When Johnnie and I got married, we asked for no gifts. Our family and friends kindly ignored us—because love languages are stubborn like that—and gifted experiences we’ll never forget.
One of our favorites came from Johnnie’s brother Christopher and his wife Sally Jane: an Airbnb gift card. For our first anniversary, in October of 2023, we cashed it in for a two-night getaway to Uwharrie, a spot Johnnie often visits with his Jeep/off-roading buddies but where I’d never been.
Why Troy, NC?
Uwharrie isn’t exactly brimming with five-star resorts. And while Johnnie’s usual Jeep crew happily crashes on 20-year-old mattresses, he knew “we’d” (read: me) need something a touch nicer. We found a charming farmhouse on Airbnb—just the right level of “country cozy” for the trip.
The house manual set the tone immediately:
“The neighbor dogs might come greet you from next door. They’re very sweet so don’t be startled. The black one is named Blue and the brown one is Betty…”
That sealed the deal.
Our Uwharrie Highlights
Chiquita time. Because no read trip is complete without our favorite travel buddy. This is also one of the many reasons our vacation rental properties will always be pet friendly!
NC Zoo day-date. Better than we remembered from our school trips—don’t miss the elephants.
Fancy dinner in. We uncorked a bottle of Krug—another wedding gift, this one from Garrett and Shannon Miller—and cooked a meal worthy of the occasion. (Thanks, y’all!)
A Quick Escape, Big Memories
Two nights, just an hour from home, and somehow it felt like a world away from Raleigh responsibilities.
To Christopher and Sally Jane: thank you for gifting us the nudge to explore Uwharrie together. And to everyone who “ignored” our no-gifts request—we get it now. Sometimes the best gifts really are the memories we wouldn’t have made otherwise.
Of the many things Johnnie Nobling and I have ventured into together this year, one of the things I’m most proud of is putting our name a piece of dirt together with a water view. 🏝🏖🌊😎 (As many of y’all know, Morehead City, Atlantic Beach, and Beaufort are our relaxing getaway destinations from Raleighwood.)
August 22-September 1, 2022, we have a little window where it’s not currently rented to others enjoying their own getaway, so if any of you would like to head to the coast for a few days at a special friends and family rate, send me a message before booking and let’s get you on the calendar at Bay Breeze Retreat!
PS: The internet is blazing fast (faster than in Raleigh, actually), so we’ve particularly set this place up as a great work from home spot… don’t be afraid to book a few weekdays!
Johnnie Bud and I hit the road Saturday morning for ~noon arrival to Van Gogh Exhibit Charlotte: The Immersive Experience and when I write “road” I Highway 64 and not I-40 because when you have the option to cruise the more comfortable and relaxed of westward bound routes, you should always choose it.
As a professional in the events space, I could not have been more pleased with the Van Gogh experience. From pre-arrival messaging (which answered all of the FAQs and more) to parking to staffing to photo ops to the exit, this Charlotte-based crew had it nailed. We enjoyed the preview of the history of the space (who knew that Charlotte was once home to a Ford Motor Company assembly plant that later become a site for missile development?!), the friendly bar service (what’s an immersive art exhibit without wine?), and the 90,000,000 pixels that span a 40-minute, 360-degree visual arts experience that is Van Gogh with a modern twist.
We purchased two basic tickets, $50 each, that allowed timed entry within a 20-minut window—a nice accommodation for social distancing measures that I hope will stay around as a new mainstay for event ticketing and guest flow. While it was by no means a low-cost art experience, the site itself clearly required a massive investment in upfit for the event and the abundance of well-trained, friendly staff were much appreciated. We lucked out in that our pre-show stroll landed us walking into the video portion of the day right during the closing credits so we grabbed two open chairs together and moments later, were experiencing the show in its full glory.
After departing the exhibit, we headed to Uptown Charlotte and checked in to our favorite boutique hotel in the city: The Dunhill Hotel. (Full Disclosure: The Dunhill is on our client roster at RMG+REG. I’d still stay here even if it wasn’t!)
About The Dunhill: “The Dunhill Hotel, located in Uptown Charlotte, is the city’s only historic and boutique hotel. Our location puts you within walking distance of art galleries, museums, the full spectrum of dining experiences, nightlife, shopping, and much more. Experience sophisticated, full-service accommodations enhanced by genuine Southern hospitality, an historic setting, and ideal location.”
