New
Student
Guide
Welcome to North Carolina State University. We are excited to
have you join the Wolfpack family. The following information
packet contains information you need to know to get started here
in Raleigh.
With more than 34,000 students and nearly 8,000 faculty and staff,
NC State is a comprehensive university known for its leadership in
education and research, and globally recognized for its science,
technology, engineering and mathematics leadership.
The Global Training Initiative is a unit of the Office of International
Affairs. The GTI will help orient you to the campus as well as
provide opportunities to interact with NC State students
throughout the semester. The GTI staff works hard to help you
transition to life here in the U.S and get you connected to events on
campus and around the community. However, most questions
about programs and services at the university should be directed to
the specific unit in charge, not the GTI.
Global Training Initiative
Campus Box 7573
Raleigh, NC 27695
http://www.ncsu.edu/gti
I. Welcome to NC State University
a. History and current stats
b. Quick start guide for students
i. Unity ID & AllCampus Card
ii. Email accounts
iii. MyPack Portal
iv. NCSU Libraries
v. Health care
1. Student Health Center
2. Off-campus health care
vi. Campus safety
vii. Student conduct
viii. Sports and recreation
ix. Student organizations
1. Volunteer organizations
2. Business student groups
3. Language clubs
x. Community service
1. Foundations in Raleigh
2. Annual volunteer events
a. Walks
b. Food drives
c. NCSU events
c. Life at NC State
i. Wolfpack Pride
1. Traditions
2. Guide to getting student tickets
ii. Getting settled
1. Banks
2. Phones
3. Postal services
iii. Transportation
1. Wolfline routes
2. CAT buses
3. Triangle Transit
4. Alternative transportation methods
5. Car rentals
6. Scooters
iv. Campus dining
v. Non-campus dining options
vi. Groceries
II.
Welcome to Raleigh/Wake County
a. History/geography
b. Weather/News
c. Dining guide: North Raleigh and Cary
d. Shopping guide
i. Crabtree
ii. Crossroads
iii. Triangle Town Center
iv. Downtown Raleigh boutiques and stores
v. Cameron Village
e. Entertainment guide
i. Music Venues
1. Downtown music venues
a. Lincoln Theatre
b. Raleigh Downtown Amphitheatre
c. Berkeley Café
d. Shakedown Street
e. Tir Na Nog Irish Pub
f. Pourhouse
2. Walnut Creek
3. Koko Booth Amphitheatre
4. Cat’s Cradle
5. Festivals
a. Shakori Hills
b. Music on the Mountaintop
ii. Sports
1. NCSU Athletics
2. Soccer leagues/associations
3. Carolina Hurricanes
4. Durham Bulls
III. Travelling Outside Wake County
a. Airport guide
i. How to get to RDU
ii. Websites for cheap airfare
b. Charlotte
c. North Carolina Mountains
i. General information
ii. Asheville
iii. Brevard
iv. Boone
v. Linville Gorge
d. North Carolina beaches
i. Wilmington/Wrightsville
ii. Myrtle Beach
iii. Emerald Isle
iv. Outer Banks
e. Cities in other states
i. Washington D.C.
ii.Atlanta
iii. Florida (Orlando, Miami, Daytona)
iv. New York City
v. Boston
vi. Chicago
vii. Los Angeles
A BRIEF HISTORY OF
NCSU
Welcome to
the Wolfpack
Family!
NCSU, commonly known as NC State, was
founded by the North Carolina General Assembly
in March 7, 1887 under the name North Carolina
College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. NC State
is a land-grant institution, meaning that we were
founded to provide education in engineering,
agriculture, and the sciences, opening education
to the masses, rather than focusing on classical
Liberal Arts programs. The main campus size is
about 1,120 acres with 11 different colleges. The
university forms one of the corners of the
“Triangle” in addition to Duke University in
Durham and The University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill.
“Today, our faculty are
transforming the world,
collectively earning more than 85
National Science Foundation
career and presidential awards in
the past decade alone based on
groundbreaking work addressing
society’s grand challenges.”
NCSU offers Bachelor’s degrees in 106 fields,
Masters Degrees in 104 fields, and Doctoral
degrees in 61 fields. NC State has an enrollment
of 34,767 students, making it the largest university
in North Carolina. The number of student
organizations is over 400.
Randy Woodson
Chancellor
NC State University
You will enjoy the dynamic student life of NCSU’s
campus, with its great student organizations, the
huge DH Hill library and the state of the art
Gymnasium.
In 1987, NCSU gained 700 acres of land that would
became later Centennial Campus. Centennial
Campus houses more than 60 companies,
government agencies and non profits. Today, 125
years after its founding, NC State continues to
follow its original mission: opening the doors
of higher education to the citizens of North
Carolina and providing teaching, research and
extension that strengthen the state and its
economy.
North Carolina State University at a Glance
Largest four-year institution in North Carolina
34,340 students from all 100 North Carolina counties, 52
states and territories and 119 foreign countries (24,833
undergraduates; 9,507 graduate and professional)
5th best value among public U.S. universities (U.S. News &
World Report, 2013)
$380 million in total research expenditures (National
Science Foundation, 2009)
The Hunt Library
Located on Centennial Campus and completed in 2013, The Hunt Library was made possible by $115.2 million in
state funds, plus donor support.
Primary users are faculty, students, and staff in engineering, textiles, and other science programs. As a second main
library for the university, the Hunt Library also welcomes students, faculty, and partners from all disciplines.
Robot-driven bookBot automated book delivery system holds up to 2 million volumes in 1/9 the space of
conventional shelving, enabling the library to provide more space for learning and collaboration. The bookBot is 50
feet wide by 160 feet long by 50 feet tall and is excavated 20 feet below the first floor.
QUICK START GUIDE FOR STUDENTS
88 feet high at tallest point, providing dramatic views of Lake Raleigh and the city skyline.
Unity ID
Each student enrolled at NCSU receives a Unity ID. It is used as your ID to get onto websites such as
MyPackPortal and NC State secure websites. It is a combination of your first
name, middle name, and last name and may contain numbers.
Your Unity ID is also your e-mail address followed by @ncsu.edu. For example,
if your Unity ID is jsdoe12, your e-mail address would be jsdoe12@ncsu.edu.
You can also sign into any computer on campus using your Unity ID and
password. However, note that your Unity ID Is different from your Student ID
number.
If you can’t remember your Unity ID or password, call (919) 515-HELP (4357) or
email help@ncsu.edu. GTI staff does not have access to that information and
cannot help you retrieve lost passwords.
Wolfpack One Card
Your Wolfpack One Card is your student ID and includes your
name, your student ID number, and an expiration date.
Thanks to a partnership with the US Bank, your Wolfpack One Card
is also a Mastercard and can be used for different banking services
(debit account).
This card will be your pass to use the dining halls (with a meal
plan), the gym and the library (to rent computers, cameras, iPads,
books, etc.). You will also use this card for attendance at GTI
events.
You should always carry it with you!
More information on the Wolfpack One Card card can be found at http://onecard.ncsu.edu/.
You can get your NCSU Student IDs at the Wolfpack One office in the Talley Center on Monday-Friday
from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. You MUST bring your passport.
If your Wolfpack One Card card is lost or stolen, you will have to pay to a $20 fee to have it replaced.
Email accounts
Your email account is your main link within NC State. You can access it via http://gmail.ncsu.edu.
Your login and password are your Unity ID and password. It is important to check your account often.
For example, you will receive information about ICLP events, WolfAlerts, ticket request deadlines for
basketball and football, etc. This is also the email account you should use when corresponding with NC
State departments and units for official correspondence.
MyPack Portal
MyPack Portal is your source for information about your student account and all things NC State. You
can access it by going to http://mypack.ncsu.edu and signing in as a student with your Unity ID and
Password.
Step by step tutorials on how to operate My Pack Portal can be found at
http://www.ncsu.edu/registrar/guides/students/tutorials.html. You will find information on how to sign
in to MyPack Portal, how to register for classes, check grades, pay tuition, and much more. MyPack
Portal also has a Campus Resources section, where you’ll find links to gmail.ncsu.edu, the Student
Events Calendar, the NCSU Libraries or Wolfpack sporting event ticket information.
You MUST REPORT address changes (local and permanent) in MyPack Portal. For local address updates
make sure to select “physical” address. If you do not update your local address to the address of where
you are living in Raleigh or surrounding areas, you will be in violation of your visa. Also, be sure to use
American English or you may not be able to log into MyPack Portal.
DH Hill Library
The DH Hill Library is NCSU’s main library, located on the north
campus across the Brickyard. The library is open 24 hours from
9am Sunday until 10 pm on Friday, and from 9-10pm on
Saturdays. It is more than a simple library, it is a space where
you can learn and share with other students thanks to new
technologies.
There is also a coffee bar (Hill of Beans) and an ice cream shop
(The Creamery) where you can buy ice-cream, coffee, pastries,
sandwiches, and snacks.
The technology Sandbox is a space in the D.H library which has been created in order to encourage
students to experiment and cooperate with innovation. You can find a lot of new technologies to work
like interactive whiteboards, large LCD monitors, etc.
In the library, you can freely borrow all kinds of devices such as iPod, iPad, cameras, laptops, GPS,
Portable DVD players, graphic tablets and calculators. You can take them out for several hours or days
depending on the device. You rent these devices from the main circulation desk.
Health Care
Student Health Center
The student health center is located on the campus very close
to the Carmichael gymnasium at 2815 Cates Avenue (corner
of Dan Allen Drive and Cates Avenue).
Full service: M-F 8am-5:00pm,
Tu: 9am-5:00pm,
Sa: 8:30am-11:30pm (closed Sunday)
Medical: (919) 515-7107
After-hours telephone-based medical advice: (919) 515-2563
Women’s Health: 919.515.7762
Students can make appointments online @ http://www.ncsu.edu/student_health/index.html
Students must identify themselves as NC State students.
If you feel sick you can either call to make an appointment or walk-in without an appointment. If you
choose to walk-in, the reception will take your name and you will need to wait until a doctor is available.
You will need to fill a form specifying your symptoms and if you have allergies. As soon as a doctor is
available he will examine you and prescribe you some medication that you can buy directly at the health
center's pharmacy. The appointment is free of charge for NC State students but additional fees such as
medical tests with a laboratory or scans may be charged.
The Health center is also in charge of warning people in case of flu epidemics or other diseases noted on
the campus.
In some cases you will have to go off-campus to access healthcare services (in the case of emergency, or
if the Student Health Center is closed). You will find below a list of places you can go to according to the
severity of the medical problem.
Pharmacies (Drug Stores) near the NC State campus
Pharmacies sell over-the-counter medications to treat the symptoms of minor health issues like
headaches, rashes, and colds. Pharmacists may be able to give advice about which products to purchase,
but cannot write prescriptions or diagnose illnesses. Some grocery stores or department stores (like
Wal-Mart) also have pharmacies and over-the-counter medicines.
Name
Kerr Drug
NC State
University
Pharmacy2
Rite Aid
(Cameron
Village)
Distance from
Centennial
0.4 mi
Address
Phone
Hours1
2233 Avent Ferry Road
(919) 535-0092
Mon-Fri: 9am-9pm
Sat: 9am-7pm
Sun: 10am-6pm
1.3 mi
2815 Cates Avenue room
1105
(919) 513-3276
1.7 mi
510 Woodburn Road
(919) 833-5523
Mon-Fri: 8am-5pm
Tue: 9am-5pm
(summer hours different)
Mon-Thur: 8am-9pm
Fri: 9am-9pm
Sat: 9am-6pm
Sun: 10am-6pm
Pharmacies with Clinics
Some pharmacies have nurse practitioners and physician’s assistants who can diagnose, treat, and
prescribe medication for common illnesses, minor injuries, and skin conditions. They also offer health
screenings, vaccinations and physicals. The cost for each service is usually listed on their websites. You
do not need an appointment for these clinics. You simply walk in and wait in line.
Name
Distance from
Centennial
9.2 mi
Address
Phone
Hours
6840 Glenwood Avenue
(919) 781-8604
CVS Minute
Clinic
12.1 mi
2340 Spring Forest Road
(919) 790-6401
CVS Minute
Clinic
11.2 mi
2994 Kildaire Farm Road,
Cary
(919) 387-1075
M-F: 8:30am-7:30pm
Sa: 9am-5:30pm
Su: 10am-5:30pm
M-F: 8:30am-7:30pm
Sa: 9am-5:30pm
Su: 10am-5:30pm
M-F: 8:30am-7:30pm
Sa: 9am-5:30pm
Su: 10am-5:30pm
CVS Minute
Clinic
1
Store hours and pharmacy hours differ. The times listed are general store hours.
Eligibility: Students must be currently enrolled fee-paying students to use the pharmacy. Student ID cards are
required for all services rendered. Spouses enrolled and paying the spouse premium for the BCBSNC and Pearce &
Pearce, Inc., plan, are eligible to have prescriptions filled at the Student Health pharmacy.
2
Urgent Care Clinics
Urgent care clinics are like walk-in doctor’s offices. Doctors are available to treat a wide variety of
problems, including x-rays, labs, injury care, physicals, and other exams. Doctors can diagnose illnesses
and prescribe treatment. Many people use urgent care clinics when they cannot get an appointment
with their doctor soon enough. Urgent care clinics accept many types of health insurance. Contact the
urgent care facility or your insurance company to determine the cost. Urgent care facilities normally
charge more than a regular doctor but much less than a hospital.
Name
Accent Urgent
Care
RX Urgent
Care
Accent Urgent
Care
Optimus
Urgent Care
Address
2406 Blue Ridge Rd
Phone
3100 Blue Ridge Rd
(919) 719-2250
212 Ashville Avenue, Suite
10, Cary
7100 Six Forks Rd
(919) 859-1136
-
(919) 794-7447
Hours
M-Th: 8am-9:30pm
F-Su: 8am-5:30pm
M-F: 8am-8pm
Sa-Su: 9am-3pm
M-Th: 8am-9:30pm
F-Su: 8am-5:30pm
M-F: 7:30am-7:30pm
Sa: 9am-5pm
Su: 10am-5pm
Hospitals
Visit the hospital’s emergency room for a life-threatening problem. You can drive to the emergency
room or call 911 and an ambulance will drive you to the nearest hospital. Ambulances will charge you
(or your insurance) apart from any hospital charges or physician’s bills. Hospital care is very costly, so
only visit in a true emergency. Hospitals do take most types of insurance. Hospital emergency rooms can
treat any health problem at any time of day. They will treat very serious problems quickly, but patients
often have to wait a long time to see a doctor for less serious problems.
Name
REX (UNC)
Hospital
Wake Med
Address
4420 Lake Boone Trail
(at Blue Ridge Road)
3000 New Bern Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27610
Phone
(919) 784-3100
Hours
24 hours
(919) 350-8000
24 hours
Campus Safety
Everything on campus is made in order to ensure students’ safety. Different measures are set to make
people feel safe in their everyday life environment, some of which are described in this section.
Blue-light telephones:
In all the different areas of NC State (Centennial Campus as well as Main Campus), people can
find blue-light emergency telephones that provide a direct line to the NC State Police. These
phones are distinctively marked (look for a red phone box attached to a white pole with a bluelight bulb on top).
Campus police:
Campus police patrols NC State 24 hours a day, whether by vehicle, bike or on foot. Policemen are here
to look after any doubtful behavior. The Campus Police also offer a Safety Escort service. If you are not
feeling safe going back home, at any time of day or night, you can easily call them to get a ride to any
location on campus. Do not hesitate to call them. Sometimes they will also give you a ride home if you
live very close to campus (especially if you are a girl and feel unsafe walking home by yourself).
Emergency number: (919) 515-3333
Crime alert:
NC State University generally warns students by sending an e-mail in case of danger on campus.
Students can also call the police with the emergency number (911).
Student Conduct
You are expected to abide by all the laws, rules, and regulations of NC State University, the State of
North Carolina, and the United States. The Office of Student Conduct is located at 1115 Pullen Hall.
They educate students about the rules and expectations of this community, covering both academic
and non-academic policies.




Weapons: NOT permitted on University property.
Drugs: NCSU has a zero tolerance policy for drugs.
Alcohol: Unless you are 21 years of age, you may not purchase, possess, or consume alcohol.
Purchasing alcohol for minors is against the law. DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE.
Harassment, stalking, assault, and other targeted behaviors are not tolerated in the NC State
community. “Harassment is unwelcome conduct based upon race, color, religion, creed, sex,
national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation that either 1) creates a quid
pro quo situation, or 2) creates a hostile working or learning environment.” (POL 04.25.05 Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Policy Statement)
NC State has a zero tolerance policy regarding sexual harassment and misconduct
(http://policies.ncsu.edu/policy/pol-11-35-01, paragraph 10.14)
If you are the victim of or witness to any of these behaviors, contact the Office of Student Conduct and
they can be a resource for you.
Scholarship and Integrity
Furthering your education is the first and foremost reason why you are here. We expect all members of
this community to be good scholars. You must act with integrity. You are now connected with a larger
community of scholars that expects you to be ethical in your academic work. The full University policy
on Academic Integrity can be found here: http://studentconduct.ncsu.edu/academic-integrity-resource
Sports and Recreation
(http://recreation.ncsu.edu/)
Being involved in intramural sports and club sports are an important part of NC State
tradition. They is also a great way to meet other students who share the same interests
and make friends.
All current fee paying students receive a full service membership to Carmichael
Gymnasium, Recreation Center and Aquatic Center for the semester. There are 2 pools,
basketball and racquetball courts, outdoor tennis courts, exercise equipment, a track, and
intramural playing fields (http://recreation.ncsu.edu/facilities/carmichael). Use your NCSU
student ID to get in.
Campus Recreation also offers weekend adventure trips, ropes course, climbing wall, and
rental of outdoor equipment. Additionally, they sponsor university-wide special events.
You can find out more at http://recreation.ncsu.edu/outdoor
Fitness
The recreation center also offers a
great variety of group classes such
as yoga, dance, cardio and strength
training, etc. Most of the classes are
free, but some require a small
participation fee (cycling for
example). For more information
visit
http://recreation.ncsu.edu/fitness
Club Sports
There are 52 Club Sport teams at NC State, and they
compete against other university club teams. Find more
information at http://recreation.ncsu.edu/club
Note that most clubs require great commitment in time
(practice several hours per week) and money (sometimes
you will have to buy you own equipment). If you are
interested in joining a club, make sure to email the contact
person well in advance (during the summer before class
start) in case there are mandatory try-outs to join the
team.
