Raleigh, the capital of North Carolina, is a vibrant and charming city with a variety of attractions and things to see and do. From world-class museums and historic sites to beautiful parks and gardens, Raleigh has something for everyone.
| Attraction | Description |
|---|---|
| North Carolina Museum of Art | Showcases a vast collection spanning 5,000 years, including an outdoor art park. |
| Historic Oakwood | A picturesque neighborhood with Victorian architecture and historic homes. |
| JC Raulston Arboretum | A university arboretum with diverse plant collections and garden displays. |
| Pullen Park | A historic park with rides, playgrounds, and recreational activities. |
| Museum of Natural Sciences | Features exhibits on natural history, science, and interactive displays. |
| PNC Arena | Hosts sports events and concerts, home to the Carolina Hurricanes. |
| NC State Capitol | Offers tours of this historic Greek Revival building and its grounds. |
| Marbles Kids Museum | Interactive exhibits for children in a variety of themes. |
| Historic Yates Mill County Park | A historic gristmill set in a natural park setting. |
| City of Raleigh Museum | Focuses on local history within the historic Briggs Hardware building. |
| PNC Plaza | A vibrant public space hosting a farmers market and surrounded by dining options. |
| William B. Umstead State Park | Offers outdoor recreation with trails, lakes, and natural scenery. |
Here are top 12 attractions and activities that should not be missed when visiting Raleigh.
North Carolina Museum of Art
Name and Location: The North Carolina Museum of Art is a fine arts museum located in Raleigh, North Carolina.
History and Significance: Established in 1956 as the first major museum collection purchased by the state, NCMA now hosts an impressive permanent collection spanning 5,000 years of art from around the world, along with major traveling exhibitions.
What to Expect: World-class collection of paintings, sculpture, contemporary art, folk art exhibits across a spacious gallery building, surrounding sculpture park and trails. Special programs, classes, events year-round.
Visitor Information: Located on Blue Ridge Rd near I-440. Free general admission, special exhibits ticketed. Open Tues-Sat 9am–5pm, Sun 10am–5pm. Tours, cafe, gift shop on site.
The North Carolina Museum of Art is one of the top things to see and do in Raleigh. Home to an impressive permanent collection as well as a variety of visiting exhibitions, this art museum houses artwork spanning 5,000 years of world history. Highlights include an Egyptian gallery featuring actual mummies and artifacts, paintings by masters like Botticelli and Monet, contemporary American installations, and a 164-acre outdoor park full of art and walking trails. The museum frequently hosts events, classes, and programs as well. With free general admission and kid-friendly interactive galleries, the NCMA is a must-visit attraction.
Historic Oakwood Neighborhood
Name and Location: The Historic Oakwood Neighborhood is a residential district located southeast of downtown Raleigh, North Carolina.
History and Significance: Developed in the 19th century, Oakwood contains many preserved historic homes in Victorian architectural styles. The charming tree-lined neighborhood provides a glimpse of Raleigh’s past.
What to Expect: Stately old houses and gardens, many with historical plaques. Quiet streets ideal for walking tours to admire the architecture. Special events like Christmas home tours hosted annually.
Visitor Information: Roughly bound by Person St., Oakwood Ave., Linden Ave. and Boundary St. Free walking tours organized seasonally.
Located adjacent to downtown Raleigh, the Historic Oakwood Neighborhood is one of the best preserved 19th century residential neighborhoods in the Southeast. This historic area features picturesque homes, charming gardens, antique shops, cafes and galleries housed within Victorian architecture. Take a self-guided walking tour to see the gorgeous homes built between the 1850s and 1920s, featuring styles like Queen Anne, Craftsman bungalows, Italianate and Colonial Revival. It provides a glimpse into Raleigh’s past and heritage. Don’t miss seeing the old Governor’s mansion site while exploring this quintessential neighborhood.
JC Raulston Arboretum
Name and Location: The JC Raulston Arboretum is a botanical garden located adjacent to NC State University’s campus in Raleigh, North Carolina.
History and Significance: Named for renowned horticulturist J.C. Raulston, the arboretum gardens were created in 1976 for education and research purposes, now open to public visitors and widely acclaimed.
