I grew up in Hickory just south of lenoir. Not much to do up there other than drive a little more north up to Boone and blowing rock. Get on the parkway and do some driving through some awesome forest land. Oh and furniture shop, all kinds of furniture manufacturers have stores/outlets in the area.
As said isnt much going on around here. But you will be ~ an hr from Charlotte/Mooresville, less than an hr from Boone/Blowing Rock, ~1.5hrs from Asheville.
Plenty of stuff within a short drive depending on what your wanting to get into.
While I do appreciate your creativity. You do realize the Road Runner is ahead of you......and the coyote was never able to catch the Road Runner right?