Weekending in Raleigh

Although we all love a good Elon weekend, sometimes it is nice to have a change of scenery. If you are in need of a little change up, we recommend taking a trip to Raleigh! It is only about a hour drive, so rent a zip car, put on a fun playlist and pack your bags because we are going to the City of Oaks for a weekend.

Let's start with attractions…visit Pullen Park which is a beautiful public park that also has the fifth oldest operating amusement park in the United States. You can pedal a boat, go swimming, ride a carousel and read a book in this scenic destination. Another beautiful spot is the Neuse River Greenway Trail which has visitor access to 27.5 miles of trails for walking, running and biking! This is a beautiful spot to get your steps in and enjoy the outdoors. Another unique spot to hit is the North Carolina Museum of Art which opened in 1956 and has more than 5000 years of artistic work and over 40 galleries to browse through. It also offers a coffee shop and restaurant to relax in and recaffeinate.

Next and most importantly we have food. Starting off with brunch, we recommend Hummingbird, which earned the title of the best brunch restaurant in Raleigh. Chef Colleen Speaks has a New Orleans inspired menu filled with Louisiana classics such as Po’boy sandwiches and Gumbo, but also offering deep dish pizzas and lobster rolls. Lets not forget about the amazing cocktail list which has an espresso infused aperol drink that is to die for! Next we have another NOLA themed seafood joint, which is an Oysterbar located in downtown Raleigh — St Roch. Check out this popular spot for some authentic southern eats and to splurge on some champagne. But, If you are needing a break from all the seafood, we recommend checking out a classic Italian spot, Cucciolo, which has an amazing bolognese and extremely reasonable prices for a casual yet elegant atmosphere.

But what about drinks? If you want to get some good drinks, you just have to check out Brewery Bhavana which is not only a brewery but also a flower shop, bookstore, dim sum house AND chinese restaurant. Brewery Bhavana has a ton of events including beer dinners, and food tastings. For some more fun, another must visit is Side Quest Game Lounge, they offer over 330 popular board games and party games. So, hangout there for an afternoon with your friends, grab some of their craft cocktails and have yourselves a wonderful evening! Another popular spot is Box Car which has three different locations throughout North Carolina. Box Car is located in the Warehouse district of Raleigh and has a bunch of arcade games, and live music. What could be better?

Make sure to tag @thedgemag and let us know if you went to any of these spots, or have any recommendations of your own!