Things to See and Do in Raleigh

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IN THIS ARTICLE

FUN FACTS

PARKS/RECREATION/OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

MUSEUMS & ART

EVENTS & FESTIVALS

SPORTS

PERFORMANCE & VENUES

 

Raleigh is a city known for its high quality of family life. The City has a disproportionately high percentage of youth and family units, so it may be assumed there is some kind of mundane atmosphere here. Not so fast with that assumption. Raleigh has a lot to see and do, but before that subject is explored, let's learn some about the area:

 

FUN FACTS

 

Namesake- The City was named for Englishman Sir Walter Raleigh, who attempted to establish the first English colony in 1850 on the shores of the New World (now Dare County, NC)

 

Nickname- The oldest is "City of Oaks". Some speculate the name originated with the large number of such trees when the City was first established. In fact, a downtown tour reveals several large parks laid out in squares, each one filled with 200 year-old oak trees.

 

"Smithsonian of the South" - because Raleigh has 20 free museums of the highest caliber.

But during the last couple of decades, a tongue-in-cheek snipe has taken hold as a new moniker: "Raleighwood".

 

Origin-Raleigh was founded in 1792 and is the only state capital to have been planned and established, by a state as its seat of state government.

 

Andrew Johnson-the nation's 17th President, was born in the kitchen of an Inn in Raleigh in 1808. As Vice President, Johnson rose to the highest office when Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865.

 

NC Museum of Art- First State Art Museum in the Country is in Raleigh.

 

NC Symphony- The first state established symphony began in Raleigh.

 

Shaw University- is the first historically black university in the South, and the site of the foundation of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, an important civil rights organization of the 1960's

 

Size- 145 square miles. Population: 423,179. Raleigh ranks as the 42nd most populous city, behind Colorado Springs, CO and Omaha, NE.

 

Largest Employers- State of North Carolina (24,739), Wake County Public School System (17,572), NC State University (7,730), Wake Med (7,607), Rex Health (4,800), Red Hat (4,500).

 

SHOPPING

Cameron Village Shopping Center- is an historic shopping center opened in 1949, and quickly became the premier shopping area in Raleigh. It is also considered the first shopping center to be built between Washington, D.C. and Atlanta. It is on the National Registry of Historic Places.

Crabtree Valley Mall- One of the Southeast's largest and most successful malls, replete with 200 stores. Popular destinations include Apple Store, Disney Store. Forever 21, H&M, J. Crew, Abercrombie & Fitch, Belk, Gap, Macy's, Sears. Crabtree Valley has also become a very popular dining destination as well. There, find Kanki, Cheescake Factory, and dozens of other restaurants.

North Hills (Mid Town)- This multi-faceted district was once the site of Raleigh first Mall (North Hills). It was razed and re-purposed into a "midtown" locale for living, shopping and dining. It includes premier dining destinations, a park and gathering places, apartments, groceries entertainment venues, offices and high-end retail stores. Oh, and a 4-star hotel!

Triangle Town Center- The City's newest shopping destination, Triangle Town Center is a shopping, dining, and entertainment experience. Shop North Carolina’s only Saks Fifth Avenue along with Macy’s Belk, Dillard’s, Sears and more than 175 specialty shops like Orvis, DSW Shoes, Charming Charlie, Cache, Chico’s, Coldwater Creek, Gap, Williams-Sonoma, Z Gallerie and dine at California Pizza Kitchen, Champs Americana, The Twisted Fork and 14 other eateries.

 

HISTORIC SIGHTS

North Carolina State Capital-is the main house of government of North Carolina. Housing the offices of the Governor of North Carolina, it is located in the state capital of Raleigh on Union Square at One East Edenton Street. The cornerstone of the Greek revival building was laid with Masonic honors by the Grand Master of the State Simmons Jones Baker on July 4, 1833^. Construction was completed during 1840. 919-733-4994

 

North Carolina Executive Mansion- Afine, Victorian-style mansion, built from native materials and home to N.C. governors since 1891, was described by FDR as having “the most beautiful governor’s residence interior in America.” Free admission. Tour reservations must be made at least two weeks in advance; tour hours are limited and vary seasonally. 919-807-7950

Downtown Raleigh - has experienced an amazing transformation from a one-way 1960's pedestrian mall to a gleaming and exciting venue of places to work, live and play. The downtown boats a wide array of restaurants, high rise towers, condominiums and regular entertainment.

