North Hills Buzz

North Hills - For Sports Enthusiasts or Casual Athletes

This is a guest post by Teri Saylor, a Raleigh-based freelance writer and blogger who writes the local Miss Congeniality blog. Visit her at http://misscongeniality.wordpress.com or terisaylor@hotmail.com

North Hills Raleigh is known for its great restaurants, upscale shopping, and arguably the best Target in town. There’s a cinema, and even condominiums. Soon the complex will be home to a fabulous new Renaissance Hotel.

But did you know that North Hills is also a Mecca for health and fitness?

A major destination for Saturday morning marathon runners, Panera Bread Company provides sustenance for haggard, carb-deprived souls after early Saturday morning runs of up to 26.2 miles.

But that’s not all. Flanking Panera are a U.S. Fitness store featuring training equipment and a GNC shop, full of helpful vitamins and fitness supplements.

You may try a session on a treadmill at Gold’s Gym.

Gold’s is not your style? Check out Body Chic, an alternative method for reducing fat and cellulite.

REI can map your path to exploring the great outdoors. Stock your own fitness regimen at Omega Sports.

After a session at Gold’s or biking on your REI mountain bike, re-energize with a healthy dose of Keva Juice, featuring smoothies made of fresh and fruity ingredients.

After running, biking, strengthening, and burning fat, soothe those aching muscles with a relaxing massage and spa treatment from Aveda Von Kekel Salon Spa or Natural Body Spa and Shoppe.

Not interested in being a participant? Grab your buddies and head over to the Fox and Hound to sip a cold beverage and enjoy sports on the big screen.

North Hills touts itself as having something for everyone.

For sports and fitness nuts, outdoors-lovers, or armchair quarterbacks, it’s definitely a happening place to be.

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Gold’s Gym at North Hills

Gold’s Gym at North Hills Raleigh is one of the nicest gyms I’ve ever been to in my life (not sure if this is saying much since the only other gym I’ve been to is the YMCA). It’s got great workout equipment (machines and free weights), a basketball court, room that has movies playing on a giant screen for you to watch while riding the bike, and clean locker rooms. Let me say it again–clean locker rooms!

Everyone who works there is very friendly and always willing to spot/help. However, since the gym is such a quality place to work out in Raleigh, it can get a little crowded, especially right after work around 5:30 or 6pm. But even then, it’s not too bad.

From what I’ve heard, guests of the new Renaissance hotel will have access to this gym–not sure if it will be free or paid.

My one complaint would be the quality of their basketballs. Some of them have outer covers that are peeling off, so they need to replace these basketballs. Other than that, the gym is great. If you join, make sure that you’ll be going often, since you have to sign a contract for a year (and from what I’ve read, it can be pretty tough to get out of the contract, if you decide you want to stop going).

What does everyone else think about the Gold’s Gym at North Hills?

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