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The discussion of tye sprawling Raleigh/Durham area is truly one of perspective. We moved here last year from the Phoenix Metro area, which is roughly 9,000 square miles. More than one-half of the population in the entire state lives in one of the counties (Maricopa) that is included in Phoenix Metro. (Source: Phoenix Fast Facts - Tibits and Trivia about Phoenix People and Places)
We live in Brier Creek. Every time we have to go somewhere, my husband asks me how long is it going to take. With the exception of High Point, my answer is fifteen to twenty-five minutes. It's become the family joke!
To us, this isn't sprawl. It two smaller sized cities (Raleigh and Durham) with dynamic, interesting downtown areas. There are surrounding suburbs (Cary, Holly Springs, Morrisville, Apex, Wake Forest, etc.) and a college town (Chapel Hill/Carreboro). Perfect for us, but I do understand that the growth in the area is not a good thing for everyone, especially those who have lived here a long time.
I completely admit it was a short visit and a not well directed one. I didn't realize how big and sprawling the area was. I drove around the Cary/Chapel Hill areas but not thoroughly. I guess I was missing the neighborhoody feeling. I couldn't tell where people shopped, what they did, where the personality was. It felt very big and sprawling but not focused? I went to a cute little plaza area in Chapel Hill (natural food store/yogurt shop/etc) that was cute but so empty and deserted.
I went into Raleigh for a minute and it also seemed very quiet and few and far between.
I'm just wondering if I missed it or if I'm just picturing something that isn't? I live in the Northeast and want warmer/welcoming/less expensive and I thought Raleigh would be it.
Was it warmer/welcoming/less expensive?
What were you looking for that that you didn't find?
That you found quiet, empty, deserted places is amazing to me. Everywhere I go the traffic is backed up. I assume you didn't go down Franklin St. in Chapel Hill or try to shop at Crabtree in Raleigh.
Perhaps a better directed visit, a trip focused on a couple things you like to do would be of more benefit.
So what do you like to do? Hang out at taverns, play golf, hike, buy food at co-ops, watch musicals, go to hockey games...
I think the person who said she missed the quaintness of New England and wanted to move back probably identified what you were looking for, OP: "Quaintness."
It's been discussed here before. Compared to New England and even much of upstate and western New York, there is little "quaintness" here. I think people from elsewhere expect it. (After all, Mayberry was reeking in quaint.)
There are pockets of "quaintness," of course, but in general, it's missing. (Some people who haven't lived here and elsewhere don't quite understand that concept. It's not easy to describe.)
I think it's because the population has doubled in a very short amount of time, and so much of the Triangle is relatively new: New homes, new streets, new storefronts, new buildings everywhere.
Often, it's older places that feel quaint and more comfortable for many.
It's been discussed here before. Compared to New England and even much of upstate and western New York, there is little "quaintness" here. I think people from elsewhere expect it. (After all, Mayberry was reeking in quaint.)
Somewhat of a tangent, but it never fails to amuse when people cite Mayberry as a reference point for anything here. I mean if you want Mayberry, then head over to the old Forty Acres lot in LA where the show was filmed, since that's the only place where Mayberry exists. It's like someone forming their opinion of NYC from watching Batman.
Location: Chapel Hill, NC, formerly NoVA and Phila
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Quote:
Originally Posted by poppydog
Michgc, is there a yogurt place at So Vill? When I'm over there I wouldn't say it's cram packed with people, but it's usually moderately busy.
It COULD have been Southern Village. There is a Tutti Frutti (fro yo) and, of course, Weaver Street Market. On some days it's pretty busy (mostly in summer when there's a movie or concert). Other days, not so much.
I think the person who said she missed the quaintness of New England and wanted to move back probably identified what you were looking for, OP: "Quaintness."
It's been discussed here before. Compared to New England and even much of upstate and western New York, there is little "quaintness" here. I think people from elsewhere expect it. (After all, Mayberry was reeking in quaint.)
There are pockets of "quaintness," of course, but in general, it's missing. (Some people who haven't lived here and elsewhere don't quite understand that concept. It's not easy to describe.)
I think it's because the population has doubled in a very short amount of time, and so much of the Triangle is relatively new: New homes, new streets, new storefronts, new buildings everywhere.
Often, it's older places that feel quaint and more comfortable for many.
Good post, very true. The triangle feels like one large newish somewhat generic suburbia with tiny hidden pockets of cuteness, and it's very different than New England type quaintness.
Last edited by west seattle gal; 04-20-2013 at 02:26 PM..
Maybe that was it, then. Southern Village is a nice enough newish village-style neighborhood, but hardly a good representation of Chapel Hill.
I agree that it does depend on the day of the week and the time of the day how busy places are. I went to Whole Foods today and it was mobbed. Could barely find a parking spot.
It COULD have been Southern Village. There is a Tutti Frutti (fro yo) and, of course, Weaver Street Market. On some days it's pretty busy (mostly in summer when there's a movie or concert). Other days, not so much.
We visited 3 days ago during the day and it looked like a barren office park. Weaver Street Market in Carrboro was rocking, I loved it!
Location: Chapel Hill, NC, formerly NoVA and Phila
9,775 posts, read 15,776,851 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by west seattle gal
We visited 3 days ago during the day and it looked like a barren office park. Weaver Street Market in Carrboro was rocking, I loved it!
It's definitely not busy during the week during the day. Lunchtime, you'll see some office people getting lunch. After school, you'll see a bunch of kids walking around. Otherwise, it's mostly busy in evenings or weekends. In the summer they show a movie and have a concert pretty much Fri./Sat./Sun. evenings so it actually gets quite crowded. And on Thursday afternoons starting in May they have a farmer's market, so it attracts a small crowd then.
Weaver Street in Carrboro is very cool. There always seem to be people hanging out. Sunday morning is especially fun when there is live music.
I venture over to Southern Village occasionally for a movie or if I happen to be in the area, but I spend most of my time in Carrboro (a lot at Weaver St) and Chapel Hill proper. Southern Village is a little out of the way for me.
west seattle, might be a topic for another thread, but how did you like your visit?
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