Beer and wine tours

This past weekend was the start of my own personal craft beer month. May is in fact North Carolina craft beer month and this week is American craft beer week. Christina and I realized we would be going to 3 beer events in 2 weeks, so we decided to make some tshirts....

The first event was moore county festival of beers. It was a nice intimate venue at the elks lodge. Reminded me of my first virginia beer fest before it became massive and spanned two days with multiple sessions!  They even used some leftover 2014 glasses....

We got to same every beer we wanted plus seconds, enjoy love music, score a frozen frisbee, and get all the chex mix we could eat!

Pinehurst has scheduled the village wine walk for the same day. So with a good going buzz we head to the village to sip sample and stroll. Luckily there were plenty of snacks. 

And more live music at magnolias. 

At one point we were taking shots of balsamic vinegar.   It was really good, and likely a better idea than shots of liquor. 

We finished up at drum and quill and got some real food and pints. Excellent day outside with beer, music, wine and friends! 

Vegas day 3

For the last morning in Vegas I managed to get up early and go for a run (love traveling west with the time difference) 

We spent a little time by the pool enjoying the quiet and the sunshine. 

And I made it over to sin city brewery. They opened at 10 and we needed to leave by 11am so I had a nice beer breakfast! 

Anne had a voucher for one more round at the slots, so we played a last run.ade $40!  We then headed off to the airport,

With a taxi ride paid for by a guy who was in a hurry to get to the airport and wanted to cut in line. We are pretty sure he was having an affair, but accepted sharing a taxi and having it be free!  When in Vegas....

Vegas day 2

Saturday we started in the spa. Enjoyed the jacuzzi, sauna etc before heading to Todd English pub for lunch. 

Cask ale, highly recommended by the waiter. Good choice. 

Anne got a champagne cocktail complete with Pop rocks around the rim! 

We took a shortcut thru the fancy mall to get back to our hotel. And got some sunscreen at the Walgreens. Glad it warmed up again! 

Some time by the pool enjoying the people watching before our spa treatments. 

For the evening we headed to the chandelier bar. They were out of all the good beers, so they let me bring my own! 

Literally drinking inside a chandelier! 

Dinner was at rose rabbit lie. Amazing food and entertainment! 

And an interesting presentation for dessert! 

Random monkey at the bar...

We did some gambling (I watched) and anne won some $$. Turned in for the night eventually after enjoying our perfect view! 

Virtual tour of the strip.

Saturday morning I went for a run a long the strip. For anyone who hasn't been to Vegas, enjoy this virtual tour...

Above is our hotel,the cosmopolitan. Heading south, the Bellagio is up next. 

Caesar's palace. 

Shops at the forum. 

Mirage. No volcanos this early in the morning. 

TI. 

I turned around at the mall. Looking south below. 

And now heading north. 

Palazzo

Venetian. 

Margaritaville at the flamingo. 

Paris!

And turned around again at New York New York. 

The roller coaster anne and I had ridden the night before!

Nice 6k run with plenty of stairs as I went up and down bridges to cross over streets! Felt accomplished to be running in sin city rather than crazy hung over!

Cinco y seis de mayo.

After getting completely destroyed my last day of work, I was finally done with that stretch. It coincided nicely with cinco de mayo. I had the gang over to my house, since Mexican places aren't abundant in the pinehurst area!  We had good drinks, Mexican lasagna, and a piñata. Excellent time! 

Continuing my vacation I had a nice run and lunch in the village  

And then headed to wake forest for a stopover for the night before continuing on to Nova. 

Good brews and good friends. Excellent stopover!

Vegas Day 1

Early Friday Anne and I headed out to Vegas. We enjoyed some snacks and beverages in the plane. Always a little disorienting traveling west and having breakfast several times over. 

We were able to check in straightaway and had a gorgeous view. 

When in Vegas, have to enjoy at least one buffet!  Excellent food at the wicked spoon. 

We explored our hotel, the cosmopolitan. 

A little chilly for the pool. 

Took a walk along the strip. People watching is always key in Vegas. 

Found some brews to enjoy on the balcony. 

And the free beers leftover from a party across the hall!

Have to do a little gambling....

While a little chilly, skies were still blue! 

Friday night we went to the thunder down under. Yep, came to Vegas to see Aussie pseudo strippers. But an entertaining show. 

More people watching in the walk home. 

And a nice shoe in our hotel...

With jet lag, etc I couldn't sleep.  But it was a nice night on the balcony. 

And a nice morning a few hours later!