We know the end of summer is quickly approaching, so before summer is over we want to take you up the coast on a North Carolina Lighthouse Tour, follow us! Let’s all jump into our ChevroletEquinox and begin our coastal adventure!
To start your trip it’s only right to visit the oldest lighthouse in North Carolina. First stop is the Oak Island Lighthouse built-in 1952 replacing the Cape Fear Lighthouse. Made out of concrete long and skinny tower had the brightest light in the United States from 1958-1962, standing on Bald Head Island since 1817. Old Baldy has rightfully earned its right to be the first stop.
The next lighthouse on our list is on the beautiful Crystal Coast we have Cape Lookout. This lighthouse is on the Outer Banks in the southernmost part and it’s painted for directions with black facing north and south and white east and west. If you’re lucky you might even spot some wild horses!
As simple and remote as the Ocracoke Lighthouse may seem it had been guiding sailors and boats since 1823. The lighthouse stands 75 feet tall, diameter narrows from 25feet at the base to 12 feet at its peak. Being one of the most remote stretches of the Outer Banks, this could be a full-day experience from seeing Ocracoke Lighthouse to exploring the island.
Can’t miss the tallest brick lighthouse in the US and we are lucky to have it right on the North Carolina coast on Hatteras Island. Originally built in 1803 Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was built as a ‘guiding light’ to help sailors navigate through the graveyard of the Atlantic. There are 269 steps from the group level to the lens of Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Always impressive to see the brick lighthouse standing at 210 ft.
The Bodie Island Lighthouse has been replicated three times since 1872, standing 156 feet tall. It is located on the Roanoke Sound, it is located amongst the marshland. The view from the top is incredible and totally worth it.
Currituck stands out being the only natural-brick lighthouse on the coast with 1 million bricks. Towering over the northern Outer Banks historic Corolla Village making for a beautiful sight at the top with expansive views of the Currituck Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. Currituck is the largest of seven Fresnel lens sizes being known as a first-order lighthouse.
We are at our last stop of the trip often one of the most overlooked Outer Banks lighthouses we have Roanoke LIghthouse. Don’t be discouraged by it being tucked away in the quiet east end of Manteo waterfront with small stature and limited visibility, it’s still a lovely sight to see. It jets out 40 yards into the Roanoke Sound with a prim white exterior with black shutters and red shingled roof, capped off by a 2′ ft., 4″ in. the tall lens gives this lighthouse a classic coastal look. Enjoy the fantastic waterfront view and stroll the wooden boardwalk to explore the exterior.
We have completed our North Carolina Lighthouse tour! We hope you had fun and enjoyed our roomy Equinox, be sure to stop back again for another road trip!
Need the space of an SUV but don’t want to sacrifice driving characteristics? The all new Chevrolet Blazer is the perfect SUV then! Growing families, empty nesters, young professionals, or adventures, whoever you are the Blazer it sure to fit all of your needs! Let’s dive in to see all that the Blazer offers.
Driving:
Tired of sacrificing the speed and driving characteristics when it’s time to upgrade to a bigger vehicle? Well the time for that is over! Chevrolet’s all new Blazer gives you the driving capabilities that’s in a Camaro but with more space. The resurrected SUV-turned-crossover handles well with twin-clutch and all-wheel driver. The RS model especially is very sporty and the steering system is similar to that of a Camaro. General Motors engineers made sure that the RS model feels different than the standard driving mode, because if you’re buying an RS model you should feel like you’re driving a Sport mode. It comes available in a 3.6-liter V-6, making 308 hp and 270 pound-feet of torque, combined with the nine-speed automatic. The standard model comes in a 2.5-liter four-cylinder Ecotec engine that makes 193 hp and 188 pound-feet of torque, combined with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Blazer comes available in both front- and all-wheel drive.
Design:
Now that we have you excited it’s time to tell you about the design which is a big change from the old rugged trucklike featured that the Blazer used to have. Now it is more sports-car-like exterior and sleek, tech-savvy interior. The cabin features circular air vents, a sleek screen and several more upscale features which are all features in the Camaro. The design-focused SUV mixes style and adaptability with its strong frame and sliding rear seats. It has 4,500 lbs. max towing for weekend road trips.
