Downtown Wake Forest

The town of Wake Forest dates to the late 19th Century. It formerly was the home of Wake Forest University that moved to Winston-Salem in 1956. That campus became Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. The local history museum is well worth a visit. The museum is located in a residential area of Victorian homes, many of which are listed on the National Register. The town is home to the classical music station WCPE, which now reaches in coverage internationally via the world wide web. The Carolina Theater Company performs several Thales Academy student productions each year.

Beaufort home

Beaufort and Morehead City are the dual entry points for Oak Island, the barrier island that contains a lot of condos and seaside resorts. It is often called the Crystal Coast, in comparison with the Outer Banks. Most people rush past them in a hurry to get to the beach.

Charlotte is an easy 3-hour trip via Amtrak from Raleigh. Believe me, you don’t want to drive. Most events downtown are withing walking distance even though you will have to take a bus or a taxi from the train station. The downtown museums include the Mint, Bechtel, and Discovery Place (which includes a planetarium). It’s the only city in North Carolina with “skyscrapers,” that is higher than 50 stories. It has been the city of finance ever since the Mint was formed around the time of the Civil War.