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Soundtracks for trail-to-table exploration
Get lost in our Trail Mixes below, playlists created by local chefs and inspired by the City of Oak's great outdoors.
Chef Ashley Christensen
Long considered the matriarch of Raleigh’s modern culinary movement, chef Ashley Christensen is reinventing Southern cuisine through seasonal, ingredient-driven cooking at the MICHELIN-Recommended Poole's Diner, celebrated for elevating classic comfort dishes with locally sourced ingredients and innovative technique. A fierce philanthropist and accomplished restaurateur, chef Christensen received the James Beard Outstanding Chef Award in 2019.
Featured song: "Mandolin Rain/Black Muddy River," Bruce Hornsby
"I grew up in North Carolina, and I still remember when 'Mandolin Rain' hit the radio… I was 10 years old. I later fell in love hearing Bruce play the combo of 'Mandolin Rain' and 'Black Muddy River' on live albums. On June 22, 2019, Bruce would play this song at Kait Goalen and I's wedding… couldn't have imagined a better first song to dance to."
Chef Steven Devereaux Greene
Herons at The Umstead Hotel and Spa
Four-time James Beard Award Semifinalist and executive chef at the MICHELIN-Recommended Herons in Cary, Steven Devereaux Greene draws culinary inspiration from North Carolina's flourishing Piedmont region, rich culture and organically sourced ingredients. His restaurant's organic One Oak Farm supplies heirloom and seasonal varieties for his menus.
Featured song: "No Hard Feelings," The Avett Brothers
"As a North Carolina band, The Avett Brothers capture the warmth and authenticity that I love about this region. 'No Hard Feelings' reminds me to stay grounded—to appreciate the people, the farms and the landscapes that inspire both my life and my approach to cooking."
Chef Cheetie Kumar
Two-time finalist for the James Beard Awards and celebrated food advocate Cheetie Kumar is advancing Southern dining as chef and co-owner of Ajja. A literal culinary rock star, chef Kumar sees music in her menus and plays guitar with indie rock band Birds of Avalon. Chef Kumar's newest culinary project, Big Cat, is a neighborhood bar and restaurant rich with kitty kitsch.
"I moved to the South because of music. R.E.M. fueled a years-long romantic pop movement and DIY hardcore bands like No Labels and Minor Threat made a huge impression on me as a teenager. I wanted to be a part of this spirited, fierce yet slightly sad and catchy narrative emanating from garages swallowed up by lush dogwoods and kudzu."
Sam Jones
Third-generation pitmaster Sam Jones honors generations-old techniques and introduces audiences to the region’s distinctive wood-fired cooking. Jones has become one of the nation’s leading ambassadors for Carolina barbecue, celebrated for preserving authentic pit-cooked whole hog and time-honored hospitality with unwavering commitment.
"I played drums in a Southern gospel quartet that traveled regionally for years. It’s straight-ahead, four-part harmony. That’s what I was raised on and I still love it. Country music and gospel music hold hands—whether they're at the bar or at the church house."
The Wander App
Explore Raleigh, N.C., restaurants and the trails that connect them
Mapping more than 300 miles of trails and 138,000 acres of open greenspace in a free, easy-to-use app, Wander Wake County enables users to discover, plan and personalize outdoor experiences across the county.
Discover hidden gems, plan custom routes and see how local parks, greenways and businesses come together to create a vibrant, connected community.
The Wander App features:
- Interactive maps
- Activity filters
- Curated culinary trails
- Guides and tours
- What3words safety integration
- Strava-style trail tracking
- Friending functionality
- Offline downloading
- Points of interest (shopping, dining, landmarks and more)
START WANDERING
Available now on the Apple App and Google Play stores.
Visit wandermaps.com to learn more and download the free app or download via QR code.
Trail + Table Pairings
Experience the best of Raleigh area parks and plates through thoughtfully paired outdoor spaces and local restaurants.
