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Summer Staycation

Summer Staycation

by | Jun 28, 2024 | Do, July 2024/August 2024

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

Courtesy of NCMNS

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
Let’s Par-Tee

Let’s Par-Tee

by | Apr 29, 2024 | Do, May 2024

New happy hour activity found—and sparking a golf revolution.

If you thought golf was only for the business bros, think again. Taking over happy hours at 15 courses across the Triangle, Spark Golf is teeing up a new type of greenway play that’s social and approachable for everyone from Tiger Woods-level golfers to first-timers on the fairway. 

“We set up Spark to be more fun and social than competitive,” explains co-founder and CEO Charlie Klaus. “Our average golfer is not a very good golfer—we wanted to bring the fun, accessible vibe [you get at places like Topgolf] to the green grass golf course.” 

The league—which boasts 200,000 members and 2,000 courses spanning the country (and Canada!)—has relaxed rules to set golfers up for success. Think nine-hole games, gimmes within a putter’s length and playing out-of-bounds—with a bit of friendly competition still sprinkled in, natch. 

Sparking up a golf revolution, the league seeks to expand golf games on the greenway as a stress-relieving hobby for all, redefining the sport’s stereotype as an exclusive activity found solely in swanky country clubs. 

“If you look at traditional golf leagues, they are typically closed—and the general public can’t just walk up and play,” notes Klaus. “[Spark] is public, social and organized—and it’s fun!” 

The social swings tee up weekdays after 5pm, stacking up as an above-par way to blow off a bit of steam after the office. And for those seeking to expand their personal and professional roster—there’s natural ops for that too. Essentially, a hole-in-one way to spend an evening. … Catch ya on the course? spark.golf