Chapel Hill, Durham & Raleigh Area

Free Things To Do In Raleigh

North Carolina's capital city since 1792, Raleigh truly is the home of the free – free, family-friendly activities that is. From art and agriculture to Harley-Davidson and history, Raleigh offers something for everyone and most of it is priceless.

You could spend days exploring Raleigh, also known as the Smithsonian of the South, for its three free state museums. Meander down tree-lined streets in a Victorian-era neighborhood listed in the National Register of Historic Places or go to our State Farmers Market to see North Carolina’s bounty up close and personal.

Let’s start our trip around Raleigh at the Capital Area Visitor Center, where you can view a multi-media presentation that gives an overview of the city's history and pick up free brochures and maps. Free.

At the NC Museum of Art, gallery tours offer exploratory discussions between the museum guides and visitors. You will learn about everything from mummies to Monet.

Next, it’s over to the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, where kids of all ages will love the interactive exhibits of Discovery Fun and the Curiosity Classes. They will even get to touch and examine live animals. There is no admission charge but a fee is charged for special exhibitions. Hungry carnivores need money to check out The Acro Café, located in the NC Museum of Natural Sciences.

Spend the afternoon exploring Raleigh's history. Hear ghost stories at the Executive Mansion.

Tour the State Capitol where kids can create their own law in the Legislative Chamber and tour the State Legislative Building, where your group can actually see laws being made. It’s free, but reservations are required.

African-American Heritage Tour
With dozens of historic and cultural sites, plus an array of year-round events and celebrations, North Carolina's Capital City area is rich in African-American heritage. These sites will take you to landmarks in education, business, religion and more.

Start your free, self-guided tour at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Gardens, the only public park in the United States devoted to the civil rights movement. Here you will see a life-sized bronze statue of Dr. King.

Spend some time exploring our historically black colleges and universities – Shaw University and Saint Augustine's College. Shaw University is the oldest historically black university in the South. While on Shaw's campus, tour Estey Hall, the first building constructed for the higher education of black women in the country. Saint Augustine's has been ranked in the top five of the nation's 117 historically black colleges and universities.

There’s plenty more to see and do in North Carolina’s capital city. See our Top 20 list of free things below before taking your next trip to this park with a city in it.

Top 20 List of Free Attractions

1. NC Museum of History – Sparkling facility showcases North Carolina's unique and colorful history. (919) 715-0200. Closed on Mondays.

2. NC Museum of Art  – Features one of the South's best collections. (919) 839-6262. Closed on Mondays.

3. NC Museum of Natural Sciences – Learn about the state's natural history, from the coastal plains to the mountains. (919) 733-7450.

4. NC 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 or visit 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. JC Raulston Arboretum at NC 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) 515-7085. 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.

added: December 31, 2008

updated: June 9, 2009