The Blazer is the perfect vehicle for any of your adventures. Stop by Jeff Gordon Chevrolet today and take one for a test drive then fall and love and take it home!
At Jeff Gordon Chevrolet we have already kicked off our summer with Summer of Chevy, but technically speaking summer does not officially begin until Jun 21st also being the summer solstice and the longest day of the year for anyone who lives north of the equator.
Now you may be asking yourself what is the summer solstice and why is it the longest day of the year?
The summer solstice occurs when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Cancer, or 23.5 degrees north latitude, meaning it will occur exactly at 11:54 am ET on Friday the 21st. Due to the Earth orbiting around the sun on a tilted axis, the Earth’s Northern Hemisphere gets more exposure to direct sunlight over the course of a day between March and September. Then the rest of the year the Southern Hemisphere gets more causing the season changes. Fun fact; longest day to ever happen in Earth’s history dated back to 1912.
Depending on where you live depends on how much sunlight you will see. Alaska-based climatologist Brian Brettschneider created this terrific guide:
Not only is the longest day well the longest day of the year but it is also when thousands of participants all across the world come together to fight the darkness of Alzheimer’s. Participants choose an activity that they desire to participate in to raise funds and awareness for the care, support, and research efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association.
Interested in participating? It’s simple!
First things first choose an activity that you would like to turn into a fundraiser to fight Alzheimer’s. Then follow the steps below!
Register– Sign and select the fundraising activity you’d like to do.
Fundraiser– Set the fundraising page and add details about your activity.
Invite Others– Ask others to fundraiser with you or just simply donate to help meet your goal!
The earlier you start fundraising the great difference you make! Staff and volunteers from the Longest Day will be there every step of the way to assist with tools, tips, and coaching. By working together we can strengthen our light to outshine the darkness of Alzheimer’s!
Support our Jeff Gordon Chevrolet team for the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s, the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research.
Enjoy the extra long day cruising around town with the wind blowing through your hair because the Chevrolet Equinox has a panoramic power sunroof giving everyone in the vehicle a wide-open view. Road trips don’t need to boring ever again because you have the panoramic roof which is great to search for constellations or cloud spotting. Working on the road, or need to entertain the kids? The Equinox offers available built-in 4G LTE Wi-Fi, as well as The Equinox, offers 39.7 inches of rearseat leg room with enough room for 5 passengers. One of the worst things about summer is crawling into a vehicle with hot seats but in the Equinox you never have to worry about that again because there are ventilated seats.
If you are looking to take a road trip and make memories this summer with your family we have compiled a list of “MUST SEE” stops heading on I-95 South from Wilmington to Florida!
Your first stop on the trip heading south on 95 should be South of Border. For over 50 years South of the Border has been a landmark of the southeast. Pedro the lovable grinning mustachioed caricature mascot stands 97 feet tall making him the largest freestanding sign east of the Mississippi, you can even drive through his legs! When driving on I95 you see Pedro talking to you from the signs for miles telling you you’re almost to South of the Border. Mexico Shop East and West have tons of souvenirs, everything you can think of. A summertime favorite, fireworks start at the South Carolina state line, Pedro’s Rocket City has a huge selection with all the favorites! Don’t forget about the best Mexican food in northern South Carolina at Sombrero Room Restaurant. There are other food choices if you do not want Mexican or a sit-down restaurant. Pedro’s Casateria offers food in short order making it quick and easy to get back on the road. There’s also Pedro’s Southern Fried Chicken which looks like an antebellum mansion with rocking chairs and a giant chick on the roof. Then there is Peddlers Steakhouse shaped like a Mexican hat very hard to miss. Before getting back in the car be sure to ride to the top of Sombrero Tower in the glass elevator. If you decide to stay at South of the Border there is RV campgrounds and 300 motel rooms spread of 135 acres which allows access to Pedro’s Pleasure Dome with indoor pool, steam room, jacuzzi, bar and wedding chapel.
