Where I Dined in Raleigh, North Carolina – December 2023

This past weekend aka the weekend before Christmas, I had an incredible whirlwind of a weekend in my college town of Raleigh, North Carolina (see the full breakdown of what I did on my Instagram aka @_thepinkchickadee). My best friend from college Alanna had her first-ever in-person graduation (thanks, COVID aka sad face) this past weekend as she received her … Masters in Education from North Carolina State University and I *of course* came down to celebrate her and visit with those that I love and miss from my college days. One of the things that I forgot was how great Raleigh, North Carolina dining can be. Needless to say, my weekend in Raleigh was such a special weekend, and I am OH SO GLAD that I made one last trip down to North Carolina for 2023!

Where I Ate:

Here, I am essentially going to share a round-up of where I dined during my weekend in the City of Oaks. Since I have done A TON of sightseeing around Raleigh over the past few years in college and even a bit after college on my then-frequent visits back, I will be focusing on more where I ate this time around. HOWEVER, if you are interested in a bit more about Raleigh aka North Carolina’s state capital and/or are planning a trip there *very soon*, then look no further than my guides here, here, and here (!!!!).

Coquette Raleigh (4351 The Circle at North Hills Street, Raleigh)

Located in Raleigh’s North Hills Shopping District (aka where I spent A TON of time shopping, dining, etc. in my college years!!!), Coquette is a snazzy French spot that I had yet to try! My friend Shivani and I met our friend and my former roommate Sophie at this glamorous and French-inspired spot ALLLL around for brunch. The food was delicious, from the pommes frites aka French fries to the unlimited coffee to the complimentary bread and butter to the escargot aka a FAVORITE of mine and the French onion soup! Our waitress (whose name I forget) was literally the sweetest ever alongside my time with both Shivani and Sophie. My happy place in college was North Hills, and I was SOOO happy to *finally* be able to try Coquette!

First Watch (5419 Page Road, Durham)

Confession: I had *yet* to try a First Watch location aka the practically nationwide popular brunch spot until this trip of mine! Whoops!!! HOWEVER, I am glad that I got to meet my friend Bree here for brunch before we both headed back to our respective homes for the holidays the day after Alanna’s graduation festivities. We both got the traditional breakfast with eggs, home fries, bacon, and toast AND I am craving it as we speak – LOL! My time with Bree was also special, too. Needless to say, I am excited that a First Watch location is opening up near me in Alexandria, Virginia (!!!!), as I DO want to go back.

Glasshouse Kitchen (5 Laboratory Drive, Research Triangle Park)

Shivani and I did Glasshouse Kitchen together just a few hours after I touched ground in North Carolina. Shivani describes Glasshouse Kitchen as me in a restaurant, which she is NOT wrong about – LOL! The food and locally made beer was delicious, alongside the impeccable vibes. I personally found it SOOOOO neat that Glasshouse Kitchen is literally a glasshouse and located within Raleigh’s well-known Research Triangle Park (RTP) and adjacent to a laboratory, making it such a unique upscale dining asset to the Raleigh dining scene.

Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille (4509 Creedmoor Road, Raleigh)

Alanna had her graduation dinner here and I felt SOOOOO lucky to be able to join her and her family to celebrate her getting her Masters after her graduation ceremony. Perry’s Steakhouse is an upscale steakhouse located near Raleigh’s well-known Crabtree Valley Mall. Before dinner, we enjoyed wine and cocktails at the gorgeous bar (which reminded me of Founding Farmers’ bar in Foggy Bottom in Washington, DC a bit!) before a delicious meal together to commemorate Alanna. I enjoyed a delicious snapper that I am STILL craving alongside shrimp with Alanna and her family as a starter. Definitely a restaurant for the books (!!!!).

Wrap-Up:

Since graduating from college and moving back to the Washington, DC area, I have truly enjoyed getting to enjoy the vast array of incredible restaurants on the slim times that I am back in my college town. The Raleigh, North Carolina dining scene was a highlight for me when I was in college and, since moving away, I have come to appreciate it even more when I do come back alongside some incredible friends who make for the BEST company.

XOXO – Katie <3

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5 Days in Isle of Palms, South Carolina

It has been a hot minute since I shared a bit about my time in Isle of Palms, South Carolina with y’all since over the Summer on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee) yet I always look at my time there with such a big smile. My best friend Hannah hosted me and my best friends Bree and Alanna for a week at her family’s home there at Wild Dunes. There, we had a girl’s week with Hannah’s mom and some of Hannah’s mom’s friends and their dogs (which made me MAJORLY rejoice as a fellow Dog Lover!). Our 5 days in Isle of Palms was filled with so many memories, from the four of us bunking together in the same tiny bedroom, kayaking on the ocean (which terrified me LOL!) to look for sand dollars on the sand bar, and catching up with one another without any looming deadlines or outside things going on.

Isle of Palms, South Carolina is one of a few islands neighboring the charming Southern city of Charleston. Other neighboring islands include Folly Beach and Sullivan’s Island. More specifically speaking, we stayed alongside the private gate-controlled Wild Dunes Resort/community on Isle of Palms. Confession: I am *terrified* of alligators and have been since I was a kid and knowing that South Carolina has many native alligators nerved me SOOOOO MUCH – LOL! Luckily, I saw NO alligators on this trip, but Hannah’s mom did and saved us that grace. From where we were in Wild Dunes, we were about 45 minutes from downtown Charleston which we did a day to (here) that included LOTS of shopping (here). I had actually been to Isle of Palms and Charleston back in September 2019 for a brief 72 hours (here) for a college trip and LOVED it. Needless to say, I am SO glad that I got to spend a lot more time this time around in Isle of Palms!

For more United States travel inspiration, check out my Exploring 50 States expedition page.

