In Iredell County's Concord township, you'll find the community of Loray. For those looking for a weekend getaway, it sits a little under an hour nearly directly north of Charlotte, giving it the perfect mix of a small-town suburban feel without being too far from the big city. However, there's plenty to do even closer to the town.

If you're an explorer, there are many pretty walks near Third and Morrison Creeks. Iredell County is known for its proximity to many different bodies of water, and although Loray is a bit further from the major lakes, the creeks are nothing to turn your nose up at. Creeks are known for turning up remarkable artifacts, and Loray was once settled by Native Americans who left behind impressive relics like arrowheads and pottery.

Drive down Scotts Creek Road, and it'll take you straight to the Fort Dobbs State Historic Site, a perfect way for history buffs to spend the day. Fort Dobbs was built in 1756 and was the only permanent provincial set up in the state, and it served as a military headquarters and haven. The Fort still hosts living history shows and weapons demonstrations every few months that visitors can enjoy for just a $2 admission fee.

There are also plenty of beautiful farms to visit, some of which serve as impressive event spaces. Green Gables Farms boasts 35 acres of rolling pastures adorned with majestic oaks. The Crawford Farm, aims for more of a country mountain lodge appeal with rock walls and mahogany doorways. Mammoth Oaks Farm markets itself as a self-care center, selling luxurious products from the crops they grow on-site, including CBD derived from the farm's hemp, and healing, anti-inflammatory skincare products made with homegrown organic lavender, organic unrefined shea butter, and the farm's organic steel cut oats.

Driving down Taylorsville Highway brings you to an array of restaurant options if you work up an appetite. Katana Kitchen describes itself as a "happening" restaurant serving up Asian fusion finger food like tuna nachos, spicy kimchi fries, popcorn shrimp, and teriyaki, poke, or hibachi bowls.

If you're more in the mood for pizza, try out the Village Inn. That spot offers buffet options for pizza, spaghetti, garlic bread, soup, and salad. Village Inn Pizza also has cauliflower crust options for those looking to cut carbs or dessert pizzas to satisfy your sweet tooth.

For casual American fare, stop by the Boxcar Grille. They have lunch specials like buffalo chicken wraps, catfish, loaded baked potatoes, and other dive and diner favorites, smothered burgers, patty melts, and ribs. If you're a meat eater, you'll love this place.

Iredell County has over 520 miles of shoreline. Although that makes for truly gorgeous surroundings and a fantastic place to live, the moisture also happens to attract pests. How to keep bugs away from your property varies depending on the climate and conditions you're dealing with. That's why when you're looking for someone to help you take care of a pest problem, you should contract with a company that's familiar with the area. If you're in Loray, North Carolina, At Ease Pest Solutions is your best option for efficient, thorough, and reasonably priced service from local technicians who know what they're up against. Contact us today for an estimate.