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

[kerrabria]

It’s definitely a car-dependent area… you probably already know that but don’t want there to be any misunderstanding. Public transport sucks, like really bad. Partly due to poor infrastructure and partly due to having such long distances to cover (again, not a heavily built up urban area).

Cary to Duke is about 25 minutes in off-peak hours, assuming you’re measuring from the near-to-middle side of Cary. During rush hours I would say more like 40 minutes to account for likely traffic delays with congestion and red lights. Garner is a good deal farther out… more like 35 minutes off-peak and 55+ during rush hour.

The extremes of the Triangle, like going from Garner or East Raleigh to Chapel Hill, I would call it about an hour off-peak and ~90 minutes during rush hour. Not everyone considers that reasonable but a lot of people moving from cities like NYC and DC don’t even blink at it.

Thank you!

 

[garnetpalmetto]

One other suggestion on a place to look other than what @tarheelhockey suggested would be Wake Forest. There's also Morrisville which is kind of between Durham and Cary. Morrisville tends to have quite a few apartment complex - Wake Forest less so but they are there and Wake Forest to Durham isn't *too* bad of a commute between I-540 and NC-98.

In terms of quality fruits/veggies your best options are probably going to be the higher quality grocery chains (Harris-Teeter, Lowe's Foods, or Publix) along with Trader Joe's, The Fresh Market, and Whole Foods. You can also hit up the North Carolina State Farmer's Market in Raleigh and some towns have weekend farmer's markets (I know Durham does for instance). There's also a few Community Support Agriculture/Doorstep Farmer's Market options. My wife and I subscribe to one called Papa Spuds and it's one where you can choose what you get. Pretty wide variety and generally good quality food including local dairy and meat. They also offer recipe kits along the lines of HelloFresh or Blue Apron that are pretty good and reasonably priced.

 

[tarheelhockey]

One other suggestion on a place to look other than what @tarheelhockey suggested would be Wake Forest. There's also Morrisville which is kind of between Durham and Cary. Morrisville tends to have quite a few apartment complex - Wake Forest less so but they are there and Wake Forest to Durham isn't *too* bad of a commute between I-540 and NC-98.

In terms of quality fruits/veggies your best options are probably going to be the higher quality grocery chains (Harris-Teeter, Lowe's Foods, or Publix) along with Trader Joe's, The Fresh Market, and Whole Foods. You can also hit up the North Carolina State Farmer's Market in Raleigh and some towns have weekend farmer's markets (I know Durham does for instance). There's also a few Community Support Agriculture/Doorstep Farmer's Market options. My wife and I subscribe to one called Papa Spuds and it's one where you can choose what you get. Pretty wide variety and generally good quality food including local dairy and meat. They also offer recipe kits along the lines of HelloFresh or Blue Apron that are pretty good and reasonably priced.

I would really recommend Morrisville for anyone moving new to the area and looking for apartments. It's extremely well located (central to Durham/CH in one direction and Cary/Raleigh in the other direction, and close to both RTP for work and Jordan Lake for recreation) and growing at a breakneck pace so there are a ton of new apartments and retail in the area. Right now a lot of it feels like it's in transition from rural to suburban, but it's no exaggeration to say it will feel like a totally different place in 2 years with all of the new growth going in there. Meaning rent there will probably go up 50%+ soon, so now's the time to jump on it.

 

[NYR2007]

Hey guys, I'm looking to come down to see the game Friday. I have never visited your arena, any advice on restaurants or activities you recommend ?

 

[garnetpalmetto]

Hey guys, I'm looking to come down to see the game Friday. I have never visited your arena, any advice on restaurants or activities you recommend ?

Yes and yes. What're your tastes in both?

 

[tarheelhockey]

Hey guys, I'm looking to come down to see the game Friday. I have never visited your arena, any advice on restaurants or activities you recommend ?

My suggestion is to make dinner reservations in Chapel Hill for about half an hour before game time.

 

[garnetpalmetto]

My suggestion is to make dinner reservations in Chapel Hill for about half an hour before game time.

Chapel Hill? Jeez, THH. At least go for a really nice restaurant maybe in Charleston. I mean FIG is pretty darned awesome.

 

[LostInaLostWorld]

Chapel Hill? Jeez, THH. At least go for a really nice restaurant maybe in Charleston. I mean FIG is pretty darned awesome.

No. Gotta be NC. Perhaps Curate in Asheville.

 

[tarheelhockey]

No. Gotta be NC. Perhaps Curate in Asheville.

Where's a good place in Okracoke? Someone send this guy the ferry schedule

 

[MinJaBen]

Where's a good place in Okracoke? Someone send this guy the ferry schedule

Why would he need the ferry, the arena is right next door.

 

[garnetpalmetto]

I mean wasn't there an episode of Outer Banks where they just went right over to Chapel Hill like it was nothing?

 

[MinJaBen]

I mean wasn't there an episode of Outer Banks where they just went right over to Chapel Hill like it was nothing?

Yes, that was a good documentary.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I mean wasn't there an episode of Outer Banks where they just went right over to Chapel Hill like it was nothing?

And the arena is halfway between them. Totally feasible to leave your hotel in Okracoke at 8pm, grab dinner in Chapel Hill at 8:30, and be in your seat for 9pm puck drop.