Reflections:

For the most part, we spend our time in Isle of Palms simply enjoying the moments that we had together. There are 3 different cities and 2 different states that Alanna, Hannah, Bree, and I live in, which makes it THAT much more challenging to get time together especially for almost a week. We enjoyed several walks on the beach and golf course, plenty of moments doing nothing other than snacking and sipping some wine, and a ton of valuable conversations in between it all. We did enjoy an afternoon in Mount Pleasant, including a trip to the local Goodwill (aka my idea) and the Mount Pleasant Shopping Center where I got to enjoy walking into a Belk for the first time in practically *forever* (!!!!) as well as indulging in Cookout. On another occasion, we enjoyed a nice dinner in Mount Pleasant with Hannah’s mom and her friends, where on the way we coincidentally found ourselves right in front of the iconic Isle of Palms pink flamingo house that I later found out is available for rent (!!!!!). On this trip, I am SOOO glad that we were not in a hustle once, given how I usually am in my 9-5 life.

Funny story: as me, Hannah, Alanna, and Bree were all riding into Isle of Palms around midnight, I couldn’t help but fall *in love* with the stunning palm trees whose shape I could vaguely see via the highway’s lights. Then, I *knew* that we were close to the beach and I got SOOO excited! Once we got up the next morning, Hannah and I took her amazing and ultra-adorable boxer mix Pixie for a walk on the beach. What I LOVE about Hannah’s family’s home is that it is right on the beach and is SOOOO peaceful given its proximity to the Wild Dunes Resort. We took many many many walks on the beach and at the nearby golf course and enjoyed many sunsets together, too. One of my favorite activities was reading a beach read while looking out over the beach. We also enjoyed a time afternoon on the beach, too, and an evening at the community access pool and hot tub. One of my *very very very* favorite activities was getting to enjoy dinners with Hannah, Alanna, Bree, Hannah’s mom, and her friends. It was SO nice to all simply catch up, share our thoughts, and get inspired be one another given our different life journeys and seasons of life.

I got extremely inspired by the incredible women around me on this trip of 5 days in Isle of Palms. Every afternoon, Hannah made delicious smoothies which only kickstarted my own healthy eating journey to include smoothies (!!!!). Not only were Hannah’s smoothies SOOOO refreshing in this humid and hot South Carolina heat, but they were also so fueling, too. Smoothies inspired me SO much on this trip to start my own healthy eating and lifestyle journey, alongside Hannah’s mom and her friends who all strive to live and healthy lifestyle. When I got back to Northern Virginia, I implemented and continue to implement my own version of a healthy lifestyle. Another way that I got inspired in Isle of Palms was through hearing Hannah’s mom and her friends discuss dating today versus when they were dating before my friends’ and I’s time. I LOVED hearing their perspectives on dating and the lack of a need to rush things when it comes to dating, too. As someone in her early twenty’s who has many college and even high school classmates getting married and engaged and starting families of their own, it can be extremely daunting or worrisome to think that I am not on a similar timeline and life stage as them. However, at the same time, I have come to learn that it’s REALLY important in fact even vital to be married to the right person to start a life with (whatever that may look like!) as opposed to getting married at a young age to someone who you may think in the moment is the right one. I ALSO learned the value of meeting others in-person via through friends and family and perhaps in the real world as opposed to on an online dating platform. Needless to say, I left 5 days in Isle of Palms, South Carolina so much more inspired than when I came!

Wrap-Up:

From inspiration both via the stunning Wild Dunes views and beyond and conversations that were had, I left my 5 days in Isle of Palms, South Carolina with such a recharged and happy heart. I find myself SOOO lucky that I was able to take some time away from work to spend with Hannah, Alanna, and Bree. I also want to thank Hannah and her mom for hosting us and an incredible week here at Isle of Palms. Isle of Palms is truly one of the prettiest places that I have ever been to!

XOXO – Katie <3

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An Afternoon in Charleston, South Carolina

The first time I went to Charleston (here), I immediately fell *in love* with this charming Southern city! While Charleston, South Carolina is heavily talked about and on my feed at least on the daily via the many amazing women that I follow on Instagram, I have also discovered the love and hype behind this incredible place. When my best friends Hannah, Alanna, and Bree and I all went to Isle of Palms, South Carolina for 5 days, we *just knew* that we needed to do an afternoon in Charleston, South Carolina.

To me, one of THE MOST magical parts of going to Charleston is the drive into Charleston via the iconic Ravenel Bridge which connects Charleston to its nearby suburb of Mount Pleasant over the Cooper River. My Aunt Frances told me feels as if she’s in her happy place when she drives on this iconic Charleston area bridge. And, well, driving into Charleston’s Historic District is such a treat, too. I feel just as if I were driving through Europe when I drive into historic downtown Charleston. The homes are SO colorful, detailed, and charming. Charleston’s Historic District reminds me of Old Town Alexandria, Virginia and Washington, DC’s neighborhood of Georgetown with the colorful and charming historical homes, YET it has such a Southern charm to it AND is surrounded by *none other than* palm trees (!!!). Let’s just say that our *very interesting* Uber driver and ride (probably THE MOST interesting Uber ride in my entire life – haha!) left me with utter joy and excitement as we arrived in the charming streets of downtown Charleston.

For more United States travel inspiration, check out my Exploring 50 States expedition page.

What We Did:

We started our afternoon in Charleston, South Carolina with brunch at Toast! All Day – a popular New York Times-ranked brunch spot. We met up with Hannah’s and Bree’s high school friends Abbie and Taylor who are such sweet ladies. I had never met Abbie or Taylor before in-person and they are such incredible women that I am glad I got to know a bit more over some brunch delights. I enjoyed a mimosa, a veggie egg scramble, home fries, and *of course* a biscuit and jam – when in Charleston (!!!). Our brunch was delicious and I am now craving it ALL again and again as I write this post – LOL!

Our next stop after brunch was the Charleston City Market, which was established in 1807 and lives at 188 Meeting Street. Brunch was just a few blocks away from Charleston City Market, making it the PERFECT next stop for us. We parted ways with Abbie and Taylor at the Charleston City Market, but it was a blast to talk around here. I mentioned it more in my Charleston Shopping Guide (here), too. After our Charleston City Market adventures, we all walked around some of the nearby souvenir shops where Alanna and I got asked if we were from *none other than* Georgia dressed in our Lilly Pulitzer outfits – LOL! – by someone from *of course* Washington, DC – HOW FUNNY!! And, we went on the rest of our Charleston adventures with Bree’s good friend Maxwell who was interning in Charleston for the summer and happened to be in the area when we were there for the day.

