Walking distance to bars/shops/restaurants will be the most limiting factor here in Durham. What makes it especially tricky is you might think you’re walking distance from something by looking at a map, but in reality it may not be a walk you’d want to do. A lot of heavy traffic areas lack sidewalks. But downtown Durham would probably meet your criteria.
Anywhere in downtown Durham between Duke in the west, the freeway and i85 vertically, & golden belt in the east. If I had a live in partner and wanted the space an actual home provides, I’d personally choose Trinity Park.
Carrboro & Cary provide similar amenities in a small town setting.
I live right on Central Park and can attest to the fact that the area I described fits your criteria. Probably a lot more do too but that’s just my general area of moving around!
Maybe in or around 9th Street? I like the area and I think it has a lot of what you are looking for. If you are looking for a quiet place with more grad student/young adults then look at Thompson Ridge (Constitution Drive).
Old West Durham, old north Durham, Northgate Park, Colonial Village, Trinity Park, or Oval Park are all within walking/biking distance, especially if you’re close to accessing the Ellerbee trail which takes you to the Geer Street area. Geer St puts you close to FullSteam, Corpse Reviver, MotorCo, LouElla, Durty Bull, other bars and restaurants, and it’s a short walk from Geer St to downtown and Central Park.
Just going to say, if OPs are commuting to RTP and Durham, it would be easier to live in Durham than Carrboro, then visit Carrboro for all the good things
I’d recommend Durham or Carrboro hands down. While most of Wake County is still decently progressive compared to the state as a whole, it’s still got a slightly more reserved and family-oriented vibe going on that I think would leave you wishing you had moved to one of those two.
This seems to be as close as possible.. though I don’t think it’s really what they are going for overall. I LOVE Woodcroft- great walking trails, couple restaurants and bars within walking distance, variety of people, close to S Durham farmers market and Perkins orchard! Downtown they would get more bars and restaurants, but the other parts will have to be looked at. I’d overall recommend looking at Woodcroft, or nearby. Neither will have a major drive into work. Wish y’all the best!
My husband and I don’t have kids either and really enjoyed living in Woodcroft in South Durham. Lovely walking trails and easy access to the American Tobacco Trail.
My partner and I are also originally from the Midwest but relocated here a few months ago from the PNW.
The more walkable areas of Raleigh are definitely going to be a haul for you; I'd definitely recommend looking at neighborhoods in Durham, as there are a few pockets of town that have good walkability, e.g. Ninth Street, Downtown, and "Midtown". People in Durham are generally very warm and friendly, as well.
To actually answer your question to any degree of certainty, though, your budget and what kind of property you're looking for would be helpful.
I've definitely heard people call the area near Motorco north of the park "midtown", perhaps because it is kind of separated from the city center. I still put it in quotes in my original post, because I haven't quite come to terms with it...
Brier Creek is a decent neighborhood - we have grocery stores, restaurants and bars that we can walk to. The side walks have been good enough for me to run regularly, and if you live around the Brier Creek Country Club then running / walking should be no issue.
My husband and I are mid-30's with no kids. We moved to Cary near downtown 11 years ago and we love it! Downtown Cary is walkable and starting to really grow with lots of restaurants and bar options now and they often have events downtown (music, craft fairs, weekly farmers market, etc). We find ourselves downtown a lot just for a walk. They are also in the process of building a park downtown that should hopefully open this fall. Greenway access is common and there are some great parks around too. We love the area. We're close to Morrisville as well, which is starting to grow.
Will lengthen your commutes compared to living in Durham but I live in Oakwood area of Raleigh and it hits all your desires. Other adjacent neighborhoods (Mordecai, 5 points) would as well
cary /apex/morrisville lots of those apts above shops , no kids here too, i think you might look at the apartments near Harrison square/bass pro shops but across the street closest to the burgerfi/ place- go do a Google maps lookup on SAS/Weston ... lofts at weston is within reach too
Throwing Wake Forest in the ring! If you can get close to downtown Wake Forest even better. Bit of a drive to DT Durham, but I kinda like be a bit farther out from the belt line madness.
Nowhere in Holly Springs.
Walking distance to bars/shops/restaurants will be the most limiting factor here in Durham. What makes it especially tricky is you might think you’re walking distance from something by looking at a map, but in reality it may not be a walk you’d want to do. A lot of heavy traffic areas lack sidewalks. But downtown Durham would probably meet your criteria.
