I Drove Through Downtown Raleigh. This Is What I Saw.

Did you know Raleigh is one of the fastest growing cities in America?
This driving tour goes through most of the greater downtown Raleigh area. We start off on the south end of town on Saunders Street and on McDowell Street.
The video was recorded at 11:15 am on Saturday, October 13, 2019.
We visit Raleigh's new Warehouse District, which has tech startups, and the Carolina Art Museum. We pass both Moore Square and Nash Square and head down to Fayetteville Street, home to restaurants and bars.
We then drive down Blount Street, Wilmington Street, and take Edenton Road to Glenwood Avenue, where we see bars, restaurants and shopping on Glenwood.
We end the tour on Boylan Street Bridge near Raleigh's Amtrak Station.
If you're looking to move to Raleigh, considering Raleigh real estate or wanting to travel to Raleigh, this video is for you.
Raleigh North Carolina is a booming city. The capital of the Tarheel State, it’s population is about 470,000 people, and it’s one of the fastest growing cities in America. Many people are moving here from all over the country. If you’ve been here you can see why. North Carolina’s climate is mild most of the year, and the cost of living is actually very reasonable.
In this video, we’re going to cruise through downtown Raleigh and visit a few of this city’s downtown neighborhoods.
We’re going to enter Raleigh from the south end of town and make a left and head west towards the up and coming warehouse district. A decade ago, this part of downtown was all but forgotten about, but tech companies swooped in and turned this into the hippest part of downtown. Restaurants, coffee shops, condos and retail has followed.
Raleigh is known as Oak City due to the large number of Oak Trees located thoughout the city. It’s the second largest city in the state, behind Charlotte, which has a population of nearly 900,000 people.
We’re going to make a left onto Fayetteville Street, which is the main drag downtown. There is lots of new development downtown, especially in regards to office space and housing. One criticism of downtown Raleigh is the lack of shopping. While there are bars and restaurants lining this part of downtown, there aren’t many places to shop.
For many, Raleigh is the perfect city. It’s clean, there aren’t homeless people sleeping on its streets, and parking is actually not too hard to find.
This is Raleigh’s newest park to open. This is Moore Square, which was recently given a major facelift. It’s been very popular since it re-opened less than two months ago.
This is Wilmington Street, which has perhaps the grungiest feel of any area of downtown.
As we leave downtown proper, we’re going to pass the state capital building here on the left.
We’re going to head west and then north, and make our way to Glenwood Avenue.
Glenwood Avenue is Raleigh’s version of Bourbon Street. As you can see, it’s very crowded, as there isn’t a square inch of Glenwood Avenue that isn’t taken up by a restaurant, bar, coffee shop or hip, cool new trendy place to be.
During the daytime, it’s very walkable and pleasant. Come back here after 10 pm, and its hoardes of college kids from NC State, cars cruising up and down, and quite overwhelming.
We’ll take a turn away from Glenwood Avenue to quickly give you an idea of the amount of construction that’s going on in Raleigh. You actually can’t go very far in and around the Raleigh downtown area without seeing construction. It truly is booming here and they can’t build condos and office buildings fast enough to keep up with demand.
As we leave Raleigh, we look out over the city and see Raleigh’s newly refurbished Amtrak station in the foreground.
This channel talks about America, different states, education, travel, geography and what it's like to live in different places in America.
Business email: [e-mail]
Mappy: [e-mail]. He'll do his best to answer your questions and fan mail.

[@NickJohnson]

Here's my entire North Carolina playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLq-_cmf3H6ypqFmmckN4kY1VMZDi23IsR

[@cocotaveras8975]

To whoever reads this I hope you have a lovely day :)

[@1deep499]

Bruh.....stop tryna get attention. That's the oldest trick in the book

[@Reaariie]

Thank you!!

[@exploringnature6319]

Aaawww! Thank you coco!!!

[@antaresscorpicus692]

He's driving though there on a Sunday, because traffic is heavy on the week day's.

[@nomenclature4399]

Heavy only during rush hour...like anywhere. How you got 25 minutes out of downtown surprises me! It's a bigger Mayberry!

[@patm6352]

Yes, I visited Raleigh this past weekend and still astonished of how bad the traffic was.

[@Primus-ue4th]

‘Cost of living is still pretty reasonable?!?’ Speak for yourself

[@nps2315]

Antares Scorpicus y’all never experience BIG CITY traffic and it shows lol

[@1redrubberball]

Sunday for sure!

[@DwightAllRight]

I'm glad our city is getting attention, there's more here than many people realize! That being said, homeless people, traffic, and parking are absolutely an issue. No getting around that.

[@NickJohnson]

traffic? not downtown - maybe on 440 and 40. parking is easy actually. there are decks all over downtown. and the homeless - there are maybe 50 people - the same ones every day and they disappear at night and dont sleep on the sidewalks. raleigh is a cake walk.

[@kayve5194]

@@NickJohnson there's lots of traffic downtown..u were just here on a good day 🙄 maybe a Saturday at 11 am or something and parking is HORRIBLE..yes many parking decks but barely any spots because people come from all over the triangle to get to Raleigh..the homeless is a huge issue which is why schools around the Raleigh area give back to shelters and whatnot. Please speak for urself when u input things u know nothing about.

[@Roody_Patootie]

The natural museum of science in downtown Raleigh is amazing if anyone comes to Raleigh I definitely recommend their

[@JoshuaSobel]

(And Edenton St. UMC across the street has a great huge organ lol)

[@Roody_Patootie]

Joshua Sobel oh cool what I would definitely check it out

[@JoshuaSobel]

@@Roody_Patootie I play there sometimes :)

[@lindsaycabassa1243]

KawaiiRudraChan OwO I've been there twice once for a school fells trip and another with my parents

[@TchillaOla]

I will be visiting down there in 2 weeks. I will definitely check it out. What other places should I check out too?

