A Relaxing Day Trip in Raleigh 🍃

Spent a weekend visiting Raleigh from Durham and found it perfect for a day trip! Downtown is compact—most places are within a 10–15 minute walk—and the streets are clean 🚶‍♀️. While there aren’t tons of attractions, the city has plenty of cute little shops and parks ideal for a leisurely city walk 🌳. One heads-up: summers can get really hot and sunny! Don’t forget sun protection 🥲. Transportation 🚞 Amtrak offers same-day round-trip tickets between Durham and Raleigh. There aren’t many departures, but you can generally go in the morning and return in the afternoon. Round-trip tickets are only $16! ⚠️ Note: Trains may be delayed—keep an eye on updates after booking. Delays qualify for a full refund, but you’ll need to call Amtrak. Food & Drinks 🍛 Sam Jones BBQ 🍖 A North Carolina-style BBQ spot near the train station. Tried the spare ribs (dry and flavorful—delicious!) and chopped pork (a bit ordinary). The brisket isn’t on the menu, but you can ask—unfortunately, it was sold out when I went 🥲. Anise Pho 🍲 A Vietnamese pho restaurant. Ordered the spicy beef noodle soup combo—not spicy at all lol, slightly sweet with a herbal note. Different from typical pho, but tasty! Not sure if other places have this style, but it was my first time trying it. La Farm 🥖 A famous bakery in RTP. Tried the white chocolate baguette—tastes just like a sugar bun! Unlike traditional crispy baguettes, this one is soft and easy to chew (though a bit sticky). Also highly recommend their matcha latte! Lucettegrace 🥐 A pastry and coffee shop. Had a pistachio-peach mini cake with real pistachios and peach pieces—sweet but not overly so. Really enjoyable! Cool Little Shop 💕 Father & Son Antiques 🧸 A well-stocked antique store with all kinds of vintage items: furniture, accessories, magazines, clothes, toys, you name it! Located right next to the train station—worth setting aside some time to explore. You might find unique treasures! I bought a Snoopy booklet from the 1970s with the previous owner’s signature—full of vintage charm ✨. Attractions 🚩 North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences 🦕 The exhibits are incredibly diverse, covering everything from outer space to the deep sea. Lots of interactive displays too! There’s a specimen room where you can touch real animal fur—weirdly soothing yet fascinating 🤯. Plenty of dinosaur exhibits—feels like a place where Ross from Friends would work 😝. #RaleighNC #RTPArea #DayTrip #NCAdventures