Charming, quaint, and much different than the RTP area, is Wake Forest, a friendly town of about 12,000 that lies out U.S. 1 just northeast of Raleigh. But long before it became the town it is today, Wake Forest was a school – first a boy’s school, then Wake Forest College (which later was relocated to Winston-Salem to become Wake Forest University). After the move, the buildings eventually became what today is the Southeastern College at Wake Forest, a school of the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. The town, however, has long since grown up and is no longer defined by the college. It’s an atmosphere where days gone by and modern life intertwine beautifully, with a downtown sprinkled with specialty shops, restaurants, galleries and historic appeal.

Wake Forest is very family-oriented, with street festivals and celebrations throughout the year, but most notably at Christmas and the Fourth of July. There are jazz festivals, performing arts camps, greenways and walking trails, recreational facilities and more. Schools are noted for their excellence, golf communities have sprung up, and modern amenities such as shopping centers and recreational facilities have appeared in the newer, more suburban areas of the town. Somehow through its growth, however, Wake Forest continues to captivate residents and visitors alike with its historic, village-like charm.

For more information on Wake Forest:
Wake Forest Chamber of Commerce Website www.wakeforestchamber.org