A real stunner of a picnic spot in Hillsborough is Ayr Mount estate. To get there, scootch behind Courthouse Row and pick up St Mary’s Road going north. The entrance to the estate is about a mile or so on the right.

A lovely trail winds down the meadow and through the woods by the Eno River. Be sure to visit the little poetry station at the trailhead. You are supposed to collect an index card and tiny green pencil (reminiscent of Putt-Putt) and write a poem as you stroll. As you come back up the hill, the house is proudly displayed with a grove of pecan trees. These are the thin-skinned, long variety of nuts, and you can crush them against each other in your palm to open them.

There are endless options for the spreading of The Picnic Blanket — under trees, by the river or out in the open sky. My favorite is by the wrought iron fence of the little graveyard. A beautiful Weeping Cherry tree that I am in love with is planted close by the fence. This would be a great spot to bring take-out to from one of the restaurants on Churton Street, say fried green tomatoes from Tupelo’s and shrimp burgers from Gulf Rim Caf/.

I really like taking an afternoon coffee break here in the winter. The Ayr Mount estate has nice Adirondack chairs turned to face the light just so on the crest of the hill. Getting that sun on your face makes it all possible. The Eno River is extra peaceful here, and can be explored easily from big flat rocks. Across the river is the territory of the Occoneechee Speedway Park. I plan to conduct more research there are write about it next time.

Another kind of picnic is the “solo picnic.” My daughter says I should call this column “Make It A Picnic” because I will do just that at the drop of a hat. I thoroughly enjoy these “mother’s afternoon off” excursions. I go first to the drive-thru at Bojangle’s, across from the Food Lion on the main drag. I think the best order is individual sides of pintos, dirty rice, slaw and a biscuit with honey. And a half-and-half tea, of course. This is all pure fun, without the regrets of fried fast food.

Just behind the restaurant is the fantastic consignment shop, My Secret Closet (there is also a Mebane location). I’ll pull in and eat in the sun in my car if it is chilly, or use the blanket I keep in the trunk to enjoy the big empty field across from the parking lot. Sometimes it’s nice to eat alone. Read a New Yorker! They print in long columns so you can fold it into quarters and hold it in one hand and your biscuit in the other. I never fail to find wonderful clothes and shoes in this store, as well as luggage and quilts. The ladies that work there are sweet as pie, too.

Katharine Whalen is an Orange County resident and musician who is a member of groups such as The Squirrel Nut Zippers and Katharine Whalen’s Lucky.