The Village District, formerly known as Cameron Village in the northwest of Downtown Raleigh, is most well known for being a shopping hub in Raleigh, but there is more to see and do here than hit the malls. We regularly go for a family day out at the Village District to visit its top attractions and popular restaurants.
The Village District is a chilled-out neighborhood, offering a refreshing invitation to leave the world behind and just have fun together as a family. As it’s the “center of everything”, it is a place where you can attend to everyday stuff – like shopping and eating – but with a vibrancy that makes it feel more of a treat than a monotonous chore. It’s our joy to share how to spend a family day out in The Village District, in partnership with the Village District
History of The Village District
The Village District, which is formerly known as Cameron Village (and still referred to as such by some locals), was officially founded in 1947, after property developers J.W. York and R. A. Bryan purchased 158 acres of land, with the intention of creating a residential and commercial hub. The project was named after Duncan Cameron, who was the landowner before the Civil War.
It was called Cameron Village Shopping Center up until 2021 because the new owners, Regency Centers, wanted to break the connection between the district and Duncan Cameron, who was one of the wealthiest men in NC and a well-known slave owner of over 1,000 slaves. The complex is located at the intersection of Oberlin Road, Clark Avenue, and Wade Avenue, and is just two miles from popular Hillsborough Street and North Carolina State University.
The open-air shopping mall, which opened in 1949, was Raleigh’s first shopping center outside downtown, and features 65 stores and 112 commercial and professional offices, as well as entertainment offerings such as a movie theatre and nightclubs. The mixed-use development complex is not only commercial but residential too, mostly composed of apartments and condos, as well as over 100 single-family homes. Not much has changed in what it offers over the years, besides its name, but it has undergone several renovations and modernizations, especially when it comes to parking. In the 1960s and 1970s, more parking decks were added, and the mall was refurbished in the mid-1980s and early 2000s. We love shopping here because there are more parking options available. You can also get free parking for up to 2 hours at the mall.
What makes the Village District unique is that you will find both global brands and boutiques here, offering a shopping experience for everyone.
Things to do in The Village District
Now that you know a little bit about the history and growth of Cameron Village and how it became known as The Village District, it’s time to share with you some of the best things to do here. Our time spent exploring Village District with kids was mostly spent shopping together, but we also experienced a little pampering, took photos at the vibrant murals, and enjoyed delicious meals at some iconic Raleigh restaurants.
Have brunch at The Flying Biscuit
High on the list of best brunches in Raleigh is the Flying Biscuit Cafe, who have been welcoming villagers to its cafe since 2009. It’s known for its Southern hospitality, bright decor that gives you permission to relax, and, of course, outstanding food – most notably grits and fluffy biscuits (they bake nearly 5,000 biscuits a week). As our teen and tween now like an extra dose of Z’s on the weekend, brunch was the perfect way to start our day together in the Village District. (Although breakfast is served all day!)
We were welcomed with fresh, warm biscuits and apple butter (think apple pie) as soon as we sat down at our table on the patio. People watchers will love the outdoor dining as a way to further connect to the Village atmosphere.
I loved the variety of healthy food options on the menu, especially gluten-free for myself. My smoked salmon and dill cream cheese scramble was delicious! After a follower raved about the chorizo and moon-dusted potato hash, Craig ordered his topped with over-easy eggs.
There are plenty of southern breakfast meals kids will love, like French toast, pancakes, and acai bowls. My obsession for healthy foods is equally matched by my obsession for good brunch cocktails. I was trying to hold on to summer as long as I could, so I couldn’t resist the seasonal champagne twist on a Piña Colada. They have other traditional cocktail twists like a Super Bacon Mary and a Manmosa.
One of the things you’ll love most about eating at Flying Biscuit is the high-quality food and experience at affordable prices. $8-$10 cocktails are rare to find in Raleigh now, and breakfast dishes range from $5 – $15.
Despite being a Southeast chain, originally from Atlanta, The Flying Biscuit maintains the integrity of the neighborhood Village vibe. They also keep ties to the community through volunteering, fundraising, and donations to local organizations.