Here is a selection of some of the clubs that you can participate in, but a full list can be
found here: http://recreation.ncsu.edu/club/directory
Volleyball
NC State offers volleyball opportunities for teams and individuals during the Fall semester. To play
volleyball, it is best to have at least 8 players to a team (6 on the field, 2 substitutes). For co-ed
volleyball, you need at least two females on the floor. There are also women-only teams. A designated
captain registers the team. Teams have a time that they play every week for a month, and a tournament
wraps up the end of the season.
Racquetball
Here is the perfect opportunity to discover this sport specific to American culture. Racquetball was
created in the U.S. by both a tennis and squash player. The ball used is bigger than a tennis ball and is
winged. The team practices twice a week for an hour and a half, on Monday and Wednesday at 8pm.
Members of all levels are welcome, and may be able to participate in some competitions if they are
good enough! For any questions email: racquetball-club@ncsu.edu. (Right: Aerial View of Carmichael
Gym)
Badminton
Playing badminton at NC State is quite easy.
Every day, at the Carmichael Center, there
are fields available where anyone can come
and play. Students just have to register and
borrow some racquets if they need to. The
university also has a Badminton Club, which
was formed in 2002 and accepts every
student, regardless of their level. There are
competitions organized by the Club into
NCSU or against other clubs. If you have any
questions or want to be a new member, send an email to badminton-club@ncsu.edu. You can also visit
their website http://clubs.ncsu.edu/badminton/index.htm.
Cycling
The cycling club participates in a lot of races: sprint races, races against the clock, team races… All these
races let people enjoy the beautiful landscapes of North-Carolina, South-Carolina, Virginia and so on!
As a full-time student, you can get a membership ($50 a year) to the cycling club and this will allow you
to purchase uniforms, be in the team, participate in events and even be coached! However, you can also
join and decide not to be part of the competitive collegiate-cycling.
Check the N.C. State Cycling Club website http://clubs.ncsu.edu/cycling/index.html for more info.
Ballroom Dancing
The Ballroom Dance club or “Dancing with Wolves” delivers free lessons that are held Tuesdays 8:3010:00 pm biweekly at the Talley Student Center Ballroom. These free beginner social dance lessons
enable you to meet a lot of NCSU students and open to both students and community members. Only
social dances are taught (cha-cha, rumba, waltz, and tango). Moreover, the club hosts monthly dances in
the Talley Student Center ballroom (students $4/ general $6). You can find more information on their
website: http://dancingwithwolves.org/.
Rugby
There is no selection to join the university rugby club, which has 2 teams. The selection to the first team
happens during the workouts on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 8 pm. The NC State rugby team is
very open to foreign students, because they come from countries with a strong rugby culture and
Americans are happy to learn or be inspired. For more information visit http://www.ncstaterugby.com/.
Intramural Sports
Intramural sports teams play against other NCSU teams. For the Fall 2012, the intramural sports are Flag
Football, Soccer, Volleyball, Wiffleball, 3-on-3 Basketball, Ultimate Frisbee and Kickball. More
information and registration schedules can be found at http://recreation.ncsu.edu/intramural
Student Organizations—Get
Involved on Campus!
Student Organization Resource Center:
http://ncsu.orgsync.com/
Union activities board:
http://uab.ncsu.edu/
Calendar of the students events:
http://ncsu.orgsync.com/news_events
Community Service
Being involved in community service is a longstanding tradition at NC State and within the Raleigh
community. Many students and faculty donate hours of their time to various forms of community
service as a way to feel connected and give back to NC State and Raleigh’s communities.
Volunteer Organizations
Americans tend to be loosely involved in
many different volunteer organizations.
For Americans, it is really important to
have a strong network for their social and
professional lives, and volunteering helps
connect them with their communities. It’s
also practical: students with this type of
experience in their resumes are seen as
well-rounded, less self-interested, and
engaged. If you would like to get involved
on campus in student volunteer
organizations, check out the opportunities
at http://www.ncsu.edu/campuslife/community-service/.
Foundations in Raleigh
Depending on your interest, you can find many foundations in Raleigh and close areas like Cary, Chapel
Hill, and Durham. These are just a couple of examples:
 The V Foundation for Cancer Research, located in Cary, offers you two options for service:
financial donations or participation in events.
 The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is always looking for volunteers to help raise funds
and provide support for people with diabetes.
For more info about these foundations and others, visit http://www.rtplinks.com/charityfoundations.html
Annual volunteer events
Raleigh and surrounding areas offer many opportunities to benefit the community, with lots of annual
volunteer events. You can find the calendar of all the volunteer events on this website:
http://events.triangle.com/raleigh-nc/events/charity+volunteer
 Do you want to volunteer and like to dance? Get involved in the annual dance benefit from
Bonjour Africa Malaria Project (BAMP) to raise money to help stop the spread of malaria in
Senegal!
 Are you a sports addict? Join the annual Springest Cycling Event Century Ride to raise money for
the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Foundation of Transplants.
Charity Walks
Ever run for the benefit of someone else? With hundreds of other people? Sound interesting? Raleigh is
the host of many annual charity walks that benefit various local, state, and regional organizations. A few
examples of these are:
 The Crohn's and Colitis Walk: This walk is convenient since it starts at NC State's Centennial
Campus.
 The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light the Night Walk: Held each fall nationwide and in
Canada. Participants carry illuminated balloons to honor and commemorate lives touched
by blood cancer.
 2012 Walk MS Triangle: a 1 or 3 mile walk around the PNC Arena to raise funds for the
National Multi Sclerosis Society.
…but there are others, so keep up to date on the city calendar!
Food Drives
Raleigh's Food Drives are run by the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. The Raleigh
branch distributed more than 18 million pounds (more than 8 million kilos) of food to 279 agencies in 13
local counties in 2011 alone. People can give either food or money, and for every dollar donated, the
Food Bank of CENC can provide $10 worth of food, or five meals.
Krispy Kreme Challenge
The Krispy Kreme Challenge is an annual event in Raleigh registered in
the “102 More Things You Gotta Do Before You Graduate” list of
NCSU. The challenge consists of a 5-mile race from the NC State
Belltower on Hillsborough Street to the Krispy Kreme store on North
Person Street. As a participant, you can choose to be a casual or a
challenger runner. The challenger should complete the entire race,
which includes eating 12 doughnuts and running back to the finish line
all in less than 1 hour. The casual runner is not required to complete the full challenge. Each participant
gives $20 for registration or you can sign up as a supporter and donate $10. All the money raised goes to
the North Carolina Children’s Hospital.
Shack-A-Thon
Shack-A-Thon is listed as one of the 54 things a student should do at NC State. This fundraiser is
organized by NCSU’s Habitat for Humanity to educate
students about poverty and housing. Each fall, NC State’s
Brickyard becomes the place where many students live
and sleep. Student organizations build wooden shacks
and have to stay during an entire week. Shacks compete
to raise the most money from any passersby.
LIFE AT NC STATE
Since it was chartered over 125 years ago, North Carolina State University has built deeply rooted
traditions. Traditions at NC State are not restricted to sporting events and also concern humanitarian or
artistic projects, etc. Becoming part of the NC State community, as a student, an intern, or even just a
visitor is also about understanding the university’s history and traditions.
A couple of years ago, NC State’s Student Government established a list of 54 things to do at NCSU, to
encourage students to participate in the university’s life, try new experiences and make memories that
will remind them of their time spend at NC State. Check out the list at http://students.ncsu.edu/top54/
and see how many items you can cross off your list during your stay at NC State!
Wolfpack – School Spirit/Pride
NC State’s colors and mascot have not always been the same. In fact in the beginning the
teams colors were pink and blue. It is only in 1922 that it was changed for to red and
white. The name “Wolfpack” came from the similarity between the behavior of the
student body at athletic events and the behavior of a “wolf pack”. Both the colors
and mascot are symbols of the spirit of NCSU and of the university’s pride. There
are 2 different songs that are chanted at various Wolfpack events: the NCSU Fight
Song and the Red and White Song.
NCSU Fight Song
Shout aloud to the men who will play the game
to win
We're behind you, keep fighting for State--Hold that line, hold 'em fast,
We'll reach victory at last
We're behind you, keep fighting for State--Rise up to the fray and let your colors wave,
Shout out for dear old N.C. State;--GO STATE!
And where-e'er we go,
we'll let the whole world know,
We're behind you, keep fighting for State.
Red & White Song
We're the Red and White from State,
And we know we are the best.
A hand behind our back,
We can take on all the rest.
Come over the hill, Caroline.
Devils and Deacs stand in line.
The Red and White from N.C. State,
Go State!
Make sure you know the words of the Red & White Song to sing along with fellow NC State students at
the games!
If you are a big sports fan, you can also join the Student Wolfpack Club. This student organization is all
about supporting the school’s sports teams by attending home and away games as well as other events!
For more information or to join the club, visit www.studentwolfpackclub.com.
Traditions
To learn more about the school traditions, you can visit
http://students.ncsu.edu/thebrick/. The Brick is a book about NC State and
traditions, and it is part of the Tradition Keeper program. NC State students who
complete 40 of the 50 traditions included in The Brick receive a medal to be
worn at graduation.
Even if you don’t complete all the activities, learning about NC State’s traditions and taking part in some
of them is a great way to feel at home on campus and meet new friends. It is also a valuable part of the
American campus experience that international students won’t find anywhere else.
Discover more traditions at http://www.ncsu.edu/nso/old/traditions/index.htm.
To learn more about the special events that took place for NC State’s 125th anniversary, visit
http://125.ncsu.edu/.
Homecoming
Homecoming is one of the most popular and relevant student events at North Carolina State
University. It lasts on entire week and the aim is to celebrate the NC State Community. Alumni and
students are invited to take part of many events like a parade on Hillsborough Street, a “red day” during
which students wear the school colors and they can get free food for it, trivia night, cookie contests,
etc. This special week is also a time to show involvement towards the community with blood drives and
a canned food drive. Homecoming week ends with tailgating at Cartley Finley Stadium, followed by a
NCSU Football game.
Get an idea of what Homecoming is like by taking a look at last year’s schedule of events
(http://www.alumni.ncsu.edu/s/1209/index.aspx?sid=1209&gid=1&pgid=1312) or by reading more
about this tradition (http://www.ncsu.edu/homecoming/2009/02/).
NC State University Ticketing Process and Policy
Online Student Ticket Distribution
Students will need to create an account and login at www.GoPack.com/students to manage their tickets
for football and men’s basketball. The purpose of the account is to a0 manage their account
information, b) track their attendance history, c) view their Loyalty Point total, d) request and claim
tickets, e) cancel a previously claimed ticket, and f) purchase student guest tickets and away game
tickets, if available.
Online Student Ticket Allotment and Seating
Up to 10,000 seats will be allotted to students for football games
Up to 610 seats to the band, 780 seats to the Student Wolfpack Club, and 8,610 to Online Distribution
Up to 4,500 for Basketball
Up to 192 seats to the Band, 452 seats to the Student Woulfpack Club, 92 to the Cheerleaders & Dance
Team, and 3,764 to Online Distribution
Seating will be General Admission in each section; however, based on arrival time, students will be
assigned to a section (Sideline, Baseline Floor, Lower Level Caseline, Upper Level Baseline
*A Student ID is REQUIRED with each student ticket for admission to NC State Athletic venues.
Online Ticketing Schedule
Request period: Eligible students may request 1 student ticket.
Lottery: Demand < Supply of Seats = Students are automatically awarded a ticket.
Lottery: Demand > Supply of Seats= 25% goes to the Top Loyalty Point Accounts Distribution followed by
75% allotment thru a weighted lottery.
Notification: Students receive tickets that have been awarded to them by email.
On Demand Students: Students who have not already requested or received tickets may claim surplus
tickets
On-Demand Guest: Students have the opportunity to purchase 1 guest ticket from surplus tickets
(subject to availability).
(Below: Carter-Finley Stadium)
NC State University has been competing at the highest level of college athletics for more than a century,
as a charter member of both the Southern Conference and, later, the Atlantic Coast Conference. Now,
with 23 varsity sports, NC State continues to excel on and off the field. In basketball, the Wolfpack has
won two NCAA championships, made three trips to the Final Four and brought home 17 conference
championship trophies. It has produced college basketball’s greatest player, David Thompson, and
introduced the college basketball tradition of cutting down the nets after significant victories.
Football has also had its fair share of success, going to 25 bowl games, beginning with the 1946 Gator
Bowl, and winning 11 South Atlantic, Southern and Atlantic Coast Conference championships. Among the
33 football All-Americans are a pair of record-breaking quarterbacks, Roman Gabriel and Philip Rivers,
both of whom defined passing offenses in college football.
NC State has been no less groundbreaking in women’s athletics, thanks in part to Naismith Memorial Hall
of Fame inductee Kay Yow, a North Carolina native who was hired in 1975 to initiate women’s basketball,
softball and volleyball programs. In 2009, NC State hired Kellie Harper, former NCAA Champion with the
Tennessee Volunteers, to lead the women’s basketball program.
NC State athletes have won 29 individual NCAA and AIAW national champions: 10 in men’s and women’s
out- door track and field, eight in swimming and diving, five in women’s cross country, five in wrestling
and one in men’s golf. The school has produced Olympic champions in swimming and dominated the
sports of men’s and women’s cross country like no other in the ACC.
1. Log onto www.GoPack.com to find out about upcoming events
2. Become a fan on Facebook – www.facebook.com/NCStateAthletics
-Be sure to check in using Facebook Places at all NC State Sporting Venues for a chance to win great
prizes during athletic sporting events
3. Follow your favorite teams on Twitter:
-For all the Twitter page names go to www.GoPack.com/twitter
4. To opt into our weekly e-newsletter go to www.GoPack.com and click
Getting Settled In
Banks
You are strongly encouraged to open a U.S. account upon arrival in Raleigh. Some
stores, restaurants, and other merchants may not be able to accept international
credit or debit cards. Special arrangements have been made with Wells Fargo Bank
(https://www.wellsfargo.com/) to help you open up a student checking account
quickly and easily. More information about opening an account will be provided to
you upon your arrival.
To open a bank account, you will need your passport and I-20 (F-1 visas) or DS-2019 (J-1 visas). You will
not need a social security number to open an account. It is a good idea to also have a campus ID with
you or some paperwork associating you with NC State (letter of acceptance for example). With a
checking account, you will receive a checkbook and usually an ATM card, which allows you to withdraw
cash from your account 24-hours a day.
Before opening an account make sure you understand all the terms, conditions and fees that apply to
the account for no surprises. Sometimes it is required that you keep a specific amount of money in your
account to avoid fees, so make sure to go over the terms with the salesperson at the bank.
Banks usually offer special “Student Accounts” with low monthly charges
(between $3 and $9 per month), but age restrictions may apply. Those
accounts are often linked to a “savings” account, which allow you to earn
interests each month. Banks also offer additional services such as loans, credit
cards, and safe-deposit boxes at lower cost to students. If you don’t qualify
for student accounts, you can still open regular checking and savings
accounts. The monthly fees are usually higher but the fee can also be waived on specific conditions.
When choosing an American bank, it is important to keep in mind that you will be charged for money
withdrawals at ATMs different from your own bank. So if you plan on withdrawing cash often and not
always pay with your debit card, you might want to choose a bank that has several locations and ATMs.
Wells Fargo has an ATM on main campus (Harrelson Hall), as well as several close to Centennial Campus.
Another bank close to campus and available nationwide is Bank of America.
Wells Fargo - Cameron Village Clark Office(919) 839-1399
2001 Clark Avenue
Hours:Mon-Thu 09:00 AM-05:00 PM
Fri 09:00 AM-06:00 PM
Sat 09:00 AM-01:00 PM
Sun closed
Wells Fargo – Hillsborough Office
2600 Hillsborough Street
(919) 664-8801
Hours:Mon-Thu 09:00 AM-05:00 PM
Fri 09:00 AM-06:00 PM
Sat 09:00 AM-01:00 PM
Sun closed
Bank of America - Cameron Village Office
321 Oberlin Road
(919) 829-6654
https://www.bankofamerica.com
Cell phones
Republic Wireless
Republic Wireless is a wireless communications service provider that
provides 3G unlimited plans, nationwide. With plans starting at
$19/month, no contract is required, but you are required to purchase a
Motorola DEFY XT Smartphone for $199
Purchase @: join.republicwireless.com or NCSU
Bookstore (Harrelson Hall)
There are many different options to choose from when it comes to cell phones. To avoid roaming fees
and make it easier for your friends in the US to reach you, it is highly recommended to get an American
phone with a local phone number. Even if your international phone is unlocked, it is uncommon in the
U.S. to buy only a no-contract sim card and put it in your phone, as sim cards are used only with contract
phones.
If you sign with a wireless carrier like AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, or T-Mobile, you will be signing a contract
that normally lasts 2 years and have VERY high termination fees. Most contracts also require a social
security number. You will get a phone with a sim card and a monthly plan (or just a sim card if you wish
to use your previous phone), which can be very expensive depending on what you are looking for.
If you are staying for less than 2 years or don’t have a social security
number, the best solutions are pre-paid cell phones or No-contract
phone plans. In that case, you buy a phone that is locked to a provider
(no sim card) and top it each month with cards bought either in stores
or online. There are many different providers for pre-paid plans
(AT&T, Boost Mobile, Cricket, T-Mobile, TracFone,
Verizon, and Virgin Mobile). You should always check online
first to see if the specific provider has great coverage in the area you
will live, to avoid calls dropping and unsent/unreceived messages.
Minutes or monthly charges can be found as low as $10/month, depending on what you want to use the
most (minutes, text messages, data, or international plans). For a monthly plan with unlimited texts and
data, plus 300 to 500 minutes, it will cost you between $35 and $50, depending in the carrier you
choose.
It is important to note that in the U.S. you are charged for both outgoing and incoming calls and texts.
When you buy pre-paid plans that are not unlimited, make sure you are aware that your minutes will go
down if someone calls you or text you.
Most pre-paid cell phones can be found in stores like Best Buy, Walmart, Target or Radio Shack, as well
as in the carrier stores like Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, Sprint, etc.
Skype and Google also have cheap international and local calling options.
Postal Services
https://www.usps.com/
You can find stamps to send regular mail in the US at
various locations, including the NCSU bookstore, most
grocery stores and of course post offices.
There are several collection boxes on campus and around
town where you can drop your mail. Also, in the United
States, you can leave the mail you want sent in your own
mailbox, the officer from USPS will pick it up when they
deliver your mail.
