Tag Archives: Humor

Permalink to Scared My Pants Off! – The Original Hollywood Horror House

Scared My Pants Off! – The Original Hollywood Horror House

by WanderSouth|on October 16, 2011 |in Attractions, Confessional, Firsts, Holidays, North Carolina, Snow Camp |tagged , , , , , , , , |Leave a comment
Scared My Pants Off! - The Original Hollywood Horror House

I have a confession, I have never been to a haunted house…before yesterday.

I love all things creepy – scary movies, creepy decor, good ghost stories – but I’ve never ventured into a haunted house. I think it’s be due to two factors – A.) Cost – I have trouble forking over a hefty ticket price for a physical experience. B.) I don’t like to touched by strangers. I’m all huggy with people I know, but strangers touching me freaks me out.

Despite my fear of ticket prices and wandering hands, I vowed to check off this life to-do at the Original Hollywood Horror House in Snow Camp, NC. A horror house that boasts to be the largest in NC and the only one produced by actual Hollywood make-up artists, it was a good place to end my haunted house virginity.

Seriously out in the boonies of North Carolina is checks off all my scary movie do nots:

  • Dark country roads
  • Serious stretches without houses or civilization
  • Minimal cell coverage
  • Dense forest
  • General if you died it would take a while for people to find your body

We gathered up some friends and headed out. The show did not disappoint. It was so scary. Seriously, my stomach muscles were tired and tight after the twisty path through the house. I screamed, I laughed, I tried to make myself as small as possible as not to draw attention of the monsters. Well that didn’t work. I was targeted in every room because I’d scream, cower and shut my eyes to keep all the terrors out. It was SO MUCH fun.

One down side is that we stood in line for 3 hours! That was a really, really long time. We arrived at 9 and didn’t leave until 12:30 (that means we actually entered the house right at midnight = AWeSOME!)

I’m not going to tell you any more – you just have to experience it yourself. Happy wanderings!

Distance from Raleigh: 63 miles ’round about 1 hour and 15 minutes – See the map

Tickets: $20 each – available online or at the door (when you get them at the door you get a cool token used for admission)

Wander Well Tips:

  • Fill up your gas tank – it’s a haul along pitch black country roads
  • Take a good map – we got a little off track and we didn’t have cell reception for a while – FREAKY!
  • Be prepared for the line – wear comfortable shoes – it’s worth the wait!
Permalink to Make Us the Deep Fried Ambassadors – My Fair Ladies: Fairly Odd Edition

Make Us the Deep Fried Ambassadors – My Fair Ladies: Fairly Odd Edition

by WanderSouth|on September 25, 2011 |in Attractions, Life in the South, North Carolina, Raleigh |tagged , , , , , , , , , |8 Comments

If one NC State Fair Deep Fried Ambassador is good, imagine how tasty 3 would be! Introducing the blogging trio “My Fair Ladies.”

Giving you three unique perspectives on the 2011 NC State Fair, we three fabulous ladies will cover the full gamut of food, rides, entertainment, competitions, exhibits and fun “only at the Fair” odd bits. Telling the story through photos, videos and, of course, wildly entertaining words, this gaggle of gals is sure to make everyone want to come out to the Fair.

  • The Kamikaze – aka Rebecca Aslaksen - Nothing stops this Fair enthusiast. No food will be left uneaten, no ride unridden. Put a plate before her and she will devour it. Beat: Food & Rides
  • Fairly Odd – aka ME! – Fun just got a little funky at the State Fair. Get a backstage look at the music, the best of our state’s produce and livestock and side-shows. Exploring the entertaining, wacky and downright odd parts of the Fair. Beat: Competitions & Entertainment
  • The Wrangler – aka Valentina Garcia Gerdes - Armed with sunscreen, family meet-up points and a purse of non-sugary snacks, this mom knows how to make the Fair fun for all ages. Beat: Family Activities & Exhibits

And here is my story of why I want to be a Deep Fried Ambassador:

I seriously heart the Fair! I went to the Deep Fried Tweet-Up last year and I still have the poster on my wall. That night at the Fair was one of my happiest, most memorable nights of the year.

I love everything classic about the fair. I love the rivalry of producing the best pie. I adore the beaming pride of bringing a blue ribbon hog. I seek the thrill of seeing good, live music at the Coliseum. I happily fork over a few bucks to see a side show oddity. I have a love affair with it all.

As part of the My Fair Ladies blogging trifecta, I want to share all that is timeless about the Fair. My co-bloggers will be covering the food, the rides, and the family fanfare. I want to show the Fair’s roots. I want to dust off what makes the Fair THE fall destination for North Carolina.

I want to dig into the stories of the competitors. I want to shine a light on people who’ve spent hours making the best dang sweet potato dish in the STATE! It’s time to meet the winner of the pygmy goat costume contest. That is real pride in doing good work. These are stories that need to be shared.

