North Carolina’s capital city brims with Southern charm and adventure. The city’s colorful history includes how its location was originally chosen for its proximity to Hunter’s Tavern — a favorite watering hole for its then-state legislators. Today, it’s a great destination for music, festivals, food and outdoor pursuits.
History & Culture: Dating to 1792, Raleigh boasts many historic structures, including the Pope House Museum built in 1901; the Joel Lane Museum House and Gardens; the Andrew Johnson Birthplace; and the North Carolina Railroad Museum & New Hope Valley Railway, with a collection of antique equipment. Enjoy one of the many annual festivals, which range from Meet in the Street Festival and the Apex Latino Arts and Culinary Festival, to Raleigh’s International Food Festival.
Culinary: Raleigh’s food truck culture is hot, with close to 100 regular trucks serving the downtown city and popular venues. A few to look for: The Humble Pig for smoky barbecue; Cousins Maine Lobster for all lobster tots, lobster quesadillas and lobster rolls; and Pho Nomenal Dumpling Truck for exceptional dumplings and Taiwanese spaghetti. The truck won Food Network’s The Great Food Truck Race in 2005.
Active: Surrounded by stunning scenery — and bearing the distinction of the third sportiest city in America — Raleigh offers boating, skiing, climbing, skating, horseback riding, tennis, golf and 180 miles of trails in the Greenway System ideal for hiking and walking. State parks include Shelley Lake Park, William B. Umstead State Park and Lake Crabtree County Park.
Wellness: At White Dahlia Massage and Wellness, you can sample therapies that include cupping, reflexology, Reiki, cranialsacral massage, Ashiatsu, Trigger Point Therapy or a stress-melting Fire and Ice Massage. Stretch yourself at the Raleigh Yoga Company, a Bikram Yoga studio; or Evolve Movement where the studio includes Pilates equipment, and the schedule features health-focused workshops.
Romance: The city’s vibrant arts scene embraces numerous galleries, concerts and performances. Take in a show by the Carolina Ballet or North Carolina Theatre. End your evening with an artisan brew on the roof of the Raleigh Beer Garden, where you can choose from 366 different varieties.
Family Fun: There are plenty of family-friendly activities for kids of all ages. The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences has a wealth of exhibits including the Nature Exploration Center and Nature Research Center, with labs, a 10,000-gallon aquarium, fossils and space exhibits. At the Marble Kids Museum, diversions include an IMAX movie screen and numerous interactive exhibitions. Pullen Park has a carousel constructed in 1911, pedal boats on Lake Howell, sporting fields and performances by Theatre in the Park.
Read This Next
#WhereverFamily
Insta FeedMultigenerational
Mar 5, 2024Puro Sound Labs Upgrades PuroQuiet Kids Headphones
Puro Sound Labs, a manufacturer of children’s headphones, recently introduced the new PuroQuiet Plus headphones, following the success of the PuroQuiet, consistently named a top choice for kid’s headphones. The PuroQuiet Plus features a USB-C connector and comes in two new colors — purple and teal. Grab a set for your kiddos before your next round of family travel!
Sponsored Content
United Airlines Celebrates its First Class of United Aviate Graduates
As the only major U.S. airline to own a flight school, United Airlines already hit a major milestone, and now the carrier celebrates another important — and historic — step as the inaugural class of United Aviate Academy pilots graduates, leading the next generation of aviators. The 51 students in the graduating class were majority, at 80 percent, women and people of color — another stride toward United’s goal of training 5,000 new pilots by 2030 with half women or POC.
Multigenerational
Mar 4, 2024Hilton’s Top Spring Break Resorts for Families
Home to leading kids’ clubs, thrilling waterparks with massive slides and educational workshops, Hilton properties lead the way for immersive, fun-filled resorts this spring break for family travelers. Not sure where to look? These six Hilton resorts promise non-stop excitement for the whole family.
Parents
Feb 22, 2024Tiny Traveler: A Safer Way to Travel with a Baby
Are your upcoming family travels taking you on a road trip? It’s not always easy trying to keep an eye on the little ones while also keeping an eye on the road, but with Tiny Traveler, parents can have peace of mind about their child's safety on the road. This safe companion monitors the kids and can even record precious moments for eternity.
Sponsored Content
Travel Tips to Help Protect Your Health and Your Trip
Five Tips to Help Minimize Potential Travel Problems
Kids
Feb 22, 2024Sleep Chair for Children and Parents
Did you know March 10–16 is National Sleep Week? Parents everywhere know it’s vital for children to receive good sleep to help them grown and develop mentally and physically. Tum&Bum sleep chair helps children sleep better, especially if they experience a cough, congestion and allergies. It could also aid in sleep in an unfamiliar location on family travel.
ShareThis