Head to “The Track Too Tough to Tame” at Darlington Raceway. Even if there’s not a race going on when you visit you can still take a walk through the Darlington Raceway Stock Car Museum. Not only will you see the history of Darlington Raceway but also the entire sport. Whether you’re a long time race fan or new to the sport the Darlington Raceway Stock Car Museum and NMPA Hall of Fame offers a unique stroll through the history of NASCAR. Darlington Raceway gift shop, NMPA Hall of Fame and Darlington Raceway Stock Car Museum are open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Be sure to stop by, who knows you may even spot some Jeff Gordon history!
Next on the stop is the Wood Bay State Park, get out and stretch your legs while enjoying some time in nature! Wood Bay offers one of the last remaining large Carolina Bay on the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain. The 1,590-acre park features a wide range of habitats such as marsh, sandhills. Oak-hickory forest and shrub bog. There is much wildlife to see and great for bird watching especially during migration seasons. The park can be explored by taking the nature trail which circles the mill pond or walks the length of the 1,150-foot boardwalk, where you can see the alligators in the cypress-tupelo swamp. If you want to make it a longer adventure the best way to see the park is by following the canoe trail which will take paddlers pas the Carolina Bays to the elliptical depressions.
Just a short drive down the road from Wood Bay State Park is the Congaree National Park. The Congaree National Park offers a wide range of biodiversity with the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forever remaining in the southeastern United States. There is so much to do at Congaree, with canoeing through the beautiful rivers, camping, fishing, hiking, nature watching, you’re sure to enjoy time with the family while taking a break.
Another great State Park is the Santee State Park sits along Lake Marion, and is known for its abundant population of large catfish. Other activities include hiking, biking, pontoon boat tours, kayaking, boating and a whole lot more! If you want to camp on the lake there is lakeside camping, if you prefer indoors there’s also 10 cabins that sit on the piers overlooking the lake.
In the small town of Bowman, SC with less than 1,000 residents is the UFO Welcome Center. Bowman resident Jody Pendarvis has been building the UFO Welcome Center for the past 25 years. Pendarvis graduated from Bowman High School in 1970 then he went on to serve in the Air Force from 1973 to 1984, where he gaining a military education working on computers. Following his service in the military, Pendarvis attended South Carolina State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science in 1990. Four years later he began working on the welcome center. The UFO Welcome Center consists of a 42-foot-wide flying saucer built out of wood, fiberglass, and plastic, in 2003 a smaller saucer about 20 feet in width was added on top of the original structure. There is everything that an alien might need if they are to visit, Pendarvis envisions himself as an ambassador for aliens. During the summers the top saucer is cooler than Pendarvis’ mobile home so he stays in the top saucer. There is a wooden container near the sentence that is painted blue saying “Tips” as the admission fee. There is a sign near the entrance that reads “Space People Only. Enter at Own Risk, Danger” then you walk in there is a book which asks you to write down your name and the planet that you come from. Bowman Mayor Marion Glenn would like to make the UFO Welcome Center more a true town welcome center, however, Pendarvis is indifferent about it, for now, it will remain Jody’s Welcome Center. When visiting the UFO Welcome Center like all places be sure to watch your step, stay safe, and take a lot of photos. Who knows you might be there to welcome the aliens.
The Carolina Heritage Outfitters just outside of Walterboro, SC is the perfect night getaway especially after being on the road. At the Carolina Heritage Outfitters, you can enjoy canoeing and if you plan to stay you will be able to stay in beautiful tree houses. The tree houses offer the perfect relaxation with the privacy which is only accessible by canoe, it is a beauty to take in the longest free-flowing blackwater river with sandy banks and a shallow sandy bottom perfect for swimming and picnicking. When the water is higher during the winter months you can paddle right into the forest of cypress trees.
Now we continue south to Georgia where our first stop is Savannah, a city with a lot of history and so much today is a coastal city separated from South Carolina by the Savannah River. Take a trip to Savannah Historic District with tours of the downtown and water tours you can see the history and beauty of Savannah. Or head over to City Market for fine dining, shopping, and fun entertainment while taking in the historic town.
