THE LONGLEAF HOTEL sits one block from state museums, three blocks from Glenwood South, and a ten-minute walk from Fayetteville Street and the Warehouse District. For fresh air, Raleigh boasts some of the best public parks and greenways in the country, and state parks filled with soaring longleaf pines are just a 30-minute drive away. Consider us your guide to our city in a forest.

Once a sleepy government town, downtown Raleigh is now a booming city of culture, food, and fun. A quick breakdown of downtown districts:

STATE COMPLEX Museums of Natural Science and History, the mid-century NC State Legislature, and the more classic NC State Capitol are all free and just a couple blocks away from The Longleaf Hotel

GLENWOOD SOUTH A few blocks west of us are restaurants, bars, and night clubs to suit all tastes including stalwart The Rockford for American fare, newcomers The Cortez for seafood and craft cocktails, plus the massive Raleigh Beer Garden, maybe followed by late night burgers at Chargrill

PERSON STREET A renewed neighborhood hangout just a few blocks north, including Scott Crawford’s acclaimed Crawford & Son, Oakwood Pizza Box, Yellow Dog Bakery, Two Roosters Ice Cream, Edge of Urge women’s boutique, Person Street Bar, the crew at Oak City Cycling, a real live city farm, plus Stanbury and Escazu Chocolates

FAYETTEVILLE STREET Downtown’s central corridor where art, music, and cultural festivals occur seemingly every month is where the Raleigh revival began with establishments like Raleigh Times Bar and Foundation liquor bar, continuing on with the wood-fired Death & Taxes, the timeless Capital Club 16 for Bavarian-American fare, plus Deco for home goods, Quercus jewelry, and Apex Outfitters for outdoor-meets-urban gear.

WAREHOUSE DISTRICT Home to Raleigh’s stunning new Union Train Station, Morgan Street Food Hall, Videri Chocolate, Heirloom Brewshop, Raleigh Denim, Father & Son vintage, and Raleigh’s Contemporary Art Museum (CAM)

CONVENTION CENTER There’s a constant stream of activity at the Convention Center and adjacent Red Hat Amphitheater, with award-winning Poole's Diner from chef Ashley Christensen, local healthy eats crew Happy + Hale, vegetarian haven Fiction Kitchen, and modern home goods store Port of Raleigh all a stone’s throw away

NC STATE UNIVERSITY Home of the Wolfpack, the futuristic James Hunt Library, timeless treasures Player's Retreat and Mitch's Tavern to catch a game, as well as modern additions like Jubala Coffee and Gonza Tacos

DOROTHEA DIX AND PULLEN PARKS The best views of downtown are found at Dorothea Dix Park, which is currently being reimagined as a 300+ acre oasis, while just across the street is Pullen Park with a playground, restored carousel, kid’s train, paddle boats, and indoor pool

CAPITAL CITY GREENWAYS 112 miles of winding paved greenways ideal for biking encircle our city

VILLAGE DISTRICT Lots of independent boutiques and food in one of the South’s first ‘outdoor malls’

NORTH HILLS More independent boutiques mixed with larger national retailers

LAKE JOHNSON A local favorite of longleaf pines, paved and unpaved trails, paddle boats and canoes for rent, plus a picturesque boathouse for just rocking in a chair

NC MUSEUM OF ART A popular stop on the greenway, nestled in rolling meadows you’ll find two wings―one mid-century, one modern―of world-class art, outdoor sculptures and trails, not to mention coffee and food at the stunning Iris

DURHAM Home of Duke, the Durham Bulls, and a burgeoning food and beer scene, it’s hard to go wrong here but try any of Matt Kelly's jaunts and Fullsteam and Ponysaurus for craft brews

CHAPEL HILL The quintessential college town built around UNC with can’t miss food and drink at Lantern and Weaver Street Market in Carrboro

STATE PARKS Twenty minutes west lies Umstead State Park, our hiking and biking favorite or if water is more your vibe check out the Eno River in Durham and Falls Lake or Lake Jordan for tiny beaches, barbecueing, and boating

BEACHES Two hours away you’ll find the Carolina coast, just close enough for beach day trips