#GOPACK | KNOW YOUR NC STATE NEIGHBOR
Living right next to the North Carolina State University campus comes with its share of perks and excitement. And it’s not just being surrounded by college kids in your neighborhood grocery store that’ll make you feel young. College towns always have something going on, and that youthfulness adds a certain spark to the city’s whole vibe. Weekends in Raleigh (and even the occasional weeknight) are filled with opportunities to get out, explore, and soak it in. From college sports to community art, concerts, and outdoorsy stuff, here are just a few things to know (and love) about living beside NC State.
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THE ACC ATMOSPHERE
Whether it’s basketball or football season, living in Raleigh means that you’ll always have fantastic college sporting events to attend. You can grab tickets to see the Wolfpack play at Carter-Finley or PNC Arena, but don’t forget about baseball season either! The tailgating scene here is solid whether you want to flock to the parking lot with the masses (and your grill) or just meet up with friends to watch the game at one of your favorite bars in town. State fans are partial to places like the Players’ Retreat just off of Hillsborough Street (call it “PR’s” if you want to sound in-the-know.) But scope out Cameron Village and other neighborhoods around town and you’re sure to find a big screen TV and basket of wings with your name on it. In fact, good luck finding a place that’s not showing the game when March Madness is on. It’s a really fun time to be in ACC territory.
Oh, and if you’re not a Wolfpack fan, lucky for you that Carolina and Duke are just a quick drive up the road. You’ll also find professional sports nearby in the form of the Carolina Hurricanes and Durham Bulls.
Take that, Charlotte.
NC STATE COURSES | ADULT LEARNING
Even if you’re not a college student anymore, NC State offers plenty of night, weekend, and online classes for adults who want to keep learning. With all of their labs and equipment, it’s the perfect place to get into a hobby you’ve always thought about pursuing.
Want to try your hand at jewelry-making? Great, they’ve got metalsmithing classes and hands-on workshops at the NC State Crafts Center. They also offer woodworking, pottery, photography, and more. And if you want to learn subjects like math, science, or history - you know, the general academic stuff - you can join classes through their Non-Degree Studies program and take up to eight hours per semester. Adults over 65 can often audit classes for free! It’s a great resource to take advantage of!
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SCENERY
Raleigh isn’t a stuffy big city that’s densely packed with concrete and skyscrapers, so it’s easy to get outside and exercise. There are several hiking, running, and walking trails all over Raleigh and just a quick drive from Cameron Village.
Pullen Park, located just beside NC State, is packed with all sorts of fun things to do. Take a paddle boat for a spin on the pond, soak in a sunset on a grassy knoll, hop on the carousel, or take the mini train.
Lake Raleigh on NC State’s Centennial Campus is used for studies by several of the university’s departments, but it’s also open to the public if you need to get out and stretch your legs. You’ll find running trails and a disc golf course surrounding this 75-acre lake, and there’s a fishing pier and boat ramp for kayaks and canoes.
You can also check out the park at the North Carolina Museum of Art and then take a little walk (or bike ride) down their Art to Heart Trail. It’s a nearly 6-mile paved trail that starts at the museum and ends downtown, but it’s a great way to see a lot of Raleigh’s best spots. After winding through the museum’s park, you’ll pass behind Meredith College, into NC State’s main campus, and alongside Pullen Park. The art museum also has bike racks and admission is also free, so stop in for a look at the galleries while you’re there! You can even picnic in the 164-acre park. Makes for a nice little Saturday…
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Lake Johnson Park is located in southwest Raleigh near NC State’s campus too. It contains lots more trails as well as boat launches and fishing spots. It’s got three miles of paved greenway paths and two miles of unpaved trails. Walnut Creek Greenway connects with State’s campus, Dorothea Dix Park, downtown Raleigh, and even the Neuse River Greenway Trail (if you’re in it for the long haul or a big run). There’s even an app to help you navigate the Raleigh Greenways if you want to learn more or plan your trip!
Farther afield, William B. Umstead State Park has over 5,000 acres of forest and 13 miles of trails to explore if you’re looking for a fun day out. Bring your dog for a little adventure.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg for nature lovers around here. Read more about trails in Raleigh.
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COMMUNITY ARTS
If you feel like you’re in need of some culture (maybe you’ve been watching too many sports lately?), Raleigh is also a hot spot for the fine arts. At NC State, Theatre in the Park always has great community shows and productions year round. From productions like “Dracula”, to “Godspell”, to “A Christmas Carol”, you’re sure to find something that fits your taste. Just down the road, it’s always worth a stopover at the North Carolina Museum of Art to see the latest artist installation or admire the dozen or so galleries which feature artists from all over the world. In the warmer months, the art museum features a summer concert series featuring great singer-songwriters and popular bands, so don’t forget to check who’s playing and get tickets!
If you’re into modern art, head downtown to CAM, where installations change frequently and special events are always happening. On First Fridays, visit in the evenings for free entry as well as food trucks, drinks, and local entertainment just outside on the picnic tables. Then hop around to all the other galleries, boutiques, and studios downtown to see what’s going on. Just look for the First Friday flags!
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If you’d rather go see some performance art, Raleigh is the place for music, ballet, and theatre in the state. You can get tickets to see the North Carolina Symphony downtown at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts or check out the North Carolina Opera just off of Wade Avenue (we’re talking serious culture here, folks). The North Carolina Theatre also puts on six different Broadways shows every year, and this season you can catch musicals like The Sound of Music, Kinky Boots, and West Side Story. For a unique date night that makes you feel like you’re in the big city, the Carolina Ballet is quality dancing at its finest. And yes, of course they perform The Nutcracker at Christmas!
NC State is also a big advocate for the arts. Whether you’re a student or not, you can buy tickets to see dance performances and concerts in the student union or even take a class yourself! You could also support the University Theatre by going to see a play. Check out the calendar here!
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AND ALL THAT HISTORY…
NC State was founded back in 1887 for the purpose of teaching “agriculture and the mechanic arts.” (Oh, and by “mechanic arts,” they mean engineering, for which they’re world renowned now.) The university’s name has since changed as its academic repertoire has expanded. Now the original North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (aka A&M College) is affectionately known around here as simply “State.”
When its doors opened in 1898, there was only one building on campus and 72 students in attendance, but now the campus spans a sprawling 2,100 acres with more than 34,000 students enrolled in its undergraduate and graduate studies.
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If you’re interested in exploring the campus and learning more history, the university has created a handy self-guided tour so you don’t miss anything important, like the Brickyard, the Free Expression Tunnel, and the iconic Memorial Bell Tower. We’d also recommend a jaunt down Hillsborough Street just to get a true feel for the college vibe around here!
You can learn all that and more local lore at the North Carolina Museum of History located in downtown Raleigh. It’s a Smithsonian affiliate so you know it’s good. If you’re really in the mood for some North Carolina history, you could even take a historical stroll around State’s campus, walk past the Capitol Building and the Governor’s Mansion, and then head over to the museum. Admission is free!