Raleigh

History

Raleigh is one of the few U.S. state capitals that was specifically established and planned to serve as a capital. Its location was chosen partly for being near the center of the state and partly because it was close to Isaac Hunter's Tavern, where North Carolina legislators and other government officials liked to stay. The story goes that the commissioners couldn't decide on an exact plot of land until Isaac Hunter and his friend Joel Lane had the idea of throwing a big party with plenty of local jam and whiskey. The next morning, the hungover commissioners voted 5–1 for a plot owned by Joel Lane himself.
The new city was officially established as the state capital in 1792 and was named for Sir Walter Raleigh.

Visitor information

The Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau operates the Raleigh Visitor Information Center. The Visitor Information Center (VIC) is located at 500 Fayetteville Street between the Raleigh Marriott City Center and The Raleigh Convention Center. Phone: +1 919-834-5900 / +1-800-849-8499. The VIC is open Monday thru Saturday, 9AM to 5PM and offers brochures, event calendars, coupons, maps, and other visitor information. Stop by and pick up a brochure or visit the website to view a visitor guide online or order one to be mailed before your trip.

By plane

Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU). A former hub of American Airlines and Midway Airlines, the airport today is a fairly large focus city for Delta Airlines. The airport has bus service in the form of GoTriangle Route 100, which stops at the airport on the way from the Regional Transit Center to downtown Raleigh.

By car

• Interstate 40 goes to points west including Durham, Chapel Hill, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and Asheville. Two and a half hours east on I-40 is Wilmington.
• Interstates 85 and 95, though they do not directly enter Raleigh, provide easy access to the city from up and down the Eastern Seaboard; large access routes from these interstates provide easy access to the city.
• US 1, the East Coast corridor route, cuts through Raleigh on its way from New York to the Florida Keys; within the city limits US 1 is known as Capital Blvd.

By train

Amtrak provides train services to Raleigh; the Piedmont runs three times per day from Charlotte, a trip of just over three hours. There are also two daily long-distance routes: the Carolinian and Silver Star lines, both of which head north through Richmond, Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia to New York City. Southbound, the Carolinian follows the Piedmont south to Charlotte and the Silver Star heads south through Columbia and Savannah to Florida. The new , at 510 W Martin St, has completely replaced the old station.

By bus

• Greyhound, 2210 Capital Blvd, +1 919 834-8275.
• Megabus stops in nearby Durham.
• Triangle Transit, +1 919 549-9999. The Triangle's inter-city bus service runs routes between Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and RDU, with a hub near the Research Triangle Park. Fares are $2.25 per trip and $4.50 for a day pass.

Within the I-440 Beltline are mostly fashionable older neighborhoods and the NC State University area. The North Raleigh neighborhoods are aligned along the "spokes of the wheel"—major thoroughfares emanating from the I-440 Loop and passing through the northern edge of the much larger I-540 loop.
Downtown Raleigh provides easy travel and access through its grid of one-way streets. If you're just passing through, the major thoroughfare is Capital Boulevard (US 401), which splits into Dawson Street heading south and McDowell Street heading north. From the west, it is Hillsborough Street, interrupted midway by the state Capitol building. To the east, it continues as New Bern Avenue (US 64).
The I-440 Beltline was once denoted with "Inner" and "Outer" labels, but they have been phased out in favor of "East" and "West." I-440 West was previously the Outer Beltline, and I-440 East was previously the Inner Beltline. I-440's concurrency with I-40 through the souther portion of Raleigh has also been removed; therefore, the Beltline no longer loops back on itself.
Raleigh is known for particularly aggressive parking enforcement and towing, so be sure to follow all parking signs and rules. Most parking meters have been converted to electronic pay stations that accept coins and MasterCard/Visa. Most metered areas are only enforced on Mon-Fri from 8AM-5PM. Some parking garages are free on evenings and weekends as well, but "special event" rates are common during major downtown events regardless of the time or day.