Historic Oakwood Neighborhood  - is a neighborhood located in downtown Raleigh, on the National Register of Historic Places, and known for its Historic Oakwood Cemetery, its many Victorian houses and its location close to the Mordecai Plantation Manor. Located near the Governor's Mansion and the State Capitol, during the 19th century Historic Oakwood was home to prominent members of Raleigh's society. Oakwood is also well known for its Christmas Candlelight Tour, which opens private historic residences to the public, and the Garden Tour, which allows the public to see the vast gardens worked on by the Oakwood Gardening Club.

Mordecai Historic Parkis site of the largest plantation in Wake County. It is home to some of Raleigh's greatest historic treasures including the Mordecai House ca. 1785 and the Birthplace of Andrew Johnson. Mordecai Historic Park offers tours, events, field trips, trolley tours, and much more. Tours available 919-857-4364

Historic Raleigh Trolley- Enclosed and air-conditioned, this is a 1-hour tour of downtown Raleigh. The trolley leaves from Mordecai Historic Park. 919-857-4364

Joel Lane Museum House & Gardens- Costumed guides provide tours of the oldest existing home in Wake County. Built in 1769, owner Joel Lane sold 1,000 acres of the land for legislators to begin the new State capitol, Raleigh. 919-833-3431

Pope House Museum- Built in 1901, the Pope House Museum is the only African-American house museum in the state of North Carolina. The house museum features original furnishings and artifacts giving insight into a remarkable man and family. The museum is open for free tours on Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Last tour starts at 2:00 PM. 919-996-2220

Haywood House & Gardens- Built in 1799 by John Haywood, North Carolina's first elected treasurer. The museum contains original furnishings, a doll collection and family portraits. Free admission. 919-833-3431

Historic Oakwood Cemetery- Founded in 1867 for Confederate soldiers, this park like destination is fascinating. Ponder history and culture from serene grounds. 919-832-6077

North Carolina State Archives- The records are available for research and viewing from manuscripts to maps photographs and documents dating to the original Colony, from 1633 to the present. 919-807-7310

PARKS/RECREATION/OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Pullen Park- is a 72-acre public park, west of downtown and adjacent to North Carolina State University. e park features picnic areas, a concessions stand along with several small rides including the Pullen Park Carousel, train, and kiddie boats. Pedal boats are also available for rent seasonally on the park's large pond. The Pullen Aquatic Center, Pullen Arts Center and Theatre In the Park are also located on the park grounds. It is one of the most famous and known parks around the Raleigh/Durham area.

William B. Umstead State Park- is a 5,439-acre Park, offering hiking, bridle and bike trails, boat rentals, camping, picnic areas and educational programs. Here, two worlds merge as the sounds of civilization give way to the unhurried rhythm of nature. Highways fade in the distance as trees, flowers, birds and streams form a more natural community. William B. Umstead is a place to escape the pressures of everyday life, a place to picnic in the pines, to wait for a fish to bite, to take a hike or horseback ride on trails through the woods. Some of the longest, most extensive mountain bike trails in the region. 919-571-4170

Aquatic Centers-
Buffaloe Road Aquatic Center - 919-996-5600
Millbrook Exchange Pool - 919-996-4130
Optimist Pool - 919-870-2882
Pullen Aquatic Center - 996-6197

Athletic Facilities-
Buffaloe Road Athletic Park - 919-996-5600
Walnut Creek Softball Complex - 919-996-6836

Sports Facilities -
Capital City BMX Track - 919-795-6483
Marsh Creek Inline Hockey Rink & Skate Park  - 919-996-4920
Millbrook Exchange Tennis Center - 919-996-4156

Lakes-
Lake Johnson- includes a 150 lake, 3.5 miles of paved greenway trails, plus 1.9 unpaved trails. Boat rental (no swimming or wading), boat launches, fishing from the boardwalk or boat, conference rooms and cottage rental, plus a large swimming pool complex. 919-233-2121

Lake Wheeler- includes a 650-acre lake. Constructed in 1956 with the aid of the Army Corps of Engineers, Lake Wheeler once served as Raleigh's secondary auxiliary water supply lake. In 1958, Lake Wheeler was approved for controlled fishing and other recreational activities as established by City of Raleigh Ordinance. Enjoy the day on the water by launching your personally owned boat or by renting one of our boats. Personal Watercrafts (PWC), commonly known as Jet skis, is not allowed to launch at Lake Wheeler. Whether your goal is to go fishing, site seeing or exercise, we have the boat that's right for you. 919-662-5704

Lake Lynn - Lake Lynn Park includes a 2.8-mile greenway, plus a community center, gymnasium, meeting rooms, dance studio, batting cages, indoor basketball court, tennis courts, bocce courts, baseball field and playground.

