Weekend Trip to the Triangle REGION OVERVIEW Immerse yourself in the innovative and creative atmosphere that encompasses North

Carolina’s Triangle region. The Triangle is home to top-tier universities, state parks, award-winning restaurants, and so much more! The area’s increasingly diverse culture brings a spark of unique and inspiring growth, creating a vibrant community. Whether you want to explore the outdoors, discover the history of , or witness the progressive milestones of the region, we’ve got something for you. Try out the activities outlined in this two-day itinerary and experience a taste of the quality of life that the

Triangle has to offer. TRANSPORTATION In need of transportation? Take advantage of Raleigh’s brand new Multi-Modal Transit

Center, Union Station. The station is located in downtown Raleigh’s Warehouse District at 510 West Martin St. Here you can board trains that will take you across the Triangle or state. The station currently is being expanded to serve as a hub for local and regional buses, taxis, and other forms of transportation. For ticket and schedule information, visit www.amtrak.com.

The current station for GoRaleigh and GoTriangle buses is located in Moore Square at

214 S. Blount St. For information on ticket prices and schedules, follow these links: GoRaleigh: GoTriangle: https://goraleigh.org/ https://gotriangle.org/ MORNING DAYBegin the morning at Big Ed’s in downtown Raleigh’s City Market for a southern, country-style breakfast. After eating, stroll along the cobblestone streets of City Market and browse the specialty shops that the Moore Square Art District has to offer. Next, ONEmake your way over to Artspace, an artist studio located in Moore Square. This studio allows you to view artists as they create their masterpieces. To the north, there are several museums within walking distance from City Market. If you are traveling with your family, check out Marbles Kids Museum. This two-story interactive kid’s museum has fun games and activities that are great for young children.

Marbles also is the home of the awesome Marbles IMAX Theater. The IMAX screen is 70 feet wide and 50 feet tall! The North Carolina Museum of History is a short walk away and features exhibits devoted to the Civil War, sports heroes, folk life, and more. Across Bicentennial Plaza is the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, the largest natural history museum in the Southeast. It offers seven floors of interactive exhibit space, complete with a two-story waterfall and a conservatory with hundreds of live butterflies. AFTERNOON DAYKeep the day going in downtown Raleigh with lunch at The Pit Authentic Barbecue, located in Raleigh’s Warehouse District. After lunch, cross the street and pop into Videri Chocolate Factory. Take a self-guided tour around the factory and sample some of their ONEgourmet chocolates.

Also located in the Warehouse District is Raleigh’s brand new, mixed-use high-rise, The Dillon. This 18-story building features 40,000 square feet of street level retail and restaurant space. Head to the Sky Lobby, 101 feet off of the ground, and enjoy the afternoon on the rooftop terrace!

Then, make your way to one of the Triangle’s many local craft breweries such as Full Steam Brewery in Durham, Raleigh Brewing Co., or Bond Brothers in Cary. If you want to keep your options open, head to the Raleigh Beer Garden, which has more than 350 taps and is the world’s largest draft beer selection under one roof. Not in the mood for beer? Grab a drink at Watts & Ward, a speakeasy-themed cocktail bar, C. Grace, a jazz bar in Glenwood South, Gallo Pelón Mezcaleria, or The Roof at the Durham Hotel.

For a more family-friendly afternoon, take a trip to after you finish lunch, located right next to NC State’s North Campus. Grab a paddle boat and spend an hour on the lake, try out their 1911 carousel, or catch a ride around the park on their miniature train. Afterwards, check out Triangle Rock Club in Morrisville. This rock climbing space features more than 100 climbing lanes with walls up to 55 feet. EVENING DAYFor a variety of top-notch dinner options, head over to the Glenwood South district of downtown Raleigh. Explore the region’s food scene, where you can find everything from hole-in-the wall burger joints to James Beard Award winning restaurants. Make ONEreservations at Brewery Bhavana, one of Forbes’ 10 coolest places to eat. Brewery Bhavana is a four-in-one restaurant concept that includes a floral shop, brewery, bookstore, and dim sum restaurant. Other options include Spanish tapas at Durham’s Mateo Bar de Tapas, pizza at Carrboro’s Pizzeria Mercato, or Mexican fare at Jose and Sons in Raleigh’s warehouse district.

Be sure to check the home schedules for the area’s professional sports teams, including the ’s , based in Raleigh, or the Durham Bulls, the AAA affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. Other professional baseball teams include the based in Zebulon. They are the Class A-Advanced Affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. For soccer lovers, WalletHub recently ranked Cary as the 13th Best Soccer City in America. It’s no wonder with the success of the North Carolina FC men’s soccer team, or the , the women’s soccer team who just won the Women’s International Champions Cup!

