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Christian and I recently spent a week in Raleigh, North Carolina as part of our Swept Together road trip. We’re both working full time, which means we don’t tour destinations in a typical way, but we do make time for as many dates as possible in between conference calls and deadlines. Raleigh is a fun city with many options for stirring up a little romance – that seems particularly natural in the nostalgic Southern US. Here are three different date night ideas that we enjoyed in Raleigh, North Carolina!
Traditional with a twist
Who could turn down a plate of chicken and waffles? Head to Beasley’s in downtown Raleigh for some of the best fried chicken we’ve had (SO juicy!) paired with – of course – a delicious Belgian waffle. Are you on team sweet + savory, or do you eat one at a time? Christian and I can’t agree (I eat the chicken + waffle together like a civilized human, he eats the chicken first, then the waffle), but opposites attract, as they say! There are also a variety of classic Southern sides like green bean casserole and cheesy grits, plus a great selection of local beers and fun cocktails. Try the honey lavender saison! This place has excellent energy for enjoying each other’s company + people watching.
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Trendy and tasty
Did you know that Raleigh is home to one of Bon Appetit’s top ten new restaurants in the country in 2017? It’s called Brewery Bhavana, and it’s what happens when a flower shop, bookstore, brewery + dim sum restaurant have a baby. This sounds like a strange concept, but it’s wonderfully executed. Grab reservations in advance, but arrive early to grab a beer and peruse the book selections together. Once you sit down, remember dim sum plates are meant to be shared (insert cheesy pun about relationships?). Two small plates and one big plate were the perfect amount for my husband and I. And what could be more romantic that picking up some spur-of-the-moment flowers for your love on the way out the door? This place is MADE for date night.
Date night on the move
If walking and talking is more your style for date night, consider bringing a picnic to the North Carolina Museum of Art. There are outdoor tables near the east building where you can eat then you and your love can wander through the extensive sculpture gardens as the sun sets. On Friday evening, the museum buildings are open late, until 10 PM. Once it gets dark, you can move inside to check out the permanent collection. Best of all? Museum admission is free, apart from any special exhibitions, so this adventure is also easy on the wallet.
Have you been to Raleigh before? I will admit, North Carolina wasn’t really on my radar, but we have a friend doing amazing things in Raleigh (in the form of a stunning ethical fashion boutique called The Flourish Market), so we had to stop by on our road trip, and now I’m SO glad we did!
So which romantic evening sounds most your style – traditional, trendy or on the go? Hop over to Instagram and let me know!
And remember, the Juniper package is perfect for capturing all of your adventures with an heirloom honeymoon film. Open to both newlyweds + honeymooners-for-life 😉