Shelley Lake - Shelley Lake Park consists of a 53-acre lake and parkland surrounding the lake with two miles of paved, scenic greenway trails. There are many opportunities to enjoy nature, including beautiful and serene woods, views of the lake, and abundant wildlife.

 

Historic Yates Mill County Park  - This 174-acre park features Wake County’s last remaining gristmill, plus the mill’s 24-acre pond with hiking trails, fed by Steep Hill Creek. The 18th century water-powered mill is fully restored and operable. Free admission to the park; mill tour fee: $3-5. 919-856-6675

 

 

MUSEUMS & ART

The North Carolina Museum of Art- houses one of the finest collections of art in the Southeast, a collection that includes paintings and sculpture representing 5,000 years of artistic achievements from antiquity to the present. The Museum features more than 40 galleries as well as more than a dozen works of art in its 164-acre Museum Park. 919-839-6262

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences- This museum is the oldest established museum in North Carolina and the largest museum of its kind in the Southeast. It has about 700,000 visitors annually, making it the most visited attraction in the state. 919-707-9800

The North Carolina Museum of History- is located in downtown Raleigh. Permanent exhibits focus on the state’s military history, decorative arts, the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, and more. Visitors will see a variety of short-term and traveling exhibits. Admission is free. 919-807-7900

City of Raleigh Museum- is located in the historic Briggs Hardware Building on Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh and has a number of exhibits and programs that are free to the public. 919-996-2220

Marbles Kids Museum- is a nonprofit children's museum located in downtown Raleigh, in the Moore Square Historic District. Its mission is to "inspire imagination, discovery and learning through extraordinary adventures in play and larger-than-life IMAX experiences."It was created through the merger in 2007 of two existing children's museums: Exploris and Playspace and today offers "unique hands-on interactive experiences that inspire children to be creative thinkers and active learners." 919-834-4040

African American Cultural Complex- African Americans contributions toward the development of North Carolina and America are presented in unique collections.. Innovations in science, business, politics, medicine, sports and the arts are included. Exhibits include “African American Hall of Fame” and “Women of Note.” An outdoor drama, “Amistad Saga: Reflections,” is produced annually in late July. Free admission. Hours: by appointment only. 919-250-9336

 

North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame- explore the contribution of the State by 360 sports legends inducted to the Hall. Located within the NC Museum of History. 919-807-7900

 

Gregg Museum of Art & Design- is a collecting museum at North Carolina State University.  Its collection has strengths in, but is not limited to, textiles (including garments), ceramics, outsider/folk art, paintings, photography, sculpture, architectural drawings, archaeological artifacts, ethnographic materials and modern furniture. 919-513-1800

 

Betty Ray McCain Art Gallery- This unique gallery, nestled within the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts, is the proud home of the North Carolina Artists Exhibition, a collection of work by state artists, selected each year from hundreds of submissions by respected local museum and gallery directors. 

 

Pullen Arts Center - The Center provides a nurturing creative atmosphere in beautiful park settings for novices and professionals alike, with skilled arts instructors, specialized equipment, large studio spaces and classrooms, and an art exhibit Gallery Program. Open Studio Time enables qualified studio cardholders to work on their art and use studio equipment and amenities in a non-instructional environment. 919-996-6126

 

Sertoma Arts Center- offers beginning, intermediate and advanced classes and workshops for adults in visual, performing and healing arts along with visual and performing classes and summer camps for preschool, youth and teens. Classes take place year round and are open to all ages and abilities. 919-996-2329

 

 

EVENTS & FESTIVALS

The North Carolina State Fair- is an annual fair and agricultural exposition held in Raleigh. The North Carolina Agricultural Society at a site east of Raleigh first held the North Carolina State Fair in 1853; it has been celebrated continuously since then. Held for 10 days in mid-October, the fair annually attracts over 800,000 North Carolinians. As of 2008, the fair has added an additional day and now lasts 11 days. In 2010, the fair broke an attendance record with 1,091,887.

