Gastonia is a town located just to the west of Charlotte, North Carolina. While it is no where near the size of its larger neighbor, Gastonia has much to offer the visitor. Located in Gaston County you will find so many things to do while here, you are sure to come back to finish what could not be done in a single trip.
Just about every town in Gaston County has its own unique event to celebrate the important history of their area. Festivals which include Garibaldi Fest in Belmont, Spring Fest in Mt. Holly, Down Home Day in Bessemer City, and Country Fest in Stanley are only a few of the offerings. There are also events like Cotton Ginning Days, antique car shows, and year round events at the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. All these and many more help make Gaston County an interesting place to visit any time of the year.
Like many other places in the heart of North Carolina, you can get to many places while staying in Gastonia. Within a two hour drive of the center of the town are multitudes of things to do. Try day trips to Hickory for the Furniture Mart or Blackburg, SC for the Kings Mountain National Military Park or the beautiful Biltmore House in Asheville, NC. Of course Charlotte has so many things to do that the money you save by staying in Gastonia can help you enjoy even more what the area has to offer.
If sewing is your thing then you've heard of Mary Jo's Cloth Store. Beginning as a small side line business in the back of her father's store, Mary Jo Cloninger developed a business that draws customers from all over the southeast portion of the country. If you visit, be prepared to explore over 40,000 square feet of fabric.
While Gastonia is no slouch in the grand North Carolina game of who has the best Barbecue with restaurants like Black's Barbecue and Carolina Country Barbecue. It is the unique fish camps that you'll want to explore. During the 1930's cooks would set up huge kettles near the rivers and cooked fish camp style. The tradition continues in Gastonia with nearly 30 Fish Camp restaurants to choose from.
Gaston County has established a self-guided tour they call the Magnolia Tour. This tour features stops in a diverse set of attractions. One of the finest sights is the World's largest American flag. Measuring 114 by 65 feet this magnificent display of patriotism is the only available during good weather. If you find yourself in the area around Flag Day, you owe it to yourself to stop by and see this wonderful display.