Raleigh NC

Raleigh The Capital of North Carolina

Raleigh NC is the capital of North Carolina and it is the second largest city in that state second only to Charlotte. It is also referred to as the City of Oaks for the many oak trees that grow inside the city. The city is the county seat for Wake County with county, state and federal buildings located in downtown Raleigh. Raleigh was selected as the site of the state capital  in 1788 and was incorporated as such in 1792. The city includes quite a number of historical buildings. Some of these buildings like the Capitol building was completed in the year 1840 and to present still is home to the governor, the lieutenant governor and their staff. An interesting thing about Raleigh NC is that it is home to many historical, cultural and educational sites. This is a good reason to travel to this amazing city.

There are a number of historical buildings to see in Raleigh. The Capital building is a historical building and is open for tours, this is just one of the sites to see while in Raleigh. It is a beautiful building made of granite. There are also a number of museums in the city they give information of how life was for the people of North Carolina and the state’s history. These museums include the North Carolina Museum of History where you get the artifacts, displays, exhibits, interactive and multimedia presentation.

Raleigh Attractions

• The Raleigh City Museum
• Raleigh Museum of Art
• North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
• North Carolina Museum of History
• Joel Lane Museum House
• The North Carolina Symphony
• Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts
• State Farmers Market
• Pullen Park

 

Raleigh Acitvities to Enjoy

Raleigh First Night is the celebration that brigs in the New Year each year in downtown

Raleigh. At midnight the Acorn drops (Raleigh The City of Oaks). This year Raleigh First Night 2015 is bigger and better than ever before. The festival was be spread over 20 blocks with several stages for entertainment, music and performances. Raleigh First Night is for all ages from young to old with activities for all ages. Join in on the fun at Raleigh First Night and celebrate the New Year!

Apart from these attraction Raleigh offers its visitors outdoor areas looking for a quite and relaxing time to individuals and families. One can enjoy running, walking, biking and even hiking. Parks at Raleigh, NC are some of the best in the region and are perfect for outings, dog walking, sporting, exercise and even skating. The areas surrounding this great city are Apex, Garner, Knightdale and Cary. The greater Raleigh area is a fast growing region full of opportunities for everyone.

 

Every year in October the NC State Fair takes place at the NC State Fairgrounds at 1025 Blue Ridge Rd. in Raleigh. The state fair is an annual tradition for many that live in North Carolina. Enjoy the rides, the exhibits, the food, the contest, the animals and the concerts. Each year the NC State Fair brings over a week of state fair fun with clear blue autumn skies and crisp cool nights.

Raleigh Educational Facilities and Health Care Facilities

Raleigh is also home to several university and colleges. The most well known are North Carolina State University; Meredith College, a liberal arts women’s college; William Peace University is a small liberal arts college; Saint Augustine’s University is a historically black college; Campbell Law School; and Shaw University.

WakeMed Health and Hospitals is a 870-bed healthcare system with multiple facilities located  in and around the Raleigh area. WakeMed Heart Center ranks number one in volume among all North Carolina hospitals providing cardiac care and was North Carolina’s first freestanding Children’s Emergency Department serving more then 40,000 children each year. The hospital’s Mobile critical care services offers ground and air transport for adults and children.

Raleigh and Sports

Raleigh is home to the The Carolina Hurricanes, a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League. It is also the home to the North Carolina State Wolfpack  representing North Carolina State University in football, basketball, baseball and other university sports.

Close by is the The Research Triangle Park (RTP) which is the largest research park in the world. RTP covers 7,000 acres and  is located near Durham, Raleigh, and Chapel Hill, in the Research Triangle region of North Carolina. It is one of the most prominent high-tech research and development centers in the USA. It is managed by the Research Triangle Foundation, a private non-profit organization.

Raleigh Shopping

Raleigh has a lot to offer to the shopper with numerous shopping malls and shopping center located in and around the Raleigh area. Raleigh shopping offers everything from your favorite well known shops and retail stores to the unique and anything-but-traditional shops. Shopping, movies and dining are offered all in the same location making it a one stop shopping experience. Some of the shopping mall and centers are:

• Crabtree Valley Mall
• North Hills
• Cameron Village
• Triangle Town Center
• Brier Creek Commons
• South Hill Shopping Center
• The Streets at Southpoint

If you are in search of a thrilling unforgettable experience then Raleigh NC has just what you are looking for. Make sure to attend the NC State Fair held every year in October at the NC State Fairgrounds! Raleigh has a lot to offer from sports venues, museums, food, music, festivals and so much more. Plan a trip to Raleigh and have a great time in the capital of this great state.

Discover the Top 10 things to do in Raleigh NC…