6 Reasons To Visit Wendell, NC, on Your Raleigh Road Trip

One of the joys of road-tripping is being able to discover places a little off the beaten path. Often, we’ll find charming towns outside the big cities, filled with great food, rich history, and plenty of fun to keep all ages entertained. That’s Wendell, North Carolina, in a nutshell. 

Just over 20 minutes from downtown Raleigh, the town of 15,000 is easy to add onto your trip when you’re in or around the state capital, and you get to see a different, more laid-back side to the area.

Ready to level up your North Carolina road trip? Here are the top things to see, do, and eat in Wendell that make it worth the visit.

1. Farmhouse Cafe

This was easily the star of our trip to Wendell. It’s hard to beat good food — when it’s really good. And boy, howdy, is the food at the Farmhouse Cafe good. They specialize in made-from-scratch fare, and their weekend brunch is practically a right of passage.

It’s going to be hard to choose. You’ve got to try the smørrebrød, an open-faced Danish sandwich that’s like the cooler cousin of avo toast. 

Chef Patrick Cowden recommends it with salmon and lemon tarragon aioli, the Napa slaw and potato crisps providing just the right crunch, but you can also opt for the smørrebrød with roast beef and pesto. The locally made bread on the bottom stays sturdy, not soggy, to handle whatever’s stacked on top.

I particularly liked the mesa bowl — the kind of lunch that’s deliciously satisfying yet healthy: quinoa loaded with diced sweet potato, avocado, corn, black beans, and a kale slaw with the best cilantro lime vinaigrette I’ve ever tasted. 

Other standouts you should try:

• Their signature French toast, with housemade lemon curd, berry compote, maple syrup, a dollop of airy whipped cream, and happiness
• Feta cheesy dill eggs that are to die for, dressed with hollandaise and joined by asparagus, roasted tomatoes, sausage, and a rather spectacular toasted English muffin
• Breakfast tacos generously stuffed with crumbles of housemade chorizo you’ll wish they sold by the jar
• A berry smoothie made of real fruit, lightly sweet and utterly refreshing 

And they have a kids menu.

Go for brunch as we did and sample a little bit of everything. You order at the counter and can take your time with your meal. The service is friendly, and the general vibe is relaxed, the kind of cafe where you want to linger.

The grounds are pretty as well. We visited the Little Free Library and took a walk around the lake after brunch.

2. Tap It Social House

Tap It Social House is a fairly new entertainment destination in Wendell, opened this June. Plenty of places say they have “something for everyone,” but Tap It actually does.

There’s an arcade stocked with over 40 games like skee ball, basketball, Jurassic Park, and Alpine Racer. Adults will appreciate the more than 30 ciders, seltzers, and beers available via self-serve taps — no waiting, no tips, just exploring your favorite flavors. They keep it stocked with around 80% local North Carolina brews, so you’re sure to find something new.

Not into beer? There’s also a bar serving cocktails and wine. And there’s a candy station where you can create your own custom mix of jelly beans, gummy sharks, and more to fight over — I mean, share — with the kids. 

Or splurge on a swirl of Instagrammable sugar from a cotton candy robot (pictured above). Watching it work is half the fun.

But the highlight is definitely the duckpin bowling. Duckpin bowling is great for kids because the balls are smaller and less heavy (as are the pins) making them more manageable for tiny hands. You also don’t have to rent those funny shoes. Kids as young as 3-4 can do it. I saw a pre-kindergartener in the lane next to me giving it a go with help from his dad.

Make no mistake, though — this sport is challenging. The smaller ball makes hitting all those pins harder. But it’s so much more fun trying. Get over 130 points, and your name goes on the leaderboard. (I got close to 100 points as a newbie, so I’m calling it a win.)

There’s a couch and tables so you can lounge and watch players, the self-serve brews are fast enough so you can fill up mid-game, and players can choose different themed games from the touch screen.

Oh, and there’s one more thing — a scavenger hunt for four tiny ducks hidden around the arcade. Find all the ducks to figure out the mystery word they spell, and you’ll get access to a top-secret prize closet. Or find the golden duck for an instant reward.

Like I said, something for everyone.

3. 41 North Coffee Co.

If you get hungry, while playing at Tap It Social, scan the QR code at the table to put in an order. The food is a special menu from 41 North Coffee Co. right across the street.