Timing was really on our side this weekend, netting us an early check in to drop our stuff, grab an Uber, and head out to progressively eat and drink our way back to the hotel later in the evening. Our next destination: The Crunkleton! A Chapel Hill whiskey bar favorite of ours, Gary Crunkleton opened his Charlotte outpost just a year a ago with one major difference… a full restaurant attached. Johnnie and I enjoyed a few proper mid-day cocktails, Beignets, and Avocado Toast (for one, JB isn’t quite on that veg level yet) because once again, we lucked into two seats at the bar just before the kitchen was closing for a mid-day break. Named among Garden & Gun’s “40 Best Southern Bars”, get yourself to Chapel Hill or Charlotte for a sip or two and you’ll see why for yourself!
While waiting for our next Uber to arrive, we stuck our head into Heroes Aren’t Hard to Find… a real deal comic book shop. We weren’t treated to any surprise visits by the cast of The Big Bang Theory but it is still so cool to find unique, independent retailers like this alive and well.
Back in the Uber, we were Charlotte Beer Garden bound for a round then walked to Stir—two more concepts with Triangle-based variations. (It’s nice to be able to support our friends in the hospitality industry when we’re out and about, no matter where we roam. But if you are looking for decidedly Charlotte destinations, these are not for you.) Our final outpost of the evening prior to our return to The Dunhill was for a round of drinks at The Ritz-Carlton Charlotte, where Johnnie was hoping to catch one of his favorite local bartenders. (Said bartender didn’t happen to be on-shift during our visit, the first and only missed timing of our whole weekend adventure!)
Our return to the hotel was an opportunity to share another round of drinks at The Dunhill’s lobby bar which offers dinner service from The Asbury. We shared a few small plates and were even able to talk to brief guests stopping in on their Haunted Charlotte walking tour! The hotel originally opened in 1929 so it has its fair share of ghost stories but I’ll let you save those for your next visit rather than spoiling the surprises for you. ?
Thanks to a great night’s sleep, we were up and at ’em in time for brunch at The Asbury. If you dine here and don’t give yourself the chance to take home leftovers, you’re missing out. The Southern fare lives up to its reputation and the portions are generous. Located next door to Discovery Place, we had no agenda for Sunday so we grabbed two tickets so we could explore the current Apollo exhibit and got lost in even more immersion for the better part of two hours. (I left my phone charging in the car, so alas, no pics here.)
Our drive back to Raleighwood was a windows down, music cranked up kind of perfect. We remembered seeing a scenic overlook stop near Uwharrie Forest and paused for just a bit to enjoy the sunshine and snap a pic. (That’s one of our goals this year—to better document our best days. ? We didn’t do too bad this weekend!)
About halfway through our ride home we were ready for a late lunch. Knowing Asheboro was about 15 minutes ahead, Johnnie hopped on Yelp and found an “Open Now” listing for The Flying Pig Food and Spirits where we sat on a covered patio and enjoyed a casual Sunday late lunch. We strolled around Downtown Asheboro which has lots of new live and businesses coming soon, a place that we’ve earmarked for another overnight visit soon… perhaps after a visit to the Zoo!
A glass of wine on the porch at Lumina Wine & Beer capped off our weekend adventure and soon after, we were back at home in Raleighwood, relaxing and ready to take on this week.
I hope this travel guide inspires you to hit the road in NC this fall and enjoy exploring like a local… cheers, y’all!
The Banks Grill in Morehead City, NC, is a hidden breakfast and lunch gem that we stumbled upon thanks to Yelp.
It’s “Soon-to-be-Famous” Jumbo Cinnamon Roll, covered in ooey, gooey pecan praline sauce is a generous sweet starter that is easily shared by two or more diners and priced less than $4.00.
When it arrived at our table I imagined it being too rich for the two of us to finish, taking half home or later, but it was so light that we devoured it in mere minutes.
Tucked away in the Lowes Foods shopping center on Highway 70 coming into MHC, stop in for breakfast and be sure to order this tasty treat that deserves every bit of fame it’s destined for… Be prepared to wait a few minutes on weekend mornings, though. There’s ample outside seating to enjoy the wait! ?
Opening times vary between 7-7:30 a.m., closing at 2 p.m., Wendesday through Monday. Closed Tuesdays.
