Raleigh, the state capital of North Carolina, is a booming metropolis that offers that big
city feel while staying true to its southern roots.
While the 'City Of Roots' has been historically a grossly underrated travel destination, it's
quickly becoming a must-visit city in the United States. Raleigh is steeped in history,
but it's also known for its youthful energy and eclectic community of inhabitants.
Raleigh is also a very affordable place to visit or live. And even though Raleigh isn't
known for being that big of a tourist destination, that doesn't mean that there aren't plenty
of interesting and entertaining things to do and sights to see there.
In this video, we're going to be highlighting some of the best attractions in Raleigh, North
Carolina.
Pullen Park
If you're searching for a fun attraction for kids in Raleigh, look no further than Pullen
Park. Situated on 66-acres of land near North Carolina State University and just a five-minute
drive from downtown, Pullen Park is notable for being the first public park in North Carolina
and the fifth oldest still-operational amusement park in the nation.
You can rent a pedal boat, ride a historic carousel and even hop aboard a miniature locomotive.
Your kids will love running free at the playground, and if you work up an appetite, you can have
yourself a little picnic. During the summer, Pullen Park is a great spot to catch a community
play, engage in your favorite outdoor sport or go for a leisurely stroll.
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
Featuring four floors of informative and interactive exhibits, this top-tier natural history museum
is the largest of its kind in the American southeast.
It's also the most popular attraction in the city. Not only is it free to visit, but it
is also home to dozens of captivating and educational exhibits.
You can take a self-guided tour through the museum's thought-provoking exhibits. A couple
of our favorites include the 10,000-gallon aquarium and the 'Terror of the South' exhibition.
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North Carolina Museum Of Art
For the traveler trying to keep a tight budget, here's another fantastic free museum to check
out. The Raleigh art museum hosts more than a dozen gallery spaces displaying art from
all over the globe. You can either explore the museum on your own or take a guided tour.
They also put on performing arts events and offer engaging family-friendly workshops throughout
the year.
When you're done appreciating all of the art pieces, be sure to take a walk through the
Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park. This 164-acre park features several trails that steer guests
through serene nature areas that showcase more than a dozen commissioned works of art.
James B. Hunt Library
Touted as being one of the most technologically advanced libraries in the world, the James
B. Hunt Library, which opened its doors in 2013, was erected to reflect NC State University's
status as being a preeminent technological research university.
The library's bold and iconic architecture features an intriguing design that blends
glass, steel, and solar fans. Once inside, you'll be blown away by the library's creative
and practical use of technology. They make use of technologies like curved displays,
touchscreens, and they even have a robot named bookBot that's programmed to retrieve books
from their 1.5 million book collection that are housed in the library's state-of-the-art
underground storage facility.
Capital Area Greenway System
If you enjoy outdoor activities like walking and biking, then you'll love Raleigh's greenway
system which is made up of over 180 miles of trails. There are 28 distinct trails to
choose from, so don't forget your bicycle or running shoes. A few of the most popular
trails are the 23-mile American Tobacco Trail which runs alongside an old abandoned railroad,
the Art To Heart Trail, which is a 6 -mile trail that connects the North Carolina Museum
of Art to downtown, and the 2.8-mile Lake Lynn Trail.
North Carolina Museum Of History
Across the street from the equally impressive Museum of Natural Sciences is this world-class
History museum. Founded in 1902, more than 40,000 visitors per year pass through this
full-featured facility. The museum has over 150,000 artifacts on display and covers more
than 14,000 years of North Carolina history. General admission is free, but some special
exhibits require an additional fee.
Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve
If you're looking for a nice, quiet place to escape the heat and enjoy a little shade
during the summer months or if you're searching for the perfect spot to watch the leaves put
on their colorful show in the fall, Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve has got you covered.
Here you will find a pleasant, well-maintained, and family-friendly space to appreciate the
great outdoors.
This 140-acre park was named after the atypical group of nearly 200 Easter Hemlock trees that
grow here. The park also features three miles of mulch-covered walking and hiking paths
that lead visitors to a handful of scenic overlooks.
The park is also home to the 3,700 square-foot Stevens Nature Center, where visitors can
learn about the nature and history of the surrounding region. They also put on environmental
education programs for visitors of all ages throughout the year, so be sure to check their
online schedule when planning your visit.
