History, hidden tacos and Detroit-style pizza in Raleigh-Durham

Raleigh – part of the Triangle area of North Carolina – seemed far away for us. For quite some time, my husband and I would say we’d go, but each time, something else would come up.

WRAL azalea garden
WRAL Azalea Garden

However, history, the promise of a taco crawl and North Carolina’s azalea season were calling.

In April 2022, we made the short trek (3 hours from Myrtle Beach) to Raleigh for spring break.

The space between Myrtle Beach and North Carolina is full of history. Don’t be surprised if driving down a side highway you stumble upon a Civil War site or upon an old church or cemetery that’s been around since Pre-Civil War times. One of those pre-war sites was our first stop at the Old Bluff Presbyterian Church, a historic church founded in 1758 and built in 1855 near Godwin, N.C. The grounds even have an old spring that “quenched the thirst of the Highlanders, both Patriot and Loyalist,” according to the church history website.

Continue reading

The adventures of dog named Pig

Pig in the back seat
Piggy on another adventure

There once was a dog named Pig. He was what is known as a Valley Bulldog, which is an English Bulldog/Boxer mix.

He was a very happy boy, who went on many adventures during his 11 and a half years.

But, he also had many obstacles to overcome. You see, he had hemophilia – a blood disorder that made him very delicate.

HOWEVER, none of that stopped him from loving life and loving adventures. Continue reading

A new kind of journey

Travel is all about the journey. It often starts with daydreaming about a destination, researching it to learn more, buying tickets or reserving a hotel and heading out. Once you get there, another part of the journey begins in exploring your destination.

But not all journeys are about travel.

I recently started a new journey of my own that doesn’t involve travel…I signed up for a half marathon. Continue reading

Within driving distance…

Road trips are by far one of the best ways to travel and see new places. You can easily pack up the car in the morning and in just a few hours you are in a completely new place with plenty to see, eat and explore.

The husband and I love to go on road trips.

Here are just a few that we have been on recently:

Music city is more than just music

Music city is more than just music

Having a drink in Bourbon Country, Kentucky

Having a drink in Bourbon Country, Kentucky

 

Looking back at Savannah, Ga.

Looking back at Savannah, Ga.

A short drive away: Charleston, S.C.

A short drive away: Charleston, S.C.

A foodie’s look at Asheville, N.C.

A foodie’s look at Asheville, N.C.

A quick trip to Wilmington, N.C.

A quick trip to Wilmington, N.C.

A day in Columbia: shopping, food and fun

A day in Columbia: shopping, food and fun

Autumn colors in the North Carolina mountains

Autumn colors in the North Carolina mountains

Music city is more than just music

Nashville is known as Music City. The bars downtown are full of country music lovers and musicians hoping to make it big. I am neither of those. The best part of a country song is when you play it backwards and the singer gets their car back, their dog back and their girlfriend back. (yes, I know that is a horrible joke.)

But, when the opportunity to stop in Nashville on the way home from Bourbon Country arose, we jumped at the opportunity. Continue reading

Having a drink in Bourbon Country, Kentucky

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Maker’s Mark Distillery in Loretto, Kentucky

About seven years ago, my husband joined the Maker’s Mark Ambassadors club. In that club, you get your name on a barrel of whiskey in the hopes that when it is ready, you will come and buy some out of that barrel. They send you Christmas presents every year and let you know periodically how your bourbon is aging. Continue reading

Living in history: Williamsburg, Va.

Colonial Williamsburg

A trip to Colonial Williamsburg is like stepping back in time to an era where people worked together to survive and things were simpler. Not simpler because they didn’t have hard times, but simpler because they didn’t have everything from the outside world bombarding their lives every day.
Our trip started with a long walk around the area taking in the sights and the people. Our dog, Piggy, even enjoyed meeting a new friend. Continue reading