Carolina BBQ

They really enjoyed the "snowball" plants

Driving through NC our way to fulfill Paul's dream of trying what many say is the best BBQ in America.

Skylight Inn .  We drove way off the beaten path over small county roads through cotton fields.  The kids and Paul had never seen cotton fields before and were very excited to get out of the car and see one close up. 

Finally we arrived--not much to this town other than the famous BBQ spot. Pork with cracklins...yummy. This is the real deal. James Beard award and all. Got a private tour of the smokehouse after. This is what this place is all about: http://www.travelchannel.com/…/food-…/video/skylight-inn-bbq

If you haven't read Cooked by Michael Pollan which was Pauls introduction to the significance of this place, it's a good read. The Netflix documentary based on the book is also recommended.

Chopping the whole hog

Simple fare and no frills style--perfection

Tour of the smokehouse--toasty

Split whole hog

As we were driving here a man pulled up beside us at a stoplight and motioned for us to roll down our window--when we did he yelled across: "How long you all been down"? Which is translated as: "When did you leave Alaska"?


 

Travel with Tots

We are taking some parenting tips from my brother and sister-in-law and starting them early with the college visits. 

College focused coffee shops count as a college visit, right? This one is ranked in the top 50 of all college coffee shops in the US.

I really love this picture as it captures so much and about this experience.  This is how the morning played out--this is a typical morning:

1. We are going to go get coffee before Paul goes to the meadery. Williamsburg is beautiful and we are in the colonial center.  Perfect morning.
2. We walk into the coffee shop--there is a line.
3. Soon the kids are crawling on the floor playing--next to the line with people with hot coffee.
4. I ask them to stop and stand by me--this request makes them want to crawl around faster on the floor.
5. I catch Paul's eye--with the look of a parent on the edge.  He comes and gets the kids and takes them to a table.
6. I wait in line for coffee and snap this photo as Paul shows the kids a map and they are completely engaged in looking at the map--it is adorable.
7. I get the coffee and we go to leave--Neil does not want to leave the map.  He proceeds to cry/protest our leaving and knock over a chair as we are leaving--carrying him and our coffees.
8. We go for a walk in the center of town-so quaint and a perfect fall morning for walking sipping a coffee. The kids are skipping in the leaves.  
9. The kids find a dirt pile and proceed to sit in the dirt and play in the street.  They really could just play in dirt and be satisfied.  They don't want to walk anymore.
10. We leave--perfect, crazy, dirty, annoyed and peaceful morning all in less than an hour. 

Repeat this scenario every waking hour.  This is travel with the kids.

Honey Tasting

Today we went to Silver Hand for a honey tasting!  Incredible choreographed tasting.  Lot's of lessons learned in best ways to conduct a group tasting.

Honey tasting anyone?