[@JohnDaker_singer]

Nick, I'm guessing you were born around 1980. Back then, there were only 150,000 people in Raleigh. Today there are nearly a half a million. That's some serious growth in just under 4 decades.

[@NickJohnson]

i was born prior to 1980 but not much prior

[@1redrubberball]

I lived in the Raleigh area, just outside the city limits towards Knightdale in the '73-'76 era, when the population was about 120K. Today I live over in the Nashville, Rocky Mount, Wilson area and am glad to be gone from the Raleigh ratrace!

[@1redrubberball]

@G M You're likely comparing it to wherever you came to it from. I'm comparing it to it's former self.

[@leonation89]

@@1redrubberball Richmond VA which is just as slow and country.

[@jamison1323]

@G M learn to spell dummy

[@rodneywright2271]

I've been in the Raleigh area since '81 and it's been amazing to watch it grow. While I appreciate your video, it was an opportunity lost to add some comments as you drove around. Passed a lot of history and growth as well as great places to have a brew and eat. Next time, grab a local and have them comment as you ride around....

[@pinkdiamonddiva317]

Rodney Wright considering moving from Baltimore I’d like to do childcare there

[@saffrondishong7056]

No traffic, no trash, no homeless camps! Completely the opposite of Cali.

[@NickJohnson]

It is quite the opposite

[@hcolombo3115]

I can't believe this video. I'm like, is it real, where is the trash, drug addicts, criminals and homeless and all the "stuff" they leave behind. I'm looking to possibly move there from SF in the near future. This video was very educational. All the videos I see are so old, so it's nice to get a "real-time" feel for a small part of Raleigh. Thank you Nick Johnson.

[@painterofraleigh2232]

Been in Raleigh 25 years compare with other cities is by far better ..downtown is very clean

[@user-yf7es4gz3o]

@@painterofraleigh2232 stop lying

[@kenyonmcclain560]

Do really believe it's like this just showing you the good parts of town and night life sucks Charlotte is a party town much more to do but dangerous

[@TheDebrom9]

Nick should have gone down Capital Blvd on a weekday between 4:30pm-6pm. Then head over to Glenwood Ave the next day; that'll keep people from coming. And as an added bonus hop on 440 (beginning at Rock Quarry) all the way over to US 1 in Cary for that lovely weekday morning commute. 👍

[@NickJohnson]

yeah or rock quarry road on a friday night? or atlantic on a saturday night?

[@DwightAllRight]

Not gonna lie I swear 80% of any of my bitching is about the traffic around here. It's insane. That being said I love the area around campus, and boxcar and the Raleigh Beer Garden are some top notch destinations.

[@jaywick8979]

Big facts

[@hothotheat3000]

Our traffic is nothing compared to LA. We get congested during rush hour. LA is congested 24/7.

[@pauld315]

@@hothotheat3000 NC is not supposed to be compared to Southern CA

[@douglasrussell2912]

There are five basic tenets for living here: 1. Barbecue is a noun, not a verb. 2. You must learn the difference between “y’all” and “ all y’all”. 3. When you order tea., it will come iced, sweetened, and with a lemon wedge, and based on your health, just might put you in a diabetic coma. 4. You must understand and properly use the phrase, “bless your heart”. 5. And most importantly...Down here, no one, and I mean no one ever roots for DUKE!

[@662_goal.digger]

Douglas Russell Unfortunately where I’m from I understand all that

[@NickJohnson]

y'all means all. right?

[@douglasrussell2912]

Nick Johnson um..no. It’s a contraction for you all.

[@ryanstitt4814]

YEEYEE

[@blvckfiretrvpfire15]

Go Duke!!! 😅

[@vickisanders7120]

Ive lived here all my life...too crowded now...wish i could move to a small town...charm of the city is no more, and all u see are parking decks , and Condos!

[@flagwashere]

Clemmons is very nice and not that far away.

[@jacobs.3952]

Vicki Sanders Very true, to many people movie here for up north and Florida

[@Lilskies12]

Vicki Sanders is Raleigh like a dangerous city to live in like how y’all crime down there ?

[@Lilskies12]

Dylan Cohan lol what happens after 10 ?

[@LeafInTheWind88]

It’s turning into New York.

[@Hikari24186]

It’s not “oak city” it’s “City of Oaks”

[@travix9580]

City of Oaks is the Official nick name for the city but if you spend anytime here you'll hear people call it oak city, even raleigh companies like Oak city beard CO can show this.

[@naeemr4501]

Its both i live there

[@Hikari24186]

Very interesting! I’m nearby and never heard it said like that

[@Hikari24186]

Cyn 7 Cyn im sorry what is sotonation?

[@Primus-ue4th]

No one calls it ‘oak city’.

[@disracenboi336]

North Carolina’s 3 largest cities by population 2019. 1.Charlotte: 879.350 2.Raleigh: 558.456 3.Greensboro 301.112 After years of laying dormant, Greensboro’s downtown is starting to explode with big and impressive developments with nearly one billion dollars of development being poured into the CBD from 2017 to 2019, as Charlotte and Raleigh get more expensive, more people are moving to Greensboro which is causing the population to take off, as it’s still a pretty big city while being significantly cheaper in most parts, but still offering all the amenities you’ll get in Charlotte and Raleigh. It was only a matter of time before the baby brother started taking off, North Carolina has grown some beautiful cities with extremely high quality of life, amazing weather and climate, that’s why NC is one of the highest migrated states and is climbing faster and fast week to month.

