In my last post, I promised a series of tips on where to stay, what to eat, and what to do if you come to Cary for SAS training. In this segment, I'll cover the logistics of arrival and lodging. For those of you awaiting dining and entertainment information, I'm afraid you'll just have to sit in your hotel room and starve until I can get around to writing the next couple of postings.

First Things First

Before you set out for Cary, check out the Cary Training Center web page. We also have information on our other SAS training centers if you’re going somewhere other than Cary.

A Geographical Introduction

Cary is located next to Raleigh, the capital of North Carolina.  Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill comprise the Research Triangle area, or "The Triangle".  Interestingly, Cary has more than twice as many people (134,000 as of 2009) as Chapel Hill (55,000), but nobody has demanded to rename the area to "The Research Quadrangle" or to drop Chapel Hill and add Cary. The area is home to 3 major universities (Duke in Durham, North Carolina State in Raleigh, and the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill). All residents of the Triangle are required by law to follow college basketball, and all visitors to the Triangle must declare a preference for a local team on arrival. You can do so at the baggage claim area at the airport.

Will I Need a Car?

Not necessarily. If you are flying into the area, you will arrive at Raleigh-Durham International (really!) Airport (RDU), which is about 5 miles from the SAS campus. Taxi fare between RDU and SAS runs about $20 each way. Many of the recommended hotels have shuttles to and from the airport and to and from SAS. There are restaurants within walking distance of several of the hotels and some have their own restaurant.

On the other hand, if you want to do anything other than go to class, eat, and sit in your hotel, you will need a car or a taxi, as there is little mass transportation to speak of. Local governments have been planning light rail since the last century, and they will still be planning it well into the 22nd century. If you're driving, directions to SAS can be found on the Cary Training Center web page. SAS "Campus"???  Do You Have a Football Team?

According to the SAS web site,

Even SAS' corporate headquarters has a distinctly academic feel, nestled on 300 wooded acres that employees call the "campus."

The campus consists of 20 buildings (with two more under construction), and can be viewed on this campus map. Our classes are held in the Training Center, which is Building F on the map. Building F also contains one of the on-campus dining areas, where you will eat lunch while SAS employees glare at you because you are getting better food than they are. When you're here for a class, you can stroll around campus after lunch and maybe you can catch a glimpse of football practice, or perhaps chat with a professor.

Where Should I Stay?

The web page for the Cary Training Center contains an extensive list of hotels, with some details. You can also view a map of recommended hotels.  Since I live in Cary and my wife hasn't yet kicked me out of the house, I've never actually stayed at any of them, but below are some general thoughts and observations. (These do not reflect the opinions of SAS Institute, or any of its affiliated organizations. Your mileage may vary. Void in Wisconsin.)

• If your (or your company's) budget can take it, your best bet is the Umstead Hotel, which is located on the SAS campus. It's about a 100 yard walk from the hotel to the Training Center, and the hotel provdes a shuttle. The rate for those attending SAS training is $169 (as I write this), but it's an absolute steal--the Umstead is a AAA 5-Diamond property, and is spectacular, inside and out. The Umstead even has a bit of history--it's located on the site of the original SAS Institute buildings in Cary. Imagine having your morning coffee and knowing that 25 years ago, I was working on that same spot!
• Another popular choice is the Embassy Suites, which is across the street (Harrison Avenue) from the SAS campus. They provide a shuttle to SAS, so you don't really need a car if you stay there. Although it is within walking distance of SAS (about 800 yards), I don't recommend walking to class unless your insurance is fully paid up--take the shuttle or drive. The Embassy Suites is within walking distance of two shopping areas (Harrison Square and the Arboretum) that have several good restaurants, and you actually can walk to these wthout having to cross Harrison Avenue.
• The StudioPLUS is located close to the Embassy Suites, and also very close to SAS, although they apparently don't provide a shuttle. StudioPLUS is also very close to Harrison Square and the Arboretum, so dining is convenient.
• The Towne Place Suites and Hilton Garden Inn are the next closest choices to SAS, but they do not provide shuttle service to SAS, and there are no restaurants within walking distance. They are convenient to Lake Crabtree Park, which is a nice place for a hike. They are a 5-10 minute drive from SAS.
• The Hampton Inn seems to be the choice of many students whose budget won't permit the Umstead or Embassy Suites. The good news is that they have a shuttle to SAS; the bad news is that the hotel is not near any restaurants, and there is a lot of construction on I-40 near the hotel. The Hampton Inn is about a 10 minute drive from SAS.
• A couple of the others (Courtyard by Marriott, Hyatt Place) are in a cluster of chain motels near RDU airport, about a 10 minute drive from SAS. One advantage of this location is that there are several restaurants within a short drive. You also get the thrill of having landing aircraft fly directly over your hotel. There is an outlet mall in the area, but it is about 50% vacant, although there are a few interesting stores, such as Saks Off Fifth.
• Finally, there are a couple of choices (Embassy Suites Crabtree and the Raleigh Marriott), which are about 7 miles away from SAS, but directly across the (busy) street from Crabtree Valley Mall, which has all of the requisite chain stores (Macy's, Sears, Belk's), upscale chain restaurants (PF Changs, Cheesecake Factory, McCormick and Schmick's), and a Barnes and Noble. This is a good location for shopping, but beware the traffic, and allocate an extra 15-20 minutes for getting to and from the SAS campus.

Coming up.....

I hope I've given you enough information to make an informed lodging choice if you are visiting Cary for a class. In the next post, I'll review some local dining choices, but first I have to figure out how to convince my manager to pick up the tab for my research.