If you’re looking for a getaway that’s fun for the whole family and easy on your pocket, look no further than Raleigh. With more than 20 free attractions, this stately and energetic capital city offers an affordable way to enjoy history, culture and the outdoors. Spend the day hopping between the three state museums of art, history and natural sciences: all offer free admission. Visitors are free to wander around the grounds of the State Capitol, where they can also observe the legislative process. Stroll past the graves of Civil War generals at a historic cemetery or meander along cobblestone streets of City Market. Shop for the greenest broccoli, reddest apples and tastiest homemade treats around at the State Farmers’ Market. With over 150 parks, lakes and green ways in Raleigh alone, there is ample opportunity to enjoy golf, cycling, swimming, boating and other outdoor adventures.
Raleighis home to over 20,000 Indian-Americans comprising 1.8 per cent of the total population. Most of them are professionals in the IT industry.
Can’t-Miss Things to Do in Raleigh, N.C.
Raleigh, North Carolina, is a booming metropolis that offers a big city feel with Southern charm. It’s a smart, modern-meets-historic destination that has a lot to offer and no matter what path you choose on your visit, we know you’ll be energized by the fired-up cultural heartbeat fostered by passionate minds of Raleigh. Here are 30 things (in no particular order) you shouldn’t miss, the results of people who had a passion for creating something special, something brilliant to be experienced:
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
North Carolina’s most popular attraction is a museum that teaches visitors about the natural world. The free museum offers more than 25 permanent exhibitions, including looks at the state’s ountain, Piedmont and coastal plain region habitats and wildlife along with discoveries found in the sea and underground. Take the path down the skywalk and check out the Nature Research Center, a wing of the museum where you can watch research scientists and get inspired by the field of study.
Pullen Park
The first public park in North Carolina still stands strong and hosts thousands of visitors throughout the year. The Gustave A. Dentzel Carousel was originally put in place in 1911 and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Other amusement rides in the park include kiddie water boats, a miniature train and pedal boats. Take a photo next to the famous TVLand “Andy & Opie” statue.
North Carolina Museum of Art
One of the premier visual arts museums of the South features an outdoor park with works of art, trails and a live music venue/theater. It also hosts two buildings filled with galleries, education studios and special exhibitions. Permanent collections include ancient Egyptian artifacts, renowned European Old Master paintings, African and Judaic works of art and innovative contemporary art. In the West Building you’ll find the Southeast’s largest collection of sculpture by Auguste Rodin, the museum store and Iris, the museum restaurant.
Marbles Kids Museum
Make a trip with your little ones (kids ages 10 and under) to Raleigh to experience Marbles, led by one of Raleigh’s passionate minds, Sally Edwards. Delivering purposeful play in a big way, the museum offers themed exhibits designed to build imagination through self-led exploration of new ideas and experiences. From the world’s first and only kid-driven smart power grid to hands-on STEM learning stations, Marbles educates and inspires children. Take in a movie at the Marbles IMAX, boasting North Carolina’s only 3D-capable giant screen-teens and adults can also take in blockbuster hits there!
North Carolina Museum of History
Visit the place that preserves local, state and regional history for future generations and visitors to see. One of the more popular permanent exhibits, “The Story of North Carolina”, traces life in North Carolina from its earliest inhabitants through the 20th century. You can see stone tools dating from 12,000 to 1,000 BCE, a real cannon that was recovered from Blackbeard’s flagship, a full-size replica of the 1903 Wright Flyer airplane, a lunch counter that played a pivotal role during the Civil Rights Movement and much more.
Dining out at Raleigh’s best restaurants
Raleigh has quickly become a scene for foodies and has been called one of the “Top 10 Tastiest Towns in the South” by Southern Living. One of the favorites, Bida Manda, was recently named “Best Restaurant in N.C.” by Business Insider and celebrates the diverse food traditions and culture of Laos. Passionate mind Ashley Christensen has opened several restaurants after winning the “Best Chef of the Southeast” in 2014 by the James Beard Foundation.
JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University
This internationally-recognized and stunning garden displays more than 6,000 different types of plants from around the world. It’s one of the largest and most diverse collections of landscape plants in the Southeast. Free public tours are available every Sunday at 2p.m. March to October, where you can get an in-depth view of the many distinct gardens, including the rooftop terrace, butterfly garden, rose garden and more.
PNC Arena
The 19,700-seat venue hosts an impressive array of major sports, concert tours and events each year. On an annual basis, PNC Arena welcomes more than 1.5 million guests and plays host to more than 150 events including major concert tours and family shows.
Triangle Rock Club
The state-of-the-art indoor climbing and fitness center, led by passionate mind Joel Graybeal and his Raleigh-smart team, features both lead and top-rope climbing, expansive bouldering terrain and a comprehensive fitness area. The Morrisville facility has the largest and tallest climbing structures in the nearest five states and includes 100 climbing lanes and walls spanning to 55 feet. Also, get information on the North Raleigh location here.
One can also visit William B. Umstead State Park, neighbouring towns like Apex, Cary, Fuquay-Varina, Garner, Holly Springs, Knightdale, Morrisville, Rolesville, Wake Forest, Wendell and Zebulon, Contemporary Art Museum (CAM Raleigh)
Reaching by plane: Raleigh-Durham International Airport is former hub of American Airlines and Midway Airlines and is today is one of the larger national airports without official hub status – some 10 million passengers embark and deplane annually, making it one of the nation’s fastest-growing airports. American’s strong continued presence here gives RDU a direct flight to Paris and London Heathrow, and a broad span of carriers (both traditional and low-cost) offering flights to most East Coast and some Western cities (Las Vegas, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, and occasionally Los Angeles and Denver).
Best time to visit: The best time to visit Raleigh is undoubtedly during the spring season months of March to May because of the pleasant weather and innumerable activities going on around. Also the fall season can be considered a good time to visit because of the cheap rates and less crowds.
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