[@flagwashere]

Clemmons is a extremely nice place to live.

[@sweetwater88]

City limits shouldn't matter. Cary is basically a Raleigh's west side and it's 180,000 people now. The Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC Combined Statistical Area metro is over 2.2 million people. That's more people than the Nashville metro region.

[@jairousparker2311]

Whose your source for these cities populations because according to Source: World Population Review The 200 Largest Cities in the United States by Population 2019 16. Charlotte North Carolina 889,019 41. Raleigh North Carolina 485,679 71.Greensboro North Carolina 292,265 74. Durham North Carolina 279,501 90. Winston Salem North Carolina 247,222

[@itzlucaaa6789]

im going to greensboro for a swim meet later this month so ya

[@pdaddy879]

Those population numbers are off Charlotte is around 900,000, raleigh is 480,00 and Greensboro 301,000

[@DanDeLeoninthefield]

I watched this vid mostly to see if my dog and I were in it.

[@vondez10]

Should have driven down by Shaw and McDonalds 👍🏾👍🏾

[@slimcharlie3976]

😂😂😂

[@BBAERSTANCE1]

Why, what's wrong with it?

[@unpopularopinion149]

I hate how the culture is changing and every city is becoming the same as any other. I’m a Raleigh native and the transplants are pretty annoying. Life goes on.

[@NickJohnson]

I'm part of the problem. Have you noticed all the traffic too?

[@unpopularopinion149]

Nick Johnson yes..fortunately I own my own business so my driving times are irregular to the 9-5er’s. But, prior to 2011-2012 you never really had to consider driving time in north Raleigh. Now what used to be a 7 minute commute 5 miles up the road takes 12-15 minutes. Even at 2pm on a random Tuesday the roads are just crowded.

[@ralphlauren493]

Agreed

[@jakebear2549]

Yes on transplants. Last i checked NY was still open if it suck so bad here damn yankees.

[@sweetwater88]

We have an incredible food scene for a city of our size and an insanely good pastry/bakery scene as well. If you visited Raleigh and didn't gain weight you didn't visit Raleigh.

[@feleciawallace8420]

Hello Nick -- Is it your position to bring millions more people to live in your quiet town... why publicize the good ???

[@NickJohnson]

I'll be gone by then haha.

[@jacksonallen3945]

Town?

[@Primus-ue4th]

Nick Johnson don’t let the door hit you

[@Recallalertnetwork111]

@@NickJohnson Thought you said you loved it here, why you leaving?

[@stuartalexander2657]

I've lived in Raleigh for 25+ years, and I'm just shy of 65 years old and have lived all over the country. Greatest part of the country I've ever lived, and that's saying a lot.

[@anitanapp6759]

Please quit sharing! We don’t need anymore people!!!!

[@zachmatthys2812]

You’re bold to say that Raleigh has a mild climate....

[@tymonster183]

lol, i thought the same thing

[@HandleHandle233]

Omg where does this guy live?

[@KEP1983]

what kind of climate would you say it has? It's not as hot as Texas or Florida, but not as cold as New England?

[@tymonster183]

@@KEP1983 it's pretty hot. It doesnt break 100 all that often. But with the humidity, it's as bad as texas imo.

[@KEP1983]

@@tymonster183 Ah, thanks. I had imagined it as being pretty moderate. I didn't think about the humidity. I've never actually been there, I've always lived in PA/NY/NJ and thought about moving south for somewhere that has a lower cost of living, is less liberal (but not far right-wing), and warmer (but not crazy warm like Texas). I've always thought Raleigh was among the best that fit that bill.

[@ixemane3971]

As a native of N.C. (raised here in Raleigh for 14 years) I should say Downtown is the worst part of Raleigh. Go Raleigh Station and it’s surrounding streets are filled with the homeless, and fake gang members. There is not much the city has to offer except jobs......other than that it’s very boring here

[@NickJohnson]

Mostly agree.

[@mindfloodnc]

If you cant find stuff to do in a metro area of nearly 2 million people than I would think you would be equally bored in an area of 3-4-5 million. Everything the bigger cities have here in Raleigh in a condensed version. Same touring bands to movies to cookie cutter stores and franchises. Think you may need to find some hobbies if bored here with lots to do indoors and outdoors with the decent year round weather. As far as homeless population, that is found in every major city from Atlanta to LA to Waikiki to Toronto so you will find it in downtown Raleigh as well.

[@aahln]

after living in places plagued with homelessness, them being las vegas and sacramento, raleigh isn't nearly as bad. granted, it's still very much an issue, but i'd argue the streets aren't "filled with homeless"

[@irishman4671]

I live in Raleigh. Nice video. You must have filmed on a holiday or weekend morning. There are normally lots of people walking, and I see a lot of empty parking spots. Anyway, thanks for the video. You went by a lot of my favorite restaurants.

[@NickJohnson]

Yeah it was Saturday morning.

[@tracyshannon1795]

okay, I was wondering about that. At lest it was easier to et around to everything. Thanks@@NickJohnson

[@lynncooksandmore7201]

Watching nick's videos makes me become more informed about USA.😊😊

[@ypraisethesun4431]

I spit my drink out when he said cost of living is affordable the entire triangle area is no less than 895 if you want like a tiny apartment with paper thin walls.

[@NickJohnson]

Wrong

[@ypraisethesun4431]

I mean I lived in North Carolina for 20 years my dude. And have lived in the triangle for 9. So I think I know more than a youtuber just coming through for some hits.

