Bear Grass, NC

Located about eight miles southwest of Williamston in Martin County, Bear Grass is a quiet rural community where life moves at a relaxed, easy pace. Named after the native yucca plant that dots the surrounding countryside, this tiny eastern North Carolina town is deeply tight-knit. Its biggest claim to fame is chicken mull, a beloved regional stew that takes center stage every fall at the town's annual Chicken Mull Festival. Between the live music, local food, and friendly neighborhood fundraisers, it is the kind of welcoming, peaceful place where everyone knows their neighbors.