Orange County, NC Road Trips

The Research Triangle, also known to the locals as the Triangle, is a region consisting of 3 anchor cities, Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, and everything in between. The name, "Triangle" was originally coined to refer to the three universities, North Carolina State University, Duke University, and the University of North Carolina, all fierce rivals. One of the largest research parks in the world, Research Triangle Park is located in the area, and has attracted both large companies and high numbers of immigrants from other parts of the United States, as well as all over the world. Leading employers such as IBM, Cisco Systems, SAS Institute, GlaxoSmithKline, and Biogen have ensured the exceptional performance of the strong economy. Both the universities and the research park are factors in the fact that the region is one of the most diverse in North Carolina. This part of North Carolina can be hot and muggy during the summers (but air conditioning is widespread). Winters are relatively mild, and spring and autumn are popular for their pleasant weather.

The Research Triangle gets its name from the many universities in the area. The three most famous schools, which make up the corners of the Triangle, are: Duke University in Durham - often nicknamed the "Harvard/Yale of the South", for its status as a prestigious private university. North Carolina State University (NC State or NCSU) in Raleigh - the largest university in the state, with roots in science and engineering. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC or North Carolina) - the oldest public university in the United States. These three universities have attractive campuses with many historic buildings. There is also a myriad of other sites within their ecosystems, ranging from varied museums to extensive botanical gardens and arboretums (of which Duke Gardens in Durham are the best). The area also has its share of historic districts and the like. Especially worth noting are several antebellum and Civil War sites in Durham, Hillsborough's walkable downtown, and Raleigh's State Capitol building. The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, which hosts an IMAX theatre, and has live presentations by visiting experts (from universities in the area) on certain days, is a very engaging (for audiences ranging from ages 5 to adults), modern, and top-tier institution that is well-worth visiting. The North Carolina Museum of History is located right next to it has many exhibits covering the history of North Carolina. Both museums are in downtown Raleigh.

With the many universities in the area, it should come as no surprise that college sports are a big deal here. The Duke Blue Devils, the North Carolina Tar Heels, and the NC State Wolfpack all have fiercely loyal fan bases, with immensely popular football and basketball programs. The rivalry between Duke and North Carolina is considered one of the most fierce in college sports. There is also a strong sports rivalry between North Carolina and NC State. One famous UNC alum is the great Michael Jordan, who led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships in the 1990s. Non-college sports teams in the area include the popular Durham Bulls minor league baseball team and Raleigh's Carolina Hurricanes NHL hockey team. The Carolina Hurricanes share their arena with NC State's basketball program. There are many excellent performing arts spaces in the Triangle, hosting a lively theater scene. The lion's share of these are located in Durham, which is home to the prominent Durham Performing Arts Center, the historic Carolina Theatre, and a number of small, independent local theaters. Downtown Raleigh is home to the state-run Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, which plays host to the state ballet, opera, and symphony. If you're looking to get away from the towns for some outdoor activities, the Triangle and its surrounding rural areas have state parks and nature. Particularly worth a visit are Eno River State Park near Durham, Umstead State Park in Raleigh, Raven Rock State Park near Fuquay-Varina, and Jordan Lake to the southwest of the metro area.

Boasting an impressive list of award-winning and nominated chefs and restaurants, Raleigh has become a hotbed for exciting and modern dining experiences. Durham and Chapel Hill have more than their share of quality restaurants as well. For visitors who want to sample local cuisine, restaurants serving authentic North Carolina cooking can be found in all three of the Triangle's main cities.

Out of the three cities, Chapel Hill is considered to have the best bars, since it is primarily a college town. Durham and Raleigh also have a fair share of drinking establishments, mainly centered around Duke and NC State respectively.

Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU IATA) is the main airport for the region, located at the center of the metro area near the Research Triangle Park, just off I-40. A former hub of American Airlines and Midway Airlines, the airport today is one of the larger national airports without official hub status - some 9 million passengers embark and deplane annually, making it one of the nation's fastest-growing airports. American's strong continued presence here gives RDU daily direct service from London Heathrow, and Delta runs direct flights from Paris. Traditional and low-cost carriers offer flights from most East Coast cities, and Western cities including Las Vegas, Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Denver. Air Canada offers several flights per day from Toronto. RDU has two terminals. Terminal 1 is used by the low-cost airlines, while the larger Terminal 2 is used by everyone else. There is also a rental car complex on-site. Public transit bus service is offered by Triangle Transit route #100, which runs between Raleigh and a transit center near the Research Triangle Park. Free WiFi at the airport is provided by Boingo—it's unlimited, but you have to look at an ad every 45 minutes. In the winter, even a small amount of snow can cripple RDU, so plan for the risk of being delayed a day or two. That goes double if you're flying Southwest, as they're responsible for de-icing their own ramps.

Given the very spread-out and suburban nature of the Triangle, driving is easily the most convenient way to get around. Interstate 40 is the main east-west corridor that links up the main cities of the Triangle, passing through Raleigh, the Research Triangle Park, and past RDU airport and Chapel Hill. The Durham Freeway (NC 147) links the Research Triangle Park and I-40 to Durham, while US-15/501 connects Durham to Chapel Hill. The Triangle Expressway, North Carolina's first modern toll road, follows NC 147 from I-40 to I-540, then NC 540 to Apex and Holly Springs. There are also two loop freeways circling Raleigh and serving many of the suburbs: I-440 circles the central portion of Raleigh proper, while I-540 traverses much of the suburban fringe north of Raleigh before heading south to the Research Triangle Park. South of the RTP, I-540 becomes a state-run toll freeway for the stretch around Cary south to Apex. Each of the main cities operates a local bus service. Regional service is provided by Go Triangle, which operates all-day service daily (no service during certain holidays) between Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and several other towns in the area, operating out of a hub (the Regional Transit Center, RTC) near the Research Triangle Park. RTC has restrooms, water fountains, and a window selling bus passes, but basically no other amenities. Fortunately, the bus schedules are coordinated so that you can make transfers quickly without having to wait around at the transit center. Fares cost $2.25 per trip (one transfer is free), with $4.50 for a day pass.