Raleigh, North Carolina – Tourism and Attractions (Updated 2024)
Raleigh
In the capital of North Carolina, vibrant variety meets Southern hospitality.
Raleigh, which is the capital city of North Carolina, is one of the most interesting and lively towns in the South. It’s a place where new and old meet. The city is in the middle of the US’s eastern coast and is part of North Carolina’s famous study Triangle, which is a hub for education, study, and technological progress. The city is known as the “Smithsonian of the South” for its great arts and culture. It also has a famous food scene, with Ashley Christensen being named the 2019 Best Chef in America by the James Beard Foundation, and a music scene that made “Rolling Stone” named Raleigh one of the top eight emerging music cities in the USA.
From the arts to music
That’s right, Raleigh has a museum for everyone, whether you love art, history, or trips with kids. The North Carolina Museum of Art has the biggest museum art park in the United States. It has art from more than 5,000 years ago. As long as the Contemporary Art Museum (CAM) keeps adding new shows, art fans will always be able to see something new. At the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, you can learn about local plants and animals and even go to an event inside a replica globe that is three stories tall! The North Carolina Museum of Past is another place to learn about the past of the state. The best part? You can use all four for free. The city’s music scene comes to life at night. Enjoy a jazz club with a speakeasy vibe at C. Grace, indie rock at Neptune’s and Kings, or big-name bands at Red Hat Amphitheater.
Enjoy being outside
Raleigh is a great place to be outside all year because the winters are mild and the summers are warm. The 44-kilometer Neuse River Greenway Trail has boardwalks, paths, and bridges that you can walk, jog, or ride your bike along. Along the way, you can see historical places and beautiful wetlands. It’s on a part of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, which runs the length of North Carolina and is part of the nearly 300 kilometers of greenways in Greater Raleigh. At William B. Umstead State Park, you can hike through forests and on nature walks, or you can paddle your canoe along the Neuse River Canoe Trail. There is only one bald cypress blackwater swamp in the area, and Robertson Millpond Preserve is the only place in the area where you can go paddling through it.
A Foodie’s Dream
In Raleigh, you won’t be thirsty or hungry. Start your trip at Brewery Bhavana, which has a brewery with a Belgian feel as well as a flower shop, dim sum restaurant, community library, and bookstore all in one. They don’t like certain foods or you just can’t decide what to eat. If you go to Morgan Street Food Hall or Transfer Co. Food Hall, you can find a wide range of foods to suit your tastes, such as tacos, fresh fish, bagels, and gourmet ice cream. During happy hour, Raleigh Beer Garden has more than 350 beers on draft, making it the world’s biggest draft-only bar. Garland (try the Cauliflower 65 with turmeric-yogurt sauce) and Bida Manda (the crispy pork belly soup is amazing) are two of the world’s best restaurants for food.