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RALEIGH/DURHAM
A Triangle of Opportunity
If you're a college basketball fan, you probably already know all about the Raleigh/Durham area.
Nicknamed "Tobacco Road," it's home to two of the biggest names in NCAA basketball - Duke University and North Carolina State University. But there's much more to this area than hoops.
The Raleigh/Durham area is a center for those in the academic, medical and technology fields.
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Raleigh, the capital city of North Carolina, and Durham, its smaller neighbor to the west, bookend another area along Interstate 40 (which links the two cities) called Research Triangle Park. Forming the Triangle, these three cities boast some of the country's best technological, medical and academic facilities in the nation.
Durham is a major center for medical treatment and research as the home of Duke University Medical Center. Research Triangle Park (RTP) is also home to a number of leading technological and pharmaceutical companies including Red Hat, SAS and GlaxoSmith Kline. Raleigh is a center of state government and academia, with the North Carolina State Legislature as well as five universities in residence: NC State University, Shaw University, Meredith College, Peace College and St. Augustine's College.
Thousands of young professionals live here - so many that the Raleigh/Durham area is consistently ranked in the top 40 best cities for singles according to Forbes.com (number 6 in the most recent list).
Neighborhoods
Southpoint/Woodcroft
One of the hottest areas in Durham, Southpoint/Woodcroft is perfect for those looking for convenience. Situated around the Streets at Southpoint mall and its surrounding shopping center, the neighborhoods in Southpoint/Woodcroft are made up of a mix of recent college grads, young professionals and families. The area is located just a few exits west of Research Triangle Park and RDU International airport on I-40, making it ideal for commuters. The mall and surrounding shops offer a variety of restaurants and entertainment, including several funky, local bars favored by the young post-grad crowd. And with rents ranging from around $550-$1,680 (both apartments and houses are available for rent), the area is affordable.
Downtown Raleigh
Once a practically dead area of office buildings and run-down warehouses, Raleigh's downtown recently received a jolt of life, making it a destination for both work and play. New restaurants, bars and shops are popping up as downtown's revitalization - which includes the renovation of Fayetteville Street and the Warehouse District-makes it the newest spot for young professionals to meet and mingle. Several swank condominium buildings have popped up (or are currently under construction) with prices on the higher end. But there are plenty of cool, affordable options with apartments in historic homes in nearby Boylan Heights and Historic Oakwood as well as Cameron Court apartments, all with rents ranging from $500-$1,000.
Lake Johnson/NC State Area
While some of the apartment complexes in this area are undergrad party-central, the neighborhoods around Lake Johnson also offer picturesque, affordable living for post-graduation working folks. The lake, which is maintained by the Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department, has a paved trail perfect for running or dog walking, boat rentals and a covered porch with rocking chairs ideal for a chill afternoon. Most of the apartments and homes sit on wooded property and are affordable, with rent ranging from $500-$1,200.The area is also conveniently located near I-40 and N.C. State, and has a number of restaurants, bars and shops within walking distance.
Brier Creek
Easily accessible via the I-540 loop, Brier Creek is technically in Raleigh but many Durhamites claim it as their own. That's because the north Raleigh area is so close to Durham that many Durham residents head there for shopping, dining and entertainment. A relatively new area of town, it's hot for young professionals in their twenties and thirties. Apartment rents range from $600-$1600, and a number of condominiums and town homes are available for sale with prices ranging from the upper-$10,000s to the mid-$100,000s.
Transportation
One of the most important things you should bring to the Raleigh/Durham area is a car. Connected by I-40, Raleigh and Durham are sprawling areas most easily accessed by automobile. Raleigh is surrounded by I-440, also known as the beltline, while Durham has a similar thoroughfare known as the Durham Freeway. These roads, with exits to both cities' downtowns and major neighborhoods, make Raleigh and Durham easy to navigate.
Public transportation is also available in the form of three bus lines: CAT (Capital Area Transportation) in Raleigh, DATA (Durham Area Transportation Authority) in Durham and TTA (Triangle Transit Authority), which travels between both cities. All the buses charge a nominal fee ($1-$2.50 per ride).
Local Lingo
North Carolina's Triangle (area of Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill) is fairly sprawling, and there are many "southernisms" to pick up while you're there. As it's part of the southeast region, many of the expressions used in places like Atlanta, Mobile, Jackson and Columbia also apply there.
It may seem uncivilized, but if someone asks you to mash the button in the elevator, they just mean for you to push it. If you don't know that, you might be in for a hasslin' (which is to say, they might give you a bit of a hard time!).
If you're fixin' to go shopping, the correct term for a shopping cart in Raleigh is a buggy. Of course, they might not have shopping carts if you're at a high-falutin' kind of store. Locals use this adjective to describe something as snobby.
If you're thirsty and ask for tea, be prepared for sweet tea. To the unfamiliar, this can be like drinking syrup, but to natives it's a delicious nectar, just like grandma used to make. Be sure to differentiate between sweet and unsweet tea when you ask, or you might be in for a sugary surprise. And remember that barbeque doesn't refer to tossing some burgers on the grill-it's generally pulled pork that's been smoked and slathered in a vinegary sauce.
