Moved From New York City to Raleigh; What I Should’ve Known

I used to take the New York City subway nearly every day. It had its pains, of course, but it was a helpful way of getting around the city and exploring different neighborhoods.

I knew that most other cities, including Raleigh, don’t have equally robust public transit systems, but I still wish I’d known just how car-centric my new home would be.

Sure, there are a handful of walkable areas and a newly upgraded bus system, but it’s pretty difficult to traverse the city (and get to the nearby cities of Durham, Cary, and Chapel Hill) without a car.

Some people don’t mind this, but I’ve never loved driving — so, realizing just how often I’d have to hop in a car was definitely a culture shock.

As someone who’s never really cared about sports or had a favorite team, I’m no stranger to feeling left out when everyone around me can’t stop talking about the big game.

There are certainly sports fans in New York, but Raleigh is in a whole other league. I didn’t expect just how much of this city’s social culture revolves around college football and basketball — and how much of an outlier I’d be for not having the same interests.

Practically everyone I’ve met here is a diehard fan of either the NC State Wolfpack, Duke Blue Devils, or UNC Tar Heels, and game days mean huge parties and loads of traffic.

I’ve gone to some games myself now, but I’m still in the minority here as such a casual fan.

With tons of restaurants, bars, shops, and parks, downtown Raleigh has plenty to offer and is a great place to explore. With a few exceptions, though, even the trendiest spots in the area close up fairly early and rarely get too crowded.

I love heading downtown for a quiet night out, but if you’re a young transplant looking for a stronger nightlife vibe, you may be in for a disappointment.

Instead, you might be better off checking out nearby neighborhoods like Glenwood South, which has more bustling bars and clubs that stay open late — and are typically filled with college students or early 20-somethings.

I’m lucky not to have strong seasonal allergies, so I never had an issue with pollen while living in New York or other cities.

In Raleigh, though, the annual spring “pollenpocalypse,” as it’s called by locals, is so intense that it leaves literally every outdoor surface coated in yellow and brings out sneezes in even the most resilient residents.

Don’t believe it’s that bad? A photographer named Jeremy Gilchrist captured the hazy pollen cloud in a now-famous photo series from 2019.

One of my favorite things about Raleigh is how fast the city is growing, with new businesses and opportunities constantly opening to accommodate the increasing population.

However, the downside is that this means construction is a constant sight everywhere you go. New York obviously has plenty of construction too, but the work is spread out among the much larger city’s streets. Here, it feels inescapable.

Builders are typically pretty good at keeping the noise level low, but it’s a bummer to look at the skyline and see it full of cranes and scaffolding.

Still, it’s worth it for the excitement of seeing my beloved city expand.