ATTRACTIONS
Amusements
Adventure Landing
3311 Capital Boulevard • Raleigh, NC 27604
919-872-1688
The whole family will have fun at this amusement center that includes three challenging 18 hole miniature golf courses, a multi-level laser tag arena, a quarter mile go-kart track, batting cages, and a video game room with over 100 video and prize games. A cafe is also on site. more... mapBullwinkle's Family Food 'N Fun
1040 Buck Jones Road • Raleigh, NC 27511
Cary
919-319-7575
Kids can climb on a 17 foot rock climbing wall, play over 20 arcade games, and explore the gigantic indoor playground that includes three slides while at this very unique family fun venue that also serves great American food with group food packages available. mapHill Ridge Farms
703 Tarboro Road • Raleigh, NC 27596
Youngsville
919-556-1771, 800-358-4170
Farm activities and events for the whole family, whether strictly for fun or for education, are available on this 55 acre farm that is a great destination for fieldtrips, birthdays, or simply to have fun. Hayrides, picnics, and train rides are among the activities that can be found at this farm. more... mapParty Machine, The
1313 Buck Jones Road • Raleigh, NC 27511
919-468-1080
A play area for children seven years of age and under, this entertainment venue includes a pretend office, a log cabin, a kitchen, puppets and a stage, activities, and a game room, as well as a cafe area for adults. mapPutt-Putt Golf and Games
4020 Tryon Road • Raleigh, NC 27606
919-832-2222
Enjoy two decorative miniature golf courses, 3 exciting go-kart tracks, a rock wall and bungee trampoline, an arcade room and a snack shack offering pizza, hot dogs, nachos and drinks. more... mapSilver Lake Waterpark
5300 Tyron Road • Raleigh, NC 27606
919-851-1683
This fun filled venue offers a water park experience in a natural setting and includes many different slides, a wave pool, a canal, a concession stand beside the white sandy beach, a multi-level diving platform, and a five-story giant water slide. Paddle boat rides, bumper boats, and floats also are available. The park is closed from October to April. map
Historic Homes & Buildings
Haywood Hall House and Gardens (circa 1799)
211 New Bern Place • Raleigh, NC 27601
919-832-8357
The oldest house within the original city limits on its original site, this historic home was built by State Treasurer John Haywood and offers visitors the chance to learn about Haywood's descendants and 200 years of Raleigh's growth. Beautiful gardens are also on site that contain native plants and shrubs. mapJoel Lane Museum House (circa 1760)
728 West Hargett Street • Raleigh, NC 27605
919-833-3431
The site of numerous historic political events, this house is the oldest home in Raleigh and houses a collection of 18th century artifacts, period furnishings, and period gardens. Informative guided tours of the authentically furnished house, period gardens, and dependencies are provided by costumed docents. mapNorth Carolina Executive Mansion (circa 1891)
200 North Blount Street • Raleigh, NC 27601
919-733-3456
This fine Victorian style mansion has been home to 26 North Carolina Governors since it was built. The house is built from native North Carolina materials and was once described by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt as having "the most beautiful Governor's residence interior in America." Tours are available. more... mapNorth Carolina State Capital (circa 1840)
1 East Edenton Street • Raleigh, NC 27601
919-733-4994
Originally housing the Governor's office, cabinet offices, legislative chambers, the state library, and state geologist's office, this National Historic Landmark building has been beautifully restored to its original appearance and is one of the best preserved examples of Greek Revival style architecture in a civic building. The Governor and Lieutenant Governor currently maintain offices on the first floor. more... mapNorth Carolina State Legislative Building (circa 1963)
16 West Jones Street • Raleigh, NC 27601
919-733-7928
Home of the North Carolina General Assembly, this building is unique because it is devoted solely to the legislative branch of state government and offers easy access to visitors who want to view the legislative process. The building is classical in character and features a marble-faced building proper encompasses a colonnade of square columns reaching from the podium to the main roof of the second floor. mapSaint Augustine's College Chapel (circa 1895)
1315 Oakwood Avenue • Raleigh, NC 27601
Saint Augustine's College
919-516-4189
This historic Norman Gothic style chapel was built by students under the direction of Reverend Henry Beard Delany and the chapel houses the bishop's chair, a memorial of Delany's consecration as the first African American Episcopal Bishop in North Carolina. mapSpring Hill House (circa 1816)
705 Barbour Drive • Raleigh, NC 27605
919-733-5454