[@jpmking9635]

i got a huge backyard a mile from North Hills mall that i thought about renting out tent space......i have seen a guy on youtube do it. i could probably make a couple grand....

[@tymonster183]

tbh, i dont think its that bad. Ive been here for about 2 years, and surveying the landscape nationwide of where I had opportunity career wise, raleigh was, by far, the chaepest.

[@jpmking9635]

@@tymonster183 you are probably a pretty slacking worker. that is pretty much what i have seen around here....

[@odomi121]

This was probably recorded during summer vacation, school is out. Also, on a Sunday morning when almost everyone's at church or sleeping over from Saturday night drinking. The most amazing part is you still manage to get a 25min footage.

[@iridious6433]

So many old people on here complaining cause they don't want more people in the city or it's "too costly". Usually a good sign that it's a nice city, if locals want it all to themselves

[@roderickcarpenter1919]

Down town Raleigh and Raleigh nc 2 different worlds homie thanks for the love for my city though

[@NickJohnson]

Yes they are. What's your favorite part about living here?

[@lindsaycabassa1243]

Nick Johnson my fav part about living in NC is that there is so much to explore and do I love my state

[@annb1]

Cost of living here has skyrocketed.

[@ericdaniel323]

Real estate is getting ridiculous. Inside the beltline is out of control. Now developers are buying up all the old stock between 440 and 540 on the north side to bulldoze it and build 5000 sq ft McMansions on postage stamp lots. Wake Forest is getting just as bad.

[@joeheskett7225]

@@ericdaniel323 Hi, What are some of the good areas to live in your opinion, in regards to real estate?

[@ericdaniel323]

@@joeheskett7225 depends on your priorities I guess.

[@joeheskett7225]

@@ericdaniel323 Low crime, parks, friendly families, fun downtown, decent cost of living to name a few

[@ericdaniel323]

@@joeheskett7225 The Raleigh-Durham area would meet those criteria IMO. I've been here 15 years and the population has grown rapidly in that time, which is why real estate prices have gone up so much over the last few years. I think they are probably commensurate with the national average for the most part though. The population growth has also led to more traffic though, and that's kind of a pain.

[@voiceoversbystefmarie6750]

So beautiful I'm actually moving to a small town outside of Raleigh💕😊 & leaving Florida behind

[@NickJohnson]

good! which city? Garner?

[@voiceoversbystefmarie6750]

@@NickJohnson Rolesville Granite Falls subdivision

[@voiceoversbystefmarie6750]

@Cyn 7 Cyn I visted last week & yes there are a few hit or miss with Rolesville & Cary was actually my first choice to relocate but Rolesville I fell in love with & a guy friend of mine kept trying to get me to move to Fayetteville & I'm like no freakin way😬 I've been in Florida all my life born in Miami & raised in Orlando & the cost of rent here is ridiculously high my rent went from $1200 to $1400 within a year for a 2/2 2 1/2 bath condo it was a nice community but not worth that amount & now the 3bdrms are going for $1600-$1900... I'm excited for my move & if I don't like Rolesville after a year I'll probably try Chapel Hill I've heard great things about Chapel Hill. Thanx a bunch for the heads up on traffic😊

[@SpecialKay404]

I JUST moved from that area to Florida! Lol maybe I made the wrong switch 🤣

[@voiceoversbystefmarie6750]

@@SpecialKay404 WOW!! really? It depends on which area you're relocating to in Orlando

[@sigmawolf6717]

Been in Raleigh 19 years from Brooklyn NY! Great place to live and raise a family. You must have never left Raleigh if you think this place is tough.

[@NickJohnson]

uh when did i say it was tough?

[@sigmawolf6717]

Not you...I seen some people in the comments

[@roryryan3783]

Am considering leaving Brooklyn for Raleigh

[@jacobs.3952]

Appreciate the video, but now even more people are gonna move here🤦‍♂️ Don’t forget to show the other side of town too, not just the hipster district lol

[@garbagebanditdayz819]

Jacob S. I love Downtown Raleigh, it’s changed so much in 10 years. When I went to Partnership Elementary it looked completely different but then they began revamping, tearing down, and building huge apartment buildings all over. They also changed a lot of the Collage district by NC State which used to be pretty rundown but now their building all sorts of stuff like a 2 story Target. My favorite part of town has to be the older streets with all the old Victorian houses.

[@Nopants4us]

Lmao! You mean the south side??

[@jaywick8979]

Big facts lol you aint go down bragg or Martin street.. How bout drive down new Bern yeah lol

[@jacobs.3952]

Jay Wick He’ll yeah brother, Bragg and Martin😂

[@maxwulz9283]

This City is amazing

[@NELLIE-41388]

What a clean special city. This was so fun. Thank you

[@valeriesmith9031]

I go this way especiallt at night. Its beautuful and when i need a break from life. Driving on Fayetteville st. Realizes my mind

[@terencesommer6307]

I love the trees and nature and how the town looks. It’s NOT being killed by traffic.

[@NickJohnson]

not...yet. Where do you live?

[@terencesommer6307]

Dallas. A city that was once an attractive residential city now raped by ugly McMansions and way too many people

[@tori9365]

@@terencesommer6307 that's the beauty of living in a medium-smaller sized city :)

[@lynetteali5001]

Are you kidding me the traffic is horrendous

[@JeffDeWitt]

@@lynetteali5001 You've never been to someplace that really does have horrendous traffic.

