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Raleigh-Durham Local Guide
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items Whether you’re new to town or a longtime local, the Raleigh-Durham (RDU) area is truly one of the best places to live, explore, and enjoy life. From vibrant food spots and artsy corners to scenic trails and cozy hidden gems, there’s something here fo...
Map
Sections
4
Outdoor Activities
Restaurants
Other Food & Drinks
Arts & Entertainment
Outdoor Activities
The perfect place to walk around each spring, and the Duke campus is lovely as well.
Sarah P. Duke Gardens
Great place for fresh produce as well as homemade goods like jellies and breads!
State Farmers Market - Raleigh | NC Agriculture
The trail loop at De Hart might be my favorite hidden gem in the entire RDU area. It feels like you’ve been transported hundreds of miles away from the city, even though it’s surprisingly close. It’s quiet, peaceful, and almost always empty — just yo...
Louisburg College's de Hart Botanical Gardens
Laurel Hills Park is such a fun spot if you’ve got kids in tow. The playground is huge and super well-designed, with stuff for all ages and abilities. It definitely gets busy sometimes, but honestly, it’s still so worth it. One of my go-to recs for f...
Laurel Hills Park
This dog park has plenty of space for pups to run and play, plus a good amount of shade for those warmer days. The trees around the edges make it feel extra pretty and peaceful. It’s definitely a nice spot to let your dog get their zoomies out.
Flaherty Dog Park
Restaurants
Neat ambiance and excellent food are both to be found here. It's expensive but one of my favorite places - it's a go-to for birthdays and anniversaries in my family.
Vidrio
I don't typically love Tex Mex, but I do really enjoy the enchiladas at Gonza. It's my husband's favorite place, tied with Salt + Lime!
Gonza Tacos Y Tequila
Farm Table has such great fresh twists on American dishes, and the ingredients are just as fresh! The torched feta is one of my favorite things!
Farm Table
I'm convinced there's no better ambiance in Raleigh than the rooftop of Taverna Agora. The food is amazing as well.
Taverna Agora
I don't typically love Tex Mex, but I do really enjoy Salt + Lime. It's my husband's favorite place, tied with Gonza!
Salt & Lime Cabo Grill
Great Sushi! The ambiance is lacking, but they make up for it in delicious food.
Sushi Siam
Delicious choice when you want Italian food! Do yourself a favor - order the risotto balls!
Gravy
Arepas are one of my favorite foods & The Arepa Bar does an exceptional job with them! If you've never had one- try it!
The Arepa Bar
All you can eat sushi is never known for quality. But they have interesting choices and it's really yummy for what it is!
Rockin’ Rolls Sushi
Other Food & Drinks
Solid coffee drinks in the coolest environment! Great choice for coffee in the downtown area.
Heirloom
Sola is usually packed but it's still one of my favorite places. It's great to go read a book. One of my favorite things is that they do serve some food. There's something wonderful about enjoy a smoothie and some guacamole!
Sola Coffee Cafe
The cupcakes at Sweet Traditions are moist and delicious, both in classic and more interesting flavors! My husband surprises me with cupcakes occasionally and I love them!
Sweet Traditions
Good ice cream and cute branding! Great for a treat if you're in downtown Durham.
The Parlour
Arts & Entertainment
The Rialto is an indie movie theater and event/concert venue. It's always worth checking out what they've got going on- usually it's quite different than anything else in the area. I've seen such interesting movies here!
The Rialto
Meymandi is a really neat structure and it's also a comfortable venue. I've seen a couple of operas here and I definitely recommend!
Meymandi Concert Hall
Cool architecture and amazing art, especially for a free museum! On a nice day, it has wonderful areas to be outside and look at outdoor sculptures as well.
North Carolina Museum of Art
This is a great place to catch an MiLB game as well as grab a bite to eat in or out of the stadium.
Durham Bulls Athletic Park
Absolutely fascinating place to walk around, and they have a great rotating exhibit so it's worth going every few months!
North Carolina Museum of History