The day that we were in Charleston was HOT and HUMID. If you know me, then you know that I am not a big fan of the heat – LOL! So, needless to say, after like 2 hours outside I was literally OVER IT. However, when we met up with Maxwell and his summer roommate, we had a blast getting to see Charleston from someone whose a local and loves the city like its his own. Maxwell took us the scenic route through the gorgeous French Quarter, to the Pineapple Fountain, and then to Rainbow Row. We got SO many photos at both the Pineapple Fountain and at Rainbow Row. My favorite part was getting to dip my toes into the iconic Pineapple Fountain and escape from the brutal heat of late June in South Carolina! And, afterwards, we went to King Street the iconic shopping street of Charleston.

Wrap-Up:

I feel SO lucky to have gotten to enjoy some friend time with Hannah, Bree, Alanna, Abbie, Taylor, and Maxwell in one of my favorite cities. My heart is filled with SO MUCH gratitude for the friendships, both old and new, and memories made during our 5 hours in Charleston. Charleston is such a charming and incredible city that I am pleased to say that I will be taking my first solo trip to this December! I have a HUGE list of places that I want to visit in Charleston and am SO excited to cross some items off of that list, too. Ever since my first (and second!) trip to Charleston, I know that many more trips to Charleston are in my future!

XOXO – Katie <3

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48 Hours in Edenton, North Carolina

Ever since I was 11, I have always wanted to take a trip for my birthday. So, when I read about the gorgeous charming town of Edenton, North Carolina from Annaliese of Southern Belle In Training‘s Instagram and blog, I knew I had to make a visit to Edenton as I am a major sucker for small, historic, and charming towns! To be honest, Edenton was not on my radar until I saw Annaliese’s content on the town and I’m glad it is now. I have visited Asheville (here) and a few other cities in North Carolina, including my college town of Raleigh, but am glad I have now visited Edenton! My Papa and dog Rosie came along with me to celebrate my Birthday for 48 hours in Edenton, North Carolina and we had an incredible and special time together in this sweet and charming town.

For our 48 hours in Edenton, North Carolina, we ended up going on a Sunday-Tuesday and spent most of Sunday and all of Monday exploring. The Sunday we arrived it was super stormy in the evening, but we luckily had arrived in Edenton and were in awe via *none other than* the calm before the storm. One of the most beautiful things that Papa and I learned about Edenton was how the community always comes together and has for centuries during tough times, whether it be to save a community home, repair someone’s home, maintain a historic landmark, or simply lend someone a helping hand. I think that is why the town’s population has remained stable for over a century. The community of Edenton is such a beautiful and remarkable community that has stood the test of time.

For more United States travel inspiration, check out my Exploring 50 States expedition page.

About Edenton:

 Edenton, North Carolina is located on the Albemarle Sound just about 2 hours East of the state capital of Raleigh and about 90 minutes south of Virginia Beach, Virginia and is the county seat of Chowan County, North Carolina. It is a part of North Carolina’s Inner Banks region which the locals proudly call “God’s Country”. I went to Meredith College – an all-women’s college in Raleigh, North Carolina and quite a bit of Meredith College alumnae are proud Edentonians. As of 2021, Edenton’s population was around 4,400 which has remained stable for over a century. Edenton used to be the North Carolina state capital specifically in the colonial days. To this very day, Edenton’s history and charm remains in tact along with a rich community that has stood the test of time.

What We Did:

Even though many of the historic sights in Edenton were closed when we were visiting since our sightseeing days were a Sunday and Monday, Papa and I still got to get a great taste of the town of Edenton (and didn’t do our wallets too much damage either!). Hence, we must spend another 48 hours in Edenton, North Carolina to check them out!! Through it all, Edenton is such a picturesque town that has become well-known by Forbes and Visit North Carolina to name a few! I have listed all of the places that we visited in this blog post. Needless to say, Edenton was a *very* impressive little town filled with several kind and welcoming souls!

Penelope Barker House Welcome Center

This iconic welcome center is such a beautiful asset to the town of Edenton! I felt SO welcomed to Edenton when I saw this gorgeous welcome center. I walked in and was in awe with the gorgeous antiques that have been local to the Edenton community for years along with books on Edenton’s rich history. Guests are welcome to hang in the living areas of the welcome center and even on the gorgeous back a porch for a picnic (which we would’ve done if it weren’t for the strong winds while visiting!). While there, I met the former First Lady of Edenton who happened to pop in for a visit and she was such a delight to chat with! The best part?! The Penelope Barker House Welcome Center is named for Penelope Barker – the leader of what is said to be the first-ever women-lead political activity in the United States. Penelope Barker lead the Edenton Tea Party, on October 25, 1774 where she organized a petition for the British to stop “taxation without representation” on tea and other goods in when North Carolina was one of the 13 colonies in response to the Tea Act passed by the British parliament in 1773. Barker sent the petition off to England where it was shut down by the British, but its legacy remains true to its day. What’s super impressive about the Edenton Tea Party is that Barker found 40+ women who knew how to read and write (which was rare in 1774 for women) to read and sign it. To this very day, the Penelope Barker House Welcome Center stands in its gorgeous glory to honor Barker and welcome in guests to Edenton from all walks of life.

The Herringbone

Also known as Edenton’s waterfront dining destination, The Herringbone is a popular place that attracts locals and visitors alike. The bar at The Herringbone is STUNNING along with the outside seating looking over Edenton’s gorgeous waterfront. The Herringbone is housed in a remarkable buiding – which has served as both the Edenton Ice Company and the Edenton Police Headquarters over the years. Papa and I (Rosie too!) had burgers and fries for lunch when we arrived on Sunday via the calm right before the storm. We, then, came back to The Herringbone for dinner on my Birthday for beer and pizza and live music. The menu of The Herringbone involves A LOT of unique Eastern North Carolinian delights and classic American fare! The Herringbone is a PERFECT place to wind down, take in the scenic views, and enjoy some Eastern North Carolinian delights.