What to Expect: Diverse collections of ornamental plants across 8 acres of display gardens and nursery research plots. Seasonal woody plants and perennial flowers, green roof demo, special events.
Visitor Information: Free admission, open daily 8am–8pm. Located off Beryl Rd. on NC State campus. Public parking available in lots along Beryl.
Part of North Carolina State University, the JC Raulston Arboretum is one of the finest university arboretums in the country. Spanning 44 acres, it has 17 distinct garden collections showcasing 2,700 ornamental plant varieties from around the world. The curving paths, streams and bridges make exploring it a delight. Some highlights include the mixed shrub and perennial borders, Japanese Garden, Mediterranean Garden and Southeastern US natives section. This arboretum also frequently holds plant sales, special events and horticultural exhibits. The grounds also connect to historic Pullen Park, making both attractions easy to see in one outing.
Pullen Park
Name and Location: Pullen Park is a family amusement park located in Raleigh, North Carolina.
History and Significance: Opened in 1887 as part of the Pullen family estate, Pullen Park is one of the first and longest operating public parks in the nation featuring picnic grounds, kiddie rides, and a miniature train.
What to Expect: Classic amusement park with pedal boats, playground, jungle gym, historic carousel, train ride. Also walking trails, performance stage and garden areas for relaxation.
Visitor Information: Open daily, hours vary by season. $5 gate admission per person. Located on Ashe Ave near NC State. Metered street parking.
Speaking of Pullen Park, this charming park is one of Raleigh’s most beloved green spaces since 1887. It features lovely gardens, whimsical artwork and kitschy attractions. Must-see features include a 1911 Dentzel menagerie merry-go-round, an old-fashioned pedal boat pond, mini train rides around the park and interactive sculpture. Recent additions include an inclusive playground accessible for children of all abilities to enjoy. With open picnic grounds, outdoor theatre space for events and numerous food options, Pullen Park makes for both nostalgic and contemporary fun.
Museum of Natural Sciences
Name and Location: The Museum of Natural Sciences is a natural history museum located in Raleigh, North Carolina as part of the NC Museum of Natural Sciences system.
History and Significance: Founded in 1879, the museum holds wide-ranging collections related to North Carolina’s natural history from astronomy, geology, and paleontology to botany and anthropology with a dedicated research arm and educational programs.
What to Expect: Highlights include displays on dinosaurs, meteorites, taxidermied wildlife, a live Butterfly House exhibit. Has an outdoor native habitat trail walk behind museum. Regular science program offerings.
Visitor Information: Free general admission. Located near downtown Raleigh off Jones St. Open Mon-Sat 9am-5pm. Limited free parking beside museum. Tours available.
Filled with fascinating exhibits and immersive experiences, Raleigh’s Museum of Natural Sciences should be on any visitor itinerary. Permanent galleries feature wildlife dioramas, skeletal fossils of dinosaurs and whales, colorful exotic insects, an ancient auditorium and 3D shape theatre. Special touring exhibits bring in world-famous artifacts, like mummies, meteorites, Terra Cotta soldiers, and the work of famous scientists and explorers. This museum also organizes discovery camps, overnight experiences, behind-the-scenes tours and interactive science demos making it very engaging for all ages. With both fun and educational offerings, you’ll learn something new at this downtown museum.
PNC Arena
Name and Location: PNC Arena is a sports and entertainment arena located in Raleigh, North Carolina.
History and Significance: Completed in 1999, the arena was conceived as an anchor for a new urban entertainment district to revitalize Raleigh. It serves as home ice for the NHL Carolina Hurricanes as well as hosting major concert tours and college sports events.
What to Expect: State-of-the-art amenities hosting pro hockey games, basketball tournaments, figure skating competitions, theater shows, comedy acts, family events and more in main multi-use arena bowl. Bars, restaurants and team merchandise shops on site.
Visitor Information: Box office hours Mon-Sat 10am-6pm. Located off Edwards Mill Rd near I-40. Paid event parking in lots surrounding arena, ride share drop-off available.
