6AM City In-house

Now’s the time to hit Raleigh’s trails 🥾

2023 is the Year of the Trail in NC
Kayaking at Forest Ridge Park
Kayak, mountain bike, paddle board, or hike the trails of Forest Ridge Park. | Photo by RALtoday
If your New Year’s resolutions involve getting outside more or leveling up your weekly walks, you’re in luck — 2023 is the Year of the Trail in NC. This campaign celebrates our state’s vast network of trails, greenways, and blueways through guided adventures, learning opportunities, workdays, and more.

In 2021, the NC General Assembly designated 2023 as the Year of the Trail. Why? This year marks the 50th anniversary of the 1973 North Carolina Trails System Act, which created the NC Trails Program.

NC is the Great Trails State and it shows. Trails are the cornerstone of outdoor recreation in NC, which provides 260,000+ jobs and has an economic impact of more than $28 billion. NC has 12 state trails and 40+ state parks with hundreds of miles of trails (think: Umstead State Park and Falls Lake Recreation Area).

A map of NC's state trails.

NC has 12 state trails.

Courtesy of NC Trails


Whether you want to walk, run, hike, bike, paddle, or ride, there’s a local trail for everyone. Here are some ways to get involved:
  • Now through February 28, the Sertoma Arts Center is showcasing more than 40 trail-inspired paintings in their general order from the mountains to the sea.
  • Join a monthly Full Moon Fever Ride to bike 16 or 32 miles along the American Tobacco Trail in Durham at night. The next one is on Saturday, Jan. 7. Pro tip: Bring a helmet and lights.
  • Learn about West Point on the Eno during an approx. three-mile history hike with themes like “Reading the Landscape” and “Playful Pastimes.” Check out the hikes (search “history”).
  • Train for the Mountains to Sea Trail 12-mile and 50K challenge on Sunday, April 16. Participants will start at Blue Jay Point County Park and run through the woods around Falls Lake.
  • Explore five hikes with water views near Raleigh.
  • Try one of these six Triangle hikes.
Find a trail near you and view more trail events.

Bonus: Wake County Parks created a Trail Tracker card featuring its eight parks and three preserves. Download it to check off each spot.

What’s your favorite trail in NC? Let us know.

What’s your favorite way to hit the trails?
A. Hike
B. Bike
C. Paddle
D. Other
LET US KNOW
Flowers Plantation

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Wednesday, Jan. 4
  • Duke vs. NC State | Wednesday, Jan. 4 | 7 p.m. | PNC Arena, 1400 Edwards Mill Rd., Raleigh | $50-$85 | Watch the Pack take on the Blue Devils.
  • Downtown Karaoke | Wednesday, Jan. 4 | 9 p.m.-1 a.m. | Zenith, 226 Fayetteville St., Raleigh | Free | Get in early to sign up so you don’t miss your chance to sing your heart out.
  • NC Chinese Lantern Festival | Wednesday, Jan. 4-Sunday, Jan. 8 | 6-10 p.m. | Koka Booth Amphiteatre, 8003 Regency Pkwy., Cary | $11-20 | It’s the last week to see this collection of 40+ displays, all crafted by Chinese artisans and comprised of hundreds of parts and thousands of lights.
Thursday, Jan. 5
  • Science Trivia | Thursday, Jan. 5 | 7-8 p.m. | Daily Planet Cafe, 121 W. Jones St., Raleigh | Free | Mingle with friends, compete for prizes, and learn something new — questions feature a mix of science facts, current news, pop culture, and scientific discoveries.
Friday, Jan. 6
  • Coffee House Sessions | Friday, Jan. 6 | 6-10 p.m. | Sir Walter Coffee, 145 E. Davie St., Raleigh | Free | Pick a drink from the shop’s First Friday specials menu and jam out with DJ MIKE and DJ VANN.
  • Special Event: Donnell Rawlings | Friday, Jan. 6-Saturday, Jan. 7 | Times vary | Goodnights Pop-Up Club, 511 Woodburn Rd., Raleigh | $28-$40 | Laugh out loud with this comedian recognized for his sketches as Ashy Larry on “Chappelle’s Show.”
  • First Friday | Friday, Jan. 6 | 5:30 p.m. | City Plaza, 443 Fayetteville St., Raleigh | Free | Head downtown for First Friday celebrations featuring free outdoor group fitness classes, a walking route through art installations, non-alcoholic cocktails, and more.*
We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS
Synergy Face + Body