Located on the site of a large plantation once owned by Colonel Theophilus Hunter, this two story, late Georgian style house was built by his son with the house containing a one story rear wing that adjoins the small late 18th century home of his father. The Dorothea Dix Hospital for mental illness is located on the site and the house contains a historic exhibit and memorabilia of the hospital. more... map
Historic Sites & Monuments
Historic Oak View County Park
4028 Carya Drive • Raleigh, NC 27610
919-250-1013
Dedicated to interpreting agricultural and rural heritage, this Antebellum farmstead features an 1855 Greek Revival house, a detached plank kitchen, a cotton gin museum, an herb garden, picnic facilities, a barn, and a 3,000 square foot museum known as the Farm History Center. more... mapHistoric Oakwood
Franklin, Watauga, Linden, Jones & Person Streets
919-834-0887
This 20 block Victorian neighborhood, built for the affluent of Raleigh in the late 19th century, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and features restored homes that were built between 1870 and 1912. Self guided walking tour brochures are available at the Capital Area Visitor Center. more...Historic Yates Mill County Park
4908 Penny Road • Raleigh, NC 27605
919-856-6675
Centered around a restored gristmill that is the only remaining gristmill in Wake County, this park also features numerous trails, outdoor classrooms, research labs, ponds, and boardwalks. more... mapMordecai Historic Park
1 Mimosa Street • Raleigh, NC 27611
919-834-4844
A beautiful historic park that includes an Antebellum mansion that was home to the Lane family, a very influential Raleigh family, and is filled with 18th and 19th century furnishings. The surrounding plantation offers exhibits that detail plantation life as it was in its heyday plus features a small house that was the birthplace of President Andrew Johnson. more... mapOakwood Cemetery (circa 1869)
701 Oakwood Avenue • Raleigh, NC 27604
919-832-6077
Featuring 40,000 interments, this cemetery is the resting place of 2,800 Confederate soldiers, five Civil War generals, seven Governors, and numerous United States Senators. The grounds are a good example of mid-1800s Victorian landscaping and mortuary designs. map
Libraries & Research Centers
State Archives of North Carolina, The
109 East Jones Street • Raleigh, NC 27601
919-733-3952
These library and research center preserves archives of original and microfilm records of the Colony and State of North Carolina from 1663 to the present and is open to the public. more... map
Museums & Galleries
African American Cultural Complex
119 Sunnybrook Road • Raleigh, NC 27610
919-212-3598
This complex houses a unique collection of displays, artifacts, and documents that represents the contributions of African-Americans in North Carolina in several buildings along a picturesque nature trail. more... mapContemporary Art Museum
409 West Martin Street • Raleigh, NC 27622
919-836-0088
"The Triangle's only museum solely dedicated to presenting the art of our time," this museum features exhibitions of art by regional and national contemporary artists and offers an array of educational programs and classes. mapMadison Fine Art
10410 Moncreiffe Road , Suite 101 • Raleigh, NC 27617
919-880-4547
The gallery specializes in fine art and enables the public to see international and local pieces in a comfortable and relaxing environment. more... mapMarbles Kids Museum
201 East Hargett Street • Raleigh, NC 27601
919-834-4040
Marbles Kids Museum is a hands-on, interactive museum that inspires children to be creative thinkers, active learners and confident individuals in today's world. more... mapMunicipal Building Art Exhibitions
222 West Hargett Street • Raleigh, NC 27601
919-857-4372
The City of Raleigh Arts Commision hosts this exhibition series at the Raleigh Municipal Building that features works produced or collected by artists living, working, or exhibiting in the region. Each exhibition series lasts approximately two years. more... mapNorth Carolina Museum of Art
2110 Blue Ridge Road • Raleigh, NC 27601
919-839-6262
The finest collection of Old Master paintings in the Southeast and 5,000 years of artistic heritage from Egypt to the present is housed at this museum that also offers educational programs, performances, and films. The collections include examples of Ancient, Oceanic, European, American, African, Judaic and 20th century art. more... mapNorth Carolina Museum of History
5 East Edenton Street • Raleigh, NC 27699
919-715-0200
This museum focuses on presenting the history of North Carolina through exhibits of North Carolina history, regional history, and educational programs. A museum gift shop is also on site. more... mapNorth Carolina Museum of Natural Science
11 West Jones Street • Raleigh, NC 27601
919-733-7450
