10 Fun Locals-Approved Things to Do in Raleigh, NC

Founded in 1792, Raleigh, North Carolina, is the state’s capital and the seat of Wake County. It’s home to approximately 477k people, but its population continues to grow rapidly every day. In fact, both Raleigh and Durham were listed in U.S. News & World Report’s top 25 fastest-growing places in the U.S. for 2023-2024.  

This is thanks, in large part, to the high number of visitors over the past couple of years who’ve (understandably!) fallen in love with the city and decided to stay. 

Raleigh is called the “City of Oaks” for the many oak trees that line the streets and roads there, and its pleasant climate allows visitors and residents to enjoy activities in the city’s many public parks, outdoor concert venues, and outdoor festivals all year round.  

Along with Durham’s Duke University and Chapel Hill’s University of North Carolina, Raleigh’s North Carolina State University (NCSU) is part of what’s known as “research triangle park” (or “the triangle”). The three academic institutions are among the top-tier research universities in the country and have produced multiple high-profile academics, including Nobel, Pulitzer, U.S. Presidential, and National Foundation award winners.  

Raleigh offers a lot of diverse things to do for anyone looking to get out and about. In this post, we’ll introduce you to some of the best, as recommended by the locals! 

1. Go for a relaxing stroll in nature 

Professional organizer Sandi D’Arezzo, owner of Hello Simplified Professional Organizing, gave us suggestions inspired by a great cup of coffee and a couple of the city’s most scenic parks.  

“I love to get coffee and go for a nature walk in Raleigh!” says D’Arezzo. “Check out The Optimist, Jubala, or Little Blue Bakehouse for coffee and a bite, then walk around Lake Johnson, Shelley Lake, or Lake Lynn!” 

“Pullen Park is beautiful in Raleigh and is the 5th oldest operating amusement park in the U.S. They have a carousel and nice playground. Dorothea Dix Park has a stunning sunflower display every July.” 

D’Arezzo also recommends a stroll through the farmer’s market. “The Raleigh farmers market is open year-round and is huge! Indoor and outdoor covered markets with lots of yummy treats, flowers, and produce.” 

2. Add some art appreciation to your trip 

“Art, nature, shopping, food, and drinks round out an ideal visit to Raleigh. Options abound in this great city with all of these categories!” says Lisa Smith, founder of Simplify Studio, a local company offering home and business organizing solutions.  

“The North Carolina Museum of Art not only has an incredible collection, but the building and grounds are stunning and a great place to get inspired. Be sure to go for a nature walk around the beautiful Museum Park as part of your visit.” 

Greene also had suggestions for where to grab coffee, cocktails, and dinner, as well as where to pick up a new outfit for the evening out! 

“Stop by Yellow Dog Bread for coffee and then cross the street to shop for unique clothing and accessories at Unlikely Professionals,” she says. “Next up, visit The Parlor at the historic Heights House for craft cocktails before a dinner of pizza and beer at Trophy Brewing Co.”  

Good to know: The Museum of Art is open from 10 am to 5 pm Wednesday through Sunday. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. Admission to the People’s Collection in the East and West buildings is free. The Museum Park is also free.  

3. Enjoy bustling Seaboard Station 

Shawn Seaman, president of local development firm Hoffman & Associates introduced us to the beautiful Seaboard Station neighborhood located on the north edge of downtown Raleigh between William Peace University and the city’s historic railroad station.  

“Seaboard Station is an exciting, reimagined neighborhood with over one million square feet of vibrant street-level retail, restaurants, entertainment concepts, public outdoor green space, apartments, and a Hyatt House hotel,” he says. “It’s quickly becoming a must-visit destination for tourists and locals, with a ton of new local and national restaurants opening regularly. It’s shaping up to be one of Raleigh’s most exciting new neighborhoods to work, play, and live!” 

4. Find your Zen among the foliage 

“If you’re in the area for a visit, what you do when you’re here really depends a lot on how you like to spend your time. I personally love being outside. I love plants and trees, so I try to spend my time around those things,” says Ellen Pitts, a broker from Harmony Realty,   

“The JC Raulston Arboretum is one of my favorites. They have a large selection of native plants, beautiful flowering gardens in the spring, and an Asian-inspired garden that is very shaded and cool in the summertime.” 

“Another one of my favorite spots is the Historic Oakview County Park. There are lots of little mini-museums like this one around the city. Historic Oakview lets you feel like you’re living on an old farm, animals included. You can just hang out on the grounds and enjoy a picnic. There is also a historic summer kitchen where the family would have done their cooking in the summertime. There is a kitchen garden, with vegetables and herbs and many other exhibits. It’s all pretty laid back and free to visit.” 

