Vacation: Raleigh, NC August 27-30, 2009

Mom and I went out of town to Raleigh, NC about a long three hour drive. We had a late start we left home about two hours later than planned, but it was okay we did not get into much heavy traffic. When we got there we stopped to get  a bite to eat in Cameron Village. [yes this is the place where those  sewer slugs were] Amazing in the bathroom were kids [girls] that looked no younger than ten. The we preaning themselves. At that age I would not of been worry how I looked. It seems that they are getting younger into worrying about how we look. They even acted stuck up. Mom and I had a wonder smoked turkey sandwich on wheat bread with vadilla dressing. We even shared which filled us up. We headed to the B&B it was awesome we got a super deal since they were remodeling two rooms downstairs. I saw the deal a month earlier and realized we paid for the amount for one night and we stayed three nights. The deal on-line was stay two night get one free. The inn keepers were awesome. So friendly and nice. They treated us like family.  They had a DVD collection in which we could choose one or two to view. Our room was so cozy, like you walked back into time and we had a vintage tub. One thing amazed us was we got caught in a rain storm and it was pouring down rain and we were trying to find our umbrella and one of the inn keeper met us with an umbrella, wow how many places do you know that will do that? We even had a wonderful breakfast each morning, not your average grits, eggs and such. We had fruit as starter each time. day one we had a croissant with cranberry sauce, day two we had smoked turkey with herbs topped with egg and cheese, day three we had Strawberry short stack. The Bed and breakfast was nestled in the historical Oakwood area which had homes from Greek Revival to "steamboat" Gothic. Inside it was set to the Victorian-era. 

Day one we just went to Pullen park and took a stroll to walk and browse. The park is an amusement type park, it had a mini train for kids to ride around the park, paddle boats, a pol, and a carousel which is dated back to 1900s and real organ dated back to 1920s. Plus at the park is the  controversial since a. that Pullen Park was suppose to be statue free and b. its not in Mount Airy where "Mayberry" was. It has been damaged and repaired alot. Pullen park was a awesome place and we wished we has a park like this here In Charlotte. The closest we can got is Freedom Park here, which no way measures up to Pullen Park. For dinner we went to "Flying Biscuit Cafe" Which was pretty cool. Thy had art work on the walls and ceiling with biscuits with wings. The biscuit came with cranberry jam which reminded me of Christmas season. I had the shrimp and grits, was not happy with it at all it had bacon grease like gravy and the shrimp was tiny. Not worth taking a picture. Mom had fried mac-n-cheese, which was square and looked greasy and collard greens that was spicey and Fried chicken patty with sausage gravy, interesting indeed.

Day two we walked uptown and visited the museums and Capitol Square. They museums were the icing of the whole trip and I felt like a kid in a candy shop. Both were free only had to pay to see special exhibit in the Museum of Natural History The first museum we visited was the north Carolina Museum of History. The exhibits was work boats in the Core Sound, NC Sports Hall of Fame, a exhibits about the governors of NC. One odd thing we saw was a display with what their wives worn too the first ball and at the end was a tux which belonged to our first female Governor, there was an exhibit on the military up to the current item in Baghdad, A drugstore, arts, an photo exhibit on Mountain life [no photos was allowed here] and had a area on Carbine Williams who invented the operating principle for the M1 Carbine while in a North Carolina prison. They even had a a tractor and Model T on display and had hanging a model of what the Wrights brothers used for the first flight on Kills Devil Hill. Even on display a reproduction of a 6,000 females using a skull found.  The next Museum was the best which was the Museum of Natural Science. It was so freaking awesome. Four floors and free!  One floor one was natural treasures found here in NC, like a cougar. Plus there was the continuing theme of Mountains to sea exhibit. at this level was the coastal area of NC. If you looked up you could see the skeletons of Whales and manatees. Second floors was the the exhibit of Mountain to Sea and a peak of what you will find underground. They had live fish and bug and snakes. They had an overlook of the coastal exhibit below and the skeletons. It was so cool. They had the special exhibit on this floor which you had to pay to visit. I could not pass this up so we visited this. It was called "Chocolate: The Exhibition" it  showed a model of the tree and how tiny flies pollinate the flowers that become the seeds. I stated how the Mayan people thought it was a gift from the gods. Used as money. It showed how it came to the New World and how it was a status symbol of wealth and luxury. Even had on display how it was served in china cups and saucers like tea, even a pot for heating it up. As time en voled it showed how chocolate is made from seeds to liqueur to candy bars. Even had a display of old tins and candy bar wrapper. They even has a full screen of chocolate running down, looks so yummy. Near the end that had a area for kids to view clips on various TV screens and cute chairs that looked like giant chocolate cups. Almost like walking into Willy Wonkas place.  At the end they had a shop where you could purchase local made chocolates and stuff. One interesting item was chocolate covered bugs.  The third floor was where the Terror of the South, display of life size Dino's with sound effects. So weird and interesting. They had the cont of the Mountain to Sea the Mountain cove display was up here. A wall of snakes real ones not fake. Even a tropical area. One note of caution there is a display of a hollow tree truck you can walk into, I did it not knowing what to expect and looked up and about wet my pants, Mom thought it was funny. When you look up you see a plastic pane the you can see your reflection in and spiders and I did not stay long enough to see what else. Fourth floor was the bug area. that has huge models of bugs live display of bugs. even a freaking Black Widow. The had huge bugs and a mature horseshoe crab the was huge.  The had a conservatory area which had a three toe sloth but it was a sleep in its box way up so you could not see them. What was cool was the has butterflies flying around. last but not least there was an overlook for the life size Dino area and even a display of a model of a rare Rex bone  that had blood vessels and tissue. After we left the Museum we went to Capitol to view the statues and such. We decided that we would get on the free bus and go to City Market to grab a bite to eat. About half on our way the bus braked to a halt and the driver said Oh No. then bam a car hit the side of the bus on our side. No one was hurt at all. So we had to sit on the bus as we were witnesses and involved. The dude in front of us kept cutting up and acting stupid like he was drunk. After the cops took all the info, pictures were taken and the sup came and did his doings the man across from us got off the bus and caught the next one coming, we just sat there and the driver was sent home since he was upset and the super took us to the City Market. The place we were going to eat at was closed and we could not find anything else to go to s we went to Moore square across from City Market and see the giant Acorn given to the city. then we decided to get back on the free bus to the car and find somewhere to eat. We found a burger joint and saw a storm was brewing. We thought we would beat it back to the B&B but we did not. We did get a DVD and watched it and at our burgers and shakes in the rooms.  We viewed Tuck Everlasting. Later we just went downstairs and sat on the porch and watched it drizzle.

