NC State/Hillsborough Street

College students thrive along this stretch of road that serves as a bustling entrée to NC State University and Meredith College. The pace is fun and fast here, with a fascinating mixture of undergrads, professors, business execs and tourists mingling amongst the shops and restaurants. Coffeehouses like Global Village keep the bleary-eyed awake while casual bars like Mitch's Tavern pour drafts for groups gathering after class. Despite its reputation as a hub for academics, Hillsborough Street prides itself on some of the best restaurants in town: Frazier's Restaurant and Porter's Tavern continue to win raves from food critics. The NC State district also has some of the best venues in the area, including Theatre in the Park, providing one of the area's most exciting theatre scenes, and Pullen Park, a family-friendly green space with duck ponds, a colorful carousel and a miniature train.

Where it is: On Hillsborough Street, directly west of the NC State Capitol building.

What's there:
Cup o' Joe
El Rodeo Mexican Restaurant
Fraziers Restaurant
Global Village Organic Coffee
Marrakesh Cafe
Meredith College
Mitch's Tavern
NC State University
Porter's Tavern
Pullen Park
The Q Shack
Theatre in the Park
Two Guys Ameritalian Restaurant

To make the most of your visit, check out our weekend experiences at VisitRaleigh.com/weekends, and plan your getaway today.