Cupola House and Gardens

The Cupola House was owned by the same family for generations for 141 years, after being built in 1758 on land gifted by King Charles for Frances Corbin who was an agent for Lord Granville – one of eight Lords Proprietors. After the last of the generations of family members who had owned the Cupola House couldn’t afford to maintain and care for it anymore, the people of Edenton also proudly known as “Edentonians” came together to make this historic home into The Cupola House Association. Edentonians also gave that final generation of the home’s owners assistance to move into a home that they could afford. To this day, the community effort of Edentonians remains true to the town’s legacy and love for one another. Today, the Cupola House Gardens is open between 9:00am-4:30pm and is free to visit. Whereas, the Cupola House is open for tours and visits on certain days of the week and tickets for those guided tours can be purchased at the Edenton Historic Sites Visitor Center (which was closed when I was visiting). The craftsmanship of the Cupola House to this *very* day serves as an example of craftsmanship and styles that were architecturally popular in the mid-1700s.

Edenton Bay Trading Company

This wine bar was THE CUTEST! I was also blown away at how Papa and I only spent $8.50 on a bottle of beer and glass of wine, coming from the Washington, DC area where cocktails can cost upwards of $25 or more (JUST WOW!!!!!!). Guests can also buy bottles of wine and cases of beer from North Carolina and beyond. I LOVED the atmosphere of the Edenton Bay Trading Company, as it was so eclectic and relaxing. Papa and I came here before lunch for a pre-Birthday drink, because what better way to celebrate a Birthday?!?! It also serves as a favorite spot for the local Edentonians to come together. Although we didn’t spend much time here, I really enjoyed the time that I did spend there.

Trolley Tours

As a history buff, Edenton’s iconic Trolly Tour was a MUST DO (!!!) and a highlight of Edenton for both Papa and I. It is run by two Edentonians who have been sharing the passion and history of the town for quite a while now. I learned and saw SO MUCH of Edenton that I would not have learned about otherwise. Papa and I saw several different iconic historic sites to be seen all across Edenton, including: the historically African American neighborhood, Edenton Cotton Mill Historic District, Waterfront Park, Iredell House Homesite, Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church, and so much more. One of the most touching parts was learning about the life of Harriet Jacobs – an Edenton resident who escaped slavery to move up North, write about her own experiences, and become an Abolitionist. Harriet Jacobs is one of a few written accounts of the Maritime Underground Railroad. Another majorly touching part of the Trolley Tour was to learn how much the people of Edenton come together to help another town member in need (case in point: The Cupola House and Gardens!). Edentonians truly love one another and their gorgeous town! Tickets for the Trolley Tour can be purchased in the Penelope Barker House Welcome Center the day-of.

1767 Chowan County Courthouse

Known as the most intact Colonial courthouse in the United States according to researchers, the 1767 Chowan County Courthouse still beautifully gleams just in front of the waterfront. Declaration of Independence signer Joseph Hewes was one of the commissioners who was appointed to raise money for the courthouse’s construction. And, well-known Revolutionary patriots Judges James Iredell and Samuel Johnston have heard cases in this *very* exact courthouse. How cool?! Papa and I learned a lot about the Chowan County Courthouse from the historians on the Edenton Trolley Tour and took Rosie here later on in the evening and it was SO NICE!

Edenton Tea Pot

The Edenton Tea Pot was constructed to honor Penelope Barker’s fight and drive via the Edenton Tea Party that she organized (read more about that above!). It is said to weigh several tons, too. Needless to say, Edenton is beyond proud of its heritage as the first-ever North Carolina State Capitol and for being put on the historic radar via the Edenton Tea Party. As previously mentioned, the Edenton Tea Party is said to be the first-ever women-run political activity in the United States – something that Edentonians are very proud of.

1886 Roanoke River Lighthouse

On commission from 1887-1941, the Ronaoke River Lighthouse is the only surviving of 3 lighthouses in Edenton over the centuries. Its permanent location is overlooking the Edenton Bay with excellent views from the Edenton Waterfront Park. It moved offshore to its current location in 2012, as reported by WRAL’s Tar Heel Traveler series. At one point, the Roanoke River Lighthouse housed a family with kids before its move in 2012! It is said that the lighthouse is the last surviving example in the United States of a “squarer frame building built for a screw-pile base” (“Visit Edenton”). Papa and I LOVED walking up to the lighthouse and admiring it via the waterfront park. It is such a gorgeous asset to Edenton. Currently, the 1886 Roanoke River Lighthouse is being continuously restored, in order to keep its glory running sky-high for centuries and visitors to come!

Wrap-Up:

48 hours in Edenton, North Carolina was such an incredible visit! Edentonians have shown so much grit and love for their little town for centuries and will for centuries to come. I loved getting to visit Edenton, as to be honest, it was never on my travel radar until recently. The passion and love that I now have for Edenton is something I am very grateful to now have. Maybe another 48 hours in Edenton, North Carolina soon?!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Louisville, Kentucky Dining: March 2023

To both me and my Mom’s surprise, Louisville, Kentucky is a HUGE foodie city! Pretty much every place we ate (our favorites I am sharing in this blog post) was really incredible. The people of Louisville are SO beyond friendly and the food there is incredible – a melting pot of cuisines, too. On my Instagram about a month ago (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), I shared on my stories about ALL of the places that my Mom and I dined at while in Louisville, Kentucky (read my experience at Churchill Downs here!) dining out AND today I am talking about our favorite spots!

I am a BIG fan of getting reservations at restaurants as I am a HUGE planner. When in Louisville, Kentucky dining especially on the weekends, the locals and visitors alike love to dine at many of these spots listed as they are popular. Mom and I made reservations at each of these spots with the exception of the bourbon-heavy places aka The Old Seelbach Bar and Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co which were both easy walk-in’s. Luckily, many of the restaurants mentioned do take reservations and offer some pretty great Kentucky charm while you dine there, too!

For more United States travel inspiration, check out my Exploring 50 States expedition page.

Where We Ate:

The Old Seelbach Bar (500 South 4th Street)

The Old Seelbach Bar is located in the iconic Old Seelbach Hilton Hotel AND was F. Scott Fitzgerald’s favorite bar when he was in Louisville! The Old Seelbach Bar is an early 1900’s bar which features an expansive bourbon collection and bar snacks. People from all across the world flock to this bar when they come to Louisville. Mom and I enjoyed bourbon cocktails with a window-side table to admire downtown Louisville. At the same time, we checked out the Old Seelbach Hilton Hotel, which attracted some of the most well-known gangsters including Al Capone who came to parttake in poker games. The Old Seelbach Hilton Hotel is STUNNING and offers so much 1900’s charm.

