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Our local airport flies above and beyond.
Airplane mode: on. I’ve been to 15 airports on three continents during the last two years alone. I’ve dealt with delays, TSA traumas, disappointing dining options and airports that simply don’t pass the vibe check (cough, cough, O’Hare). I’ve also bopped through boujee travel pads touting nap rooms, capsule hotels, customer service robots, eye-catching artwork and droolworthy fare (s/o to the noodles at Narita
International Airport!).
Yet, as they say, distance makes the heart grow fonder. After all my travels, one airport continues to soar above the rest for me. *Cue the drumroll* … it’s none other than our local, lovable and what some might call little Raleigh-Durham International Airport (“though she be but little she is fierce,” and I’d even argue RDU’s smaller size adds to its appeal).
To wit, our airport has friendly TSA agents and local eateries boasting our city’s impressive foodie scene (La Farm Bakery! Char-Grill! Raleigh Brewing!), with more hometown eats and drinks on the way—think Conniption Cocktail Bar, Raleigh Beer Garden and Lonerider Brewing, to name but a few. And going the extra mile, RDU continues to extend its direct flight options. Translation: way less layover drama.
Then there’s the unbeatable vibe. Call me sentimental, but there’s no feeling quite like returning to Raleigh after a long flight and rolling my suitcase past the iconic Raleigh mural toward my pickup point. The whole airport gives off a warm ambiance—so much so that I would just visit for fun… and I have (don’t @ me).
Whether it was love at first flight or I’ve got my head in the clouds, RDU will forever be an airport standout in my heart. And I can’t wait to see how it keeps spreading its wings and flying higher in the future. Essentially, if I’m starting my travels from Raleigh… consider me ready for takeoff.
—Infatuated frequent flyer
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