Just 20 minutes outside of Savannah is Tybee Island is the perfect sandy getaway. Tybee Island is home to Georgia’s oldest and tallest lighthouse which you can take a tour of, you can also visit Fort Pulaski where the Union Army successfully tested a rifle canon in 1862 during the Civil War. If you want to get into nature and enjoy the water Tybee has boat rides where you can see the dolphins, kayaking, paddle boarding and all of the beach favorites!
Another stop along the Georgia coast is Cumberland Island. Cumberland Island is much different than Tybee Island. While Tybee Island is beautiful and there’s a lot to do it is made for the tourist. Whereas Cumberland Island is the largest and southernmost barrier island in Georgia. It offers over 17 miles of secluded white sandy beaches, wild horses and other island wildlife freely roaming throughout the ruins and along the beach. A beautiful scenic escape Cumberland Island has a lot to offer from history to nature. If you’re interested in riding the ferry it is recommended to book a reservation prior to arriving.
Now we have made it to Florida, there are a lot of stops to make in Florida along the coast, so get ready for a fun-filled journey as we venture down the beautiful coast of Florida!
Our first stop in Florida is Jacksonville, a large city that shows it all. No matter what type of adventure you are looking for Jacksonville has it! In addition to Jacksonville Beach, there are several others. See some animals at the Jacksonville Zoo & Garden or head over to the Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary to see big cats. Downtown Jacksonville has a lot to offer, you could spend all day in Jacksonville or keep heading down the beautiful coast Florida, really just depends on your time.
St. Augustine lays the claim to being the oldest city in the U.S., being known for the Spanish colonial architecture and Atlantic Ocean beaches. The history is a must see when visiting St. Augustine. First, we will head to Castillo de San Marcos which symbolizes the clash between cultures. The St. Augustine Light Station is a site to see as it is still an active working lighthouse. Who doesn’t love treasure and pirates, right? Check out the St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum to be transported back to the Golden Age of Piracy over 300 years to Port Royal, Jamaica. Cannot miss the beautiful white sandy beaches of St. Augustine to get to the beach cross over the Bridge of Lions. Bridge of Lions spans the Intracoastal Waterway, it connects downtown St. August to Anastasia Island across Matanzas Bay, it is a site to see for sure! Visit any of the beaches in St. Augustine you won’t be disappointed!
Now we have made it to the “World Center of Racing” Daytona International Speedway! Go to the place where Jeff Gordon 4 time NASCARCup Series Champion and NASCAR Hall of Famer won not one but three Daytona 500s! There are 3 types of tours that you can do of Daytona International Speedway. In addition to tours, fans can also access the new Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, which now house the DIS Ticket and Tours Building, as well as take part in NASCAR Racing Experience. The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America showcases and honors all fours of motorsports: Stock Cars, Sports Cars, Open-Wheel, Motorcycles, Drag Racing, Land Speed Records, Powerboating, and Aviation. In addition to Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach has much to offer! If you’re looking to get away from the crows check out Tomoka State Park. Tomoka State Park is a 2,000-acre State Park located along the Tomoka River, where your visitors can camp, hike, and boat. Of course, when visiting Daytona visitors must enjoy the World’s Most Famous Beach. There is so much to enjoy in Daytona.
Ponce Inlet is a beautiful beachy town in Volusia County, Florida, located on the southern tip of a beach peninsula just south of Daytona Beach. The Ponce de Leon Inlet Light is the tallest lighthouse in the state, beautiful stop for sure! Smyrna Dunes Park is a vast public park where pets are allowed on the leash and fun for the whole family! Go-Kart City is a fun-filled day for the whole family with a lengthy go-kart track, 7-stall batting cages, and a colorful, fun 18-hole putt-putt course because who doesn’t love putt-putt, right? Ponce Inlet has much to offer and is just a short drive from Daytona!
Along the coast, there are many stops in Florida that visitors can stop and not be disappointed in. Now we continue south because our trip must come to an end to Homestead Florida.
