Flying to RDU tomorrow - Need suggestions on what to see. :) (Raleigh: HOA, mover)

[jimmyz80]

A friend and I are hopping on a plane tomorrow to do a quick sightseeing trip out to NC. We have hotels lined up in Raleigh, Cary, and one way down in Charleston, SC. Both of us are interested in seeing areas near RTP but still rural enough to have some land and not be part of an HOA/tract. We had hoped to have a realtor lined up to clue us in on the different areas, but that sort of fell through.

I'd also be interested to hear what is worth seeing during our driving trip from Raleigh to Charleston. Should we just take the direct route, or drive down the coast? Any particularly good scenic routes or fun towns to stop at along the way?

Any advice would be much appreciated. Cheers!

[dansdrive]

Depending where you are coming from and what approach you will take into RDU you will see the following. Caution: objects may not appear in this order.

1. At 10,000 feet lots of trees from any direction into RDU.
2. Lots of water, Falls Lake (North approach) or Jordan Lake(South approach).
3. Many smaller ponds are visible as well, with binoculars, turtles can be seen!
4. In a distance you can see the Raleigh sky line rising above the red clay soil.
5. You will see the expanse of the many mature, new, and being built subdivisions.
5a. They maybe be in Raleigh/Cary/Knightdale/Durham. Don't worry yourself about
exactly where they are its only the tax rate that maybe different.
5b. HOA is a must if living in a 'newer' subdivision. There are some older ones that
are free of the HOA taxes.
6. The bigger roadways you see will be either, Rt 40 (West-East), Rt 540
(West-East) or Rt 440 ( beltline) That's the one that goes in a circle of sorts,
(West-East-North-South), a.k.a. Inner/outter route, clockwise/counterclockwise
route, or simply the 'Where the heck am I route'. Once you are on it you will
know!
7. Areas to check out for the 'not HOA/tracts' are Clayton, Youngsville, Western
Durham county, possible Southern parts of Fuquay-Varina but remember what
happens in Fuquay stays in Fuquay as they say!
8. Your drive to Charleston SC can take many routes, quickest, Rt 40 East to Rt 95
south to Rt yada-yada-yada. There is a sign for Charleston on Rt 95 south,
that would be the road to take. You can also take a more rural route through
the Eastern Carolina's farm country. That is always nice this time of the year.
Cliff Note: Nose plugs help through some rural areas like the Hog Farm places.
9. There are many many good Realtors here to chose from, many frequent this
forum so you are in good hands there.
10. See all you can see from here to there and back again if you fly from here.

Good luck and enjoy the area!!!!!!

P.S. Bring tar remover as you will be traveling through the Tar Heel state!!!!

[Hilville]

I second the recommendation for western Durham. We moved here from upstate SC and, though it is further from the mountains than I'd like, it's a lovely, lively area. Pumpkin patches are plentiful around here this time of year. Stop and pick one!