Shop the Village District
As we spent most of our girls’ lives as a nomadic family, shopping together is a rare treat, but it’s now one of our most popular things to do in Raleigh with teens. So we were happy to incorporate it into our family day out, especially when it has such a unique history. When the Village District opened in 1949, it was the first shopping center between Washington, D.C. and Atlanta, and has since become one of the hottest spots for shopping in Raleigh.
There are over 6 blocks of stores catering to diverse interests such as fashion, antiques, sports, books, home-ware, jewelry, and outdoor provisions. You can easily satisfy the interests of all members of your family. While there are some chain stores, I like how they are chains that are mostly independently owned and can’t be found in too many locations in the Triangle area. You might think the girls (especially our teen) might want to head straight to the fashion stores, but no, they bee-lined straight for…
Barnes & Noble
Yep. Kalyra already has it noted that her first job will be at this beloved bookstore. She can always be found with a book in her hand and has a rapidly growing library in her bedroom. I love this location in the Village District. As it’s smaller in size, it maintains that village feel, and there is always a greeter at the door to help you find the perfect book for you. Craig and I both understand the value of a bookstore for dreaming. Having a coffee at Barnes & Noble was a weekly event for us back in 2006 when we were planning for our big USA and Asia trip while living in Raleigh!
With new book purchases underarm – including a collector’s edition of Little Women (Kalyra’s favorite movie) – we moved on to the Fashion stores.
- Address: 436 Daniels St Ste A0107, Raleigh
- Website: stores.barnesandnoble.com/store/3403
RELATED: What is there to do for teens in Raleigh?
Fab’rik
As I knew Craig and I were planning a date night in the Village District, finding a dress was high on my list. We stopped into Fab’rik, and they helped me choose a boho dress for our night at Goodnight’s Comedy Club. Because TikTok is so normal for our children now, Savannah and I had fun in the dressing room filming my dress-changing transitions! (Making the everyday fun!)
What I love about Fab’rik is that they have limited quantities of their range of clothes and accessories, so you don’t have to fear meeting too many people in Raleigh dressed like you! They also match style with affordability, as all items are priced under $100, except for the extensive denim collection. You’ll even find clothes for your teen here.
The Village District is the only Fab’rik location in Raleigh. Fab’rik is committed to fashion sustainability with clothing donation bins, which are then taken to local organizations to help clothe women in need. Learn more here.
- Address: 2039 Cameron St, Raleigh
- Website: FabrikStyle.com
Onward Reserve
Let’s be honest. The men in our lives tend to get really bored when the girls in the family go shopping. And there’s nothing worse than feeling that ominous cloud trailing us around. The Village District has the perfect solution: Onward Reserve. This specialty men’s apparel and lifestyle brand is tuned into what men need most: a laid-back approach to luxury and unwavering quality, with the motto “Live Authentically.”
Okay, let’s really be honest. There’s a bar inside and a comfy couch section where your fella will find their favorite football game playing. Now that they’re settled, you can shop with your kids for as long as you like!
Onward Reserve quickly became Craig’s favorite men’s store in Raleigh. Not just for the reasons mentioned above, but also for the excellent customer care and Southern hospitality.
Store manager Kit Luciano welcomed Craig in like a neighborly friend, served him up a beer, helped him choose a sports coat to match his blue eyes, and spoke at length about the quarterback moving from her team to the Panthers – Kit grew up in Cleveland, and Baker Mayfield (former Browns quarterback) is now the Panthers QB! Craig was happy to leave the girls and me shopping while he took a break at Onward Reserve, but he made sure to rejoin us at the Great Outdoor Provision Co!
- Address: 404 Daniels St, Raleigh
- Website: OnwardReserve.com
Great Outdoor Provision Co.
A store like the Great Outdoor Provision Co. is a place for dreaming for our family. More than that. It’s a place for bringing our dreams to reality. With their huge range of outdoor supplies, we can get kitted out for any kind of adventure we want. It may seem strange to some, but enhancing the shopping experience here is the comforting sound of the creaking floorboards, an intentional feature of the stores by founder Tom Valone. He wanted to create a homely feel when he first opened the store at the back of a Carrboro bike shop in 1972. It helps me to feel like I’m in a space that honors roots, tradition, and the value of staying connected to the earth.
