visitRaleigh insider

One of the Tar Heel State's favorite annual holiday events is back and brighter than ever—yes, the North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival is returning to the Raleigh area for a ninth time! Taking place at Koka Booth Amphitheatre, the festival—which only visits a handful of spots...

The most fun team in hockey. The loudest house in the NHL. A perennial contender for the Stanley Cup. The last six seasons have been a heck of a ride for the Carolina Hurricanes. Owner Tom Dundon purchased the franchise in late 2017, former Canes player Rod Brind'Amour was brought on as head

High-flying rides and deep-fried pies—the 156th annual N.C. State Fair returns to Raleigh, Oct. 17-27! The N.C. State Fair announced 72 new sweets, treats and over-the-top concoctions for foodies to look forward to in 2024. Hot foods, messy foods, loaded-to-the-max foods, foods we had no idea...

From historic sites and museums to art galleries and city parks, the Raleigh, N.C., area, strives to make a wide range of experiences accessible to visitors of varying abilities. Here are a few options you should absolutely take advantage of while visiting the City of Oaks. Explore our museums

In case you missed it: a big new attraction is now open in Cary, N.C. (about 10 miles from the center of Raleigh). Downtown Cary Park—a seven-acre, state-of-the-art playspace for all ages—opened in the heart of downtown Cary in late 2023. The early reviews have made it clear: this is...

It's the most wonderful time of the year to explore the outdoors! Peak fall colors in the Raleigh area—lighting up greenways, parks and nature preserves—are generally expected from late October through mid- to late November. And while there are many places to see fall foliage in...

The downtown Raleigh, N.C., shopping scene is quite the impressive one. With unique boutiques and stores galore, there is no shortage of adorable and affordable souvenirs, trendy and timeless clothing, funky and fancy gifts! Whether you’re looking for the perfect gift for someone, a souvenir...

Whether it’s picking through a pumpkin patch, getting lost in a corn maze or taking a relaxing (or spooky!) hayride, you'll be falling for fall in the Raleigh area after taking part in these experiences! Ken’s Korny Corn Maze Get lost in a sea of corn as you take on Ken's...

It's so long to summer, hello to fall! We'll miss these warm-weather months—baseball games, ice cream days, kayaking trips and such. But we're ready to embrace a new season and the new experiences that come with it in the Raleigh area—cultural festivals, major music...

Prost! Oktoberfest is a German beer-drinking festival and tradition that dates back more than 200 years; it's now held annually over the course of two weeks in late September and early October. And because the Raleigh area is no stranger to good beer and good times, there are plenty of ways to...