Raleigh

Why do people move to Raleigh, North Carolina?! I may have asked this question a few times while I was there. Many said “ we’re between the ocean and the mountains! Where else would you find that.” In my head, I was like …Boston. In Raleigh, you are about 3-4 hours away from some cool mountain towns and about 2 hours from the coast. Coming from a small state, I had to get use to driving more than a hour to adventure. People would casually drop “it’s only a 4 hour drive.” My response would be something like “ ONLY?!? You can drive the whole of Massachusetts in less time than that.” Jokes aside, Raleigh was a pretty cool area to rest and recharge in. Things were definitely a bit slower paced and the weather was warmer. The sun seemed to shine a bit brighter here. I found a lot of peace in North Carolina.

Explore Raleigh 🤍

  • North Carolina Museum of Art- This museum was pretty large! Easy to get lost in. It is also free! There is a wonderful trail around the museum and it has some pretty cool sculptures. I frequented their grounds pretty often. I would pick a nice sunny spot and lay out a blanket. I would get lost in a book or my writing for hours. It is a spacious park where you can find both silence or some good quality people watching. 

    Sarah P. Duke Gardens - this botanical garden is stunning. This is a must go to if you are a nature lover. Walk around. Get lost. Try to see the whole garden. Go visit Duke’s campus. They also have cherry blossoms so I recommend going in early spring. 

    Dix Park - this park has sunflowers in the summertime. Really beautiful flowers. It’s a wonderful place to bring a blanket, a book, maybe a date. Read poetry. Live your most romantic life. 

    Durham Bulls or NC Courage - hit up a sports game. I’m a girl that does not gravitate towards sports AT ALL, but these teams have such a great community following. It is a small scale compared to Boston sports which is kind of nice. There is a lot of crowd interaction and everyone is just happy to be there. Good energy

  • Blackbird Books and Coffee - This was my FAVORITE spot in this whole city. Great coffee. Great book selection and just a very welcoming atmosphere. They also have silent book club and poetry night!!

    The Optimist - (two different locations) I liked the one on Creedmoor Rd because it had large windows and I felt like I was outside on those hot summer days when you actually needed AC to survived. They also have live music on the weekends

    Sir Walter Coffee - late night spot for coffee. I liked coming to this spot at night when I wanted to be around people, but still alone. I usually brought a book and read at the bar

    Jubala Coffee- (few locations) This was my go to coffee shop after a work out. Great coffee, but even better waffles! Just trust me. Get the waffle. If you’re looking for an all around cute atmosphere, go to the one in Lafayette Village. Cute boutiques with a charming European vibe.

    • Crabtree Mall or The Streets at South Point- I hate to admit this, but I became a mall person in North Carolina. I like shopping. It’s fun and easy. I also won a free vacation in one of the raffles, so I would say that being a mall person wasn’t always all bad. These were great shopping places. 

    • Local Markets

      • The Raleigh Market (flea market)- open every Saturday and Sunday 9am to 4pm

      • The Underground Market - they have locations in Raleigh, Durham, and Cary. Check their website for dates!

      • Durham Farmers Market- open Wednesdays and Saturdays

    • Cecy’s Gallery and Studios- found some really cool finds here! Also made a cool candle