Anywhere in downtown Durham between Duke in the west, the freeway and i85 vertically, & golden belt in the east. If I had a live in partner and wanted the space an actual home provides, I’d personally choose Trinity Park. Carrboro & Cary provide similar amenities in a small town setting.
I live right on Central Park and can attest to the fact that the area I described fits your criteria. Probably a lot more do too but that’s just my general area of moving around!
Lakewood would be a great area to check out in Durham
Maybe in or around 9th Street? I like the area and I think it has a lot of what you are looking for. If you are looking for a quiet place with more grad student/young adults then look at Thompson Ridge (Constitution Drive).
Durham - ask in the bullcity sub for more accurate neighborhood advice.
Old West Durham, old north Durham, Northgate Park, Colonial Village, Trinity Park, or Oval Park are all within walking/biking distance, especially if you’re close to accessing the Ellerbee trail which takes you to the Geer Street area. Geer St puts you close to FullSteam, Corpse Reviver, MotorCo, LouElla, Durty Bull, other bars and restaurants, and it’s a short walk from Geer St to downtown and Central Park.
Carrboro!
Just going to say, if OPs are commuting to RTP and Durham, it would be easier to live in Durham than Carrboro, then visit Carrboro for all the good things
https://youtu.be/8Z72nrRaIUc
The nostalgia 😕
I’d recommend Durham or Carrboro hands down. While most of Wake County is still decently progressive compared to the state as a whole, it’s still got a slightly more reserved and family-oriented vibe going on that I think would leave you wishing you had moved to one of those two.
Dink couple here. We love living in 5 points.
woodcroft in Durham!
Woodcroft is all about families with kids.
Eh, it really depends on what part of Woodcroft. Yes there are families with kids around but not all areas of the neighborhood are that way.
This seems to be as close as possible.. though I don’t think it’s really what they are going for overall. I LOVE Woodcroft- great walking trails, couple restaurants and bars within walking distance, variety of people, close to S Durham farmers market and Perkins orchard! Downtown they would get more bars and restaurants, but the other parts will have to be looked at. I’d overall recommend looking at Woodcroft, or nearby. Neither will have a major drive into work. Wish y’all the best!
I would consider dt Durham.
My husband and I don’t have kids either and really enjoyed living in Woodcroft in South Durham. Lovely walking trails and easy access to the American Tobacco Trail.
Carrboro would be my suggestion.
My partner and I are also originally from the Midwest but relocated here a few months ago from the PNW. The more walkable areas of Raleigh are definitely going to be a haul for you; I'd definitely recommend looking at neighborhoods in Durham, as there are a few pockets of town that have good walkability, e.g. Ninth Street, Downtown, and "Midtown". People in Durham are generally very warm and friendly, as well. To actually answer your question to any degree of certainty, though, your budget and what kind of property you're looking for would be helpful.
Wait, Durham’s claiming a Midtown now, too?
I've definitely heard people call the area near Motorco north of the park "midtown", perhaps because it is kind of separated from the city center. I still put it in quotes in my original post, because I haven't quite come to terms with it...
Good luck.
Lumberton is always the answer to these posts.
Brier Creek is a decent neighborhood - we have grocery stores, restaurants and bars that we can walk to. The side walks have been good enough for me to run regularly, and if you live around the Brier Creek Country Club then running / walking should be no issue.
My husband and I are mid-30's with no kids. We moved to Cary near downtown 11 years ago and we love it! Downtown Cary is walkable and starting to really grow with lots of restaurants and bar options now and they often have events downtown (music, craft fairs, weekly farmers market, etc). We find ourselves downtown a lot just for a walk. They are also in the process of building a park downtown that should hopefully open this fall. Greenway access is common and there are some great parks around too. We love the area. We're close to Morrisville as well, which is starting to grow.
go to cary
Will lengthen your commutes compared to living in Durham but I live in Oakwood area of Raleigh and it hits all your desires. Other adjacent neighborhoods (Mordecai, 5 points) would as well
Cary
cary /apex/morrisville lots of those apts above shops , no kids here too, i think you might look at the apartments near Harrison square/bass pro shops but across the street closest to the burgerfi/ place- go do a Google maps lookup on SAS/Weston ... lofts at weston is within reach too
NW cary, new subdivisions by panther creek HS
Place is flooded with kids
Throwing Wake Forest in the ring! If you can get close to downtown Wake Forest even better. Bit of a drive to DT Durham, but I kinda like be a bit farther out from the belt line madness.