#Top 5 Things to Do in Raleigh, North Carolina

Table of Contents

Raleigh, the capital of North Carolina is one of the country’s educational hubs. It is mainly known for the universities, technology and scholarly institutions, scattered around Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill. Hence, these three cities are known as the Research Triangle. However, apart from these educational institutions, Raleigh is filled with diversions. There are umpteen number of attractions and things to do in Raleigh, NC that one should make a list before heading to stroll around the city.

The city was named after Sir Walter Raleigh, who established an English settlement here in the 1580s. It was later founded as the capital city of North Carolina in 1792. It was also called the ‘City of Oaks’ by many due to the number of green spaces it has. The beautiful and serene Umstead State Park, where the locals walk or ride a bike on its wooded trails or rent a canoe to boat in the lake.

If you are somehow booking a flight to North Carolina, make sure to visit its various green spaces, museums, and art galleries.

Best Time to be in Raleigh, NC

The climate of Raleigh is humid subtropical. The summers here are hot and humid and winters are mild. The city experiences 47 inches of precipitation annually. The best time to book a flight to Raleigh is either during spring or in fall, when the weather is mild and the beautiful transition of nature can be seen throughout the city’s parks and gardens.

Things to Do in Raleigh

A trip to Raleigh is going to take you back in time when it was established as a settlement for the English in the 16th century. There is so much history to unearth here and the best place to learn about the city’s past is the several museums located in various neighborhoods. For art aficionados, the art galleries and live performance venues are enough to make their stay here fruitful. Here are a few exciting and must things to do in Raleigh.

Pullen Park

It is the city’s first public park, which was established in 1887 to offer the resident’s a green space. Interestingly , it is the fifth-oldest operating amusement park in the US and sixteenth-oldest amusement park in the world. The park is spread across 66 acres of land and boasts a few amazing rides apart from the green spaces to walk, run or jog around. The rides here include Gustave A Dentzel Carousel and the C.P. Hungtington’s Miniature Train.

Visitors also enjoy the boat ride on Lake Howell. For the younger visitors, the lake has Kiddie boat rides as well. Fans of the Andy Griffith show can take pictures with the Andie and Opie’s bronze statues. There is also a huge playground for the kids, tennis courts, indoor aquatic center, sports fields, a children’s amphitheater, and a cafe.

North Carolina Museum of History

Whether you are a history buff or not, a trip to the North Carolina Museum of History is one of the must things to do in Raleigh, North Carolina. The museum displays both permanent and mobile exhibits that showcases the state’s past, associated with the original Native American settlers. The 2o,000 square feet of permanent exhibits displaying the story of North Carolina takes visitors back to 14,000 years ago. The museum has two full size historic houses and a life-size replica of Wright brother’s plane.

It also houses Native American tools, housewares of early European settlers, Revolutionary War era costumes, and weapons and gears from the Civil War era. The exhibit also displays the history of the first days of slavery through the fight for justice and equality. The North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame is another must-visit stop here.

Yates Mill County Park

Take a visit to historic Yates Mill County Park and find out the area’s last remaining water-powered gristmill in Wake County. It still has the original equipment that was used to grind corn and wheat for the residents in the 50s. However, history is not the only attraction here. One can hike the several miles of trails that trace the Mill Pond and extend west of it.

The mill remains open to the public between March and November. During these months, it hosts several events, programs, and exhibits that preserves the region’s agricultural heritage. Since the mill is located in a 174 acre wildlife refuge, one can take a hike through the4 wooded trails and explore the native flora and fauna that has been thriving here for years.

North Carolina Museum of Art

Visiting the North Carolina Museum of Art is one of the best things to do in Raleigh, NC. It was first established in 1956 as the first state-funded collection. Today, it houses great art from the renaissance, ancient Greek, Roman sculpture, artifacts, Egyptian burial artwork, early American art, and pre-Columbian works. Additionally, it is also one of the two American Museums that houses permanent exhibits of Jewish Art.

You can take a guided tour to explore its galleries and exhibits or also take part in various workshops performing art shows, films, and lectures. The rotating exhibits are equally appreciative that show various rich artworks. The African American Cultural Center at North Carolina State is a must visit that features exhibits by prominent artists and promotes the rich heritage of the state.

William B. Umstead State Park

Located just outside Raleigh and halfway to Durham, is an expansive state park that provides the much required respite from the urban chaos of the capital city. Hiking in the 13 mile trails, weaving around three artificial lakes offers some of the most picturesque views of the surrounding lakes. This 5,579 acres of land has wooded trails and lakes, where visitors can walk, hike, ride a bike, and even run through it.

The locals flock to the park on the weekend or on a beautiful summer day for fishing in the Big Lake. canoeing and rowing are equally popular and interested can rent one for themselves. One of the hidden gems of the park is a 25 foot fallen red oak tree, whose trunk has been carved by two artists to give it a shape of animals, tree branches, and leaves.campgrounds are also available for those who prefer overnight stay amidst nature.

Bottom Line

Looking for fun things to do in Raleigh, NC? Well, we hope this blog has helped you plan your trip to this state capital of North Carolina. From art museums to history and science museums, hiking trails and historic mills, there’s every kind of diversion for all sorts of travelers. Visit this ‘City of Oaks’ to explore its best attractions. Let us know if you want to add more into the list.

by Santo Daiz

If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on Google News too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.