Ahh this is helpful @ryanzanardi @leland ! Would love any recs you’ve got. How is the outdoor culture? Did you enjoy your time there or did you feel super limited? Sorry for the deep questions- been in Atlanta for 8 years and am looking at quieter more affordable spots haha

Outdoor culture was decent. Umstead is fun for hiking/biking. The city is putting some money in new mountain bike trails around. I spent a lot of time playing outside, and the cycling community was pretty robust and unpretentious.

Not a huge creative scene, but lots of great people. Not sure if you know that guy Jarrett Fuller who has a design podcast, but he’s there now and teaching at NC State!

There is the huge GAMER scene of course 🦙

I haven’t actually crossed paths with him but the name is familiar. Haha the gaming scene is huge! Epic one might even call it!

Kinda in the same boat. My wife and I are thinking of moving to Charlotte because the Raleigh area felt too small for us. Our best friends live in Durham. They are very outdoorsy and love it though. A lot of good food/bars. Didn’t get much of a creative vibe when we are there.

Oh fun! Charlotte is pretty cute from the small time I’ve spent there. My impression was that it’s a little bit like a tiny atlanta, in a good way

From there, some ok galleries. The NCMA is fantastic, but Raleigh does not have what I would consider a thriving creative scene. Maybe it was too underground for me to notice

Lmk if you want coffee/food recs

Also from there, and agree with @leland. I’d add that some of the downtown spots are in that vein, especially around Union Station