We JUST got back from a family vacation in Raleigh, North Carolina and driving back today celebrated my 35th birthday.
Monday we drove up to Raleigh and went to Umstead State Park after checking into our hotel. It was a beautiful and large park right next to where we were staying. We had a fun time walking around the lake and upon a park ranger’s suggestion ‘jumping the creek’ to take a fun trail back to the parking lot. After dinner we went to Shelley Lake Park to let the kids run out some energy. They had a lot of fun with the hilly terrain of North Carolina.
Tuesday we explored the beautiful grounds and sculpture garden of the North Carolina Museum of Art. My favorite was crowd railing that was raised on posts and positioned in the shape of the brain. The artist wanted people wandering around the sculpture to be ‘like neurons firing.’ Both the kids liked ‘wind sculpture’ the best because they played peekaboo to take the picture. We took a quick look around inside the free museum before everyone got hungry and we headed to The Oak Bourbon Bar for some southern eats. My Old Fashioned was perfection. We then headed to Pullen Park, the first park in North Carolina. It had a wonderful playground for the children to play, a miniature train for us all to ride, and a beautiful 106 year old carousel. After nap and dinner we headed to JC Raulston Arboretum to play among the flower and trees. Alex has quite a habit of throwing rocks into lakes/rivers, therefore he did not understand why this could not translate into fountains. In fact, he launched several rocks from the second story peek through as captured in photo.
Wednesday Alex woke up early and I pacified him in our bed with milk and croissant while AJ caught a bit more sleep. Brooke, of course, is the one who’s sleep must be protected so she dozed peacefully in the other room. Being sleepy is her kryptonite as being hungry is Alex’s. When everyone was up and fed we drove into Chapel Hill to visit The University of North Carolina’s campus. They had a gorgeous campus and we enjoyed looking at their bell tower and stadium and having a snack on their ‘mall’. After lunch and dessert on their ‘university’ we headed to the UNC Botanical Gardens to play and relax in their inviting hammocks. After nap and Brooke waking Alex up WWF style we had dinner and headed to nearby Laurel Hills Park. The park had an amazing playground for the kids to really run out the rest of the day.
Thursday the kids read books peacefully while AJ and I packed up the hotel and then we headed to Durant Nature Preserve to walk around, throw rocks in the water, and play before getting in the car for the three hour drive home. Once home, Alex napped, AJ grabbed supplies for dinner, and I unpacked. AJ and Brooke cooked me a delicious birthday dinner of salad (made by Brooke), grilled salmon, and Tuscan bread. It was followed by petit fours with 34plus1 candles. The kids and AJ went shopping to get me a new tea mug and made me beautiful crafts and a card. It was a lovely birthday!
