Spend 24 Hours in Raleigh with Me: A T.I.N.Y. List
a quick road trip filled with delicious donuts, birthday celebrations, and time with my bestie
I packed a small bag, queued up a few podcasts, and hit the road. Just two hours from Wilmington, Raleigh gave me everything I needed in a quick 24-hour escape: sweet treats, new shops, birthday celebrations, and much-needed bestie time. Here’s how I spent one perfect day away.
To kick off this post, I created T.I.N.Y.—a summary-style template that covers the topics of tasted, in motion, noted, yes, and…, delivered in under 1500 words.
TASTED:
I fell head over heels for this bakery. A million and one sweet treats to choose from and drinks with no up-charges for milk-alternative or flavored syrups.
The moment I arrived in Raleigh, my bestie and I headed straight there. I ordered the blueberry lemon bomboloni, and I’m not exaggerating when I say this donut had the best filling I’ve ever tasted. Zesty, vibrant lemon with pops of blueberry, wrapped in sugar-dusted dough that oozes with every bite. I paired it with an iced chai made with oat milk. It wasn’t overly sweet or spicy, but it was light and refreshing. Day two was a repeat—same donut, same drink, but with a pump of vanilla added. That touch of vanilla? Subtle, soft, and just sweet enough.
My friend ordered a pavlova, which I tried for the first time. Topped with a fresh blackberry and raspberry and rimmed with blueberries and blackberries, it was as pretty as it was delicious. The fresh fruit brings a pop of color to the otherwise all white dessert. Not exactly dairy-free friendly, but worth the tiny bite. She also picked up two brookies: Nutella and chocolate chip. Even though I didn’t get to try them as she was bringing these to her cousins, I know I would have loved them.
This spot totally won me over with their shishito peppers. Grilled and dusted with lemon salt, they were the perfect blend of tangy and salty. I kept going back for “just one more” until none were left.
Sadly, the pork schnitzel didn’t hold the same magic. Thin, tough, and lacking in flavor, it was a bit of a miss. But the house-made chips on the side? Light, crispy, and slightly addictive.
Would I go back? Yes, but only to have another serving of those peppers.
IN MOTION:
This is officially one of my new favorite shops. It’s a gift-giver’s dream with beautiful plates, handmade jewelry, art prints, kitchen tools, cozy blankets, and more. I was drawn to the North Carolina-themed art prints, while my friend fell in love with a set of striped dessert bowls that now live happily in her cabinets.
A small but charming bookstore café, perfect for a quick browse. We explored their banned books section, which included 1984 (my absolute favorite), and wandered through their curated shelves of fiction, romance, and self-help.
Birthday Party
The main event of the weekend was a birthday celebration for a friend. After a day of tasty eats and running errands, we headed over to a little party decked out with streamers and balloons. The night ended with laughter, games, and that warm, fuzzy feeling of being surrounded by good people.
NOTED:
The drive to Raleigh always feels longer than the ride back, even though it’s exactly two hours each way. Last time, I made the mistake of relying on the same tired playlist I’ve had on repeat for months. The drive felt endless as both the playlist and the scenery started to blur together.
This time, I came prepared with a curated mix of podcast episodes to break up the drive, keep my brain engaged, and make the miles pass a little faster. Trust me, it made all the difference.
1. “would you buy from you? how social media builds (or breaks) brand trust” by The Market Podcast
2. “Jesse Armstrong, screenwriter” by In Writing with Hattie Crisell
3. “digital marketing strategies & building her agency from the ground up with liz krupka, owner of nomadd marketing” by The Market Podcast
YES, AND…
This quick trip reminded me that sometimes a single day away is all you need to reset. Give me good food, great company, and a blueberry lemon bomboloni, and I’ll be happy for hours.
The next morning, I hit the road right at noon, exactly 24 hours after I’d arrived. A short stay, but packed with joy, delicious food, and a refreshing change of pace from the doom-and-gloom weather in Wilmington.