North Carolina State Capitol Building Completed in 1840, this Greek Revival-style construction stands at the center of Capitol Square in downtown Raleigh. On a guided tour of the National Historic Landmark, you can learn more about the country's oldest library, visit a contemporary restoration of the State Geologist's Office (circa 1858) and see multiple busts, figurines and plaques commemorating key individuals and events in North Carolina's history. Interestingly, the current structure is a rebuild of the first State House that famously burned in 1831 through an attempt to fireproof its wooden roof.
Fayetteville Street Located just a few steps south of the capitol building, Fayetteville Street is a mecca for shopping, entertainment, dining and nightlife at Raleigh. Watch a show at Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, grab a craft brew at The Raleigh Times Bar or subtract the displays at The Town of Raleigh Museum. And don't miss the slew of festivals, parades and other outdoor events that take place on Raleigh's "Great Main Street" throughout the year.
North Carolina Executive Mansion This 35,000-square-foot, Queen Anne-style dwelling was home to 29 state governors and their families because 1891. In addition to its function as a personal residence, the mansion serves as a repository for a huge group of fine 18th and 19th century North Carolina furnishings and paintings which you can view on a guided tour of the first floor.
Get Outside What sets Raleigh besides many other big cities is its profusion of green area. Just a couple miles from busy downtown streets, you will discover two state parks -- William B. Umstead State Park (above) and Falls Lake State Recreation Area -- and a long list of town parks offering hiking, camping, fishing, boating, horseback riding and much more.
Historic Yates Mill County Park Built in 1756, Yates Mill is the sole survivor of the greater than 70 gristmills that once dotted Wake County. Visitors to the 174-acre wildlife refuge and environmental research centre can take a guided tour of their first gristmill, like costumed corn grinding demonstrations off the Yates Mill Pond boardwalk and much more.
Birthplace of Andrew Johnson Andrew Johnson, the 17th President of the United States, was born in a small cottage on Fayetteville Street in 1808. The gambrel-roofed arrangement (supposed to have been constructed from the late 18th century) doubled as a kitchen for Casso's Inn where Johnson's father worked as a livery man. Now, the relocated building can be found at Raleigh's Mordecai Historic Park in which it's been meticulously restored to resemble its appearance throughout the time of Johnson's occupancy.
Historic City Market Following City Market opened its doors October 1, 1914, it became Raleigh's go-to destination for fresh, locally-sourced produce, baked goods, textiles and more. Now, this historic concourse along with the Moore Square district that surrounds it are at the epicenter of the city's thriving art scene, with an eclectic number of artwork galleries, live music venues and neighborhood restaurants lining the cobble stone streets.
Goooood Eats North Carolinians take their barbecue. So much in reality, a longstanding feud exists over which kind of barbecue -- saucy Lexington Style or vinegar-based Eastern Style -- should be called the official state 'cue. No matter your preference, but it is possible to discover tasty, legendary eats in one of over 35 barbecue joints available for business in The Greater Raleigh region.
Cheers! In Raleigh, beer is more than only a libation, it is a fire. Over 20 craft breweries lie within the 40 miles from Wake Forest to Fuquay Varina, churning out a host of artful, delicious brews and spawning a rich subculture of enthusiastic beer connoisseurs. Raleigh hosts the World Beer Festival annually at which patrons can sample a variety of brews from all over the globe along with a spread of local favorites.
Out on the Town From the high-energy clubs of Glenwood South into the relaxed taverns and restaurants of Fayetteville Street, a diverse lineup of nightlife and family-friendly activity can be found at Raleigh's five different entertainment districts.
The Most Songs in North Carolina The City of Oaks boasts a thriving music scene and prides itself on supplying more live audio than every other town in the state. Whether in a mainstream music arena or a small, intimate place like Lincoln Theater (previously), a series can be found somewhere in Raleigh every day of the year.
North Carolina State University North Carolina State University in Raleigh, more commonly known as NC State, is the greatest university in the Carolinas with over 34,000 enrolled pupils. Situated in downtown Raleigh, NC State constitutes one corner of North Carolina's distinguished Research Triangle -- along with Duke University and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill -- also is famous because of its high performance Wolfpack athletic teams.
Carter-Finley Stadium and Wolfpack Football On most Saturdays in the fall, the roar of all Carter-Finley stadium can be heard throughout downtown Raleigh as over 55,000 enthusiastic fans cheer on their beloved NC State Wolfpack football team.
PNC Arena Across the street from Carter-Finley Stadium you will come across the 700,000-square-foot PNC Arena, home to the Carolina Hurricanes professional hockey team and NC State Wolfpack men's basketball team. Along with being a sports facility, PNC Arena is also a favorite concert and show place, hosting over 150 events every year.
Lots to Know Dubbed the "Smithsonian of the South," Raleigh boasts an Assortment of award-winning museums, including the popular Marbles Kids Museum, The North Carolina Museum of Art along with the eye-opening North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (above). And the best part? Many of Raleigh's museum attractions are available to the public free of cost.
Research Triangle Park Research Triangle Park -- the 7,000-acre area between NC State, Duke University and The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill -- was established in 1959 in an effort to harness the intellectual capacity of college graduates and to generate jobs in poverty-stricken North Carolina. Now, "The Triangle" is among the largest research and development parks in the world, employs over 60,000 workers and is currently home to over 190 companies, including IBM, Cisco, BASF and more.
North Carolina State Fair Head to The North Carolina State Fair in mid-October to enjoy a fun assortment of carnival rides, agricultural competitions, concerts, firework displays and food vendors on the nation's biggest state fair midway. Founded in Raleigh since 1928, the fair attracts over a million people during its 11-day run each year.
Raleigh Farmers Market Held every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in City Plaza, the Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market showcases homegrown, sustainably-sourced create and artisan foods from some of North Carolina's finest farmers, bakers, cheese makers and more.
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