Thinking of going to the chapel sometime soon? Oh no, not that kind of chapel; we're talking about the one at the edge of the Triangle-North Carolina's Chapel Hill. Start with a visit to the North Carolina Botanical Garden, comprising more than 1,000 acres, including 10 acres of display gardens. If you have a sports enthusiast in your group, they'll love seeing the Carolina Basketball Museum, which chronicles the history of UNC Basketball and includes nearly 500 authentic artifacts, hundreds of photographs and videos of various players, coaches, championships and historic moments. Stock up on gourmet culinary items at Southern Season, offering a beautiful selection of specialty foods, wine and beer, coffee and tea, housewares and more. Finally, revel in the luxurious settings of The Carolina Inn, a well-known icon on the UNC campus that features charming, comfortable and well-appointed guestrooms including seven luxury suites.                  

We've all tried cheesecake at some point, and while it's true that we've had some truly delicious cheesecakes, we've never had one quite like this. This recipe for New York Cheesecake creates a creamy smooth, lightly sweet, impossibly rich, cheesecake with just a hint of lemon. Top with your favorite fresh fruit or pie filling--if you can manage to wait that long.                              

In celebration of August being Virginia Craft Beer month, we suggest going out and buying yourself a tasty brew--and a local one, at that. Need a recommendation? Try Smartmouth Brewing Company's Alter Ego Saison, an effervescent and refreshing beer with fruity notes, a hint of pepper and a dry finish. It's best paired with seafood, especially oysters or mussels, smoked sausages or cured meats. Brewed in the farmhouse style of a Belgian Saison, this brew is a shout-out to the alter ego in each of us.