Join us for the much-anticipated opening of the [1] new wing of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in downtown Raleigh. Lifelong learners can spend part of the day soaking up all the science and technology they want to, then continue learning at these other great mind-stretching options in Greater Raleigh.

Home tours at [2] Mordecai Historic Park and the [3] Joel Lane Museum House are led by costumed docents.

Head over to the official [4] Visitor Information Center, located in the corridor between the [5] Raleigh Convention Center and the [6] Raleigh Marriott City Center, a good place to grab a few brochures, an [7] Official Visitors Guide with more information for Lifelong Learners.

Move to the [8] Raleigh City Museum in the historic Briggs Hardware building and view special shows that bring the area’s history to life.

Make an appointment to tour the [9] N.C. Executive Mansion, the private residence of the Governor of North Carolina.

Cross the road and stroll down the tree-lined streets of [10] Historic Oakwood, one of downtown Raleigh’s oldest neighborhoods with grand Victorian houses and colorful gardens.

The historic [11] Oakwood Cemetery, established in 1869, is the final resting place of 1,500 Confederate soldiers, five Civil War generals, seven governors and numerous U.S. Senators.

Speaking of the Civil War, stop by [12] visitRaleigh.com/civilwar to learn more about Raleigh’s role in the War Between the States and the tour of war-related sites.

Grab a picnic lunch and make your way to [13] Historic Yates Mill County Park. This 174-acre park is home to a fully-operable 1756 gristmill that still grinds corn throughout the year.

You can’t visit North Carolina’s capital city without a trip to the [14] N.C. State Capitol, which turned 170 in 2010. This is one of the nation’s best-preserved examples of a major civic building in the Greek Revival style.

Across the street is one of the state’s most celebrated museums, the [15] N.C. Museum of History, which brings our state’s diverse history alive with an expansive permanent collection and rotating special exhibits.

Want a unique way to tour the historic sites of downtown Raleigh? Scoot along on a motorized Segway with [16] Triangle Glides, sit back and relax on with a guided tour on a Raleigh rickshaw or feel like you’re in the old South with a horse-drawn carriage from [17] J&L Carriage Company.

Take a stroll through the historic downtowns of [18] Wake Forest, [19] Apex, or [20] Cary. Charming streets with locally owned restaurants and specialty stores feel like a simpler time.

And if you need a Mayberry fix, [21] Pullen Park has the original TV Land statue of Andy and Opie from the popular Andy Griffith television show.

Thirsty after all of your touring? Stop in at [22] Isaac Hunter’s Oak City Tavern where they concoct The Cherry Bounce, Raleigh’s signature beverage which is said to have played a part in the founding of Raleigh as North Carolina’s capital city.

Take a short drive from Raleigh to the [23] North Carolina Railroad Museum and [24] New Hope Valley Railway where you can take a self-guided tour of antique railroad equipment and take a train ride on this historic railroad.