Bar Vetti (727 East Market Street)

Mom and I met up with some of her friends here before they headed back to the Washington, DC area for brunch. Bar Vetti’s brunch was AMAZING! We enjoyed unlimited coffee and to die for food – I got a sandwich with prosciutto and arugula and home fries on the side. The staff was super friendly and the atmosphere was GREAT and gorgeous, too. In addition to brunch, Bar Vetti has a delicious Italian dinner menu AND is located on East Market Street right by some incredible small Kentucky-owned businesses.

Holy Grale (1034 Bardstown Road)

Holy Grale was Mom’s and I’s FAVORITE place that we dined while in Louisville!!! Holy Grale is located in an old church-turned restaurant. Inside the restaurant, you can see A TON of the unique touches and charm of the building’s history as a church. While the building was restored into what it is now aka Holy Grale, you can still see so much of what it was back in the day. Mom and I split cauliflower gnocchi and a kale salad and each got the house beer. The staff are super friendly and told us A TON about Louisville and the history of Holy Grale! I have always wanted to dine in an old church building so getting to dine at Holy Grale was a dream come true.

Agave & Rye (426 Baxter Ave)

Agave & Rye offers traditional Mexican street favorites along with some pretty unique tacos (such as lobster tacos!!). While a chain with locations across Kentucky and Ohio, I felt as if Agave & Rye were just a one-location place. I got a mac & cheese taco while Mom got the lobster taco. Each taco is filled to the rim and super filling on its own. At the same time, I CANNOT forget to mention how gorgeous the bar at Agave & Rye was and the murals on ALL the walls of the restaurant. Our waiter was super friendly, too!

Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. (120 North 10th Street)

Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. is a family generations-owned distillery in Louisville. The staff were super friendly and they have two rescue cats who live there and are spoiled full-time! Their bourbon is authentically made in-house in much smaller batches than some of the other nearby Kentucky bourbon distilleries. However, their quality is bourbon is hard to beat. Mom and I did a guided tasting where we each got to try a flight of different bourbons of our choosing AND learn how bourbon is made and came to be along with the history of the family that still owns Kentucky Peerless Distillery!

Jack Fry’s (1007 Bardstown Road)

Jack Fry’s is one of the most well-known restaurants for fine dining in Louisville! Opened in 1933 by Jack and Flossie Fry, the restaurant has become a Louisville icon offering a high-end historic feel with Southern fare and cocktails. You truly feel as if you went back in time! I got a Mint Julep and their burger and Mom and I split the shrimp and grits which were some of the best that I’ve had! The bar, atmosphere, staff, and all around vibes were amazing!!! The best part?! Mom and I met the sweetest couple who had been married for 60+ years who spoke so highly of Jack Fry’s and are a true testament to true love as we were leaving – so beautiful!!

Wrap-Up:

I LOVE Louisville is an understatement! The people there were so friendly and their food was seriously so incredible. If I ever go back, I would literally just go to eat and chat with the locals while doing so as Louisville, Kentucky dining is wonderful!

XOXO – Katie <3

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A Unique Perspective at Churchill Downs!

Ever since I was in high school, I had always wanted to visit Churchill Downs! Coincidentally, on the same token, I had wanted to visit Kentucky since I was in elementary school singing the lyrics “I’m going to Kentucky and I’m going to the fair” on repeat on the playground. SO, when my Mom and I made it to Louisville, Kentucky where I visited her to explore the city after her conference there, we both KNEW that we had to go to Churchill Downs! While I had expected a very formal showy showy tour of Churchill Downs, my Mom who booked the tickets opted for the stables tour, where we got the more authentic tour of Churchill Downs and truly got a unique perspective of the place and the people who work countless hours to make it happen.

For more United States travel inspiration, check out my Exploring 50 States expedition page.

Churchill Downs is apart of the Kentucky Derby Museum – the place that plays homage to the historic significance of the Kentucky Derby and horse races at Churchill Downs. Along with our Barn and Backside Tour tickets, we got museum admission – all for $45/person. Click the link to book your ticket, too: https://www.derbymuseum.org/plan-a-visit/tours/winter-season-barn-and-backside-tour

My Mom and I are ALWAYS big fans of learning about the unique cultural aspects of different places AND the Churchill Downs Barn and Backside Tour (we did the Winter season one since we went in early March). Our tour guide was a staffer at Churchill Downs who works in the stables herself with the horses. On the tour, we learned that many of those who work at Churchill Downs live at the stables, to be close to and tend to the horses before and during racing season. We saw the stables where winning horses have lived during their time at Churchill Downs (there are plaques to honor each Kentucky Derby winning horse at their stable!!), including the stall that Secretariat called home! We also saw some of the apartments, dormitory-style homes, church, and academic building that the community of Churchill Downs staff live and work at. One of my favorite things learned on the tour is that all employees get access in the academic building to free certifications, United States citizenship assessments/test prep, and tutoring for their kids. The employees go to church on Monday (I think!) to mesh well with their work schedule at the stables. Mom and I both learned SO much and truly got an authentic taste into the life and culture on the Backside of Churchill Downs.

Our tour guide, being a Churchill Downs staffer, provided my group and I with a unique lens into life at Churchill Downs. Our tour guide grew up with parents working at Churchill Downs before she, herself, decided to follow in their footsteps. She is super passionate about the work that she does, despite the long and countless and sleepless hours that she has put into make iconic horse races like the Kentucky Derby and MANY others during horse race season at Churchill Downs and it truly showed. On top of horse race season, our tour guide ALSO does tours to show the place that she loves and calls her home. What our tour guide gave me and Mom and the rest of our group was the weight of how much work is put into making horse races like the Kentucky Derby and many others happen every year. There are SO many people who put in countless hours doing the “less glamorous” work to make horse races appear as magical as they look. It’s much more than just wealthy people putting down their money on which of their horses will win the race – it is passion, a love for horses, and countless hours of hard work. I hope more people can see and learn this, too.

