East Raleigh

Steeped in history, East Raleigh continues to grow as visitors become residents and plant their roots in this diverse, evolving area. Begin your visit with an outdoor history lesson at Historic Oak View County Park. This antebellum farmstead features an 1855 Greek Revival house, detached kitchen, cotton gin house, livestock barn, carriage house, pecan grove and herb garden. Enjoy picnic facilities and stop in the Farm History Center, where kids can enjoy the interactive learning experience of the “Farmer’s Corner.”

In addition to the historic neighborhoods, preserved antebellum homes and buildings with unexpected stories to tell, you’ll also want to take time to explore Saint Augustine’s University. Located on a beautiful, 122-acre campus minutes from downtown Raleigh, this HBCU was founded in 1867 and is home to several historic landmarks, including Saint Augustine's University Historic Chapel, the oldest landmark on campus.
 

Ever wonder how small-batch spirits are created? Uncover the secret during a distillery tour at Oak City Amaretto or Raleigh Rum Company, where you can get a behind-the-scenes look at the distilling process and enjoy an educational afternoon (followed by a tasting of samples).

If you've got kids in tow, plan a visit to Raleigh IcePlex, North Carolina's only Olympic-sized ice rink. If you've worked up an appetite, East Raleigh is home to a wide variety of cuisines, including down-home southern food at Jack’s Seafood and Soul Food and Thai and Malaysian delights at Red Pepper Asian.