Whether to preserve the environment or save money, going without a vehicle is noble but difficult. You must live in a neighborhood that is close to grocery stores, shops, and other amenities or you'll have trouble filling basic needs. Luckily, Raleigh has no shortage of well-supplied neighborhoods. If you're still deciding where to live in Raleigh, consider:
Cameron Village
Located along Wade Avenue, Cameron Village is directly connected to the eponymous Cameron Village Shopping Center, an outdoor mall complete with:
- Grocery Stores- With a Harris Teeter for ordinary groceries and A Taste of Southern Season for rarer items, you'll have no trouble getting the foods you need.
- Drinks and Entertainment- Stop by the Village Draft House for a beer or cocktail. If you'd rather make your own drinks, there is an ABC Package Store.
- Restaurants- You can walk to the Flying Biscuit Cafe for breakfast, Brixx Pizza or Piccola Italia for lunch, Ajisai Japanese Fusion or K&W Cafeteria for dinner, and a wide range of other restaurants, cafes, and coffee shops.
- Other Amenities- The Cameron Village Shopping Center is home to a yoga studio, a UPS Store, clothing shops, tea shops, the Wake County Public Library, and a wide range of other businesses.
Although Cameron Village leaves little to be desired, if you do need to leave the neighborhood for something, you'll have no trouble doing so without a car. Local bus stops provide access to the 8, 12, and 16 bus lines, letting you reach other parts of the city whenever you need to.
North Blount Street
Built on the site of an old mill, this neighborhood is just a mile away from downtown Raleigh. Residents have easy access to:
- Restaurants- The area has no shortage of eateries, including the breakfast diner Finch's, the Sunflower Cafe for lunch, Bad Daddy's and The Station for dinner, and Krispy Kreme for a quick, hot snack.
- Drinks and Entertainment- You can get a beer at Tyler's Restaurant and Taproom on nearby Seaboard Street or at The Station on Person Street. You can also buy wine at Wine Authorities on East Franklin Street or at the Seaboard Wine & Tasting Bar on Semart Drive.
- Enrichment- The neighborhood is within walking distance of Mordecai Historic Park, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, the North Carolina Museum of History, the City of Raleigh Museum, and the North Carolina State Capitol.
The only downside to living in this neighborhood without a car is groceries. Although there is a nearby urban garden, a bread shop, and a variety of convenience scores, there are no comprehensive grocers nearby. You can easily reach grocery stores in other parts of the city, however, by taking the 1 and 3 buses.
Edwards Mill Road
Living on Edwards Mill Road combines the serenity of suburban life with the accessibility of the central city. Residents of this neighborhood have easy access to:
- Restaurants- Edwards Mill Road is just across the street from the Crabtree Valley Mall, where you'll find a wide variety of restaurants, cafes, and snack shops.
- Schools- If you have young children, they can attend Stough Elementary School right down the road. Cardinal Gibbons, a private Catholic high school, is also available several miles further down.
- Grocery Stores- The neighborhood is just two miles from a local Harris Teeter. The 4 bus line will take you directly from your house to the store, allowing you to shop for groceries with minimal effort.
- Enrichment- Laurel Hills Park is within walking distance of the neighborhood. You can also access the Carl Alwin Schenck Memorial Forest farther down the road by bus.
Besides stores to serve your day-to-day needs, Edwards Mill Road is also near the Rex Health Care Center and its accompanying medical facilities. If an emergency arises, you and your family can be secure in the knowledge that help is not far away.
Stonehenge
Although on the outskirts of the city, Stonehenge has no shortage of amenities. Living there will allow you to access:
- Grocery Stores- There is a Kroger along the northern part of the neighborhood and a Harris Teeter to the south. Both are within walking distance.
- Restaurants- Local eateries include the Orchid Japanese Restaurant, Outback Steakhouse, Margaux's Global Restaurant, and Five Guys.
- Other Amenities- The area sports a stationary shop, an ABC store, several banks and credit unions, a recreation center, and a variety of other businesses and services.
Living in Stonehenge is particularly ideal if you have elderly relatives who can no longer live alone. The Springmoor Life Care Retirement Community is just outside of Stonehenge, allowing you to visit your loved ones every day on foot.
Brier Creek
Located across the street from Brierdale Shopping Center and a mile down the road from the eponymous Brier Creek Shopping Center, this neighborhood offers a wide range of amenities, including:
- Grocery Stores- There is an Earth Fare Market right across the street, which sells healthy, environmentally-friendly foods. You can also walk to the Target about half a mile up the street, or to the Lowes Food about half a mile further, and buy groceries there.
- Restaurants- You can walk to Los Tres Magueyes Mexican Restaurant, Tasu Pan-Asian Restaurant, Brasa Brazilian Steakhouse, and a variety of other restaurants and cafes.
- Other Amenities- The neighborhood is in close proximity to banks, convenience stores, the local fire department, and a community center.
If you have young children, you can enroll them in nearby Brier Creek Elementary School. They can also receive health care at the nearby Raleigh Children & Adolescent Medicine Center and have their teeth cleaned at Stansell Dentistry Associates. For more information on Raleigh neighborhoods, real estate, and other topics, contact Movoto today.
