Passport or no, here’s where to go wheels up this summer—and beyond.
Skipping Borders In a relationship with: our passports. All we need is a three-month vacation four times a year—really not asking too much. But until that happens, fun fact: It takes less time for these international direct flights from RDU to Europe than it does to travel to many indirect West Coast locales. So catch flights and feelings with these five destination hot spots worth digging out your passport for—or peep a trio of tropical hot spots you can go wheels up without the added paperwork—plus the hotels worth booking your vacation around. Once again, we rest our suitcase.
RDU DIRECT | Freeport, Bahamas| Our pick: Pelican Bay—Because it’s the “happiest hotel on Grand Bahama Island” duh. Where better to live out your White Lotus fantasy?! pelicanbayhotel.com
RDU DIRECT | Frankfurt, Germany | Our pick: Roomers—The swank, dark and seductive atmosphere makes for an ultrahip stay nestled between the train station and the Main River. roomers-hotels.com
RDU DIRECT | Paris | Our pick: Hyatt Regency Paris Étoile—Joie de vivre found atop Paris’ highest skyscraper hotel with nonparallel Eiffel Tower and City of Lights views. hyatt.com
Cancun | Our pick: Excellence Playa Mujeres—No bad rooms exist at this luxe adults-only 2022 “World’s Best Winner” (!) idyllic beachfront paradise that pretty much defines the bueno life. excellenceresorts.com
No Passport? No Problem Tropic like it’s hot at a trio of tropical destinations sans passport.
St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands | Resort pick:The Fred—And we’ll never be royals at these adults-only King Frederik V-dubbed boutique beachfront digs inviting you to “sleep with Fred.” sleepwithfred.com
San Juan, Puerto Rico | Resort pick: Condado Vanderbilt Hotel—Nee 1919, PR’s first luxe hotel is an art deco beachfront haven for luminaries and wanderlusters alike. If it’s good enough for JFK… condadovanderbilt.com
Tumon Bay, Guam | Resort pick: The Tsubaki Tower—Dubai feels, but make it on a U.S. island territory towering over azure waters so vibrant you’ll have to squint to see it. tsubakitower.kenhotels.com
Handy Passport Hacks Need a passport—or yours expiring soon? Navigate “law & border” with our handy hacks.
Before they shine in the City of Light, the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team will splash on the scene in the Triangle for Domestic Training Camp. Translation: The world’s top aquatic athletes—having historically included the likes of Mark Spitz, Rowdy Gaines, Michael Phelps, Katie Ledecky and Natalie Coughlin—will be defying gravity (never mind the need for oxygen) here at Triangle Aquatic Center June 28–July 10.
It wasn’t that long ago that the Triangle scoring a Trials grab would be unthinkable. Sure, the area is clearly suited for swimmers—home to such greats as Olympic gold medalist and Wolfpack alum David Fox (whose TAC TITANS alum son is now attending Olympic Trials), Ashley Twichell, and Cardinal Gibbons’ alums David Greeley and Claire Curzan (see sidebar), to name but a few; a storied NC State swim team; some of the country’s most competitive year-round swim programs (including the TAC TITANS); and a citywide swath of swim clubs that make Tarheel Swimming Association summer swimming a perennial starting block for every child’s “if you can see it you can be it” dream.
But if you had stepped on a pool deck when Fox struck gold in the ’90s and forecasted the Triangle as a Trials destination, you’d have been accused of being in a fever dream. Now, that dream isn’t some farfetched fantasy. It’s a reality. And, adding to a long list of local accolades—NHL Stadium Series, rumblings of MLS and MLB Raleigh among them—it’s also another huge indication of just how significant a slice of Southern real estate the Triangle has fostered. “USA Swimming’s confidence in TAC and our community speaks volumes about how Cary and this region embraces and supports major sporting events,” says Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance Executive Director Scott Dupree.
Essentially, whether you’re a swim fan or not, having TAC lap up the Trials is just plain epic. Given the training camp only occurs in line with the summer Olympics’ four-year schedule, “this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the Triangle,” says TAC Executive Director Derek Wall. “Everyone should be proud to live in an area with such quality infrastructure and amazing resources”—like TAC—and “the incredible RDU Airport just minutes [away].” Add to that, Raleigh’s position on the East Coast makes for a quick (direct!) pond jump to Europe.
