Raleigh North Carolina Travel Information
Raleigh, as with most state capitals, is the place in North
Carolina to visit state museums, the Executive Mansion and the Capitol
building mostly for free. Raleigh is part of the Research Triangle,
with Durham and Chapel Hill. Founded right after the Revolutionary
War and named for Sir Walter Raleigh, there’s plenty to do and see in
this bustling university city plus a selection of great restaurants
and entertainment. When traveling around Raleigh, some say it’s
best to think of I-440 as a loop around the city’s center. Inside
this beltline are the Capitol, Museum of History and North Carolina
State University (NCSU). Outside the beltline, the area is newer and
features the Museum of Arts as well as the Entertainment and Sports
arena. Be prepared: traffic is busy here sometimes leading to
gridlock. Spring or fall may be the best time to visit Raleigh;
summers can be sweltering. Historical sites to visit include the
African-American Heritage Preservation Cultural Complex, North
Carolina Museum of History and Raleigh City Museum, uniquely housed in
a skyscraper. Enjoy the arts at galleries like Artspace, North
Carolina Museum of Art (featuring Van Dycks and Raphaels) or explore
the natural world at North Carolina Museum of National Science, with
four great whales and a dinosaur on display. City Market is a
“don’t miss”; with cobblestone streets, brick buildings, street lamps,
a produce market, live music and specialty shops, it’s worthy of a
visit. On the campus of NCSU, visit J.C. Raulston Arboretum in spring
when everything’s blooming. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Gardens
is a quiet remembrance of the leader featuring a life-sized bronze
statue. Try a self-guided walking tour of Historic Oakwood
neighborhood, 20 blocks of vintage Victorian mansions. Tours are
popular in Raleigh; choose from historic, walking or trolley for an
easy way to see the sites. Accommodations here range from chain
motels to upscale hotels with B & Bs and inns between. Dining options
in this big city can suit any taste from barbecue to steak, seafood to
French cuisine to all-American burgers. Enotica Vin serves nouvelle
cuisine while award-winning Angus Barn serves steaks the way you like
them. Nightlife in Raleigh runs the gamut from live music in
pubs to jazz, blues, rock or country in clubs around town. Concerts,
local theater plus NCSU sports can highlight the night. Outdoor
recreation includes Jordan Lake State Recreation Area, a 13,900
reservoir for boating, swimming and fishing where bald eagles
sometimes visit. Falls Lake State Recreation Area offers boating,
fishing, hiking and camping. William B. Umsted State Park has 5,400
acres of hiking, biking and bridle trails. Raleigh is located in
Central North Carolina, about three hours northeast of Charlotte, NC
off I-40 east.
| 
