Things to do in Raleigh!!!

Are you wondering what ELSE there is to do in the Raleigh, North Carolina area? Well, Raleigh is centrally located: about three hours from the majestic North Carolina mountains (Boone & Asheville areas) and about two hours from the beautiful North Carolina beaches (Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach area, in particular).

Additionally....there's a LOT to do while in the City of Raleigh. Keep in mind that you'll be only a few minutes' drive from three top universities: UNC-Chapel Hill (also known as CAROLINA!), Duke University, and N.C.S.U. (home of the Wolfpack). Below is a list of just a few of Raleigh highlights. And, note that all TWENTY of these "things to do" are FREE:

1. N.C. Museum of History -- Sparkling facility showcases North Carolina's unique and colorful history. (919) 715-0200. Closed on Mondays.
2. N.C. Museum of Art -- Features one of the South's best collections. (919) 839-6262. Closed on Mondays.
3. N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences -- Learn about the state's natural history, from the coastal plains to the mountains. (919) 733-7450.
4. N.C. Sports Hall of Fame -- Members include Arnold Palmer, Dean Smith and Richard Petty. Housed in the N.C. Museum of History. (919) 715-0200. Closed on Mondays.
5. State Capitol -- This National Historic Landmark was built in the 1830s. Greek Revival architectural style. (919) 733-4994.
6. North Carolina Executive Mansion -- Called "the most beautiful governor's mansion {interior} in America" by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. (919) 733-3456. Call in advance to make reservations for guided tours.
7. Parks, Lakes and Greenways -- Visitors to Greater Raleigh can enjoy more than 150 beautiful parks and lakes, covering 6,500 acres, and 46 miles of greenways. For a detailed listing, call the Greater Raleigh Convention & Visitors Bureau at (800) 849-8499.
8. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Gardens -- A colorful variety of trees, shrubs and flowering plants surround a life-size bronze statue of Dr. King. (919) 834-6264.
9. State Farmers Market -- Produce doesn't get any fresher -- or more colorful - than at this 75-acre open air market. (919) 733-7417. Admission is free; produce is not.
10. Artspace -- A center for the visual arts featuring 44 working artists in open-to-the-public studios. (919) 821-2787. Closed Sundays.
11. J.C. Raulsten Arboretum at N.C. State University -- Features more than 6,000 varieties of plants from 55 countries. (919) 515-3132.
12. Historic Oakwood-- Victorian neighborhood listed in the National Tour of Historic Places. Nearby Oakwood Cemetery is the resting place of U.S. Senators, N.C. Governors, Confederate soldiers and generals. Neighborhood: (919) 834-0887. Cemetery: (919) 832-6077.
13. Pullen Park-- Downtown park featuring a 1911 antique carousel, train ride, kiddie boat ride and pedal boats. (919) 831-6468. Hours vary; small fee for rides.
14. State Legislative Building-- Home of the N.C. General Assembly. Designed by Edward Durrell Stone, who also designed the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and the American Embassy in New Delhi, India. (919) 733-7928.
15. St. Augustine's College Chapel -- Built in 1895, the chapel is home to the bishop's chair, a memorial to the Right Reverend Henry Beard Delany. (919) 516-4189. Hours: June - July, Mon. - Fri. 9 am-5 pm; Aug. - May, chapel service on Sundays at 11 am.
16. African-American Cultural Complex -- An exposition of contributions made by African Americans to the development of North Carolina and the United States. (919) 231-0625. Call in advance to schedule appointment.
17. Raleigh City Museum -- Interesting exhibits take visitors through the 200-year history of the Capital City. New location downtown at Historic Briggs Hardware Building (1874). (919) 832-3775. Hours vary; call for details.
18. North Carolina Solar Center -- Demonstration house and research facility on the N.C. State University campus. (919) 515-3799. Closed Saturdays.
19. Historic Oak View County Park -- Historic farmstead that focuses on Wake County's agricultural heritage. (919) 250-1013. Open Monday through Saturday. Main house by appointment only.
20. Ray Price Legends of Harley Drag Racing Museum — Check out the only Harley-Davidson drag racing museum in the world located on the second floor of one of the largest Harley dealerships in the United States. The newly-expanded showroom is the home of the world-famous drag racing champion Ray Price. (919) 832-2261.

If you have any questions whatsoever, do not hesitate to contact me. I'm here and available to help, as are all of my fellow employee owners! I can't wait to meeting you in Raleigh in November!

Until then,

Connie

(aka "Convention Connie")