Things To Do
North Carolina Museum of Art
The outside grounds have great walking trails, while the inside has a museum. General admission is free. Our first date was here!
Historic Oakwood
This is a historic neighborhood that is great for walking and admiring the well-preserved Victorian and early-20th-century homes. This area also has food and drink attractions. We would recommend Standard (food and drinks), Crawford and Son (upscale dining), Two Roosters (ice cream), and William & Company (cocktails). It also has the second oldest Krispy Kreme Doughnuts shop!
The Willard Rooftop Lounge
This is located on the rooftop of the AC hotel. It has amazing views of Raleigh! They have a diverse menu of small and large plates, as well as a variety of drink options. We went here for one of our first dates!
Bicentennial Plaza
This plaza holds the North Carolina Museum of Natural History and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. Admission to both is free!
Umstead Park
This is a wonderful nature area with hiking trails. Our favorite is the Company Mill Trail (it’s a 6 mile loop)!
Dorothea Dix Park
Sprawling park with city views. Visit the Gipson Play Plaza which is spectacular to walk through or have a picnic at. There are also lots of grassy areas for picnics (we recommend the Flowers Field or The Grove). Bikes are also available to rent and ride on the Rocky Branch Trail greenway.