Raleigh and the Triangle - A Visitor's and Local's Guide Pt. 2

[MinJaBen]

Picnic isn't vinegar-based, though. They do that "Carolina Compromise" sauce that combines Eastern and Western. I also think they're a little overpriced, FWIW and if I remember right I think they're still takeout only. Were I @rkwittem I'd drive a little further out and go to Hillsborough BBQ Company. Great 'que, good beer list (and cocktails), and their desserts are pretty good - or skip dessert and go next door to Whit's for frozen custard.

You are correct on the sauce, it is the compromise, but still good. They are dining on site now, though not sure if it is only outside or inside as well.

 

[Navin R Slavin]

Picnic isn't vinegar-based, though. They do that "Carolina Compromise" sauce that combines Eastern and Western. I also think they're a little overpriced, FWIW and if I remember right I think they're still takeout only. Were I @rkwittem I'd drive a little further out and go to Hillsborough BBQ Company. Great 'que, good beer list (and cocktails), and their desserts are pretty good - or skip dessert and go next door to Whit's for frozen custard.

Yeah, but, picnic.

 

[rkwittem]

Picnic is closed Tuesdays but I'll make an effort to swing by before they close on Monday afternoon when I arrive.

 

[MinJaBen]

Top Golf coming to the Triangle. Located off 40 near Page Rd

 

[HisIceness]

Top Golf coming to the Triangle. Located off 40 near Page Rd

I would say "about damn time" but Drive Shack (which is the same thing right?) has been around for, 3 years now?

 

[MinJaBen]

I would say "about damn time" but Drive Shack (which is the same thing right?) has been around for, 3 years now?

I’ve never been to either, so I have no idea how similar they are.

 

[LostInaLostWorld]

Top Golf coming to the Triangle. Located off 40 near Page Rd

Uh oh. Canes moving to Durm.

 

[garnetpalmetto]

I’ve never been to either, so I have no idea how similar they are.

From what I understand they're the same general concept.

 

[DaveG]

Top Golf coming to the Triangle. Located off 40 near Page Rd

I mean this has been the obvious location since this sort of thing came into existence. This is more an "about f***ing time" to me than anything.

 

[MrazeksVengeance]

VERY SERIOUS REQUEST.

I contemplate an East Coast trip.

It is far away on a timetable and She is yet to know (I want it to be a surprise, usually I plan only short-term), but I need some consultations.

Basic premise: week/10 days/2 weeks to travel along the east coast north to south. Starting with New York (possibly Boston), then Philadelphia, then the Heart of Enemy (Washington), then I need something interesting on the way to Raleigh and then Triangle and surroundings.

Summoning @3CanesInTheBox as a New Yorker (based currently in WSH if I am not mistaken)
Summoning @VAcaniac as the one living in Enemy territory
Summoning @bleedgreen because he always feels kinda well-traveled

 

[MinJaBen]

VERY SERIOUS REQUEST.

I contemplate an East Coast trip.

It is far away on a timetable and She is yet to know (I want it to be a surprise, usually I plan only short-term), but I need some consultations.

Basic premise: week/10 days/2 weeks to travel along the east coast north to south. Starting with New York (possibly Boston), then Philadelphia, then the Heart of Enemy (Washington), then I need something interesting on the way to Raleigh and then Triangle and surroundings.

Summoning @3CanesInTheBox as a New Yorker (based currently in WSH if I am not mistaken)
Summoning @VAcaniac as the one living in Enemy territory
Summoning @bleedgreen because he always feels kinda well-traveled

Oh, wow. That will be one hell of a trip. You could spend months in those areas and not see half of them. I'd recommend narrowing down your interests (sports, arts, history, highlights, etc.) if you want to get a better set of recommendations.

 

[MrazeksVengeance]

Oh, wow. That will be one hell of a trip. You could spend months in those areas and not see half of them. I'd recommend narrowing down your interests (sports, arts, history, highlights, etc.) if you want to get a better set of recommendations.

For NC primary focus would be nature. And you know. Meeting some of y'all.

 

[MinJaBen]

For NC primary focus would be nature. And you know. Meeting some of y'all.

For Nature sites in NC, there is the Outer Banks (Hatteras National Seashore as the primary embodiment) on the East Coast, and the Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains in the West. Each of those three would take a day or more, and are about 8 hours of driving apart (East to West). Also, the mountain sights are hard or impossible to easily visit in the winter, so what season are you tentatively planning the trip?

 

[MrazeksVengeance]

For Nature sites in NC, there is the Outer Banks (Hatteras National Seashore as the primary embodiment) on the East Coast, and the Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains in the West. Each of those three would take a day or more, and are about 8 hours of driving apart (East to West). Also, the mountain sights are hard or impossible to easily visit in the winter, so what season are you tentatively planning the trip?

Soft plan? Sometimes when it's warm and Canes still playing and I need to have a solidified job, it's a long shot right now, but I want it planned ahead. At least basics. So it might be October 2022, spring 2023...

 

[Surrounded By Ahos]

VERY SERIOUS REQUEST.

I contemplate an East Coast trip.

It is far away on a timetable and She is yet to know (I want it to be a surprise, usually I plan only short-term), but I need some consultations.

