It was all planned. By planning, they had decided only on Wednesday that they were going. He would pick her up at noon and they would start their journey to Raleigh. This was their first time going away together and both were excited about the prospect of being away, not working and only for each other. They had taken a day trip here and there but his work prevented them from getting away for a whole weekend. They were confident that this weekend would be very special.
They were going to see the Lion King on stage Saturday and then visit the Monet Exhibit on Sunday. They were sure it would be a fun-filled weekend with some shopping, site-seeing, good food and lots of time together. As planned, he was sitting out front of the high school right at noon. She had arranged for a ride to school that morning with a fellow staff member so she wouldn’t have to leave her car at the school over the weekend. He couldn’t believe he was actually getting away for a weekend with her. His boss could barely function without him and always made him feel guilty even when he took one day off a week.
He was looking at his map when she walked out the door. She was smiling. Neither one could believe they were actually getting away together for a weekend. Pulling away from the high school, they both let out a big sigh knowing that their weekend together was going to be a reality. Ever the navigator, she grabbed the map and pointed him in the right direction. Arriving late afternoon, they decided on a hotel, checked in and promptly went out in search of a great place to eat.
Driving into the downtown Raleigh area, they quickly found parking and began their downtown walk. Moments later they came upon a little restaurant called Caffe Luna on East Hargett Street featuring Italian cuisine. Dinner was wonderful; the drinks were great and the service exceedingly friendly. Timing was everything though as it was nice and quiet when they arrived and as they were leaving the Friday Night crowd starting coming in. Their server pointed them in the right direction for some shopping and they ended up at the Crabtree Valley Mall.
Visits to nearly every other store with featured stops at The Apple Store, The North Face, Macy’s, Brookstone, The Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware and of course no trip would be complete without a brief visit to Chico’s. Crabtree Mall was a nice shopping experience with a variety of stores to fit every need. The Restoration Hardware store saw a purchase of a Circus Puppet Show for his daughter.
She awoke Saturday morning to the aroma of Dunkin Donut coffee as he had stopped next door from the hotel to pick up her usual two cups. The first item on Saturday morning’s agenda was a trip to the Farmer’s Market. It was a great highlight of the trip browsing through all the produce and products available. Breakfast came next right across from the Farmer’s Market at the State Farmers Market Restaurant. After breakfast, the remainder of the day was sightseeing and shopping throughout Raleigh returning to the hotel to dress for that evening’s performance of The Lion King.
The Lion King was everything they had hoped for. Incredible costumes, wonderful music and just a great story. The following morning it was off to the Monet Exhibit at the North Carolina Museum of Art. As they drove up to the entrance, they saw the sign indicating “Sold Out”. In disbelief, they continued on in hopes that maybe they would be able to purchase tickets from a scalper. Climbing out of the car, she engaged in conversation with the folks who had just pulled in next to them.
Sharing their disbelief that tickets were sold out, the couple offered them their two tickets as they had seen the Exhibit several times and were just coming to let their two middle-school aged children see the Exhibit. The couple asked if they minded escorting their children through the Exhibit. Who trusts total strangers to do such a thing? Of course, they said absolutely. The couple gave them their two tickets without charge and only asked that they monitor their two children. It was the last showing of the Exhibit and they had no idea that tickets would not be available.
To this day, they are still blown away by the incredible gesture these two wonderful made on their behalf. Their children were exceedingly well-behaved and interesting. The Exhibit was exhilarating and a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
It was a wonderful weekend for the two of them. They made memories that they continue to share time and time again. They highly recommend Raleigh as a great little city with much to offer.
(The above story was a combination of two separate but great trips to Raleigh, North Carolina for this couple.)
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