Raleigh-based travel notes, guides, and road-tested escapes.

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The Cubeless ChroniclesRaleigh-based travel notes, close escapes, and longer adventures from North Carolina and beyond.

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”

Marcel Proust

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

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

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Featured image from our festive December weekend in Asheville.
North CarolinaJanuary 24, 2026

A Festive December Weekend in Asheville

We spent the weekend of December 5th in Asheville celebrating the start of the holidays together with Mike and Darlene (my parents) and Sarah and Jerry (Daniel’s parents). Christmas at Biltmore has been on my mom’s bucket list for years, and for Daniel’s parents, it had been more than a decade since they last experienced...

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Featured image from our Channel Islands excursion.
DomesticDecember 31, 2025

From Freeways to Foxes: A Channel Islands Excursion

Our trip to the Channel Islands was both memorable and well-timed, nestled between a work conference and the beginning of the busy holiday season. This trip marked my twelfth National Park visited and helped cross off one of the most logistically challenging ones. It was a sweet reward after five days in Anaheim hosting my...

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Featured image from our Blue Ridge wedding and wine country weekends.
North CarolinaNovember 10, 2025

Wine Country to Wedding Bells: A Blue Ridge Celebration

This fall, I got to celebrate my friend, Jordan, twice — first with a mountain getaway for her bachelorette trip, and then again with Daniel for her beautiful wedding weekend in Asheville. Both weekends were full of laughter, great food, and plenty of North Carolina charm. The Bachelorette Weekend in Hendersonville A month before Jordan’s...

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Sunrise over Carolina Beach with the shoreline and pier in view.
North CarolinaJuly 6, 2025

A Quick Summer Escape: 2 Days in Carolina Beach, NC

After a packed workweek, Daniel and I hit the road Thursday afternoon for a much-needed escape to Carolina Beach, NC. Just a short two-hour drive from Raleigh, this cozy coastal town gave us the perfect blend of relaxation, beach vibes, and a bit of adventure — all in under 48 hours. Thursday Evening: Smokehouse +...

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