Basic premise: week/10 days/2 weeks to travel along the east coast north to south. Starting with New York (possibly Boston), then Philadelphia, then the Heart of Enemy (Washington), then I need something interesting on the way to Raleigh and then Triangle and surroundings.

Summoning @3CanesInTheBox as a New Yorker (based currently in WSH if I am not mistaken)
Summoning @VAcaniac as the one living in Enemy territory
Summoning @bleedgreen because he always feels kinda well-traveled

There's so much to do in Philly. A lot of history there (for the United States anyway). Plenty of museums, and the zoo is a lot of fun as well. Here's the HFFlyers thread for visitors, which goes into much more detail:

OT: - The Visitors' Guide to Philadelphia (Pt. 2), recommendations, etc.; Flyers' books, DVDs

 

[MinJaBen]

There's so much to do in Philly. A lot of history there (for the United States anyway). Plenty of museums, and the zoo is a lot of fun as well. Here's the HFFlyers thread for visitors, which goes into much more detail:

OT: - The Visitors' Guide to Philadelphia (Pt. 2), recommendations, etc.; Flyers' books, DVDs

I second this. My family and I did a trip to Maine a couple years ago and we stopped in Philly on our way for a couple of days. It is a very walkable downtown to most of the primary historical sites and we had a great time.

 

[Surrounded By Ahos]

Soft plan? Sometimes when it's warm and Canes still playing and I need to have a solidified job, it's a long shot right now, but I want it planned ahead. At least basics. So it might be October 2022, spring 2023...

Depending on how long you're in the area, you have so many options in NC. I used to live in Asheville, out in the mountains, and I can't recommend the Blue Ridge Parkway enough.

There's also plenty of breweries in Asheville, although they may not entirely hold up to Czech standards.

 

[LostInaLostWorld]

From the Banks to Raleigh you can stop by The Country Doctor Museum. Home | The Country Doctor Museum

 

[MinJaBen]

Depending on how long you're in the area, you have so many options in NC. I used to live in Asheville, out in the mountains, and I can't recommend the Blue Ridge Parkway enough.

There's also plenty of breweries in Asheville, although they may not entirely hold up to Czech standards.

Fair warning, if you are enticed by this picture from along the Blue Ridge Parkway, go to Boone or Blowing Rock as that is an image of the Linn Cove Viaduct, and it is a couple of hours North of Asheville.

 

[Surrounded By Ahos]

Fair warning, if you are enticed by this picture from along the Blue Ridge Parkway, go to Boone or Blowing Rock as that is an image of the Linn Cove Viaduct, and it is a couple of hours North of Asheville.

It's worth the drive from Asheville IMO, just for the views you'll see on the way. Plus Grandfather Mountain is right there. The view from Grandfather is great. Here's a shot from my last visit:

 

[MrazeksVengeance]

Depending on how long you're in the area, you have so many options in NC. I used to live in Asheville, out in the mountains, and I can't recommend the Blue Ridge Parkway enough.

There's also plenty of breweries in Asheville, although they may not entirely hold up to Czech standards.

We are kind of picky but also extremely conservative to anything that is not a pale lager.

 

[tarheelhockey]

It's worth the drive from Asheville IMO, just for the views you'll see on the way. Plus Grandfather Mountain is right there. The view from Grandfather is great. Here's a shot from my last visit:

Fun fact: nobody knows what's at the other end of the bridge.

 

[MinJaBen]

It's worth the drive from Asheville IMO, just for the views you'll see on the way. Plus Grandfather Mountain is right there. The view from Grandfather is great. Here's a shot from my last visit:

Oh, I completely agree it is worth it. My only concern for him is that he is trying to pack so much into about two weeks of visiting. He may have to prioritize this interests at each location. If he is doing NY and Philly and Washington in the same trip, I doubt he has time to do the seashore and the all of the Mountains here in NC, so it may be he picks the Boone area or the Asheville area, but not both. Just the travel time between the North East cities and then to NC is going to eat about a third of his visit.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Oh, I completely agree it is worth it. My only concern for him is that he is trying to pack so much into about two weeks of visiting. He may have to prioritize this interests at each location. If he is doing NY and Philly and Washington in the same trip, I doubt he has time to do the seashore and the all of the Mountains here in NC, so it may be he picks the Boone area or the Asheville area, but not both. Just the travel time between the North East cities and then to NC is going to eat about a third of his visit.

I agree with this. In order to see both the northern cities and the southern natural attractions, he's going to have to fly through it all at an exhausting pace that won't do any of them justice. Personally I tend to over-schedule my vacations because I want to see and do everything, so I understand the logic behind it. But it would probably be better to visit only one of the cities, and visit either the mountains OR the coast in NC. And really focus on those areas with 2-3 days to spend in each place, plus Raleigh and all the driving.

 

[MrazeksVengeance]

I agree with this. In order to see both the northern cities and the southern natural attractions, he's going to have to fly through it all at an exhausting pace that won't do any of them justice. Personally I tend to over-schedule my vacations because I want to see and do everything, so I understand the logic behind it. But it would probably be better to visit only one of the cities, and visit either the mountains OR the coast in NC. And really focus on those areas with 2-3 days to spend in each place, plus Raleigh and all the driving.

You realize the issue of me living across an entire body of sea known as the Atlantic Ocean forces me to go with an intense schedule. If I am in NA I have to make it count.