As for the facility itself, it’s one of the only single-campus facilities in the nation—and optimally set up to host camp, thanks to the recent addition of an outdoor 50-meter pool and state-of-the-art fitness center to its 50-meter and short-course pools, not to mention ample parking and bus access… all of which “significantly reduces athlete travel and simplifies logistics” while upping R&R time, says Wall, who is also husband to Olympic (2020 Tokyo) repeat hopeful Twichell. Then there’s the Triangle’s straight appeal as an “ideal location” compared to other large metropolises, he adds—think airport size, temperate environment and relatively low traffic.
Now that camp is upon us, the excitement is at a fever pitch. Beyond star power, bragging rights and adding to an ever-expanding civic résumé, the Training Camp also seeks to generate remarkable economic benefit and visitor spending to the Triangle, as both Wall and Dupree note.
“But this is about much more than economic impact,” says Dupree, “The U.S. Olympic Swimming Team training in Cary shines a spotlight on TAC and positions it as a premier, national destination for swimming at the highest level. USA Swimming’s confidence in TAC and our community speaks volumes about how Cary and this region embraces and supports major sporting events.”
Much like the NHL Stadium Series, this puts us back on the world’s stage. “TAC, Raleigh and the Triangle are getting looks from other governing bodies and countries for our ideal conditions and facilities we have to offer to athletes such as swimmers and triathletes,” says Wall. And it’s not necessarily an Olympic one and done: With the 2028 Olympics in LA, he says, this area makes an ideal stop for many European Olympic teams.
That said, “we are extremely excited to host the 2024 [U.S. Olympic Swimming Team] before their departure to the Paris Games,” emphasizes Wall. “We are proud and humbled that USA Swimming recognizes the significant effort TAC has made to build the ideal training environment for swimmers. We give our all to grow the sport of swimming every day and are excited that this effort is being acknowledged both locally and nationally!”
SAVE THE DATE: July 5, 4:45–7:30pm | TAC
Lap up cocktails and apps while mingling with special guests (think David Fox, Claire Donahue and Charlie Houchin) and watching the 2024 USA Olympic Team train at this Stars and Stripes Soiree. triangleaquatics.org
SAVE THE DATE: July 6, 8:30–11:30am | TAC
Meet the U.S. Olympic Swimming Team and grab autographs before they head to Paris. Space is limited to the first 1,000, nonperishable food donations for Dorcas Ministries required for entry. triangleaquatics.org
Dive In With the Locals
Ashley Twichell
Apex resident Former + hopeful Olympian
Team that raised you: I grew up swimming for the Syracuse Chargers in my high school years.
Raleigh go-tos: I love Torchy’s, Tazza—and Angus Barn is my absolute favorite!
Thing you miss most from Raleigh while away: My massage therapist, Wellness by Lia
What motivates you? I like pushing myself to be the best I can be in practice every day—the best version of myself. I want to show my son what it looks like to work hard toward a goal and then compete to achieve it.
Most challenging facility to compete at + why: In 2011, I competed at the Pan American Games in Mexico, which was at altitude. I swam the 800m free in Mexico City and to date it’s still the hardest 800m I have ever done.
Go-to routine before a big race: Ice cream the night before. Preferably soft serve!
Reflecting on the dream: I remember in high school when I was trying so hard to get my first ever Olympic Trials cut thinking how cool it would be to be able to tell people I was going to be competing at the Olympic Trials for USA Swimming. I never would’ve dreamed I’d now be going to my fifth Olympic Trials—and having already been to one Olympic Games!
Claire Curzan
Cary native/resident UVA student Former + hopeful Olympian
Team(s) that raised you: Started as a Reserve Stingray in TSA at age 3, then competitively at age 7 for RSA [before] moving to TAC before I went to college
Raleigh go-tos: Sushi-Thai, Umami Japanese Steakhouse, First Watch, Fenton shopping for sure!
Things you miss most from Raleigh while away: My family and friends—and especially my dogs!
What motivates you? Personal growth and always striving to push past my limits. I like being able to race my own best times to try to propel myself to uncharted territories.
Most challenging facility to compete at + why: 2024 World Champs in Doha—the ceiling was curved so sightlines for backstroke caused you to drift into the lane lines.
Go-to routine before a big race: Some go-tos are Starbucks before finals sessions, having my lucky boots to walk out in, and watching Diners, Drive-ins and Dives between sessions.
What you’d tell your younger swim self: Enjoy the process and journey because it goes by so much faster than you think—and always show appreciation to your support system. Being on my own now in college has shown me how much they sacrificed to help me get where I am, and I am forever grateful for their continued support!
David Greeley
Durham native Harvard student Olympic hopeful
Team(s) that raised you: Duke Aquatics developed my love for the sport; NCAC kept that passion; and TAC helped me take it to an elite level.