Staff greet you as soon as you walk in and are ready to help answer any of your outdoor questions. They are all passionate experts in adventures that range from rock climbing to kayaking. Craig got expert advice in choosing his new pair of waterproof hiking shoes, Oboz Sypes. All products in the store are thoroughly tested and loved and feature top brands for hiking, paddling, running, camping, fishing, traveling, plus tech and toys.
When you shop at Great Outdoor Provision Co, you’re supporting a North Carolina-owned business that has a mission to leave behind a world that’s better than we found it. A percentage of every purchase made at their stores goes toward local conservation efforts. Our only problem is we want to buy one of everything for every outdoor adventure possible!
- Address: 2017 Cameron St, Raleigh
- Website: GreatOutdoorProvision.com
Take photos with the murals
While you’re popping in and out of stores, pay attention to the colorful murals and living walls adorning the walls of the Village District buildings. If there is a mural in a destination we travel to, we always find it. We love them for the stories they tell about local personality, culture, and history, but also for the photo opportunities they provide.
Pop into Oberlin Regional Library (Formerly Cameron Village Regional Library)
The Oberlin Regional Library, which belongs to the Wake County Public Library Branch, is one of the best regional libraries in Wake County. It has a huge selection of children’s books and also offers story times with engaging storytellers. If you’re visiting the Village District and it begins to rain, and you’re looking for somewhere cozy with your kids, then this is a great place to hunker down and get a bit of quiet time.
- Address: 1930 Clark Ave, Raleigh
- Website: wake.gov/departments-government/libraries/locations/oberlin-regional-library
Shop for produce at The Fresh Market
The Fresh Market is not just a supermarket, but a grocery store selling fresh local produce that’s mostly organic! It’s an upscale grocery store, and while price tags are a bit more than your usual grocery store, you are paying a premium for healthier food on the table – if there’s one thing we don’t skimp on, it’s good produce.
- Address: 400 Woodburn Rd, Raleigh
- Website: thefreshmarket.com/nc/raleigh/13
Check out the only two-story Chick-fil-A in the world
We’re not fast foodie people, which, if you’ve followed this site for a while, you’ve probably figured out already, but the Chick-Fil-A in Raleigh is an iconic establishment because it’s the only 2-story branch in the world. It also has a small play area for kids, a drive-thru, and outdoor seating.
- Address: 2000 Cameron St, Raleigh
- Website: chick-fil-a.com/locations/nc/village-district/
Mani Pedi at the Village District Nail Spa
The girls were thrilled when I told them we were going to visit the nail spa together. I know so many friends who often do mani-pedis with their daughters, and now I understand why! The Village District Nail Spa is large, clean, spacious, and busy. Not annoyingly busy, but bursting-with-happy-vibes busy. The Nail Spa is full of mostly women treating themselves and spending time with friends or mothers and daughters. As we came to learn during our time at the Village District, this really is a place where people gather to spend quality time.
Kalyra was happy to disappear to her own teen space with her technician to get her acrylic nails done, while Savannah and I settled into the comfortable pedicure chairs. An extra treat for both of us was the extremely comfortable Shiatsu back massage chairs (and a glass of complimentary chardonnay for me).
It wasn’t just a place for Savannah and me to chat and laugh together, but also to get to chat with my technician about Vietnam, the country of her birth. She was thrilled to hear that Craig and I spent six weeks there in 2003, and it’s one of our favorite countries.
The lady beside me was also friendly. She was enjoying a pampering session with her daughter and shared with me how much she loved coming to this nail spa. So far, it’s been my favorite mani-pedi in Raleigh, and I’ll be back with the girls for another mother-daughter date.
- Address: 2028 Cameron St, Raleigh
- Website: villagedistrictnailspa.com/
Beer Break at the Village Draft House
If all the shopping tires you out, and you’re not full after your Flying Biscuit brunch, the Village Draft House is one of our favorite casual eating places in the Village District, even if you just want a drink or a snack. This brick-walled tavern offers an impressive 100 beers on draft and over 40 North Carolina brews, including Pilsners, lagers, kolsches, brown ales, porters, stouts, and IPA’s. No matter your preference, there is a flavor you can savor.
While the girls and I were getting our hair and nails done, Craig snuck away here for a pint of Kolsch from White Street Brewing in Wake Forest at the bar, watching some baseball. We did take our time, so he snuck outside for a second beer in the sun, accompanied by wings!
