Preplanned Travel Itineraries

"With all that's happening {in Raleigh}, there's never been a better time to lace up your sneakers and experience this wonderfully walkable city -- whether for a weekend getaway or a couple of hooky-playing weekdays."

-Use these suggested Raleigh itineraries as a starting point for planning your visit to North Carolina's Capital City area. The attractions and activities included in the itineraries will give visitors a sampling of the area's history and culture, while also highlighting some great shopping and dining as well. Best of all, many Greater Raleigh attractions are free!

Two-Day Itinerary

DAY ONE:

Morning

Start at the Greater Raleigh Visitor Information Center (220 Fayetteville St.), where you can learn about tours and upcoming events as well as pick up maps, brochures and other helpful information. Then stroll over to the N.C. Museum of History (FREE), with exhibits devoted to the Civil War, sports heroes, folk life and more. Across the pedestrian plaza is the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences (FREE), the largest museum of its kind in the Southeast. It offers four floors of exhibits, complete with a two-story waterfall and the Living Conservatory buzzing with hummingbirds and butterflies.

Afternoon

Enjoy lunch at the Natural Science Museum's Acro Café, or visit another nearby restaurant. Cross the street from the museums to Capitol Square to tour the N.C. State Capitol (FREE) and learn about the history and legends associated with this important and symbolic building. A short walk down Fayetteville Street takes you back to the Raleigh City Museum (FREE), housed in an 1874 building that was the city's first "skyscraper" and features exhibits that focus on the history of Raleigh. End the afternoon with a tour of one of the area's historic homes, including the N.C. Executive Mansion, completed in 1891 (FREE). Other options include the 18th-century Joel Lane House and Haywood Hall (FREE), Mordecai Historic Park, or take a self-guided walking or driving tour of the Victorian-era Historic Oakwood neighborhood.

Evening

For a variety of top-notch dinner options, take the R-LINE (FREE) downtown circulator bus over to the Glenwood South area of downtown Raleigh. Check the home schedules for the area's three professional sports teams to see if the Carolina Hurricanes (NHL hockey), Carolina Mudcats (AA baseball) or Carolina RailHawks (Men’s Soccer) are in town!

DAY TWO:

Morning

Begin by driving to the State Farmers Market (FREE), where you'll find 75 acres of
indoor and outdoor specialty shops offering the freshest fruits and vegetables around, plus irresistible homemade baked goods, sauces, North Carolina wines and crafts. Before strolling around the Market, start your day off with a fresh, home-cooked breakfast at the State Farmers Market Restaurant with a menu sourced with produce found from just across the street. Drive to the N.C. Museum of Art (FREE) (galleries closed for expansion until April 2010), with works by American artists, as well as collections of African, Oceanic and New World art, Egyptian, Greek and Roman galleries, 20th-century art and more. Be sure to explore the Museum Park (FREE). Encompassing 164 acres of fields, woodlands, and creeks, the Park presents a unique setting to explore outdoor works of art or catch amphitheatre performances, and be sure not the miss the Cloud Chamber.

Afternoon

Drive to downtown Raleigh and have lunch in City Market. After lunch, stroll along the cobblestone streets and browse the specialty shops. Tour Artspace (FREE), where artists work in open-to-the-public studios. Next, walk through Moore Square Park, one of four parks designated in 1792 when the city was planned. Continue across the park to Marbles Kids Museum and IMAX Theatre, an interactive museum that encourages people of all ages to learn how the world works and the part each person can play in it. Make time to see a film at the adjacent IMAX^® theatre! Visitors with children may choose to end the afternoon with a trip to Pullen Park and its 1911 carousel, Andy & Opie TVLand Statue, train ride, playground and more.

Evening

Treat yourself to an elegant evening with dinner followed by a performance at the world-class Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts or enjoy live music at one of downtown Raleigh’s many great venues.

One-Day Itinerary

Morning (walking tour)

Start with breakfast in City Market at Big Ed's City Market Restaurant. After eating a plateful of biscuits, eggs with bacon or sausage, or maybe some french toast, you may want to walk through the cobblestone streets of City Market and do a little shopping. Shops range from home furnishings to art galleries. Also in City Market is Artspace (FREE), where artists work in open-to-the-public studios.

Then stroll over to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (FREE) and the North Carolina Museum of History (FREE). The N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences features four floors of exhibits, including prehistoric N.C. (featuring the Acrocanthosaurus dinosaur) and a dry tropical rainforest with butterflies, hummingbirds and a one-toed sloth. The N.C. Museum of History has short-term and long-term exhibitions about the history of the state, including North Carolina and the Civil War as well as the N.C. Sports Hall of Fame.

Next, walk a few blocks to the North Carolina State Capitol (FREE). Tour the building to see the old legislative chambers and be sure to ask about the statue of George Washington in a toga!

Afternoon (walking tour continues)

Take a walk down newly refurbished Fayetteville Street to grab some lunch, or head to the Acro Cafe, located in the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences.

After lunch, visit Mordecai Historic Park, offering guided tours of the Mordecai Mansion, an antebellum plantation home and tours of other historic structures, which have been moved to Mordecai Park for preservation, including the birthplace of Andrew Johnson. If you’re here on a Saturday, be sure to hop a ride on the Historic Raleigh Trolley, which will take you on a one hour narrated tour around downtown Raleigh every Saturday March-December..

Finally, drive to one or Greater Raleigh’s unique outdoor shopping destinations such as Cameron Village or North Hills to enjoy shopping in locally owned stores and delicious dining options.

Half-Day Itinerary (walking tour)

Visit the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (FREE) and the North Carolina Museum of History (FREE), located in downtown Raleigh. The N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences features four floors of exhibits, including prehistoric N.C. (featuring the Acrocanthosaurus dinosaur) and a dry tropical rainforest with butterflies, hummingbirds and a one-toed sloth. The N.C. Museum of History has short-term and long-term exhibitions about the history of the state, including North Carolina and the Civil War as well as the N.C. Sports Hall of Fame.

Head across the street to the North Carolina State Capitol (FREE). Tour the building to see the old legislative chambers and be sure to ask about the statue of George Washington in a toga!

Head to City Market and explore Artspace (FREE), where artists work in open-to-the-public studios. Walk through the cobblestone streets of City Market and do a little shopping or enjoy dinner at one of the many restaurants in the area.

Excursions

You may choose to explore the "main streets" of several small towns in the area, each with its own blend of the past and the present.

From the historic train station in Apex to Cary's landmark hotel, to the once-famous healing springs of Fuquay-Varina and Wake Forest's renovated Cotton Company galleries, history and nostalgia run deep in the small towns of Wake County.