Just south of Miami Homestead has much to offer. Of course, a Jeff Gordon or NASCAR fan must stop by Homestead-Miami Speedway. Another stop is Coral Castle created and structured by Latvian-American eccentric Edward Leedskalnin, who single-handedly and secretly carver over 1,100 tons of coral rock. Everglades Alligator Farm the farm features snakes, alligators, caimans, and crocodiles plus airboat tours. Another fun place to see wildlife is the Monkey Jungle it is a 30-acre wildlife park in 1933 for the exhibition and study of endangered monkeys in their semi-natural habitats.
There you have it you have made it! You have seen I-95-South in its entirety!
All Summer Long Jeff Gordon Chevrolet will feature our vehicle lineup in areas unique to our Coastal Community. Explore Wilmington, NC along with us, as we showcase our Chevys in different parts of the Cape Fear Region. Hit up Historic Downtown Hotspots, Cruise the Waterways and Discover Wilmington’s Unique Parks and Gardens all in the comfort of your driver’s seat.
Join us for Summer of Chevy for events and giveaways all summer long June-August
TRAVERSE TAKES THE LEAD
The all-new 2019 Traverse is a step ahead of the competition when it comes to offering cargo space, Wi-Fi technology and safety features like the industry-first Front Center Air Bag.
Several years ago, as you would depart Wilmington, NC going West on Interstate 40 you would be greeted with a sign on your right that declared:
Due to the novelty of this installment, the sign was stolen many times and after 4 replacements the NC DOT decided that it would just not spend the money on putting up a new one anymore.
The memory of that sign has inspired us to take the ultimate road trip to the final destination heading West on Interstate 40 to Barstow, California in our 2018 Chevy Traverse!
Check out how our very own Fernez Family preps for a Summer Road trip:
If you are ready to pack up the family and make your own memories this summer we have put a list together for you of the “MUST SEE” stops on this Westward Bound Great American Road Trip!
Wrightsville Beach, NC was noted North Carolina’s Best Beach – it is the perfect home for those with active outdoor lifestyles.
Year round, Wrightsville Beach, NC is home to many outdoor enthusiasts who love the versatility of the area. Known for its crystal blue waters and spacious beach, surfing and standup paddleboard (SUP) competitions, and much more, it’s easy to find something to do here. No wonder Wrightsville Beach was voted North Carolina’s best beach.
College Basketball is THE sport in North Carolina, and whether or not your family sides with UNC, Duke or NC State, this historic stop can’t be missed. The sports lover in you will dive headfirst into the timeline showing the infamous Tobacco Road rivalry.
Stretch your legs and work up an appetite by stopping over for a breathtaking hike in Catawba Falls. Just 30 minutes outside of Asheville, NC this Blue Ridge waterfall is over 100 ft high and is located at the Southern tip of Pisgah National Forest’s Grandfather Ranger District, just south of the Old Fort grade on I-40.
With hiking trails and several different waterfalls this natural marvel is now open for public exploration.
Clean off your hiking shoes and heads just 27 miles West to enter
You may want to stick around for a few days. Downtown Asheville, NC is filled with iconic landmarks, independent shops, breweries, and some world-renowned dining all tucked away in a mountain community vibe. Venture out to the Biltmore, George Vanderbilt’s Winter Estate complete with century-old gardens, hiking/biking and an on-site winery. Tour the treasured American Pisgah and Nantahala Forests if you didn’t get enough Blue Ridge Mountain beauty in your last stop.
After you have had your fill of top-notch cuisine hop back in and head 82 miles west to
Ready for an epic zipline adventure? Check out CLIMB Works Smoky Mountains Zipline Tour. Complete with World-Class Ziplining and Mountain Biking adventures, CLIMB accommodates groups of all sizes.
And if you are a Blake Shelton fan mark your calendars – the country star plans to open the third Ole Red Restaurant and Entertainment complex right off the Gatlinburg Parkway.