Stay in the Glenwood South district to experience Raleigh’s nightlife. Go dancing at the night club, Alchemy, or socialize on Cornerstone Tavern’s 5000-square-foot patio overlooking Glenwood. Walk along the street and explore the other unique bars for a fun and exciting night. MORNING DAYBegin by driving to the State Farmers Market, where you’ll find 75 acres of indoor and outdoor specialty shops offering fresh fruits and vegetables, homemade baked goods, sauces, and North Carolina wines and crafts. Start off with a home-cooked breakfast at TWOthe State Farmer’s Market Restaurant. The menu is sourced with food from right across the street! It doesn’t get fresher than that! Another delicious breakfast option is La Farm Bakery in Cary. Pick up some fresh baked bread, a variety of pastries, some delicious coffee, and then check out Downtown Cary. The few blocks give a vintage feel and features several unique attractions, including games in the park and the Cary Art Center.

Afterwards, drive a few minutes into NC State’s Centennial Campus and take a tour of the architecturally astounding, James B. Hunt Jr. Library. Known as “the library of the future,” Hunt features a robot-driven automated book delivery system called, “bookBot.” It is open to the public throughout the weekend! Be sure to also stop by NC State’s Memorial Belltower on Hillsborough Street before you leave Raleigh. Visit other points of architectural interest such as the Executive Mansion, the Capitol Building, and the Cree Shimmer Wall on the side of the massive Raleigh Convention Center. The wall showcases a shimmering oak tree, the city of Raleigh’s symbol, made up of more than 80,000 light and dark aluminum tiles. AFTERNOON DAYGet active in the afternoon with a hike or bike ride through William B. Umstead State Park. This beautiful park covers 5,599 acres with 32 miles of hiking, biking, or horseback riding trails, located between Raleigh and Durham near Raleigh-Durham International TWOAirport. The easy to moderate intensity trails take you through miles of forest scenery and wildlife. From Umstead State Park, Brier Creek Shopping Center is only three miles west and houses numerous restaurants that are perfect for lunch.

If you’re looking to get out on the water, check out the 14,000-acre reservoir, Jordan Lake State Recreation Area. This park features 14 miles of hiking trails along the lake shore, as well as seven swim beaches and several boat ramps. It is a great place to have a picnic lunch and lounge by the lake!

Feeling festive? Raleigh and the Triangle host numerous festivals year round, ranging from craft beer festivals to music festivals. At the end of April, Raleigh hosts the largest craft beer festival in North Carolina, Brewgaloo Craft Beer Festival. More than 100 craft breweries from across the state gather downtown for people to sample their beer. Downtown Raleigh’s Food Truck Rodeo and Hopscotch Music Festival are just a few of the other big ones. Check the schedules to see if you’ll be in town during one! EVENING DAYTreat yourself to an elegant evening with dinner at the French-American Bistro Royale, award-winning Indian cuisine at Garland, the Triangle’s 5-star hotel restaurant Herons, or a fantastic steak at the world-renowned, Angus Barn, an iconic steakhouse in Raleigh. TWOThe Angus Barn boasts one of the most amazing wine cellars in the country and includes a lake side pavilion available for rent.

For a more casual night, head out to downtown Durham and explore the American Tobacco Historic District. This area is home to a number of restaurants including Nanasteak, Tobacco Road Sports Bar, and the 60s-themed Tapas Bar, Cuban Revolution.

Head to The Durham Performing Arts Center or Raleigh’s Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts to catch a show with the North Carolina Symphony, North Carolina Opera, the Carolina Ballet, or the North Carolina Theatre. Enjoy live music at one of Raleigh’s major venues Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek, or . Also check the schedules of some smaller music venues, such as Lincoln Theatre or The Pour House Music Hall, for a variety of artists and concerts.

For local productions, visit the . This community theater performs throughout the year. A show here is the perfect way to end a day spent with your family. ENDING NOTES This itinerary is only a handful of the Triangle’s top attractions and recreational activities.

Check out Work in the Triangle’s: “30 Must Dos in 30 Days” for an extensive list of activities in the Triangle for families as well as on your own! Also visit these websites for additional information on the area:

Things to Do in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill www.visitnc.com/raleigh-durham-the-triangle

Raleigh, N.C., Official Tourism Site | Hotels, Restaurants, Things to Do and Events www.visitraleigh.com

Work in the Triangle www.workinthetriangle.com

Offline Raleigh www.get-offline.com/raleigh