13 Best Sights in Raleigh, Central North Carolina

On the west side of Raleigh, the NCMA houses more than 5,000 years of artistic heritage, including one of the nation's largest collections of Jewish ceremonial art. The museum hosts touring exhibitions of works by such artists as Caravaggio and Rodin. There are gallery tours offered daily, and on Saturdays at 10:30 you can catch a guided tour of the surrounding park. The 164-acre park features nine monumental works of art, which visitors can view on foot or by bike.

With seven floors of immersive exhibits spread across two buildings connected via sky bridge, this museum is the largest of its kind in the Southeast. Exhibits and dioramas celebrate the incredible diversity of species in the state's various regions. There are enough live animals and insects—including butterflies, snakes, and a two-toed sloth—to qualify as a midsize zoo. Massive and rare whale skeletons hang from the ceiling. The pièce de résistance, however, is the Terror of the South exhibit, featuring the dinosaur skeleton of "Acro," a giant carnivore that lived in the region 110 million years ago. The impressive bones are the world's most complete Acrocanthosaurus dinosaur skeleton. In the Nature Research Center, visitors can have live conversations with scientists.

A nonprofit visual-arts center, Artspace hosts open studios, where artists are happy to talk to you about their work. Much of the art by resident artists is for sale during or after the exhibitions.

The place bustles with visitors during First Fridays, when galleries and museums throughout the city host public receptions to show off new work.

Located in the hometown of the legendary movie star, this museum has an extensive collection of memorabilia tracing Gardner's life, from childhood on the farm to her Hollywood glory days. It's about 30 miles southeast of Raleigh in downtown Smithfield.

Since 1891, this 37,500-square-foot brick Queen Anne–style structure, made entirely from materials from the Tar Heel State, with elaborate gingerbread trim and manicured lawns, has been the home of the state's governors. Encompassing an entire city block, the brick-walled gardens explode with color during the spring. Reservations for tours must be made at least two weeks in advance.

The university's working, research, and teaching 10-acre garden holds the most diverse collection of hardy temperate-zone plants in the southeastern United States. There's also a garden featuring plants with white flowers and foliage and a 300-foot-long perennial border.

Dating to 1769, the oldest dwelling in Raleigh was the home of Joel Lane, known as the "Father of Raleigh" because he sold 1,000 acres of his property to the state of North Carolina on which the beginnings of the capital city were built. Costumed docents lead tours of the restored house and beautiful period gardens. The last tour starts an hour before closing: 1 pm Wednesday through Friday, and 3 on Saturday.

This 84,000-square-foot cathedral of play and learning is aimed at children 10 and younger. Everything is hands-on, so your child is free to fill a shopping cart in the marketplace, don a fireman's hat, clamber through the cab of a city bus, scale the crow's nest of a three-story pirate ship, or splash in numerous water stations. Older children can play chess with 2-foot pawns, perform simple science experiments, or learn about the value of cash at the Moneypalooza exhibit. Toddler Hollow, designed with an enchanted forest in mind, is meant for kids under two. The space's wide-open design and its architectural details, including a suspension bridge and a courtyard with a 6-foot marble fountain, give adults something to look at as well. There's also an IMAX theater.

This 3-acre downtown historic site dating to 1785 includes President Andrew Johnson's birthplace and the Mordecai family's Greek revival plantation home. Moses Mordecai, a well-respected lawyer, married two granddaughters (in succession) of Joel Lane, the "Father of Raleigh." Mordecai's descendants lived in the house until 1964. Exhibits acknowledge the struggle of the enslaved people who once toiled here. There are guided tours hourly from 10 to 3.

The historical figure's name is pronounced MOR-de-key. Using a long "i" will mark you as a newcomer immediately.

Founded in 1902, this Smithsonian-affiliated museum is now in a state-of-the-art facility on Bicentennial Plaza. Its signature exhibit, The Story of North Carolina, traces more than 14,000 years of the state’s history. The museum also houses the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, which displays memorabilia from hundreds of inductees, from college heroes to pro superstars and Olympic contenders. You can see Richard Petty's race car, Arnold Palmer's Ryder Cup golf bag, and Harlem Globetrotter Meadowlark Lemon's uniforms. Even if your time is short, it's worth popping in to admire the wall-sized oil paintings of the state's most beautiful natural vistas.

Several architectural styles—including Victorian buildings—can be found in this tree-shaded 19th-century neighborhood that's a short walk from downtown. The flower gardens and seasonal decorations make it a lovely place for a stroll year-round. Children love the "Dinosaur House" at 504 Oakwood Avenue, especially around Halloween when the lawn and porch is crowded with scares. A map with a self-guided walking tour of the area, which encompasses 20 blocks bordered by Person, Edenton, Franklin, and Watauga–Linden Streets, is available online.

The state's first public park includes train rides, paddleboat rentals, and a 1911 Dentzel carousel. You can also swim in a large indoor aquatic center, play tennis, or, if the timing is right, see a summer play at the Theatre in the Park.

One block north of the State Capitol, this complex hums with lawmakers and lobbyists when the legislature is in session. It's fun to watch from the third-floor gallery. Free guided tours are available but must be scheduled in advance through Capitol Area Services.