6 Reasons To Visit Raleigh, NC, the Smithsonian of the South
Spending some time in Raleigh? Here are six can’t-miss activities.
Culture, nature and good food — it’s the classic trio for a perfectly balanced vacation, and Raleigh has all three in spades.
The North Carolina capital is known as the Smithsonian of the South for its world-class cultural attractions, many of which are entirely free to visit. The city’s culinary creativity is just as vibrant, including several dining concepts helmed by a chef that the James Beard Foundation named the most “outstanding” in 2019. And if you like trails, you’ve got over 180 miles of greenways to wander — not to mention the dozens of parks and nature preserves.
From breweries to bluegrass, here are the top reasons Raleigh should be your next getaway.
In This Article
1. Visit a Free Museum (or Five)
You can’t do better than starting your trip at one of the city’s top museums. These are the heavy hitters:
- North Carolina Museum of Art: See more than 5,000 works, including the Southeast’s most extensive collection of Rodin sculptures and one of Yayoi Kusama’s famed infinity mirror rooms.
- North Carolina Museum of History: Travel back in time, from Native American heritage to Civil Rights and beyond, and don’t miss the third-floor North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.
- North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences: Explore immersive exhibits unraveling the secrets of the natural world, the newest of which is the much-anticipated Dueling Dinosaurs (opening spring 2024), featuring two of the most complete skeletons of a T-rex and Triceratops, found buried together.
All three museums have free admission, but there are over a dozen more to check out. A few standouts include the Contemporary Art Museum (free), the Gregg Museum of Art & Design at North Carolina State University (also free) and the affordably priced Marbles Kids Museum.
2. Indulge in Raleigh’s Fabulous Food
Now, let’s talk culinary art. Raleigh rolls Southern cooking, international flavors, farm-to-table fare and haute cuisine into one booming food scene. If you only have a few days, you’ll need to prioritize.
First off, fried chicken. It’s everywhere in Raleigh. If you’re skeptical about this understated Southern dish, order some at Beasley’s Chicken + Honey (owned by James Beard Award winner Ashley Christensen), best atop a fresh waffle, and you’ll be a believer, too.
For an elegant dinner, you’ll remember long after you leave, book a table at Madre. Their shareable small plates — like crispy salchipapas, tender grilled octopus and a roasted head of cauliflower so decadent you’ll never look at the vegetable the same way again — complement a robust wine and cocktail list. Pro tip: Don’t skip dessert.
Benchwarmers Bagels (located inside Transfer Co. Food Hall) is your go-to for breakfast. The sandwiches sport upscale ingredients like cornichons and charred grapefruit glaze, but even a plain wood-fired bagel and coffee are deeply satisfying. Save another morning to swing by Boulted Bread, an artisanal bakery that always seems to have a line out the door but is absolutely worth it for the fresh loaves and pastries inside.
Speaking of great grains, this is beer central. The capital area has more than 40 breweries, an official beer trail, and a beer garden holding the Guinness World Record for the most beers on tap. Try Standard Beer & Food for a family-friendly space that serves excellent beer brewed on-site alongside locally sourced, crowd-pleasing food. As a bonus, it’s next door to Two Roosters Ice Cream, where flavors like blackberry hibiscus and coffee bourbon redefine what ice cream can be.
3. Bike the Greenway
Raleigh is a serious trail town. The Capital Area Greenway boasts 28 trails connecting parks, restaurants, shopping, neighborhoods and more. Here are some favorites:
- Take the 30-mile Neuse River Greenway north to Horseshoe Farm Nature Preserve for picturesque meadows, wildlife and spectacular fall color.
- For more rural scenery, hop on the East Coast Greenway, a still-in-progress 3,000-mile trail from Maine to Florida — the longest completed stretch is just west of Raleigh.
- Mix some art with your nature on the Art to Heart Corridor, starting in a 164-acre sculpture park and ending a block from the performing arts center downtown, home to live theater, ballet, orchestra and more.
Don’t have a bike? Use the budget-friendly Cardinal Bikeshare program to rent a set of wheels (two-thirds of which are electric) from any of the 30 docking stations around town.
4. Explore Raleigh’s Parks
Beyond the greenways, you can immerse yourself in nature at sprawling state preserves like William B. Umstead State Park and Falls Lake State Recreation Area, popular for fishing, hiking, paddling and camping.
Or get a workout in at Green Hills County Park, where you can climb a short but steep 200 feet up the appropriately named Top of the Hill Trail. The payoff? A 360-degree panorama that includes downtown Raleigh. Then, there are the woodsy overlooks at Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve and the serene lake views from the 500-foot bridge at Lake Crabtree County Park (which also has free watercraft rentals in summer).
Closer to town, hit up Dorothea Dix Park, an urban playground with swings, pop-up disc golf, a dog park, hammocks, a hill for sledding in winter and free events ranging from yoga to the Japanese art of kokedama. Pullen Park, meanwhile, is a must for families; it opened in 1887 and offers old-timey amusement rides like a carousel and train.
5. Stay in a Historic Hotel
As you might be able to guess, from the parks to the museums to the food, Raleigh cares about its heritage, and that doesn’t stop with your daytime activities. Historic hotels abound in Raleigh, with one of the most famous being The Longleaf Hotel.
Checking in here isn’t your typical gray-painted, lofty-ceiling lobby. You enter through a lounge with a retro-chic vibe and get your room key from the counter, where there’s complimentary fresh coffee in the morning. The mid-century modern aesthetic is authentic. This boutique hotel is a reimagined 1960s Travelodge, preserving several original design features and adding touches of class, like plush pillow-top mattresses and premium Malin+Goetz bath products.
Wind down your night with a vermouth-based cocktail on their private patio, and make the most of the central location by walking everywhere. You’re close to museums, the capitol, the stunning North Carolina Executive Mansion, parks, bike-share stations, restaurants, shops, and more.
6. Attend a Festival
Raleigh’s event calendar is always hopping. Art lovers can’t miss the arts and crafts market at Spring Daze in nearby Cary or the giant Artsplosure held every May.
Music fans have even more to choose from. Along with over 80 music venues in the area where you can catch a live show year-round, events like the two-day Dreamville Festival, three-day Hopscotch Music Festival and the world’s largest urban bluegrass festival bring in national acts. And if you’re into beer, you can’t miss Brewgaloo in April, the NC Hops Festival in June or the Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival in August.
But more than art and music, more than beer, Raleigh loves its own. There are festivals throughout the year reflecting the capital’s diverse community, whether it’s Animazement in the spring, Caribmask Carnival and Juneteenth in the summer, or Asia Fest, La Fiesta del Pueblo, and the American Indian Heritage Celebration in the fall.
One thing’s sure: Raleigh knows how to put on a party and make everyone feel welcome.