You can either buy international stamps (“Air Mail stamps”) online or at the post office. Other places
where you can find regular US stamps usually don’t carry international ones.
An international stamp for a postcard or small envelope is $1.05. You can calculate how much it will cost
you to send a specific letter or box by using the online tool (http://postcalc.usps.com/) and avoid bad
surprises at the post office.
CAMERON VILLAGE
505 Oberlin Rd Ste 110,
RALEIGH, NC 27605-1345
Mon-Fri 9:00am - 12:00pm,
1:00pm - 4:00pm
Sat-Sun Closed
For more locations, visit https://www.usps.com/ and go to Find Locations in the Quick Tools tab.
TRANSPORTATION
1- Wolfline
NC State provides bus service for students, staff and faculty and for the
general public living/commuting along Wolfline routes.
The Wolfline buses are FREE and will take you around the NC State
campus. They only operate during weekdays. Routes 3, 8, 1, and 9 will be
most helpful to you.
The Wolfprowl goes to Glenwood South on Thursday-Saturday nights
starting 9 pm. The Wolfprowl does not operate on university holidays.
The Red Terror bus goes from campus to NC State home games at Carter Finley stadium (football) or the
RBC Center (basketball).
Track Wolfline buses in real-time online or on your smartphone@ http://ncsu.transloc.com/
2- Raleigh CAT (Capital Area Transit)
Free with your GoPass. Find schedules and routes on
http://maps.google.com/ or http://www.gotriangle.org/
There is a free R-Line bus that circulates the downtown Raleigh area.
For route maps and schedule, check the City of Raleigh’s website:
http://www.raleighnc.gov/transit/
3- Triangle Transit
Free with your GoPass. The Triangle Transit can help you get to Durham or Chapel Hill. But,
the buses don’t come often and you should plan to spend a lot of time traveling if you go
by bus.
Find schedules and routes @ http://www.triangletransit.org/
All buses are free with the GoPass but you can also buy tickets. A one-way ticket is $1 and a
day pass is $2. Make sure you have the correct amount of money, buses don’t give change
back!
NOTE: Public transportation in Raleigh and the Triangle area is constantly improving but it is not as
extensive or as efficient as public transportation in larger American cities like New York City or
Washington, DC. If you plan to use transportation, be sure to check schedules and maps and plan for a
lot of travel time.
4- Alternative transportation methods
A) Buses
Megabus (http://us.megabus.com/)
A low-cost, express bus service that offer city-to-city travel for as low as
$1 via the Internet. Leaving from Durham, you can go to Richmond,
Charlotte and Washington DC. These buses are quick, and comfortable,
with a free Wifi access.
Go-to-Bus (http://www.gotobus.com)
Go-to-Bus is another low-cost company, deserving more than 150
destinations. Leaving from Raleigh, you can go to New York City and Richmond.
B) Rent a Bike
Renting a bike in Raleigh is very easy! It is fun, healthy and environmentally friendly. You will also find it
very useful especially during week-ends when there is no Wolfline bus service. There are different
options for renting a bike on NC State campus. More information here:
http://www2.acs.ncsu.edu/trans/transportation/wolftrails/Bicycling/bicycles.html
Wolfwheels (http://studentaffairs.ncsu.edu/wolfwheels/)
You can rent a bike for a day ($3), a week ($18), a week-end ($6) or a semester ($100) with your campus
ID at the Carmichael Recreation Center (1st floor). Plus, for $10 you can take classes on the campus on
how to maintain your own bike, repair flats, etc.
Campus Christian Fellowship (http://ccfncsu.org/home/?page_id=1399)
The CCF is in charge of a bike loan program called
Tandem. This program is essentially for NCSU
International students. Depending on the bikes’
availability, you are given the opportunity to rent a
bike for free but with a $20 deposit, which is fully reimbursed when you return the bike.
5 – Car rentals
A) Renting a car
There are a lot of rental companies around campus and at the airport. Enterprise Rent-a-Car has a
partnership with NCSU so it may be financially more interesting.
Several car options are available depending on the number of passengers, the size and category of the
vehicle, etc. For the economy category it is around $28/day, additional charges and taxes may be added.
If you don’t have a US driver’s license you can only drive in the state of North Carolina for 3 months after
your arrival in the US, with a valid driver’s license from your country of origin. To get a NC driver’s
license you need to buy liability insurance, even if you don’t own a car (about $100/month).
For drivers under 25 there is an underage fee from $15 up to $35 depending of the car rental company.
You will have to sign a rental agreement when you pick up your vehicle for protection and legal issues.
You can get more specific information on this website concerning the different renting companies:
http://raleighairportcarrental.com/?gclid=CJ2Nu5HOl68CFQWDnQodFC6fLw
B) Zip Car
If you want to use the Zip Car system to rent a car, you first need first to register online at
http://www.zipcar.com. To register with a foreign license you need to provide proof of your driving
records translated in English (for France, extrait de casier judiciaire, bulletin #3). Once you're approved
by the company (the process can take a couple days), you get your own Zip Card.
If you want to reserve a car for a trip for instance, you have to check on the website first the car
available for the time slot you want. You can choose among plenty of cars, such as BMW, Mini, Hybrid,
or even pickup trucks. Then, your Zipcard allows you to unlock the car you reserved at the location
chosen previously. It is a secured system, and nobody else will be able to open your Zipcar during that
time. Your Zipcar package will include gas, reserved parking and insurance. However, a deductible may
apply if you get in an accident, so be careful! When you are done with your reservation, park the car in
the same reserved parking spot.
6- Scooters
A) Requirements to drive a Scooter
Driving around with a scooter, also known as “booster”, seems to be a great way to avoid commuting by
bus or investing in a car. For scooters whose engines do not exceed 50cm², you must be at least 16 years
old and it is mandatory to wear a helmet. It is not
required to own a driving license, to insure the
scooter, to register to the State or to inspect the
scooter.
B) Ways to get and fix a Scooter
A scooter’s price depends on performance and
size. They can vary from $400 for a 50cc moped,
to $2000 for a high performance scooter. The
average price is $500-$600.
You can either buy a scooter or you can rent one
from a specialized shop or an online shop.
Scoot Scoot Inc / 2020 Hillsborough St # 102 / 919.741.4264
Electric Scooter City / 2010 Hillsborough St.
/ 919.832.5560
http://www.powersportsmax.com or http://www.scooterdepot.us
www.greenearthscooters.com/ provides eco-friendly scooters
C) Driving around
In the state of North Carolina, scooters fall under the same categories as motorcycles and mopeds and
follow the same basic driving rules: stop at all red lights, use your turn signals, respect the speed limit,
drive in one lane, not in between lanes. However, a difference between a motorcycle and a scooter is
that you can’t drive on a highway. The DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) offers a course on riding
motor scooters http://www.motor-scooters-guide.com/scooter-driving-classes.html
Specifically, on NC State Campus, you may ride your electric scooter through campus, although for the
safety of others you must dismount your scooter and walk through the 3 tunnels that connect Central
and North Campus.
Campus Dining
Fountain Dining Hall
Fountain dining hall is conveniently located among the residence halls on West
Campus. With 19 meals served throughout all weekdays (breakfast, lunch,
dinner) and brunch on weekends, its all-you-can-eat extravaganza guarantees
satisfaction at a fair price ($7.75 with tax). Usually offering favorite entrees,
vegetables, fried chicken and lasagna, this dining hall also offers rotating
specialty bars such taco bars, fajita bars or pasta bars. There is also a shortorder grill option. Vegetarians and vegans are not left out with many options available. Students can
check online the menu that includes the nutritional info of each and every dish.
Clark Dining Hall
Clark Dining Hall is open during week days and weekends for breakfast,
lunch and dinner. You can pay with cash or your NCSU account.
The main food you can have there are:
-Fresh Burgers at the Short-Order Grill
-Meats, cheeses, lettuce and tomato at the Deli Bar
- pizza at the Pizza Station
Case Dining Hall
Located in the Case Athletic Center, this dining hall is only open for breakfast and
lunch to students who live in Avent Ferry, Wood, Carroll, Bowen, Metcalf,
Turlington and Alexander.
At Case Dining Hall you will find pizza, fresh burgers, hot dogs and sandwiches.
The Creamery
Just take a left at the top of the DH Hill Library’s steps and you will find what NC
State students call the best creamery in the city. Open from 12pm to 1am during
the week and from 4pm to 1am on Sunday, the DH Hill Creamery will be glad to
welcome you when you are studying. They are particularly well-known for their
creations made with NC State’s own milk, but you could just take their delicious
ice-cream.
Hill of Beans
Hill of Beans is a coffee shop located in DH Hill library that offers a variety of drinks and snacks. Some
Hill of Beans favorites include their Chocolate chip cookies or ice coffees. During weekdays the bar is
open from 7.30 am to 1 am. It is a great place to meet other students or to have a relaxing study break.
Port City Java
With six shops at NC State alone, Port City Java is probably the most represented
franchise in the area. Depending on which location you’re going to, Port City Java is
open Monday to Friday from 7:30am to 5:00pm. Enjoy an early morning breakfast
to give your day a good day start or calm your cravings in the afternoon and enjoy a
break with your friends around a nice mocha.
Non-Campus Dining Options
Fine Dining on Hillsborough Street:
Porter’s City Tavern: 2412 Hillsborough St.
Food: Fine dining pub food (pastas, sandwiches, salads), large selection of wine and beers
Price range: $8-$20
East Village Grill: 1 Dixie Trail
Food: American grill food (chicken fingers, hamburgers, wraps, salads), often has live music
Price Range: $7-$10
Mitch’s Tavern: 2426 Hillsborough St. (Upstairs)
Food: Pub and bar food (sandwiches, salad, soup,
patty melts), gluten free soups, gumbo, stews, and
chili
Price Range: $6-$9
Frazier’s Inc: 2418 Hillsborough St.
Food: Fine dining entrees (steak, salmon, chicken,
oysters), large selection of wine
Price Range: $10-$15
Casual Dining on Hillsborough Street:
Beansprout Chinese Restaurant:3721
Hillsborough St.
This restaurant is serving Chinese and Japanese food (sushi). They have special menus for lunch
between $5 and $8 served with egg rolls, choice of daily soup and fried rice.
Chile Bomba Mexican Eatery: 2400 Hillsborough St.
Food: Mexican food (tacos, fajitas, burritos, etc…), large selection of beers
Price range: $6-$11
Jasmine’s Mediterranean Bistro: 2430 Hillsborough St.
Food: Lebanese food (gyros, hummus and pita, zakis, paninis), homemade desserts,
Lots of vegetarian options
Price Range: $6-$9
Chipotle: 2316 Hillsborough St.
Chipotle is a Mexican style restaurant that prides itself on only using fresh local, organic
ingredients. Burritos and fajitas are prepared in front of you. A meal will generally cost you
under $9.
Other suggestions can be found at www.hillsboroughstreet.org.
Fast Food Near Campus
Arby's: 3415 Hillsborough St.
Arby’s is a fast food restaurant serving carved roast beef sandwiches (& menus with fries)
between $3 and 7$. Get a free roast beef sandwich if you sign up on the website
www.arbys.com/special-offers.
Brueggers Bagels: 2302 Hillsborough St. and 2231 Avent Ferry Rd.
Bruegger’s Bagels serves a large range of bagels, salads, sandwiches, paninis, soups and coffee
at all times. They offer a selection of bagels under 500 calories, and get a free cream cheese
bagel if you sign up on their website www.brueggers.com
Hardee’s: 2304 Gorman St.
Hardee’s is the ideal fast-food restaurant for students who live at Woodland, Crescent Creek,
Summit, Walnut and the surroundings. Very cheap prices and great decoration.
Burger King: 2141 Avent Ferry Road (Mission Valley Shopping center)
Burger King is the closest burger fast-food chain from Centennial Campus and offers a 15%
discount for all students with a valid NCSU student card. This location is open 24/7.
Combos are around 8 dollars and always come with free refills.
Cook-out: 3930 Western Boulevard
This fast-food chain is a favorite for NC State students. They have a large selection of cheap
burgers and sandwiches ($2-$4) and their milkshakes are some of the best in town. Cookout is
open late at night and you can either eat sitting outside or take it to go (drive-thru).
Pizza Delivery Restaurants
Gumby’s Pizza: 2712 Hillsborough St. / (919) 836-1555
Hot Box Pizza: 2304 Hillsborough St. / (919) 832-9292
Marco’s Pizza: 2906 Hillsborough St. / (919) 832-8889
Papa Johns: 2101 Avent Ferry Rd/ (919) 834-7272
Pizza Hut: 3116 Hillsborough St. / (919)833-1213
Centennial Campus Dining:
Innovation Café: 860 Partners Way
Located next to the Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center (BTEC), the Innovation
Café offers Chick-fil-A meals and a rotating menu of freshly prepared items (pasta, stir-fry, tacos,
soups, and salad).
Port City Java: 1000 Main Campus Dr., 890 Oval Dr.
Port City Java is perfect for a quick coffee, pastry, or juice in the morning, a delicious café Panini,
wrap, or salad at lunch, or a refreshing smoothie and cookie in the afternoon. All of their coffee
is 100% Fairganic®.
Bulgoki Taco Truck: location posted at
This food truck offers a variety of local street foods including chicken and beef BBQ tacos, kimchi
quesadillas, hot dogs, and burritos and is incredibly cheap. Check the twitter website to see
where they will be and swing by for a quick bit to eat.
Dining Options Downtown
The Raleigh Times
Built in 1908, the building used to be the home of the city’s newspaper. The bar
was newly renovated and there you can enjoy great food and music any day of
the week from 11:30am to 02:00am. The bar and restaurant are known for
their burgers and the huge beer selection. Good atmosphere, good location
and friendly environment make the Raleigh Times Bar one of the best places in
the city. Meet your friends and co-workers there for a quick bite to eat or a
couple of beers and you won’t be disappointed.
Sushi Blues Cafe
Sushi Blues Japanese restaurant has over 300 items on the menu to choose from Sushi Blues, tempura,
sashimis, sushis rolls. The restaurant has many offers like buy one sushi roll, get one free. It has been
voted the best Sushi in the Triangle Park by several newspapers and magazines (Spectator, Southern
living). You can go and enjoy a cocktail or beer in the lounge, but
you can also bring your friends and watch sporting events on
television. Come support your favorite team: Go Wolfpack!
(Appetizers 7/15 $ - entrees 15/30 $)
The Pit
North Carolina is known for its legendary barbecue joints. The Pit
in Downtown Raleigh continues this tradition by serving
authentic whole-hog and pit-cooked BBQ. The Pit offers a lunch and dinner menu with a wide choice of
plates with pork, beef, turkey or chicken, with 13 different sides to choose from. The restaurant aims at
mixing traditional and contemporary settings, serving for instance a texas-style brisket or a barbecue
tofu dish for vegetarians (lunch: $6.99-$12.59, dinner: $11.99-$23.99).
The Pit is easy to get to by car or bus (15 minutes away from Centennial Campus by car, 40 minutes by
bus).
Chick-Fil-A
Chick-Fil-A is a chicken restaurant chain that offers sandwiches, salads and breakfast items. There are
two locations around NC State campus: one in Cameron Village (2000 Cameron St) and one in
Centennial campus (851 Oval Drive). You can receive special offers and promotions when you subscribe
online at http://www.chick-fil-a.com/Connect/Email-Insiders
Noodles & Company
Located in Cameron Village (403 Daniels Street), Noodles & Co offers a delicious
menu of Asian, Mediterranean and American pasta food at a relatively low price
(around $7) and quickly prepared. The Japanese Pan Noodles, the Penne Rosa and
the Wisconsin Mac & Cheese are a must! They also offer salads and sandwiches,
and eat in or do take-out. Open between 11am and 10pm, it’s possible to order on the website or
IPhone app.
El Cerro – Raleigh
Located on Avent Ferry Road, this Mexican restaurant is only a short walk from the buildings on
Centennial.
The restaurant was opened on 2008 and one of his main qualities is the service. You never have to wait
more than 10 minutes from the time you place the order and the time the food shows up at the table. It
is a nice solution when you don’t have a long break and you want to come back to class quickly. They
offer several meat combinations, burrito, taco, salad, enchiladas and beans, usually for less than $8 with
a drink. You can even get a 10% discount showing your NCSU ID. It is also very convenient for large
groups with their big tables.
The Downtown sports bar
Do you like sports? If the answer is yes you can’t miss the Downtown Sports Bar at 410 Glenwood
Avenue. Here you can watch, among all others, all the games of the Wolfpack and the Hurricanes. Don’t
forget to wear your team colors! If watching sports is not your thing, this bar also has pool tables and a
dance floor. Drinks are inexpensive and they have specials every day. The Downtown Sports Bar & Grill
also serves burgers, pizzas and wings so you don’t go hungry during the games.
Its location at the heart of Glenwood Avenue is also great if you want to go out clubbing after the game.
Food Lion
3926 Western Boulevard, Raleigh
3415 Avent Ferry Road, 27609 Raleigh, NC
Store hours: Mon – Sun 7 am - 12 am
Food lion is a neighborly and convenient supermarket
featuring “extra low prices” and branded products.
You can find everything from food of all kinds,
cosmetics to cleaning products. Don’t forget to sign
up for its loyalty card “Mvp Card” allowing you to
save each time you go shopping and immediately
after the registration.
Groceries!
Whole Foods Market
3540 Wade Avenue, 27 607 Raleigh
Store hours: 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. seven
days a week.
Whole Foods Market is a high quality
supermarket which emphasizes natural and
organic products. You can find every kind of
foods you want: fruits, vegetables, cooked
meats, cheeses... The prices are quite high
for a student budget but the quality of the
products is worth the extra dollars.
Wal-Mart
6600 Glenwood Ave
Open 24/7
Harris Teeter
501 Oberlin Rd, Raleigh, NC
27605
Phone: (919) 828-9216
Wal-Mart has almost all kinds of
items you need both in your
everyday life and special occasions:
from kitchen supplies, bathroom
products to sport equipment. WalMart is also known for having great
selection of international foods.
You can find Chinese pasta,
Mexican chili, Russian food,
Japanese rolls in Wal-Mart stores.
“Always low prices”: the prices are
very affordable for students.
Harris Teeter is a
neighborhood Food market
situated in Cameron village.