North Carolina is renowned for its love of sports, especially hockey and college basketball. Catching a game or concert at Raleigh’s PNC Arena is a stellar way to see this passion in action. Home to the Carolina Hurricanes NHL hockey team and frequent NCAA games, the arena hosts many big sporting events that draw enthusiastic local crowds. Concerts also take place featuring famous headliners. Visiting when any big act is playing guarantees an electric atmosphere in the arena and extended festivities around the city. Touring the Carolina Hurricanes team hall of fame and memorabilia is also possible on non-game days.
North Carolina State Capitol
Name and Location: The North Carolina State Capitol building is located in downtown Raleigh.
History and Significance: Completed in 1840, the NC State Capitol is one of the oldest capitol structures in the country, housing the state’s legislative and representative governance bodies for over 175 years. The building and grounds are open to visitors.
What to Expect: Ornate mid-19th century architecture and historic legislative chambers preserved to view, with some hands-on exhibits on state history. Statuary flanking the exterior walks. Tours of the building offered.
Visitor Information: Free guided tours provided Mon-Fri 9am-5pm. Located on Union Square in downtown Raleigh. Street parking available nearby, not on premises. Gift shop on site.
No visit to Raleigh is complete without touring the magnificent North Carolina State Capitol building and grounds. Completed in 1840, this historic Greek Revival building contains the governor’s office as well as the state legislative chamber. Free tours provide great insight into operations and architectural details inside. The lush gardens around the capitol encompass 6 acres, with heritage trees, memorials and an old amphitheater space. The rotunda and exterior lights shine all through the evening, making it equally compelling to see by day or twinkling at night. Exploring the NC State Capitol provides valuable understanding of state government and notable history within these impressive walls.
Marbles Kids Museum
Name and Location: Marbles Kids Museum is a children’s museum located in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina.
History and Significance: Opened in 1999, Marbles was the first museum in the Southeast dedicated specifically to hands-on learning for children focused on STEAM skills and experiential play to inspire creativity and imagination.
What to Expect: Interactive exhibits and activities across themes like science, geography, engineering, health, arts and culture for toddlers to tweens. Waterplay station, animation studio, builder zone, inventor’s workshop and more to engage learning.
Visitor Information: Located on W Hargett St downtown. Open Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun noon-5pm. Admission $9 per person over 1yr old. Validated parking available in deck next door.
For families visiting with kids, Marbles Kids Museum is one of the best attractions in Raleigh. This massive 29,000 square feet space provides imaginative, hands-on play and learning across five permanent galleries like Imagination Alley, Innovation Studio and Wonders of Nature. Visitors can play music, become gourmet chefs, build race cars and glow structures, turn into weather reporters in the green screen TV studio and more. Special events, camps and weekend activities mean there’s always something new happening at Marbles just for younger visitors. Parents can also relax while kids play at their own pace all over this creative children’s haven.
Historic Yates Mill County Park
Name and Location: Historic Yates Mill County Park is a publicly owned historic grain mill site located south of downtown Raleigh, North Carolina.
History and Significance: Dating from the mid-1700s, Yates Mill still has a functioning grist mill housed in its original structure alongside miller’s home and 4 acres of scenic parkland including the millpond and historic buildings.
What to Expect: Operational 19th century grain mill powered by water turbine with restored machinery open for self-guided tours to observe process. Wildlife viewing, picnic facilities. Interpretive displays of mill operations and rural life.
Visitor Information: Free access. Open Tues-Sat 8am-5pm. Located on Yates Mill Pond Rd. Ample free onsite parking. Trails not suitable for wheelchairs.
North Carolina is renowned for its agricultural heritage, which shines at Yates Mill historic site. Listed on the national register of historic places, this operational gristmill from the late 18th century gives visitors a glimpse into earlier rural life and grain processing. The park features lush surroundings with a lake, woodlands and wetlands where many observations platforms spot plentiful wildlife. Many family activities arise in spring and summer like camping, fishing, hiking trails and canoeing options offered. Seeing the granary, main millhouse and outdoor exhibits portraying antique equipment make Yates Mill an engaging historic spot just minutes from downtown.
City of Raleigh Museum
Name and Location: The City of Raleigh Museum is a local history museum located in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina.
History and Significance: Opened in 2011, the museum celebrates Raleigh’s founding and growth through the centuries using artifacts and interactive exhibits engaging residents to discover area history. Dedicated museum staff conduct local research.