 

Artsplosure - Each May, for 35 years, this is one of the Southeast’s premier arts festivals. The Raleigh Arts Festival attracts more than 80,000 people to downtown Raleigh during the third weekend of May each year. Celebrating fine visual art and live music since 1980, this year’s festival continues the tradition of presenting high quality and accessible visual art and live music for free in the heart of the capital city.The Festival will include entertainment in and around the Moore Square and City Plaza areas. Over 180 visual artists and crafters from across the country will exhibit and sell their original works of art. There will be many great performances and lots of activities for kids.  919-832-8699

 

First Night- The Capitol City celebrates New Year's Eve in grand fashion each December 31. Because Raleigh is known as the City of Oaks, The Raleigh Acorn is lowered to ring in the New Year. While the acorn has become synonymous with First Night Raleigh, the festival is much more than the countdown to midnight. A $10 admission pass grants you access to every performance and every venue throughout the day. That’s nearly 100 performances in over 36 locations across downtown Raleigh. Over 80,000 revelers gather to cheer and sing. 919-832-8699

 

International Festival of Raleigh- Held in September at the Raleigh Convention Center, over 30,000 attendees enjoy 3 days of international dance, food and cultural exhibits. Over 50 different groups from around the world participate to showcase their cuisine, traditional dance and customs. Join us for an entertaining, informative and delicious event!

 

World of Bluegrass- is a phenomenally popular event held in September in downtown Raleigh. 154,000 music lovers attended the multi-faceted event featuring the biggest names in America's original music genre. World of Bluegrass week is the annual homecoming for the bluegrass music community, taking place September 24-28, 2013 in Raleigh, North Carolina. World of Bluegrass features three separate events: the IBMA Business Conference (Sept. 24-26) that focuses on development and networking for bluegrass professionals, the International Bluegrass Music Awards (Sept. 26) and Wide Open Bluegrass (Sept. 27-28), which will host the best in bluegrass music as well as multiple workshops, jam sessions and activities (ticketed events). 888-438-4262

 

Southern Ideal Home Show  - is held each September at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds. Over 20,000 attend each year, exploring Building/Home improvement ideas, information, and resources for your home and landscape. 919-839-4501

World Beer Festival- Held in April at Moore Square in downtown Raleigh. Of course, you must be 21 to attend. Experience a chance to sample from over 250 craft and specialty beers from around the world. Tickets are $45. 919-530-8150

Lichtin Plaza- This elegant two-acre plaza in front of the Progress Energy Center is the ideal, open-air space for festivals, concerts and tented social gatherings and functions.

 

Raleigh Convention Center- is a 500,000 square foot convention and exhibition center in downtown Raleigh. The west-facing wall of the new convention center boasts a large public art piece called the 'Shimmer Wall' that contains LED lights in the form of an oak tree, for which the city is nicknamed the 'City of Oaks'. 

 

SPORTS

Professional Hockey: The Carolina Hurricanes- is a professional, PNC Arena, which opened in October 1999 and still sparkles like new, is home to the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes and the N.C. State men's basketball team. The 19,700-seat venue, located in west Raleigh, has hosted an impressive array of major sports, concert tours, and events year after year.

 

On an annual basis, PNC Arena welcomes over 1.5 million guests and plays host to more than 150 events. NCAA Basketball Tournaments, NHL Stanley Cup Finals, Disney on Ice, Paul McCartney, Pavarotti, Patti LaBelle, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Harlem Globetrotters, Get Motivated Seminars and Jeopardy College Championship are just to name a few events hosted by PNC Arena. The arena is conveniently accessible from all parts of the state. Adjacent to Carter-Finley Stadium and the NC State Fairgrounds, the arena is just off I-40 and I-440 minutes from RDU International Airport.

 

Amenities include over 8,000 designated parking spaces, 18 permanent concession stands, over 50 portable concession stands, 37 public restrooms, as well as escalators and elevators throughout the building. Equipped with three concourses, 66 luxury suites, 2,000 Club Seats, and a spacious 9,100 square foot restaurant on the Club Level, PNC Arena is well equipped to handle events of all types. Full catering service, operated entirely onsite by VAB Catering, is also available for private functions. 919-861-2300

Carolina Hurricanes- National Hockey League franchise team based in Raleigh, playing in the 18,680-seat PNC Center. In 2006, they won their first world championship Stanley Cup. 866-645-2263

College Sports:

North Carolina State University- is a public, coeducational, land grant university with 33,000 students, making it the largest in North Carolina.

 

Football is played at 55,571-seat Carter-Finley Stadium and also plays host to the N.C. High School Athletic Association state championship games. The 117,000 sq. ft. Vaughn Towers on the west side includes 51 luxury suites and 955 club seats. Fans come from all over the region to tailgate in the ample parking lots and the cheer on the Pack. 919-865-1510

 

Baseball is played at Doak Field. The stadium features approximately 2,200 chair-back seats, modern and spacious restrooms, new concession stands, a ticket office, and a 1,200-square-foot press box, complete with radio and TV booths as well as an area for print media. 919-513-1362

 

Basketball is played at PNC Arena, the regional coliseum seating 19,700. Concerts and the professional National Hockey League Carolina Hurricanes also call PNC Arena home. 919-861-2300

