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1 AMERICAN TOBACCO TRAIL
TRIANGLE GEMS Don’t miss these treasures across the region BY ELIZABETH BRIGNAC
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riangle newcomers have a lot of ground to cover as they explore their new home. A conservative estimate of the Triangle area covers four counties, 13 cities and large towns, and dozens of smaller towns, each of which has a unique history. From the Riverwalk in Hillsborough to the historic mineral springs in Fuquay-Varina, natural, cultural and intellectual opportunities throughout the Triangle are available to anyone ready to discover them. Here’s a list of 12 places to explore as you get to know the area. Each is unique in some way to the Triangle, and offers an exceptionally rich local experience.
3 DENTZEL CAROUSEL raleighnc.gov/parks/pullen-park-amusements Families with children should make a point of visiting historic Pullen Park and riding its 110-year-old carousel. Pullen Park, which opened in 1887, was North Carolina’s first public park. Its iconic carousel was designed by Gustav Dentzel, one of the first carousel makers in the U.S., around 1900. The carousel opened in Pullen Park in 1921. It features 52 hand-carved wooden animals including ostriches, rabbits, tigers, horses and other creatures. The carousel was restored in the 1970s using the artists’ original paint colors so, today, it looks much like it did when it first opened. The carousel was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. For another dose of historical fun, try the park’s C.P. Huntington train, a 1950 miniaturized replica of a famous 1863 locomotive. Photo by Josh Manning
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wakegov.com For years, the railroad line that is now used by New Hope Valley Railway transported tobacco products to and from the American Tobacco Company’s Durham processing plant. When the factory closed in 1987, the rail line was abandoned, leaving a level, cleared path that stretched for miles. The Triangle Rails to Trails Conservancy formed in 1989 to advocate for turning the defunct railroad line into a greenway. Their efforts were so successful that the governments of Durham, Chatham and Wake counties collaborated in creating the American Tobacco Trail, which stretches for 22 miles, from downtown Durham into Apex, and connects 70 miles’ worth of other trails and greenways. Today, walkers, runners, bikers and equestrians use the trail for exercise and day-to-day transportation. Photo courtesy of Ted Richardson/VisitRaleigh.com
