Summer Staycation

Staycation all I ever wanted! Sometimes the best getaway is a staycay. Save the gas and skip that kid kicking your seat on the plane in lieu of an OOO flex at some of the best hotels around (we see you Michelin-certified The Longleaf Hotel!). We rest our (suit)case.

5 Hotels for the Ultimate Staycation

• Residence Inn Raleigh Downtown, Fayetteville Street District
• The Longleaf Hotel, Capital District
• AC Hotel Raleigh North Hills, Midtown
• The Casso, Glenwood South
• The Westin, Brier Creek

Fuel the Fun

Here, a dozen unrivaled must-do’s to build a staycay around during the 12 weeks of summer. We rest our (suit)case.

• Dueling Dinosaurs
  Channel your inner Ross Geller and ~pivot~ your staycay around this epic exhibit 67 years in the making digging into the world’s duo of fave dinos. Free, ongoing, naturalsciences.org
• Jaguar Bolera
  The long-anticipated adult playground will no doubt have you making moves like jaguar over to Raleigh Iron Works to balance Top Chef eats and a roster of duckpin bowling, darts, karaoke and more. Daily, jaguarbolera.com
• Rooftop Tour
  Alexa, play “Rooftops” by Wiz Khalifa. … Get high in the best way by rooftop hopping across Raleigh’s elevated roster—from La Terrazza and The Willard to 10th & Terrace and beyond.  
• Spark Golf Happy Hour
  If you’re lookin’ to ~par-tee~, swing into Spark Golf—the hot new all-skill-level happy hour activity teeing up across the Triangle on the daily sans the country club membership. Ongoing, spark.golf
• Food Truck Rodeo
  Summer fitness? More like ~fitness~ as much food in your mouth (!) via a scad of savory and sweet food trucks (and trailers!) on Fayetteville Street. Stretchy pants encouraged. Free, Aug. 25, shoplocalraleigh.org 
• Sarah Sherman
  “What, are you obsessed with me?” You will be as SNL’s quirky “Sarah Squirm” promises to make your eyes bug out as she brings her body horror comedy live.  July 18–20, goodnightscomedy.com
• Live After 5
  Live After 5 is in her queen era (!)…. And you’re gonna wanna “kiss beneath the milky twilight… out on the moonlit floor” as ’90s alt queens Sixpence None the Richer light up the night live—NTM a roster of artists tribute-ing legends from T. Swift to the Queen of Country Dolly Parton herself. Summer lovin’ indeed. Free, July 31 & Aug. 28, downtownraleigh.org
• An Evening With John Legend
  For a ~legendary~ performance, grab a seat for the GOAT’s greatest hits, new releases + life stories. “All of me”… is ready.  Aug. 11, boothamphitheatre.com
• NCSU Home Opener
  There’s always next this year. The Pack is BACK at Carter-Finley to cripple the Catamounts in their campaign to finally reach champ status. Aug. 29, gopack.com
• Opera under the stars NCMA
  Skip the flight and ~rome~ to NCMA’s Museum Park for a breathtaking backdrop serving the soaring arias and enchanting melodies of opera’s most memorable masterpieces. It’s giving Italian coliseum vibes—and, baby, we’ll be counting stars. Sept. 12, ncopera.org
• Bull Durham, A New Musical
  If you’re all about that base, prop up for this new musical bringing the Academy Award-winning classic back home (fun fact: Scenes from the film were shot at Mitch’s Tavern).  Sept. 10–22, theatreraleigh.com
• Hopscotch Music Festival
  Oh, hoppy day(s)! Venture Downtown for a rhythmic romp of jams at City Plaza and Moore Square stages—plus late-night sets, comedy shows, day parties, local vendors and more. Sept. 5–7, hopscotchmusicfest.com

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