So I’m back in North Carolina. A state that I called home for three years and have wonderful memories of. It’s also the state where I began writing my lists of “100 Ideas to Do in [Year].”
I have continued to make these lists each year for thirteen years now. It’s something I love to do each year either right before or right after Christmas. I curl up with a blanket, my notebook, and a cup of tea or maybe a glass of wine. I let my heart and imagination run free and begin my list of all the things I would like to do or accomplish in the new year. They may be practical or completely wild ideas.
After New Year rolls around, I set out with my fresh list. It’s like a mini bucket list. And yes, I also have my master bucket list. I began it about twenty years ago.
I’ve always loved adventures and travel, but I had a very full and busy life, so I hadn’t done as much of it as I would have liked to. When I accepted a job teaching for the Department of Defense and moved to North Carolina, I really began to explore.
North Carolina is actually one of my favorite states. It has my favorite U.S. beaches, and you can go from beach to mountains in just a few hours. You can even drive to another state in just a couple of hours depending on where you’re starting from. A little different from Texas, where you can literally drive all day and still be in Texas.
I also have great memories from my time there. It’s where shrimp and grits became one of my favorite meals. It’s where I first went kayaking and tried stand-up paddleboarding (I wasn’t too successful with that one). It’s also where I began to challenge my fear of heights with ziplining, walking on a mile-high pedestrian bridge, and taking trips over some scary bridges. I made new friends, took a ballroom dance class, volunteered with the sea turtle rescue, watched baby sea turtles hatch and head out to sea, and learned to live alone.
Now, ten years, a few countries, and a lot of adventures later, I am back.
I am a different person now. I am a grandmother. Retired. A world traveler. I am stronger and more confident.
I’m mainly here to spend time with my daughter and her family, but since I love to travel and I love North Carolina, I’ll be out visiting some of my favorite places and probably some new ones, too.
My first outing after spending time with Amy was to Jacksonville, where I used to live and work. My first stop was Emerald Isle, where I put my feet in the sand on one of my very favorite beaches. I love the beautiful beaches scattered with shells, the tall grasses that grow wild in the dunes, the salty breeze, and the sound of the waves methodically rolling in. I also love the wooden walkways through the dunes out to the sand and that many have little outdoor showers where you can wash away the sand from your toes.
When I’ve been inland for too long, I start feeling landlocked. So, after being in the high desert of Albuquerque for so long, I was really craving the ocean. The Atlantic beaches feel like home.
Definitely one of my happy places.
The next morning, I got up bright and early and headed for Beaufort (pronounced Bo-fort). Just the sweetest little town, with historic buildings and homes, a boardwalk, boats, fun shops, art galleries, great restaurants, and that quaint small-town feel that I love.
I had sort of forgotten how much I love this little town. I started out wandering along the boardwalk and watched a few people loading up their boats for a day on the water. I took pictures in the early morning light before I headed over to the little coffee shop on the main street for a chai tea latte. One of my favorite little indulgences. Next, I wandered through town and the shops that were open. Before leaving, I drove around just admiring the old historic homes and the waterfront views.
On the way back to Jacksonville, I stopped at Riverside Steak and Seafood in Swansboro for lunch and had my favorite shrimp and grits.
Such a wonderful day.
The next morning, I drove back to Swansboro (another of my favorite small towns) and just walked around and took pictures of the quaint little shops and the old red brick building that I always loved. Later that day, I met up with old friend for dinner at Preston’s Restaurant in Swansboro. Oddly enough, I had never tried this restaurant. After a delicious meal, we walked down the main street to the corner where there is live music every Sunday evening during the summer months.
And it was really a stroke of luck because this was the last music night of the season. The band was really good and the first song they played was the old Lynyrd Skynyrd song Free Bird. Love the music from that era. I’ve never been disappointed by the local live music in North Carolina.
The Summer Music Series in Swansboro was always one of my favorite things to do, and I was so glad that Mary Ann was free for this fun little outing.
I’m so happy that I took this little trip! I had really missed this area and the hotel had a great outdoor pool, where I enjoyed a swim each day. I had more things that I wanted to do, but there just wasn’t enough time in the day to get them all in.
I definitely want to return. There are other friends I want to catch up with, favorite restaurants I want to return to, and more places I want to revisit.
I’ll see you again soon, Jacksonville and the Emerald Coast!