Kathiey's World

Travel North Carolina Our Visit to the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher in Kure Beach NC Erica and her babies Jane are 16 months old, Riley is 3 months old, and I took a two-day trip to the coast.  One place we decided to visit was the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher. Here is a description on their site... "Make connections with the natural world at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher. Feel the smooth skin of a gliding stingray. Spot eels and sharks swimming in the depths. Look an albino alligator in the eye. Wonder at baby sea turtles. Delight in a family of otters playing in a waterfall. See why visitors vote the Aquarium a top regional and national attraction each year".   The Otter enclosure is very nice.  Here is what they say about it...... "Meet a fascinating furry family of Asian small-clawed otters at home in a new, expansive habitat in the Aquarium's conservatory. These curious creatures explore their surroundings, swim in their pool...

 I am always looking for fun things to do in the area.  I thought I would take it a bit further and see what events are occurring in North Carolina in a specific month.  Let's take a look a just a few things happening in October in NC that you may enjoy. I live in the Raleigh/Durham area, so I decided to look for interesting events to attend in October that are easily within driving distance.  I would love to attend them all! Things to do in October in the Triangle Area The Links to Each Event... (Be sure and verify event times and locations before attending.   You may need a ticket depending on the event) Oktoberfest at Lafayette Village NC State Fair October 13-23 in Raleigh Corn Maze at Phillips Farm in Cary NC.  NC Wine Festival in Cary NC Oct 15 Pumpkin Flotilla in Cary Oct 28 A Few Things to do In NC that are not so local to the Triangle Area. Carolina Balloon Fest October 14-16 in Statesville Yadkin Valley Grape Festival Oct 15 in Yadkinville Boo at ...

 I have had a lot of fun in Apex, NC.  I live very close to Apex, so I can visit often.  If I were traveling to Apex and had kids, what are a few things we could do? I have two sets of grandkids.  Jane and Riley are two and one, and Caleb and Maggie are 6 and 11.  I was thinking, if I were on vacation and I had a day to spend with the kids in Apex, what would I do? A Day With Jane And Riley in Apex NC Let's start with the two little ones.  The highlights for the girls are food and fun, so with that in mind, this would be my plan.   We would start the day with a nice breakfast at First Watch in Apex .  They have a very nice breakfast menu for kids and adults.  This restaurant is not far from downtown Apex.  It is a chain, and I have been several times and I really like the food. Next, we would hit one of the area parks and playgrounds. Kelly Road Park  is the one that looked the most interesting to me.  After we had expended all...

I started a new series Travel Tuesday .  The goal is to share a post on Tuesday about Travel.  It may be local travel, far away travel or dream travel.  I thought I would start with some local travel.  We are headed to Apex, NC.  Truthfully I will be taking several day trips to explore the because it is a short drive to this lovely town.  I have lived in North Carolina for over 30 years.  30 years!  How can that even be possible?  Well, it is. The first time I visited Apex, I fell in love with this small town.  I was and probably still am a member of the Methodist Church in Apex, and I used to sing on their praise team.  I should probably go back and visit since I no longer am involved in a local church. For my Apex posts, I want to focus on a few things to share with you just in case you want to stop by.  I want to visit a few shops, restaurants, wine-related venues, a park, and anything else I may discover on my journey. ...

 Several years ago, before the Covid Pandemic, I had a strong desire to visit an apple orchard.  Living in the triangle area of NC, I had heard of wonderful orchards in the mountains of NC, but I was not aware of any orchards near me.  I did some research and found an orchard about an hour from me in Ramseur, NC.  I gathered up Caleb and Maggie, and we went on a field trip to Millstone Creek Orchard. Our first visit in 2019  was just before Covid hit, and we had a blast.  There was a playground area for the kids, a shop with apple-related food and goodies, and a hayride that took us out to see the vineyards where we could pick our own apples. I remember buying some apple cider and some apple cider donuts.  They were both delicious. Caleb was so excited about the donuts; they were fresh from the oven and seemed to melt in your mouth.   Last week Maggie, Caleb, and I were off to visit the zoo.  I knew we would pass by Millstone Creek Orchards,...