About Raleigh-Durham

Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill are often referred to as the Triangle. Chapel Hill, Durham and Raleigh make up the three corners of the Research Triangle, so named in 1959 with the creation of the Research Triangle Park, a research park between Durham and Raleigh. This area is affectionately known as the land of tees, trees, and PhD’s.

The area continues to be voted one of the most desirable places to live in the nation and in 2003, Forbes voted Raleigh-Durham the #2 of “The Best Cities to Start a Business— Or a Career.” This is a place that 1.2 million people are content to call home, and for so many good reasons. The area offers a great quality of life, a low crime rate, affordable housing, top-notch educational institutions, some of the best healthcare facilities in the world, a diverse industry base, and an environment in which it is ideal to raise a family. Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill has a thriving business sector. 

Read More…

History

An Auspicious Start

After the American Revolution, the former English colony “Carolina” became the state of North Carolina. The location of the capital city was chosen, as so many things are, by the wealthiest and most prominent citizens of the state. It was in a central location and it was hoped that those in the thickly populated coastal region would migrate west. Named after Sir Walter Raleigh, one of the first English settlers to arrive on America’s shores, the city of Raleigh was born in 1792.

The dignitaries of North Carolina’s capital city set a standard of excellence for building the State House and Governor’s Residence, and residents followed suit. This resulted in lovely Victorian homes and charming shops and churches, many of which are still enjoyed today.

Read More…

Fast Facts

Population: 1,187,941

Median Age: 33

Female: 50.90%

Male: 49.10%

Ethnic Makeup:

Afro American: 22.70%

Asian: 2.90%

Hispanic: 6.10%

Native American: 0.40%

White/Caucasian: 69.40%

Neighborhoods

Downtown Raleigh (Inside the Beltline)

Raleigh, the largest city in the Triangle, offers the most variety. The downtown region, a colorful and historically significant part of the city, has grown to become a virtual Mecca of cultural activities. The BTI Center for the Performing Arts is home to the renowned North Carolina Symphony and plays host to Broadway touring shows, opera and ballet.

The State’s museums of History and Natural Sciences are both free. Exploris, a children’s museum centered around global awareness, is the first of its kind in the world.

Read More…

Public Transportation

Capital Area Transit
(919) 828-7228
Administrative Office
1430 S. Blount Street
Raleigh, NC 27603

Our Mission is to improve mobility for Raleigh residents and visitors by providing safe, affordable and customer-oriented transportation while pro-actively promoting economic opportunity, intermodal connection and sustainable regional development.

Triangle Transit Authority (TTA)
(919) 549-9999
P.O. Box 1378
RTP, NC 27709

The Triangle Transit Authority (TTA) is a regional public transportation provider, offering a wide variety of transit services to North Carolina’s greater Triangle area and outlying counties. The services include: a regional bus line with connector shuttles, vanpool service bringing commuters into the major work centers, rideshare matching service, and in the future, a regional rail system that will link the Triangle together.

Inter-City Transportation
Amtrak (800) 872-7245
Greyhound Bus (800) 231-2222

Service from City to numerous locations throughout the United States.

Air Transportation

Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
(919) 840-2100
1000 Trade Drive

Raleigh-Durham International Airport is governed by the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority, an eight-member board. The cities of Durham and Raleigh and the counties of Durham and Wake appoint two members each to the Authority board of directors. The Airport Authority is a governmental body responsible for the development, operation and maintenance of the airport. Board meetings are held the third Thursday of every month.

Ground Transportation
RDU Airport Taxi Service
(919) 840-7277

The Terminal A taxi dispatch booth is located on the curb near the Air Tran Airlines drop off. The Terminal C dispatch booth is located on the curb on the terminal’s lower level.

Meter Rates
Meter rates are charged for trips within the taxi service area of Durham, Wake and Orange counties. Fares outside the service area may be charged at the meter rate or negotiated between the customer and driver.
$2.30 for first 1/6th mile or fraction thereof
$ .30 for each additional 1/6th or fraction thereof
$ .50 for each piece of luggage over three pieces per person

Rental Cars
Below are the car rental agencies located at RDU and are a quick shuttle bus ride from the terminals. Shuttles run approximately every 15 minutes and stop on each terminal curb near the baggage claim areas. Please look for the green bus shelters marked Rental Car.

Alamo, www.alamo.com    (800) 462-5266
Avis, www.avis.com    (800) 331-1212
Budget, www.budget.com    (800) 527-0700
Dollar, www.dollar.com    (800) 800-4000
Enterprise, www.enterprise.com    (800) 736-8222
Hertz, www.hertz.com    (800) 654-3131
National, www.nationalcar.com    (800) 227-7368
Thrifty, www.thrifty.com    (800) 367-2277

Thrifty Rental Car is located off airport premises and also offers shuttle service for customers.

