What would you do to WOW first time visitors to the Triangle? (Raleigh: how much, universities)

[ApexIntruder]

We have (4) out of town guests coming to visit for about 4 days. This will be there first visit to the Triangle. If you had people coming in for the first time and wanted to WOW them with the best of the area for four days, what would be on your list of things to show them and to do?

[leighbhe]

What are their interests? Are they fans of college sports (going to any of the local universities and walking around is actually pretty cool, and eating out at the local hang outs is fun).

I would say going to the american tobacco district is a cool place to go, good restaurants and bars.

Duke gardens is always a favorite, especially on a nice day you can grab a picnic and head out there

tickets to a local game? Hard to make suggestions without knowing what they may be interested in, do they have kids, is that a factor, etc

Leigh

[lovebrentwood]

I don't think the Triangle has one generic "WOW" place to show out-of-town visitors.

Unfortunately.

So it's good advice to find out their interests and go from there.

[MAtoNC!]

If Middle Creek Township doesn't "wow" them I don't know what will...

[Sloaf]

Depends on who visits....Bulls game if it is summer, historical sites/tours if it is my history-loving family, or winery tours if it is my friends.

After the family has visited a lot and are now tired of the museums and courthouse and Mordecai mansion, I have taken them to SRI Shoe Warehouse!!

[geoff2v]

I-40. Heck of an interstate.

[NewUser]

Originally Posted by geoff2v

I-40. Heck of an interstate.

That's funny. I suppose that you were joking, but I actually think that in my case it would be applicable. We moved here from Dallas, where every road is just full of one big box retail store after another. To be able to drive down a major interstate between Durham and Raleigh and only see trees is incredible.

[lovebrentwood]

Here's a list of things at the fairgrounds:
NCDA&CS - N.C. State Fair Division

The fair is there Oct 15-25 this year.

I'd rather go to downtown Raleigh and go to a 3D IMAX movie at Marbles museum, and to downtown restaurants, shops, and museums than go to the American Tobacco complex (in Durham) where choices of things to do are quite limited.

[ApexIntruder]

Both couples are family and they are wealthy. Their main goal will most likely be to talk down this area and talk up how much better their area is. Theirs being Florida. I would like to give them a well rounded tour of the area.

The younger couple is in their 40's. They are into gambling, eating at places I would never dream of paying that kind of money to eat at and driving around in really expensive cars to show off. It's a contest for them to impress other people by being flashy. Basically, there is no common ground between us and them, other than being family.

The older couple is the opposite. They are in their 60's. They are penny pinchers, in your face religious and no known hobbies. Real fun....right?

The hope is to somehow make and enjoyable visit out of this and show them some great things about living here in the Triangle. It may be a really big task, considering how they normally are.

[Sayantsi]

I drive them by the ever present smoke at 540 and 70 and tell them there's an active volcano there.