The Non-Golfer’s Guide to Pinehurst & Southern Pines
Everyone assumes you’re here for golf — the courses, the resort, the U.S. Open history. But maybe you’re the spouse who got dragged along, or you’re visiting family, or you just wanted a quiet getaway that isn’t another packed beach town. Good news: Pinehurst and Southern Pines have plenty to do even if you never touch a club.
The Downtowns (Start Here)
Pinehurst Village has a charming New England feel with locally-owned shops, restaurants, and the kind of walkability that makes window shopping actually pleasant. You can easily spend a few hours popping into boutiques, grabbing coffee, and enjoying the village atmosphere. It’s especially nice in the early morning or late afternoon when it’s less crowded.
Southern Pines on Broad Street has a different vibe — more of a working downtown with independent bookstores (The Country Bookshop is excellent), art galleries like Campbell House, antique shops, and the Sunrise Theater — a restored 1920s movie house that still shows films. Walk it slowly, pop into shops, get coffee at The Roast Office or Swank Coffee Shoppe.
Both are worth your time. Different feels, both walkable.
Where to Eat (The Essentials)
Nice Dinners
Elliot’s on Linden (Pinehurst) — Upscale without being stuffy, great wine list.
Warren’s Bistro (Southern Pines) — Small, comfortable spot with cozy atmosphere, excellent French onion soup.
Casual & Reliable
Drum & Quill (Pinehurst) — Easy pub food, good patio, solid fish and chips.
Chapman’s Food and Spirits (Pinehurst) — Relaxed spot with outdoor seating, loaded nachos.
The Sly Fox Pub (Southern Pines) — Neighborhood bar with welcoming patio, relaxed and friendly.
Midland Bistro (Southern Pines) — Comfortable bistro with consistently good food, great tuna melt.
Breakfast & Coffee
Agora Bakery and Cafe (Pinehurst) — Baked goods and simple café dishes, try the spinach pie.
BRIM Pinehurst — Café & Dessert Bar (Pinehurst) — Coffee and desserts in the village.
Betsy’s Crepes (Southern Pines) — Sweet and savory crepes, quick service, try the Nutella and banana.
Swank Coffee Shoppe (Southern Pines) — Relaxed spot, try the Green Goblin Scone.
Food Trucks
Red’s Corner (Southern Pines) — Rotating food trucks (Korean BBQ, wood-fired pizza, Caribbean, etc.). Download their app to see the daily lineup and pre-order.
Breweries, Distilleries & Wine
Brad Halling American Whiskey Ko. (Southern Pines) — Veteran-owned distillery with tours, tastings, and a restaurant. The Sergeant’s Valor bourbon is excellent.
Pinehurst Brewing Company (Pinehurst) — Right in the village. Get a flight to sample different styles.
Railhouse Brewery (Aberdeen) — Veteran-founded. Family and dog-friendly outdoor space, live music regularly. The English brown ale is worth trying.
James Creek Cider House (Southern Pines area) — Heirloom apple ciders from local orchards if beer isn’t your thing.
Southern Pines Wine Cellar (Southern Pines) — Intimate wine bar with small bites and live music occasionally. Good date spot.
Rec Room Bar and Arcade (Southern Pines) — Classic arcade games (Pac-Man, Galaga) plus craft beer. Fun for adults.
Veteran-Owned Businesses
Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg) is just 30–45 minutes away, and many veterans have stayed in the area and built businesses here. These aren’t charity cases — they’re good businesses run by people who decided this place was worth staying for.
Brad Halling American Whiskey Ko. (Southern Pines) — Distillery, bar, and restaurant. Retired Army veterans who make legitimately good bourbon. Tours and tastings available. Try the Sergeant’s Valor.
Railhouse Brewery (Aberdeen) — Veteran-founded craft brewery. Family and dog-friendly outdoor space, live music regularly. The English brown ale is solid.
Bravery Bakehouse (Pinehurst area) — Run by military spouses. Excellent cookies with rotating flavors. Try the Campfire Commander.
Things to Do With Kids
Aloha Safari Zoo (Cameron, ~20 min away) — Drive-through safari. You feed animals from your car — zebras, camels, buffalo. Kids love it, adults enjoy it more than expected.
Reservoir Park (Southern Pines) — Easy 1.5-mile walk around a lake with a playground. Good for burning energy.
Rec Room Bar and Arcade (Southern Pines) — Classic arcade games (Pac-Man, Galaga). Works for older kids and adults who are kids at heart.
Martin Park (Southern Pines) — Has a dog park if you brought your pup or just want to watch happy dogs.
Nature & Easy Walks
Weymouth Woods — Sandhills Nature Preserve (Southern Pines) — 900 acres of longleaf pine forest with several miles of trails. Flat, peaceful, and the longleaf ecosystem is genuinely special. Free, open daily.
Reservoir Park (Southern Pines) — Easy 1.5-mile loop around a lake. Shaded, quiet, good for morning walks. Free.
Sandhills Horticultural Gardens (Pinehurst) — Walking paths through different garden areas near the community college. Well-maintained, good for an hour. Free.
Arts & Culture
Weymouth Center for the Arts & Humanities (Southern Pines) — Historic house with beautiful grounds, writing residencies, occasional events. The gardens are free to walk and worth seeing.
Sunrise Theater (Southern Pines) — Restored 1920s theater showing current films. Better experience than a multiplex.
Campbell House Galleries (Southern Pines) — Serious contemporary art on Broad Street. Gallery-quality work, not tourist prints.
The Bottom Line
Pinehurst and Southern Pines work if you want a weekend that doesn’t require a detailed itinerary. Good food, easy walks, local shops, and enough breweries to keep evenings interesting. It’s not going to overwhelm you with options, and that’s kind of the point.
If you’re looking for a place to actually relax instead of another trip where you need a vacation from your vacation, you found it.
Ready to stay local?
We have homes in both Pinehurst and Southern Pines — no resort, no crowds, just a real place to come back to after a good day.
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