By bus

For information on routes, schedules and fares, check GoTriangle.org, for a helpful trip planner.

• Triangle Transit Authority (TTA), +1 919 549-9999. Routes between Raleigh, Durham, Cary, and Chapel Hill as well as Research Triangle Park and the Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
• Capital Area Transit (CAT), +1 919 828-7228. Routes within Raleigh city limits including a free downtown circulator bus, the R-Line.
• Wolfline, +1 919 515-9653. Routes in and around NC State University; free and open to the public.

Note that Triangle Transit passes ($4.50 for a 1-day pass) can also be used on CAT and buses in Durham and Cary. But the reverse is not true; CAT passes ($2 for 1-day) are only usable on CAT.

By taxi

There are 36 licensed taxi operators in Raleigh of varying quality. Spanish speakers will appreciate Velo Taxi +1 919 271-5719, Taxi Poly +1 919 538-1750, or Amigo taxi +1 919 862-6162.

• City of Raleigh Museum

  address: 220 Fayetteville St
  Local history museum, an excellent place to start your visit to the City of Oaks.

• North Carolina State Capitol

  address: 1 E. Edenton St
  Built between 1833 and 1840 and originally housed the governor's office, cabinet offices and more. It's now both a working capitol and a museum of North Carolina history, especially the period between the building's construction and the Civil War. Several rooms are restored with furniture and items from the era so you can see how they might have looked, including original legislative rooms, a collection of geological specimens, and a library. Full of plaques and informational signs. Gems include spittoons (for tobacco) in the legislative rooms, and a big statue of George Washington in the style of a Roman soldier. Guided tours are available Saturdays at 11AM and 2PM or by appointment for large groups, or take a self-guided tour whenever the building is open.

• N.C. Museum of Art

  phone: +1 919 839-6262
  address: 2110 Blue Ridge Rd
  With rotating exhibits, summer outdoor film series, and groovy sculpture garden.

• N.C. Museum of History

  phone: +1 919 807-7900
  address: 5 East Edenton St
  Extensive museum of North Carolina history, from ancient Native American cultures through colonization and independence up to the World Wars and the Civil Rights Movement. Everything is labeled with thorough and interesting interpretive signs, and some sections have little theater rooms showing videos with more details. Includes a genuine slave cabin rebuilt in the museum, a recreated 1920s drugstore, galleries of North Carolina military history, a children's discovery gallery, and the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, which exhibits personal items donated by approximately 360 inductees. Also has a gift shop.

• N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences

  phone: +1 919 733-7450
  address: 1 W Jones St
  Contains a huge new wing full of interactive exhibits, the Nature Research Center, with 3-story multimedia globe structure and exhibits such as a 10,000 gallon aquarium.

• Marbles Kids Museum

  phone: +1 919 834-4040
  address: 201 E Hargett St
  The former Exploris museum has merged with Playspace to form Marbles, an interactive kid's museum, still with an IMAX theater.

• Joel Lane Museum House

  phone: +1 919 833-3431
  address: 160 South Saint Mary's St
  A Georgian-style manor plantation house built circa 1770 by Colonel Joel Lane, patriot, statesman, and planter, Col. Lane's home has been faithfully restored and is filled with period artifacts. The site houses three historic structures, including a very simple circa 1790 middle-class home interpreted as a kitchen and a circa 1840 Visitors Center.

• JC Raulston Arboretum

  phone: +1 919-515-3132
  address: 4301 Beryl Road
  8 acre arboretum and botanical gardens operated by NC State University with over 5000 different varieties of plants.

• Governor's Mansion

  address: 210 N. Blount St
  Official residence of the North Carolina governor and family, built in the late 1800s. Group tours are available mid-March to mid-June, but must be booked at least two weeks in advance.

• Mordecai Historic Park

  phone: +1 919 996 4364
  address: 1 Mimosa St
  Built in 1785, this is the oldest house in Raleigh at its original location. The grounds include the birthplace of President Andrew Johnson.

