Friday-night check-in, weekend checkout. When PTO and travel dollars are in short supply, these 24- to 48-hour microescapes deliver maximum getaway energy with minimal planning. Swap the airport chaos for staying close to home—and discover the luxury of not going far.
Unscripted Durham
DURHAM | PLAY IT BY EAR For that itinerary-free feeling
Gas is up—burnout is higher. This is your cue to swap airplane mode for a Raleigh reset: room service, rooftop pours and a nightlife scene that does the heavy lifting. No packing spiral—just a plush pause with your PTO preserved and vibes fully intact, and just enough distance from your routine to feel like you left. Whether your ideal escape involves golden hour cocktails, post-show bites or a Wolfpack-fueled weekend, consider this your local itinerary.
Forget flight fears and panic packing—sometimes the best getaway is a staycay. Ditch the keys, keep the vibes and hit pause without leaving town—Raleigh’s hotel and nightlife game is staycation certified. PTO preserved, DND mode: on.
Haven’t got your tickets yet? Here’s 8 reasons to nab ’em ASAP.
If you were looking for a sign to buy tickets to our first annual The Cocktail Classic, presented by The Exchange Raleigh, on Saturday, Nov. 18, at Killjoy, here it is! This promises to be the party of the year, complete with all sorts of elevated experiences and surprises. We promise you don’t want to miss it. Only a few tix are left, so get yours now—and avoid the FOMO! Here’s what we have in store.
10 Cocktails Mixed by Raleigh Magazine’s Best Bartender Nominees Our cast of Best Bartender nominees—the best of the best mixologists in the city!—were each tasked with mixing up riffs on classics (think Old-Fashioned, Negroni, martini) in tandem with a top-shelf liquor brand. You’ll get to taste your way through all 10 of them throughout the night—plus enjoy special cocktail demonstrations at the Killjoy bar. Um, cheers to that! P.S. There will be NA beverages available as well.
Music by Deluxe Event Group and Food by Ladyfingers Served All Night Long When the munchies hit (which they likely will), we’ve got you covered with a plethora of delicious grub from Ladyfingers. … NTM water to keep you hydrated throughout the evening. And providing the background jams for the entirety of the event will be Deluxe Event Group—so get ready to get down with your bad selves!
Glam and Glow Experience to Keep You Looking Your Best by Woodhouse Spa North Hills Need to freshen up midevent? Woodhouse Spa has you covered with a glam setup of travel-size makeup products, mirrors, Champagne (!) and more. Glow on, gals!
Cocktail & Couture by Charles & Colvard Baubles and booze unite at Charles & Colvard’s private room feat. jewels and The Exchange’s signature cocktail. Talk about a *sweet* attraction!
Cocktail Classic Book Since you can’t order these riffs at the bar and will definitely be left craving more, you’re going to love this. We’ve created a cocktail book with photos and recipes from each of our noms for every guest to take home. … And it’s so beautiful you’ll want to drink it all up.
Rideshare Code We cannot stress this enough: Don’t drink and drive! Each group of ticket holders will get a rideshare code to take them to and from Killjoy on the day of the event only. This is your excuse to safely enjoy yourself at The Cocktail Classic!
Discount Code for The Longleaf Hotel Enjoy and extend your evening even further by taking advantage of our block of rooms at The Longleaf Hotel available at a discounted price. Staycation all I ever wanted… (!)
Tickets Benefit Ben’s Friends and the RDU Chapter of the U.S. Bartenders’ Guild To top off the entire Cocktail Classic event, ticket sales benefit both Raleigh-Durham USBG and Ben’s Friends, a support group for members of the food and beverage industry suffering from abuse or addiction. Drinking for a good cause? Don’t mind if we do!
Sometimes the best vacation is a staycation. So if you’re looking to go offline for the weekend, here’s how to stay and play in Raleigh this summer—and beyond. Bonus: Staycation calories still don’t count.
