Hello from Austin, Texas.
I never spent any time in Raleigh. I would speed back and forth from Fort Stewart, GA to Baltimore, MD during the army days, visiting family.
I always stayed at the Holiday Inn in Fayetteville if I was not doing the whole trip in one hitch, They had a great mini "nightclub" in the hotel, back in the late 80's/early 90's.
It was nice to get all liquored up and only have to shuffle to the elevator when the fun was over.