Attendee Activities
Explore Raleigh & the Research Triangle
Make the most of your time at IEEE IUS 2026 by exploring Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill. From museums and performing arts to breweries, outdoor recreation, sports, and day trips, there’s plenty to experience beyond the technical program.
Plan for travel throughout the Triangle rather than a single city; Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill function as one interconnected region.
Allow extra travel time during weekday rush hours (approximately 7–9 a.m. and 4–6:30 p.m.).
Rideshare services are generally reliable for conference-related transportation.
If staying several days or planning regional exploration, a rental car can be beneficial.
Conference attendees interested in higher education, research, information science, libraries, archives, and technology will find numerous institutions of interest, including the campuses of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke University, and North Carolina State University.
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) serves the entire Triangle region and is located approximately:
-
15–20 minutes from Durham
-
20–30 minutes from Chapel Hill
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20–25 minutes from downtown Raleigh
Rideshare & Taxi
Uber, Lyft, and taxi services are readily available at RDU and throughout the Triangle. Designated pickup areas are located at both airport terminals.
Rental Cars
All major rental car companies operate at RDU, making rental vehicles a convenient option for visitors planning to explore multiple Triangle communities.
Public Transit
The regional GoTriangle transit system connects RDU with Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and Research Triangle Park. Route 100 provides airport service via the Regional Transit Center.
Accessible Transportation (Prebook)
Cardinal Transport
Cardinal Transport provides non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) with wheelchair-accessible vehicles. Rides are typically scheduled in advance, so attendees are encouraged to book early if they plan to use this service.
Phone: (800) 788-3446
Accessible Transportation (On-Demand)
Yellow Cab & Delivery (Raleigh)
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, Yellow Cab & Delivery offers wheelchair-accessible taxi service throughout the Raleigh area.
Phone: (919) 832-5811
Restaurants, Breweries, and Nightlife Areas
All travel times are approximate driving times from the Raleigh Convention Center (500 S. Salisbury St.). Venues marked with an asterisk (*) are within walking distance of the conference.
Brewery Bhavana*
Acclaimed brewery, dim sum restaurant, bookstore, and flower shop under one roof.
(walkable from the convention center, ~10 min)
Glenwood South*
Downtown’s liveliest restaurant and nightlife district.
(walkable from the convention center, ~10 min)
Trophy Brewing Co.
Beloved local brewery known for its beer and pizza, with several Raleigh locations.
(~5–10 min)
Trolley Pub Raleigh
A pedal-powered group “bar bike” tour through downtown — popular for groups.
(downtown)
The Raleigh Beer Garden
Holds a Guinness World Record for the most draft beers at one bar
(~10 min)
Kings Dining & Entertainment (North Hills)
Bowling, billiards, and dining at the North Hills shopping district.
(~15 min)
Angus Barn
An iconic North Carolina steakhouse in a rustic barn, a local institution since 1960.
(~20 min)
Things to do in Raleigh
For current events and visitor information, see the Raleigh Events Calendar.
All travel times are approximate driving times from the Raleigh Convention Center (500 S. Salisbury St.). Venues marked with an asterisk (*) are within walking distance of the conference.
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences*
The largest natural-history museum in the Southeast — free admission, four floors of exhibits.
(walkable from the convention center, ~10 min)
North Carolina Symphony — Meymandi Concert Hall*
The state symphony, performing in Meymandi Concert Hall inside the downtown Performing Arts complex.
(walkable from the convention center, ~10 min)
Carolina Ballet*
Professional ballet company performing downtown at the Performing Arts complex.
(walkable from the convention center, ~10 min)
North Carolina Museum of History*
History museum on the downtown mall — free admission.
(walkable from the convention center, ~12 min)
North Carolina Museum of Art
Free-admission art museum with a renowned permanent collection and a 164-acre outdoor art park with walking trails.
(~10 min)
DPAC — Durham Performing Arts Center
One of the busiest theaters in the country — touring Broadway, concerts, and comedy.