What to Expect: Hands-on exhibits covering topics like streetcar systems, architectural development, photography innovations with roots in Raleigh. Interpretive displays utilizing maps, photographs, objects related to the city’s past.
Visitor Information: Free admission. Open Tues-Fri 9am-4pm, Sat 10am-4pm. Located downtown at 220 Fayetteville St. Metered street parking available nearby.
Those hoping to immerse themselves in local history should visit Raleigh’s own city museum within the historic Briggs Hardware building. The museum brings more than a century of stories, culture and artifacts to life across 3 floors of galleries. Visitors can see objects brought over on Sir Walter Raleigh’s infamous fleet, pieces from lost landmarks, vintage vehicles and equipment telling the region’s growth through wars and hardships. Rotating exhibits highlight more specific collections like sports memorabilia, civil rights authors and K-12 student projects. This intimate museum provides fantastic context for everything that shaped the capital into its current beloved form.
PNC Plaza
Name and Location: PNC Plaza is a public square and event space located in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina.
History and Significance: Developed early 2000s as part of downtown revitalization, PNC Plaza provides an open-air venue hosting regular public events and seasonal activities in Raleigh’s business district. Features a dramatic statue as centerpiece.
What to Expect: Green space accommodating concerts, holiday celebrations, food/art festivals, movies, yoga and other community programming. Surrounded by downtown high rises, restaurants nearby.
Visitor Information: Free access. Located between Fayetteville & Wilmington streets. Pay parking decks/lots within a few blocks’ walk. Wheelchair friendly brick/paver ground surfaces.
At the heart of Raleigh’s business district lies PNC Plaza, an inviting public space flanked by the stylish PNC Tower. This vibrant plaza comes alive each Tuesday and Thursday 11am-2pm during warmer months when the Downtown Raleigh Farmers Market sets up shop. Visitors can browse farm-fresh produce, artisanal wares like honey, jam or soap, ambient live music and tempting food stalls while relaxing on shaded benches. Surrounding the plaza is also Raleigh’s famed restaurant scene with almost 50 eateries within a few block radius to continue the culinary adventures. Pop into the range of shops dotting nearby streets or snap photos by the mirrored black glass tower too.
William B. Umstead State Park
Name and Location: William B. Umstead State Park is a publicly owned recreation area encompassing over 5,500 acres north of Raleigh, North Carolina.
History and Significance: One of the state’s first parks developed by Civilian Conservation Corps workers in 1930s. Swaths of forest and the Big Lake reservoir provide a natural retreat close to the city for hiking, boating, picnicking and serenity seeking.
What to Expect: Miles of wooded hiking/bridle trails, small craft boat rentals, fishing docks, campsites, cabins, visitor center with educational displays and park store. Spot wildlife like songbirds, deer in their native habitats.
Visitor Information: Park open daily 8am-6pm year round. Free access, fees for camping, programs. Located off Glenwood Ave/I-540 northeast of Raleigh. Pets permitted on some trails.
Raleigh offers bountiful access to nature, including the incredible William B. Umstead State Park tucked just outside the city. Spanning over 5,500 acres between Raleigh, Durham and the RDU International Airport, it contains hiking, biking, bridle and boat trails circling its three picturesque lakes. Visitors recharge breathing clean forest air under pines, oaks and hickories – which burst with color in autumn. Spot deer, beavers, foxes and over 100 species of birds native to the southeastern coastal habitat. Year-round recreational opportunities from serene fishing to vigorous sculling on Company Mill Lake or renting cabin retreats keep this protected lands accessible in all seasons.
Conclusion
Raleigh strikes an alluring balance between Southern charm and cosmopolitan energy. History lives on through preserved architecture and heritage sites downtown, while the innovative urban atmosphere also fuels world-class museums, art galleries, universities and technology hubs. Raleigh’s family-friendly appeal shines with numerous parks, recreational options and interactive museums engage all ages. Food, sports and music scenes further the cultural vibrancy through countless resident-loved local staples. Considering all these wonderful attractions, it’s no wonder Raleigh continues growing in popularity for both longtime locals and visitors discovering its allure.