Tourist in my own back yard
My little sister came to visit me from Florida this past weekend. She’s eighteen, so I was a bit nervous that she would be bored out of her mind! Last time she came to visit was atleast four years ago. I remembered that she loved Vic’s Pizza (best pizza in town!) in Raleigh’s City Market, so we went there for dinner the first night she was in town. My sister just graduated from high school and has an interest in psychology. Before she came to visit, she mentioned the Rhine Research Center at Duke University. The center researches and studies the experimental science of parapsychology. Who knew? I had no idea there was such a thing, but it was interesting to learn nonetheless.
I decided that since she had expressed an interest I would take her to Duke University for a visit while she was in town. We visited Duke’s public gardens with a friend who is much more familiar with the campus that I. I had never been, so I would have been totally lost without our personal tour guide. It was a tranquil, pretty place that’s good for out-of-towners. There are miles of walking paths and themed gardens, birds, and turtles. It’s the kind of place where people have their wedding pictures taken. I think we spotted one.There was a young woman in a pale orange dress with an asian influenced umbrella taking photos with a large group of suited men. It was absolutely beautiful. and the newly constructed Doris Duke Center is popular for wedding receptions (as well as educational programs). We then moved on to the beautiful English Gothic style Duke University Chapel. It was closed because a wedding was taking place. I have always wanted to visit the chapel, so i’ll have to go back at another time. After walking through the campus, we had worked up an appetite so I decided that we should go to one of my favorite lunch spots in Durham, Mad Hatters Cafe & Bake Shop. The food is fantastic, but the true lure to this downtown Durham lunch and brunch staple is what sits within the glass enclosed cases surrounding the cash register…rows and rows of tasty brownies, cookies, cakes, muffins, etc. We were full after lunch, but each had one of their enormous buttery cookies afterward. A tip: Their buttercream frosting is the best! I couldn’t take my sister to Duke without taking her to UNC. We visited Mama Dip’s for Sunday brunch. I hadn’t been in ages and it was just as good as I remembered it. Southern cuisine at it’s best. We feasted on corn bread, biscuits and veggie plates – only in the south are macaroni and cheese and french fries considered vegetables. 
We then walked down Franklin Street and stopped in a couple of shops. It was a bit of a ghostown, this time of year, without the college students roaming around so i’m not sure how exciting it was for my little sister. In the end, I think the weekend was a success. I got to show off my stomping grounds and spend quality time with family. I was nervous that I wouldn’t have the youthful energy necessary to keep my sister entertained all weekend, but my dad confirmed that upon her return she crashed and slept for hours, so I actually think I wore her out.
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Sounded great! I’d like to visit those eateries as well!