Along with a touring the stables at the Backside of Churchill Downs, Mom and I also got to see the horse racing tracks which was SO cool (!!!) and check out the Kentucky Derby Museum that we had admission included for. The Kentucky Derby Museum had some beautiful horse portraits and stories on the history of the Kentucky Derby. My favorite part of the Kentucky Derby Museum was watching the film “The Greatest Race” – which is 18 minutes full of being at the center of the epic Kentucky Derby. You see ALL the hard work that goes into making the Kentucky Derby happen and the emotions that go into it all. Having done the Backside Barn and Stables tour beforehand, I loved the tribute that this film gave to the people who worked in the backside stables and all the work that they put in year after year into making this event occur.

I am SO glad that I was able to go to Kentucky and see where the Kentucky Derby happened at Churchill Downs! My Mom and I had both always wanted to go and it was such a special time with so many unique perspectives learned.

XOXO – Katie <3

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A Visit to The Carolina Inn

It’s CRAZY to think that I went to college just a mere 30 minutes away from The Carolina Inn, yet I had never been! During my college years, I only went to Chapel Hill, North Carolina a handful of times (mostly my Freshmen year of college) as I was primarily in my college town of Raleigh, North Carolina. However, when one of my best friends Alanna moved to Chapel Hill within the past year, I knew that I wanted to take the chance to visit the iconic Carolina Inn!!

On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), one of my blogger and Instagram friends over the past 3 years of Liz of @palmettos_and_pineapples (go follow her!!!) has posted a few times about visiting The Carolina Inn. Liz inspired me to make a visit to The Carolina Inn AND further made me want to add it to my *never-ending* bucket list. At the same time, I am so glad that I got to explore a bit of Chapel Hill with Alanna, too. We visited the well-known Sup Dogs on Franklin Street (the University of Kentucky VS University of Tennessee game was on while we were having lunch!), got coffee at Epilogue Books right next door to Sup Dogs, and enjoyed some gorgeous murals along Franklin Street. I had a great time overall!!

The Carolina Inn is owned by Hyatt and costs upwards of $400-$500 to stay at per night (think The Greenbrier in West Virginia pricing). It is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina: the college town of the well-known University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill (UNC). A fun feature of The Carolina Inn is its colors, including its logo of UNC’s trademarked color “Carolina Blue”. The Carolina Inn also has a few restaurants that are a bit pricey to eat at. I considered eating there, but for both Alanna’s and I’s budgets, we opted to do what many come to do that visit The Carolina Inn: come see what it’s ALL about! Luckily for us, we were able to enjoy the gorgeous hotel’s environment without even paying a penny. The halls at The Carolina Inn are gorgeous and filled with cabinets of china that plays homages to its native state of North Carolina, portraits of all of the Presidents (both current and former) of the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, and gorgeous printed tiled floors. The lobby was stunning, too!

While in Chapel Hill, Alanna and I were able to admire The Carolina Inn at all sides of the street. It is a beautiful hotel, and I hope to be able to visit again when it’s a bit warmer. Needless to say, the winter season makes *just about* everything look and feel a little bit more drab than usual! Alanna’s roommate told us while we were back at Alanna’s house (which is just a short walk away from the iconic North Carolina hotel) that The Carolina Inn hosts fun Friday Night activities for families and community members, including food, games, and live music. They even *indeed* have heaters in the cooler months! I would LOVE to be able to enjoy a Friday night at The Carolina Inn AND take some photos in front of what appeared to be a gorgeous floral display in the warmer months (it was wayyy too cold to take photos outside this time around).

Overall, I feel really grateful that I was able to get some quality time with Alanna and *finally* check seeing The Carolina Inn off of my bucket list!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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24 Hours in Greenville, North Carolina

When most people hear the city “Greenville”, they think of Greenville, South Carolina. HOWEVER, both of the Carolina’s have a Greenville to call their own! A little less well-known than its South Carolina counterpart, Greenville, North Carolina plays homage to East Carolina University (ECU). It is also one of the fastest growing and up-and-coming cities in the United States and has even been ranked by Best Places and Liveability as one of the best places to live. One of my best friends, Bryn, who spent her summer interning up by me in Arlington, Virginia is finishing out her Senior year of college at ECU. SO, me and my friends Alanna and Hannah decided to make the trek for a day down to Greenville to spend some time with Bryn and see a football game versus the Naval Academy!

For more United States travel inspiration, check out my Exploring 50 States expedition page.

The majority of our visit was spent visiting with Bryn in her gorgeous dorm, exploring ECU’s campus including a meal at the dining hall and seeing Bryn’s most-frequented spots, and going to the ECU-Navy football game. At the same time, we ALSO walked a bit around the gorgeous downtown of Greenville (which I hope to explore more so in the Spring when I visit Bryn again!) at night, ate at the well-known pre-tailgate restaurant known as Sup Dogs (they also have a location in Chapel Hill, North Carolina by the University of North Carolina), and visited Pink – a Lilly Pulitzer Signature Store located in Greenville. I shared ALL of my adventures on my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!).

I left bright and early for Greenville, North Carolina that Saturday morning of the game. To my surprise living in the Washington, DC area (the traffic here is THE WORST), I ran into NO TRAFFIC. It was, indeed, my first-ever 1+ hour drive on I-95 with NO traffic. The drive to Greenville, North Carolina from Northern Virginia is mostly a straight-shot south on I-95 for a good 3-4 hours. Parking at ECU is FREE on the weekends at the parking deck near the Student Center. Generally speaking, ECU’s Campus Police don’t check on cars parked on campus or charge for parking on the weekend, making it very easy and free to park on campus on the weekends. Needless to say, when I made it to Greenville, I was excited to be able to enjoy the town and be reunited with Bryn along with Hannah and Alanna who arrived just minutes after I did.