Historic neighborhoods

• Boylan HeightsA national historic district from the early 20th century.

• Cameron ParkAn early 20th century historic neighborhood, originally a high-end suburb.

• Five PointsA cluster of five suburban neighborhoods set up in the 1910s and 20s.

• Glenwood/Brooklyn"Raleigh's first master-planned neighborhood", first established in the early 20th century as a streetcar suburb for working- and middle-class white families.

• OakwoodThe oldest surviving neighborhood in Raleigh, full of historic homes, many carefully restored.

• MordecaiAn important historic neighborhood with interesting old houses.

• Adventure Landing

• Sky Zone Raleigh

• Triangle Glides

  phone: +1 919-828-1988
  address: 321 S. Blount St
  Triangle Glides offers guided Segway tours of downtown points of interest and historic sights. All tours are fully narrated. Advance purchase required.

• Carolina Hurricanes

  phone: +1 919 861-2323
  address: 1400 Edwards Mill Rd
  Raleigh's NHL hockey team plays at the PNC Arena. A good atmosphere and family-friendly crowds make this an excellent place to spend an evening during fall and winter.

• Pullen Park

  phone: +1 919 831-6468
  address: 520 Ashe Ave
  Outdoor plays, a 1911 carousel, pedal boats, a miniature train, and an excellent aquatic center.

• William B. Umstead State Park

  address: 8801 Glenwood Ave
  Picnic, hike, camp, go fishing, or just rent a canoe and relax. A nice quiet place near Raleigh-Durham airport.

• North Carolina State WolfpackThe sports teams representing North Carolina State University, competing in the Atlantic Coast Conference along with 14 other schools along the East Coast and Midwestern United States. Football and basketball games are popular in addition to other sports.

• Carolina Mudcats

  address: 1501 NC Highway 39, Zebulon
  Minor-league baseball. About a 20-minute drive east of town. Tickets are affordable at $3-$9; unlike the nearby Durham Bulls baseball stadium, Mudcats' parking is ample.

• North Carolina State Fair

  phone: +1 919 821-7400
  address: 1025 Blue Ridge Rd.
  Raleigh. One of the largest fairs of its kind in America, this ten day long event has recently drawn over 1,000,000 to the State Fairgrounds to sample North Carolina produce, attend concerts, ride fair rides and feast on deep-fried Twinkies. Mid to late October.

• Lake Johnson Nature Park

  phone: +1 919 233-2121
  address: 4601 Avent Ferry Rd
  A pleasant nature trail winds about 3.5 miles around the eastern half of the lake, and another dirt trail exists on the northwestern shore of the lake. Ideal for hiking and biking. Paddle boats can also be rented.

• Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts

  phone: +1 919 996-8700
  address: 2 East South St
  The performing arts center includes 3 primary venues. Memorial Auditorium is the largest and hosts diverse events such as the Carolina Ballet and traveling theater productions of Broadway Series South. Meymandi Concert Hall is home to the North Carolina Symphony. Fletcher Opera Theater is a more intimate setting and hosts events such as Raleigh Chamber Music Guild concerts.

• First FridaysOn the first Friday evening of every month, downtown art galleries, museums, and shops stay open late for a downtown-wide event with live music and specials at restaurants and bars.

• World of BluegrassThe International Bluegrass Music Association will be hosting its annual conference and celebration in Raleigh until at least 2018. Awards gala, concerts, and a free street festival. Late September/early October.

• Yates Mill County Park

  address: 4620 Lake Wheeler Road
  A 174-acre park only a few miles from downtown. Over 2 miles of trails, a visitor center with family activities, and a large pond for fishing. The park also contains the last water-powered grist mill in Wake county. Restored to operating condition, the mill offers guided tours on weekends.

• Cameron Village

  phone: +1 919 821-1350
  address: located inside the Beltline on Oberlin Road between Hillsborough Street and Wade Ave
  The first shopping center between Atlanta and DC, Cameron Village is today a major destination point. Home to many of Raleigh's oldest boutique stores, the development also includes restaurants, a grocery store, and the Wake County's flagship public library. Hours vary depending on the store.

