Taking the CCIE Lab in RTP

Cisco's campus in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, is one of only two places in the United States where candidates can complete a CCIE lab exam (the other being in San Jose, California). People fly in from all over the eastern US and beyond to spend a day taking the exam. Lots of folks who've taken the exam have written up their experiences, but I haven't seen many talk at length about their time in RTP outside of Cisco's building 3.

I've lived just a few minutes away from the testing site for the past few years, and it occurred to me recently that visitors might benefit from some local knowledge.

Getting Here

Most people fly in via Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU). RDU is a medium-sized airport with two terminals. Most flights operate out of Terminal 2, except for Southwest Airlines, which is based in the newly-renovated Terminal 1.

As airports go, I'm a big fan of RDU. It's a very modern, clean, and well-organized facility. The interior of Terminal 2 is beautifully designed to resemble an early airplane wing and is flooded with natural light during the day. (It's also one of very few places where you can find a Five Guys that serves breakfast.) The TSA folks here tend to be very professional and polite. Wait times in security are rarely long. And this isn't just the biased opinion of a local: in 2014, RDU was ranked among the top ten airports in the US.

I strongly recommend renting a car, as public transit is virtually non-existent around RTP. Most hotels in the area have airport shuttles, but you should confirm with the hotel personally if you'll be relying on it for transportation to Cisco's campus. Uber and Lyft do have a limited presence in the RTP area, but don't count on one to be immediately available should you need it.

About RTP

Research Triangle Park comprises seven thousand acres nestled between the cities of Raleigh and Durham. Founded in 1959, its name derives from the geographic triangle formed by the three universities which surround it: North Carolina State University, Duke University, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

RTP is home to more than 200 companies employing roughly fifty thousand people. Among them are leading tech enterprises Avaya, EMC, IBM, NetApp, and of course Cisco. RTP buildings are scattered around a luch Carolina pine forest, providing a cozy, relaxed atmosphere. Cisco's campus is especially nice, situated along the edges of a small lake and laced with multi-use paths.

The lab exam takes place at Building 3, located at 7025 Kit Creek Road.

Where to Stay

Given the proximity to RDU, there are plenty of hotels to choose from, most of which are clustered along Airport Blvd. I'm going to assume you're a normal person who knows how to use TripAdvisor to select a hotel, so I won't bother listing them all here. However, I will point out that two slightly off-the-path hotels are worth considering. (And no, you cannot stay at my house.)

Hilton Garden Inn (RDU)

1500 RDU Center Dr
Morrisville, NC 27560
919-840-8088

This hotel tends to be a bit quieter than the rest as it's located outside the RDU flight path. Like all Garden Inns, it features a bar and quasi-restaurant within the lobby that serves real breakfast.

Hyatt House (RDU)

10962 Chapel Hill Rd
Morrisville, NC 27560
919-388-5355

Not to be confused with Hyatt Place, which is closer to the airport. This hotel is the closest to Cisco's campus. There's a good breakfast place next door called The Brunch Box, but it doesn't open until 7am.

Getting Around

The Triangle is well known for its terrible rush-hour traffic. Fortunately, with the lab's early start time you shouldn't have much trouble making your way from the hotel. Just be sure to check the traffic conditions before you leave. If it happens to be raining, add ten minutes to your ETA. (If it happens to be snowing, cancel your lab and try again in the spring.)

Outside of rush hour, you can rely on Hopson Rd/McCrimmon Pkwy for east-west travel and NC-54/Davis Dr/NC-55 for north-south travel. One other tip: NC-147 and the portion of I-540 west of NC-54 (exit 69) are toll roads.

Things to Do

Whether you're counting the minutes until your exam tomorrow, or waiting anxiously to receive your score, you'll probably be yearning for something to take your mind off of it. Here are some activities close by to keep you occupied.

Frank Theatres CineBowl & Grille

1140 Parkside Main St]
Cary, NC 27519
919-459-7117

Just down the road from Cisco's campus (take Kit Creek Rd west and turn left on NC-55) is a large new shopping center called Parkside Town Commons which features a combination movie theater/bowling alley/bar & grille called Frank Theatres. The same complex also houses a Field & Stream and a Golf Galaxy. There's a Target and a few more places to eat across the street as well.

DefyGravity Trampoline Park

4300 Emperor Blvd #250
Durham, NC 27703
919-825-1010

Need to burn off some excess adrenaline? At DefyGravity you can spend an hour bouncing around a giant indoor trampoline park for $12. There's also a giant foam pit and an obstacle course.

Triangle Shooting Academy

6501 Mt Herman Rd
Raleigh, NC 27617
919-802-2040

This state-of-the-art indoor shooting range is just 15 minutes from Cisco's campus. Shooters of all experience levels are welcome, even if you've never held a gun before. The staff is very friendly and professional. All shooters are required to electronically sign a waiver and view a short safety video before being permitted on the range. At least one range safety officer (RSO) is present at all times to provide assistance.

The range will provide everything you need to shoot: eye and ear protection and firearms can be rented for a very reasonable cost (shooters must be 21 or older). One nice feature of TSA's rental program is that they rent by the caliber, so for one flat fee you can try out every 9mm handgun, for example. You're also free to use your lab score report as a target should you feel the urge.

Frankie's Fun Park

11190 Fun Park Dr
Raleigh, NC 27617
919-433-7888

Frankie's features an arcade, laser tag, mini-golf, batting cages, go-karts, and other outdoor activities depending on the season. There is also a café and bar on-site.

Triangle Rock Club

102 Pheasant Wood Ct
Morrisville, NC 27560
919-463-7625

Does exam anxiety have you climbing the walls? At TRC you can, literally. $19 will get you an all-day pass with access to the entire rock-climbing facility, and gear is available for rent.

Lake Crabtree County Park

Aviation Pkwy
Morrisville, NC 27560

This county park, situated on a 500-acre lake, provides both open space and wooded walking trails. Consider the Old Beech Nature Trail if you want a quick (half-mile) walk to clear your head. Or climb the observation tower and enjoy a beautiful view of the lake.

RDU Observation Deck

There's a tiny, little-known park within the RDU airport grounds that's a great place to kill time before your flight if the weather is nice. It's mostly geared toward children, but the observation platform provides a decent view of runway 5L/23R with an audio feed of tower communications. The general aviation terminal is also open to the public. Limited free parking is available at both sites.