Raleigh go-tos: Cook Out—unfortunately this NC original hasn’t made its way to Boston.
Thing you miss from Raleigh most while away: Friends, family and Southern hospitality
What motivates you? Fulfilling my potential—and my family, friends and coaches who have sacrificed so much for me to be where I am
Most challenging facility to compete
at and why: Greensboro Aquatic Center—water
is freezing; deck is drafty; and pool has a
funky taste.
Go-to routine before a big race: No real routine—only key is to keep steady and conserve energy before the big race!
What you’d tell your younger swim self: Don’t obsess over the time, rather focus on the little decisions day in and day out. Time is a reflection of the quality of these decisions.
Lean into your NC-ness with these six wacky NC festivals.
Humble brag: North Carolina boasts its fair share of claims to fame—from the best BBQ joints (sorry, not sorry, SC) to the home of NASCAR to luminary lighthouses and some of the Southeast’s most majestic mountains. And beyond the fab, we’ve got plenty of funk—and a flurry of offbeat NC festivals to fete the quirky legacies that “keep NC weird”—in the best way.
So whether you’re a local looking to lean into your state pride or a newbie hoping to punch your NC’er card, you’re gonna wanna save the date for these six homegrown fests. Stay weird, y’all!
Um, NC is kind of a big ~dill~. Duh. Pucker up at this juicy Mount Olive fest in the pickle motherland—home to the eponymous Mount Olive Pickle Company, aka the largest privately owned pickler in the land. Find sweet, sour and everything pickled, plus live music, performances and the Tour De Pickle. Then up your pickle game and trade pickleball for a pickle-eating contest or relish the moment with the Pickle Princess Pageant. April 26,ncpicklefest.org
Think Derby Day, but rural NC style. Applaud the backbone of NC’s agrarian past and elevate these oft overlooked four-legged friends to “Derby-Hollywood status” once again during this four-day fest feteing the resilient donkey-horse offspring. All hail the town’s main draft animal with rodeos, mule competitions, food, carnival rides, parades and concerts. Yeehaw! Sept. 26–29, bensonmuledays.com
Fuzzy forecasting worms? It’s an NC thing. Fun fact: Western NCers have long relied on the 13 bands on the woolly worm (aka the larvae form of the Isabella tiger moth) to predict the severity of winter. Weird but true. Pay this squirmy lil portender its due with a crawl over to this mam-moth fest to enjoy ~170+ vendors, live tunes and—wait for it—the great worm race. The winning worm is given the honor of being winter’s official meteorologist, plus a huge sum of cash. Think you can dig it? Oct. 19–20,woollyworm.com
Cute jeans? The Denim Days event is cute jeans. The unassuming “Denim Capital of the World” clothed the globe for over a century thanks to the Erwin Cotton Mill—and although the mill is no longer operational, visitors and locals alike can still relive the town’s former glory days with “a pair of jeans that fit just right.” NTM enjoy local vendors, vintage automobile displays, fare, and a lineup of contests and pageants. Overall (had to), sounds like a good time (!). Date TBD,erwin-nc.org
Fun fact: NC folk artist Vollis Simpson was commissioned to build whirligigs (read: kinetic sculptures) to display at the 1996 Olympic games. Spin right ’round to the fest honoring this iconic artist for a celebration stacked with whirlies, food, crafts and a post-fest concert. If you’re inspired, give the whirligig-building competition an, ahem, whirl and shoot your shot at the grand prize. After all, what goes around, comes around. Nov. 2–3, whirligigfestivalnc.org
You may be privy to find that racing outhouses is popular across the U.S.—and shocked to find NC pushed outhouse fans to the edge of their seats (!) and traded wheels and roads for skis and snow. The more you know. Now, to race at The Great, one person skis or “uses” (iykyk) the structure while others push the outhouse from behind. And if steering a portable toilet downhill isn’t your thing, get your snack on and play games on the sidelines as you watch the toilets zoom by. You gotta go! Feb. 15, skisapphirevalley.com
A feast for the eyes and the senses, the crown jewel of Raleigh’s retail market is officially unearthing at East End via Giorgios Hospitality Group’s latest “GEM.”
Answering the call for an approachable and highly curated shopping and dining experience, the aptly dubbed Giorgios Epicurean Market is at once a European sojourn and one-stop shop for whatever you bloody well fancy—including even a bloody (or freshly squeezed OJ or coffee…).