 

Shaw University- This private liberal arts institution competes in the NCAA Division II, fielding 14 men's and women's teams. 919-546-8200

 

St. Augustine's University- a private co-ed institution of 1,500 students. Fields 10 teams. 919-516-4279

 

Carolina Rollergirls- Started in 2004, see women fly along the roller skate competition track at Dorton Arena. Roller derby requires skill, strategy and fearlessness. It is a game is a fierce competition, charged by a daredevil attitude and a willingness to hit your friends. Women’s Flat Track Roller Derby is not the derby of the past; the track isn’t banked and we’ve dropped the wild theatrics and crazy antics. Staged fighting has been replaced with hard-hitting take-outs and perfectly executed booty blocking. 919-790-3808

 

Auto Racing- Wake County Speedway, located in south Raleigh, the track is called "America's Favorite 14 Mile Bullring". Racing starts in late April and runs through late August. 919-779-2171

PERFORMANCE

Progress Energy Performing Arts Center- Experience the most elegant, immersive suite of live-performance venues in the Southeast. Indulge your love of theater, opera, ballet and other live entertainments, in performance halls and centers designed around each unique art.

Fletcher Opera Theatre - The A.J. Fletcher Opera Theater is the epicenter for opera and dance in North Carolina. This 600-seat theater offers an intimacy perfect for such performances; with the farthest balcony seat less than 70 feet from the stage.

Memorial Auditorium - Opened in 1932, Memorial Auditorium is the crown jewel of North Carolina performing arts. Over the years, this richly historic theater has played host to a dazzling spectrum of artists and performances. Just a sample of the list quickly becomes dizzying: Sinatra, Gillespie, Baryshnikov, Tony Bennett, Ray Charles, Sarah Vaughn, Itzhak Perlman, Natalie Cole and Prince. Broadway blockbusters like Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, Disney’s The Lion King, Jersey Boys, Miss Saigon, and Rent have also been staged here.

Meymandi Performance Hall - The North Carolina Symphony calls this remarkable, 1700-seat venue home. And it’s easy to see why. Its 65-ft ceiling, unique shoebox shape, narrow sides, shallow balconies and lack of proscenium all work together to deliver the warmest, clearest and most immersive sound experience possible. National and international artists and performers now speak of this hall’s remarkable acoustics.

Kennedy Center- The new 170-seat, 40 x 60-foot black-box experimental theater fuses intimacy with energy, the deeply personal with the universal theater experience. The KD & Sara Lynn Kennedy Theatre provides performance space for innovative groups including Hot Summer Nights.

Walnut Creek Amphitheatre (Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion) - is an outdoor amphitheater in Raleigh, North Carolina that specializes in hosting large concerts. The amphitheater is part of a 77-acre complex located on the west bank of Walnut Creek, southeast of Raleigh near the I-40/US 64/I-440 (Beltline) interchange.

The North Carolina Symphony - is an American orchestra with sixty-nine full time musicians. The orchestra performs in Meymandi Concert Hall and performs occasionally with the Carolina Ballet and the The Opera Company of North Carolina. In 2007, the organization celebrated its 75th anniversary.

The North Carolina Opera - was formed in 2010 from the merger of Capital Opera Raleigh and The Opera Company of North Carolina. It is dedicated to presenting operatic performances at the highest level throughout the Triangle.

The North Carolina Theatre - has a vision to preserve the unique American art form of musical theatre, to provide broad access to the arts and to entertain and engage diverse audiences. The Theatre's focus on producing major Broadway musicals of universal appeal on the City's downtown stage, Memorial Auditorium.

The Carolina Ballet - is one of America’s premiere arts organizations. Launched as a professional dance company in 1997 under the direction of Artistic Director/CEO Robert Weiss, Carolina Ballet has since garnered critical praise from the national and international media, staged 75 world premiere ballets, and toured internationally in China and Hungary.

Theatre in the Park - is a community theatre located in Raleigh, North Carolina. The theatre's Executive Director is Ira David Wood III, father of actress Evan Rachel Wood. Ira David Wood III is famous for his musical adaptation of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol". Wood is also famous for playing Ebenezer Scrooge for all thirty-four years of "A Christmas Carol's" production.

Red Hat Amphitheatre- Since opening on June 4, 2010, The Red Hat Amphitheater has become a beacon for live entertainment in the Southeast. Just steps from the fun and energy of downtown Raleigh’s bars, clubs, galleries and restaurants, this 5,000-seat venue blends the state-of-the-art with the simply convenient.