There is a Starbucks inside the
supermarket where you can
CVS Pharmacy
have a coffee and chill before
Target
running errands. Harris Teeter
200 Fayetteville Street,
offers a wide range of food
4191 The Circle at North Hills St, Raleigh
Raleigh, NC 27601
and everyday products: from
Mon - Fri: 08:00 AM - 06:00
staples to homemade sushi or
2021 Walnut St, Cary, NC, in Crossroads
PM
patio furniture. Don’t forget
Sat: 09:00 AM - 01:00 PM
to register for the VIC card
Store hours Mon-Sa 8 am – 10 pm, Sun 8 am – 9
Sun: Closed
which gives you a lot of deals
pm
WELCOME TO WAKE COUNTY!
and promotions.
This is a convenience store
Target is a supermarket, not so close to campus,
History
where you will find a
Don’t forget to taste one of
but it remains interesting because it offers
comprehensive
basket of
the famous Harris Teeter’ free
various products. Prices are pretty low and you
productsand
fromOrange
food to house
Wake County was created by the General Assembly in 1771 from Johnson, Cumberland
sugar cookies!
can find all kinds of products like food, clothes,
counties. The name Wake County was given for the London heiress Margaret Wake, wife ofequipment,
William and
health and beauty products, electronics, shoes,
pharmaceutical drugs within
The city of Raleigh
bags, furniture, etc, that are not available in
its pharmacy division.
stores like Food Lion.
WELCOME TO WAKE COUNTY!
History
Wake County was created by the General Assembly in
1771 from Johnson, Cumberland and Orange counties.
The name Wake County was given for the London
heiress Margaret Wake, wife of William Tryon (Royal
Governor of the British colony of North Carolina). Until
the 1920s, Wake County remained a small southern
town even if it was the seat of state and county
government (wakegov.com, 1994).
The City of Raleigh
Raleigh was created in 1792 as a “planned” city with the specific purpose to establish the state’s capital.
The location was chosen for being less than 11 miles from Isaac Hunter’s Tavern, frequented by state
legislators. The city was planned out with a Union Square meant for the statehouse in the center and all
streets starting from it. When the city was finished in 1794, its nickname was the “city of streets without
houses”. Raleigh expanded its limits for the first time in 1857.
Raleigh remained a small town for a long time and flourished during the two World Wars and after.
Thanks to its location in the center of North Carolina and in the Research Triangle Park (1959), Raleigh
attracted a massive influx of people. In 2009, the population was eight times larger than in 1940.
Quick facts
- Wake County is the 2nd most populous in NC,
with an area of 2212 km²;
- Wake County has a moderate altitude, the
highest point is only 540 feet above sea level;
- Raleigh is located in the geographic center of
Wake County, occupying 299 km² ;
- Raleigh is in the northeast, central region of
NC, known as the “fall line”;
- Most of Raleigh’s hills slope eastward
toward NC’s flat coastal plain
- Raleigh’s position makes it fairly close to
both North Carolina’s beaches and mountains.
Weather
Raleigh features a humid subtropical climate: hot in summer (30°C), moderate in spring and fall (2025°C) and mild and wet in winter (-1 to 17°C). But the weather can totally change from day to day with
sometimes great variations in temperatures (from 0°C one day to 15-20°C the next day). You could be
wearing shorts one day, and stuck in a snow storm the next!
North Carolina experiences occasional hurricanes in late summer and early fall. Tornados can also occur
at any time, but an alert is always sent to phones, emails, and on the news.
Month
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Average High °F (°C)
48.8
(9.3)
53
(11.7)
61.2
(16.2)
70.6
(21.4)
77.5
(25.3)
84.4
(29.1)
87.9
(31.1)
85.9
(29.9)
80
(26.7)
69.8
(21)
61.3
(16.3)
52.1
(11.2)
Average Low °F (°C)
30.1
(-1.1)
32.3
(0.2)
39.8
(4.3)
47.8
(8.8)
56.7
(13.7)
65
(18.3)
69.4
(20.8)
68.1
(20.1)
61.9
(16.6)
49.4
(9.7)
41.6
(5.3)
33.5
(0.8)
Source: State Climate office of North Carolina
Dining
Guide: North Raleigh and Cary
Calavera
444 S Blount St #101 Raleigh, NC 27603
(919) 617-1661
Specialty: Mexican food
Price range: $3-$15
Known for their $3 empanadas (em-pa-nada) a stuffed bread or
pastry that is baked or fried. The empanadas are made by
folding dough or bread around stuffing; which usually consists
of a variety of meat, vegetables or fruits. Located in the heart of downtown, Calavera is open Monday
thru Sunday until 2 am.
Café Caturra
432 Woodburn Rd Raleigh, NC 27605
(919) 835-9463
Specialty: Wine and café products
A café that is hip and provides a casual burst of flavor and color, Café Caturra is open seven days a week
until 11pm. Known for their wine, Café Caturra also offers paninis, salads,
small plates and Neapolitan-style pizzas.
Bida Manda
222 S Blount St Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 829-9999
Specialty: Asian cuisine
Price Range: $8-$18
Bida Manda is a restaurant that celebrates the diverse
food traditions and cultures of Laos. With a wide variety
of delicious appetizers, entrees, dessert, Bida Manda
has many great meals to choose from. (Top Right: Dish
from Bida Manda)
Udupi Cafe
590 East Chatham St, Cary, NC 27511
(919) 465-0898
Specialty: Indian, vegetarian food
Price range: $1 - $20
If you want to enjoy South Indian food, you must try this excellent restaurant. The food is delicious and
the staff very friendly and authentic. Try the lunch buffet with so
many different dishes to sample. We have never seen a better
collection of food for a lunch buffet while traveling in the USA. We
loved this fantastic place; it is very clean with a kind service and
tasty food. We advise you to try the Vegetable Korma, a dish
made with garden fresh vegetables, cooked with spices and
Coconut milk, for only $9.
The Skinny Dip
1369 Kildaire Farm Road (by Trader Joe's), Cary, NC 27511
(919) 467-5070
Specialty: Frozen yogurt bar
For hot summer days, nothing is better than a refreshing frozen yogurt. If you are in
North Raleigh or Cary, the best option is The Skinny Dip, an original self-serve frozen
yogurt bar. Pick a bowl, fill it with whatever frozen yogurt and topping combination
you desire, then place it on the scale to find out weight and price.
Buku
110 E Davie St. Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 834-6963
Specialty: World street food Restaurant
Price range: $5 - $29
Buku is a chic restaurant where you can find
“street foods from around the world” with medium prices. There are mainly fresh healthy dishes made
in fine cuisine, with many different daily Chef’s selection dishes. Buku is open for lunch, dinner, and
brunch and even late in the night at the Buku Bar. The best choices are the different types of sushi, the
Korean BBQ or the seared organic farmed Scottish salmon, and for dessert, the Chocolate Soufflé (the
best ever, so don’t be too full before you eat it). The best time to go to Buku is on First Friday, there
are always really good offers.
Dos Taquitos Mexican Restaurant
5629 Creedmoor Rd. Raleigh, NC 27612
http://www.dostaquitosnc.com/
Speciality: mexican food Price range: moderate $11-30 Take out: yes
The food is authentic: Antojitos & Salads, Sopas de la Abuela,
Maxicananadas and Tex-Mex. You really feel like you are in a Mexican tienda. And the Margaritas are
the best in town.
Second Empire Restaurant
330 Hillsborough Street (downtown Raleigh)
(919) 829-3663
Specialty: Contemporary American Menus Price range: $30 - $50
Are you looking for a classy restaurant for an unforgettable dining
experience in an elegant and relaxed atmosphere? The Second
Empire is the place! Choose between the delightful “Empire
Cioppino” or “The Crispy Maine Lobster and Camembert Croquette”
and then keep enjoying the gourmet cuisine with the “Crispy Buttermilk Fried Georgia Quail” entrée,
some of the restaurants’ favorites.
Located in the beautiful Dodd Hinsdale restored house, The Second Empire restaurant has won the
AAA four Diamond Award and the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence since 1998. It will be a genuine
and unique dining experience with the extraordinary and impressive menus, delicious desserts, and
creative drinks!
Tasu Asian Bistro
2007 Walnut Street, Cary, NC 27518
(919) 896-7289
Categories: Asian Fusion, Sushi Bars
Price: $10-15 per entree
Buy one get one free sushi rolls? You can’t find a better deal than this!
There is a large selection of items on the menu which includes different
varieties of Asian cuisine. The restaurant itself is nice with a 5 star quality,
very clean, and beautiful inside decoration! The ambiance is wonderful
with a real classy feel. Also, you will find waiters that are very positive,
upbeat, friendly, and on the spot with service. They also offer take out
service.
Shopping Guide-Raleigh
Crabtree Valley Mall
With more than 220 stores, Crabtree Valley Mall is one of the biggest malls in Raleigh,
and one of the closest from NC State. The list of popular stores is long and draws a
crowd of folks from all over
North Carolina. The mall
offers a large variety of brands and
restaurants; you can easily see everything in
one afternoon.
Taking the cab is affordable if you are with
friends but it is cheaper to take the bus.
Many buses will drive you to the mall in 25
minutes, and it is free with your GoPass.
CAT Bus 16 Outbound will take you directly to the mall, with the bus stop on Oberlin Drive (just after
McDonald’s). For other bus routes, check the bus website.
4325 Glenwood Ave
Raleigh, NC 27612
Monday-Saturday: 10am-9pm and Sunday: noon-7pm.
You will find more info on: www.crabtree-valley-mall.com/
Crossroads Plaza
Crossroads plaza is a big shopping center with over 60 exciting stores, services and 15 restaurants.
Whatever you need, you will find it there. From apparel and music stores to home furnishings or health
and beauty, no way to leave this heaven without a big hole in your wallet and a big smile on your face.
It is about 10 minutes’ drive from Centennial
Campus (car or taxi). You can also take the bus,
but the journey will be longer. Take the wolfline
Bus 11 near campus to Wolf Village (Stop ID: 157)
and then bus 305 run by Triangle on western
boulevard – Pine-Cary-Raleigh – Direction: Cary
and Lake Pine. Exit the bus at Dillard Dr at Walnut
St (Stop ID: 1313) and walk for 10 minutes.
213 Crossroads Boulevard,
Cary, NC
(919) 233-0185
You will find more info on www.shopcrossroadsplaza.com/
Triangle Town Center
Though not as convenient as other shopping centers, Triangle Town Center is
worth the commute. Located right down Capital Blvd, TTC is home to over 175
stores and restaurants.
Some popular stores you will find there: Abercrombie, Hollister, American Eagle, Barnes and Nobles,
Bath & Body Works, Express, Foot Locker, Gamestop, Gap, Louis Vuitton, Macy’s, Radio Shack , Saks
Fifth Avenue, Victoria’s Secret
5959 Triangle Town Blvd.,
Raleigh, North Carolina 27616
Monday-Saturday: 10am - 9pm and Sunday: noon - 6pm.
You will find more info on
www.triangletowncenter.com/shop/triangle.nsf/index
Downtown Raleigh boutiques and stores
Downtown Raleigh has plenty of original places to shop. It is also an exciting city culturally speaking and
regarding arts. You can access it via the R-Line circulator bus or the Rickshaw Company.
Raleigh Denim is a must-see. This is a jean company creating its own clothes using traditional process
and artisanal materials. It is a small vintage shop selling qualities jeans.
319 W. Martin St. Raleigh
Raleigh NC 27601
(919) 917-8969
http://www.raleighworkshop.com/
Cameron Village
If you feel like window shopping but don’t want to go to the mall, Cameron
Village is a good compromise. Once you’re at the Bell Tower, it’s only a short
10-minute walk. Located in the heart of Raleigh, Cameron Village offers a
unique outdoor shopping experience for all customers. Smart but affordable,
it is also a nice place to go with friends because it offers several cafés and restaurants. In addition to
restaurants and specialty shops, customers enjoy popular grocery stores including The Fresh Market and
Harris Teeter.
Conveying the atmosphere of an old world European market, the Fresh Market offers a
variety of high quality food specialties. Customers can hand select fresh products, meats,
seafood, baked goods and countless other grocery needs. Fresh flower arrangements and
coffee are available for customer’s convenience as they stroll through Cameron Village.
1900 Cameron St
Raleigh, NC 27605-1311
(919) 821-1350
You will find more info on www.shopcameronvillage.com/index.cfm
Entertainment Guide
Music venues
Downtown music venues
The Lincoln Theatre The Lincoln theatre hosts various concerts at least once a week. The venues
are really diverse and the music and live effects are amazing. The Lincoln theatre is located in downtown
Raleigh, close to all the bars and pubs where students hang out. It is often voted the best Triangle music
venue.
Website: www.lincolntheatre.com
Directions: From Centennial Campus: take CAT bus 11 on Avent Ferry, get off at the Terminal Bus
Station. Keep on south Blount Street then turn left on East Cabarrus St.
Price: From $15 to $40 depending on the show and on when you buy your tickets
Raleigh Downtown
Amphitheatre
Since the opening on June 4, 2010, The
Raleigh Amphitheater has become a
beacon for live entertainment in the
Southeast. Just steps from the fun and
energy of downtown Raleigh’s bars, clubs,
galleries and restaurants, this 5,000-seat
venue blends the state-of-the-art with the
simply convenient. It features food from
Empire Eats such as barbecue, burgers
and snacks and local brews by Lone Rider, Carolina Brewery and others. The season currently runs from
April through October.
Website: www.raleigh-amphitheater.com
Location: 500 South McDowell Street, Raleigh, NC 27601. It is located next to the Convention Center.
Famous shows:
The Raleigh Amphitheater has showcased acts like Maroon 5, Vampire Weekend, Paramore, Chelsea
Handler, Heart, Bare-naked Ladies and the North Carolina
Symphony.
Price: Vary based on show and seating. Look online for exact
prices.
The Berkeley Café
The Berkeley café is a restaurant, bar and music venue that
has been located in Downtown Raleigh for 27 years. It is a
very small venue known for its free or low-cost music
performances and an inclination towards heavy rock music groups. Stop by for lunch or dinner and
choose from a wide selection of burgers, sandwiches, salads, vegetarian options and more.
Website: www.berkeleycafe.net
Hours: Lunch weekdays from 11a.m. -2:30p.m. Shows most Friday/Saturday nights.
Location: 217 W Martin St. Raleigh, NC 27601
Directions from Centennial Campus:
Take the number 11 Cat Bus on Avent Ferry and get off at the Moore Square
Transit Station. Walk to E. Martin Street and take a right. Continue down
this street until you reach 217 W. Martin St. and you will see the Berkeley
Café on your left.
Price: Some shows are free, but others are $15 in advance and $18 at the
door. Look online to see upcoming shows and to find out which ones require
a ticket.
Tir Na Nog Irish Pub
Tir Na Nog is downtown Raleigh’s first Irish bar. Opened in 1997, it offers Irish music every Friday night
at 7 pm and an Irish jam session Sunday mornings. At the end of every month, Tir
Na Nog invites a local Irish dance team to come and perform. Apart from a great
atmosphere, Tir Na Nog is also famous for its Sunday brunch buffet that offers a
waffle and omelet station as well as a salad bar. A great place to organize parties
and meet new people, you can also reserve bar for large parties up to 200 people.
Website: www.tnnirishpub.com
Location: 218 South Blount St, Raleigh, NC 27601
Directions from Centennial Campus:
Take the Cat Bus 11 on Avent Ferry and get off at the Moore Square Transit Station. Tir Na Nog is on the
corner of S. Blount St. right next to Moore Square.
Hours: Monday through Saturday: 5:00 pm- 2:00 am; Sunday Brunch: 10:30 am – 2:30 pm
Price: Most events are free; however, some require a $5 cover charge. For more information call (919)
833-7795.
The Pour House
Fancy hanging out, seeing a great concert and drinking quality draught beers? The Pour House offers all
of this with over thirty taps, a consistent music schedule and a relaxed atmosphere. The Pour House is
located around downtown’s Moore Square Park and hosts many musicians and special events such as
WKNC 88.1’s Double Barrel Benefit. They do not serve food, but are located within 100 yards of eight
restaurants.
Website: www.the-pour-house.com
Location: 224 S. Blount St. Raleigh, NC 27601
Directions from Centennial Campus: Same as Tir Na Nog, but two doors down.
Schedule: New shows almost every night. Open Mic Night every Monday. Call for more information 919821-1120
Price: Ticket prices typically vary from $5-$20 depending on the show and when you buy them. Tickets
can be bought online or at the door.
The Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion
The Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek
is an outdoor amphitheater in Raleigh specialized in
hosting large concerts. The amphitheater is part of a
77-acre complex located on the west bank of Walnut
Creek, southeast of Raleigh. It was built by the City of
Raleigh with private sector participation and opened in
1991. Seating capacity is about 6,847, of which about
half are under cover. The open lawn can accommodate
another 13,653. Events happen every week, so have a
look at their website to see or buy tickets (http://www.livenation.com/Time-Warner-Cable-MusicPavilion-at-Walnut-Creek-tickets-Raleigh/venue/114763).
Koka Booth Amphitheatre
Koka Booth amphitheater is an event venue located in Cary, NC. This
outdoor venue built in 2001 can accommodate 7.000 people. As it is
nested in a magnificent environment in the middle of hardwoods and
pines in the Regency Park near the lake, this place is a very good blend
between entertainment and nature. Koka Booth welcomes a great
variety of events from April to October, such as concerts, festivals, the North Carolina symphony
summerfest series, theatre, movies and more. It offers a "picnic in the park" option for all events: people
can order food and beverage in advance amongst a large variety of items and receive their order when
they arrive on site.
Cat’s Cradle http://catscradle.com/
If you like concerts and want to discover new bands, you will enjoy Cat’s Cradle. The club is located 300
E. Main St. in Carrboro, NC 27510 (40min from Centennial Campus in Raleigh). Prices for concerts vary
from $8 to $25. You can buy advance tickets on www.etix.com, at CD Alley in Chapel Hill or at Schoolkids
Records in Raleigh. You can also buy tickets by calling the Box office or in person from 3 pm the day of
the show. You don’t need to be 21 to enter, and the bar offers a wide selection of beers, wine, juice and
soda. To be informed of events in advance, you can join the mailing list by sending an e-mail to
thecat@catscradle.com.