[@JeffDeWitt]

Couple of corrections. Moore Square isn't one of Raleigh's newest parks, in fact it's one of the cities oldest. When Raleigh was laid out in the 19th century there were four parks in the original plan. Two of those parks still survive and Moore Square is one of them. Raleigh's newest park is the 308 acer Dix Park, formerly the site of the the state mental hospital. The other thing is the Amtrak station. Raleigh's Union Station isn't refurbished, it's new, completed just a few years ago.

[@pauld315]

Right, and full of homeless people

[@lillysantoli6260]

You should come to Chapell Hill,and durham,beautiful places to live

[@NickJohnson]

I lived in chapel hill for three years. Durham is... okay. I'll do durham next though

[@easyshots9961]

Lilly Santoli Durham getto af 😂😂😂😂😂

[@ericdaniel323]

@@easyshots9961 durham was pretty ghetto when I moved there 15 years ago. Its super-hipster now.

[@tawfickm]

raleigh’s only fun when your 21 😭

[@NickJohnson]

Haha kinda. Downtown is quiet I like it

[@jakebear2549]

Raleigh has never beeh "fun" at any age. There is no culture here. Just a hodgepodge of people saying how great it is where they came from. And New Yorkers guess what....nyc is still there. Go back.

[@luhai556]

@@jakebear2549 no

[@jakebear2549]

@@luhai556 why ny is the best. They have food and trains and assholes....btw im from ny. I know

[@luisreyes8437]

Tawfick Michael I see you Tawfick 😂😂😂

[@manfredmann2766]

NC is definitely on my list to visit, especially the western portion. In the past, I have visited the coastal city of Wilmington, Cape Fear, and a few other coastal towns. Nice looking city, I am sure there are many transplants from NY and NJ there, due it being less than a 10 hour drive to metro NY. Definitely would like to visit Raleigh, Charlotte, Asheville, and Boone. Spent more time in TN and VA. Excellent video Nick

[@NickJohnson]

Asheville may be my favorite city of all. It's just so isolated for me to justify plopping down for an extended period.

[@ericcarter2020]

Transplant need to go home! We don't want their liberal idea in our state! After destroying their state!

[@jarvisstradford7211]

Can you do on unboxing North Carolina and South Carolina?

[@NickJohnson]

ill do them eventually i swear :) do you live here?

[@jarvisstradford7211]

@@NickJohnson I live in South Carolina. 40-minute from Charlotte North Carolina

[@jarvisstradford7211]

I live in Lancaster county South Carolina. Lancaster county is one of the fastest growing counties in the country because of Indian Land.

[@jasperOgar]

Thanks so much its about time someone explored my city❗️

[@NickJohnson]

i love raleigh. are you a native? actually no you're not, there are few raleigh natives. unless youre a native.

[@jasperOgar]

Nick Johnson well i am one of few born here

[@naeemr4501]

Me to

[@tinadeguzman1491]

Please make a driving video of Charleston and Beaufort South Carolina. Went there last August to visit my bestfriend and I fell in love with those cities. ❤️❤️❤️

[@NickJohnson]

I'll be in Charleston next week!

[@tinadeguzman1491]

Nice! Wish I could go back soon. Unfortunately, I live here in Los Angeles 🙁

[@irishman4671]

My parents live on Fripp Island, SC, just over a few bridges past Beaufort. Beaufort is such a beautiful, quaint town.

[@briwire138]

Completely different to most cities here in the UK. Your roads are very straight and seem to be arranged in a grid pattern, with the buildings built around the roads. Here, ours are more windy and were laid long after many of the buildings were built. Some of our buildings are hundreds of years old, occasionally over a thousand. Also noticeable that there doesn't seem to be an actual focal point or major retail areas. In the UK, the centres of our towns and cities are full of shops and always busy.

[@whats2funnydinglewithnopim200]

Thank you for showing me the tour about North Carolina it really helped me if it was safe of not thanks. beautiful

[@seventhchild7270]

This is paradise and heaven compared to Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, Detroit, West Virginia, etc...so clean, serene., no homeless, dilapidated buildings, ...ETC ....I think I've found my retirement home and state!

[@ForeverBridal]

Great videos of the city! We

[@davidandmercywhipple]

Oh yeah, we lived in Fort Bragg for over 2 years. It's nice to see Raleigh. This reminds us we need to make a North Carolina video too!

[@NickJohnson]

Yes you do!!

[@jai_masss9233]

Was this on a Sunday? It looks dead.

[@NickJohnson]

Saturday morning.

[@eduardocastaneda9476]

I love the dead look! Over crowding is a serious thing. First people move to some places trying to get away from bigger cities like Atlanta, LA, NYC, Miami...etc. Then those same people saying “looks dead” complain about overcrowding where they come from. Backwards reasoning at its best.

[@nomenclature4399]

Been here since 1997...still dead...go to charlotte. feels like a city

[@leonation89]

@@nomenclature4399 leave my city alone, I love it just the way it is. Raleigh aint no different than any other city, it has its moments when it wants to make noise.

[@odomi121]

@@nomenclature4399 yeah, go to a miserable city if you want. There's no reason what so ever for a concentrated city, anywhere, ever. The only people who wants a city are politicians who are obsessed with power. If you're not a politician, then you are the sucker.

[@gambit_toys6554]

Thanks for keeping it real

[@Ba11esteros]

I’m in charged of making that new 22 story glass building. Beautiful in the inside. (Woodwork)

[@J0ny_]

I always see it when me and my family pass by downtown. It looks great so far. 👍

[@carolhodges9899]

Great video!! Such a beautiful, clean city!

[@NickJohnson]

Carol it really is. They do a good job.

[@adamdupavillon7514]

The lies 😭 tis an evil place

[@fucuszullanti7877]

adam dupavillon how so?