Today’s breakfast/lunch (truly brunch without the boozy drinks) combo I whipped up in my small but mighty kitchen here in Antibes inspired this post. I used leftover bread from last night’s dinner as the base; layered in leftover sauteed Brussels sprouts, a few slices of mozzarella cheese, and frozen spinach; and topped with four eggs scrambled with about a half cup of water and voila — I have brunchy goodness that’ll be easily re-heated for the next several days and not an ounce of waste in sight.
That’s got to be one of the best habits I’ve picked up living here in the South of France: just how little food I’m throwing away on a regular basis. Back in the States, it’s pretty normal for us to hit the grocery store about every week to 10 days, spend $100+ with the best of intentions of cooking a ton of meals at home, and then inevitable, every two weeks or so… I’m cleaning out the refrigerator and throwing a solid chunk of that $100 into a trash bag.
Here in Antibes, the refrigerator in my apartment is the size of most dorm room units, and I’m also only cooking for one. I also have the better part of six+ grocery stores and markets within walking distance and a farmers market two blocks from home that’s open every day from 6:00 a.m. until 1 p.m. So I’m buying fresh items, every two or three days, and making the most of them. I’ve thrown away so little while I’m here and hope this is a habit I can stick with when I return home in May. The only complication is that it might mean more occasional trips to the grocery store, which is not nearly convenient at home as it has been here.
Speaking of the grocery shopping aspect: I do a pretty solid job of utilizing both Lowes Foods and Harris Teeter’s online ordering services, though… so I think I can easily maximize the return on the $4.99 convenience fee charged AND save the time of having to actually shop in the store, too. I’v also been stalking the inventory of RelayFoods.com and am constantly drooling over their selection, so I see a lot more of that in my future, too. I think the saved cost of not throwing away so much of our inventory week after week will well make up for any additional costs in my convenience shopping ways.
Raleigh, be warned. As much as I miss you, a girl could really get used to waking up near the water. The views on my last few days of runs and walks in Antibes have been too good not to share. These pictures are from the beachfront in Antibes, Fort Carre, and Port Vauban.
I’ve been in the south France for nearly a month and I’ll be here off and on through the end of April finishing my dual master’s degree in Global Luxury Management. You’d think while I’ve been here that I would have had more than my fair share of wine already, right? Wrong. In fact, I’ve enjoyed less wine here than I did at any time in the states.
So, what gives? There are some cultural differences in the retailing of wine here, especially in restaurants and bars, but the real reason I’ve consumed so much less wine is the very sub-par selection of wines by the glass at restaurants and bars. I really had hoped before venturing here that I would be outside of my United States comfort zone of wines available and trying a greater variety of European wines that haven’t made their way stateside, but when you’re out and about here, the by-the-glass selections are as follows: “red”, “rose”, and “white”. No kidding! You’re lucky if the menu includes any details about the by-the-glass varietal or the geographic source.
Perhaps this recent experience is why this article struck me so strongly today: Millennials dragging wine sales down – and the prudent included advice:
I think it’s a great read for restaurant, nightlife, and hospitality operators everywhere – regardless of geographic location.
Don’t get me wrong – the wine selection at retail points of sale and by the bottle in restaurants are pretty wide and adventurous here in France (and aggressively priced since most are domestic products) – but I rarely desire an entire bottle in one seating and when I want just a glass, I don’t want a mediocre glass of “house wine” that was selected for a profit margin rather than to complement menu offerings.
Ending on a positive note: the retail store wine scene is in much better shape offering a really nice selection with incredibly high-quality and great tasting wines beginning at 8 euros (about $9 USD) a bottle, so I’ve had fun with that! I mean – a girl’s still got to have her wine, right? (Especially when there is no craft cocktail culture here… but more on that later.)
I knew Monaco was one of the places Johnnie Bud was most looking forward to while visiting Europe, so we had to get a visit in before he had to return to North Carolina… even if that meant visiting on a Monday. We were a little underwhelmed at the lack of glitz and glamour… and any real activity at all… but maybe that can be attributed to visiting on a Monday afternoon and evening in January (the off-season).
Regardless of the lack of things to do, we took in some spectacular views, drooled over more impressive yachts, checked out a casino (SO very different than Vegas: slots and tables in different buildings, had to pay to get in, no free drinks, and less than 20 people in the casino playing at tables), strolled through the luxury shopping area, and hopped on the train back to Antibes with some great memories and pictures in tow. PS: It wasn’t all a total bust! While in the casino, I hit with $5 on 29… my birthday day. Show me the money!