Get back on US-441N towards I-40 W and in one hour you will be in
With a walkable downtown, people love to explore and discover vibrant murals, local music, historic sites, art museums, parks, greenways and more. Check out Zoo Knoxville, commonly referred to as “The Red Panda Capital of the World” because of their success in breeding red pandas.
Continue on to I-40 for another 180 miles and you have entered Music City –
Whether or not you are a country music fan, a MUST DO while in Nashville is visit the Country Music Hall of Fame. This recently renovated 350,000 square foot museum showcases so much of American music history complete with the historic letterpress operation Hatch Show Print and a casual taqueria. You can also take part in the ongoing battle over who has the best hot chicken in Nashville!
About 3 hours outside of Nashville, you will be in the Western end of Tennessee. Memphis boasts to be the home to the Blues, the Birthplace of Rock and Roll and the best place in the country for BBQ (there are many in the Carolinas that will debate that opinion).
Just outside of Little Rock, AK, take a break from the city trips and take in a day hike at Pinnacle Mountain State Park. There are hiking and biking trails with varying levels of difficulty, and the peak of the mountain reaches more than 1,000 feet above the Arkansas River Valley.
In about 333 miles – YOU ARE NOW AT THE EXACT HALFWAY POINT to Barstow, CA! –
This offbeat roadside attraction features 10 graffiti-covered Cadillacs standing upright in a row, buried nose-first in the ground. The sculpture is the brainchild of Amarillo millionaire Stanley Marsh III, who chose classics dating from 1948 to 1963, the “Golden Age” of the American automobile.
Continue on I-40W and in about 278 miles you will enter
Any I-40 road trip would be incomplete without a stop in Albuquerque, where the famous Route 66 brought visitors from all over the country. Historic neon signs still glow along old Route 66 through Albuquerque, which is now Central Avenue. Alongside vintage signs, you’ll see new versions put up by businesses that are continuing the aesthetic traditions of Route 66, and many museums and tours to show the growth of the city since 1926 (when Route 66 was first commissioned).
In the middle of the world’s largest ponderosa pine forest, Flagstaff is an active city where a mix of small town charm and endless outdoor adventures will welcome you in. Take in a guided tour of everything from the Grand Canyon to haunted city homes to old Route 66 stops. Visit Coconino National Forest to see endless amounts of varying terrain including red rock, southwest desert, pine forests and frozen tundra – all in one place!
Join our “Summer of Chevy” Event on Facebook for all the details about upcoming “Pop-Up” Events and Giveways June – August!
TRAVERSE TAKES THE LEAD
The all-new 2018 Traverse is a step ahead of the competition when it comes to offering cargo space, Wi-Fi technology and safety features like the industry-first Front Center Air Bag.
The least you need on your road trip is for something to go wrong with your car.
So here is the check list that make your drive is safe:
Road trip checklist
Check the car owner’s manual
Get any major repairs done
Get any scheduled maintenance done
Clean out your car: interior and exterior
Check under the hood
Check oil
Check engine coolant
Check car battery
Check filters: air, oil and transmission fluid (and change it if needed)
Check fuel pump
Fill the gas tank
Make sure you have some form of a map (GPS)
Walk-around inspection for a long trip
The simplest and cheapest way to check car for a long trip is the walk-around inspection. You should do it first by yourself:
Check wiper blades for cracks or separation from the blade retainer. Check out all the lights in the car the turn signals, headlights and brake lights.
Checking tires is important and you should check the tire pressure when the tires are cold. You can find the recommended tire pressure in the owners manual. Over-inflated tires would cause the tire to wear prematurely in the center. Driving in wet conditions (rain, snow etc) an over-inflated tire gives you less tread contact on the road, and under-inflation will result in bad handling and increased fuel consumption.
Under the hood inspection for a long trip
When you’re done with walk-around inspection of car, inspect under hood:
Check fluid levels by lifting the hood and check: engine oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, radiator coolant, and windshield washer fluid levels – and top off if necessary.
Inspect hoses for leaks, brittleness, loose clamps, and softness in the elbow areas.
Check belts for alignment, glazing, adjustment, and tearing and cracking – and replace if necessary.
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