Lowe Mill

Lowe Mill is exactly the kind of place Linger was made for. Inside a historic textile mill dating to 1901, Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment has grown into the largest privately owned arts facility in the country, with 153 studios housing more than 300 artists, makers and independent businesses, seven galleries, performance spaces and even a community garden. But those numbers aren't really why I love it. My mom and I discovered Lowe Mill together years ago, and wandering those old factory halls became part of the fun. There was never just one reason to go. We'd peek into artists' studios, browse things people had made with their own hands and keep walking just to see what was around the next corner. That's still the best way to experience it. Come for pottery and you might leave with a record. Stop for something to eat and stumble into an artist's studio. Take a class, catch live music, find an unusual gift, learn how somebody makes something you didn't know existed or discover an entire shop devoted to cigar-box guitars. That's what I loved about exploring Lowe Mill with Mom, and it's what still makes the place special to me: Curiosity gets to choose the itinerary. Come without much of a plan. That's part of the plan. Lowe Mill isn't one destination so much as a little creative neighborhood living inside an old factory. Give yourself enough time to wander.