Dix Park + Sam Jones BBQ
0.4 miles, 9-minute walk
Check out the 308-acre Dix Park's incredible play areas, trails, interactive water features and skyline views before heading to Sam Jones BBQ for a true taste of North Carolinian cuisine. This pairing in downtown Raleigh combines one of America's most exciting urban park projects with authentic, legendary whole-hog barbecue from a third-generation pitmaster.
Listen to pitmaster Sam Jones' Trail Mix playlist
The Umstead Hotel and Spa trails + Herons
0 miles, 1-minute walk
Located in Cary and inspired by North Carolina's native ingredients, Herons' regional and seasonal fine-dining menus are best paired with The Umstead Hotel and Spa's stunning wooded trails. The MICHELIN-Recommended restaurant sources ingredients from 14+ local farms, including its own nearby, organic One Oak Farm.
Stream executive chef Steven Devereaux Greene's Trail Mix playlist
Crabtree Creek Greenway Trail + Mala Pata
0.5 miles, 10-minute walk
Pair authentic, fresh-made masa with creek-side exploration at MICHELIN Bib Gourmand recipient Mala Pata. Located off the Crabtree Creek Greenway Trail entrance at Raleigh Blvd., Mala Pata blends ancient technique with North Carolina heart. The 18-mile trail follows Crabtree Creek from William B. Umstead State Park to the Neuse River Greenway.
Pullen Park + Players Retreat
0.2 miles, 6-minute walk
For a truly historic trail-to-table adventure, pair a carousel ride at Pullen Park with lunch at Players Retreat. The fifth-oldest operating amusement park in the U.S., Pullen Park is home to a train, paddle boats, carnival games and café. Celebrating its 75th anniversary, the Players Retreat is a Raleigh landmark with a legacy of acceptance and the state's largest single-malt Scotch collection.
Little Rock Creek Greenway Trail + Transfer Co. Food Hall
0.04 miles, 2-minute walk
Bringing together local favorites like Benchwarmers Bagels, Che Empanadas, Dank Burrito and Burial Beer Co. in a renovated, 43,000-square-foot bus garage, Transfer Co. Food Hall understands the power of pairings. With an entrance on Chavis Way at E. Davie St. behind the food hall, Little Rock Creek Greenway Trail connects to the conservation and education-focused Walnut Creek Wetland Park.
Rocky Branch Trail + Benchwarmers Bagels
0.03 miles, 2-minute walk
A detour along the Rocky Branch Trail, Benchwarmers Bagels serves up fresh, honey-boiled, wood-fired bagels and locally roasted coffee for a breakfast pairing worth waking up for. With an entrance at S. Saunders St., Rocky Branch Trail stretches from Walnut Creek Greenway to Reedy Creek Trail.
Art to Heart Trail + Poole's Diner
5.4 miles, 36-minute bike ride
For adventurers and adventurous eaters alike, the 5.9-mile Art to Heart bicycling and walking corridor connects the North Carolina Museum of Art's 164-acre Art Park to the heart of downtown Raleigh. Check out the more than 5,000 historic and modern works of art at the museum before visiting Poole's Diner—James Beard Award-winning chef Ashley Christensen's MICHELIN-Recommended restaurant adored for its gourmet Southern cooking.
Listen to chef Ashley Christensen's Trail Mix playlist
Lion's Park + Big Cat
0.9 miles, 17-minute walk
Pair Big Cat bar with Lion's Park, one of Raleigh's largest metro parks, for an experience that's truly the cat's meow. Lion's Park hosts trails, tennis and basketball courts, playgrounds, fields and the Capital City BMX motocross racetrack. The city's neighborhood bar, Big Cat, is a "sanctuary of Kitty Kitsch" serving up an approachable-yet-elevated menu and cat-themed décor from a powerhouse of Raleigh's culinary talent.
Stream chef and rockstar Cheetie Kumar's Trail Mix playlist
