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. 

Bullwinkle'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.  

Hill 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... 

Party 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. 

Putt-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... 

Silver 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. 

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. 

Joel 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.  

North 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... 

North 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... 

North 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. 

Saint 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. 

Spring 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... 

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... 

Historic 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... 

Mordecai 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... 

Oakwood 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. 

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... 

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... 

Artspace 201 East Davis Street, Raleigh, NC 27601, 919-821-2787, This visual arts center houses over 25 working studios and two exhibition spaces where the public can watch artists at work in open studios, visit current exhibitions, and take advantage of the educational programs offered. 

Contemporary 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. more... 

Madison 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.

Marbles 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.  

Municipal 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... 

North 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... 

North 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. 

North 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. 

North 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.

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. 

Page-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... 

Pullen 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... 

Raleigh 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. 

Sertoma 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... 

Wake 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. 

WakeMed 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. 

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. 

Crowder 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... 

Durant 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... 

Ellen 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. 

Fred 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... 

Harris 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... 

Hemlock 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... 

J.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... 

Joel 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. 

Laurel 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. 

Martin 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. 

Raleigh 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.  

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.

North 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... 

Research 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... 

Capital City Tours 3200 Beechleaf Court 100, Raleigh, NC 27604, 919-232-2557, Offers tours, sightseeing, ground transportation, and transportation for the handicapped & elderly.  

Historic 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. 

Historic 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...