[@JT-ob5vp]

No, he just took a somewhat "clean" driving route

[@latrieceb3619]

Traffic is ridiculous n Raleigh. U must've recorded this around 11 am...

[@user-yf7es4gz3o]

Right

[@JeffDeWitt]

I live in the Raleigh area and I've driven in lots of places, and for a city its size the traffic isn't bad at all.

[@alexk1682]

Jeff DeWitt take a trip down hwy 40 at 8:30am and 5:00pm. You haven’t seen much.

[@DouglasBailey]

@@alexk1682 I just moved to Raliegh and work in Durham and nah fam. Live in NYC, Bay area or LA if you want to talk traffic. (lived and worked in all 3).

[@leekbejarano2596]

@@DouglasBailey so it’s not that bad

[@thealaskanbascan6277]

Music made me feel like I was on a heist in GTA or something😂

[@wakecountyproductions]

My aunt and GMA lives in Raleigh, it’s a very clean city🤩🤩

[@NickJohnson]

Do you visit?

[@wakecountyproductions]

Nick Johnson yea, pretty often

[@Peace-li9vu]

Cool! the music makes me feel like I’m in the movie “Escape From LA” John Carpenter sounds for sure!👍

[@NickJohnson]

hey jason! glad you liked it. you know i do these every few weeks if you wanted to sub you could see more of them. also - i use the same music a lot - i dont have a large database of usable songs that i like :)

[@chalice3571]

I love your description... you went out of the way to make this visit a very pleasant one... thumbs up plus infinity... thank you

[@anitanapp6759]

Its a horrible place to live

[@user-yf7es4gz3o]

Exactly

[@EE-yx4xp]

If you look at niche, us news or business insider, Raleigh is considered to be one of the best cities to live.

[@gsboss]

theres a famous underpass there where trucks crash into way more than usual.

[@nothat0therguy992]

Is that in Raleigh? Or is that in another North Carolina city?

[@NickJohnson]

There's one in Raleigh but the really good one is in durham

[@0009jerseygirl]

It's on Peace St. near the Krispy Kreme.

[@user-yf7es4gz3o]

@@0009jerseygirl nah

[@fucuszullanti7877]

0009jerseygirl Peace next to Mojoe’s , shout out to mojoes!

[@bwill357]

People: “The cost of living has skyrocketed” “it’s too congested” “there are too many people”....also people: “I’m going to live in the largest and second largest city in the state of nc”

[@NickJohnson]

Haha it's not bad here at all people need to chillax

[@tieyounward8766]

What do u mean its 2 congested 470,000 people is nothing compared to nearly 900,000 in charlotte.

[@newyorknewyork8614]

Raleigh is a more densely populated city than Charlotte, Charlotte annexed nearly all of it's home county which is why it's 900,000 people. if Raleigh annexed the same area in Wake it would be the population of Charlotte or larger, Raleigh has more numerous and larger suburbs within it's home county than Charlotte has within it's home county. Atlanta's population is 500,000, is Charlotte bigger and more congested than Atlanta? Of course not. Overall the Triangle metro and Charlotte region metro are essentially the same size, about 2.5 million people each. When it comes population density (congestion) Raleigh is more comparable to Atlanta than Charlotte: Population density by city: Atlanta: 3,547/sq m Raleigh: 3,284/sq mi Charlotte: 2,827/sq mi

[@gerry427]

Come to San Diego and feel 3+ million people .

[@kevinmencer3782]

@@NickJohnson if they think Raleigh is bad, they need to check out Salt Lake City. They'd be shell shocked at the cost of living

[@FUSE1_MUSIC]

North Carolina is full of drama, especially Charlotte, and very religious

[@NickJohnson]

Not Raleigh.

[@mindfloodnc]

Very religious - I had many Hindu neighbors when I was in Morrisville :) Its 2019 not 1950. Population just blew past 10 million so rather diverse now and many transplants in the metro areas.

[@natem6873]

Charlotte sucks

[@lynetteali5001]

Full of drama and homeless people everywhere. Not to mention the crime is horrible. Moore Square.... yeah ok,home to the homeless.

[@Pmatt1]

Charlotte is not a great place to live. I grew up in Raleigh and I’m looking to move back home ❤️

[@joeking3688]

This looks like a ghost town. It reminds me of the dead parts of Johannesburg, South Africa.

[@RTPTechGuy]

Best city in the country!!!!

[@ladyindaroom]

This music sound like what played in the Benny Hill show back in the days

[@bluegirl4326]

That back ground music is aggravating

[@NickJohnson]

okay ill change it.

[@akshay5295]

Its not bad

[@0009jerseygirl]

I used to live in Garner which borders Raleigh (about a 10 minute drive from downtown.) My one criticism is about public transportation. It could expand to cover more of Raleigh and if you don't live in Raleigh (as I did) the public transportation is inadequate. One shuttle bus into Raleigh during the week and none on weekends.

[@odomi121]

There's really no reason to go downtown other than going to court. There are plenty of alternatives.

[@UNCguy]

Wake County has passed a transportation plan totaling more than $2 billion. It will include Bus Rapid Transit(BRT), additional routes added to include every town in the county, buses will run more frequently, and 32 miles of commuter rail over the next 10 years.

[@aahln]

public trasnport has gotten kinda better with route 20 coming to garner, connecting it with downtown raleigh and other surrounding areas. there's still definitely room for improvement though.

[@fucuszullanti7877]

Raleigh born... I’m fine with the populatuon growth if we can improve/expand roads and build up instead of cramming everything in.

[@ericdaniel323]

Just keep building out like my hometown (Houston) did. You can drive for like two hours on I-45 or I-10 and never leave the populated area.