(~30 min)
Carolina Theatre of Durham
Historic 1926 theater showing independent films and live performances.
(~30 min)
Duke Arts (formerly Duke Performances)
Duke’s presenter of music, dance, and theater across campus venues in Durham.
(~30 min)
Ackland Art Museum
UNC–Chapel Hill’s art museum, free admission, with a collection of roughly 19,000 works.
(~35 min)
Carolina Performing Arts (UNC–Chapel Hill)
UNC’s acclaimed presenting series at Memorial Hall in Chapel Hill.
(~35 min)
Marbles Kids Museum
North Carolina State Capitol
JC Raulston Arboretum
A 10-acre NC State teaching garden, free and open daily — lovely in October.
(~10 min)
Lonnie Poole Golf Course
Arnold Palmer–designed course on NC State’s Centennial Campus, open to the public.
(~10 min)
Topgolf Raleigh
Climate-controlled driving-range bays, food, and drinks — a fun group outing.
(~15 min)
Sarah P. Duke Gardens
55 acres of landscaped and woodland gardens at Duke in Durham, free admission.
(~30 min)
William B. Umstead State Park
5,600 acres of forest, lakes, and trails for hiking and biking between Raleigh and Durham.
(~20 min)
American Tobacco Trail
A 22-mile paved rail-trail for walking, running, and cycling.
(trailheads ~20–30 min)
Cary Tennis Park
A large public tennis complex in nearby Cary.
(~20 min)
UNC Finley Golf Course
Tom Fazio–designed university course in Chapel Hill.
(~35 min)
Others
City Market
Warehouse District
Pullen Park
Dorothea Dix Park
Visit the exhibits and IMAX theater at Marbles Kids Museum.
Ride the historic carousel at Pullen Park.
Explore interactive science exhibits at North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.
Enjoy outdoor recreation and picnic areas at Dorothea Dix Park.
Village District
Crabtree Valley Mall
NC State Wolfpack
ACC athletics are adjacent to downtown Raleigh; the football season is in full swing in early October.
(~10–15 min)
Duke Blue Devils
ACC athletics in Durham — football, soccer, and more during conference week.
(~30 min)
UNC Tar Heels
ACC athletics in Chapel Hill.
(~35 min)
Durham Bulls
The famous Triple-A ballclub. Note: the baseball season ends in late September, so no games during the symposium — but the American Tobacco Campus around the ballpark is still a great visit.
(~30 min)
The mountains and the coast are each 3–4 hours away — best planned as a full day or an overnight before or after the symposium rather than an evening outing.
Pinehurst Resort
Historic golf village and resort, home of the famed Pinehurst No. 2 course.
(~1 hr 15 min)
Wrightsville Beach
A classic Atlantic beach town just outside Wilmington.
(~2 hr)
Grandfather Mountain
A Blue Ridge nature preserve famous for its Mile High Swinging Bridge and animal habitats.
(~3 hr 30 min)
Asheville
A vibrant mountain city known for its arts, food, and craft-beer scene.
(~3 hr 30 min–4 hr)
Biltmore Estate (Asheville)
America’s largest private home, with grand gardens and a winery.
(~3 hr 30 min–4 hr)
Outer Banks
Barrier-island beaches, historic lighthouses, and the Wright Brothers National Memorial.
(~3 hr 30 min–4 hr)
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The most-visited national park in the U.S., with peak fall color in October.
(~4 hr)
Safety & Accessibility
The Triangle is generally considered a safe destination for conference attendees and visitors. As with any metropolitan area:
Remain aware of your surroundings, especially at night.
Use well-lit parking areas and sidewalks.
Secure valuables in vehicles.
Utilize rideshare or hotel transportation when appropriate.
Accessibility
The region offers extensive accessibility accommodations:
Accessible airport facilities and transportation options
ADA-compliant hotels and conference venues
Accessible public transit vehicles
Wheelchair-accessible museums, attractions, and university facilities
RDU participates in accessibility programs including TSA Cares assistance and services for travelers with hidden disabilities.