Raleigh has a quality of life that has established itself among the nation’s best places to live, start a business, raise a family and earn a world-class education. The Triangle gets its name from our geographic area secured by North Carolina State University in Raleigh, Duke University in Durham, and the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill which are three of the nation’s top research universities. The country’s largest planned research development community, The Research Triangle Park, is located in the center of the region, drawing engineers, scientists, and academics from all over the world. Raleigh is constantly being recognized by renowned publications including Money, Fortune and Time Magazines with many national and international accolades. With all of the impressive national accolades, most important to the region is the unique neighborhoods and communities rooted in history and diversity. One of the greatest draws to the area is the amenities of big-city life with a lowered cost of living.

Raleigh has an impressive collection of world class museums appealing to every member of the family including the state art, history, natural sciences and Marbles Kid Museum. Performance Centers and entertainment opportunities abound including the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts, the North Carolina Symphony, North Carolina Theatre and the Carolina Ballet. Sports enthusiasts are in heaven here with the local ACC Heritage including the NC State Wolfpack, NC Tar Heels and Duke Blue Devils as well as the 2006 Stanley Cup Champions, the Carolina Hurricanes. Triangle hospitals are among the safest in the country including WakeMed Health and Hospitals, Rex Healthcare and Duke Raleigh Hospital. Raleigh is home to many small local boutiques and some of the largest shopping malls in the state. The nightlife offers great places to dance the night away or listen to live music and the variety of restaurants gives residents an opportunity to enjoy everything from slow cooked barbeque to fine dining.

Raleigh Location

Raleigh is located in Wake County and is convenient to Cary, Durham, Chapel Hill, Garner, the Research Triangle Park, RDU Airport, Fuquay Varina and Apex.

Approximate Driving Times from Raleigh to: Durham 20-25 minutes Cary 15-20 minutes Research Tri. Park 15-20 minutes RDU Airport 15-20 minutes Apex 20-25 minutes Garner 20-25 minutes Chapel Hill 25-30 minutes Holly Springs 20-25 minutes Southern Pines 40-45 minutes

Raleigh Parks and Recreation

The Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department offers countless opportunities for leisure, exercise and play. The Durant Nature Park features five miles of trails on 237 acres, playground, lakes, nature programs and wildlife watching.  The Mordecai Historic Park is located in downtown Raleigh and offers tours of the Historic Mordecai mansion as well as Historic Raleigh Trolley Tours. In addition to these parks, Raleigh offers many other city and state parks that feature ball fields, tennis courts, a canoe trail, dog park areas, lakes, rental facilities, multi-use fields, playgrounds, picnic shelters, and swimming pools. Raleigh also has a 63 mile, 3,000 acre greenway system providing open spaces and recreational trails for walking, jogging, hiking, bird watching, fishing, and picnicking.  The Pullen Arts Center and the Sertoma Arts Center offer darkroom studios, programs in music, dance, fitness, pottery, painting and more.

 Raleigh Events

There is no shortage of events in the capital city of Raleigh. From Arts and Crafts Exhibits, Gourmet Food Tours, the Downtown Farmer’s Market, to concerts, kids events and fundraisers, downtown Raleigh has events for every family member to enjoy. Raleigh holds many annual events including the Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure, First Night Raleigh, a Christmas Parade, an Easter Egg Hunt, a July 4^th Celebration, the North Carolina State Fair, as well as many additional festivals and events. Check out VisitRaleigh.com for a detailed calendar of events.

Raleigh History

Raleigh became the state capital in 1792.  Wake County was chosen because it was situated between the populous coastal plain and the scattered settlements of the backcountry and mountains. The city of Raleigh - named in honor of historian and explorer Sir Walter Raleigh - was founded on 1,000 acres of land purchased by the state from Colonel Joel Lane, a Revolutionary War veteran and state senator.  Raleigh is the only state capital in the nation established on land specifically purchased by the state for its seat of government. The city´s founding fathers called Raleigh the City of Oaks and dedicated themselves to maintaining the area´s wooded tracts and grassy parks. Raleigh established itself as an educational center in the 19^th century and now hosts North Carolina State University, Peace College, Meredith College, and Shaw University. Raleigh has experienced amazing growth in the last century and is consistently receiving notable national accolades. With carefully planned economic development, Raleigh continues to stand out among the rest of the nation’s top metro areas.