Festivals
Shakori Hills
Shakori Hills is a community center that provides an environment and atmosphere for community
building, through arts and education. Primarily specializing in the social entertainment for people of all
ages, Shakori Hills has many festivals each year. It hosts many community events, including “Wild Goose
Festival”, “NC Stars in the Round Festival”, “Grassroots Festival” and many more! Everyone who wants
to hear good music and different artists play at a great festival surrounded by art and nature should
definitely come to Shakori Hills. If you like dance contests, music and food, cook-off's, and even on-site
camping, this is a place you'll want to come visit! It's inexpensive and events take place whether it rains
or shines.
Music on the Mountaintop
For a true American musical experience, go to
“Music on the Mountaintop”! This family
festival takes place in Boone, NC, about 200
miles away from Raleigh.
Enjoy the
breathtaking
Grandfather
Mountain
landscape as well as the performances of
Americana, Newgrass, Bluegrass, Acoustic,
Folk, Funk & Eclectic artists. If you are camping enthusiastic the festival is a great time to do it! What
makes this festival unique? It is one of the nation’s first Green Festival, whose main goal is to donate
part of their profit to Appalachian Voices, a non-profit environmental organization that aims to protect
the Appalachian region. Organic food vendors provide natural and healthy food from the region. If you
want more information, you can check the festival website: www.musiconthemountaintop.com The
festival is in late August.
Hopscotch
The Independent Weekly’s Hopscotch Music Festival has been
around for 3 years, and each Fall, they bring in close to 200
bands playing at 15 different venues all throughout
downtown Raleigh, for 4 days. It’s a great way to see Raleigh,
find out about restaurants in-between shows, and enjoy a LOT
of music. Thousands of people attend every year, don’t you
want to be part of the crowd? www.hopscotchmusicfest.com
Soccer in the US and at NC State
In the U.S., women’s soccer is well established compared to other countries in
Europe where it is mostly a men’s sport. The U.S. Women Team won the World Cup
in 1991 and 1999 but also the Olympic Games in 1996, 2004 and 2008 and the
National Team is nowadays ranked first in the FIFA Ranking!
The National Men Team is less strong
probably because they don’t have the
tradition of soccer compared to some
European countries (France, Spain,
England, Germany…) or other countries
th
around the world (Brazil, Argentina, Mexico…). The team is now 27 in the FIFA
ranking.
If some players of NC State University succeed in becoming professional they
probably can play in the MLS (Major League Soccer). There are 19 teams divided in
two conferences (East and West), and include some Canadian teams. There is not a professional team in North Carolina.
North Carolina State University has two soccer teams (men and women). The men’s head coach since December 2010 is Kelly
Findley. He was head coach for 5 seasons at Butler and his former team “entered
the NCAA Tournament ranked No. 5 nationally, and was one of only two unbeaten
teams in the nation”.
On the other hand, Steve Springthorpe has been coaching the women’s soccer
team since January, 2009. Thanks to his amazing coaching skills, three of his female
players “were named to both the NSCAA Scholar All-Region team and the All-ACC
Academic Team”.
Carolina Railhawks
The Carolina RailHawks is an American professional soccer team that is located in
Cary, North Carolina. The RailHawks play their home games at WakeMed Soccer
Park. With a year-round schedule, it doesn’t hurt to go watch a game between the
RailHawks and their opponents, such as the New York Cosmos, Atlanta Silverback,
or FC Edmonton. Tickets start at $10.
WakeMed Soccer Park
201 Soccer Park Dr Cary, NC 27511
(919) 858-0464
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are
the North Carolina hockey
team. They have been playing
in the National Hockey League
since 1997. Their jersey colors are red, white and black.
They play in Raleigh at PNC Arena (previously known as
RBC Center). The “Red Terror Line” (Wolfline) bus goes
directly from campus to the PNC Arena.
Their symbol is a storm, it is why there are named “Hurricanes”. To support them do not hesitate to
scream “Go Canes!”
They won the Stanley Cup in 2006, the best achievement in Hockey.
The regular season starts in October and ends at the beginning of April. The playoffs take place from the
end of April to June. If you want to purchase tickets for the game, go on http://hurricanes.nhl.com (Tab:
Tickets)
Durham Bulls
The Durham Bulls are a minor league baseball team that plays in the
International League. They were established in 1902 and have been disbanded
and re-established many times over the years.
They play at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, NC, which is also home
to the Duke Blue Devils and North Carolina Central Eagles (college baseball
teams).
The team was made famous by the 1988 movie Bull Durham starring Kevin
Costner and Susan Sarandon (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094812/), and
they have also participated in the movie The Rookies that came out in 2002.
In 2009, the Bulls won their first Triple-A National Championship and on August 2, 2011, the Durham
Bulls defeated the Charlotte Knights for their 6,000th win in franchise history.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit http://www.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t234
(Left: Durham Bulls Park Athletic Center)
TRAVELLING OUTSIDE OF WAKE COUNTY
Raleigh-Durham International Airport
Location and access
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) is located at
2400 West Terminal Boulevard, Morrisville, North
Carolina, which is located in the heart of the Research
Triangle Region: 10 miles southeast of Durham; 10
miles northwest of Raleigh.
With the airport so centrally located between all three triangle campuses (NC State,
UNC, Duke), there are two main ways to get there.
Taxi
Average duration: 25minutes
Average price: $35
Contacts: Jean Felix is very reliable and has been used by
many international students; you can reach him at (919)3896949. You can also contact Abdi, another reliable taxi driver
at (919)345-7673.
RDU Taxi: You can call ahead to make a reservation,
schedule one online, or even get one when you arrive. The
number is (919) 840-7277 or you can register online
at
RDUTaxiinc.com. The average price is approximately $30$35 as well.
Bus
Average duration: 50 minutes
Average price: between $1 and $2 (free with the GoPass)
The stop for Bus 100 is located at the intersection of Brooks St. and Hillsborough Str. (facing the DH Hill
library). Be sure to arrive there 5 to 10 minutes early. http://www.triangletransit.org
Airlines and the Airport
RDU has 2 main terminals, and seven major airlines and their regional partners offer service to 37
destinations. To book or change a reservation or for information about your flight, you contact directly
the airline, the airport, download a flight tracker application on your smartphone or check online
(http://www.flightview.com/TravelTools/ViewAirport.asp?airport=RDU&view=arrivals).
At Terminal 1 you will find AirTran Airlines and Southwest Airlines.
At Terminal 2 you will find 7 other airlines: American Airlines, Air Canada Express, Delta and Delta
Connection, United and United Express, JetBlue Airways, Vision Airlines and US Airways.
If you have to wait a long time at the airport, there is a
lot to do at RDU:
- You can visit the collection of artwork on display
throughout the airport.
- You can try the meditation room by ticketing in
Terminal 2.
- You can also enjoy a unique experience at the
Observation Park. There, you will feel as if you
were part of the cockpit crew, listening to the live
broadcast of communications between pilots and
the control tower.
For more information about RDU airport, including a listing of restaurants and stores available, visit
http://www.rdu.com/
Websites for cheap airfare
Because many students have problems finding websites for flights, you will find a list below with reliable
sources for cheap and efficient airfare. When time has come to prepare your trip you should check one
of these three comparing websites to get the cheapest airfare: Expedia, Orbitz, Kayak.
Expedia
Expedia is parent company to several online travel brands including Expedia.com,
Hotels.com or Hotwire.com. Expedia powers travel bookings for a number of airlines
and hotels, consumer brands, high traffic websites, and thousands of active affiliates
through Expedia Affiliate Network.
Book a flight, hotel, vacation, cars and so on you are sure to take the better deal through this website. It
offers very good deals and always tries to find the right product according to the client’s expectations.
The website allows booking directly online and assures a perfect security on the financial aspect.
Orbitz
This website allows the customer to book a hotel, a flight, a car or a
combination of flight, hotel and car for a specific destination. It compares
the prices for main airline companies, sorting the results by price, departure
time or shortest flight. It also offers the possibility to compare results with other websites such as
Travelocity, Priceline, Travelation or Expedia.
Special prices are offered according to the number of tickets purchased, or on some deals packages
(flight + hotel or hotel + car). Moreover, the website is able to offer customers customized choice of
hotels or vacation packages according to their flight ticket. Orbitz ensures secure payment and offers
travel insurance for people who need it.
Kayak
This website is really intuitive and easy to use. It compares airlines, hotels, car
rentals, cruises and other vacation deals from hundreds of travel sites at once.
You compare the prices, select the best offer and then Kayak connects you directly to the company’s
website to process the booking. Plus, Kayak gives you the possibility from the home page to choose
sites to compare in new windows such as Priceline, Expedia, Travelocity, CheapOair, and Hotwire.
Student Safety Tips while Travelling
•
Drive safe, have a break every 2 hours, and have a co-pilot
•
Don’t drink and drive
•
Always be with at least one friend, don’t be alone and don’t leave a
friend alone
•
Don’t go places you don’t know with strangers
•
Be careful with your belongings – at the airport, at the hotel, at the
beach, in clubs and bars, on tourists visiting sites, in the car …
•
If you travel outside of town, plan your trip in advance, and let the
hotel or a friend know of your whereabouts
•
Keep your nice and expensive possessions hidden (jewelry, bags,
shoes, etc.)
•
Keep a copy of your passport at the hotel
•
Don’t use unmarked taxis
•
Don’t give information about your room number, travel plans, personal
data to strangers
•
If in any trouble, call 911
Charlotte
Introduction
Charlotte is the biggest city of the state of North Carolina and the 18th biggest city of the United States.
It was established in 1768 and in 2010 had a little more than 730,000 inhabitants.
Nicknamed “the Queen City”, Charlotte holds its name in honor of Queen
Charlotte of the United Kingdom, wife of King George III. It is also nicknamed the
“Hornet’s Nest” in reference to the resistance showed by the citizens of
Charlotte in front of British troops during the war for independence.
Created in 1768, the real expansion of Charlotte began only at the beginning of
the 19th century with the discovery and trade of gold.
What to do in Charlotte?
Museums
There are many things to do and to visit in Charlotte. Some interesting
museums are:

Carolinas Aviation Museum

Charlotte Nature Museum in Freedom Park

Bechtler Museum of Modern Art

Billy Graham Library

Historic Latta Plantation (a former cotton’s plantation)

Charlotte Trolley Museum in Historic South End

The Light Factory

Reed Gold Mine (the first place where gold was discovered in the United States)

Sports
The most famous sport team in Charlotte is the NBA team: the
Charlotte Bobcats. This franchise is owned by the most famous
basketball player Michael Jordan himself. This NBA team created
in 2004 plays in the Charlotte Bobcats Arena located in downtown
Charlotte. Each year the Bobcats are facing the best teams in the
NBA, so if you want to see Lebron James (Miami Heat) or Kobe
Bryant (L.A. Lakers), just check the schedule of the
regular season and buy your ticket (prices $15 to $175).
The other famous Charlotte team is the Carolina
Panthers (NFL). They play in the Bank of America
Stadium located in uptown Charlotte.
The other Charlotte sports teams are the
Charlotte Sting (WNBA, Women Basketball), the
Charlotte Checkers (ECHL, Ice Hockey), the Charlotte
Knights (IL, Baseball) playing in the Knights stadium (Fort Mill, South Carolina) and finally the Charlotte
Eagles (USL, Soccer)playing in the Waddell High School Stadium.
Leisure activities
There are so many things to do in Charlotte! The city hosts famous festivals, such as like Taste of
Charlotte, Time Warner Cable Arena, Nascar Hall of Fame, BBQ & Blues and Food Lion Speed Street 600
Festival. If you feel tired after a night dancing, you can enjoy one of the numerous spas, especially the
one at Ballantyne Hotel. (Upper Left: Nascar Hall of Fame)
For motor races fans, the Charlotte Motor Speedway welcomes several races, such as NASCAR Sprint
Cup Series All-Star Race, Coca-Cola 600, and Bank of America 500. If your travel mates don’t like races,
they could enjoy shopping in Charlotte’s well-known luxury malls and boutiques.
Charlotte also offers a great deal of outdoor activities. Golf is a favorite, with more than 40 public
courses. The Rocky River Golf Club or the Old Sycamore Golf Plantation are great examples of their
quality, so make sure you try one of them.
Nightlife
Hit up Charlotte's rockin’ nightlife scene at the NC Music Factory to sample hotspots and live music
along a signature stroll district set amid historic mill buildings. Swing by the EpiCentre, where you can
roll a strike, croon to your favorite covers, or explore global cuisine and cocktails. Root for the Charlotte
Bobcats (or other favorite team if you dare) in a friendly brew pub with more plasma and projection
screen TVs than you can count. Or take in a blockbuster movie or indie flick at a comfy Charlotte theater.
Where to sleep?
The Sleep Inn® University Place is conveniently located just one mile from the University of North
Carolina at Charlotte. This hotel is minutes from area attractions like Charlotte Motor
Speedway, Verizon Wireless Amphitheater and Bank of America Stadium. The Charlotte Convention
Center is 7 miles and the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport is 15 miles away. Scenic uptown
Charlotte is a short seven-mile drive from the hotel. There are also many shops and restaurants located
in the surrounding area.
Where to eat?
Whether you would like to eat a fancy dinner, a fantastic filet cooked to perfection or your favorite
burger, you will always find what you are looking for. The queen city of Charlotte is full of culinary
treasures waiting for you. But above all, there are some famous restaurants in which you can eat wellknown specialties such as the fondue from The Melting Pot – Midtown (South Kings Drive). There is also
the McNinch House, where guests can expect to be treated like royalty. Tryon Street is a really famous
street where you can find a lot of restaurants like Blue, Luce, or Fuel Pizza Café. You’ll be able to enjoy
cheap and tasty food, and at night Tyron St is quite animated.
North Carolina Mountains
General information
http://www.visitnc.com
http://www.ncmountains.com
MUST-DO in North Carolina Mountains:
- Visit one of more than 300 waterfalls: North Carolina is the home to more
than 300 waterfalls, many are located in Brevard or Transylvania County in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The Whitewater Falls is the highest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains.
- Wind along the Blue Ridge Parkway: This way is connecting the Great Smoky
Mountains National Park to the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. It offers
469 miles with a wonderful view!
-Go to the viewpoint of the Mount Mitchell: The Mount Mitchell rises 6,684 feet
to tower over the Black Mountains; it is the highest peak east of the Mountains.
-See and smell the rhododendron on Roan Mountain: The rhododendron
season peaks in the early summer.
-Experience the Blowing Rock: An immense cliff that offers views of Grandfather
Mountain, the Table Rock and Hawskbill Mountain
 Climb the Chimney Rock: It is located near the magnificent Lake Lure
 Cross the swinging bridge at Grandfather Mountain: Suspended a mile above
the sea level, this bridge provides the most unique view of the Catawba River Valley and
surrounding peaks which are home to 42 rare animal species
 Visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park: (the nation’s mostvisited park)
 Reach the top of Looking Glass Rock: It is the most popular sport
climbing destinations in North Carolina.
 Kayak the Nantahala River: As the most popular whitewater river in the Southeast, the
Nantahala River is an ideal spot for sport kayaking
 Experience BeerCityUSA! Asheville ranks among the “24 greatest cities in the world for
drinking beer” making it an ideal destination for fun!
Transportation
By Car:You can easily reach the North Carolina Mountains area by car via interstate 40. NC Mountains
are about 220 miles away from Raleigh and it will take about 3.5 hours driving to get there.
The cost of a rental car + the gas will cost you between $250 and $300.
http://raleighairportcarrental.com/
By bus or train: Train and bus are the easiest and the cheapest way to get North Carolina
Mountains. Train is usually more expensive than the bus but you can get a round trip bus ticket for less
than $60.
Train is about 50$ but less practical because there is not necessary a train station near where you want
to go in the NC Mountains. For more info visit http://www.amtrak.com/, http://us.megabus.com/
http://www.bytrain.org/docs/RailMapMar2011_Web.pdf
Accommodations
- Couchsurfing: A community web platform where users are offering free
hospitability by sharing their “couch” (bed, sofa, garden to set a tent) and for a
short period. Couchsurfing is also a perfect way to meet the locals (your hosts)
and get advices on the area. www.couchsurfing.com
- Air BnB: Another alternative solution to hotel stays, air BnB is global network of accommodations
offered by locals. The main difference with Couchsurfing is that once your reservation is validated, your
hosts is contractually bounded and that there is monetary counterpart. www.airbnb.com
- Hostels, Motels, Hotels: The network gathers more than 280 offers in the North Carolina
Mountains. Within a price range from $35 (Sunset Motel, Brevard) to $390 (Gran Bohemia Hotel,
Asheville) for a night, travelers can benefit of various amenities: bar, breakfast, internet, parking, etc.
A convenient way to sort the offers and to find special discounts is to use the Tripadvisor database
(www.tripadvisor.com)
- Camping: (10 sites in Great Smoky Mountains, 100 Bivouacs), you can make a reservation with
Visitor Centers. Located more than 2000 m, the shelter LeConte Lodge (room or private bungalows) is
reserved for hikers (walking from Hway-441 or the Roaring Fork Trail); open from late March to midNovember; reservation 865-429-5704 or www.leconte-lodge.com.
Asheville
Asheville is a city in Buncombe County, Western North Carolina.1
It is a favorite tourist destination for people all over the world,
and is one of the best places for hiking, music, art, food,
shopping, wine and beer! Nicknamed “The Paris of the South” it’s
a must-see place in North Carolina!
To get there (driving) you take I-40 West from Raleigh.
Take exit 53B for U.S. 74 Alternate W/I-240 to Asheville. Keep left at the
fork, and follow signs for UNC-Asheville to merge onto I-240W.
Take the appropriate exit for your hotel/hostel. The trip takes around 4 hours from Raleigh.
You can also fly from RDU (Raleigh-Durham International) into the Asheville Regional airport (AVL), though you
would have to fly from RDU to Charlotte to Asheville.
Places to stay
Hotels:
1. The most famous (and most expensive) hotel in Asheville is the Grove Park Inn, which opened in
1913. The hotel has hosted author F. Scott Fitzgerald, Eleanor Roosevelt, Bill Clinton, and Barack
Obama, among others.2
2. Renaissance Asheville Hotel and Hotel Indigo: Both conveniently located downtown, but the
Hotel Indigo provides a bit more charm.
