United States / North Carolina / Durham-Chapel Hill Metro Area / Wake County / Raleigh / Zip Codes

Review of Raleigh, North Carolina

Raleigh...BIG YAWN
Star Rating - 9/21/2007
This is an HONEST opinion of Raleigh. Overall this is a great place to START a family but there is not much to do. Honestly!!! There is the farmers market & a few poorly organized shin-dings at the park (maybe 100 folks). Below average trip malls abound with no shortage of Targets or Walmarts but thats it!!!
Where are all of the private schools, theatre, arts, nightlife, world class shopping, etc. Houses are not cheap here any longer & EVERY other house looks like the one before. Every one shops at the SAME furniture & clothing stores. People ARE polite BUT there is no real connection because there is nothing to do but head off to Target then grab Carolina BBQ!!!
If you are not in the medical (Duke is EVERYWHERE), research, or engineering field...forget about it. My household income is over 200K and my husband & I still can't find much to do. The wives are bored here & popping out babies left & right because WHAT else is there? This is not the place for a single woman, families with teens, Liberals, those with refined taste, or anyone who is looking for an inexpensive place to live. You must have middle or upperclass income to live well BUT you will still be bored. Unless you don't mind spending lot's of time inside a cookie cutter house.
Mrs.Henry | Durham, NC
Reply to this Comment

7 Replies

Honey, I could not have said it any better. I agree 100%. You forgot to mention how they still carry the north and south grudge to the grave. Also, the beauty is going due to overdevelopment everywhere.
Mary | Raleigh, NC | Report Abuse
Agree 43   Disagree 27
I totally agree....
kay | Raleigh, NC | Report Abuse
Agree 33   Disagree 35
I agree Raleigh is a big yawn. When I used to live there all people talked about was which movie was playing and which restaurant they went to. That's it. Nothing else. All the time. I think they were all bored too.
Michelle | Charlotte, NC | Report Abuse
Agree 29   Disagree 37
I believe you are over generalizing. If you couldn't find the museums and art it was because you were not looking. We have numerous museums, art exhibits, plays, operas and cultural activities in the area. If you looked into the Independent, a weekly newpaper that list the events for the area, you would have discovered them. I am surprised you couldn't find those activities. I have been to many of Duke's, UNC's and NC State's cultural activities so I am struggling to figure out how you could have missed them. Raleigh has been chosen as the Best City to Live In or seond by numerous publications such as Kiplinger, MSNBC, MSNMoney, Money magazine, etc.but I have found that if you stay at home you will obviously NEVER find culture where you go and that is anywhere.
Preston | Raleigh, NC | Report Abuse
Agree 11   Disagree 40
I agree completely. I think whoever in charge of city/suburb planning didn't do a very good job. (Or maybe this job doesn't even exist here). There is quite a lack of culture here in the suburbs. I can't believe people choose to live in houses that look exactly identical to each other. I think downtown Raleigh is fun however, and Chapel Hill/Carrboro is fantastic!
Georgia | Jackson, MI | Report Abuse
Agree 13   Disagree 15
I really have to totally disagree with your synoposys and think you are beaing overly critical as it sounds like you folks have not found your nitch. I moved here from Mid town Manhattan,the center of the world, and find many outdoor activites and family and even a nicely laid out art area downtown. The parks are among the best in the country, especially in a city center. Crime is non existance, homes are cheap and incomes and the local percapita brain trust are all phiigh! The adive that was given to me are two month of me talkking to everyone how this cor that compares to NYC was a friend from NC told me to nuy a Frommers book take it out to To the William B, Umstead State Park walk for 20 minutes on any of the paths into the woods and then plop down beneath the surrouanding monsterious pines and read abount the rest of yodur life in NC. After you read dog ear some things that interest you and go for it.I can quarentee you will get a better feelin for our adopted Sstate. Keep positive and you CAN DO IT! Carpe Diem Ladies and Gentlemen!
BRIAN | Raleigh, NC | Report Abuse
Agree 43   Disagree 8
What are you looking for?money doesnt buy happiness.Some people will always be bored or spoiled.Try being happy with what you have.
Vince | Derry, NH | Report Abuse
Agree 10   Disagree 8
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