• Crabtree Valley Mall

  address: on Glenwood Ave
  Belk, Macy's and Sears anchor. Largest mall in the region, featuring the state's only H&M store.

• Triangle Town Center

  phone: +1 919 792-2222
  address: on Capital Blvd
  Includes Dillard's, Belk, Macy's, Sears and North Carolina's only Saks Fifth Avenue.

• North Hills Shopping Center

  address: 4217 Six Forks Rd
  Recently transformed into a mixed-use center, North Hills has transformed itself from a drab 1960s mall to a mixed-use mecca. Along with Cameron Village, the complex houses a large number of trendy boutiques in Raleigh; the center also is home to a grocery store, movie theater, Target, JC Penny, and a variety of restaurants and retail. Hours vary according to the store.

• Seaboard StationDesigned to showcase the local, independent retailer, shopping at Seaboard Station is a bright, airy prospect. Along with many unique specialty shops, you'll also find a salon, fitness center and options for dining.

• City MarketHome to art galleries, restaurants and specialty shops. Cobblestone streets lit by lamps give the area a 19th-century feel.

• Raleigh Flea Market

  address: 1025 Blue Ridge Rd
  The Flea Market, featuring 600 vendors offering all sorts of antiques, collectibles, furniture, electronics and more.

• Blue Water Spa

  phone: +1 919 870-6066
  address: 10941 Raven Ridge Rd
  Voted best medical spa in America 3 consecutive years. The home spa boutique is a great place to indulge or to pick up a great hostess gift.

Due to the large influx of residents from around the USA and the world as well as the large student population, there is a fairly large variety of cuisine available at a wide range of prices. And, being a Southern city, there are still plenty of options for traditional Southern food and a few modern interpretations of those traditional foods. Of course, no visit to North Carolina would be complete without trying some NC-style barbecue pork. There are actually two major styles in the state: Lexington-style (named after Lexington, NC) which uses only the pork shoulder and is served with a tomato and vinegar sauce and Eastern-style which uses the "whole hog" and is served with a vinegar-based sauce. Both styles are available around Raleigh and some restaurants include both types of sauce on the table.

Budget

• Armadillo Grill

  phone: +1 919 546-0555
  address: 439 Glenwood Ave
  "A taste as big as Texas!" Awesome tacos, etc., although not very traditional Mexican food. Great atmosphere and cheap (plus free refills on drinks and chips)!

• Big Ed's

  phone: +1 919 836-9909
  address: 220 Wolfe St
  Big Ed's signature breakfasts are the Southern standards: homemade biscuits, grits with red-eye gravy, etc. Come Saturday mornings for live Dixieland jazz.

• Farmer's Market Restaurant

  phone: +1 919 833-7973
  address: 1240 Farmer's Market Dr
  Solid, hearty food with fresh ingredients from the state farmer's market right next door. Serves breakfast and lunch.

• Krispy Kreme

  phone: +1 919 833-3682
  address: 549 North Person St
  The popular Winston-Salem-based doughnut maker is a landmark that nearby residents use to give directions. Look for the "Hot Doughnuts Now" sign for a little round piece of glazed heaven. Quite popular with the students of nearby Broughton and Enloe High Schools, especially in the early morning hours, so plan accordingly.

• Neomonde

  phone: +1 919 828-1628
  address: 3817 Beryl Rd
  A delicious Mediterranean market and deli. Their fantastic hummus and baba ghanouj with pita bread alone make any meal great.

• Roast Grill

  phone: +1 919 832-8292
  address: 7 South West St
  If you're looking for a hot dog and a bottle of Coke, this is the place in downtown Raleigh. If you're looking for ketchup, though, you may just be asked to leave. Run by a family of Greek immigrants since 1940, in a tiny room added to the front of their house.

