Travel Guides > Raleigh, NC

Raleigh Travel

Raleigh, North Carolina possesses everything you'd expect from a big city -- busy office complexes, excellent museums, performing arts and culture, and exceptional restaurants. Raleigh, however, lacks the hustle and bustle feel of a large city and, instead, replaces it with true Southern charm and hospitality.

Raleigh claims to offer "City Life with Carolina Style" and that phrase certainly hits the nail on the head. This city exudes the excitement of a large urban area but, thanks to good city planning which includes extensive parks, tree-lined streets, and other green areas, at times you may seem miles away from busy city life.

Downtown Raleigh is full of historic sites and is a wonderful area to explore. Make your first stop the North Carolina Museum of History for a look at the state's past and present. If you're lucky, you'll also catch a family concert, craft fair, or other special event taking place here.

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is four stories full of exhibits featuring the diverse geography and geology of the state as well as dioramas featuring great animals of long ago like the dinosaur. This is one of the only natural science museums in the world to feature live animals in its exhibits.

As the capital of North Carolina, Raleigh boasts a number of impressive government buildings, several of which can be toured by visitors, including the State Capitol Building, a Greek Revival structure which has been designated a National Historic Landmark.

Raleigh is truly a college town, with six campuses full of beautiful historic and contemporary buildings located in the downtown area. Visit picturesque St. Mary's College, established in 1842, or stroll the sprawling campus of North Carolina State University and enjoy a wealth of performing arts and spectator sports available there.

Active travelers should make a stop at Lake Wheeler, a favorite recreational area for both locals and visitors. With 650 acres of lake and 150 acres of park, there's lots to do here including boating (you can rent several kinds of watercraft), hiking, picnicking, and volleyball. The Lakeside Galley offers lunch, snacks, and refreshing beverages for hungry visitors.

Over the past few decades, Raleigh has become a haven for antique-ers who come here to shop for unique, hard-to-find items. Antique shops are plentiful both downtown and in the suburbs.

For more of that down-home Southern feeling in the middle of the big city, visit one of Raleigh's wonderful barbecue restaurants that offer not only great Southern food but fine Carolina hospitality as well. There are more than 500 restaurants to choose from here, so finding one that fits your tastes won't be difficult.