[@NickJohnson]

It's coming fast

[@fucuszullanti7877]

Eric Daniel It’s already built out full of neighborhoods, subdivisions, and mexicans

[@andreac.zweigart9609]

I was born & raised in Raleigh & the population growth & destruction of so many of our beautiful old buildings is very sad. Raleigh's losing its charm...😥

[@beppo2814]

This was fun to watch. I drive around downtown Raleigh maybe every two or three months. I was just there yesterday, the day before i watched this. In fact, I was there last week as well, on the day you recorded this. I'm watching this wondering if I'll see my car. 😀 Anyway, you passed by a LOT of places I've eaten at.

[@NickJohnson]

What's your fave downtown Raleigh restaurant? Mine is Bida Manda. Are you can tell Glenwood at night blows.

[@beppo2814]

@@NickJohnson it might be cliche for Raleigh, but probably Poole's Diner, not only for the food, but for the history it represents, plus it's the flagship of Ashley Christensen, who won best chef in the USA for 2019. Every time I come to Raleigh I try to eat at a different place. I watched this video a second time, and just in this video alone of downtown (not including the other parts of the city, or neighboring Durham and Chapel Hill), I lost count at 15, the number of restaurants you drove by that I've eaten at. 😀

[@TerrenceLP]

Perfect mix of country and Rock n roll

[@alicegoodman4544]

The people of Raleigh should pray for their freedom. They are not free.

[@NickJohnson]

haha why is that alice?

[@Dan-jf1nw]

As a triangle native, Raleigh homeowner, and someone who has worked with some nonprofits downtown, I disagree with a lot of your commentary. I do like the model of the content, though. Rather than anecdotal comments or personal opinions, what about actually showing what you mean? For example, what may seem "crowded" to you on Glenwood at night may be a regular street on a Tuesday afternoon to some. Also, despite your comment of having "no homeless people sleeping in the streets," Raleigh and the Triangle has a pretty large homelessness issue but the main "support" is to buy them bus tickets to other cities. Furthermore, the existence of homelessness isn't a measure of a city's quality.

[@NickJohnson]

Fair

[@danielrogers9100]

I've driven a lot of where you drove in downtown (passing through on McDowell Street coming home from a college campus in Fuquay-Varina for a long time) and other places. Good thing you turned when you did on certain streets since one missed turn could lead you out of downtown into the ghetto part of the city (like Blount Street past where you turned is dangerous since that is gang turf and also drug dealers that are all shoot first and ask questions never when outsiders get in their part of the city), would not reccomend going there in Downtown Raleigh and stay more towards the central part for safety.

[@NickJohnson]

Yes south Raleigh and east Raleigh near Rock Quarry Road are bad but northeast Raleigh off of Capital and by Atlantic are the worst.

[@aliyahfreeman4347]

The south side of Raleigh/Downtown is becoming gentrified. You're not going to have to worry about crime for much longer. Houses are selling for 300-500k around that area. People are slowly but surely moving north. Capital and surrounding areas are going to look how the south side of Raleigh looks now.

[@Biggestnigga]

Daniel Rogers I’m a native here born and raised it’s not that bad dude your definitely over exaggerating

[@Biggestnigga]

Cyn 7 Cyn thank you

[@Cmizz1]

@@Biggestnigga Agreed...I think we know his "kind"😐.

[@lindsaycabassa1243]

Hey I live 20-25 minutes from there I love NC so much I've been living here ever since I was 2 and now I'm 13 it's so much fun living here I can say living here is a bit pricey but like in Raleigh there are so many good jobs North Carolina is beautiful the mountains and some of the beaches and Cape Fear I just love it.

[@NickJohnson]

Great!! Live where you're happy!!

[@andreac.zweigart9609]

Didn't you learn anything about sentence structure & punctuation in middle school, Lindsay Cabassa? You're never going to graduate from high school, or get a job to support yourself, if you don't learn how to communicate! 😖 Also, what could you possibly know about the cost of living in Raleigh?!? You're THIRTEEN!! 🤣🤣

[@vida130]

I love living in Raleigh!

[@NickJohnson]

It's cool I have to admit

[@09rfields]

👍👍👍

[@miah5561]

I’m planning on moving there next year

[@jaehood3898]

👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎

[@jpmking9635]

@@miah5561 i wouldnt. Raleigh has a dark side. there is a giant butt plug statue down town and across the street form a police station is a large corporation with a giant statue of a gaping butt hole that has just been sodomized....there was a billboard on capital blvd that had a giant penis hidden in plain sight. i make one complaint on FB and it was taken down.

[@anitanapp6759]

You didn’t look to good. There’s lots of homeless people and crime is getting worse!

[@bdr113080]

I was on my lunch break

[@vonfields6889]

Thanks, Nick,another great video. 👍

[@danieldougan269]

I've been to Raleigh twice, and I have appreciated it each time. I wish my wife and I could afford to move there, but the prices have gotten completely out of hand.

[@plutobills5359]

Great video Nick 👍 keep up the good work

[@NickJohnson]

Have you been to Raleigh before?

[@plutobills5359]

@@NickJohnson yeah I live in Durham but from NC SC state line

[@n.gr.4879]

Hi Nick, Nice video. I live a few doors from Raleigh. I live in Hillsborough NC.

[@xfan-mw3wp]

lived here my whole life and i love it!

[@NickJohnson]

i like it a lot wouldn't say love it. why do you like it so much Ethan?

[@xfan-mw3wp]

@Nick Johnson I live in North Raleigh [Suburban]can walk to a theater,target,multiple restaurants in only a few minutes ,the area is clean plus i feel safe even at night.