The cafe is Wendell’s oldest modern coffee shop, and it’s definitely worth a stop on your Wendell visit. Their local blend is just that — roasted in Raleigh and turned into everything from cappuccinos to cold brew. They call their frappes miscelato (Italian for “blended,” in case you’re curious) and create them in coffee-forward flavors like mocha chip and cookie butter as well as cream-only versions like vanilla bean and chai tea. 

I recommend the cookie butter latte or frappe for something sweet that you won’t find most places. Non-coffee drinkers can also enjoy a variety of tea, and the kids will love the Italian cream sodas and smoothies. 

But they serve a lot more than drinks. There are salads and paninis and even meatloaf, and those with dietary restrictions will appreciate items like gluten-free quiche and keto brownies. Our roasted pepper and goat cheese quiche was amazing, not too rich but still decadent. Don’t skip their pastry case, ranging from cheesecake bars to scones. I enjoyed my blueberry muffin — snatched a bite before I snapped a photo!

They offer a kids menu with sandwiches and mac and cheese, and breakfast is available all day, so you can dine on Nutella waffles at 6 p.m. if you wish.

And that’s one of the great things about this coffee shop. They’re open daily with hours extending to 8 or 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, so they’re a great place to chill after a packed day of sightseeing, indoors or out.

Pro tip: Don’t miss the rooftop where you can dine with views of downtown. 

4. Historic Downtown

Speaking of downtown, this is another top reason to visit Wendell. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the district is just about as charming as they come. 

Main Street is lined with old-timey brick shopfronts and eateries. Be sure to stop into the Wendell General Store, selling wooden birdhouses, wind chimes, soy candles, toys, and lots of locally made products. There’s a checker table in the back, and ice cream for sale too.

If you’re into architecture, you’ll love the downtown historic district with its Italianate, Queen Anne, and Victorian-style buildings. Look for the W.R. Nowell Drugstore, located right on Main Street with its cutaway corner door, and the circa 1850 W.H. Richardson House on Fourth Street, believed to be the oldest house in town.

It’s also fun to just stop into the different stores and restaurants. We found an adorable ice cream shop and a hip brewery. Check out the chandelier below! They’re called the Bearded Bee Brewing Company, so the hive is a nod to their name.

If you have time, visit the Wendell Museum to pick up a free historic trail map or just to browse the exhibits on the town’s history. They cover trade, agriculture, military, churches, and more. Admission is free.

Downtown is also the place to go for special events throughout the year like the Wendell Harvest Festival in October (which has been running for nearly 100 years) or the Wendell Wonderland to kick off the holiday season. If you’re lucky enough to be in town on the first Thursday of the month April to November, stop by the farmers market to browse their local wares and treats.

5. Little Doodles Play Cafe

We love cafe culture, but cafes aren’t always the best places to keep tots entertained. So it’s nice that Wendell has its very own play cafe especially for the younger crowd.

Little Doodles Play Cafe is geared toward infants to 8-year-olds, and while they’re founded in Raleigh, their Wendell location is a bit more roomy and convenient when you’re exploring the historic downtown.

Let the kids run wild with imaginative playscapes like a grocery store, art studio, pirate ship, barn, toy train, and more. You can play along (adults free with paid kid’s admission) or kick back and enjoy a cup of joe.

A nice perk, aprons are provided if your little ones are getting hands-on with the paint and crafts, so you don’t have to worry about bringing a change of clothes.

6. Robertson Millpond Preserve

The 85-acre Robertson Millpond Preserve feels like another world, but it’s just eight minutes north of downtown. The cypress swamp is popular with kayakers who enjoy the paddling trail, just over 1.1 miles long, with marked buoys to help you find your way. If you want to give it a go, Tar River Life rents single and tandem kayaks on Saturdays and holiday weekends.

But even if you don’t want to get on the water, you can enjoy this natural oasis. 

Enjoy the flora and fauna on display at the boat dock, including the towering cypress trees and lots of birds. You might glimpse a great blue heron. In the spring, look for a purple wetland iris (Iris virginica) blooming nearby.

Stroll the boardwalk. You can go fishing here and catch species like pickerel or catfish or just take in the views. There’s a dam dating to the 1820s and what’s left of the gristmill foundations, now designated historic landmarks.

Other wildlife spotting opportunities include otters, turtles, beavers, and snakes, so keep your eyes peeled!