- Address: 428 Daniels St, Raleigh
- Website: VillageDraftHouse.com
Dinner Cantina 18
The first thing you’ll notice as you walk into Cantina 18 is the welcoming painted portrait of Anthony Bourdain on the wall. I took this as evidence that chef-proprietor Jason Smith has a commitment to providing an exceptional dining experience that the Father of contemporary Travel and Food would approve of.
It has a bright festive ambiance that speaks to a traveler’s soul. We may be in the heart of Raleigh, but at Cantina 18, your family will be taking a Tex-Mex journey laced with southern charm and hospitality.
There is ample seating inside, but the slider doors opening up to the bright and airy patio sweep us outside for dinner. There is also a large upstairs seating area with Juliette windows overlooking the Village District (sometimes closed for functions). Jason Smith uses as many fresh seasonal North Carolina ingredients as he can to create a flavorful menu filled with favorites like tacos, nachos, sandwiches, and entrees. It caters to the young and old, traditional and those who like fusion twists – this is not your traditional Mexican food. Come here for an adventure for your taste buds.
We started with our favorite fusion from Cantina 18: Goat cheese guacamole with tomatoes, pickled jalapeños, and black beans. If this was the only dish you ate at Cantina, you’d be delightfully happy. And the chips are sensational. Ramp up the delight with one of the freshest margaritas in town (with freshly squeezed lime juice). Once you have one of those, you’ll be tossing that fake sugary stuff in a bottle out the window.
The taco options are extensive, so we asked our friendly server for her recommendations and fan favorites. With mix-and-match platters available, you can experience multiple flavors in one night. We settled on crispy sweet chili-lime wanchese shrimp with pico de gallo and queso fresco; seared pork belly with smoked apple salsa and poblano crema; Spicy braised short rib with pickled corn relish and chipotle crema.
On the menu, you’ll also find fajitas, adobo glazed salmon, and daily specials. From the daily specials, we enjoyed tasting plates of their appetizers, including a Southern favorite, Fried Green Tomatoes.
Craig’s burrito came fully loaded with Spicy Braised Short Rib, and Savannah’s kids quesadilla was just how fussy eaters like them.
If you have any dietary concerns, you’ll be happy to know Cantina will cater to you with plenty of options. This family-friendly neighborhood favorite is the place to end your day out in the Village District. I was grateful to be wearing a maxi dress to hide my extremely full and satiated belly. But, did I leave room for dessert? Y’all know the girls did!
- Address: 433 Daniels St, Raleigh
- Website: 18RestaurantGroup.com
End your day with a Goodberry’s Frozen Custard
It was a difficult choice whether to stay at Cantina 18 for dessert or layer in one extra Village District treat to our day out. The traveler in me wants to always experience as many different things as possible, so Goodberry’s won! I’m more than happy to take the girls here for a frozen custard. Personally, I like it better than ice cream, but I like their commitment to creating a healthier version of a frozen treat more.
How is that so? I hear you ask. Goodberry’s grew from frustration over the mass-production style of modern ice cream filled with high-fructose corn syrup and other chemicals. They decided to return to the old style with 100% all-natural frozen custard made hourly with fresh milk, fresh cream, eggs, honey, pure cane sugar, and only natural flavorings to make our frozen custard.
Goodberry’s first creamery opened in September of 1988, at the corner of Spring Forest Road and Atlantic Avenue in Raleigh. They now have nine creameries in the Triangle region. And guess where else they have two locations? Australia! (I love them even more now.)
The outside seating area has that lovely Village District communal feel with flowering pot plants and benches hiding under the canopies of trees. It’s the perfect place to sit on a warm evening and wrap up a good day spent with your family.
- Address: 2034 Cameron St, Raleigh
- Website: ShopVillageDistrict.com
Final thoughts
We love to uncover what lies at the heart of community and share the fun you can have simply by wandering the streets, tasting the local flavors, and creating memories together as a family. This is one of the reasons why we love The Village District. It offers the perfect amount of entertainment, great dining options, and unique specialty stores that everyone in the family can enjoy. We hope this guide helped you plan what to do in the Village District and gave you inspiration for how to spend a day here!
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