Recently, I've had some spare time on my hands and I've enjoyed making the most of these rare moments — ones that I refer to as #funemployment. I've focused on improving my mental mindset and spending time with my boo. But don't be fooled, this kitten loves to sleep!
That's why I appreciated my boyfriend telling me we need to get out more often. And to be quite honest, since he said that, I've found myself feeling the most motivated I've felt in a long time. Recently, I learned that he'd planned our first dayscursion up north to Davidson!
We played roulette with the weather for about a week. Who doesn't want sunshine when you're driving somewhere new for the day? Despite our skeptical meteorologist friends on the news, we managed to settle on a day that ended up being a beautiful day filled with sunshine.
Now let me preface this by saying my boyfriend is the ultimate planner. He's the type to take time researching dive bars, restaurants, you name it. He takes notes on what's good or bad about all of them and provides a tentative itinerary. And what's even better? You don't have to worry about him saying we have to stick to a specific schedule. #blessed
Believe it or not, we hopped in the car before noon, and even though I wasn't feeling 100 percent, we were both excited about the activities we had planned. We parked downtown on Main Street and headed to our first stop: Summit Coffee. A quaint little coffee bar with a splash of hipster, Summit makes for a perfect spot to grab a coffee and walk or bring your laptop and work remote for a bit. (I don't drink coffee but I really wanted to buy a succulent in their logoed coffee mug. #basic)
After that, we sauntered in and out of the eclectic shops on the street before he informed me of the first stop on the list: The Pickled Peach. A "casual hipster ambiance," it sounded perfect to me. To our dismay, they were closed for their annual summer vacay. Before the disappointment settled in, I weighed the available options within walking distance and decided we should just hop in the car and drive the short distance to one of my newer faves: Hello, Sailor! He agreed immediately.
If you haven't been to the Sailor yet, You. Need. To. Go. Technically located in Cornelius, the 10-minute drive to lunch was beyond worth it. We sat on the covered patio and partook in two of my favorite items on the menu: Hamachi (puffed rice, umi and macadamia nuts), avocado, egg and brown butter saltines. If the words aren't mouth-watering enough for you, check out @omgclt_ for pics.
When we finished, it was time for the next activity: jet skiing! Now I know what you may be thinking, this black girl is defying all the stereotypes. Nope. This was the second time I'd gone jet skiing and I was still just as nervous as I was the first time. I don't like water, getting my hair wet, swimming or water creatures. However, I love seeing my boo's excitement even when he has to deal with my nervousness and anxiety. The highlight: him having to pull my jet ski in close enough for me to touch every time we stopped at an island. #blackgirlproblems
After leaving the lake, we returned to Davidson for a casual driving tour of the Davidson College campus — a picturesque experience. It's peaceful and quiet on a Thursday, not unlike many college campuses in the summer, but just imagining alum Steph Curry walking to class was enough for me.
Then for the last stop: Kindred. The first Charlotte-area restaurant concept from Joe Kindred (the second being our earlier lunch destination, Hello, Sailor!), Kindred is a fine-dining, small-dish destination. The boyfriend had talked about it as a must-go for us for a date night.
And let me tell you, was he ever right. I eat okra sparingly, but theirs was spot on as far as how it was prepped. Additionally, we ordered melon crudo, scallops and a ravioli dish. (Pro tip: order their house-made pasta last so you don't get too full).
By the time we left, I was so sleepy and full I could've slept in the booth where we were eating #uncouth. We hopped in the car for the ride back to Charlotte as the sun was going down. I couldn't believe I made it all day without a nap but "look at God."
I'm a creature of the night, but I had an absolute blast on our day trip. I would've enjoyed a revisit to some of the local breweries I went to a couple years prior when I toured Lake Norman, but I had no regrets. A day well spent in Davidson.
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