjoy your healthy meal.

The fall season is a glorious time in America. From coast to coast, many different areas off beautiful fall colors in radiant reds, oranges and yellows. So, what are the most beautiful spots for fall colors in America?

Peak fall foliage season is different based on where you are located. Some areas of the U.S. see fall colors as early as September, while others peak later on, such as in October or even November. Generally speaking, areas with longer winters will have earlies fall colors, and areas with longer summers will have later fall colors. Most of America hits peak fall foliage season in the month of October. Of course, areas bordering Canada will be the first to see those colors.

If you're wondering the science behind the fall colors, the color that the leaves become depends on a few factors. Those include the chlorophyll and weather conditions during the summer or fall. Chlorophyll is a pigment that aids in giving leaves their color. In general, big changes from the norm in precipitation, whether it's getting way too much rain or not enough, can really impact the fall foliage season.

Also, I remember last year, the radiant colors in my area fell off the trees early. The reason was that we had a wind storm come through, so the leaves fell prematurely. I was pretty upset about it, because not only do I like to see beautiful fall colors, I also like to paint fall colors. So, my muse was gone.

That said, if you are in the mood to view fall colors this year, here are some great places to do it. Read on for 10 Beautiful spots in America for fall colors. What are your favorite areas to see fall foliage? Reach out to me on social media here and let me know.

If you're looking for a late spot to view vibrant fall colors, then we have just the area for you. Vogel State Park, located around the Chattahoochee National Forest in Blairsville, Georgia, is a great area to see fall foliage going into the first half of November. It's a great late-season trip.

https://gastateparks.org/Vogel

Cape May in New Jersey is a delightful area to see autumn colors later in the season. From mid-October and through November, the colors here are bright. Don't miss the views of the historic lighthouses in the area, too, plus all the area parks.

https://www.capemay.com/

Lamoille Canyon in Nevada offers some stunning looks in the autumn months. The area is located in the Ruby Mountains and offers a wide array of fall colors with plenty of different kinds of trees. You can drive on the 12-mile Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway for a prime view.

https://travelnevada.com/outdoor-recreation/lamoille-canyon-ruby-mountains/

The north parts of Michigan are glorious in the fall months. Traverse City is located on Lake Michigan, and in the fall, the trees turn bright orange and yellow. This area gets really cold in the winter, so the summer and fall months are the best time to travel there. Spring is nice, too.

https://www.michigan.org/city/traverse-city

I know what you're thinking. Fall colors in Florida? The Sunshine State isn't known for their fall colors, but Torreya State Park offers some great, late-season views. The area has quite a few varieties of trees that show their colors in early November. It's worth the road trip, if you live south of there.

https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/torreya-state-park

Waterfalls and fall colors? That sounds great to me. The Tahquamenon Falls State Park has one of the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi River. This state park is huge, too, offering 50,000 acres of forest. It's beautiful in the fall.

https://www.michigan.org/property/tahquamenon-falls-state-park

The Blue Ridge Parkway is stunning any time of the year, but especially in the fall. The trees on this 469-mile Appalachian attraction turn beautiful shades in the fall, so it's a splendor for the senses. The Blue Ridge Parkway runs 469 miles through Virginia and North Carolina and is divided into four districts: the Ridge region, the Plateau region, the Highlands region, and the Pisgah region.

The Washington Crossing Historic Park is a special, historical area, because it's the spot where George Washington crossed the Delaware River from Pennsylvania to New Jersey in 1776. Aside from its history, this Pennsylvania landmark is beautiful in the fall. It offers plenty of bright trees, as well as a colonial reenactment event.

https://www.washingtoncrossingpark.org/

The Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee has some of the greatest fall foliage in America. It also has one of the longest fall foliage seasons, so you get plenty of time to take it in. The colors can arrive as early as the middle of September and go all the way through the middle of November. Take it in.

https://www.nps.gov/grsm/

Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary offers a great spot for a hike in the middle part of October, because the colors are so vivid. Expect a delightful view of the vibrant colors. It's a nice area if you don't want to travel to New Hampshire or Burlington, Vermont, and it's a bit more off the radar.