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Recent travel notes from Raleigh, North Carolina, and farther afield.

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Showing 9 stories in this archive

“Wherever you go becomes a part of you somehow.”

Anita Desai

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North Carolina

St. Patrick's Day in Ireland: Our 11-Day Trip from Raleigh

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A wide summer panorama of layered Blue Ridge mountains beneath dramatic clouds from Beech Mountain.

DomesticAugust 16, 2026

A Long Weekend in Beech Mountain, North Carolina

Beech Mountain is a little farther than we would normally drive for one of our High Country weekends, but we would absolutely make the trip again.

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Festival tents and a grassy field beneath West Virginia mountains at sunset.

DomesticJuly 25, 2026

From West Virginia to Grandfather Mountain: Discovering the Highland Games

Highland Games are not the most obvious choice for a family with no Scottish ancestry.

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Skyline Drive overlook across green Shenandoah Valley mountains under a partly cloudy spring sky.

DomesticMay 31, 2026

Shenandoah from Raleigh: Old Rag, Skyline Drive, and a Week in Massanutten

For our May trip to Shenandoah from Raleigh, we stayed in Massanutten, drove Skyline Drive, hiked Blackrock Summit, Old Rag, and Bearfence Mountain, and found a pace that made sense.

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A white barn and open field at Chatham Oaks Farm during the Piedmont Farm Tour in North Carolina.

North CarolinaMay 10, 2026

A Sunday on the Piedmont Farm Tour: Mushrooms, Goats, Strawberries, and a Better Look at Local Food

We finally made it to the Piedmont Farm Tour, spending a spring Sunday visiting five farms near Raleigh for mushrooms, goats, strawberries, local food, and a closer look at the work behind sustainable agriculture in North Carolina.

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The North Carolina State Capitol rising above autumn trees and a bright blue sky in downtown Raleigh.

North CarolinaApril 22, 2026

A New Way to Experience Downtown Raleigh: Our Latest VoiceMap Tour

Our latest VoiceMap tour moves through the center of downtown Raleigh, connecting landmarks, murals, green spaces, and overlooked details along a walk from the Convention Center to Union Station.

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Sunflowers and wildflowers blooming at Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh beneath a blue evening sky.

North CarolinaApril 17, 2026

More Than Sunflowers: Why We Keep Coming Back to Raleigh’s Dorothea Dix Park

Sunflowers may get the headline, but Dorothea Dix Park keeps drawing us back for skyline views, trolls, dog-watching, community events, and easy afternoons outside in Raleigh.

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Downtown Raleigh on First Friday with people gathered beneath string lights outside the museum district.

North CarolinaApril 5, 2026

Easter Weekend in Raleigh: A Visit Worth Repeating

A spring family weekend in Raleigh brought First Friday, blooming gardens, barbecue, museum grounds, and a quiet Easter morning together.

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Featured image from our festive December weekend in Asheville.

North CarolinaJanuary 24, 2026

A Festive December Weekend in Asheville

This Asheville weekend was built around the city’s December traditions. Christmas at Biltmore and Winter Lights did the heavy lifting, with Antler Hill Village and one last cozy breakfast rounding out the trip.

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Featured image from our Channel Islands excursion.

DomesticDecember 31, 2025

From Freeways to Foxes: A Channel Islands Excursion

After a work conference in Anaheim, the Channel Islands felt wonderfully far from Southern California traffic. Ferry logistics gave way to fox sightings, Santa Cruz Island trails, and a night under the stars.

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Stories

Looking for somewhere or something in particular?

A few stories worth starting with

A High Country Long Weekend

New River Gorge National Park

St. Patrick's Day in Ireland: Our 11-Day Trip from Raleigh

Our Most Recent Stories

A Long Weekend in Beech Mountain, North Carolina

From West Virginia to Grandfather Mountain: Discovering the Highland Games

Shenandoah from Raleigh: Old Rag, Skyline Drive, and a Week in Massanutten

A Sunday on the Piedmont Farm Tour: Mushrooms, Goats, Strawberries, and a Better Look at Local Food

A New Way to Experience Downtown Raleigh: Our Latest VoiceMap Tour

More Than Sunflowers: Why We Keep Coming Back to Raleigh’s Dorothea Dix Park

Easter Weekend in Raleigh: A Visit Worth Repeating

A Festive December Weekend in Asheville

From Freeways to Foxes: A Channel Islands Excursion