Explore WCPSS’s magnet school options next week 🗓️
3 magnet students stand smiling while holding science equipment
The sky is the limit for a WCPSS magnet school student. | Photo provided by Wake County Public School System
Wake County Public School System is hosting two informational fairs for children + their families:
Attend the fairs to:
  • Explore WCPSS’s award-winning elementary + middle school options
  • Connect with school representatives
  • Discover which magnet schools are a good fit for your child
  • Learn how WCPSS magnet school students “see things differently” *
LEARN MORE

Weather
  • 71º | Thunderstorms | 65% chance of rain ⛈️
Opening
  • Giorgio Pizza Bar will open on Tuesday, Jan. 10 in North Hills. This Italian pizzeria and bar will serve chef Jefe Lubiano’s sourdough pizzas, handmade pastas, and local meat and seafood dishes. Check out more restaurants opening this month. 🍽️
  • The newly remodeled NCMA Café is opening on Saturday, Jan. 14. Located in the West Building, the reimagined eatery will feature a sit-down restaurant with food by Catering Works and a coffee lounge featuring Raleigh Coffee Company. The cafe will have a rotating seasonal menu to showcase flavor profiles of NC and other cultures highlighted in the museum.
Community
  • This one’s for the book lovers. Most of Wake County’s public libraries have extended their hours. Participating locations will open one hour earlier and close one hour later Monday through Thursday; they’ll open one hour earlier on Friday and Saturday. Check your local library’s hours. 📚
Biz
  • Christine Brenner, the owner of Read With Me, is selling her downtown children’s bookstore. During the transition, the shop will continue to be open for all normal operations. If you’re interested in acquiring the turnkey business, email Christine (serious inquiries only).
  • Midtown Farmers’ Market is now accepting vendor applications for 2023. The market’s regular season is every Saturday from April 15 to Nov. 4. Vendors must live and produce their items within a 100-mile radius of Raleigh. Learn more and apply. 🍅
Transit
  • All January, Commute Smart Raleigh is hosting a New Year New Commute Challenge to encourage Raleighites to choose another way to commute, other than by car alone. Participants will track their commutes and earn points based on their transportation methods. Sign up for a chance to win a gift card.
Arts
  • A new exhibit is opening at CAM Raleigh this week. “The Hum” by Alena Mehić can be viewed in the main gallery beginning on Friday, Jan. 6. Preview it here. Pro tip: Entry to CAM is free. 🖼️
Sports
  • Calling all soccer fans: Season tickets for North Carolina FC’s 2023 season are now on sale. Fans who join or renew by Monday, Jan. 9 have the opportunity to win a jersey and be entered for an opportunity to join a road trip. Bonus: Prices start as low as $5 per match. ⚽ *
Eat
  • Don’t just eat better — eat the best. Sunbasket’s meal kit service delivers delicious, healthy meals created by award-winning chefs straight to your front door. Bonus: RALtoday readers can get $100 off their first four deliveries and more when they sign up. *
Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

Our top 6 stories of 2022 🎉

Our top 6 stories of 2022
City Editors Cat + Anne
City Editors Cat and Anne celebrated their one year anniversary at RALtoday on Jan. 3. | Photo by RALtoday
Time flies when you’re having fun, Raleigh, and boy did we have fun in 2022. This year, we sent 200+ newsletters with the goal of keeping our community informed, activated, and engaged.

We wanted to look back on some of the top RALtoday stories from 2022 and give a huge thank you to our readers and members of the community that made last year so spectacular.
What can we answer for you about Raleigh in 2023? Submit your questions.
6AM City In-house
THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Anne.

Editor’s pick: If you really love Raleigh’s trails, consider finding your dream job at Raleigh Parks. Learn about open, part-time positions for all ages at a job fair on Thursday, Jan. 5 at John Chavis Memorial Park from 4-8 p.m. Psst... submit an employment interest form to be entered to win tickets to the Dreamville Festival. Register.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Check off your new year’s resolutions in Raleigh.
Connect with us.

Editorial: Cat George, Anne Tate, Erin McPherson, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Charis Painter | Advertise with us.

Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.
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