There's no shortage of ways to spend a couple of days exploring the museums, restaurants and parks in the Raleigh area on your own. And while chowing down at a favorite local restaurants is a great way to get a taste of what the City of Oaks has to offer, there's a way to go "backstage" on a visit to the Raleigh area—for both groups of travelers and solo adventurers—that not enough people know about. 

People-First Tourism is a social venture born out of sustainable tourism research at North Carolina State University with a simple aim: to help travelers connect with the places they visit on a deeper level. 

In Raleigh, People-First Tourism has carefully curated a collection of tours and hands-on experiences designed to connect explorers with local experts and guides, giving visitors to the area a chance to hear the story behind a local establishment, learn a new skill, get their hands dirty and even meet great new friends. 

Below: Meet the artists that have led one of People-First Tourism's most popular events (Brush the Skyline: Watercolors and Brews Workshop).

Each month People-First Tourism offers 15 to 20 ticketed experiences led by a local expert—so you can learn the art of tapestry weaving, go behind the scenes at a local farm, head out on a walking tour of local breweries and so much more. 

You can browse the upcoming experiences taking place in Raleigh and the surrounding towns below, but there's also an opportunity for you to request a booking with a local guide if there's a day or time that better fits your needs. Happy adventuring, friends!

June events with People-First Tourism

• Downtown Apex Treasure Hunt, June 1
• Garden Tour & Floral Arrangement Workshop, June 5
• Tea Etiquette & Tastings: An Afternoon Extravaganza of British Elegance, June 6
• National Donut Day with Candles and Confections, June 6
• Honey Tasting & Hive Tour with Baxter's Bees, June 7
• Brush the Skyline: Watercolors and Brews Workshop (Apex), June 8
• Brush the Skyline: Watercolors and Brews Workshop (downtown Raleigh), June 12
• Art in the Garden: Nature, Creativity, Community, June 14
• Tapestry Weaving Workshop at Lucky Tree Cafe, June 17
• Cookies and Crochet! Crochet Workshop and Dessert Sampling, June 19
• Garden Tour & Floral Arrangement Workshop, June 19
• Raleigh Street Art and Mural Walkabout, June 21
• Adventures in Bloom: Metal Stamping Workshop, June 22
• Brush the Skyline: Watercolors and Brews Workshop (downtown Raleigh), June 26
• An Afternoon of Tea & Trivia at Sophie’s Grill and Bar, June 27
• Coffee Stroll Through Downtown Raleigh, June 28
• Beer and Cider Stroll: Discovering Whitaker Mill’s Watering Holes, June 28

And a sneak peak at some July events:

• Garden Tour & Floral Arrangement Workshop, July 10
• Brush the Skyline: Watercolors and Brews Workshop, July 10
• Art in the Garden: Nature, Creativity, Community, July 12
• A Taste of Eastern Europe: Guided Dinner and Wine Pairing with Local Chefs, July 17
• Downtown Apex Treasure Hunt, July 20
• Cookies and Crochet! Crochet Workshop and Dessert Sampling, July 24
• Garden Tour & Floral Arrangement Workshop, July 24
• Coffee Stroll Through Downtown Raleigh, July 26
• Brush the Skyline: Watercolors and Brews Workshop, July 31