Questions About Visiting Raleigh! (Cary, Hillsborough: apartment complexes, rent, hotels)

[theluckiest1]

Hi everyone,
My boyfriend & I are planning to visit Raleigh soon to check out the area. Raleigh is one of the cities we are considering moving to (we currently live in NY). About us: we are 23, looking to live somewhere fun, safe, close to outdoor recreation, and with a manageable commute.

Any recommendations on specific areas/apartment complexes to look at? Our "target" price range is around $800/month, flexible of course, and I'd prefer a 2BR place, in a nice/safe area with other young professionals.

Also...any recommendations for hotels to stay at when visiting? I'd like to get a feel for the downtown area & bars/restaurants/etc while we are there. It would be great if we could stay somewhere within walking distance of the nightlife.

Thanks
Sara

[NewUser]

Someone just posted this web link earlier this morning. I think that it provides a great interactive map to find bars, restaurants, etc in the downtown Raleigh area.

http://www.godowntownraleigh.com

Click on the "Go & Do" tab at the top, and then click on "Nightlife", "Dining" etc to see the maps.

[halln27]

Well, thats a tough question to answer. What kind of bars do you like to go to?? Live music, upscale, dance clubs, college-type bars?? Some of my favorites include:
Live music: The Pour House, Hideaway BBQ, Lincoln Theater
Upscale: Anywhere on Glenwood near Hillsborough (called Glenwood south)
Dance clubs: I don't do dance clubs but have heard the Office is where to be
College: Gotta check out East Village for their cheap beers and awesome deck

Also, Cameron Village has some cool bars like the Draft House for a chill spot with a bunch of tvs and good beer selection.

As for living arrangements there are a ton of apt complexes in N.Raleigh around Glenwood, Lynn, and Millbrook Road that house plenty of younger professionals. You'll be close to Umstead Park (off Glenwood) which has tons of hiking trails or Lake Crabtree which is a great, close spot to mountain bike or rent a sail boat.

Hope this helps!! (where in NY are you coming from?? I migrated from Rochester around 6 years ago and love it down here!!)

[SALUKI_LOVER]

Hi Sara
My husband and I just returned from Raleigh.
Check out apartmentratings.com and you can get an idea of how many apartments are out there and some reviews.
There are so many complexes that it's quite overwhelming.
We first found the area we liked and then went apartment hunting.
We liked Windemere Apartments on Ravenglass. We found a 2 bedroom/2 bath for about $750 a month and there are newer built in the 90's - include a washer/dryer and a smaller complex compared to what we saw. Tell them "Donna and David Webster from CA sent you" (we're on the waiting list).
The complex is close to Shelly Park, Umstead and Falls Like (we love the outdoors so . . )
There is so much great info on this forum that take time and just read through the threads - oh, don't forget a GPS system when you go!
Let us know how it goes
Donna

[theluckiest1]

Originally Posted by halln27

Well, thats a tough question to answer. What kind of bars do you like to go to?? Live music, upscale, dance clubs, college-type bars?? Some of my favorites include:
Live music: The Pour House, Hideaway BBQ, Lincoln Theater
Upscale: Anywhere on Glenwood near Hillsborough (called Glenwood south)
Dance clubs: I don't do dance clubs but have heard the Office is where to be
College: Gotta check out East Village for their cheap beers and awesome deck

Also, Cameron Village has some cool bars like the Draft House for a chill spot with a bunch of tvs and good beer selection.

As for living arrangements there are a ton of apt complexes in N.Raleigh around Glenwood, Lynn, and Millbrook Road that house plenty of younger professionals. You'll be close to Umstead Park (off Glenwood) which has tons of hiking trails or Lake Crabtree which is a great, close spot to mountain bike or rent a sail boat.

Hope this helps!! (where in NY are you coming from?? I migrated from Rochester around 6 years ago and love it down here!!)

Thanks for all the great info!!!! I've heard good things about Cameron Village. We're more into laid back places to get a drink, no crazy clubbing or dancing! And...small world...I'm from the Rochester area! I work in Fairport. My boyfriend is from Poughkeepsie (where I went to college). Please tell me the weather is better in NC!!!! lol

[theluckiest1]

thanks everyone for the great replies so far...keep them coming!

[halln27]

Wow, small world. I gotta tell you though I've met more NY natives than NC natives since I've been down here. Probably why Cary has been referred to as the Containment Area for Relocated Yankees (C.A.R.Y).

And yes, no more weeks of gloomy/rainy days or feet of snow!!! If it snows an inch and it doesnt' stick everything will be closed for a week!