Dashboards and Saddlebags the Destination Magazine™ Issue 025 April 2013 | Page 32

Cruz Thru
F

amed journalist and North
Carolina native Charles Kuralt
once said: “Thanks to the Interstate
Highway System, it is now possible
to travel from coast to coast without
seeing anything.”
Were he still alive today, Kuralt would
no doubt support the push to “take a
break from the interstate” and travel
historic U.S. Highway 21.
Once upon a time, U.S. 21 was the
main thoroughfare for leisure travel
between the Great Lakes and Florida,
and a wonderful segment of this
historic road can be explored April 13
during the Spring Cruz Thru.
The event explores 65 miles of U.S.
21 from Elkin to Wytheville, Va.
And, one would be hard pressed to
find a better stretch of Americana.
The route begins and ends in great
American towns, along the way
passing through towns with unique
names like State Road, Roaring
Gap, Sparta, Independence, Elk
Creek and Speedwell.
Participants have the option of
either starting or ending in Elkin.

Whichever you choose, be sure
to make time to experience the
renaissance that has taken place in
this small town in southwest Surry
County.
Located on the Yadkin River,
Elkin has emerged as a jewel of
the Yadkin Valley wine region.
There are several wineries in town,
including the recently renovated
Brush Mountain Winery on Main
Street. New owner Beth Duncan
restored the original brick walls in
the downtown tasting room and
uncovered a slice of Americana
hidden for decades: vintage advertisements for Elkin businesses built
into the brick walls.
Elkin also features interesting
shops, great dining, hiking trails,
and official mustering grounds
for the Overmountain Men who
marched from the area to Kings
Mountain, where they defeated the
British Army in a turning point of
the Revolutionary War.
Craig Distl

32 Dashboards and Saddlebags The Destination Magazine™