babymallu: Looking for Leisure in High-Tech Raleigh

Raleigh, North Carolina is known for its concentration of pharmaceutical and technology industries ? something that, to me, screams, ?Boring!? However, I was pleasantly surprised to find many reasons to visit the capital of North Carolina that are anything but boring.

Raleigh has been called the ?city in a park? or a city sanctuary due to its 150 recreational parks and 152 miles of greenway trails for the outdoor enthusiast eager to explore the wooded hills of North Carolina.

Whatever area of Raleigh you choose to discover, you will find plenty of value luxury options for rest and relaxation.

Airport Region

If you?re short on time and don?t want to venture far from the airport, Umstead State Park is the closest place to get into nature; it literally connects to the airport on one side. With 5,000 acres and 20 miles of hiking trails, you can take an easy stroll or opt for a more extensive hike. Umstead is one of the few state parks in North Carolina that allows mountain biking as well.

For accommodations, the Umstead Hotel is a 5-star, 5-diamond property peacefully secluded in the woods next the state park. From the lounges and hallways to the guest rooms, the eco-theme reflects the serenity of the outdoors with all the comforts of a luxurious retreat.

Herons restaurant offers elegant dining with a gourmet menu that changes seasonally. I enjoyed the exquisite pecan-crusted French toast with maple date jam for breakfast. Herons also has a bar, lounge and 2,500-bottle wine cellar if you want to kick back with a cocktail in the evening.

The North Carolina Museum of Art, four miles down the road, has a sprawling display of world-class permanent and traveling exhibits. I especially enjoyed Rodin Court and Garden where you will find the southeast?s largest collection of Rodin sculptures. The museum also includes an outdoor art park with paved trails weaving among dramatic environmental works of art.

Chatham Hill Winery is also within five minutes of the airport. You can take a tour and indulge in a tasting or grab a bottle of North Carolina wine and chat with the owners about their wines and how they started an urban winery.

Raleigh is often called the ?Smithsonian of the South? because it has so many free, first-class museums.

Downtown Region

Downtown Raleigh is packed with options for value luxury experiences and leisurely activities, many of which are within walking distance of each other.

Start your day at Big Ed?s on Wolfe Street. You?ll feel like you?re back on the farm in this old-fashioned, southern restaurant that?s been a fixture in Raleigh for decades. I?m a big fan of the biscuits, bacon and grits, but the pancakes are also legendary.

Take a morning jog or afternoon bike ride on Little Rock Trail ? a 1.59-mile paved trail that starts near the IMAX theater downtown and connects to other trails in the greenway system.

Market Restaurant is one of my favorites for filling up on healthy eats. Located in the Mordecai historic district, Market serves up Chef Chad McIntyre?s homemade dishes made from ingredients sourced locally ? some even grown in the restaurant?s garden. I was impressed with the tasty vegetarian and vegan creations on the menu ? especially the Vegan Bananas Foster (above).

As for what to do in the Capitol area, hit up the Museum of Natural Sciences and the Museum of History in one shot as they?re next door to each other. The Museum of Natural Sciences has so many small animals it?s considered a medium-sized zoo. It recently opened the Daily Planet in April 2012 ? a brand new hands-on science research center for kids and adults.

Another option is to visit the year-round daily farmers market and then, in the evening, see a show at the Amphitheater. Take the R-Line for free transportation around the city if you don?t want to worry about parking.

If you want to get spooked, meet a local storyteller at a historic pub after dark for Raleigh?s Haunted Pub-Crawl. You may be as surprised as I was to learn what happens in Raleigh after dark.

Speaking of dark, stay at the Marriott City Center hotel for val-lux, downtown lodging. Marriott City Center is conveniently close to everything; I walked from the hotel to the museums, restaurants and pub-crawl. The rooms are spacious and the service is exceptional.

All photos by author except intro photo by twbuckner (Flickr).

Editorial Disclosure: The author?s trip was sponsored by the Raleigh Convention and Visitor?s Bureau. However, all opinions and appetites are her own.

Christina is one part country-gal and two parts city-girl. Raised in the mountains of western Colorado, she has an equal love of the beach and the Rocky Mountains. Check out her blog Connecting Coordinates and follow her on Twitter.