The Top Things To See And Do In Raleigh, North Carolina

Cataloguing the history of North Carolina from prehistory to the modern day, the North Carolina Museum of History has many permanent and special exhibitions for visitors of all ages. Most notably, it is the location of the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, which has memorabilia from North Carolina’s roots in NASCAR, Arnold Palmer’s golf bag, and other pieces from Michael Jordan on permanent display. Make sure to see the outdoor exhibit History of the Harvest, located prominently along Bicentennial Plaza.

Located just to the west of Downtown Raleigh, Pullen Park has many of the city’s cultural attractions, as well as the majority of its green space. With year-round productions at Theatre in the Park, art classes at the Pullen Arts Center, and a large Aquatic Center, the park is busy during all four seasons. Be sure not to miss the antique hand-carved Pullen Park Carousel, where generations of Raleigh residents have enjoyed riding giraffes, ostriches, and ponies.

A Greek Revival landmark completed in 1840, the North Carolina State Capitol Building is one of the centerpieces of Downtown Raleigh. Though no longer the seat of the state legislature of North Carolina, the landmark offers guided tours of now retired legislative chambers, with antique furniture still intact, along with the rest of the ornate structure. Tour the beautiful gardens surrounding the Capitol Building, as well as the stunning rotunda at the center.