• Watkin's Grill

  phone: +1 919 834-0467
  address: 1625 Wake Forest Rd
  Greasy-spoon with Civil War memorabilia on the walls.

• Clyde Cooper's BBQ

  phone: +1 919-832-7614
  address: 327 S Wilmington St
  Traditional NC-style barbecue. A Raleigh institution since 1938.

Mid-range

• The Fiction Kitchen

  phone: +1 919 831-4177
  address: 428 S. Dawson St.
  Thoughtfully prepared vegan and vegetarian cuisine from a 100% vegetarian kitchen. Very popular among touring music artist playing at the nearby Red Hat Amphitheater.

• Casa Carbone Ristorante

  phone: +1 919 781-8750
  address: 6019-A Glenwood Ave
  A family restaurant with an extensive menu that includes everything from classic spaghetti and lasagna, to more intricate entrees such as grouper puttanesca and beef braciole. Excellent wine choices as well. Affordable and delicious.

• Irregardless Cafe

  phone: +1 919 833-8898
  address: 901 W. Morgan St
  A Raleigh institution since the 1970s, the Irregardless offers an eclectic menu including creative vegetarian options. Jazz music every night and dancing on Saturday nights.

• Lilly's Pizza

  phone: +1 919 833-0226
  address: 1813 Glenwood Ave
  Part hippie, yuppie, bohemian, and retro, Lilly's is an experience all to its own. Located in the popular Five Points district means that parking can be a problem, especially when a popular film is screening at the nearby Rialto theater. If you're adventurous, you can access Five Points by the number 2 CAT bus.

• Sushi Nine

  phone: +1 919 900-8203
  address: 3812 Western Blvd
  A great selection of BOGO sushi rolls offered all day everyday. Also offers a mix of Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, and Chinese entrees. Full bar.

• The Village Draft House

  phone: +1 919 833-1373
  address: 428 Daniels St
  They're the best ever. Don't forget the pickle chips!

• The Pit

  phone: +1 919-890-4500
  address: 328 W Davie St
  Somewhat upscale whole-hog barbecue

• 18 Seaboard

  phone: +1 919-861-4318
  address: 18 Seaboard Ave #100
  Contemporary Southern food with a seasonal menu

• Poole's Downtown Diner

  phone: +1 919-832-4477
  address: 426 S McDowell St
  Sourced almost entirely from local farmers and artisan producers, the menu can change on a daily basis. The executive chef, Ashley Christensen, won the 2014 James Beard award for Best Chef in the Southeast.

Splurge

• Mura

  phone: +1 919 781-7887
  address: 4121 Main at North Hills St
  Japanese fine dining. Serves excellent Kobe beef, a variety of steaks, seafood, fusion cuisine and the finest grade sushi with many one of a kind rolls and visually pleasing artistic presentations.

• Second Empire Restaurant and Tavern

  phone: +1 919 829-3663
  address: 330 Hillsborough Street
  Gourmet fare in the restored Dodd-Hinsdale House, built in 1879 in the Second Empire Victorian style.

• The Angus Barn

  phone: +1 919-781-2444
  address: 9401 Glenwood Ave
  Fine dining with house-aged steaks.

Food trucks

Thanks to relaxed regulations first in Durham and later in Raleigh, the Triangle area has a lively food truck scene with a wide variety of cuisines available in street food form from burgers and pizza to Chinese dumplings and Belgian waffles, and of course, barbecue. Many have since expanded to brick and mortar locations as well and a few popular restaurants have launched their own trucks. At lunchtime, trucks can usually be found near office parks with few restaurants nearby or on college campuses (there is almost always at least one truck serving weekday lunch on NC State's Centennial Campus). In the evening they often serve dinner at local breweries (see Drink below). Downtown Raleigh hosts occasional food truck "rodeos" featuring over 50 trucks from as far as Charlotte. See their website for upcoming dates and links to truck websites. A partial list of trucks that occasionally serve Raleigh is given below.

