Gibbons Sibling Visit #1 - Raleigh, NC
It is purely a coincidence that Monday, April 10th is National Sibling Day and I get the opportunity to stop and visit with two of my five siblings this week. Sibling stop number one this week is to see my sister, Connie, in Raleigh, NC. The fact that Raleigh Oaks RV Resort & Cottages (See our Review here) was our typical daily driving distance from Ocean Lakes Campground in Myrtle Beach was all the better.
We arrived at Raleigh Oaks RV Resort on Monday amid the threat of rain and storms. Our assigned site, Site #1, was a spacious pull-thru site immediately inside the entrance of the campground. After our normal setup process we settled in for a quiet evening at home with our TV and laptops.
Tuesday morning we ventured out for some athletic competition at the campground. Betsy and I both enjoy sports and the idea of friendly competition, so this seemed like a fun way to spend a morning. The campground had several sports opportunities for their guests, and Betsy and I chose miniature golf and pickle ball as our sports of choice. The 18 hole miniature golf course was well maintained and quite a nice course for a free activity at a campground. The match was close, but after 18 holes I edged out Betsy for the win. On to pickle ball. Now we have both been intrigued with the game of pickle ball for a little while now. We had watched some pickle ball during our stay at Venture Out Resort in the Florida Keys, but had not yet stepped on the court ourselves. This was our chance. Raleigh Oaks had recently added two pickle ball courts during their renovation and we had them all to ourselves. A quick walk to the office where they provided the necessary equipment (two paddles and a ball) and we were ready to go. Well, except for the quick Google search to figure out what the rules of the game were. After some practice hits to get the hang of it, it was game on! Not to brag, but I also won the pickle ball match. We both decided it was a fun game to play and would definitely play it again in the future.
Later that day we hopped in the car to meet Connie for dinner in Raleigh. While our campground was called Raleigh Oaks, it was approximately a 50 minute drive to the restaurant where we agreed to meet my sister in Raleigh. The Fresh Levant Bistro is a Mediterranean restaurant which Connie had suggested to us, and after a little research, we quickly agreed to meet at. From their website, “Our unwavering commitment to non-GMO and Gluten Free foods keeps us focused on sourcing our ingredients from local farmers and regional suppliers who share our passion for organic practices and earth-friendly principles. Our meats are local, grass-fed and our poultry is organic.” Yes, you read that right, a completely gluten free menu! Not only my kind of place, but Betsy was also very impressed with the menu. And what a great choice it turned out to be. After a round of quick welcome hugs we began studying the menu. Well for Betsy it was studying the menu AGAIN! We started with a three-in-one Dip Sampler, for which we chose Hummus, Beetroot, and Vegan Labneh. And yes, the pita bread included with the sampler was gluten free. Even my gluten-eating dining partners agreed it was very good pita bread. As our entrees, Connie and I each chose a Man’oush, a house-made flatbread. Hers had Tomato, oregano, olive, micro greens, while mine had Marinara sauce, house-made sausage, onion, Kashkaval cheese. Both very tasty options. Betsy went with a couple of sides as her dinner. She chose Lebanese Beets and Sautéed Brussels Sprouts. Her expectations were met with them both. We were all stuffed, so we selected a couple of gluten free desserts from the case to go. Overall, Fresh Levant Bistro was a pleasant experience. The food and service were first class and we will definitely stop back on our next trip through Raleigh. After dinner we strolled around the European styled plaza, Lafayette Village, where Fresh Levant is located. We really enjoyed our evening catching up with Connie. Good food and good conversation makes for a great night!
Our Wednesday plans to meet with a former co-worker and friend of Betsy’s in Fayetteville were cancelled due to the forecast of some severe weather in the area. Sharon, we are sorry we did not get to catch up with you this time, but promise to visit on our next trip through the area. Thanks Raleigh for a fun couple of days, now further North we trek.
