Raleigh, NC: Where the Humidity Hugs You and the Coffee's Strong

okay, so. raleigh. i didn’t plan to be in raleigh. my van, bless its rusty heart, decided it needed a serious nap somewhere between charlotte and durham. and raleigh just…happened. it’s got this…vibe. not a thing vibe, not a super-polished-for-instagram vibe. it’s more like…comfortable. like a worn-in sweater you forget you’re wearing until someone points out how cozy you look.

i just checked and it’s…a damp blanket out there right now. seventeen point nine three degrees, feels like seventeen point five five. the kind of humidity that makes your hair instantly frizz and your sunglasses fog up. i’m not complaining, though. i’ve dealt with worse.

spent most of my time wandering around *downtown. it’s…growing. a lot of new apartments, shiny restaurants. but there are still pockets of old raleigh, you know? Little brick buildings with wrought-iron balconies. i stumbled upon this amazing vintage shop, “Relic Revival” - seriously, check it out if you’re into that sort of thing. https://www.yelp.com/biz/relic-revival-raleigh - found a killer 70s jumpsuit for like, twenty bucks. score!

food-wise…wow. i’m a street artist, so i’m usually living on whatever i can scrounge up, but raleigh has some serious eats. someone told me that Poole’side Pies is the place to go for pizza. apparently, the line is always out the door. i didn’t have time to wait, but i’m adding it to the list. i did grab some amazing tacos from a little place called “Tacos 4U” - seriously, google it. https://tacos4uraleigh.com/ - cheap, delicious, and the owner is a sweetheart.

“Don’t go to the State Farmers Market on a saturday unless you like elbow-to-elbow action. It’s a scene.”

and the people! everyone’s so…nice. genuinely nice. not in a fake, “welcome to our city” kind of way. just…friendly. i was asking for directions (i’m terrible with maps, sue me) and this woman spent like, fifteen minutes walking me halfway there.

“If you’re looking for a good beer, avoid the places downtown. Head over to Five Points. That’s where the real locals hang out.”

if you get bored, durham and chapel hill are just a short drive away. they’ve got their own vibes, of course, but it’s good to have options. i spent an afternoon wandering around chapel hill, checking out the university. it’s…pretty. very preppy. not really my scene, but still interesting.

“Don’t even think about parking near the university on game day. Seriously. Just don’t.”

okay, quick gear rundown for anyone else traveling through:

*Bug spray: seriously. the mosquitos are relentless.
*Umbrella: it rains. a lot.
*Comfortable shoes: you’ll be doing a lot of walking.
*A good book: for those rainy afternoons when you’re stuck inside your van.
*Portable charger: because your phone battery will die from all the photos you’ll be taking.

and a word of warning: i heard that the traffic around north hills* is a nightmare. avoid it if you can. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g47038-Activities-North_Hills-Vacations.html

overall? raleigh surprised me. it’s not flashy, it’s not groundbreaking, but it’s…good. it’s a place you could settle down. a place you could build a life. a place where the humidity hugs you and the coffee’s strong. i’m glad my van broke down here, honestly. it was a nice little detour. i’m off to find a mechanic now. wish me luck. and check out the local art scene! https://www.raleigharts.org/

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