For Advertiser's links click here.
Things to do in The Triangle Area
When families move to a new area, one of the first questions they often ask is, “What are some things to do here?” The good news is that if you can imagine it, chances are pretty good that the Triangle offers whatever activity you’re looking for and much more.
You may know that the Triangle’s temperate climate affords residents the opportunity to participate in year-round sports, and its central location in the state makes it a snap for locals to plan day trips to the beaches and mountains, but the Triangle offers more than first meets the eye. Here’s a little more about some of the many fantastic and plentiful leisuretime activities that await you in the Triangle.
Retail therapy
Located near the intersection of Walnut Street and U.S. Highway 1/64 in Cary, Crossroads Plaza is a sprawling shopping center that features a fantastic mix of more than 70 large, nationally known chain stores, specialty shops, and restaurants.
Crossroads Plaza’s offerings include Catherine’s, Kid to Kid, Marshalls, Mens Warehouse, S&K Famous Brands, Plato’s Closet, Stein Mart, Rack Room Shoes, Premier Soccer, Omega Sports, Lynn’s Hallmark, Family Christian, Cricket Communications, f.y.e. Music Movies, Michael’s, Pier 1 Imports, and Bed Bath & Beyond.
Another draw to Crossroads Plaza is that shoppers can take a break from the stores and eateries to take care of some business or for a little pampering at places such as Sport Clips, Nail Time, Mitchell’s Hair Styling, DentalWorks, UBuildIt, Eye Care Center, Portrait Innovations, J.D. Tailors, and ListWise Realty Services.
Dining options range from coffee shops to fast food restaurants, to sit-down eateries.
But it’s not all about shopping and eating. Crossroads Plaza also hosts a few annual holiday events that are free and perfect for all family members, said Caroline Craig, marketing manager of Crossroads Plaza.
“Seasonal events are held at the Center, including an Easter Egg Hunt, Trick or Treating, and carriage rides with Santa,” said Craig.
The Easter Egg Hunt features rides, music, games, and prizes. During the Halloween event, participating merchants will offer tasty treats, and there will be toy giveaways and balloon art. The carriage rides with Santa will be held on Saturdays near Dick’s Sporting Goods.
And it doesn’t matter where you live in the Triangle, the chances are pretty good that there’s a mall or shopping center nearby. For instance, Raleigh is home to Crabtree Valley Mall and Triangle Town Center; Durham is home to Brightleaf Square, the Streets at Southpoint, New Hope Commons, and Northgate Mall; and Chapel Hill has University Mall and Village Plaza.
If you’re looking for that perfect gift, chances are you can find it at one of the many quaint boutiques and specialty shops in each of the downtown areas located in the Triangle.
Theatre productions
“Raleigh Memorial Auditorium boasts of a resident symphony, ballet, opera, and regional theatre (the N.C. Theatre), as well as many other performing arts organizations,” Kristin Kingsmore, communications manager at the North Carolina Theatre.
One of the most popular attractions in the Triangle is the N.C. Theatre, which is a perfect place for people of all ages.
“Each year, the N.C. Theatre has a diverse line-up of Broadway productions ranging from traditional musical theatre productions, such as The Music Man, to shows that the whole family will enjoy, such as Beauty and the Beast,” said Kingsmore. “Each show blends top national performers and local talent, creating high-quality productions time after time. The N.C. Theatre constantly strives to enhance the arts in the Triangle and provide entertainment for all ages to enjoy.”
The N.C. Theatre is celebrating its 25th anniversary this season, and theatre enthusiasts are excitedly gearing up for a spectacular line-up of shows. The theatre kicked off its 2008 season with Dreamgirls in January, followed by Annie Get Your Gun, which starred Larry Gatlin and Lauren Kennedy, in March.
“Peter Pan, starring Raleigh’s own Ira David Wood III as Captain Hook, is coming July 12–20, and Yeston & Kopit’s Phantom will run October 18–26,” said Kingsmore. “All N.C. Theatre shows play in Raleigh Memorial Auditorium at the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts.”
Plus, residents in the Triangle have many more opportunities to view theatre productions in other cities, including The Carolina Theatre in Durham, Page Auditorium at Duke University in Durham, Broadway Series South in Raleigh, the Raleigh Little Theatre, and PlayMakers Repertory Company theatre at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH).
And with so many colleges in the Triangle, residents can enjoy concerts, art exhibits, special performances, and lectures offered at the schools all year around.
Museums
The Triangle also boasts of a wide variety of museums that are sure to interest people of all ages.
Raleigh is home to the African-American Cultural Complex, Artspace, Legend of Harley Drag Racing Museum, Marbles Kids Museum, the N.C. Museum of Art, and the N.C. Museum of History.
Durham offers the N.C. Central University Museum of Art, the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, the Hayti Heritage Center, and the Museum of Life & Science.
Chapel Hill’s offerings include the Chapel Hill Museum, Kidzu Children’s Museum, and Ackland Art Museum, the Carolina Basketball Museum, and the Charles Kuralt Learning Center at UNC-CH.
Star gazers should make plans to check out one of the biggest draws to UNC-CH, the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center. The facility offers shows in the 68-foot domed Star Theater and features a digital theatre, many permanent and rotating educational exhibits, a gift shop, and a sundial rose garden outside of the planetarium.
Nearby attractions
Because the Triangle is centrally located in the state, residents can plan short day trips to see some of the finest attractions that the state has to offer. You may know that the beaches and mountains are popular draws, but did you know that Asheboro is home to the N.C. Zoo, which is the nation’s largest walk-through natural-habitat zoo?
In fact, its African and North American exhibit regions span more than 500 acres with more than five miles of picturesque walkways, and another 900 acres are available for future development on this scenic site in the Uwharrie Mountains, said Rod Hackney, public relations manager at the N.C. Zoo.
Among the most popular exhibits are those that display polar bears, sea lions, river otters, alligators, elephants, gorillas, baboons, rhinoceros, giraffes, and zebras. The 37-acre African Plains exhibit alone is as large a many entire zoos, said Hackney.
Plus there’s even more to get excited about because zoo visitors can see a new exhibit called the Watani Grasslands Reserve, which just opened on April 5.
“It is the result of an $8.5 million expansion and renovation of the zoo’s elephant and rhinoceros exhibits and holding facilities,” said Hackney. “The zoo’s former 3.5-acre Southern white rhino habitat has been combined with the 3.5-acre elephant exhibit to create a new 7-acre home for elephants. The zoo’s rhino collection has been expanded from three to nine animals that now share the former 37-acre African Plains exhibit with seven species of antelope.”
In addition, a new $2.5 million holding barn has been built to accommodate the expanding herd of elephants from three to seven.
If you like to tour historic homes, then be sure to plan a trip Asheville to see America’s largest home, the Biltmore Estate, which sits on 8,000 acres of rolling and beautifully manicured grounds. This gorgeous estate, which was built in the late 1800s, consists of 250 rooms, a sprawling garden, an equestrian center, winery and vineyards, an inn, many restaurants, and gift shops. Be prepared to spend a full day at the Biltmore Estate because there are so many fun things to see and do for people of all ages.
For more information on everything that the Triangle and surrounding areas have to offer, check out www.visitnc.com.
For Advertiser's links click here.