And then, well, there are the shows. There are the free shows like the awesome King Action Sports Stunt Show or the just hilarious Steve Brogan and his dummies. Then there are the concerts at Dorothy Arena – sultry Tift Merritt alongside superstars like Dionne Warwick and Kansas. Who wouldn’t want to finish off a tough Friday at the office with a good old Demolition Derby? Me! Who else is with me?!

Come on now, there is some fabulously funky stuff at the Fair! Where else can you pay a couple of bucks to see the world’s smallest horse?  Where else can you meet Santa at a frozen banana stand? Well, my friend, it’s all at the Fair.

So why should you pick all three of the My Fair Lady bloggers to be the Deep Fried Ambassadors? It’s because you will get this level of passion and fun for each blog post.  We’ll bring the most honest, fun and happy perspective to all things NC State Fair.

There are is just so many wonderful, wacky and fun things to discover at the Fair. As your Deep Fried Ambassador, I will serve it all up with a lot of Southern pride and a little wicked little smile.

See all the BUZZ we’re creating to earn our spots as Deep Fried Ambassadors, BUT we need YOUR help! Leave a comment about why YOU think we’d be great Ambassadors this year.
UPDATE: We didn’t win, but we’re blogging anyway! Thanks for all your support and tweet!

Permalink to You Are Crunchy, Mr. Cricket: Bug Fest 2011

You Are Crunchy, Mr. Cricket: Bug Fest 2011

by WanderSouth|on September 21, 2011 |in Afternoon Culture, Foodie, Life in the South, North Carolina, Raleigh |tagged , , , , , |2 Comments

It’s a year later and I’m fulfilling a promise. This time last year, I pledged that I would eat insects at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Science’s annual’s Bug Fest – read the post – and I made this buggy craziness a reality.

Bug Fest is an annual celebration of insects, every year they host Cafe Insecta where you can try bugs cooked up by local restaurants for free. I couldn’t brave it last year, but this was my year. These are the photos…

My first dish was a fine plate of cricket and crayfish jambalaya from Acro Café.

It was as terrible as you think it’s going to be! The jambalaya is all tomato-y and then you get to the cricket which is crunchy and then slimy and then gross. I could actually feel its little legs. (Honestly, the jambalaya wasn’t’ even good)

On to fried little things…

First were fried meal worms with Cajun seasoning. Really not bad, like a potato chip.

Next was spicy crickets – gross, very bitter tasting. At least thier legs got fried off.

Finally, 6-leg salsa…

The most disgusting of all and the last thing I ate. So bitter and squishy and horrible. Had to buy a drink after this one. Awful!

Despite the nasty tastes, it was a BLAST to eat bugs. I’m so thankful that we have such a great adventurous event in Raleigh!

Permalink to It’s Scary Down Here, Y’All

It’s Scary Down Here, Y’All

by Dawn A Crawford|on October 28, 2010 |in Humor, Life in the South, Movies, North Carolina |tagged , , , , |Leave a comment

IMG_3061I love scary movies. The more spooky, gory and frightening the better. Now, with my cultivated taste for horror movies comes a little paranoia. I know how to kill a zombie (blunt objects and head shots are key) and I have a repertoire of ways to defend myself against crazed killers. You’ll never see me doing drugs and then having sex because that equals death for sure.

On our first trip to the South, I was a little freaked out. The thick woods, still black swamps and elegant Spanish moss only reminded me of my favorite movies. I mean, come on, if you breakdown on a back road that means you’ll be eaten by some crazy cannibals guaranteed, right?!

In Colorado we do not have these mysterious woods. It is very open, when you crest a hill you can see for miles around. Not in the South. There are mysteries shrouded in the thick forests and shanty houses at the end of deserted roads.

Okay all joking aside, I don’t really think I’m going to die a fantastical death in my own backyard. I know I’m just as safe here as anywhere else, but it is fun to think about. I like the thrill of imagining all that could be happening deep in the woods without anyone knowing.

It’s obvious that the South has been an inspiration for horror writers and directors for years. There is an amazing collection of movies that were filmed in or set in the South.

Photo credit: Moviemobsters.com

One of my favorite examples is Deliverance. The psychological thriller is set in Arkansas then filmed in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. My home state is the location of “dilapidated town” Sylva. I’m sure that the town is lovely, but when I visit there I’ll be hearing this.

The diversity, heat, weird sounds, and mystery of the South is what makes it great. It also kick-starts the imagination to create great story lines about its residence and the struggle to survive.

If you are looking for a Halloween weekend wander or a sample of southern chillers to rent, check out this list.

And a little tip for wanderers this weekend, make sure you have a baseball bat in the trunk of your car. It is by far my favorite horror movie weapon. It can help you fend off zombies, crazed killers and wild animals. It works wet, never runs out of bullets, and can get you out of the trunk if need be. Happy haunting!

Horror Movies/TV Shows Shot in the South:

Set in the South (But Sadly Shot Else Where)

Did I leave off any of your favorite southern chillers? Let me know and I’ll add them with a credit to you.

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