by Sunny
follow me on Twitter @Sunnylooksleaps
When we were gifted a hotel stay in Durham, North Carolina it was obvious to us baseball fans to travel there in the summer to see some AAA baseball. What else to do in these side by side cities? Check out our itinerary!
Rent a Convertible – This city may not strike you as a convertible kind of city, but we really only had one full day to explore, and driving around with the top down gives everyone a much clearer view. We started out the morning driving around Duke University’s campus. Beautiful. We then headed to Raleigh where we went in search of a filling lunch.
Bad Daddy’s – We decided to try this place based on reviews we had seen on Trip Advisor, and it did not disappoint. Located in a strip mall, parking was super scarce. We had to drive around for a few minutes before finding a place – and this was at lunch time! I can’t imagine where everyone parks on a game day! Once inside we had a short wait for a table. The lunch crowd was a mix of business people, college aged-kids, and families like us. The menu had many tasty gourmet burgers including a “build-your-own burger” option. I went with a classic cheeseburger and sweet potato fries. The food was delivered quickly, and the waiter was super friendly. Everyone loved their burger, and I instantly declared it my favorite burger of the summer. Check out the deliciousness below.
Cue the Homer Simpson drool.
Marbles Kids Museum – 
Our next stop was recommended by a former Raleigh resident. She actually worked at this museum while living in Raleigh. We went in expecting something similar to our museums back home, but I found the Marbles Kids Museum completely unique. MJ found it to be the best part of the trip! The museum is completely hands-on. The two story museum boasts a wide range of stations that cater to kids’ imaginations and interests. The stations have everything from a vet’s office to a fashion design studio. MJ played “ice hockey” on the mock rink, used real tools to do some wood working, and became captain of the life-sized pirate ship! There were grocery shopping stations, a water table, a pretend ambulance and news helicopter. The museum was crowded but still provided plenty of space for kids to enjoy the exhibits. We spent two hours at the museum and could have easily spent two more. It was a refreshing break from the 100 degree heat. There was also an IMAX movie theater, café, and gift shop. Outdoor seating and gardens would have been more inviting during cooler weather.
Durham Bulls – Our final activity of the day was to head back to Durham to see the Durham Bulls at their home stadium Durham Bulls Athletic Park, or DBAP. 
We found the stadium to be clean, family-friendly, and lively. Even on a Tuesday night, the stadium had lots of energetic fans ready for some AAA baseball. Our seats were on the third base side, but we ended up moving over to the first base side after a few innings for a better view. MJ loved the kid’s area. Tickets were $1 a piece and could be used to play in the obstacle course, pitch a baseball, climb to the top and then go down a gigantic slide, or shoot baskets. There was also a small playground. Even more exciting was catching two baseballs: the souvenir kind and the real deal after a Bulls player made an amazing catch just inches from our seat. And of course, no stadium visit is complete without a picture with the mascot.