3. An extensive list of hotels throughout Asheville can be found at
http://www.exploreasheville.com/hotels/
Hostels
1. B on Pa ul & Sha rk y’s Host el in West Asheville.
:
2. Sweet Peas Hostel in Downtown Asheville- above Lexington Avenue Brewery.
Find links to Bed & Breakfasts and Cabin Rentals at http://www.vacationinasheville.com/index.htm
Blue Ridge Parkway & Hiking Trails
Driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway is a must-do if you go to Asheville. The
Parkway connects to Asheville at four points, on US 25, US 70, US
74 and NC 191.3 The entire parkway is 469 miles, connecting
Shenandoah, Virginia and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 4
A guide to hikes, views, parkway history, and the parkway visitor center can be
found at http://www.romanticasheville.com/BlueRidgeParkway.htm. Other
hiking trails with directions can be found here:
http://www.exploreasheville.com/things-to-do/hiking-trails/.
Recommended hikes are the Mount Pisgah hike and staying the night at Max
Patch (try to catch it at sunset or sunrise!).
1
US Census Bureau. Asheville (city), north Carolina. Dec-23-2011.
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/3702140.html
2
Grove Park Inn. Resort History. www.groveparkinn.com/Leisure/TheResort/History/
3
Explore Asheville. Getting Around. http://www.exploreasheville.com/about-asheville/getting-around/
4
Blue Ridge Parkway Vacation Guide, Asheville. http://www.romanticasheville.com/BlueRidgeParkway.htm
Biltmore Estate
Be sure to see the United States’ largest home, the Biltmore Estate. The
house is modeled after 16th century French châteaux, and boasts 4 acres
of floor plan space.5 The Biltmore Estate has its own Winery, and a visit
to the house can include tours of the gardens, wine tastings and an
extensive tour of the house.
Favorite time of the year to go? Christmas and early Spring, when the
roses are blooming!
Restaurants & Cafés
Missing quality food? Asheville is your new best friend. There are tons of delicious restaurants with
nationally renowned chefs and cuisine. Asheville is definitely the town for foodies. Popular restaurants
are Tupelo Honey Cafe (New-South Cuisine), Laughing Seed Café (All Organic and Vegetarian, with an
attached Irish Pub), Chai Pani (Indian Street Food), Creperie Bouchon (French street food), and Sunny
Point Café (Breakfast served all day long). That’s just a few though, so check out the full list at
http://www.exploreasheville.com/restaurants/
There’s also good coffee, café’s, and bakeries (yay!). Good spots are Iz zy’s Coffee Den , Over Easy
Café, City Bakery, and Green Sage Coffeehouse and Café.
Breweries
Asheville boasts 50+ local brews from nine different brewing companies.6 Stop by the local brewery’s:
Asheville Brewing Company, French Broad Brewing Company, Highland Brewing Company, or the
Wedge Brewing Co (located underneath Wedge Art Studios). There’s a bunch of other local breweries,
so spending time at downtown bars where you can sample the beers is a fun way to spend the evenings!
Music Venues
Asheville has a vibrant local music scene, from the Drum
Circle every Friday at 6pm downtown (Pritchard Park, at
the intersection of Patton Avenue and College Street), to
more traditional venues like The
Orange Peel, The Asheville Civic Center (and Thomas
Wolfe Auditorium). There are almost always music events
going on in bars, clubs, and cafés throughout Asheville, so pick up a copy of the Mountain Xpress (free)
or read up on Asheville online before travelling!
Art
Asheville’s art scene is “buzzing”, with hundreds of local artists, studios, and galleries to visit.7
Depending on the time of year, Asheville is also the home to numerous festivals, so check out the
exploreasheville “Events Calendar” online. The River Arts District is the home of the Asheville art scene,
and home of numerous working artist studios. There’s also the Asheville Art Museum, and numerous
galleries downtown.
In summary, Asheville is a great place to spend a weekend or holiday. Get a cabin or bunk up in a hostel
and enjoy the scenery, nightlife, and food of this great NC mountain city!
5
Biltmore. The History of America's Largest Home. http://www.biltmore.com/our_story/our_history/default.asp
Asheville Beer, Brew Pubs & Microbreweries: Beer City USA. http://www.romanticasheville.com/beer.htm
7
Arts & Entertainment. http://www.exploreasheville.com/things-to-do/arts-entertainment/
6
Brevard, North Carolina
Brevard is a small town of around 30,000 inhabitants situated in a valley of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Known by its nickname, “The Land of the Waterfalls”, Brevard holds the entrance to the beautiful Pisgah
National Forest, as well as Dupont State Forest. Located only 45 minutes west of the refinement and
culture of Asheville, Brevard offers a number of leisure and recreational outdoor activities with the
comfort small town friendliness.
To drive to Brevard from Raleigh, merge onto the I-440 beltline
going west towards Durham. Bear right towards Durham-Benson,
where it merges onto I-40 West. Stay on I-40 past Asheville, then
merge onto I-26 East towards Hendersonville. Stay on I-26 East
until you reach the Arden Airport exit. Bear right from the exit and
stay on that road for 20 minutes.
Hotels
Brevard offers several hotel options that fit a number of price
ranges. For those traveling on a lighter wallet, there is a Holiday Inn,
as well as a Hampton Inn. Additionally, there is the iconic Sunset
Motel, which is perhaps the cheapest option. For those who wish to
stay with more frivolous accommodations, there are several Bed and
Breakfasts including the Inn at Brevard, the Red House Inn, and the
Womble Inn. The Inn at Brevard is perhaps the best option because
of their lovely European-style rooms and excellent on site catering.
Festivals and events
Brevard is known for hosting several downtown festivals throughout the year, including the
Halloweenfest in October, the Twilight Tour in December, the Fourth of July festival in May,
and the White Squirrel festival in July. The White Squirrel festival honors white squirrels,
which are only found in the town of Brevard. For those who are active, all of the festivals
are kicked off with a 5k race in the early morning. Brevard additionally hosts the annual
Assault on the Carolinas 100k bike race that takes riders over Ceaser’s Head mountain into
South Carolina and back.
Outdoor recreation
As mentioned before, the official entrance of Pisgah National Forest is
located at the entrance of Brevard, and serves as a playground for locals
and tourists alike. Davidson River Campground is only minutes from the
entrance of the forest, and features a campsite where people are able to
purchase a spot to park their camper or pitch a tent for a given period of
time. Also featured on the campground is a hiking and running trail that
extends over a mountain, which includes swimming holes in the Davidson
River located off to the side. The site as a whole provides recreation for runners, bikers, hikers, and
swimmers. At the forest entrance, people are able to rent innertubes for a cheap price to enjoy a lazy
afternoon of floating down Davidson River. For those not interested in an extended stay in the great
outdoors, Pisgah National Forest also holds a number of beautiful hiking trails with some of the most
breath-taking views on the east coast. Some of the best include John’s Rock and Table Rock. For those
who enjoy a scenic drive, one can drive through the forest until they reach the world famous Blue Ridge
Parkway, where they can enjoy a number of beautiful views from overlooks along the road and, during
the right time of year, enjoy a delicious meal at the Pisgah Inn. At the end of the day, hikers can stop at
Dolly’s Dairy Bar at the entrance of Pisgah Forest to enjoy delicious ice cream flavors named after the
many boys’ and girls’ summer camps in the area.
Boone, North Carolina
Location
The town of Boone, North
Carolina is situated atop of the
Appalachian Mountains. Boone
is a 3-hour drive from Raleigh,
and is home to Appalachian State University. The location of Boone
offers plenty of outdoor activities all year long.
Hiking trails
Beginning at Bluffs Lodge and hike
until Fodder Stack (Milepost 241.1)
will offer you views over beautiful
landscapes of the Appalachians.
The Cone Manor House, witness of the desirable location for men to build
retreats, will be accessible on hiking after making a 1-mile lake loop into the
Bass Lake trail.
If you prefer, you can choose The Cascades, which is a 1-mile hiking trail
navigating between waterfall and local trees. For the most strenuous, take another hiking trail flirting
with waterfalls, which leads to Linville Falls or Crabtree Falls (the second is better appreciated on
spring days). The best view of Grandfather Mountain requires joining the Rough Ridge. It constitutes
a 3-mile hiking trail, and the summit is 1.2 miles round-trip.
http://exploreboonearea.com/BlueRidgeParkway/HikingontheParkway/tabid/323/Default.aspx
http://exploreboonearea.com/PlacestoPlay/Hiking/tabid/327/Default.aspx
http://exploreboonearea.com/PressRoom/tabid/64/Default.aspx
Restaurants
There is a large choice of restaurants in Boone (more than 35) that will correspond to your current
desire with more than 15 choices of food (BBQ, Mexican, Thai, etc.).
Dan'l Boone Inn is a great restaurant in Hardin Street in downtown Boone in one of the oldest and
most historical buildings in town, which has served as Boone’s first hospital. It offers lots of
American specialties and a very good breakfast for an affordable price. However, you can’t pay with
debit or credit card but only with check or cash at this restaurant. http://www.boonerestaurants.com/
http://www.danlbooneinn.com/menu.php
Hotels and other places to stay in Boone
•
Highland Hills Motel and Cabins ($40 to $80 for a double room)
•
Fairfield Inn & Suites Boone ($70 for a double room)
•
Red Carpet Inn Boone ($ 53 to $78 for a double room)
•
Hampton Inn Boone ($60 to $70 for a double room)
•
Courtyard by Marriott Boone ($89 for a double room)
•
Ridgeway Inn ($99 for a double room)
•
The Village Inn ($119 for a double room)
•
La Quinta Inn & Suites Boone ($ 85 for a double room)
•
Comfort Suites Boone ($84 for a double room)
•
Holiday Inn Express Boone ($99 for a double room)
•
Sleep Inn Boone ($70 for a double room)
•
Greenes Motel Boone ($73 for a double room)
•
Best Western Plus Blue Ridge Plaza ($75 for a double room)
Linville Gorge
Linville Gorge, also known as The Grand Canyon of North Carolina, is the third largest wilderness area in
North Carolina. Linville Gorge was carved by the Linville River, creating deep gorges ranging 12 miles and
creating a gorgeous landscape. The area is popular for serious hikers, campers, fishers, and hunters, and
those who enjoy plant and animal life, including bears, foxes, raccoons, turkeys, owls, hawks, and
snakes.
Linville Falls- a waterfall fed by the Linville River and free for the public. Erwin’s View Trail is the most
popular route to visit this waterfall, and is a 1.6 miles roundtrip.
Wiseman’s View- a rock outcrop near the center of the gorge that gives
an excellent view of the interior of the gorge. It is easily accessed by a
.2 mile long trail and offers one of the best views in North Carolina.
Linville Caverns- a privately maintained cave accessible by automobile
from U.S. Route 221. These caves are open year-round and offer half
hour guided tours to learn about cavern history, native creatures, and
geology.
http://www.linvillegorge.net/
North Carolina Beaches
Wilmington
Wilmington is well known for its white sand beaches, but there are many more fun activities to do
during your stay. There a several museums for all sorts of interests: Battleship NC, the Cape Fear
Museum, the Cameron Art Museum, the NC Aquarium - Fort Fisher, the Bellamy Mansion, the Children’s
Museum, the Burgwin – Wright House and finally the Wilmington Railroad Museum. And if you don’t
want to spend your time in a museum or at the beach, check the list of special events at
http://www.wilmingtonandbeaches.com/Wilmington/Events-Calendar. You can enjoy Wine tasting,
exhibits, brewery tours and much more. Wilmington is also home to EUE/Screen Gems Studios, a motion
picture facility that produced popular tv shows like Dawson’s Creek or One Tree Hill, and several major
movies. It is possible to tour the studios (about $10), and some local newspapers list the sites from
specific shows and you can walk to see them for free. Renting beach houses or hotel rooms is easy to do
and visitors can spend long days on the beach.
More information about the town can be found at http://www.wilmingtonnc.gov/.
Wrightsville Beach
You can enjoy a large range of water sports during your stay in Wrightsville. You can also take a cruise or
go on deep sea fishing trips. In order to do so, you can visit Mahanaim Adventures or Wrightsville Beach
Scenic Tours & Water Taxi. You can also enjoy some shopping, for example at The Forum, a shopping
village where you will find some boutiques and sit in a sidewalk bistro. Finally, you can learn more about
the 100 year-old city of Wrightsville at the Wrightsville Beach Museum of History.
Other suggestions can be found at http://www.wilmingtonandbeaches.com/Wrightsville-Beach.
Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is the central area of a 25-mile strip of the ‘Grand Strand’, which stretches
from North Myrtle beach to Pawley’s Island. Though the long stretches of sandy beaches promise
natural bliss, the town is not exactly the place for nature lovers. If you were to relocate Las Vegas to the
Carolina coast, you would end up with something close to Myrtle Beach! The beach is beautiful but it is a
minor attraction compared to the huge outdoor malls, 120 golf courses, water parks, country music
shows, hot dog stands and T-shirt shops.
http://www.visitmyrtlebeach.com/?cid=g_destination_mb
One of the most popular resorts along the Eastern Seaboard, Myrtle Beach is successful because it's
strangely democratic. Fancy upscale condos reside beside smaller and cheaper family-owned motels and
the beach's carnival attractions are diverse enough to entertain toddlers, teenagers and grandparents
alike. Restaurants cater to the masses, offering inexpensive buffets. The types of visitors range from
college students on Spring Break to European tour groups and from RV retirees to young families.
Besides its variety of special conventions, events, concerts, amusement parks, and theaters, Myrtle
Beach is well known because of two main events:
 The Canadian-American Days: each March, during spring break, Myrtle Beach hosts the
Canadian-American Day which gather almost tens of thousands of tourists.
 The Motorcycle rallies: Myrtle Beach Bike Week, also called "Harley Bike Week" is a week-long
motorcycle rally that attracts as many as 200,000 visitors to the city every May. The event was
created in response to a history of discrimination against African-American visitors and riders to
Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand Area.
Emerald Isle
Emerald Isle is a beach town located in Carteret County, North Carolina. It makes up the western most
thirteen miles of the Bogue Banks Barrier Island of the Southern Outer Banks, also known as the Crystal
Coast (http://www.crystalcoastnc.org/). Emerald Isle is just a short 2 hours and 45 minutes away from
Raleigh. This quaint beach offers swimming, fishing, surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, boating, sailing,
windsurfing, kayaking, shell hunting, duck hunting and all things aquatic. You may also enjoy sightseeing,
shopping and golfing on one of many courses. As many as 50,000 visitors inhabit the area during the
summer season. During the spring and summer months renting beach houses for the weekend or for
holiday is extremely popular. Emerald Isle’s oceanfront is lined with both large and small homes. While
there are a handful of condominiums, there are no oceanfront hotels, helping Emerald Isle maintain a
family-oriented atmosphere. For more information visit http://www.emeraldisle-nc.org/.
Outer Banks
The North Carolina Outer Banks are a chain of islands on the Atlantic Seaboard surrounded by 900
square miles of water. They include the third largest estuary system in the world, wildlife refuges,
maritime forests, the first national seashore in the U.S. at Cape Hatteras National Seashore and the
highest sand dunes on the East Coast at Jockey's Ridge State Park. This is where England first attempted
to colonize the Americas and where the Wright Brothers defied gravity from a sandy dune and brought
mankind into the aviation age. The Outer Banks now is primarily a beach vacation destination. It’s a
good place for kite-boarding, windsurfing, fishing and biking. You will also enjoy beaches and local food
at 170 independent local restaurants. More information can be found on the Outer Banks website
http://www.outerbanks.org/.
Transportation Options
Wilmington & Wrightsville
The website http://www.capefearpassport.com/ helps you create an itinerary for your stay in the Cape
Fear area (Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach and Kure Beach). There is a large selection of
places to stay, eat, visit, and many more.
The best way to get to the beaches is to drive. It takes only 2h (127 miles) to reach Wilmington by car.
Wave Transit, Wilmington’s public transportation (http://www.wavetransit.com/), provides a variety of
options to visit the Cape Fear region, including bus routes, shuttles, and a free downtown trolley. The
City of Wilmington provides pedestrian and bicycle facilities within city parks and green spaces as well as
within the city.
Myrtle Beach
You can get to South Carolina’s Myrtle Beach by air, by car or by train! The favorite way for visitors to
get to the Grand Strand is by car but if you're planning a long weekend, a fun shopping expedition or a
golf outing Myrtle Beach transportation is easy to accommodate!
The Lymo buses are available for public transportation in the Myrtle Beach area. These buses serve 15
routes along the Coastal Carolina region (which includes Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Surfside
Beach, Conway, Loris, and Aynor).
Most buses run from 8am until 11pm, seven days a week. Schedules and maps for each route can be
viewed at http://www.golymo.com. Regular fare is $1 one way and student fare is 75 cents. There is also
local taxi service, Yellow Checker Cab (Taxi 843-606-1000). The Myrtle Beach area is a bit too long for
most travelers to comfortably walk.
Emerald Isle
Emerald Isle is a small town; there is no real public transportation.
However, you can easily walk or ride a bicycle thanks to many multi-use paths, sand pathways and even
bicycle racks: the town is well designed with a huge bicycle and pedestrian transportation plan. You can
also use a car and the beach is easily accessible (few parking though). The main road in the isle is NC-58.
Local taxi services are also provided.
Outer Banks
Once more, there is no public transportation available.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation runs a ferry service, but the best tip to navigate the
Outer Banks is to know their main roads and milepost system. There are two main roads on the beaches.
State Highway 12 is known as Virginia Dare Trail, or more commonly "the Beach Road". US 158 is known
as Croatan Highway, but the locals refer to it as "the Bypass" or "the Big Road". Most advertisements
you find will refer to them that way.
CITIES IN OTHER STATES
Washington, DC
Few words about Washington DC history…
After the adoption of the U.S. Constitution in 1787, fierce competition ensued between
states eager to see one of their cities becoming the federal capital. George
Washington and Congress preferred to opt for the neutral ground of a federal district
not belonging to any state and located between North and South. Originally called the
Federal City, the town was renamed by Congress after the death of George
Washington, because he chose himself the site at the bottom of the Potomac estuary.
The District of Columbia was formed in 1791 by a transfer of territory from Maryland
and Virginia. The architect Pierre Charles L'Enfant was in charge to design the plans of
the city. The construction of the White House began in 1792 and the Capitol in 1793. Congress moved
there in 1800.
What is the weather in Washington DC?
The best time to visit DC is spring (April to May) or autumn (September to October). In summer the
weather can be extremely hot and humid, especially in July and August. Plan your travel for the cooler
mornings and late afternoons; aim to be inside with air-conditioning during the midday heat. Winters
are generally mild, with temperatures hovering around freezing. The city has been known to shut down
due to snow storms, especially in January.
How to go from Raleigh to Washington DC?