A week ago Sunday, Johnnie Bud and I headed to Cannes with GLM classmates Daniel, Sarah, and Stephanie. Taking the SNCF train for $12 round-trip, it was about a 30 minute ride (with stops included) and we couldn’t have asked for better weather.
It was fairly quiet in Cannes on the day we went, missing the film festival the area is known for that takes place in May, but we walked from the busy town streets down to the beautiful waterfront and enjoyed a super fun lunch at restaurant called o’key beach that is literally situated on the sandy beach and mostly porch seating.
Word to the wise: there’s nothing speedy about dining in France. (Or really anything speedy, except bus and train service, in the south of France.) Luckily, we were day tripping and enjoying good food and drinks with great company – with absolutely no rush needed. Many service staffers speak a good deal of English, so we haven’t had any challenges dining out… but they certainly appreciate and it usually entertains them when you try to speak French and order off the menu as its written. Also to note, tax and gratuity is included in menu prices and when you try to tip your bartender extra for speedy service, they look at you funny.
I would love to see this place during the film festival, but I’ll be back in Raleigh by then. Put it on my bucket list to return soon, though! 2017, perhaps?
Can I take just a second to brag on my wonderful manfriend who accompanied me over the pond for the first week to help me get adjusted to life here in Europe – and to enjoy a mini-vacation, too?
While I was joining 41 other NC State GLM students here in the south of France, I elected to rent a private apartment for myself, so it was nice not to feel incredibly alone and have Johnnie here while the rest of my classmates were all arriving on different dates and getting settled themselves. Luckily, we found out quickly that many of my GLM gang are all staying in apartments super close to my place, which makes it easy to get together for brunch, shopping, bar hopping, day trips, sight seeing and the like.
Back to the topic of this post, Johnnie Bud and I spent our first two days here just sight-seeing in Antibes – where I live and will be spending the most of my time. This place is stunning and approachable at the same time. Dripping in old world charm on the exterior, everything is visually beautiful but has all of the comforts of home easily available – great wifi in my apartment, lots of shopping and dining, and a store called Monoprix that is basically Euro Target… it’s short walk from my apartment and every time I walk in, I spend at least $75 on all the random things one collects at a wander through Target.
We’ve also found lots of great food, but Antibes really feels like a vacation destination in that a lot of smaller businesses are currently closed for an entire month for holiday and vegetarian menus aren’t the most widely available. However, there are several markets, including an open air farmer’s market within steps of my apartment, so I’m doing lots of cooking now that I’m settled and shopping several times a week for fresh food rather than a weekly stock-up trip like at home. (That’s also partly due to the fact that most apartments here have refrigerators that are a fraction of the size of one back home.)
My street in Antibes!
Other side of my street in Antibes
Coke is the soft drink champion here and served with lemon
First meal in Antibes – pasta dishes for me and Johnnie Bud at Cafe des Chineurs
Port Vauban in Antibes
Dinner at Ancre de Chine – that is a carrot flower!
Pizza lunch at Le Duplex
Checking in for our Skema tour – NC State GLM present and accounted for in Sophia Antipolis!
Cool use of educational technology to welcome master’s students to Skema’s programs in Raleigh, Paris, Sophia, and even Suzhou, China!
Cool use of educational technology to welcome master’s students to Skema’s programs in Raleigh, Paris, Sophia, and even Suzhou, China!
Cool use of educational technology to welcome master’s students to Skema’s programs in Raleigh, Paris, Sophia, and even Suzhou, China!
First dinner at “home” in Antibes with Johnnie Bud
Another beautiful street in Antibes
Waterfront Antibes!
Waterfront selfie in Antibes
Rocky beaches in Antibes
Love the building exterior and shutters
Villas along the coastline
Port Vauban at dusk
Port Vauban at dusk
Port Vauban at dusk
Port Vauban at dusk
Port Vauban at dusk
Port Vauban at dusk
Uplighting in France’s national colors
Fantastic dinner at Le Jardin – can’t wait to go back when it’s warmer and enjoy the expansive back patio. Truffle ravioli for the win!
Add a little shiplap and this place is Joanna Gaines perfection! at Le Jardin
We had to laugh at this sign. No kids? No walking with kids? Who knows…
Up Next: Pics from Sunday Funday in Cannes and a Monday in Monaco/Monte Carlo!
