2010 Raleigh Tours

Tour 1: Monday April 12^th: 9:00 am – 4:30 pm

Juniper level Botanic Gardens at Plant Delights Nursery

Juniper Level Botanic Gardens at Plant Delights Nursery http://www.plantdelights.com  is the first stop on our tour. The Gardens is a 6-acre display garden containing over 17,000 unique plants collected from plant explorations, seed exchanges and the results of their breeding program. Our tour members may pre-order from the online catalogue and pick up their order during our visit. There are no other sales during the tour. Lunch is on your own at the North Carolina State Farmer’s Market. The last stop is Bluebird Greenhouse http://www.bluebirdgreenhouse.com .  This is a 10,000 sq ft greenhouse full of African violets. You will be free to browse the aisles.

For more information, go to the article links.

Tour Cost $ 29.00

Tour 2: Tuesday April 13^th: 8:30 am – 5 pm
Seagrove Potteries

The Seagrove area of North Carolina is famous for its handmade pottery. There are more than 90 potteries in a 20-mile area. We will stop at several of them. Jugtown Pottery  http://www.jugtonware.com is a stop on the way to Seagrove. They have wood & gas fired wares using salt glaze, copper glazes, and earth tone glazes. Westmoore Pottery http://westmoorepottery.com is also on the way to Seagrove. Westmoore Pottery is redware both plain and decorated; salt-glazed stoneware and green glazed wares. Lunch will be on your own at the Westmoore Family Restaurant. Finally, we will go to the town of Seagrove where there are a number of potteries for you to explore at your own pace.

For more information, go to the article links.

Tour Cost $30.00

Tour 3: Tuesday, April 13^th: 6 pm – 9:15 pm

Dining out at The Pit Authentic Barbecue

You can’t say you’ve experienced North Carolina without tasting North Carolina barbecue. The Pit Restaurant is the premier barbecue eating establishment in Raleigh. Pit master, Ed Mitchell, has been featured in The New York Times, Gourmet Magazine, in television documentaries on North Carolina barbecue by Bob Garner and Gourmet; and won his Throw down against Iron Chef Bobby Flay for his legendary Carolina Ribs. Each June, folks line up for more than 10 New York City blocks to savor Ed’s barbeque at the Big Apple BBQ Block Party.

For more information go to http://wwwthepit-raleigh.com

Total Cost $59.00

Tour 4: Wednesday, April 14th: 8:45 am- 4:30 pm

Duke Homestead & Tobacco Museum and Sarah P Duke Gardens

At the Duke Homestead, there will be a film and guided tour of the museum and homestead. It tells the story of tobacco and its role in the economic growth of the Raleigh-Durham area. The role of the Duke family in the building of the American Tobacco Co. and Duke University is also included. It is interesting that these facilities are ‘Smoke Free.’ www.nchistoricsites.org Lunch is on your own at Brightleaf Square. At nearby, Duke University Campus there is the Duke Chapel where we will have a guided tour. Continuing in the same area is the Sarah P. Duke Gardens. The gardens will be at the prime of spring blooming during our visit. www.hr.duke.edu/dukegardens

For more information, go to the article links.

Tour Cost $35.00

Tour 5: Thursday, April 15th: 8:30 am – 5 pm
 Richard Petty Museum, American Classic Motorcycle Museum, & NC Aviation Museum

We will see a selection of Richard Petty Race Cars, Trophies and Awards and Lynda Petty’s Doll Museum containing over 800 dolls. There will be something here for everyone. http://www.mitchellspublications.com/guides/nc/randleman/richardpetty/ .
 North Carolina Aviation museum is nearby to tour its two hangars of aviation and military memorabilia. http://www.ncaimuseusem.org .
 American Classic Motorcycle Museum and Heritage Diner is the stop for lunch on your own and a self-guided tour of the museum. http://www.heartofnorthcarolina.com/things-to-do/index.pl?id=517

For more information, go to the article links.

Tour Cost $64.00

Tour 6: Thursday, April 15th: 9 am – Noon

JC Raulston Arboretum

Located at North Carolina State University, the J C Raulston Arboretum is famous for the diversity of its woody ornamental landscape plants and unique plant collections. The Arboretum has over 5,000 different kinds of plants collected from around the world and displayed on eight acres of beautiful garden settings. There are benches throughout to rest.

For more information, go to: http://www.ncsu.edu/jcraulstonarboretum

Total Cost $38.00

Tour 7: Friday, April 16: 5 pm – 11 pm

Dining out at Tripps Restaurant and the Raleigh Little Theater presentation of “Our Town”

Tripp’s Restaurant is best known for Certified Angus beef steaks, scratch kitchen, excellent service and value. You can order from the menu and receive a separate check. www.trippsrestaurants.com Then the curtain goes up at Raleigh Little Theater production of Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize winning play “Our Town”. www.raleighlittletheatre.org This promises to be a great ‘night on the town’ for our conventioneers.

For more information, go to the article links.

Tour Cost $54.00