Considering Raleigh for a three night stay in early April and interested in feedback regarding activities, must-see sites. Travelers include a couple in the their 50's and 15 year old son. Would have two full days and part of third day. In addition to city destinations, we're open to a day trip that might be within an hour or so drive from Raleigh. Open to anything from culture, history, a zoo, hiking at scenic attractions, unique shopping areas, etc. Destinations could include season-specific locations that would show off springtime greenery, flowers, etc.. Any suggestions on preferred area for hotel destination in the metro Raleigh area would be appreciated. We're traveling on a somewhat restrictive budget, so free, or cheap destinations are a priority. Thanks in advance.
Raleigh in early April
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Raleigh has a nice art museum. A trip to Chapel Hill and UNC might be fun--or NC State in Raleigh. The zoo is in Asheboro, and hour or so away and is nice. The flowers are in full bloom now--about 2 weeks early, but the greenery will still be lovely.
If you wanted to consider Charlotte instead, there is lots to do here also, including a world class science museum, very fine art museum, including the new Bechtler, NASCAR Hall of Fame which can be fun, the NASCAR shops just north of Charlotte, Latta Plantation (18th century plantation), Raptor Center.
Oh, an hour or so from Raleigh, and not much further from Charlotte is Old Salem, the historic village in Winston Salem.
I think you need to go to Franklin Street in Chapel Hill for shopping and possible dining and maybe 20 minutes away in Durham check out Duke University and the Sarah Duke Gardens as well as the old Chapel.
For a good price on a hotel, I'd suggest hotels.com . We have had good luck on short notice several times.
Or you could check out Priceline. I am staying at a 4 Star Hotel this weekend for $70 a night,including all taxes and fees. With Priceline you just don't know which Hotel you are going to get but you know it will be in the area that you choose and how nice it will be depending on the stars you choose.
Not exactly what you asked, but I'd tend to agree with Gretchen - Charlotte probably has more to offer. The Raleigh/Durham area is a really nice place to live, but has never seemed all that exciting to me for visitors unless you're interested in the UNC or Duke campuses (which are nice, especially Duke - much as it pains me to say that, as a UNC grad
). There is some hiking and nature around the RDU area, but in Charlotte you're closer to the mountains and Asheville, if that's of interest.
If you do stick with Raleigh/Durham, I'd make a list of what you find that you're interested in doing and pick a hotel location based on that. If your main interests are, say, visiting the Duke campus and roaming around small-town Chapel Hill, it doesn't make much sense to stay in Raleigh. (Durham and Chapel Hill are very close together, so it's easy to visit one while staying in the other.) The airport area is in between Raleigh and Durham/Chapel Hill and does have several hotels, but there's not a ton of interest right around there.
The NC zoo is in Asheboro, which is a pretty good drive from either Raleigh or Charlotte.
Regarding Priceline, I love it also a lot of times, but I do like the idea on hotels.com that I can choose the exact area I'll be in. The prices are quite good also.