263 miles (423 km) separate Raleigh from Washington
By bus (about 4.5 hours): tickets can be purchase online from http://us.megabus.com/ for daily
service between Washington DC and Raleigh. A bus ticket cost $20 one way and $35 roundtrip.
By train (about 6 hours): there are usually 2 trains leaving Raleigh to go to DC every day, in the
morning around 9 am (train #92) and 11 am (train #80). The ticket prices start from $50 one way.
The train tickets can be bought directly from www.amtrak.com with some discounts for students.
By car (about 4.5 hours): it will cost about $43 one-way and $85 round trip. The quickest way to go is to
follow route 95 all the way up north driving through Petersburg, Richmond, Fredericksburg and Dale City.
By plane: A flight ticket cost about $140 round trip and the total travel time is no more than 2 hours,
including a flight time of 30 minutes.
How to get around Washington DC?
It’s easy to travel around the Washington, DC area using public transportation. Since DC traffic is
often congested and parking is expensive, taking public transportation can be a convenient way to get
around. The three most important lines for a great tour are:
- The Washington Metrorail which is the regional subway system, providing five color-coded lines
around Washington DC metropolitan area
- The Metrobus is the Washington, DC area's regional bus service and connects all Metrorail stations.
- Finally the National Mall Tour Buses is the express bus that runs from Union Station, to the World
War II Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, and Arlington National Cemetery, the Martin Luther King
Memorial, the Smithsonian Metro station and back.
What to visit in Washington DC?
The Three Houses of Government are the main places to visit when sightseeing in Washington, DC.
They are impressive buildings and visiting them will help you understand more about the U.S.
government and its history.
The White House is the home and office of the President of the United
States. It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. The White House is the
oldest public building in Washington D.C. To visit it, you have to make a
reservation on the internet prior to your tour (up to 6 months in advance).
The US Capitol is the home of the legislative branch of the US Government.
It is located at the east end of the National Mall. This majestic building is open to
the public only for guided tours.
The US Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority in the US. Located
at One 1st St., NE between E. Capitol St. and Maryland Ave, the Supreme Court is barely accessible
when in session. Otherwise, you can tour the building.
Where to eat in Washington DC?
You can find lots of restaurants in Washington
DC and especially in the Capitol Hill district. In
this area you can find the best restaurants
with menus from many countries: Belgium,
France, Pakistan, etc. Even if you decide to have an international meal you will learn about American
History thanks to the buildings and the general atmosphere.
The second district for restaurants is Georgetown. In this area you will also find international
food as well as traditional American burgers. Georgetown is known for its incredible cupcakery:
Georgetown Cupcake, Sprinkles Cupcakes, etc.
Last very interesting area is Dupont Circle where you will find a lot of restaurants and bars.
Don’t miss: Tryst (Address: 2459 18th Street NW Washington DC)
Where to sleep in Washington DC?
In Washington you will have no difficulties to find an accommodation. Indeed you can find hotels,
hostels, and several campgrounds. But the important thing to know is that in DC the subway stations
are quite far from each other so sometimes you will need to walk several minutes from your hostel to
the closest station.
Don’t miss: Hostelling International (Address: 1009 11th Street, NW, Washington DC)
Where to go out in Washington DC?
After having spent the whole day visiting each corner of amazing DC, you probably wonder where
you can have real fun in this town. Be prepared, Washington nightlife is going to impress you!
THE place to be: Adams Morgan
The liveliest nightlife street of Washington DC especially on weekends! This neighborhood is a
culturally diverse community with lot of restaurants, nightclubs, coffee houses, bars, bookstores, art
galleries and amazing specialty shops. You will find restaurants from just about everywhere, from
Ethiopia and Vietnam to Latin America and the Caribbean.
Atlanta, Georgia
How to get there?



By car: It will take you around 8 hours from
Raleigh but you will have the opportunity to stop
by Charlotte. You should know that the Peach city
is famous for its gridlocks.
By bus: You can use a bus company such as
Greyhound that will bring you to Atlanta in
approximately 11 hours for a very affordable price
(http://www.greyhound.com/).
By plane: From RDU you can fly directly to Atlanta in less than 2hours. It is the best way to
travel if you are planning to spend only a couple of day there. (http://www.kayak.com/)
How to get around the city?
Public transportation in Atlanta is managed by MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority)
and it counts with a bus and a rail network. The bus network has 91 lines that cover all the metro
Atlanta area. (http://www.itsmarta.com/)
This bus network is connected to the rail network in order to facilitate all trips. The rail network counts 4
lines (Red, Gold, Green, and Blue) and 38 stations. The red and gold lines connect with Hartsfield
Airport, one of the most important airports in the U.S.
The one-way flat rate fare is $2.50, but there are also passes for 2 to 7 days.
Where to sleep?
After a great day discovering Atlanta, you will need to rest. A comfortable, well
located and a fair priced hotel is the Days Inn Atlanta Downtown,
(http://www.daysinn.com/hotels/georgia/atlanta/days-inn-atlanta-downtown/hoteloverview). Endowed with a lot of great commodities, as wireless Internet, continental
breakfast and a large outdoor pool, the Days Inn Atlanta Downtown is located near the
Georgia Aquarium, Centennial Park and the World of Coke. It is also within walking
distance to CNN and the Hard Rock Cafe.
Where to eat?
No matter what your taste buds are craving, Atlanta has something for you to enjoy! For mom-and-pop
ethnic and international cuisine, you should try Buford Highway. It’s one long road where you can try all
types of internationally inspired restaurants, including French, Japanese, Mexican, Italian, and more.
However, you know what they say: when in Rome and all of that! So if you’re looking for something with
a little more authentic Atlanta flavor, you should try what the locals call “Soul Food”. It is good ol’
Atlanta home-style, old-fashioned Southern cooking. If you want to go to Atlanta and still have enough
money left over to go check out a few sights, you should try restaurants such as Johnny Rockets and
Livingston Restaurant down Peach Street.
For a real American experience, check out The Varsity on North Avenue, the world’s largest drive-in and
an Atlanta institution! No matter your preferences or your budget, Atlanta has a restaurant for you and
your friends to eat and have a great time in. Check out this website for more restaurant ideas
(http://www.atlanta.net/dining/). Atlanta also has occasional food and wine festivals, so be sure to
check out what events are going on in the The Big Peach before you head on down!
Where to go have a drink?
Atlanta is a really great city in terms of nightlife. The city counts more than 500 bars with different
atmospheres whether you are looking for sports bars, lounge or live music bars, and much more!
At http://www.atlantanightout.com/bars, you will find all the information you need to locate and
choose the perfect place to have a good time with friends.
 Sports Bar: The Famous Pub & Sports Palace: the king of all Atlanta sports bars with more than 50
televisions and a large choice of snacks (www.famouspubsports.com)
 Live music Bar: Smith’s Olde Bar: famous jazz and acoustic live music bar, artists like David Bowie
played here! (www.smithsoldebar.com)
 Lounge Bar: Halo: a trendy place in Midtown Atlanta to drink fabulous cocktails
(www.halolounge.com)
 Scenic Bar: Sun Dial Bar @Westin Peachtree Plaza: this rotating bar on the 73rd floor of the Westin
Hotel offers a panoramic view of the city. Sun Dial offers cocktails, beer, wine and non-alcoholic
drinks, and also has an upscale restaurant on the 72nd floor (http://www.sundialrestaurant.com/)
What to do?
The Atlanta CityPASS will give you the opportunity to visit everything you have to see in Atlanta. For only
$69, it will allow you to visit five of the most beautiful
places in Atlanta. This pass includes entries for:
 The Georgia Aquarium
 The world of Coca-Cola
 CNN studio tour
It will also give you two options. First, you will have the
choice between the High Museum of Art or the
Fernbank Museum of Natural History. Second, you
could go to the Zoo Atlanta (featuring some rare and
protected animals, like pandas) or the Atlanta History
Center (learn about the history of Atlanta and the South
of the U.S.). More info at http://www.citypass.com/atlanta.
The World of Coca-Cola (http://www.worldofcoca-cola.com/)
One of the main attractions Atlanta is known for is the World of Coca-Cola (121 Baker Street NW). The
price is relatively cheap (up to 16$ for an adult) for what it is
described as “the fascinating story of the world’s most famous
beverage brand”.
Visitors can discover the bottling lines, taste 60 different drinks or see
a 4-D movie recounting the story of the secret formula which has
made the beverage famous. Visitors can also meet the Polar Bear,
star of the brand’s tv ads.
The Georgia Aquarium (http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/)
The Georgia Aquarium is the world’s largest aquarium with over
120,000 animals of 500 different species. The aquarium features six
galleries:
 Georgia Explorer: watch rays and sharks as well as exhibits
featuring sea turtles and the wildlife of Gray’s Reef, the National
Marine Sanctuary.
 Tropical Diver: discover Indo-Pacific tropical fish and
temperate water invertebrates. This aquarium also is also the
home of its own coral.
 Ocean Voyager: This is the only aquarium in America
featuring whale sharks. Walk under a 100-foot water tunnel that
contains almost 100,000 fish and ends with the world's 2nd largest
viewing window.
 Cold Water Quest: This exhibit features animals from the Polar Regions and contains most of
the mammals in the aquarium's collection. This exhibit includes beluga whales and penguins.
 River Scout: This part is much focused on American environment
 Dolphin Tales: One of the best dolphins’ shows in the world, with actors using dramatic
costuming and amazing effects. The aquarium houses 11 bottlenose dolphins.
Other museums
History Museums
The Atlanta History Museum
This well-known museum is located at the Atlanta History Center (about 6.4 miles from the city center).
If you are fond of history or want to know more about America and the South, this is the place to be!
http://www.atlantahistorycenter.com/cms/Museum/148.html
Atlanta Cyclorama & Civil War Museum
Go learn more about the Civil War in a lively way, enjoying the numerous music and sound effects (1.3
miles from the city center). http://www.atlantacyclorama.org/
Art Museums
High Museum of Art
Whether you are interested in American, European or African art, or in decorative art and photography,
this is the place you need to visit! There, you will be able to admire the history’s permanent collection of
over 11,000 pieces. The museum is at about 2.9 miles from the city center. https://www.high.org/
Science Museums
Fernbank Museum of Natural History
At Fernbank Museum you will find the world's largest dinosaurs, explore the development of life on
Earth through the landscapes of present-day Georgia, and learn about cultures from around the globe.
The museum features special exhibitions and an IMAX theater. This museum is located at approximately
4.1 miles from the city center. http://www.fernbankmuseum.org/
Sporting Events
Atlanta Georgia has a wide array of sports teams that one can enjoy while visiting. The most famous
team reigning from Atlanta is the Atlanta Braves. This professional baseball team plays @Turner Field
and boasts alumni such as Hank Aaron, Cy Young, and Babe Ruth. Watching a Braves game while visiting
Atlanta in the summer is a must. Atlanta also offers entertainment for the whole family in the fall with
the Atlanta Falcons (NFL Football) who play at the Atlanta Dome downtown. The spring season is not left
out because one can view the outstanding talent of the Atlanta Hawks professional basketball team
@Philips Arena.
Florida (Orlando, Miami, Daytona)
When considering a great vacation spot with a lot to see and sun to soak up, many individuals
choose the sunny state of Florida. The sun shines and the temperatures are high most of the year. The
cities of Miami and Orlando are hotspots for those seeking good weather mixed with entertainment.
Miami is the capital city of Florida and is rich in nightlife and beach bumming, making the city a
great Spring Break spot for students. From Miami extends the Florida Keys, also sought-after island
locations for its great weather and breath taking landscape. Miami is also considered the southernmost
point of I-95, a highway running from the top of Maine all the way down to Florida.
Located roughly at the middle of the state, Orlando is well-known for its family-friendly theme
parks, including Disney World and Universal Studios, and round-the-clock recreation. Orlando does not
border the coast but is only a short drive away in both the east and west directions from the awesome
beaches of Florida.
How to get there from Raleigh
-
-
By car : It takes about 9h to reach both Orlando and Daytona Beach, and 12.5h to reach Miami from
Raleigh by car. With gas prices, driving is only advantageous if you have several passengers in the car
or transport large items that won’t fit in a suitcase.
By plane : several airlines offer direct flights from RDU to both Orlando (1h45) and Miami (2h),
which makes it quite advantageous for short trips compared to driving. It will take about 4h to reach
Daytona Beach by plane.
What to do and see in Orlando:
Travel to Orlando, Florida and see the many wonderful sights it has to offer.
 Disney World, “The Happiest Place on Earth”
(http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/)
 Visit one of Disney’s four parks: Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Epcot,
or Hollywood Studios where kids and adults of all ages can enjoy a wide variety of rides and
attractions and experience different cultures from all over the world.
 Universal Studios (http://www.universalorlando.com)
 This park is now home to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter where fans of the books and
movies can explore the magical town of Hogsmeade and visit Hogwarts Castle.
 SeaWorld (http://seaworldparks.com/en/seaworld-orlando)
 Swim with the dolphins or watch Shamu, the killer whale, perform a show.
 Gatorland (http://www.gatorland.com/)
 Get a closer look at alligators, without worrying about being bitten.
 Titanic, the Experience (http://www.titanictheexperience.com/)
 Tour parts of the Titanic including the Grand Staircase, the Promenade and the Boiler Room.
 Orlando Science Center (http://www.osc.org/)
This center houses the state’s largest refractor telescope.
NASA Kennedy Space Center
(http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/)
The NASA grounds are located less than an hour away from Orlando.
Experience a launch in the virtual simulators and see live shows. Don’t miss out
on seeing a rocket up close, and make sure to tour the actual launch and
landing sites. If your timing is right, you might just get to see a rocket launch!
If theme parks aren’t your thing, take the scenic route. Travel 7 miles outside the city where the Winter
Park community offers a 12-mile boat tour of Orlando’s natural beauty. See flowers and trees native to
Florida and try to catch a glimpse of alligators.
Safety in Orlando
Orlando is nicknamed “The City Beautiful” and is mostly famous for its theme parks. Therefore, Orlando
is a huge tourist destination (more than 2 million per year) and some people are willing to turn tourists
into victims. You should avoid Paramore District, Orange Blossom Trail and Pine Hills. With some
common sense, it is easy to avoid crime in Orlando. Hotels are a safe place to keep your precious items.
You have to take safety precautions when outdoors: don’t feed animals like bears or alligators, and
don’t swim at night.
Where to stay in Orlando?
It is not hard to find a hotel in Orlando, because of all the
parks present in the city.
If you came to Orlando to visit a theme park, you can choose
from one of the on-site hotels. Disney World has 27 options
to choose from, and Universal Studios have 3 resorts
including
the
Hard
Rock
Hotel
(http://www.hardrockhotelorlando.com/). If you’re looking
for lower prices, you can find hotel chains right outside the
city with free shuttles to the different parks. For more info, visit http://www.visitorlando.com/places-tostay/.
What to do and see in Miami?
Miami is a multicultural city where everyone can find something to do depending on their interests.
For people interested in Art, Miami is a major city for modern art. First, the Art Deco Historic District of
Miami Beach on Ocean Drive, Collins Avenue and Washington Avenue is a must-see. This district was
built between 1923 and 1943 by Art Deco or Mediterranean Revival Architects. Ocean Drive is boarded
by the beach and the sea and the Art Deco Hotels all more colorful from one another so that after seeing
the Versace Mansion or the Waldorf Towers go enjoy the beach.
If it is raining you can go to the museum of design, the Wolfsonian-FIU (http://www.wolfsonian.org/).
For more, go see the Wynwood Art District in Miami, which has a lot of galleries.
For those more into a cultural Latino-visit of the city go see the cigar fabrics in Little Havana with the
Maximo Gomez Park or eat Cuban food in Miami. Look at the murals on the house walls. Don’t be
surprised to be talked to in Spanish: around 44% of the population is Hispanic!
For those more interested in History, the Historical Museum of Southern Florida gives an overview of
the history of Florida and the Caribe through maps, pictures and reconstitutions. Another interesting
visit is the Villa Vizcaya (http://www.vizcayamuseum.org/) which was built in an Italian Renaissance style
by the agricultural industrialist James Deering in 1916 (9 miles from Miami Beach).
For hiking lovers with a car, the Everglades National Park is the place to discover the fauna and flora of
Florida (http://www.nps.gov/ever/index.htm).
Safety in Miami




Don't go during Hurricane Season, just plan ahead and check out local weather. The wettest months
are June, August and September. The driest months are December, January and February.
Use sunscreen when outdoors. You'll get pretty burned otherwise.
Many restaurants in South Beach have decided to add 18% service tip in the bills when the bill is
asked for so make sure you check twice before signing your credit card receipt
Do NOT leave any valuables in your rental car at any time for any period of time.
Where to stay in Miami
Casa Moderna (http://www.casamodernamiami.com/#index): this luxury hotel
will remind you why Miami is one of the stars’ favorite destinations. The hotel
is located just minutes away from South Beach. Rooms start at $219/night for
a double room.
Miami Beach Bikini Hostel (http://bikinihostel.com): a great place to stay for
students on a budget. Right on Miami Beach, it is the best way to meet other
students from around the world and party! Room prices start at $18/night.
Daytona Beach
Things to do in Daytona Beach
When someone says Daytona Beach, 3 things may spring to mind. If it's cars it's the Daytona
International Speedway and the 500, the opening race of the NASCAR Nextel Cup season. If you're a
motorcycle fan thoughts of Bike Week and Biketoberfest should flood your mind. And if you're a college
student it’s yet another vision because Daytona Beach is well-known for its beaches and spring breakers.
Where to stay in Daytona?
Atlantic Ocean Palm Inn (http://atlanticoceanpalm.com/): located directly on the beach, this hotel is
perfect for those who want to soak up the Florida sun! (from $50/night for a room with 2 queen beds)
Days Inn At Daytona Beach: a nice hotel with very cheap prices located between the beach and
downtown attractions. Prices start at $55/night for a room that can accommodate up to 5 people.
Find more information and plan your trip at http://daytonabeach.com/. (Below: Daytona Beach
Skyline)
New York City
New-York is a state in the Northeastern region of the U.S. It
is the 27th most extensive, the 3rd most populous, and the
7th most densely populated of the 50 United States. The
city of New York (NYC) is very famous, known as the city
where everything is possible. New York City is in perpetual
movement; it is dynamic and creative.
To get to NYC you can drive (about 9h), take a bus or fly
from RDU to the New York airports JFK and LaGuardia
(about 2h).
