Welcome to Raleigh! Thank you for making the journey here! I've linked below a limited selection of restaurants and activities to keep everyone entertained and well fed while you're in town. I've also included a short synopsis just after this paragraph. If you have any questions, or are looking for something specific, please get in contact with us and we would love to direct you further. Emma is just absolutely in love with Raleigh and Sean likes it enough to wish that the whole city could be transported somewhere just a bit cooler. That's to say, we would love to let you know our favorite places.

In general, Raleigh is known for 1) being the capital of North Carolina, 2) for its barbecue (vinegar based in NC!), and 3) for being located next to 3 very prestigious schools - Duke University in Durham, UNC in Chapel Hill, and NC State in Raleigh.

If you're looking for barbecue, I recommend Clyde Coopers, Long Leaf Swine, or Ilya's Southern Kitchen at Morgan Street Food Hall. Raleigh also has a large amount of hot dog stands to explore. I recommend the Cardinal Bar, Snoopy's, or Hot Wieners. If you're looking a brewery, Raleigh has no shortage. Favorites include Trophy, Ponysaurus, Burial at Transfer Food Hall, Lynwood Brewing Concern, or Wye Hill.

Finally, if you want to do something besides eat and drink, I would take some time to explore the local parks and universities. Pullen Park is the 5th oldest operating amusement park in the U.S and is lovely to visit in the fall. It also happens to be located on NC State's campus, which is gorgeous this time of year. The Sarah P. Duke Gardens in Durham are some of the prettiest gardens I've ever seen and the surrounding campus is idyllic. And Chapel Hill is filled with trees and boutiques to go shopping as well as UNC's Chapel Hill campus.

Scroll allll the way down for an itinerary for a day in Downtown Raleigh, Raleigh General, Cary, and Durham.

ITINERARIES

Raleigh To Do

Raleigh Option 1: Downtown Only

Breakfast at Benchwarmers at Transfer Food Hall

Visit a Downtown Park - Fred Fletcher Park is nice, or the Raleigh Rose Garden

Visit NC State - you can walk through their campus and stop by Pullen Park.

Lunch at Manhattan Cafe (casual sandwiches), Taverna Agora (slightly nicer greek with an outdoor eating space), or Clyde Coopers (great spot for barbecue)

If you’re willing to slightly leave downtown, stop by the JC Raulston Arboretum. Really Pretty! There’s also the WRAL Azalea Garden

Grab a drink at a brewery - Raleigh Beer Garden has corn hole and a small mini golf course in the back! - Wine Bar - Vita Vite - or a rooftop bar - The Willard

A nice dinner: La Terrazza (rooftop restaurant), Mulino, Stanbury, Crawford and Son, or Madre (if you go to Madre, go to Neighborhood Bar after!)

After Dinner

Drinks: Neighborhood Bar, Gussie’s, or Flying Saucer (Casual)

Dessert: Videri Chocolate Factory

Raleigh Option 2: Driving Day

Breakfast at Big Ed’s

Go to the State Farmer’s Market (open every day) then to NC Museum of Art. The Art Museum has a long sculpture walk that is really nice if the weather is good.

Lunch: Neomonde (casual but very tasty!!) or Beasley’s Chicken and Honey

Brewery: Ponysauraus at the Raleigh Ironworks

Dinner: St. Roch Fine Oysters (fancy)

After Dinner: Bittersweet (dessert bar) or Two Roosters

Downtown Cary

Breakfast: Big Dom’s Bagels

Lunch: Himalayan Nepali Cuisine

Go to the downtown Cary park! Have a beer, sit, and people watch.

Brewery: Cotton House Craft Brewers or Bond Brothers

Snack: Annalore’s German Bakery

Dinner: Di Fara Pizza

Dessert: FRESH. Local Ice cream or Gelato at Geluna

Durham

Breakfast: Dame's Chicken and Waffles

Visit Duke University. Walk around the campus and see the chapel. Take a long walk around the Sara P. Duke Gardens

Lunch: Pizzeria Toro

Go walk downtown Durham. There are cute bookstores (Letters), Shops (so many - you will find them), and sweet treats (The parlor)

Dinner: Dashi (Ramen)

Other

There are SO many delicious bakeries and coffee shops. Here are some of our favorites:

Left Hook (Coffee)

Cup o’ Joe (Coffee)

Layered (Croissanterie)

Yellow Dog (Bakery + Coffee)

Lucette Grace (Bakery and lunch spot)

Sir Walter Raleigh’s

There are a lot of great Breweries including:

Burial

Lynnwood Brewing Concern

State of Beer

Ponysaurus

Bowstring (beer and pizza)

Trophy (beer and pizza)

I also love stopping at Blackbird Bookshop, So&So Books, Reader’s Corner, Nice Price Books & Records, & Quail Ridge Books

There is a Hockey game on Saturday that would be fun to go to as well!