• American MeltdownGourmet grilled cheese sandwiches and melts on locally baked bread.

• BaguettaboutitLocally-produced sausage and freshly-made sauce served inside of a fresh-baked baguette. Vegetarian options available.

• Belgian Waffle CraftersLiege (dough-based) and Brussels (batter-based) waffles. Both sweet and savory toppings available. Try the "Choco-waffle", a Liege waffle with chocolate pieces in the dough.

• Chirba ChirbaChinese dumplings and dipping sauces. Always a crowd favorite at food truck rodeos.

• OnlyBurgerMade-to-order burgers and fresh-cut fries.

• PorchettaSlow-roasted Italian-style pork sandwiches.

• The Humble PigBarbecue pork, chicken, and beef brisket from NC farms and traditional Southern sides.

Southwest Raleigh, particularly the area along Hillsborough Street, resembles a college town, so there are plenty of places to find a drink. What is more, the city has a number of microbreweries. For cheaper places, try near the campus of North Carolina State University on Hillsborough Street. (A scene in "Bull Durham" was filmed in Mitch's Tavern.) The downtown area known as Glenwood South has a few more upscale bars and is located between Glenwood Ave and Harrington Street and between Peace Street and Hillsborough Street just northwest of downtown. The City Market area around Moore Square and the area around Fayetteville Street also offer a good mix. Those not from the American South should be sure to order "sweet tea". Sweet tea, along with Sundrop and Cheerwine, has long been considered a native beverage, and is served in most restaurants. The sweetness will vary in accordance with the locale, but is nevertheless much sweeter than any tea served elsewhere in the nation.

• Carolina Brewing Company

  address: 140 Thomas Mill Rd
  In Holly Springs - CBC conducts weekly tours on Saturday afternoons, and it's best to arrive anywhere from 15-30 minutes early to make sure you get a sample of their beer both prior to the tour. No fear if you arrive late, however, as the taps are typically open for an hour afterwards as well. CBC brews an India Pale Ale, a Nut Brown Ale, and the Carolina Pale Ale year round (available at the brewery, in local stores, and in many local bars and restaurants) and usually has one or two seasonal beers available only at the brewery or on tap at select local establishments.

• Big Boss Brewing company

  address: 1249 Wicker Dr
  In Raleigh - Big Boss conducts monthly tours on Saturday afternoons, and it's usually best to check the website to find out exactly when. As with CBC, it's a good idea to get there a bit early, as there's usually a pretty good crowd there. Big Boss brews an assortment of seasonal beers that are distributed locally in addition to their year-round Bad Penny Brown Ale, Helles Belle Belgian Blond, and Angry Angel Kolsch Ale that are also sold in bottles at local stores. Big Boss also features an on-site pub called Horniblows Tavern. Though not located in one of the trendy areas of town, Horniblows is a great place for knocking back a couple of brews and solving the world's problems with your mates.

• Lonerider Brewing Company

  address: 8816 Gulf Court #100
  In Raleigh near the airport and Brier Creek. One of the areas nearest breweries, it has quickly penetrated the market. Often considered a brewers brewery, they offer a handful or more of well-crafted beers. Brewery tours fairly regularly at about once a month.

• The Raleigh Times Bar

  address: 14 E. Hargett St
  Snug in the offices of the former Raleigh Times newspaper, this broadsheet turned gastropub is the place for people watching over a pint (or a half pint) of craft-brewed beer.

• Crank Arm Brewing

  address: 319 W. Davie St
  Brewpub in the warehouse district that opened in 2013.

• Fox Liquor Bar

  phone: +1 919-322-0128
  address: 237 S Wilmington St
  A trendy, upscale bar featuring traditional and creative cocktails along with a small, but interesting selection of craft beers.

Downtown, there are three major hotels: the Clarion, Marriott City Center, and the Sheraton.

• AmeriSuites Raleigh/RDU Airport-RTP

  phone: +1 919 405-2400
  address: 200 Airgate Dr
  Adjacent to Raleigh Durham International Airport and the Research Triangle Park.