From first entry, aromas, visuals (and for the samplers, scores of tastes) overcome the senses as you’re met with an abundance of lush flora and fauna—inviting you to check your real-world worries at the door and succumb to a Zen-induced haze of indulgence highlighted by a verdant design that’s “vibrant and alive with the fresh energy of a modern European market,” says Giorgios Bakatsias. Sommelier selects? Check. Olive oils, jams and spices? Yup. Plants and potables for the hostess, office or “oh-yeah-it’s-my-anniversary” gift? Count on it.
Playing on herbaceous hues, every detail is intentional—from the mod white, olive and rusty subway tile sections that merge with natural wood and concrete to the gentle botanical brushstrokes by artist Arianne Hemlein seamlessly blending the seasons across the length of the market to even the authentic “boulanger” sign Bakatsias procured from a flea market to add a little “spice.”
At the root of it all, a massive full-sight breakfast-lunch-dinner kitchen production helmed by Managing Partner/executive chef William D’Auvray promises to tempt the palate with fresh butcher cuts and made-in-house bakery selects, salads, grilled goodies and beyond—whether to grab a pastry, sandwich to savor on the piazza or steaks for tonight’s dinner.
Vinos for pairing are intentionally selected by sommelier Scott Hardiman to complement the cafe menu and prepared foods, says Bakatsias, “so guests can easily curate a gourmet meal to enjoy at home.” Essentially, they thought of everything so you don’t have to—the “simple things in life people want—executed at the highest level,” he adds.
And not to confuse elevated with unapproachable, this isn’t some stuffy, unaffordable pinkies-up place. Instead, at its very core is an MO of utter simplicity and approachability. “We’re not boxing somebody in to spend a certain amount to have this experience,” says Bakatsias. “You can come in and spend $10 for lunch or whatever you wish.”
Further delving into the Euro-ness of it all, docents are at the ready as you shop and savor to proffer wine, party platter or gift picks. And in line with that Old World vibe, no, they won’t pounce you like a SNL Sur La Table skit. But, so new age, they will provide a pay-where-you-are option sans the line.
Ambling past the abundant product—which D’Auvray, who also helms East End Bistrot, spotlights in the market menu—quaint alfresco-esque indoor seating gives way to a day-to-night indoor cafe and bar set off by rollup garage door. And, outside, a botanically-driven “relaxing playground for eating and drinking” awaits via covered terrace and lush piazza dotted with mixed seating—and primed for pop-up farmers markets.
Both masterful and masterpiece, it’s got Bakatsias’ fingerprints all over it. As the ultimate gardener (see flourishing East End Bistrot, Rosewater, etc.), the market extends that signature vibe. And like all gems, she’ll get better with age. … Stay tuned for catering, and wine and cooking classes—even visiting chefs—to come.
Until then, “I’m excited to start baking and cooking food Giorgios and I both love and live by,” muses D’Auvray. So are we. Tue.-Sat.,8am–9pm,gemraleigh.com
Get in that shopping state (!) of mind and “stand out for good” via Altar’d State, set to open a new locale in North Hills next summer stocking its signature picture-perfect dresses and ’fits. @altardstate
Life’s a peach indeed thanks to The Peach Truck’s local pop-ups rolling out boxes of ripe peaches, fuzzy fruit-themed gifts and a signature cookbook to put your fresh fruit to use (hey, charred peach margarita!). It doesn’t get sweeter than this. @thepeachtruck
Gents, short shorts are the garment to be sporting this summer (see: Paul Mescal). Stay stylin’ —or just embrace that “5 o’clock on a Friday” feeling—with the perfect cut at Crabtree’s newly opened Chubbies. @chubbies
Hotties do Pilates. Kick your vices and get in shape via Miami-based studio JETSET Pilates—soon to bow its first NC outpost in Smoky Hollow—with a full-body Reformer workout that will leave you beat… in the best way. @jetsetpilates
Woof, there it is! Treat Bark Obama to a trim, walk or pet sitter at Woofie’srecently opened Northwest Raleigh location repping resources from a mobile spa sesh to bed & biscuit overnight care. Bone appetit! @woofiesofnwraleigh
Unbox magical moments at Miniso, an uberpopular Chinese biz bringing color and nostalgia to Crabtree with accessories, toys and decor. Because “life is for fun!” @minisounitedstates
Reaching for new heights? Take your fitness goals next level—and flex your mind and spirit—with an authentic Heights Pilatesclass in the heart of Boylan Heights. @heightpilates
Fit check! RIW’s recently opened YoBa Studiotakes a new approach to functional fitness, offering Barre, yoga, strength training and cardio—because fun and effective workouts shouldn’t be a stretch (!). @yobastudio
