Raleigh, NC Driving Tips
There are still one way streets in downtown, so be careful.
Raleigh, NC Buying Tips
Capital Boulevard North (away from downtown) has a wide selection of dealerships. You can find anything in this one five mile stretch.
Favorite Driving Memory
When I was in college, I was dating someone who worked for a local landscape architect. He would get to see what city planners were planning on doing in the city because his company had a contract to work on the landscaping. Raleigh was pretty small and inclusive then, with few major roads to go fro
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m downtown to other cities. That would shortly change! Since then I moved away, to NJ, but came back to visit because my family still lives there. Recently, my daughter decided to go to a small college in Raleigh. So now we are moving back, and the change in the infrastructure is incredible! Development and more industry at RTP and downtown have forced the inclusion of much larger highways than ever. There is a new (as in last few years new) beltway, with an inner loop going towards downtown Raleigh and an outer loop going away from downtown. I love driving in Raleigh, open highway or not, because I enjoy remembering the cow pastures that used to be there and comparing that to now. Now it is a dynamic, thriving place to be. The highways go from the western mountains of the state all the way to the "Crystal Coast", the beautiful unspoiled beaches in the eastern part of the state.
Favorite Road
South Saunders Street into downtown
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South Saunders St. Comes into downtown Raleigh from the south part of the state, and it is geographically lower than downtown. So as you come in from the south, the downtown skyline is above you, and you can see the skyscrapers and the road ahead of you. Sometimes I have seen it right before a summe
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r thunderstorm hits, the views are breathtaking!
Raleigh, NC Driving Tips
Be prepared to drive defensively! It's not the city for "Sunday drivers". If you come to Raleigh and putter along, you'll find yourself getting rear-ended. Also, do NOT trust the "friendly" wave. That's when traffic is stopped and they tell you to come on out and turn left. I've gotten hit twice fro
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m that scenario, totaling one car.
Raleigh, NC Buying Tips
I went to the Honda dealership because I buy Hondas. I would suggest they do that! I am not the type to buy a car off craigslist, so I can't suggest that. Capital Blvd and Glenwood Avenue have tons of auto dealerships.
Favorite Driving Memory
My favorite driving memory is not necessarily a good one but definitely memorable! I went to a luncheon in Cary, which is the neighboring city to Raleigh. During lunch it began to snow. We quickly finished lunch, as it was really coming down. The bad thing was that it began to freeze on the roads
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. So instead of staying put, the entire Triangle region sent their employees and students home. It took me from 1pm until 9:30 pm to get home that day. I sat in traffic for all that time. It was a nightmare, yet I still look back and smile at the absurdity of it all.
Favorite Road
Capital Blvd as you head into Downtown
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Because the view of the Raleigh skyline is just lovely. As you head down Capital Blvd, the road turns slightly and you are in this really charming downtown area with museums, churches, and cool bars.
Raleigh, NC Driving Tips
Our roads are quite adequate for keeping congestion at a minimum, yet during rush hours they quickly become parking lots. I would avoid Capital Blvd. And almost any part of interstate 40 which circles the city during the morning and afternoon rushes. On Saturday around 1:00 pm, crossroads and white
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oak shopping districts are a nightmare for traffic. Try to stay on the 2 lane connector roads with 45 or 50 mph speed limits instead of the highways to avoid the worst traffic.
Raleigh, NC Buying Tips
Capital Blvd. Northeast of downtown and Wake Forest road both have many new car dealers, and route 401 just north of downtown have a great selection of used car dealers if you are looking for a bargain. Craigslist seems tricky to me, unless you are willing to put in the time to get to know a particu
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lar person, and then take the car to a mechanic to check it out thoroughly.
Favorite Driving Memory
Driving west along Western Blvd. Toward the University area, you pass Pullen Park on the right. After moving to this city 9 years ago, I was simply exploring the areas close to downtown and passed Pullen Park in late February, and was stunned to see so many trees in bloom. Having moved here from the
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Boston area where spring happens in April, it was a great reminder of why I moved here.
Favorite Road
Old Stage road
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Turning left off route 401 onto Old Stage Road just 2 or 3 miles south of the downtown limits of Raleigh, you see the extreme diversity of the area. A retail area transforms into neighborhoods, and just 4 miles later you are passing farm fields full of pumpkins, soybeans and tobacco. For those from
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the northern US, like me, passing tobacco and cotton fields on the way home from the city to my house is a pretty amazing sight.