Television

Radio

Nightlife

The Triangle comes to life at night. Learn a country line dance at The Longbranch, check out the latest in progressive music and dance at Five-O Café, cruise the beer garden at Tobacco Roadhouse, catch the latest underground band at Cat’s Cradle or hear live jazz at Yancey’s Jazz & Blues Cafe.

Outdoors

The Triangle enjoys a climate that permits outdoor activities throughout the year, and parks are a big part of the recreational scene. Pullen Park is a local favorite. The train ride, beautifully restored carousel, playground and paddle boats keep the kids busy while anyone will enjoy the lovely scenery and gardens. Laurel Hills Park/All Children’s Playground was built to accommodate the needs of children with limited physical capabilities, but, as the name implies, appeals to all.

The ocean may be hours away, but the state recreational areas of Jordan Lake, Falls Lake and Lake Michie offer fishing, swimming, boating and maximum outdoor enjoyment.

Take a road trip along the Blue Ridge Parkway in fall and revel in the beauty of the leaves turning on the mountainsides—the wash of brilliant colors is a work of art.

Festivals

There is always something happening in the Capital City and surrounding areas. Celebrations, festivals and outdoor events begin with First Night Raleigh and run straight through to the annual holiday parades, celebrations and tree lightings. January also brings The African American Dance Ensemble’s annual KwanzaaFest to downtown Durham.

The arrival of spring is cause for celebration, and Artsplosure in downtown Raleigh’s Moore Square kicks it off. Peak Week Festival in Apex and Celebration of the Outdoors in Fuquay-Varina are nearby fetes worth checking out.

Independence Day is celebrated with a bang all across the region, but for something unique head to the Festival for the Eno in Durham, featuring arts and crafts, exhibits, food and live music along the banks of the Eno River.

Autumn brings the Festifall Street Fair on Franklin Street, the Grecian Festival at the State Fairgrounds, and the Street Painting Festival at City Market.

Museums

Whether you’re a history buff, science fan or art lover, or you’re just trying to find a place to take the kids on a rainy day, there is a museum for you in the Triangle. Learn about local history at the North Carolina Museum of History or the Chapel Hill Museum. Investigate the world of science at the North Carolina Museum of Life and Science, the Museum of Life and Science in Durham, or the Morehead Planetarium in Chapel Hill.

Celebrate art at the North Carolina Museum of Art or the Contemporary Art Museum in Raleigh, the Ackland Art Museum at UNC Chapel Hill or the Duke University Museum of Art.

The younger set will especially enjoy Exploris, an interactive museum that aims to increase global awareness. If fate finds you out of town, Discovery Place in Charlotte is one of the top hands-on science museums in the United States.

Music & Theater

Music

Theatergoers will be pleased with the fine options available. The beauty of the Carolina Ballet, the drama of the National Opera Company and the elaborate sets and costumes of the Broadway South Theatre Series are just a few of the options at the BTI Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh. For tastes that run beyond the mainstream, check the play list at Manbites Dog Theater or Playmakers Repertory Company.

If you just want to laugh, Charlie Goodnight’s Restaurant and Comedy Club dishes up the best in stand-up and Comedy Sportz is improvisational comedy that encourages audience involvement.

BTI Center for the Performing Arts

Kennedy Theater

2 W South

Raleigh, NC 27601

(919) 831-6011

Read More…

Sports

Carter-Finley Stadium

4600 Trinity RD

Raleigh, NC 27607

(919) 834-4000

www.ncsu.edu/facilities/buildings/carter-finley.html

NC State football team, the Wolfpack

Charlotte Bobcats Arena

333 E. Trade Street

Charlotte, NC 28202

(704) 688-9000

www.nba.com/bobcats

NBA Charlotte Bobcats, WNBA Charlotte Sting

Durham Bulls Athletic Park

409 Blackwell St

Durham, NC 27701-3972

www.dbulls.com

Durham Bulls, International Baseball

Read More…

Recommended Tours

Downtown and Greater Raleigh are jam packed with great touring opportunities. Those who prefer an organized tour, may give the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau at call at (919) 834- 5900 or (800) 849-8499. The Bureau can direct you to guided walking tours of Historic Raleigh, trolley tours and even “Shoppertainment” and “Solve a Murder” packages. Others might prefer to customize tours based on their personal interests. The city is easy enough to tour on your own, so grab your walking shoes and let’s get going!

Downtown and Historic Raleigh

Those who are not familiar with the area might want to start their touring at the Capital Area Visitor Center to stock up on maps and brochures and catch the fifteen-minute slide show that outlines everything there is to do in Raleigh. While you’re there, tour the nearby Executive Mansion, built in 1861, and get an inside look at how the governor lives.

No visit to downtown is complete without a stop at the State Capitol Building, considered one of the best-preserved examples of Greek-Revival style architecture in the country. Legend has it that the Capitol contains secret rooms used by Confederate spies during the Civil War.

Read More…