A science museum that houses four floors of exhibits, live animals, and science explorations. Other features of the museum include a two story waterfall, the world's only Acrocanthosaurus dinosaur, and an Arthropod Zoo crawling with creatures from butterflies to tarantulas. more... mapNorth Carolina Railroad Museum
Post Office Box 40 • Raleigh, NC 27562
New Hill
919-362-5416
A collection of antique trains including classic steam and diesel locomotives, as well as other train cars, are on display. Visitors can operate, under professional supervision and by reservation, one of the vintage locomotives to be found at the museum. more...North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame
5 East Edenton Street • Raleigh, NC 27603
919-715-0200
Exhibits at this hall of fame include personal items donated by approximately 200 inductees and offers a chance to learn about these sports heroes and the impact that sports have played in North Carolina's history. mapPage-Walker Arts and History Center
119 Ambassador Loop • Raleigh, NC 27512
Cary
919-460-4963
Located in what was originally built as a hotel in 1868 and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this gallery exhibits works of art by local and regional artists plus hosts classes, meetings, performances, receptions, and events. more... mapPullen Arts Center
105 Pullen Road • Raleigh, NC 27607
919-831-6126
Beginners are welcome to try their hands at creating in various mediums of art at this arts center that is one of Raleigh’s oldest arts facilities and that offers classes in a variety of areas for both children and adults. more... mapRaleigh City Museum
220 Fayetteville Street • Raleigh, NC 27601
Historic Downtown Raleigh
919-832-3775
This museum aims at a better understanding of present day Raleigh through an exploration and understanding of its past history. Exhibits on display include the tracing of Raleigh's evolving architectural styles, a look at the businesses that built Raleigh, the history of North Carolina's State flag, and the history of the Civil Rights movement. more... mapSertoma Arts Center
1400 West Millbrook Road • Raleigh, NC 27612
919-420-2329
A wide variety of art shows and offers classes in a variety of areas including classes for children, and adult art classes and workshops in basketry, clay, dance, drawing, painting, photography, and fitness are sponsored by this arts center. more... mapWake Forest College Birthplace Museum
414 North Main Street • Raleigh, NC 27587
Wake Forest
919-556-2911
The original site of Wake Forest University that was built in 1820 and housed both the dwellings for the university president and classrooms, this museum is dedicated to the history of Wake Forest College and the town of Wake Forest and showcases exhibits that trace the history of the university from its beginning on the site through the mid-1950s, as well as artifacts about the town and town life. mapWakeMed Art Exhibition
3000 New Bern Avenue • Raleigh, NC 27604
919-350-8206
This hospital art exhibition features works by artists from all across North Carolina with the exhibits changing every eight weeks. map
Parks, Gardens & Zoos
Blue Jay Point County Park
3200 Pleasant Union Church Road • Raleigh, NC 27614
919-870-4330
Located on the shores of Falls Lake, this environmentally friendly park offers educational programs, demonstration areas, and exhibits, as well as open-play fields, children's playgrounds, a variety of trails, and picnic areas. more... mapCrowder District Park
4709 Ten Ten Road • Raleigh, NC 27502
Apex
919-662-2850
Beautiful 33 acre park that offers environmental education programs, picnicking, playgrounds, accessible trails, and an almost three acre pond for fishing and wildlife viewing. more... mapDurant Nature Park
8305 Durant Road • Raleigh, NC 27614
919-870-2871
There are five miles of hiking trails, a bird and butterfly garden, self-guided trails, lakes, streams, scenic overlooks, and two rental lodges on site at this magnificent 256 acre nature park. more... mapEllen Mordecai Garden
1 Mimosa Street • Raleigh, NC 27604
919-834-4844
This kitchen garden, located around the historic house that was the birthplace of President Andrew Johnson, is recreated from first hand descriptions of the garden as it was in the 1830s, and contains vegetables, herbs, and flowers that were grown in the mid-19th century. mapFred G. Bond Metro Park
801 High House Road • Raleigh, NC 27512
919-469-4100
One of the largest municipal parks in Wake County, this 310 acre park includes picnic shelters, athletic fields, a 42 acre fishing and recreation lake, boat rentals, fitness and hiking trails, a children's playground, and an amphitheater. more... mapHarris Lake County Park
2112 County Park Drive • Raleigh, NC 27562
New Hill
919-387-4342
Covering 680-acres in Southwestern Wake County, this park is the largest in the Wake County Parks and Recreation system and offers excellent fishing, in both the lake and farm ponds, hiking and mountain bike trails, a volleyball court, horseshoes, and a children's playground. more... mapHemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve
2616 Kildaire Farm Road • Raleigh, NC 27511
919-387-5980
This preserve lies on almost 150 acres along Swift Creek and supports vegetation more typical of the mountains, including Eastern Hemlocks, that is not usually found either this far south or east of the Appalachian Mountains. It is thought that this small enclave of rare vegetation is a holdover from the last Ice Age which occurred approximately 10,000 years ago. more... mapJ.C. Raulston Arboretum
4301 Beryl Road • Raleigh, NC 27695
North Carolina State University
919-515-3132
Over 8,000 trees, shrubs, and perennials are located in this nationally-acclaimed eight acre garden that is internationally recognized for having the most diverse collection of plants adapted for landscape use in the Southeastern United States. more... mapJoel Lane House Gardens
728 West Hargett Street • Raleigh, NC 27603
Corner of St. Mary's and West Hargett Streets
919-833-3431
Located on the grounds of the Joel Lane Museum House, these gardens include an authentic 19th century back garden with espaliered fruit trees, brick walkways, and pomegranate trees, as well as a full scale, fragrant herb garden and an interpreted period herb garden. mapLaurel Hills Park
3808 Edwards Mill Road • Raleigh, NC 27612
919-420-2383
An "All Children's Playground" with tunnels, bridges, towers, and swings that are constructed to accommodate children of all physical abilities is the feature of this park that also offers athletic fields, a recreation center, and a picnic area. mapMartin Luther King Jr. Memorial Gardens
Corner of Rock Quarry Road and M.L.K. Boulevard
919-834-6264
The only public park in the nation solely dedicated to the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., this colorful park contains over 8,000 flowering plant and trees that encircle a life-sized bronze statue of Dr. King. There is also a 12 ton granite water monument that honors other notable pioneers in the civil rights movement. more...Pullen Park
520 Ashe Avenue • Raleigh, NC 27601
919-831-6468
One of the city's oldest and most loved parks, this beautiful park offers recreational opportunities for everyone and includes a 1911 Gustave A. Dentzel Menagerie Carousel, a C.P. Huntington train ride, a community center, boat rentals, an arts center, ballfields, tennis courts, picnic shelters, a children's playground, and a concession stand. mapRaleigh Municipal Rose Garden
301 Pogue Street • Raleigh, NC 27601
919-821-4579
Nestled in a quiet residential neighborhood, this historic garden features 1,200 roses of 60 different varieties blooming from late May until autumn, as well as seasonal flowers such as bulbs, annuals, trees, and shrubs. map
Science & Technology
Harris Visitors Center
3932 New Hill • Raleigh, NC 27562
919-362-3261
See exhibits on nuclear power at the Progress Energy Harris Energy & Environmental Center. Open on weekdays by appointment only. It is geared toward middle school and up. mapNorth Carolina State University Solar House
Corner of Western Boulevard & Gorman Street • Raleigh, NC 27695
North Carolina State University
919-515-3799
Constructed by the College of Engineering, this solar house serves as a demonstration and research facility and is the longest ongoing solar experiment open to the public in the United States. more... mapResearch Triangle Park
2 Hanes Drive • Raleigh, NC 27709
919-549-8181
One of the world's largest planned research parks, this 7,000 acre park is host to over 140 organizations and is recognized internationally as a center for cutting-edge research and development. more... map
Tours & Cruises
Capital City Tours
3200 Beechleaf Court 100 • Raleigh, NC 27604
919-232-2557
Offers tours, sightseeing, ground transportation, and transportation for the handicapped & elderly. more... mapHistoric Tours of Raleigh
301 North Blount Street • Raleigh, NC 27601
919-829-4988
Tour the many historic places in Raleigh with this tour company that offers guided one hour step-on guide services and walking tours of many historical sites in the city. mapHistoric Trolley Tours
Begin at Mordecai Historic Park
919-834-4844
Travel through the historic heart of the Capital City on this historic trolley that offers a narrated tour with six stops. Tours are available every Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. from March to December and lasts approximately 45 minutes. more...Triangle Segway
327 Blake Street • Raleigh, NC 27601
919-828-1988, 800-979-3370
Triangle Segway's fully-narrated, guided Segway tours will get you up close and personal to Raleigh’s points of interest. There’s nothing like sightseeing on a Segway PT, and unlike a walking tour, you’ll cover much more ground as you effortlessly “glide” from place to place! more... map
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