Cary
Cary is a town in the Research Triangle of North Carolina. It is primarily a fast-growing suburb of Raleigh, the state capital; however, in recent years it has begun to develop some economic gravity of its own. Cary is known throughout the area for having a very high population of non-native residents. The name of the city is jokingly referred to as standing for Containment/Concentration Area for Relocated Yankees.
Get in
By plane
Cary is approximately 9 miles (13 km) from Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU IATA). RDU is served by all major U.S. airlines including Southwest, American Airlines, and Delta Air Lines. These and other airlines provide direct connections to most major hubs, including Atlanta, Washington-Dulles, Baltimore-Washington, Chicago (Midway and O'Hare), New York City (LaGuardia), Las Vegas, Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Phoenix, and a limited number of international hubs, like London, Paris, and Toronto. Most other major cities in the U.S. are reachable after a single connecting flight.
By car
- Interstate 40 runs just north of Cary and goes to points west including Durham, Chapel Hill, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and Asheville. Two and a half hours east on I-40 is Wilmington and the North Carolina Beaches.
- Interstate 440 serves as the inner loop surrounding Raleigh.
- NC 540 is a toll road which passes through Western Cary, eventually becoming Interstate 540, Raleigh's outer beltway.
- US 1 runs through Cary on its way along the Eastern Seaboard.
- US 64 serves the south of Cary connecting Raleigh with Asheboro.
By train
Amtrak has 2 lines serving Cary. The Carolinian/Piedmont service starts in Charlotte with the Piedmont terminating in Raleigh and the Carolinian continuing towards New York City. The Silver Service stops in Cary on its way to Florida from New York. The station is at 211 North Academy Street.
By bus
GoTriangle offers bus service from Raleigh and from the Regional Transit Center, with connections to Durham, Chapel Hill, and other towns in the Triangle.
Get around
The immediate downtown area can be walked but Cary is fairly spread out and is best traveled by car. If you are visiting the area there are several car rental locations nearby at RDU International Airport.
By bus
Cary's bus service is GoCary, and it is also served by the affiliated Research Triangle regional bus system GoTriangle. GoCary lines 1 and 2 are loop routes, while lines 3-6 terminate at the train station.
See
Do
- North Carolina FC, 201 Soccer Park Drive. North Carolina FC, renamed from Carolina Railhawks after the 2016 season, are a second division (NASL) professional soccer team that plays in WakeMed Soccer Park, a 10,000-seat stadium that is part of a larger 150-acre multi-use complex. The team plays from April through October and tickets start at $10.
- North Carolina Courage, 201 Soccer Park Drive. The Courage werere the 2018 champions of the National Women's Soccer League, the top level of the U.S. women's sport. They used to play as the Western New York Flash in Rochester. After the 2016 season, the owner of NCFC bought the Flash and moved them to the Triangle, renaming the team in honor of a former women's pro soccer team in the area. The Courage share WakeMed Soccer Park with NCFC. The season and ticket prices are similar to those for NCFC.
- Fred G. Bond Metro Park, 801 High House Rd. A 310-acre park that includes 4.2 miles of walking trails, a lake and boathouse, amphitheater, athletic fields, playground, and picnic areas.
- Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve, 2616 Kildaire Farm Rd.. Stevens Nature Center at Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve has three miles of trails on 150 acres along Swift Creek. The preserve has several plants and trees that are not common to the piedmont region of North Carolina along with bird and wildlife viewing opportunities and various nature programs throughout the year.
- 🌍 Koka Booth Amphitheatre, 8003 Regency Pkwy, ☎ +1 919 462-2025. Performance venue in Cary hosting a multitude of cultural events including Diwali and the Dragon Boat Festival.
- 🌍 Lake Crabtree County Park, 1400 Aviation Parkway (Morrisville). Even though the park entrance is from the nearby town of Morrisville, significant portions of the park are in Cary. This wooded park has many small criss-crossing hiking and mountain-biking trails, and one 6-mile long trail that goes all around Lake Crabtree.
Golf
If golf is your thing, then check out the many public and private golf courses within Cary.
- MacGregor Downs Country Club, 430 St Andrews Ln, ☎ +1 919 467-0146. 18-holes on the shores of Lake MacGregor, right off Highway 64.
- Lochmere Golf Club, 2511 Kildaire Farm Rd, ☎ +1 919 851-0611.
- Prestonwood Country Club, 300 Prestonwood Pkwy, ☎ +1 919 467-2566. A premier private club owned by the founder of the SAS Institute. The club has three 18-hole courses and is host to the annual SAS Championship. Other features include a driving range, 9 tennis courts, and a learning center.
Buy
- Cary Towne Centre Mall. M-Sa 10AM-9PM, Su noon-6PM. Enclosed shopping center with department stores Belk, Dillard's, J.C. Penney, Macy's and Sears.
Eat
- Hot Bread Cafe, 1901 NW Cary Pkwy, Morrisville, ☎ +1 919 677-1331.
- Jimmy V's Steakhouse & Tavern, 107-131 Edinburgh Dr. S, ☎ +1 919-380-8210. Entrees $28-50.
- Sushi Thai, 106 Kilmayne Drive, ☎ +1 919-467-5747. Japanese/Thai cuisine. Most entrees between $10-20.
- Dean's Kitchen + Bar, 1080 Darrington Dr, ☎ +1 919-459-5875. Good seafood place serving farm-to-table fare. Starters $10-16. Entrees $16-35.
Drink
Cary doesn't have much in terms of traditional bars, but there are a few taverns and pubs scattered around the residential areas.
Coffee
- La Farm Bakery Two locations, one downtown, one along Cary Parkway. Bakery with an espresso bar as well as a French-American cafe menu.
Sleep
- Hilton Garden Inn, 1500 RDU Center Dr. (Exit 285 off I-40), ☎ +1 919 840-8088. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: Noon.
Go next
Routes through Cary |
Greensboro ← Durham ← | W |
→ Raleigh → END |
Washington, D.C. ← Raleigh ← | N |
→ Southern Pines → Savannah |
Greensboro ← Durham ← | W |
→ Raleigh → Wilmington |
Richmond ← Raleigh ← | N |
→ Apex → Columbia |
Lexington ← Apex ← | W |
→ Raleigh → Nags Head |