• Clarion Hotel

  phone: +1 919 832-0501
  address: 320 Hillsborough St
  The 20-story hotel is undergoing its first major renovation since the 1960s. Try to get a room on the lower floors, which are being fixed up first.

• Comfort Inn & Suites Crabtree Valley

  phone: +1 919 782-1112
  address: 6209 Glenwood Ave
  6 ml from Raleigh Airport, with free airport transfers.

• Days Inn

  phone: +1 919 828-9081
  address: 300 North Dawson St
  Closest to Glenwood South, where many bars and restaurants are located.

• Embassy Suites Raleigh - Crabtree

  phone: +1 919 881-0000
  address: 4700 Creedmoor Rd
  All-suite hotel with tropical atrium featuring full-service amenities, indoor pool, and fitness center. Free breakfast and reception daily for all guests.

• Fuquay Mineral Spring Inn and GardenBed and Breakfast.

• Marriott City Center

  phone: +1 919 833-1120
  address: 500 Fayetteville St
  Attached to the new Convention Center.

• Marriott Crabtree Valley

  phone: +1 919 781-7000
  address: 4500 Marriott Dr
  Close to Crabtree Valley Mall, NC Museum of Art and Time Warner Cable Pavilion at Walnut Creek.

• Microtel Inn & Suites Raleigh

  phone: +1 919 231-0002
  address: 1209 Plainview Dr

• Oakwood Inn - Bed & Breakfast

  phone: +1 919 231-0002
  address: 411 North Bloodworth St
  B&B in a historic neighborhood.

• Ramada Raleigh

  phone: +1 919 832-4100
  address: 1520 Blue Ridge Dr

• Renaissance Hotel

  address: 4100 Main

• Sheraton Hotel

  phone: +1 919 834-9900
  address: 421 South Salisbury St
  Another 20-story hotel, a touch fancier, but located on the mostly uninteresting Fayetteville Street Mall.

• The Umstead Hotel & Spa

  phone: +1 919 447-4000
  address: 100 Woodland Pond Dr
  Convenient to downtown, the newer Umstead is the only 5 star hotel in the area.

• Wingate by Wyndham State Arena Raleigh/Cary

  phone: +1 919 847-7383
  address: 115 Corporate Ridge Rd

Raleigh's crime rate is below average for an American city of its size (and arguably one of the lowest in the Southern USA), but one still must be cautious and intelligent. In particular, stick to the busy and well-lit parts of downtown after dark, and avoid the neighborhoods immediately south or east of downtown after dark. The NC State University campus and vicinity are safe and heavily trafficked during the day and evening, but use the university's public safety escort service in the early hours of the morning. Throughout Raleigh, you should think before using an automated teller machine (ATM) after dark, unless it's located in a mall or other heavily travelled, well-lit area.

• Panera Bread

  phone: +1 919 781-1112
  address: 4421 Six Forks Rd Ste 119
  Free wireless access.

Consulates

• Mexico

  phone: +1 919 754-0046
  address: 336 E Six Forks Rd

• Netherlands (Honorary)

  phone: +1 919 645-1100

• Umstead Park, easily accessible by car, bus, or bike, Umstead is a natural haven from the Triangle's urban zones, centrally located next to RDU Intl. Airport. Miles of trails, both paved and unpaved, provide access for hikers, campers, bikers and joggers to three lakes and over 5380 acres.
• Pittsboro
• Chapel Hill, about 25 miles from Raleigh, is home to the University of North Carolina (UNC-CH). Chapel Hill has many good restaurants and bars on Franklin Street, adjacent to the UNC campus.
• Durham about 25 miles away, the home of Duke University. Durham has many trendy cafes, bars, theaters, art locations and four star restaurants.
• Wake Forest, about 18 miles away, features access to the vast Falls Lake Park Recreation Area and boasts a small downtown carefully preserved in time.