JC Raulston Arboretum
Maintained by North Carolina State University, this gorgeous 10-acre botanical garden and
arboretum is home to a wide variety of plants and wildlife. In fact, this nationally renowned
garden has more than 6,500 plants from all across the planet.
While visitors are free to meander through the grounds of the garden any time of the
year, from March to October, guests can also take a tour of the arboretum on Sundays at
2 pm.
Marbles Kids Museum
Located downtown, this children's museum is packed full of mesmerizing marbles and hands-on
educational displays. This fun and engaging museum gives kids a purposeful way to play
in an unforgettable way.
Let your children experience themed displays that were tailor-made to build their imagination
and ignite their passion for learning. Older guests will enjoy watching a major motion
picture over at the museum's giant IMAX screen.
Yates Mill County Park
This 174-acre environmental research center and wildlife refuge have a little bit of something
for everyone. There are plenty of attractions here to keep you and your family busy for
hours. They have a fully functional gristmill, a 24-acre pond, and miles of scenic trails.
And if you tour the park's mill, you'll learn all about its history and corn grinding process.
You can also cast out a line from any of its two boardwalks if you're hoping to snag a
big one.
Raleigh City Market
Established in 1914, this historic market is a lovely little mash-up of restaurants,
bars, boutiques, and shops. Raleigh City Market is the perfect spot to do a little holiday
shopping or grab a bite to eat. It's also a thoroughly pleasant place to go for a stroll
and explore when the weather permits. If you're a fan of Italian cuisine, we highly recommend
giving Vic's Ristorante Italiano a go.
North Carolina State Capital Building
Built in 1840 out of locally sourced stone, the State Capitol Building is located in the
heart of downtown. It's a National Historic Landmark and one of the finest examples of
Greek Revival-style architecture in the country.
The building used to house the office of the governor, the Supreme Court, and the chambers
of the North Carolina General Assembly, as well as various other official and ceremonial
state offices.
A stone statue of George Washington dressed in the attire of a Roman general is featured
in the building's rotunda. If you're planning on touring the Capitol building, it's recommended
to start by walking around the building's exterior and exploring all of the monuments
and statues that are on display amidst the looming oak trees.
Dorothea Dix Park
Spanning more than 300 acres, Dorothea Dix Park is the largest park in Raleigh. Here
you will find impressive views of the cities skyline and wide open green spaces, rolling
meadows, and tree-lined streets.
Located just a quick 5-minute drive from downtown, Dorothea Dix Park is a pleasant space to spend
an afternoon any time of the year, but the park also holds several seasonal events and
festivals, such as the Field of Sunflowers event, each year.
Mordecai Historical Park
If you follow North Person Street all the way to its end, you'll find Mordecai Historic
Park, which was once the biggest plantation in Wake County. In addition to hosting numerous
items of fascinating North Carolina history, the park also is the home of Mordecai Historic
House, the oldest residence in Raleigh that still sits on its original foundation. It
was also the place where the 17th president of the United States, Andrew Johnson, was
born.
You'll want to begin your visit over at the visitor center, which is just a quick stroll
away from the parking area on Mimosa Street. There you can buy tickets, get information
about the park, or grab a souvenir at the gift shop.
Contemporary Art Museum
CAM is a multimedia contemporary art gallery. While they don't have a permanent collection
on display, they do have exhibits showcasing the works of local, national, and international
artists.
CAM is very popular with Raleigh locals, and every exhibit is distinctly unique and designed
to be both informative and transformation. And the best thing is, admission is always
free.
Frankie's Fun Park
Sure, this is is no Six Flags or Busch Gardens. If you want to go to a huge, full-featured
theme park, you can always take a trip over to Carowinds in Charlotte, which is just two
and a half hours away, but Frankie's Fun Park is still worth a visit even though it might
not be quite as impressive as some of it's more fleshed-out competitors.
They have attractions like go-karts, laser tag, batting cages, mini-golf, arcade games,
bumper boats, and even a flight simulator.
There is no admission price to enter the park, but you will have to pay for each activity
that you choose to participate in. Also, it's worth noting that guests under the age of
18 must be accompanied by either their parent or legal guardian.
Alright, well we've covered a lot of territory in this video, but alas, we've run of time.
Have you been to any of the destinations we've just gone over? Or do you know of any that
we failed to mention that you think the world needs to know about? Either way, let us know
in the comments section below.
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