Heading to North Carolina over break...

[Jimplication]

I intend to move to North Carolina in the not too distant future, and have a vacation coming up in two weeks. I suggested that my father and I go down for a few days to get a feel for the area, take a look at potential apartments, and in general have a nice time.

Ever since I started planning this move, I've had Raleigh at the top of my list, and that is likely where we are going to be visiting/staying. We will likely stay at a hotel for three days/two nights, and will be driving down and back.

I created this thread in the hopes of getting any sort of feedback, comments, and/or recommendations from those that live near, or have been to, Raleigh or the surrounding area.

I've been through North Carolina numerous times, but aside from a hotel off the highway, I've only experienced it as a means for getting to Florida, or back. Thus, I am a bit unfamiliar with the area, but am quite confident that I will enjoy living there eventually. North Carolina is a state that I've always been attracted to since I was a child, and that is partly due to my close friend having family there and speaking highly of it often.

For now I will just be visiting, and would really appreciate any sort of recommendations or comments, whether it be in regards to hotels to stay at/avoid, or things to do and check out while there.

Thanks!

[VTPack919]

Re: Heading to North Carolina over break...

I intend to move to North Carolina in the not too distant future, and have a vacation coming up in two weeks. I suggested that my father and I go down for a few days to get a feel for the area, take a look at potential apartments, and in general have a nice time.

Ever since I started planning this move, I've had Raleigh at the top of my list, and that is likely where we are going to be visiting/staying. We will likely stay at a hotel for three days/two nights, and will be driving down and back.

I created this thread in the hopes of getting any sort of feedback, comments, and/or recommendations from those that live near, or have been to, Raleigh or the surrounding area.

I've been through North Carolina numerous times, but aside from a hotel off the highway, I've only experienced it as a means for getting to Florida, or back. Thus, I am a bit unfamiliar with the area, but am quite confident that I will enjoy living there eventually. North Carolina is a state that I've always been attracted to since I was a child, and that is partly due to my close friend having family there and speaking highly of it often.

For now I will just be visiting, and would really appreciate any sort of recommendations or comments, whether it be in regards to hotels to stay at/avoid, or things to do and check out while there.

Thanks!

All I know is, Cary is where you want to live. I can't wait to move back there ASAP.

[coffeeholic]

Re: Heading to North Carolina over break...

Got a good website for you. City-Data.com go to the forums. They have a good,up-front message board for every state in the union and the people who live there. My wife and I will be moving soon(either to the Carolina's or Arkansas) and use City-Data's forum alot for reference. Good Luck!

[skitch]

Re: Heading to North Carolina over break...

Cary's snobby as hell, haha. Very nice, though.

[Jimplication]

Re: Heading to North Carolina over break...

All I know is, Cary is where you want to live. I can't wait to move back there ASAP.

Cary did really well on the Cnn/Money "Best Places" survey, but after doing some investigation, I gather some consider it to be a place with lots of McMansions and people that aren't necessarily from North Carolina. The WikiPedia article on Cary includes the following:

The town's reputation as a bedroom community for transplants from outside the South has led to humorous backronyms for its name such as "Concentrated Area of Relocated Yankees" or "Containment Area for Relocated Yankees" and "Can't Afford Raleigh Yet."

I gather it's an expensive area, and thus I'd likely be priced out of living there anyway, at least initially. It did do very well on the "Best Places" survey, but I am unsure of whether that is a surefire way of determining a place to live or not.

I've lived in Pennsylvania my entire life, but the south is very appealing to me. I was talking to a co-worker who had been to North Carolina previously and she was telling me how everyone is very laid back and chill, almost to the point of ridiculousness. I was like, "Sign me up for some of that!" In general, it just seems very appealing to me. I've heard people are nicer in general down south, and regardless of how true that is, it's certainly a very desirable characteristic to me.

Regardless, for now I am more interested in aspects related to visiting, though I'm perfectly fine with the topic expanding to also cover moving there.

In general the south seems very appealing to me. I've lived in a city/urban environment my entire life, and generally I'd like to go more towards nature, in a sense. I love hiking and the outdoors, and while I don't hate living in the city, I do find a little less city appealing. Raleigh, and North Carolina in general, look beautiful and while I realize Raleigh is a city, I don't consider it to be as large or hectic as Philadelphia, for instance. It's also seems conveniently located between the ocean to the east and the mountains to the west.

That City-Data site recommended earlier is fantastic. Lots of great information there. Keep it coming!

[coffeeholic]

Re: Heading to North Carolina over break...

Jimplication-Yeah,N.C. is a good choice. I have relatives in Arkansas and that state has great people with good small town living. There are towns that are close to the small one's that are big enough to find work,but not too big to turn you off either. We are looking into the Russellville area. As for N.C. we are looking at Fayetteville and Hickory.

[3rdAnswer]

Re: Heading to North Carolina over break...

Go to the Raleigh/Durham area for sure. The nightlife in Raleigh is surprisingly pretty decent from what I hear from my friends, there are PLENTY of shopping malls to hang out at, and if you can find a good bar to watch a ball game with an ACC team in, you can bathe in the atmosphere that you will not find anywhere else. Just go watch an NC State, Duke or UNC game during tourney time and it'll be fun.

Get at me and I can tell you the best malls to go to. There are 4-5 to choose from in the Raleigh/Durham area.

[coffeeholic]

Re: Heading to North Carolina over break...

thanks for the info 3rd Answer.

[TarHeelBorn]

Re: Heading to North Carolina over break...

I was in High Point for about years, and I really liked Greensboro alot, to me it seems to be like what Raleigh was 15 or 20 years ago

[larrygiterdone]

Re: Heading to North Carolina over break...

sounds like the original poster would be more interested in the Asheville area based on what he says he is looking for

[oakfan162]

Re: Heading to North Carolina over break...

sounds like the original poster would be more interested in the Asheville area based on what he says he is looking for

I'll give a vote for Asheville as well. My grandparents moved from Cali to Asheville about 10 years ago and absolutely love it. We visit them every once in a while and its one of my favorite places in the country. Gotta love the Biltmore estate.