Day three we head out to see two house museums. We first went to the Mordecai house. to take the tour and trolley tour. The house is the oldest and largest one on Wake county during that era. On the lot is also the place of birth of Andrew Jackson. Which is only known by word of month since the family could not read nor write. On the trolley tour we viewed areas in Downtown and even the place the Governor lives. After that we went to visit the Joel Lane House. Which is called the birth place of the Capitol City. After that we decided to grab lunch and visit another museum but the place had moved and the museum closed early and so we walked to City Market still could not find anywhere so we went back to the B&B frustrated and looked at the information we had brought with us when making plans for the trip. We could not find a reasonable B-B-q place so we headed out to Cameron Village and decide to eat at Noodles and Company. Yummy food. Food Network was right this is a great place. We will def visit the on here in Charlotte. I had Pesto Cavaterri with Parm pressed Chicken. The went went hunting for a grocery store to get a pint of Ice cream to take back to the room as we watched a DVD. We found something yummy we got Key lime with grahams crackers flavored and Malted Balls and Chocolate flavored and shared  and enjoyed our last night before we headed home the next day.

We had a nice time despite events that occurred a weeks before and my freaking sinuses acting up and it being hot and humid. It was so nice to see mom having fun, even when I was a alittle pest :P I have an awesome Mom I really love her who else would put up with me :) Coming home we were greeted by the fur-kids. My poor baby must of been mad at me since he would not let me get near him for awhile. Now he is back to his normal self and now I have to sleep again in  odd positions again so not to disturb the sleeping babies. I kind of missed sleeping with a cat or two in he way during the vacation., but it was nice to be able to sleep with room to move or have covers to cover up without having to disturb a baby to cover up.

Pictures:

Album #1: http://www.gather.com/viewAlbum.action?albumId=19426

Album #2: http://www.gather.com/viewAlbum.action?albumId=19431

Videos:

Dinos: http://www.gather.com/viewVideo.action?id=11821949021893478

Goofy: http://www.gather.com/viewVideo.action?id=11821949021893477

Dinos: http://www.gather.com/viewVideo.action?id=11821949021893476

Flying Biscuit Cafe: http://www.gather.com/viewVideo.action?id=11821949021893475

Carousel: http://www.gather.com/viewVideo.action?id=11821949021893474

Carousel: http://www.gather.com/viewVideo.action?id=11821949021893473

More information:

History of Oakwood Bed and Breakfast: http://www.oakwoodinnbb.com/history.html

Pulled Park: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pullen_Park 

Flying Biscuit Cafe: http://www.flyingbiscuit.com/

NC Museum of History: http://ncmuseumofhistory.org/

Carbine Williams: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbine_Williams

Museum of Natural Science: http://naturalsciences.org/

Mordecai House: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mordecai_House http://www.raleighnc.gov/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_306_209_0_43/http%3B/pt03/DIG_Web_Content/category/Leisure/Parks_and_Facilities/Mordecai_Historic_Park/Cat-Index.html

Joel Lane House: http://www.joellane.org  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joel_Lane_House

Noodles and Company: http://www.noodles.com/