5. Spend a quiet afternoon at the library 

The James B. Hunt Jr. Library is an architectural jewel located on the NCSU campus. The modern aluminum and glass structure features bold, angular exterior solar fins and a vibrant, colorful interior. Enter the lower level, and you’ll run right into “robot alley” and BookBot, a robotic librarian programmed to grab your selections among the 1.5 million books housed in the library.  

Other modern touches include touchscreen kiosks, curved digital display screens, and a visualization lab featuring stereoscopic projectors that can project video onto three walls and adjustable surrounding speakers. The library also features two 3D printers, a 3D scanner, and a laser cutter.  

6. Get lost in the Raleigh Flea Market 

Assembled in 1971, the Raleigh Flea Market is the state’s largest flea market, hosting over 600 vendors on Saturday and Sunday. Vendors offer antiques, furniture, clothing, jewelry, handcrafted items, home goods, art, treats, and much more. Beware, it’s easy to lose track of time here, so it’s best to go with an open schedule! 

7. Take the kiddos to the Marbles Kids Museum 

If you’re looking for somewhere to entertain and educate your little adventurers ages ten and under, a trip to Marbles is the perfect spot. The museum offers dozens of exhibits where the little ones can explore ecology, invent and animate, learn about business and the economy, how power works, participate in STEM activities, and so much more.  

The museum features outdoor exhibits, exhibits where they can get their wiggles out, and an IMAX theater showing all kinds of fun documentaries about animals, space, and nature, as well as feature films for the whole fam. It’s so much fun; you may have a tough time getting the grownups to leave, too!   

Good to know: The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm.  

8. Take a trip back in time at The Pope House Museum 

In a restored home located a few blocks from the capitol building in downtown Raleigh, you’ll find The Pope House. Constructed in 1901, this city treasure is the only African-American house museum in North Carolina and was established to educate visitors about the fascinating life of Dr. Manassa Thomas Pope, one of Raleigh’s most prominent citizens.  

Dr. Pope graduated from The Leonard School of Medicine and was an officer during the Spanish-American War. He was also the only African-American to run for mayor in a Southern capital during the Jim Crow Era. The home features its original furnishings and artifacts dating to the 1860s, including Dr Pope’s doctor’s bag from the Spanish-American War, his voter registration card, and his father’s freedman papers.  

Good to know: Admission is free (donations are welcome!), and the museum is open on Saturday from 9 am to 4 pm and Sunday from 1-4 pm. Tours are available upon request, schedule in advance by calling 919-996-2220. 

9. Visit a beer-lovers paradise 

The only thing Raleigh residents love more than their craft beers is sharing them with guests! Enter: the Raleigh Beer Trail. More than 30 local breweries participate, and all you have to do is sign up and download the digital passport on your phone. Tap it when you visit one of the participating breweries, check in to receive points (10 per check-in), and redeem them for prizes. Most of the breweries offer tours, many of which are free to the public. For more info and to download your passport, click here.  

Note: Don’t drink and drive! Not to be confused with a beer crawl, Raleigh Beer Trail breweries are scattered around the area; be sure to make transportation arrangements. 

Want to stick to one place? In that case, check out one of the world’s largest beer selections at the Raleigh Beer Garden! With more than 350 beers on tap, the Garden is located in the Glenwood South entertainment district downtown. There’s a rooftop beer garden where you can sit back, enjoy your beverage, and grab some charcuterie or share a handcrafted pizza.  

10. Learn about North Carolina history 

The North Carolina Museum of History houses 150,000 artifacts spanning 14,000 years. Exhibits include a restored 1920s drugstore, a replica of the famous 1903 Wright Flyer, recreated environments featuring famous people and places in North Carolina history, and a lunch counter from a 1960 sit-in during the civil rights movement.  

The museum features artifacts from the Queen Anne’s Revenge, the Civil War, and North Carolina’s Native American settlements. The museum also offers online and digital exhibits and features the N.C. Sports Hall of Fame.  

Good to know: The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday from noon to 5 pm. 

Find your fun in Raleigh 

Raleigh’s past is fascinating to learn about, its present is exciting to witness, and its future offers so much for visitors and residents to look forward to! We hope you’ll take advantage of the suggestions our locals offered up, from spending a relaxing day strolling in the city’s parks to immersing yourself in its rich history to enjoying its bustling nightlife. It’s clear there’s no shortage of great things to do in Raleigh, N.C. You may even decide to stick around and call it home!