1. Gastonia Municipal Golf Course
City: Gastonia, NC
Category: Golf
Telephone: (704) 866-6945
Address: 530 Niblick Dr.
2. Gaston Memorial Hospital
City: Gastonia, NC
Category: Health Care
Telephone: (704) 333-9033
Address: 2525 Court Dr.
Description: Twenty-five minutes to the west in Gaston County, Gaston Memorial Hospital operates 435 beds in private rooms. Other services include the Comprehensive Cancer Center, Radiation Oncology Center, Cardiac Rehabilitation Center, and Caro-Mont Heart Center. Recent expansions have doubled the size of the emergency department and added more space for surgery, radiology, laboratories, and support services. The Birthplace, which opened in fall 2004, includes 52 labor/ delivery/recovery suites, each with a full-size sofa bed, refrigerator, Internet access, TV, VCR, DVD and CD players, and whirlpool bath. Reflecting pools, flowing water, art, and sculptures create a soothing environment. Parents’ families appreciate the media room, dining room, and kids’ play room. Gaston Memorial also has a neonatal ICU and electronic security in its nursery.
3. Graham’S Fish Fry
City: Gastonia, NC
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (704) 825-8391
Address: 4539 South New Hope Rd.
Description: Full orders are all-you-can-eat, and free salad bar comes with meals. Saturday’s special is the five-item combo, so come hungry. Graham’s is located across the road from Twin Tops. Open for lunch Wed through Fri, and open for dinner Tues through Sat. Country and seafood buffet is available 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun.
4. Twin Tops Fish Camp
City: Gastonia, NC
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (704) 825-2490
Address: 4574 South New Hope Rd.
Description: One of those places where the plates are piled high and the waitresses never let your glass get empty. Hush puppies are brought to the table with your drinks, and the menu is, as expected, heavy on fried fish. Kids love the Ms. Pac Man machine and the old-time candies lining the wall. Open for dinner Tues through Sat.
5. Covenant Village
City: Gastonia, NC
Category: Retirement
Telephone: (704) 867-2319
Address: 1351 Robinwood Rd.
Description: Located in neighboring Gastonia, Covenant Village offers apartments and cottages for independent and assisted living, as well as a nursing-care center. Amenities at the upscale retirement community include three daily meals, linen service, a fitness center, weekly housekeeping, transportation, security, recreation, and private dining rooms. A library, bank, craft center, and store are located on the grounds.
6. Mary Jo’S Cloth Store
City: Gastonia, NC
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (704) 861-9100
Address: 401 Cox Rd.
Description: Located in the Gaston Mall, Mary Jo’s has fabric for all your sewing needs, but is especially well-known for upholstery and drapery fabric. For more than 50 years, the cavernous store with a helpful staff has sold items to brides, designers, pageant contestants, athletes’ tailors, and performers from around the world.
7. Schiele Museum Of Natural History & Planetarium
City: Gastonia, NC
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (704) 866-6900
Address: 1500 East Garrison Blvd.
Description: One of the most visited museums in North Carolina, the 60,000-square-foot Schiele features an outstanding exhibit of the state’s natural history, an extensive collection of North American land mammals, informative prehistoric exhibits, plus a 50-foot domed planetarium. Both children and adults enjoy the nature trail and 18th-century backcountry farm, a pioneer site where living-history demonstrations are staged throughout the year. Also on the nature trail, the Catawba Indian Village includes a prehistoric bark-covered reproduction house, a large council house, and two log cabins, all depicting the way of life of local Native Americans.Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon through Sat and 1 to 5 p.m. Sun. Entry is $7 for adults, $6 for seniors and students, and free for children 3 and under. City of Gastonia residents receive discounted rates, and there are additional fees for planetarium and special exhibits. From Charlotte, take I-85 South to Gastonia’s New Hope Road exit. Follow New Hope Road southward to Garrison Boulevard, and turn right on Garrison. The museum will be on your right.