Raleigh and Williamsburg
 

Do you all think Raleigh and Williamsburg are worthwhile destinations to visit? My Dad has a free Southwest Airlines ticket to use and he has decided to go to Raleigh and I could join him if I purchase a RT ticket for $258 from PHX. I have been to most of the South (TN, AL, GA, SC) but never North Carolina or Virginia. Is the Raleigh triangle area a fun area to spend a weekend and is Williamsburg as interesting as Gettysburg?

I was born and raised in NC, so I'm biased - but North Carolina is a great place to live, but I couldn't think of any reason why anyone would visit the Raleigh area for fun...

Western North Carolina's mountains are great, and so is the coast, but there isn't much to do in Raleigh.

Williamsburg is a decent historical place to visit, but Gettysburg wins hands down in a comparison.

If you fly into ORF, you are right in the middle of everything. Williamsburg, my hometown, is about 45 minutes away and offers a lot of historical things to see and do along with Busch Gardens and Water Country for some fun. There is a lot to see and do here. You are also close to the Outer Banks where you can spend some quiet time on the beaches. I have never been to Raleigh but I have been out in the mountains of NC/VA and its beautiful any time of the year. I think you would need more than a weekend here. You could spend a whole week in Williamsburg. I really think that Colonial Williamsburg/Jamestown/Yorktown are more interesting than Gettysburg.

I've only visited the area a couple of times for conferences, but I found Chapel Hill a wonderul town with lots going on that you might expect in a really nice college town (Univ of N Carolina).

My ex, well kind of (complicated story!) lives in Williamsburg and I spent a few weeks there at Xmas. If you want to see what Williamsburg is like I've got a link to some photos I took http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4287801543

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There are a fair few things to do, Colonial Williamsburg is rather picturesque and Jamestown is worth a visit if you are one of those people who feels guilty when you come back from a trip away you've learnt nothing. I'm also studying some Archaeology at University so it was of obvious interest.

As for young peoples entertainment there isn't much in Williamsburg, The College Delly and Pauls are W&M hangouts.

A trip to the Outer Banks is definitely worthwhile, about a two hour drive from Williamsburg. Make sure you visit the much quieter northern end of the Outer Banks around Duck and north towards Corolla (there is another thread about this in TravelBuzz at the moment) and of course Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hills. Thoroughly recommend fish tacos from Mama Kwans in Nags Head ^

As a William and Mary alumni, there's not much to do for young people in Williamsburg. Graduation is tomorrow and the Delis (Paul's, Green Leafe, College Delly) will be pretty slow during the summer.

However there's Busch Gardens in Williamsburg and its a fun park.

Is The Trellis still in Williamsburg? One of America's great restaurants.

Raleigh - the Paris of the piedmont
 

Williamsburg, yes. Raleigh, no.
:D

Sadly it wasn't open when I was there at Xmas, could just see the rides from the trees on 199

Yep right on Merchants Sq.