Places to stay:
Hotels:
Chelsea Savoy Hotel: one of the best bargains for this well-located hotel is the quad room, which
accommodates up to four guests for $155-375 a night.
Cosmopolitan Hotel-Tribeca: a luxury hotel, well located for visitors who want to explore
downtown New York City, with a subway station located just across the street. (from $230/night for
a standard double room)
The GEM Hotel SoHo: This hotel offers some high tech features that you won’t find in all cheap
hotels in New York City. (from $289/night for a double room)
Hostels:
American Dream Hostel (http://www.americandreamhostel.com/): a great value for the
location in Midtown Manhattan (from $55 to $110 per night, including breakfast).
Hostelling International New York: great place to meet people. This hostel offers many free
tours and activities. (from $50/night in a 12-bed dorm)
Private rentals:
Air bnb (http://www.airbnb.com/): find accommodations for any budget in different parts of
the city. A great and cheap way to visit NYC.
Find links to Bed & Breakfasts and Cabin Rentals at: http://www.vacationinnewyork.com/
Museums and Monuments:
New York is a city of icons: From Central Park to the New York Yankees, between the famous hot-dogs
and 5th Avenue, there is something recognizable everywhere you look. New York's museums are no
exception. Several world-class institutions in Manhattan offer art, antiques and educational experiences.
First you should go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. “The Met” was
founded in 1870, with just a few paintings. Now you can find
thousands of pieces that cover 5,000 years of human development:
http://www.metmuseum.org/
Then you can’t leave the city without going to the
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. The Guggenheim
Foundation has been founded in 1937 to offer Solomon
Guggenheim's collection of non-objectivist art to the
world. The museum is home to art from a variety of
schools, including abstracts, post-impressionist works, sculpture and minimalist art
(http://www.guggenheim.org/)
If you have some time, take a look to The Frick Collection: http://www.frick.org/. An exceptional
collection that is unfortunately not well-known.
The Statue of Liberty:
The Statue of Liberty is a colossal sculpture standing on Liberty
Island in New York Harbor, designed by Frédéric Bartholdi and
dedicated on October 28, 1886. The statue was a gift to the
United States from French people; originally conceived as an
emblem of friendship between France and the US and a sign of
their mutual desire for liberty. Over the years the Statue has
become much more. It is the Mother of Exiles, greeting millions
of immigrants and embodying hope and opportunity for those
seeking to live the “American dream”. It’s now a symbol of
freedom worldwide that represents the United States itself.
New York Restaurants and Bars:
Everybody knows that you can find everything you want in New York City: restaurants and bars are not
an exception. Cheap, trendy, gastronomic or healthy, the Big Apple is a foodies’ paradise. If you love
high quality products and delicious food in a beautiful atmosphere, go to Twenty One Club (21 W 52th
St.) or Blue Hill (75 Washington Place), the dishes are excellent and the service is superior, but so are the
prices. For French food lovers, Le Bernardin (155 W 51th St.) offers delicious meals that taste so French.
If you want to have a great time while saving money, 99 Miles to Philly (94 3rd Avenue), A Salt and
Battery (112 Greenwich Avenue) and The Bagel Hole (400 7th Avenue) are three of the best cheap eats
in New York. The weather is often cold in town, and you will find the best hot chocolate in the U.S. in the
Chocolate Bar (19 8th avenue). But remember that New York is a city of parties and bars: listen to great
piano in Bemelmans Bar (35 E 76 St.) and drink original cocktails in Campbell Apartment (15 Vanderbilt
Avenue). End your evening in the 40/40 Club (6 W 25 St), where you will dance the night away! You can
find more addresses and suggestions at http://nymag.com/restaurants/wheretoeat/2012/best-newrestaurants/
NYC Clubs:
New-York City is very famous for its nightlife, earning the
nickname “The city that never sleeps”. Enjoy an evening at a
famous Jazz club like the Blue Note (http://www.bluenote.net)
where the best Jazzmen play. If you prefer dance floors, go to East
Village and enjoy the new modern songs of the best DJ’s on the
planet in Webster Hall (http://websterhall.com/).
If you’d rather be in a quiet place with some friends, from sports bars to supper clubs, New York is full of
places where you can find a soft comfy spot to sit, drink, and listen to music.
New York City is also well known for its many comedy clubs. For only $5 spend some time in the UBC
Theater (http://www.ucbtheatre.com/), have a drink and listen the new stars of Broadway.
Music and shows:
The music you will find in New York City is really diverse;
everyone can find something to their taste. NYC has been a
thriving home for jazz, blues and rock. It is the birthplace of hiphop, Latin music but also house music. Theater arts are also an
institution in NYC.
You can’t go to NYC without seeing a Broadway show. You will
find discount tickets in Time square under the red stairs or in
Brooklyn (metro tech center) or at south street seaport. Ticket
prices range from $50 to $120, and sometimes students rush
tickets are available. For more details about prices and schedules, go to www.broadway.com or check
the “on Broadway” section in the newspaper.
During the summer, many concerts and music
festivals take place in New York. The most famous is
Summer Stage in Central Park (June- September). If
you want to see a Ballet (May to August) or an
opera (September to April) go to the Metropolitan
Opera at Lincoln Center. It is with English subtitles.
At Carnegie Hall, fans of classical music will be
delighted by the different programs. You can buy
tickets at noon the day of the representation for
about $10.
The Radio City Music Hall at the Rockefeller Center
will let you appreciate a Music Hall with Liza
Minnelli or Barbara Streisand.
New York City is also renowned for its endless
shopping spots made famous in various tv shows.
To feel like a local, don’t hesitate to plan a picnic in Central Park, the most visited urban park in the U.S.
and a great nature getaway for those overwhelmed by the busy city around them.
Boston, Massachusetts
How to get to Boston from Raleigh?
Bus: It takes 16h to reach Boston by bus (http://www.greyhound.com/), and 14h to drive there by car.
Plane: Several companies offer direct flights to take you to Boston in about 2h.
Visits - Culture:
Boston has some of the best museums like the Museum of Fine Arts
or the Museum of Science in Cambridge.
The Duck Tour can be funny to do the first time you go to Boston. It gives
you an overview of the city and the important monuments. Moreover, at the
end of the tour, your “Duck” will abandon its wheels and lowers itself into
the Charles River, which is very nice. The Tour lasts around 80 minutes.
Then, it can be nice to walk around the Boston Public Gardens and
Beacon Hill (they are right next to each other). Another option nearby is
Boston Common, the oldest city park in the United States
For those interested in getting to know a little bit more about American History
there’s also the Freedom Trail, a 2.5 miles tour through Downtown Boston. It
passes 16 landmarks of the city which shows important moments of Boston and of the country, such as
the creation of the Boston Tea Party in 1773 and the British occupation from 1775 to 1776.
One good itinerary option is to do the Freedom Trail in the morning then eat and hang out at Faneuil
Hall which stands right close to the end of the Trail.
Shopping - Restaurants:
The best shopping is on Newbury Street and Boylston Street. They are
right next to each other.
There is a huge indoor shopping complex called The Prudential Center.
Moreover, you can also go to Faneuil Hall which has some outdoor
shops and a bunch of restaurants. Faneuil hall is very close to the ocean
too.
Sports and Entertainment:
If you’re a sport fan then watching a Red Sox baseball game is definitely something to
do, but you will have to plan ahead because tickets are difficult to get. You can also go to TD
Garden to see one of Celtic’s basketball game or one of Bruin’s hockey
games.
For entertainment, check out the Improv Asylum. It is a comedy theater that features
improvisation and sketch comedy.
There’s also the Symphony Hall, house of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, which performs
throughout the month and is a good option for classic music.
Nightlife:
Boston has a lot of bars, theaters, pubs and clubs. One hotspot is on Lansdowne Street near Fenway
Park, where the Red Sox games usually start and finish.
Chicago, Illinois
What do you need to know about Chicago?
This city is the largest and most visited city in the Midwest. Founded in 1883, over the years it has
become a major transportation and telecommunications hub in North America. Situated near the Great
Lakes and the Mississippi River, it is the home of some of the best jazz and blues players, the most
amazing theater, shopping and fine dining in real Midwestern style.
Fun Fact: Two of the most famous teams of the city are the Chicago Bulls (NBA) and the Chicago Bears
(NFL). The crowd in Chicago is extremely passionate about the teams they support and in general,
downtown Chicago gets very lively when the Chicago Bears are in action. (Below: United Center, Home
of the Chicago Bulls)
Where to eat?
As far as food goes, an ideal start to the day would be a brunch at Angel’s. This restaurant is a Mexican
Brunch style restaurant probably best known for their Eggs benedict crab cakes and traditional bacon
and eggs. Alternatively people looking for an American
Brunch must visit Birchwood Kitchen. Some of the
specialties here include the Grilled Gruyere and the
Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookie. To top it all, Bandera
Restaurant for dinner would be an excellent choice (The
Macho salad, Barbequed Salmon and the Rotisserie
Chicken are definitely worth trying).
Where to stay?
The Chicago Getaway Hostel offers a cheap
price for pretty nice rooms, right in the center
of Chicago (around $28/night).
If you prefer to stay at a hotel rather than a
youth hotel you can try the Hostelling International Chicago, also located in the center Chicago (around
$60/night).
Where to party at night?
The Enclave (220 West Chicago Ave) is one of the most famous bar/nightclub in Chicago. In a luxurious
atmosphere, you can go there to dance, lounge and drink. The music is mixed by famous DJs, and there
are many special events such as the Live of Rivera on the 14th of April. It is definitely
one of the places to be at night, but be careful: you must get dressed for the occasion
if you want to be allowed to enter!
Bernice’s tavern (3238 S. Halsted St) has a great selection of European beers,
and for cheap. This tavern is well known for its familial atmosphere. During the week,
you can follow sports on TV, and on weekends, DJs will you dance. Definitely a good
place to hang out with no pressure but only “pression” (draft)!
The Four Shadows (2758 N. Ashland) is one of the most appreciated sports bars
in Chicago. You can follow your favorite teams there while drinking pitchers of Miller
Light for only $8! So if you want to see the Bulls but can’t afford to go to the stadium,
just go enjoy a Guinness at the Four Shadows.
Best Museums, galleries and Exhibitions:
Chicago’s museums rank among the best in the world with a diversity of options!. Visit the Museum of
Science and Industry, Museum of Contemporary Art, National Museum of Mexican Art, Adler
Planetarium, Notebarert Nature Museum, Duable Museum of African American History, Sedd Aquarium
or many other locations for an enlightening and enjoyable experience.
Best places (parks, famous parts
of town…) to go:
 Millennium Park
One of greatest things about Chicago is its
parks. In total, there are 570 parks and 33
beaches, making Chicago the “greenest” city
in America. The major park is Grant Park,
mostly known for the Buckingham Fountain.
After many alteration works, the park has
changed its name to Millennium Park. Another
very popular park is Jackson Park, where you
can admire the Statue of the Republic built in
1918 by Henri Bacon. This park is highly appreciated for all the nearby beaches.
 Symphony Orchestra of Chicago
If you enjoy listening to music you should check out the Symphony Center. The Symphony Orchestra of
Chicago is among the best around the world. You can also enjoy concerts in the summer in Grant Park or
in Millennium Park. Chicago is also the cradle of House music which has appeared in the 80s.
 Museum of Science and Industry
The city has no less than 70 different museums, from Science to Arts or History museum. Among the
most famous is the Art Institute of Chicago. We can also talk about the Museum of Science and Industry
which is considered as the third most important cultural attraction of the city. Chicago has got one of
the biggest aquariums across the globe with more than 2 million visitors each year.
Chicago is the third biggest city in the USA, and as New York, has got many buildings, more than 1100.
Chicago still has the highest buildings in American which is the Willis tower (also called “Sears” tower)
with 442 meters high.
How to get around in the city?
The transportation by train or bus is run by Chicago Transit authority (CTA). Meta (metropolitan
commuter rail) and Pace (suburban bus) are other agencies for long distance trips. Trains are divided
between the subway and the elevated train (L).
 How to find your way and plan a trip?
The best way to plan your trip is to use Google transit (http://www.google.com/transit), Goroo
(http://www.goroo.com) or using the map (http://www.transitchicago.com/maps/). You may also want
to call directly the CTA office for directions ((312) 836-7000).
 Buying Fares (tickets)
If you are staying in Chicago for a short period, your best options are transit cards and passes.
Transit Cards are farecards that store value which you add at vending machines located at CTA train
stations and various locations around town. A single ride costs $2,25 (current fares as March 2012).
Passes are farecards that provide free riding during a specific amount of time
1 day: $5.75/ 3 day: $14/ 7 day: $23/ 30 day: $86
 Where to go biking?
Bicycling can be an interesting way to visit Chicago. Many bike lines cross the city. Here are outstanding
spots to go bicycling, if you look for good bike paths.
 Lakefront Trail through Burnham Park
 North Branch Bicycle Path
 South Green Belt Forest Preserve
Free places to go in Chicago!
In Chicago, it’s possible to enjoy excellent free days. Indeed, there are lots of free days at Chicago
museums each month, including the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Chicago Children’s Museum and
the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum for instance, which are among the best known.
There are free events organized throughout the whole year. Check out http://chicagofree.info/ to see
what’s going on during your stay.
There are also free zoos and spaces to visit, such as the Lincoln Park zoo, the Lincoln Park Conservatory
or the Bahai’i House of Worship. (Bottom Left: Woodfield Mall, one of the largest Malls in the United
States.
Shopping in Chicago!
The Windy City is one of the hotspot for Shopping in the United States, and not only in the Loop
(Business district).
The North End of Michigan Avenue known as “The Magnificient Mile” is one of the hot shopping place,
displaying several flagship stores from famous retailers
such as Nike, Gucci or Forever 21.
Ready for a wonderful experience or longing for a
change? Don’t hesitate: Los Angeles is worth the trip.
Travel, Housing and Activities: follow the guide and
you will never forget this trip!
History:
S O M E F I G U R E S:
-
In 1848 by the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, Los Angeles and the rest of California was purchased
by the U.S. from Mexico. LA is a world center for international trade, entertainment, culture,
media, fashion, science, sports, technology, and education.
3,792,621 inhabitants i n
2010. It is the biggest city
in
California,
2nd
the
biggest c i t y i n the US
How to get there:
after New-York and the
-
48th c i t y in the world.
-
Area
502.693
-
square
miles (1,301.970 km 2)
D I D Y O U K N O W T H A T?
The real name of Los Angeles
is
« Pueblo de Nuestra
Señora
la
Ángeles
Reina
del
de
Plane tickets can come as low as $300/person, however on average, it is more around $450
roundtrip for the cheapest flights.
There are very few direct flights between Raleigh-Durham airport and Los Angeles airports,
which is why usually the trip lasts about 7 to 11 hours, with one to two connections.
If you’re willing to rent a car and drive all the way to Los Angeles, it will take you at
least two days; there are about 2,550 miles between the two cities.
You can also travel by bus with companies such as Greyhound; it will cost you between
$200 and $300 for at least 3 days on the road and several transfers.
Train is another possibility, cheapest than plane but still longer. Amtrak is the only
intercity passenger train service provider in the US. A trip from Raleigh’s train station
to Los Angeles – Union Station is worth about $300 and lasts at least 3 days.
Los
Río
Place to stay :
de
-
Porciúncula », which means «
the village of Our Lady the
Queen
of
Angels
of
the
Porttioncule river »
If you are more o f a beach person you could stay in Santa Monica, one of the most
beautiful areas around LA with countless nightlife and restaurant options. Additionally, you
could also choose Manhattan Beach just south of the Santa Monica bay. There you can enjoy
the pier, the aquarium and of course the sunset on the beach. If you’d like to be close to
Disneyland and the classic ride of Space Mountain, Anaheim would be a good place to stay.
To search hotels check: http://www.booking.com/city/us/los-angeles.fr.html
Average Hotel Prices:
West Hollywood: $85
Santa Monica: $90-95
Manhattan Beach: $80
Anaheim: $70-75
Or visit: Couchsurfing.com, airbnb.com
WEATHER :
Month
jan. feb mar. apr. may jun. jul. aug. sep. oct.
Minimum (°C)
10
Average (°C)
15 16 16,5 18 19,5 21 23,5 24
Maximum (°C) 20
11
21
12
21
13
23
15 17 18
24 26 29
19
29
Précipitations
61,0 63,8 50,5 18,3 3,6 0,8 0,3 3,8
(mm)
Number of
days with rain
4,5 4,6
4,9
2,5 0,6 0,2 0,2 0,4
nov.
dec.
year
18 16 12
10
14,5
23 21 17,5
15
19,3
28 26 23
20
24,1
7,9 8,6 44,7
42,2
305,3
1,0 1,4 3,1
3,8
27,2
What to do?
PLACES FOR LUNCH:
THINGS TO DO :
-
Get
close
to
the
sign:
Feeling
-
8400 Santa Monica Blvd, West
uninspired? Try changing your perspective
Hollywood, CA 90069
on a familiar sight. While the Hollywood
sign’s grounds are barred from public
Cafe La Boheme - $$
-
access, you can walk or drive near it to get
Dukes West Hollywood - $
8909 Sunset Boulevard, Los
great angles for photos.
Angeles, CA 90069
From Franklin Avenue in Hollywood, go
north on Beachwood Drive; turn left at
Ledgewood Drive and twist and wind
uphill. Then go right at the three-way
intersection onto Deronda Drive.
-
Useful website:
http://www.losangelesrestaurants.com/top
10.cfm
NIGHT LIFE:
Best dance clubs in Los Angeles
Get y o u r picture taken with a star at
Madame Tussauds Hollywood
-
Hollywood Walk of Fame: Since the
1960s, more than 2,300 terrazzo and brass
stars have been unveiled on Hollywood’s
major sidewalk.
-
Follow the paparazzi and try to see
your favorite star. Live the LA experience!
-
Avalon
1735 N. Vine St., Hollywood
-
Step
into
Hollywood
history:
The
-
forecourt of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre is
1735 N. Vine St., Hollywood, above
now a really famous place in LA. People
come from the entire world to compare
their hands with the ones of their favorite
stars!
Bardot
Avalon
-
Club 740
740 Broadway, LA 90012, entrance
from the alley (cover 20$)
General information :
http://discoverlosangeles.com/ : Find 100 things to do for FREE !
http://www.routard.com/guide/code_dest/los_angeles.htm
Still have questions? Email us at
gti_TA@ncsu.edu
And again, welcome to NC State!