Walking on campus was a BLAST – I got to see the Pirate statue, the gorgeous well that holds the superstition that if you walk under it as an undergrad you won’t graduate within 4 years, eat at the dining hall with Bryn and her ECU friends, shop at the Campus Store, and get an iced Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks. I got A LOT of steps in and enjoyed the gorgeous on-campus environment. Similarly speaking, I loved getting to walk down the gorgeous streets of downtown Greenville. While a small town, it offered a lot of places to eat, drink, and historical views (I LOVED seeing the town’s community library there!). We also visited Pink in Greenville and chatted with the super sweet owner of the store. Visiting Pink was a highlight for me while in Greenville, as I’ve been connected with the owners of the store on Instagram for over 2 years now. We have definitely become friends online and now in real life, too! *Of course* we grabbed some Lilly Pulitzer goodies to bring back home with us AND got some photos in the store!!!

Well, the main reason for our visit was to go to the ECU-Navy football game. A fun fact about me and my family is that my Great-Grandad, Grandad, Great Uncle, Great Aunt’s, and Uncle’s all have served or are serving in the Navy. My Grandad was in the same graduating class as John McCain and calls him “Johnny”. And, well, I have never been to a Navy football game, so I decided on this weekend to see Navy play, even if it was in Greenville, North Carolina. Bryn got us student seating guest tickets for $40/each, while hers was free or much cheaper (I cannot remember LOL!) being a student there. We had a GREAT TIME! Afterwards, we went to Insomnia Cookies in downtown Greenville.

I am SO blessed to have been able *FINALLY* visit Bryn at her college campus and see her college town! It was great to be able to see her for the first-time ever since she interned up here by me in Arlington, Virginia. Here’s to my next adventure in Greenville and beyond!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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72 Hours in Asheville, North Carolina!

On my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), I have been sharing my adventures in Asheville, North Carolina a few weeks ago for my best friend Kearra’s Birthday Weekend. Kearra did an AMAZING job getting us all ladies together for a fun weekend away to celebrate her and to simply be together. On that weekend, Alanna and I went to The Biltmore together and the Birthday crew – me, Alanna, Hannah, Aspen, Rachel, and *of course the Birthday girl of the weekend* Kearra!!! – and I also visited many other places around Asheville. Let’s get into the fun Birthday weekend for Kearra via 72 hours in Asheville, North Carolina!!!

As for The Biltmore, I decided to get into more depth on the experience that Alanna and I had there. Read more on Alanna and I’s Biltmore adventures here: https://pinkchickadee.com/2022/09/16/an-afternoon-at-the-biltmore/#/

For more United States travel inspiration, check out my Exploring 50 States expedition page.

Where We Stayed:

First thing’s first, after a LOOONGGG working day, each of us headed for our AirBnB in nearby-to-Asheville Swannanoa, North Carolina. Our AirBnB was STUNNING and perfect for all of us for the weekend. Hannah, Alanna, and I carpooled there and arrived at the AirBnB close to midnight. When we woke up in Swannanoa, we got to see breathtakingly gorgeous views of the North Carolina mountains at every angle, whether it be from our AirBnB’s balcony, driving into Asheville, or on the neighborhood streets right by our AirBnB. The mountains were GORGEOUS!!!

What We Did:

After working a half a day at the AirBnB, each of us ladies went to The Biltmore Village to Corner Kitchen – a delicious brunch and dinner place. A fun fact about Corner Kitchen is that it gets packed pretty easily so reservations (which Kearra so kindly did for us all!) are highly suggested. Corner Kitchen is only open for breakfast/brunch and dinner and both menus look AMAZING. Everything at this restaurant is locally sourced and seemingly (if I recall!!) farm-to-table. We arrived at Corner Kitchen for a 12:30 reservation and around 1-2pm, the restaurant was closing for the breakfast/brunch meal time, in preparation for dinner. At the same time, Corner Kitchen had a GORGEOUS exterior along with many many many of the Biltmore Village restaurants, cafes, and shops.

Post-brunch, Alanna and I headed for Palm Village – a Lilly Pulitzer Signature Store, while the rest of our crew went to other stores in the area. Alanna and I are the BIG BIG BIG Lilly Pulitzer lovers of the Birthday weekend crew! I got to meet Britney of @cute_classy_carolina on Instagram – a fellow Instagram friend of mine for a few years now who happens to work at Palm Village! While there, I learned that Palm Village is the largest Lilly Pulitzer Signature Store, encompassing 4 locations each with HUGE storefronts. Britney was SOOO SWEET and it was great to meet her along with the rest of the uber sweet Palm Village ladies! Alanna and I enjoyed trying on some of their many gorgeous pieces (a lot of which were on sale!) and shopping. We each purchased a few pieces – one of which for me was the Pollie Midi Dress (pictured right below!). I most definitely cannot wait to shop at Palm Village again and plan to via calling them and ordering one full-priced item for FREE SHIPPING. I highly recommend you do, too!

Friday night, we all did candle making at Hummingbird Candle Company located in downtown Asheville. Candle making was a unique experience which Kearra so kindly reserved for us all. It was neat to be able to smell several different candle scents, with the flexibility to be able to mix 2 scents together. One of the unique experiences offered in it all was getting to smell the 25+ scents that they had without knowing what the scent really was. We got descriptions of our favorite scents later – mine was Lemon Pound Cake! I mixed mine with a strawberry/raspberry scent, too. Once we chose all of our scents, we got to get to candle making, which was such a FUN, interactive, and NEAT experience! The best part?! They had a confetti wall and the most adorable merchandise, SO pictures, pictures, pictures!!!!

Saturday, we slept in before parting ways to either The Biltmore (me and Alanna) or horseback riding (Aspen, Kearra, Hannah, and Rachel). We each had a fun afternoon whatever the activity was that we did. After parting ways, we united together again to go to downtown Asheville to enjoy some of their gorgeous local shops. One of the things that I LOVE about downtown Asheville is the plethora of locally-owned shops. Whether it be fashion, art, locally made goods, restaurants, or a cafe, downtown Asheville truly has it all. Us ladies checked out one of their fashion boutiques, an Asheville-themed gift shop, and a cafe. I refrained this time around, as I shopped a lot at Palm Village, yet some of the other ladies in our crew got a few goodies. And, later that evening, we went to The Lobster Trap for Kearra’s Birthday dinner celebration and got a BUNCH of delicious seafood cuisines with fresh Maine lobster. It was a blast and especially seeing Kearra’s STUNNING Birthday cake when we got back to the AirBnB, too.

