Welcome to Wake Forest
Small town living with urban conveniences
A unique community located north of Raleigh, Wake Forest is considered one of the best places to live and raise a family. Imbued with history, culture, and tons of activities to make every day feel like an adventure, Wake Forest is the quintessential small town with undeniable Southern charm. At its heart is a vibrant downtown filled with art galleries and coffee shops, chic boutiques, and high-end restaurants, all within walking distance of each other. With over 220 sunny days a year, excellent schools, and miles of scenic greenways, there’s something for everyone in Wake Forest. Forbes considered it one of the fastest-growing suburbs in the US, and its convenient location to neighboring Raleigh makes commuting to and fro a breeze. Sprawling homes on cul-de-sacs and custom-built architectural masterpieces bask along the gurgling creeks and shady trees strewn across the landscape.
What to Love
- Bustling, historic downtown
- Near-perfect weather
- Laid-back suburban feel
- Terrific accessibility
Local Lifestyle
Wake Forest keeps residents away from big-city hustle and bustle while offering them every imaginable urban convenience. Its natural beauty, plentiful sunshine, dazzling lakes, and cultural heritage truly make it hard for folks to leave. Outdoor enthusiasts take full advantage of the trails, parks, and beaches, soaking in the sun or swimming, hiking, running, and camping. With a great affordability scale, plenty of shopping and dining to experience as well as historical sites to visit, Wake Forest is the perfect escape from the city frenzy to a genteel suburb that guarantees an enriched quality of life.
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping
Start a little culinary adventure at Over The Falls, a pubby bar and grill popular among locals for its delightful menu of varieties, including chicken and waffles, BBQ dishes, salads, and hand-tossed stone oven pizza. They’ve even got a wonderful kid’s menu featuring quesadillas, lollipops, and corn dog bites, so the whole family is certainly in for a feast. Black & White Coffee Roasters, at the beating heart of Wake Forest, is a beloved establishment and the perfect morning routine for any coffee aficionado.
Start your day with coffee in Brigs at the Forest and settle in for their breakfast sandwiches, omelets, and pancakes. Experience Downtown’s charm while exploring an eclectic array of dining venues, art galleries, fashion boutiques, and specialty shops tucked within walking distance. Whether you want to pick up a new pair of high-heels at Next Consignment Boutique or baby clothes and toys at Southern Suds and Gifts, Wake Forest’s atmospheric Renaissance Area’s got something for everyone.
Things to Do
Look forward to spring when the streets fill up with lovely activities for Downtown’s Meet in the Street Festival — a premier celebration of music, food, and art in Wake Forest. With multiple vendors selling handcrafted art in over one hundred booths, children running a little entrepreneurship fare, loads of delicious food, and various free and fun activities for the entire family to indulge in. Explore the town’s century-old history with a visit to the Wake Forest Historical Museum and step out to support local vendors displaying fresh, sustainably grown organic produce to restock on at Farmer’s Market.
Soak up in the excellent sunshine with leisure trips to the Falls Lake State Recreation Area, made up of a collection of access areas sprawled along the shores of Falls Lake. Outdoor enthusiasts get their dose of daily adventures with a quick dip at any of the area’s swim beaches, biking the lovely Beaverdam access, or camping at a plethora of campsites. You also don’t want to miss out on a casual evening stroll along the paved trails of the E. Carroll Joyner Park, a lush green expanse of 117-acres flecked with charming old farm buildings alongside a pecan grove and 1,000 lawn-seat amphitheaters.
Schools
Wake Forest offers some of the most acclaimed schools in North Carolina, both public and private, renowned for their dedication to helping students reach their full potential. Top educational opportunities include: