Raleigh the Austin of the Southeast?

5/5/25

By Bill Malcolm*

Raleigh is a college town on steroids, a hipster hangout, a city of interesting reinvented fun tree lined neighborhoods, and a state capitol in a booming state that features mountains and an ocean. It's weird and funky like Austin in Texas, not an Atlanta wanna be like the big city in the state, Charlotte.

Duke University in Durham, the University of Carolina Chapel Hill, and North Carolina State in Raleigh all give the entire Research Triangle area a college town feel.

Plus it is booming as the whole state is. Cheaper than Florida. Warmer than Wisconsin and New Jersey. No one I met was actually from North Carolina. And the Asheville area is still recovering from the devastation of the hurricane.

While in Raleigh, check out the new Seaboard Station neighborhood (seaboard station.com) by staying at the Longleaf Hotel. Also close is the new Smoky Hollow neighborhood. Both have lots of great restaurants and shops and both are just north of the Capitol and downtown. Enoy the Morgan Street Food Hall with so many great choices.

What To Do

Raleigh Museum of Natural History

The NC Museum of Natural Sciences has a "Dueling Dinosaurs" exhibit (free) and "Journey to Space" special exhibition. It also has displays on the interesting plant communities in the state from the oceans (including the unique bogs) to the mountains near Asheville. Check out the Carolina bays and Pocosins exhibits. Pocosins are peat bogs near the outer banks. North Carolina is one of the few states (California comes to mind) that has such diversity from the Atlantic Ocean to Mitchell Peak (elevation almost 5,000 feet). Details at naturalsciences.org and duelingdinosaurs.org. Did I mention it is free?

The Village District west of downtown is a fun midtown neighborhood with lots of small shops and a Crunch Fitness.

Hillsborough Street has a college town feel (and is near North Carolina State). Lots of murals. And lots of independent shops.

Seaboard Station is surrounded by the old train station with shops and restaurants.

Walking around Raleigh is a treat. They have many oaks and Southern Magnolias with their beautiful white blossoms plus lots of holly, gardenias, jasmine, and other Southern plant species.

Work out at the O2 gym or the Crunch Fitness in the Village.

Night Life

I found 3 bars downtown. The Ruby Deluxe is a fun bar near the convention center. On the other side downtown was the Flex, a self-described dive bar (flex-club.com) that fit the description. The popular Legends Nightclub is now open only at weekends. It features drag shows and dancing. Long story short, the bar scene was unimpressive.

Eat

I grabbed a salad at Publix Market, my favorite Florida chain as well as some North Carolina strawberries for breakfast. You will find them at 417 West Peace north of downtown.

Another great salad bar is to be found at the Warehouse District at the Weaver Street Market at 404 West Hargett. I also picked some North Carolina blue berries.

Raleigh is a foodies heaven including great barbeque with a North Carolina twist. La Terraza is the popular spot with skyline views in the Warehouse District. Nearby is the Morgan Street Food Hall which features every kind of food you could want and outdoor seating. The Weaver Street Market at 404 West Hargett nearby had a great salad bar and fresh North Carolina blue berries. It's a natural foods store.

My friend liked the Midwood Smokehouse Barbeque in the new Smoky Hollow neighborhood just north of downtown. Had a gourmet paleta at Morelia next door for dessert. Dose Elixir Bar nearby has healthy drinks while Madre features small plates. And the new nearby Publix Market (417 West Peace) is great for a sub or their salad or hot food bar (plus North Carolina strawberries and blueberries). Lots of family there including the guy with orange and turquoise hair and the other guy in short shorts and a halter top.

Stay

I am trying to pay no more than $200 a night and avoid any hotel with a resort (or amenity fee). The Longleaf Hotel in downtown Raleigh (300 N. Dawson off Capitol Avenue) was the only one in the downtown area that qualified. A funky reborn Travelodge (mid Century modern) is an independent hotel with a great bar and outside bar area where they do bingo (and serve grilled burgers) on Monday nights. It is quite popular with locals. Get your Stash frequent stayer points as well (a new independent hotel rewards program). Staff could not be more friendly and more professional. Great rates with no annoying surprise resort-destination-amenity fees. Walk to the new Seaboard Station district or the new Publix Market which features shops and restaurants as well in a new neighborhood just north of the Capitol. It's also a short walk to the Warehouse District as well. Get a quiet room midway down the property facing south to avoid any road noise. Enjoy the local coffee brews in the lobby with great pastries for sale. Did I mention check out at 12 noon (not the regular 11 a.m. at most hotels)?

Getting There

I took American Airlines through Charlotte. American is my new fave after Southwest dumped on its loyal passengers with new fees and consumer-unfriendly policies, an about face from its founding. What happened to Transfarency? Bags fly free?

By contrast, American is a professional well run airline with good fares and great service (and new planes).

Good riddance to my once favorite carrier.

I also like Delta. (I avoid United since they are the only legacy carrier that charges for carry on with economy tickets.)

New Amtrak station in Raleigh

You can also take the train to Raliegh from Charlotte, D.C., and other cities to the new Amtrak station in the Warehouse District downtown. Details at Amtrak.com.

You can take Go Raliegh Transit from the airport and around town. It's $2.50. Downtown is very walkable so skip the rental car. I took Lyft both ways to the nice newish Raleigh airport.

For more information, check out Visit Raleigh (LGBTQ section) at visitraliegh.com.

Q Notes Carolinas is the state LGBTQ paper (and has run my travel column).

Raleigh is worth a visit and I always fine something new in this great area.

*Bill Malcolm is North America's syndicated LGBTQ travel columnist who focuses on value, going local, and avoids hotel resort/amenity/destination junk fees. He received no reimbursement from any of the outlets mentioned.

Bill Malcolm, North America's long running and award winning LGBTQ travel writer standing by Spokane Falls at Riverfront Park, downtown Spokane, Washington