Raleigh, the capital city of North Carolina, US, is known for being “the city of oaks,” as the streets in the heart of the city are lined by oak trees. Apart from oak trees, there are various other things that add to its charm, such as tall buildings, museums, amusement parks, natural preserves, and dedicated green spaces. With such attractions, Raleigh vacation assures an unforgettable journey for every traveler.
Start your Raleigh family vacation with the first public park in North Carolina, which is Pullen Park. Covering 66 acres (approx.) of land, you can enjoy lots of activities like rent pedal boats, ride a historic carousel and miniature train, let the kids run free on the playgrounds and watch shows in the children’s amphitheater, have a picnic or grill out in one of the picnic areas, see a play, or use the sports fields or tennis courts to play your favorite sport. One more significant thing is that it is also the 5th oldest operating amusement park in the USA.
Take your kids to Marbles Kids Museum, which your kids will find quite engaging, having plenty of hands-on exhibits and the state’s only 3D-capable IMAX theater. The main aim of the Museum is to nurture children’s imagination and creativity and allow them to discover and learn in dozens of different ways through interactive exhibits and daily educational programs such as exploration of music at Tree Tunes, the world of horticulture at Sun Sprouts kid's garden; and more.
Engage in Raleigh Museum tours and obtain knowledge about some interesting things at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, one of the largest natural science museums in the southeastern United States. It has over 4 floors which include exhibits of live animals, education and research centers, dinosaur and whale skeletons, and so much more. The main highlight that you can’t miss is the SECU Daily Planet, a three-story theater that explores planet Earth from the inside out.
Art lovers can visit the North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA), having a dozen beautiful gallery spaces showcasing art from around the world including art from the Renaissance, ancient Greek and Roman sculpture and artifacts, and much more. You can explore the galleries, see performing arts, and participate in family workshops. And, yes, make sure to walk through the Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park, the 164-acre (approx.) park and trail system through natural areas where you can see more than a dozen commissioned works of art and sculptures.
Next museum stop is North Carolina Museum of History, founded in 1902, where you can learn about 14,000 years of history, through preserved 150,000 artifacts. Some highlights include a full-size replica of the 1903 Wright Flyer and the lunch counter from a 1960 sit-in in Salisbury, and much more. You can also wander through the small NC Sports Hall of Fame on the third floor of the history museum.
Enjoy your Raleigh adventure trips at the huge William B. Umstead State Park, on the outskirts of the city. Here you can explore the winding nature trails through the forest, and indulge in biking, trail running, picnicking, camping, canoeing, and horseback riding. Umstead is a natural oasis surrounding three man-made lakes, where you can enjoy fishing, especially at Big Lake. For families, there are easy trails, like Sal’s Branch Trail and Pott’s Branch Trail, which you can easily work with kids,
Apart from the places mentioned above, there are also other significant attractions that can be best explored on your Raleigh vacation, including PNC Arena, State Farmers Market, Neuse River Greenway Trail, Historic Yates Mill, and much more.
Discover the charm of North Carolina’s capital city with expertly curated Raleigh vacation packages that can help you manage accommodation, transportation, and guided tours effortlessly and affordably. These packages offer lots of benefits and facilities that will make your vacation memorable
