I recently compiled a list of 50 holiday events for the annual Christmas card we send out from the Fayetteville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. Yes, you read that right. FIFTY. And they're not just happening in Fayetteville. Twenty of those events are spread throughout every one of Cumberland County's communities. Over the next couple of weeks, I'll be sharing with you four blogs that feature di… [...] “Holiday Wish #1: Savor the Season Outdoors!”

John "Mr. E" Thompson, featured in the video below, is a United States Marine Corps veteran who calls the Fayetteville area home. He is also a talented craftsman and artist. He has also served as president of Rolling Thunder®, Inc. Chapter 1 NC, helping people to never forget our POW/MIA service members. Mr. E is the Fayetteville I know and have grown to love so much. Here, in what we call "America's Hometown… [...] “Veterans Day Weekend: 30 Ways to Celebrate”

I'm bragging on everything Spring Lake has to offer on the blog this week! If you read Part I of my "go-to guide," you learned about some local faves where you can play hard and chow down. As this community continues to grow, we're seeing more of a variety of cuisine and outdoor recreation sites pop up in this part of Cumberland County. Whether you're a golfer who loves authentic Thai, a kayaker who needs a caffe… [...] “Your Go-To Guide for the Best of Spring Lake, Part II”

My first home in North Carolina was in the Town of Spring Lake, and this community has held a special place in my heart ever since. The sleepy little town I drove into 15 years ago has grown so much that it’s barely recognizable now. You’ll find the heart of Spring Lake at the busy intersection of NC 24-87 and NC-210, and this town is also conveniently accessible to I-95 travelers, thanks to the recently constru… [...] “Your Go-To Guide for the Best of Spring Lake, Part I”

There’s simply no better place to celebrate Independence Day than in a military community like ours. We call this area “America’s Hometown” because we are home to some of our nation’s finest military forces. Delve into the history of Cumberland County, and you’ll see how deep our patriotic roots run—all the way back to the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. For these reasons, we take a little more pri… [...] “‘O’er the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave’!”

As we close out May (National Hamburger Month) and head into the summer, I think it’s time to take our visitors on a tour of Cumberland County’s burger joints. Sure, you can find several popular burger chains here, but do you know where our mom-and-pop grills are? Better yet, do you know who our locals claim makes the best burger here? I recently took an informal poll of my coworkers and Go Fayetteville’s foll… [...] “A Burger Tour of Cumberland County”