[@xfan-mw3wp]

@@NickJohnson keep in mind im 17.

[@itziameza55]

Same

[@PAULY-P]

Id like to see Hot Springs AR and northwest AR like Eureka Springs, Springdale, Fayetteville etc. Trying to figure out the differences in those areas. Looking for a slightly warmer and affordable place than where im at. Also lower crime. Thanks Nick.

[@NickJohnson]

pauly - i dont know if ill get to Arkansas any time soon. where are you now? i wish i had some advice but i dont know much about that wide region except that there are some great cities, but then you pay for that. like nashville.

[@PAULY-P]

@@NickJohnson Im near Lake Geneva, WI. Crime is low here but gets too cold and i need affordability because im on SSDI.

[@NickJohnson]

I did a video on the cheapest states once kzbin.info/www/bejne/fnvanKisetRla6c

[@topsports425]

I’m torn between moving to North Carolina (Raleigh) or Texas (Houston/San Antonio) both states seem great 👍

[@NickJohnson]

Texas is cool.

[@valjean2036]

Nick Johnson lol right!

[@wakecountyproductions]

Mr 11 MOVE TO NC!!

[@MileageMikeTravels]

Both awesome states but I think we have better natural scenery here in NC. Beautiful mountains and beaches both within driving distance of Raleigh.

[@pisceanempress5060]

Me too I'm torn between Raleigh or Houston as well

[@kenspencer9895]

Hmm . . . drove right by the Convention Center at the beginning of the clip and not a word about it . . .

[@NickJohnson]

its just ...a convention center?

[@kenspencer9895]

@@NickJohnson Building on the right at the 1:27 mark.

[@kenspencer9895]

@SeaDub II If the video is going to point out highlights, then it should have been mentioned IMHO.

[@thatswhatisaidhoe9649]

You should do Greensboro next, it's kind of sorta up and coming . We're getting first Trader Joe's and people are freaking out with excitement.

[@NickJohnson]

Maybe one day I will!

[@leonation89]

Greensboro reminds me of Augusta GA. I believe it's a step ahead of Augusta

[@odomi121]

Greensboro with all the live music heritage that it has, it lacks decent restaurants.

[@leonation89]

@@odomi121 really?

[@josephsykes4920]

You were here I'm in the every other day. I wish I would of seen you

[@NickJohnson]

i used to go downtown a lot. now, not as often. i like downtown a lot - way more than the drama on glenwood.

[@Blakpepa]

Just watched the video of you driving through Knoxville, which looked so sunny and clean and to see this...it just looks a bit dreary to me

[@NickJohnson]

Raleigh is great!

[@CeciliaaLunaa]

Raleigh home prices are ridiculously expensive

[@NickJohnson]

Umm have you lived anywhere else before?

[@CC-sr4vg]

I remember hit one red light hit them all. Raleigh sure has changed since I left.

[@faarouqmahdimuhammad]

Damn I haven't been to Raleigh in 30 years. I thought u were gonna hit Hillsboro Street, New Bern Avenue, Smithfield by Shaw University 😁

[@charlesgomez4218]

They film -Love it or List it in The Raleigh NC area or suburbs 👍👍HGTV..

[@urthere0]

you should do an Atlanta video.

[@NickJohnson]

I know I need to get down there

[@Zapruderfilm1963]

Aunt Bee, Andy, Opie and I went to Raleigh one year so Aunt Bee could enter her pickles in a contest.

[@NickJohnson]

Did you win?????

[@scottburns9648]

Her pickles made me sick. Made Barney sick too

[@Zapruderfilm1963]

Scott Burns Lol!! Yes they did!!🤣

[@Zapruderfilm1963]

Nick Johnson no, she didn’t, she stormed off and ended up getting drunk and sleeping with Goober.😳

[@DinizEngland]

Excellent as always

[@Rommie26]

I hate to be a hater but it’s also very ugly Not a lot of good architecture or flow Just a bunch of blocks put together

[@NickJohnson]

Agreed though some are cool. Overall it's very basic architecture. They're getting more modern all the time though. Have you been here before?

[@Rommie26]

Nick Johnson no but I’d love to visit Asheville Now that’s a beautiful city

[@fucuszullanti7877]

Rommie26 Agreed

[@devinmccurry4235]

This guy has a awesome job

[@jetibby]

Love your videos Nick. I would love in the future for you to Charleston, SC and/or Williamsburg, VA. Two of my favorite cities to visit. I know you're not a fan of Florida but my hometown of Tampa has growing Downtown with lots to do.

[@NickJohnson]

I'm going to be in Charleston next week! I don't dislike Florida it's got a lot of energy for sure.

[@Airman241]

Great video I love living in Raleigh

[@NickJohnson]

Me too

[@dwaynetempest3433]

No ,but my wild bull ride yeehaw is there right now with it's new owner finishing up tonight !

[@westep4273]

I have family in Raleigh you should drive through Charlotte NC one day

[@NickJohnson]

Will do. Do you like it there?

[@westep4273]

@@NickJohnson I live near Charlotte and whenever I drive around Charlotte I've always loved it

[@FlyingMonet]

@@NickJohnson Charlotte is so much better than Raleigh

[@stardust0813]

@@FlyingMonet Yeah, Soooo much better.

[@calebamoore]

I know my whole way around Raleigh North Carolina

[@medaman15able]

AYEEEEEE North Carolina babyyyyy!!!!!!

[@NickJohnson]

Are you from here?

[@medaman15able]

Nick Johnson oh yeah, I’m from Goldsboro