 

[wunderpanda]

was in raleigh for game 1, wanted chicfila. used googlemaps on phone, crabtree mall, drove around for 20 minuted because googlemaps doesn't understand parking ramps or 2nd floors. the hilton on arrow drive has a restaurant, but they are closed for lunch.

 

[LostInaLostWorld]

was in raleigh for game 1, wanted chicfila. used googlemaps on phone, crabtree mall, drove around for 20 minuted because googlemaps doesn't understand parking ramps or 2nd floors. the hilton on arrow drive has a restaurant, but they are closed for lunch.

First mistake is chica. Bo's just a few minutes drive down Glenwood. The new one by PNC or Western Blvd may be closer but less direct. (A chica is on Lk Boone 1 exit down 440 2 minutes away. Has a drive thru.)

 

[wunderpanda]

First mistake is chica. Bo's just a few minutes drive down Glenwood. The new one by PNC or Western Blvd may be closer but less direct. (A chica is on Lk Boone 1 exit down 440 2 minutes away. Has a drive thru.)

if i can get there monday, i will go to bo's instead

 

[tarheelhockey]

was in raleigh for game 1, wanted chicfila. used googlemaps on phone, crabtree mall, drove around for 20 minuted because googlemaps doesn't understand parking ramps or 2nd floors. the hilton on arrow drive has a restaurant, but they are closed for lunch.

I have made this exact mistake with the Crabtree CFA. Fast food located in food courts shouldn’t be allowed to show up on map searches.

 

[PJJJP]

Hi Canes fans. I will be in town for a Esports LAN tournament being held at the PNC Arena. Any good food recommendations that I should try?

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Hi Canes fans. I will be in town for a Esports LAN tournament being held at the PNC Arena. Any good food recommendations that I should try?

That's a pretty broad question. What type of food do you like? If you look at the first post in this thread, there are a bunch of restaurants listed so maybe take a look at that and see if any that look interesting and then posters can give you their views on it and some recommendations.

 

[RosensRug]

Was offered to transition to full remote and keep my NYC based salary this week... Coming down to look at a handful of properties in the triangle area and Charlotte. Any neighborhoods to strongly avoid? Or adversely any stand out in a positive way?

 

[MinJaBen]

Was offered to transition to full remote and keep my NYC based salary this week... Coming down to look at a handful of properties in the triangle area and Charlotte. Any neighborhoods to strongly avoid? Or adversely any stand out in a positive way?

Can’t speak about the Charlotte area, but there are lots of great and very different options in the triangle, so you’d have to help us a little bit by giving us an idea of what you are looking for or prefer. There are great urban/downtown areas in Raleigh and Durham, great small town areas in Apex and Holly Springs, and lots of suburban areas everywhere.

 

[RosensRug]

Can’t speak about the Charlotte area, but there are lots of great and very different options in the triangle, so you’d have to help us a little bit by giving us an idea of what you are looking for or prefer. There are great urban/downtown areas in Raleigh and Durham, great small town areas in Apex and Holly Springs, and lots of suburban areas everywhere.

Probably looking for more of a suburban feel. I grew up in the suburbs so thats pretty much what I've grown to be comfortable with. Then I lived in manhattan for two years and while it was fun for a little bit it grew old very quickly.

Ideally would like a neighborhood with a handful of decent restaurants, a publix, maybe a brewery.

 

[garnetpalmetto]

Probably looking for more of a suburban feel. I grew up in the suburbs so thats pretty much what I've grown to be comfortable with. Then I lived in manhattan for two years and while it was fun for a little bit it grew old very quickly.

Ideally would like a neighborhood with a handful of decent restaurants, a publix, maybe a brewery.

'You might want to check out any subdivisions off of Leesville Rd in Raleigh (only downside is that many of them are under the approach paths to RDU) as there's a few shopping centers (with a Publix) around, you're also close to Brier Creek as well as Gizmo Brewing and Lonerider Brewing. Another option might be the newer subdivisions and townhouse subdivisions coming up off of Ellis Rd in Durham - there'll be a Publix there (currently under construction) and NC-147 err...I-885 is right nearby so you can easily get into downtown Durham for Ponysaurus, Fullsteam, Durty Bull, Hi-Wire and Bull City Ciderworks or into Morrisville/RTP for Barrel Culture.

 

[RosensRug]

'You might want to check out any subdivisions off of Leesville Rd in Raleigh (only downside is that many of them are under the approach paths to RDU) as there's a few shopping centers (with a Publix) around, you're also close to Brier Creek as well as Gizmo Brewing and Lonerider Brewing. Another option might be the newer subdivisions and townhouse subdivisions coming up off of Ellis Rd in Durham - there'll be a Publix there (currently under construction) and NC-147 err...I-885 is right nearby so you can easily get into downtown Durham for Ponysaurus, Fullsteam, Durty Bull, Hi-Wire and Bull City Ciderworks or into Morrisville/RTP for Barrel Culture.

Thank you! this is very informative. Not too worried about the RDU flight path, I lived under the JFK and LGA approaches for years so it can't be as bad hahaha

 

[LostInaLostWorld]

The only thing close to a NY deli in the Triangle is Mookies in Cary. Nice subdivisions all around, Carolina Ale House (Canes watch party) nearby, etc.

Mookie's New York Deli - Cary, Cary, NC

Welcome to Mookie's New York Deli! Growing up in the suburbs of New York City, I frequently ate at delis near my neighborhood and in Manhattan. When I left the area for work, I missed...

www.mookiesnydeli.com