North Carolina Travel Highlights
Life has gotten extremely busy. Quite frankly, I’ve neglected the blog more than I would like to. But it is time for me to be more intentional with my writing. I have a lot on my mind and a lot to share. It would be better to just let it all out rather than keeping my thoughts and experiences tucked into the crevices of my ever-so-puzzling mind. So, here we are. Another story of Emily jetting off to a new place. This time, it’s the south.
I’ve never been to North Carolina. But I have heard many stories about it. When I studied in Singapore, I met a handful of folks who studied at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. We would often debate which coast of the United States was superior. Though the answer is obviously the west *cough cough*, I was intrigued by their passion and love for the state that they called home. And as time went on, I could hear the Carolinas calling my name. So, I packed up my bags and decided to figure out why this southern state was so beloved by many.
It turns out that my trip to North Carolina only confirmed the belief. It has a lot to offer. Similar to Georgia, I was unexpectedly swept off my feet by the lush greenery, friendly community, and charming architecture. It was a pleasant surprise. Though my trip was primarily centered in the Triangle Area for professional reasons, I really enjoyed seeing all that this beautiful state had to offer. Here are my North Carolina Travel Highlights:
1. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
UNC Chapel Hill is known for innovative teaching, research, and basketball. It’s the first public university in the country AND the alma mater of the one and only Michael Jordan. I’m not a big basketball fan, but it is super cool to visit a university that has such a strong culture around athletics. It’s a fun college town, a culture and environment that wasn’t very present at UC Irvine. I visited the Gillings School of Public Health building, and it’s breathtaking. The glass atrium is beautiful, and I loved how this modern building fit into the old architecture at the campus. Gillings is impressive for a multitude of reasons. It boasts high rankings: #1 in NIH funding for public health, #2 public health school, and #3 in healthcare management and policy. The faculty and staff were extremely welcoming and warm. I was a big fan of the school and the opportunities that they had to offer.
2. RISE Biscuits
My boss is a huge fan of biscuits, a biscuit connoisseur if you will. When I was preparing for my trip, she told me that I had to stop by RISE Biscuits to get myself some goodies. I am glad that I listened to her recommendation. RISE Biscuits lived up to the hype. I got their righteous chicken biscuit sandwich with a cheddar cheese biscuit. In my opinion, getting the cheddar cheese biscuit was worth it. The small pockets of melty cheese in the warm biscuit brought so much comfort to my stomach. The South knows how to make good comfort food.
3. Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral
Would this even be an inner eminence travel highlight without one Catholic landmark? Our pals took us to the Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral, and it was drop dead gorgeous. The high ceilings, marble altar, and life-size saint statues were a marvel to look at. I was in so much awe. When I visited this cathedral, it was technically “closed.” But the Lord never fails to welcome me with open arms, especially in a place of worship. We met a construction worker who graciously snuck us into the Cathedral to take a peek. I got a private tour of one of the biggest cathedrals in the country. Isn’t that such a beautiful God moment? I certainly think so.
4. North Carolina Museum of Art
Our friends took us to a free art museum, and I had a blast. I am not a museum-going person, but I do appreciate good art. Lately, I feel like the art in museums have definitely declined. I have very little respect for modern artists. I think their work lacks character, depth, talent, and skill. This museum had a mixed bag of artwork — African, European, and Modern Art. It was pretty enjoyable to stroll around and take a gander at everything they displayed. We spent about a good hour or two at the museum. My pals and I pretended to imitate the art. I think we did a pretty good job. Don’t ya think?
5. Boulted Bread
In Raleigh, Mayu took us to her favorite bakery — Boulted Bread. Though I was fasting from sweets because of lent, it was hard to resist purchasing a chocolate croissant. The flaky buttery layers of my chocolate croissant melted into my mouth. It was surely love at first bite. Their pastries definitely exceeded my expectations. So, if you’re looking for a small business to support and a hidden Raleigh gem, make a quick stop to boulted bread for the best pastries in town.
Special thanks to Mayu and Ethan for being great North Carolina tour guides. They were critical to the success of this trip, and I would not have had such a fun experience without their kindness and generosity. Make sure to subscribe to my mailing list for more of my travel highlights! You can find more life-related posts here. Stay tuned for more updates on my adventures.
Emily
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