Pine Knoll Shores Aquarium

Sunday turned out to be a thoroughly rainy day, but we made the most of it. The morning started with just a light drizzle, so I took Amaroq for an early beach walk. We strolled several miles in both directions, reaching the piers and lingering a bit past sunset.

The overcast skies kept things quiet, with not much wildlife or activity to spot, but the fresh air and steady pace felt refreshing.

After our long walk, we headed back and enjoyed a hearty breakfast at Banks Grill. By then the rain had picked up, so we decided on the perfect indoor alternative: the NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, an ideal rainy-day outing.

The aquarium beautifully traces North Carolina's aquatic journey from mountains to sea.

We began in the mountain region, passing an impressive artificial waterfall and exhibits featuring pickerel, bass, and other freshwater fish.

Moving into the Piedmont section, we spotted two adorable screech owls (not aquatic, but charming nonetheless).

Although the otters were napping, the turtles were active.

I really liked the albino loggerhead sea turtle and a fascinating snapping turtle.

Harper was captivated by the colorful array of fish and marine life, particularly the mesmerizing jellyfish displays.

The highlight was the massive Living Shipwreck tank—a 306,000-gallon ocean habitat teeming with sharks, rays, sea turtles, and schools of vibrant fish.

Our tour finished up through the coastal areas.

After exploring the main galleries, Harper spent some joyful time in the Discovery Bay play area, crawling through tunnels and interacting with hands-on exhibits.

When the rain eased momentarily, I slipped out for a quick stroll along the Alice Hoffman Trail in the adjacent Theodore Roosevelt State Natural Area.

This easy half-mile loop winds through marshy ecosystems, complete with a floating bridge near the end.

I was rewarded with sightings of a graceful great egret wading in the shallows and a small flock of white ibises farther along - peaceful moments amid the drizzle.

Later, while Harper napped, Amaroq and I popped over to Nacho Brewing in Morehead City.

Despite the persistent rain, dogs were welcome inside. Amaroq quickly made friends with the bartender's dog, charmed everyone with his talkative personality (earning plenty of treats and laughs), and kept me company while I enjoyed a Fruit Isn't Real beer. By evening, we returned to pack up and prepare for checkout the next morning. A full, cozy day despite the weather!

Croatan Coast Hikes

On Saturday, we packed up Harper and Amaroq for a delightful beach weekend getaway along the North Carolina coast. Our first stop was the Cedar Point Recreation Area in Croatan National Forest, where we explored the stroller-friendly Tideland Trail. The boardwalks wound gracefully through a serene salt marsh, offering stunning views of the tidal flats and coastal grasses.

About halfway along the main loop, a magnificent Great Egret stood poised in the shallow water, its reflection mirroring perfectly below.

As we paused to capture the moment, a juvenile white ibis gracefully landed nearby, adding to the magic.

A short spur trail led us out to the edge of the White Oak River, where clusters of oyster reefs peeked above the surface.

Amaroq struck a classic pose for a quick photo before we completed the loop.

A few miles farther down the road, we pulled into Patsy Pond Nature Trail for another easy, scenic stroll.

Harper took the lead on this one, happily trekking along the sandy paths before settling in to play in the soft sand.

While she enjoyed her little beach break, Amaroq and I continued circling the pond on Blue Trail, soaking in the peaceful longleaf pine flatwoods and glimpses of the water, which was really low.

Once she was ready to move on, we popped her back into the stroller and wandered farther along the trails before heading back to the car.

By then, appetites were calling, so we headed to Morehead City for a delicious Mexican lunch at Costa Bonita, fresh, flavorful, and just what we needed. Feeling recharged, we crossed the bridge to Atlantic Beach. It was still a bit early to check in, so we parked near the circle and strolled east along the shoreline.

We passed under the pier and kept going, nearly reaching the distant silhouette of Fort Macon before turning back.

By the time we returned, check-in time had arrived at the Island Inn. After settling in, we headed right back to the beach to catch a breathtaking sunset.

Knowing rain was forecast for the next day, we wanted to savor every golden moment.

As the sky painted itself in vibrant hues, we lingered until the light faded, then returned to the hotel for a cozy evening.

A perfect day of nature, family, and coastal beauty!

High Point Troll

On Friday, we drove to High Point to track down our final troll in North Carolina. The troll, affectionately named Little Sally, stood in the somewhat worn downtown area. We easily found public parking, and a short walk brought us right to her for a few quick photos.

From there, it was just a short drive to the Piedmont Environmental Center. We settled Harper into her stroller and set off along the Bicentennial Greenway, a pleasant paved trail.

The only challenge was a set of stairs along the way, which required some careful maneuvering with the stroller. Beyond that, the path opened up to lovely views of Koonce City Lake, where a group of double-crested cormorants perched dramatically on a branch jutting out of the water.

The greenway continued seamlessly into Gibson Park.

Shortly, a boardwalk with led to an overlook of the wetlands at the head of the lake.

A bit farther on, we paused to admire the historic Deep River Cabin and its nearby old well.

Heading north, the trail ducked under US-70 and followed the winding East Fork Deep River.

We found a peaceful spot along the riverbank for a rest, our turnaround point.

On the return, we detoured onto the Long Rifle Trail, which wound past a pair of scenic twin ponds.

The trail led through the woods before connecting to the greenway.

Back in the Piedmont Environmental Center, we took another short side trip along the Deep River Trail before rejoining the greenway a final time.

Climbing the stairs with the stroller was trickier on the way up, but the built-in bike groove made it manageable. From there, it was an easy stroll of less than a mile back to the car.

To cap off the day, we stopped at Boulder's Bar just up the road for a relaxed early dinner.

Carl Sandburg Hike

On Sunday, we checked out of our hotel, enjoyed a relaxed breakfast, and drove to the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site in Flat Rock before heading home.

We parked at the hiker lot and followed the gravel road toward Connemara Farm, passing several historic farm buildings along the way.

We soon reached the beautiful main house, where the views from the porch were stunning, though the house itself wasn't open yet.

Instead, we set out on the Memminger Trail, a mostly level loop that winds around Little Glassy Mountain.

About halfway through, we branched off onto the Glassy Mountain Trail (also known as Big Glassy).

The path climbed steadily but pleasantly to the summit of Big Glassy Mountain at 2,783 feet. The rock outcropping near the top offered fantastic panoramic views of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains and beyond.

We looped back down, completing the trail near the charming goat pastures.

The farm is home to descendants of the prize-winning dairy goats raised by Sandburg's wife.

By then, the house was open, so we stopped by the visitor center for a passport stamp and let Harper pick out some fun finger puppets.

Before leaving, we took a quick detour on the short Little Glassy Mountain Trail, though it didn't offer any notable views.

The path led us back to the gravel road, and we returned to our car.

On the drive home, we exited the highway near Charlotte Airport and made a short stop at the intersection of Crescent River Road and River District Drive. There, we visited Big Pete with the Big Feet, one of Danish artist Thomas Dambo's impressive recycled-wood trolls.

The massive sculpture was incredibly cool, but the area was quite crowded, so we didn't linger.

Finally, we stopped in Mebane for a delicious dinner at Bright Penny Brewing, wrapping up a perfect day of history, hiking, and whimsical art.