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Here’s what’s in today’s issue:
• 🧠 Trivia Challenge: Spotlight Hook
• 😋🍴 Discover Cary (Eat & Drink): Peck & Plume
• 🚗 Drivable Destinations: Explore Jordan Lake
• ✈️ Airline Travel: Hello, Quito!
• 😄 Meme of the Day – Daily Chuckle
• 🎁 Adventure starts close to home: Thank You For Your Gift
• 📅 Events: Planning your week in Cary?
👉 Browse the highlights. Skip to your favorites.
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Question: Bengui is the capital of which land-locked country?
(Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.)
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Peck & Plume
Peck & Plume is one of the local food places nominated by Cary Spotlight's readers for our Discover Cary project. If you've had a chance to sample their food, feel free to share your opinion below.
Peck & Plume is a modern American restaurant inside The Mayton hotel in downtown Cary, serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch with a Southern-inspired menu and a full cocktail and wine bar.
Check out their menu on their website: Peck & Plume
Address: 301 S Academy St, Cary, NC 27511 | Get Directions
Peck & Plume
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Explore Jordan Lake
Jordan Lake is one of the biggest outdoor playgrounds in the Triangle, and it's less than an hour from Cary. The park covers more than 4,500 acres of woods wrapped around a 14,000-acre lake, so there's plenty of room to spread out. Whether you want a quiet afternoon by the water or a full day of boating, this is the kind of place you can visit again and again without running out of things to do.
The park has about 15 miles of hiking trails spread across its different access areas, so you can pick a short walk or a longer trek depending on your mood. If you'd rather be on the water, bring a kayak, canoe, sailboat, or paddleboard and launch from one of several boat ramps around the lake. Swimming, fishing, and picnicking are all popular here too, and leashed pets are welcome almost everywhere except the swim beaches.
Jordan Lake is known as one of the best spots in the state to see bald eagles, especially in the summer months. Head to the observation deck near the dam for a good chance to spot one, and bring binoculars if you have them. When you need a break from the trail or the water, you'll find picnic shelters, sand volleyball courts, and swim beaches scattered across the park's access areas, making it an easy spot for a family day trip.
Good to Know:
Location: 280 State Park Road, Apex, NC 27523 (Visitor Center) | Directions
Hours: Day-use areas open at 8 AM; closing time shifts with the season, from 6 PM in winter up to 9 PM in summer. Visitor Center: daily 8 AM–4:30 PM (March–October), Monday–Friday only in winter.
Amenities: Boat ramps, swim beaches, fishing, hiking trails, picnic shelters, restrooms, bathhouses, camping, and a bald eagle observation deck
Entry: Free most of the year. A per-vehicle fee applies on weekends and holidays in April, May, and September, and daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Tip: Gates lock at the posted closing time and you can't exit once they're locked, so plan to leave with room to spare, especially on busy summer weekends.
Just curious…
☀️ What's your favorite way to spend a day at Jordan Lake?
Hello, Quito!
Gateway to the Andes and the Middle of the World
Welcome to Quito, Ecuador's high-flying capital, where snowcapped volcanoes ring a valley full of colonial charm and Andean energy. There's no direct flight from RDU to Quito's Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO), but you can get there with one stop on airlines like American, Delta, JetBlue, or Copa, making this South American gem an easy add to your travel list. Quito mixes centuries-old churches, buzzing food markets, and jaw-dropping mountain views into one unforgettable capital city.
Why Visit Quito?
The Historic Old Town:
This colonial-era district was the very first UNESCO World Heritage Site ever named, and it's easy to see why. Wander cobblestone streets lined with grand plazas, gold-covered churches, and lively cafes where locals gather day and night. The Plaza Grande sits at the heart of it all, surrounded by the presidential palace and a stunning cathedral.The TelefériQo Cable Car:
This ride is one of the highest cable cars in the world, and it's a bucket-list experience for any visitor. The gondola climbs the slopes of Volcán Pichincha to a lookout point over 13,000 feet above sea level, where you can soak in sweeping views of the city and even hike further up the mountain.The Middle of the World Monument:
Just outside the city, this famous landmark marks the equator line, letting you stand with one foot in each hemisphere. The nearby Inti Ñan Museum adds some fun to the science lesson, with hands-on experiments that show off the odd effects of standing right on the equator.
Travel Guides – Here are two comprehensive travel guides to help you plan your trip.
Lonely Planet shares 17 top experiences in Quito, from historic churches to the city's growing food and coffee scene.
Fodor's Travel offers a full Quito guide covering hotels, restaurants, sights, and neighborhoods to help you plan every part of your stay.
Learn about more family trips built for adventurers of all ages.
G Adventures is the leader in small group and solo travel for 30 years, they know how to do it right. Check out the Online Deals: Shop Travel Deals
The best HR advice comes from those in the trenches. That’s what this is: real-world HR insights delivered in a newsletter from Hebba Youssef, a Chief People Officer who’s been there. Practical, real strategies with a dash of humor. Because HR shouldn’t be thankless—and you shouldn’t be alone in it.
Meme of the Day.
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🎁 Adventure starts close to home.
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📅 Planning your week in Cary?
To save space in your inbox, we’ve moved the full list of events online — now you can plan ahead with access to today’s events and next week! See Upcoming Events
The Answer to the Cary Spotlight Hook Trivia Question 👇👇👇
A) Central African Republic
Bangui (spelled Bangui) is the capital and largest city of the Central African Republic, a landlocked nation located in the center of Africa.
Learn more, Central African Republic