Outerbanks NC & Raleigh

Ok so this was pretty far away for just a short weekend but totally worth it.

We left dc around 2- thought it would take us 6.5 hours to get to Cape Hatteras, NC... little did we know that NO ONE went to work this day & everyone was already on their commute home. What's up with that?! Anyway it took us NINE.5 hours!!! AAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH But I really wanted to see my family so it was totally worth it.

For those of you used to camping out west- camping at the beach back east in the summer is NOTHING like camping out west. It does NOT get cold at night- in fact I'm pretty sure it was the same temperature- sweating hot. I'd recommend getting a hotel room with AC. I love camping but none of us got any sleep. The best part about our campsite though

http://www.oceanwavescampground.com/

- it was clean, had showers (very important to get rid of the sand in your swim suit bottoms) and it was ON the beach! We woke up, walked about 50 yards and watched the dolphins swim by! Soooo cool! Everyone on the east coast sleeps in RV's too and practically live there- going as far as setting up plastic flamingoes out front. Does anyone do that because they seriously think it's classy or just as a joke?

The night before we got to see this cool phenomenon. It's called bioluminescence- basically it looks like stars mixed with fireflies in the sand every time you take a step. And each time a wave crashes it's there too. I tried to take a video but it doesn't work. All you see is black :) Speaking of which- everyone thinks a walk on the beach is totally romanitc at night right? WRONG. Your feet are acausted by galzillions of crabs- they feel like tarantulas creeping across your feet! EW!

Cape Hatteras is an awesome beach to get away from the tourists but I still am a sucker for Nag's Head if you plan on going boogie boarding or body surfing- there's less rocks and shells as you hit so you don't hit as hard. My sis and I were pretty scratched up after Cape Hatteras but we're gluttons for punishment and went back in the water anyway. I LOVE THE BEACH! Be sure to take a break and build a sand castle or creature far from the tide- it'll come in quickly and all your hard work will be washed away before you can snap a pic!

We decided to stop for lunch- which was yummy! I felt bad though because my dad paid for us and the waitress mis-understood him and brought us one of every dessert on the menu. I would have sent them back but he's too nice. They were really delicious though! My favorite was the creme brulee or the peanut butter mousse. MMMMmmmm peanut butter (in Home Simpson's voice).

When we were tired of the beach we headed to my dad's in Raleigh. This shortened our drive home so that was nice. Plus Evan and I got a good night's sleep, got to play games with my fam- make my dad a scrumptious father's day meal and on our way out of town Evan got to see Duke for the first time. If you every visit Raleigh and you only have one or two places to visit I would make Duke chapel one of them. It rivals some of the best I've seen in Europe. Plus the campus is just gorgeous. http://www.chapel.duke.edu/

Anyway! What a fun trip. I'd definitely go again even with all of the driving.

Chocolate lovers UNITE!

The other weekend Evan, Mike, Wang, Jared and I ended up in Hershey Heaven! Hershey PA!

Ok here's what I'd recommend if you're planning a day trip from DC... LEAVE EARLY. Traffic is a $%^%&$##@$#%$#$ and @#@$!# AND IT'S A @#$!#!@$!!!!!!

Enough said. But alas we were stuck in DC until the early afternoon because they guys all had a service project. ANywhO. What I would do is head to Intercourse PA- Amish Central Baby! They have some wicked shops and people drive around in buggies. The countryside is absolutely gorgeous too. Intercourse isn't too far out of the way to Hershey either so I'd plan on spending a good portion of your morning there. Don't forget to try the shoofly pie & be sure to take of photo of you on the edge of intercourse, yes I'm still talking about the town.

Now Hershey-
Eat here: http://chocolateavenuegrill.com/ and order Jess's favorite salad... YUM!

Then go into Hersheytown. I'd recommend the theme park first and then the Hershey Factory. No you can't really see them making chocolate but you get to learn all about how it's made as well as join in a chocolate taasting. 10.00 per person is a bit steep because you don't get a ton of candy but the experience was worth it once. You learn about different types of chocolate flavors and at the end you get a Master's Degree in Chocolate Tasting from the professor. Pretty fun!

If you get on the ride that takes you through the journey of a cacao bean make sure to smile at the end- they take your photo & charge you an arm & a leg for it. The store has everything Hershey though and this was a very fun/informative/choco satisfying trip!