August 2013
This year's summer vacation was a trip to North Carolina to visit several cousins on my dad's side of the family. We visited with one of the Toretta cousins (see here for our last visit with Ed and his wife, Barbara, in Florida) in the Raleigh-Durham area followed by several Gatti cousins and a family friend around Pinehurst. Besides spending time with family, we managed to find a few touristy things (that thankfully didn't involve golf) to do before we headed north.

The MontClair Family Restaurant was a random Yelp find that was well worth the stop

Entering North Carolina

Sarah P. Duke Gardens at the Duke University campus

Entering Sarah P. Duke Gardens at the Duke University campus

Sarah P. Duke Gardens at the Duke University campus

Sarah P. Duke Gardens at the Duke University campus

Sarah P. Duke Gardens at the Duke University campus

Bridge at Sarah P. Duke Gardens at the Duke University campus

Sarah P. Duke Gardens at the Duke University campus

Terrace at Sarah P. Duke Gardens at the Duke University campus

Koi pond at Sarah P. Duke Gardens at the Duke University campus

Koi pond at Sarah P. Duke Gardens at the Duke University campus

Asian bridge at Sarah P. Duke Gardens at the Duke University campus

Sarah P. Duke Gardens at the Duke University campus

This crane and goose were nice enough to stop by for a photo

Goose swims by the Asian garden

I have no idea what type of bird this is

This was as close as we got to the Duke University Chapel because it was unfortunately tied up with a wedding

These butterflies were everywhere in North Carolina

Sarah P. Duke Gardens at the Duke University campus

Durham Bulls Athletic Park

Nothing goes better with real North Carolina barbecue than fried pickles

The view from my cousin Rudy's deck

My cousins Ray and Rudy with my mother and me

My cousins Ray, Josie and Rudy with my mother

Ready to go for a tour of my cousin Lynn's farm

A group of deer wandering around my cousin Lynn's farm

My cousin Lynn's dog working to keep up with the golf cart

If it wasn't for a zoom lens I would not have taken this photo

The Magnolia Inn in downtown Pinehurst

Downtown Pinehurst

The Theatre Building in downtown Pinehurst now contains stores

The Theatre Building in downtown Pinehurst now contains stores

The Harvard Building in downtown Pinehurst

You can't go very far in Pinehurst without finding some golf related item

The Holly Inn is part of the Pinehurst Golf Resort

The Holly Inn is part of the Pinehurst Golf Resort

These butterflies were everywhere in North Carolina

The Village Chapel in downtown Pinehurst

The Village Chapel in downtown Pinehurst

Pinehurst Welcome Center

This squirrel is not like any we have running around at home

This squirrel is not like any we have running around at home

When in a golf obsessed town, it seems only right to go to a Scottish pub and have some Scottish food

Pinehurst Department Store

Mistletoe Cottage in downtown Pinehurst