Sadly, Kearra had to leave early Sunday morning. So, the rest of us left the AirBnB for the Omni Grove Park Inn hotel – a gorgeous hotel overlooking the North Carolina mountains. None of us could afford to stay there at this point in our lives – LOL! – but we really enjoyed the hotel’s grounds. We walked around the hotel’s grounds mainly outdoors, catching scenic mountain views, waterfalls, and much more. The hotel is made out of stone rocks and was seriously breathtaking. It, perhaps, felt like a luxurious lodge in the mountains. We didn’t get any food or drinks there, but if I do go back to Asheville, that would be high on my list. Then, we all parted ways and headed home after an amazing weekend.

Wrap-Up:

Personally, I am super super super grateful for Kearra for arranging a special time and weekend for all of us to get together to celebrate her. Each of us ladies live in 6 different cities across North Carolina and Virginia and don’t get to see one another as much since our college days, so getting together was truly a blessing. Here’s to the next Girl’s Weekend with this amazing crew!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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A Girl’s Weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina!

4 cities, 2 states, 6 ladies, and an unbreakable bond. Well, you are *just PROBABLY* sick of hearing me say an alliteration of this quote on my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!). Just a few weekends ago, I spent the weekend with some of my best girl friends – Hannah, Alanna, Bryn, Allison, and Sarah – down in the beautiful city of Charlotte, North Carolina. We saw *surprise!!!* Big Time Rush and lived out our childhood dreams aka the main reason for this trip. We also got to get together with a bunch of Hannah’s, Bryn’s, and Allison’s friends from high school, such as Drew, too. Now, let’s get into the nitty gritty of this super duper fun weekend of mine!

Friday

Friday was the start of our trip, which meant that Bryn and I set sail (or through the Virginia/North Carolina mountains!) towards Charlotte, North Carolina from good olde Northern Virginia. Our friends Alanna and Hannah who both live in the Raleigh, North Carolina area left MUCH later than us, since it was a shorter drive. We each in our separate cars arrived to Bryn’s house around the same time (8pm!). SO, that meant for a happy hour with tacos and cocktails courtesy of Bryn’s angels known as her parents! The cocktails we had were gorgeously displayed in all their pretty and pink glory. We enjoyed some great time catching up, as it has been a few months since all 4 of us had been together.

Bryn’s house is GORGEOUS!!! Her mother, like me, is a BIG FAN of bright colors and has the most gorgeous home. The house is decked out with printed chairs, floral prints, AND all things preppy. She *EVEN* has King and Queen-shaped salt & pepper shakers – talk about my kind of place! Trust me, I wanted to move immediately when I set foot in her home and am currently talking about planning a trip back around Christmas time, as I know that it’ll be gorgeous then.

Saturday Afternoon

After breakfast and getting ready at Bryn’s house, we headed for Charlotte’s super fun South End neighborhood. South End is known for its funky, eccentric, and up-and-coming vibes. This neighborhood is home to several murals within the Queen City, including the Confetti Hearts Wall (the one that we visited!!). The Confetti Hearts Wall was designed and painted by Evelyn Henson – a local Charlotte artist – and is hanging up in an alley South End right by the well-known Jeni’s Ice Cream Shop. I am a BIG fan of the Confetti Hearts Wall and visited it back in January 2021 when I was in a long distance relationship and was more than happy to go back and get photos with my besties, instead! So, we *of course* went to both!! While there, a bunch of local businesses had booths set up, including in front of the Confetti Hearts Wall (which made for a bit of an awkward photo opportunity, BUT we made it work well!) and I even got a pair of adorable earrings from one of them. Then, it started raining, SO we took the Light Rail (which is FREE) one stop over to Hannah’s car. We, then, went to the HUGE Target in Midtown that is known for that parking garage top deck with those stunning skyline views. Sadly, I didn’t get any photos at the top of the parking garage (I guess I can save that for next time, though!). It was definitely a fun afternoon: pre-concert!

Saturday Evening

Saturday evening, we all went to the Big Time Rush concert aka the major major major reason for us all having this girl’s weekend in Charlotte. The night started off with us all meeting at Hannah’s place to get ready – we had a mini happy hour and Allison and Sarah showed up then, too. We, then, headed on over to the concert which was held at the Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre: an outdoor venue that plays host to some drop dead gorgeous views of Charlotte’s skyline. For my outfit, I decided to wear my hot pink chiffon Sam Edelman maxi dress that I SCORED for $14 – CHEERS!!! – at Marshall’s back in May. This gorgeous maxi steal of mine was styled with my J Crew Factory statement necklace, Lands’ End strappy wedges, and Lilly Pulitzer x Lele Sadoughi top knot headband.

Besides the AMAZING performance courtesy of Big Time Rush (!!!!), we also had a great time together. The line up was GREAT!!! One of the BEST things about being in North Carolina as compared to Washington, DC is how cheap everything feels. For example, I paid $5 for a big bag of popcorn as opposed to at least $8-$10 in my hometown. The same went for drinks, too. We purchased lawn seats and got there pretty early (about 45 minutes before the concert began) and did not pay extra for the fast lane admission. I will say that we did get in easily without any problems and had a somewhat good view of the concert. Needless to say, I could not be found complaining and neither could anyone else! At the same time, I LOVED getting to see the sun set along the Charlotte skyline. It was beautiful and made even better jamming out to Big Time Rush.

Sunday

Sunday morning rolled around much quicker than anyone of us had anticipated, which meant that we had to head back home. BUT, before heading back home and parting ways to our respective cities, we all enjoyed one last meal together. Hannah was an angel and treated us all to Einstein Bros Bagels and coffee – a bagel breakfast chain that I have seen in at least Virginia and North Carolina – and we headed for the local and gorgeous Freedom Park. Hannah’s, Bryn’s, Allison’s, and Sarah’s high school friend Drew joined us for breakfast, too. Freedom Park plays homage to a stone bridge, ducks, a ton of nature, a pond, and what to me feels like a ton of magic. To me, Freedom Park feels like a magical gateway as if it were in Peter Pan! We, then, took A TON of photos and then parted ways.

My weekend in Charlotte was a special one filled with friendships both old and new, lasting bonds, and several memories. Til next time, Queen City!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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