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Here’s what’s in today’s issue:
• 🧠 Trivia Challenge: Spotlight Hook
• 😋🍴 Discover Cary (Eat & Drink): Koi Ramen
• 🚗 Drivable Destinations: Explore White Oak Creek Greenway
• ✈️ Airline Travel: Hello, Reykjavik!
• 😄 Meme of the Day – Daily Chuckle
• 🎁 Adventure starts close to home: Thank You For Your Gift
• 📅 Events: Planning your week in Cary?
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Question: What eccentric artist based his famous moustache on that worn by painter Diego Velazquez?
(Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.)
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Koi Ramen
Koi Ramen 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.
Koi Ramen is a casual ramen shop in Cary that serves slow-simmered broths like tonkotsu, shoyu, and black garlic alongside sides such as karaage fried chicken and gyoza.
Check out their menu on DoorDash: Koi Ramen
Address: 919 N Harrison Ave, Cary, NC 27513 | Get Directions
Koi Ramen
Explore White Oak Creek Greenway
If you're looking for a long, easy stretch of pavement to walk, run, or bike, White Oak Creek Greenway is one of Cary's best options. The trail runs more than 7 miles from Fred G. Bond Metro Park all the way to the American Tobacco Trail, winding through woods, neighborhoods, and wetlands along the way. It's part of the growing East Coast Greenway, a trail system that will one day stretch from Maine to Florida.
The path is paved and about 10 feet wide, so it's a smooth, flat ride or walk for beginners, families with strollers, and folks using wheelchairs. Leashed dogs are welcome too. You can hop on at several spots, including Bond Park, Davis Drive Park, Ed Yerha Park, or the newer trailhead near Green Level High School, so it's easy to plan a short stroll or a longer trek depending on your day.
Because so much of the trail follows the creek and its wetlands, it's a great spot to look for wildlife. Visitors have spotted beaver dams and lodges, muskrats, and plenty of water-loving plants like cypress trees and cattails, plus birds that like to hang out near the water. The Town of Cary's nature center even leads guided wildlife walks here from time to time, so keep an eye out if you'd like a more in-depth outing.
Good to Know:
Location: 801 High House Rd, Cary, NC 27513 (Bond Park Greenway Trailhead) | Directions
Hours: Dawn to dusk
Amenities: Paved 10-foot-wide trail, benches, restrooms (at Bond Park, Davis Drive Park, and Ed Yerha Park), multiple trailheads and parking areas
Entry: Free!
Tip: A section of the greenway between Green Level Church Road and I-540 is currently closed while the Town of Cary inspects boardwalk structures, so check the Town's website before you head out to that stretch.
Official Website: https://www.carync.gov/recreation-enjoyment/parks-greenways-environment/greenways/white-oak-creek-greenway
Just curious…
What’s your favorite way to enjoy Cary’s greenways?
Hello, Reykjavik!
Gateway to Fire, Ice, and Otherworldly Landscapes
Welcome to Reykjavik, Iceland, a place where black sand beaches meet steaming volcanic fields, and glowing green lights dance across winter skies. Icelandair flies nonstop from RDU (Raleigh-Durham) straight to Keflavik International Airport (KEF), making this North Atlantic island easier to reach than most people expect.
Keep in mind that this route runs seasonally, from May through October, so travelers heading there in the off-season will likely need a connection. Once you land, you'll find a small, friendly capital city that blends cozy cafes and colorful rooftops with easy access to some of the wildest scenery on Earth.
Why Visit Reykjavik?
The Blue Lagoon: This geothermal spa is one of the most photographed spots in the country, and for good reason. Visitors can soak in warm, mineral-rich water surrounded by black lava rock, slather on a silica mud mask, and grab a drink right from a swim-up bar.
Hallgrimskirkja Church: Towering over the city skyline, this striking church was designed to resemble the basalt columns found in Iceland's lava flows. Take the elevator to the top for sweeping views of Reykjavik's colorful rooftops and the mountains beyond.
The Golden Circle: Just outside the city, this popular driving route packs in three natural wonders: Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area, and the thundering Gullfoss waterfall. It's an easy day trip that shows off the raw, dramatic beauty Iceland is famous for.
Travel Guides – Here are two comprehensive travel guides to help you plan your trip.
Lonely Planet Iceland: A trusted starting point packed with top sights, planning tools, and tips on the best time to visit.
Visit Iceland: The country's official tourism site, with details on regions, activities, and practical trip-planning tools like a carbon calculator.
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
Meme of the Day.
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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) Salvador Dalí
The eccentric artist who based his famous facial hair on the look worn by Diego Velázquez was the Spanish Surrealist master Salvador Dalí.
Dalí deeply admired Velázquez, the 17th-century court painter famous for masterpieces like Las Meninas, and deliberately cultivated his famously sharp, gravity-defying upturned mustache as a flamboyant tribute to his artistic predecessor. It eventually became a cultural emblem and one of the most recognizable trademarks of Dalí's public persona.
Learn more, Salvador Dalí