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24 more fun things to do in Greater Raleigh

By visitraleigh
April 18, 2012 //

There was so much interest in our post about “24 Fun Things to Do in Greater Raleigh” that we’ve taken your suggestions and created “24 More Fun Things to Do in Greater Raleigh” in celebration of the 24-hour grand opening of the Nature Research Center on April 20-21. We know there is a lot more to do in our area, so continue to give us your suggestions on Facebook and Twitter.

  1. Get dancing – Take in a performance by the world-renowned Carolina Ballet. Not to miss–their “magical” version of The Nutcracker.
  2. Say hello to history – Mordecai Historic Park has the birthplace of Andrew Johnson and gives visitors a chance to discover what life was like in the early days of Raleigh.
  3. Buy local –It’s that time of year again! Fresh produce rules at one of the area’s many weekly markets. Try the State Farmers Market, the largest in the state and open daily.
  4. Take an iconic picture – Have your picture taken in front of the giant copper acorn in Moore Square. This 1,250-pound sculpture is dropped on New Year’s Eve during First Night celebrations.
  5. Find a food truck – This culinary trend is popping up in unexpected places. Follow local favorites like Klausie’s Pizza on Twitter to find out where to grab the perfect slice.
  6. Take a hike – Falls Lake is the perfect place to get out and enjoy nature on any of the hiking and biking trails.
  7. Get your swing on – The area is home to golf courses like Lonnie Poole, designed by Arnold Palmer, and with seasonal temperatures, it’s the perfect time to hit the links.
  8. Eat pie – Grab a slice, of pie that is, at Piebird in Historic Oakwood. This quaint restaurant serves homemade dessert pies and hand pies.
  9. Discover glorious gardens – The Raleigh area has some of the most beautiful gardens in the state including the J.C. Raulston Arboretum with more than 5,000 plants on display.
  10. Tour a historic neighborhood – The Historic Oakwood neighborhood of downtown Raleigh is a 30-block area of lovingly restored Victorian and early 20th century homes. Take a self-guided walking tour.
  11. Peruse the aisles – The Cotton Company in Wake Forest is an old cotton warehouse that is now home to hundreds of vendors selling unique and handmade arts, crafts, clothing and more.
  12. Run fast – Lace up your running shoes for one of the area’s road races. Runner favorites  include the Raleigh Rocks Half Marathon or the City of Oaks Marathon.
  13. Have a Scotty sighting – Last year’s American Idol winner still calls Garner home and can be seen out and about.
  14. Scream G-O-A-L – The WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary is home to the NASL Carolina Railhawks professional soccer team, but it also hosts numerous collegiate and amateur soccer championships and tournaments.
  15. Batter up – Take in a game at Zebulon’s Five County Stadium as the Single-A Carolina Mudcats take to the mound against teams like the Wilmington Blue Hens and Lynchburg Hillcats.
  16. Learn line-dancing lingo – Venues like The Longbranch of Raleigh provide the perfect place to learn the boot-scootin’ boogie or to see some of the next big bands in country music.
  17. Have cupcakes – Shhh… we won’t tell that you have a cupcake from The Cupcake Shoppe before dinner.
  18. Find the perfect accessory – Moon and Lola, an Apex-based designer, is currently in the process of opening a store  in downtown Raleigh, and is known for jewelry with feminine charms, as well as bold accent pieces.
  19. Check the visitRaleigh.com calendar – The Raleigh area is known for unique festivals and events no matter what time of year you’re here.
  20. Experience Summerfest – Summerfest, held at Cary’s Koka Booth Amphitheatre, is a favorite for visitors and locals and provides incredible music from the N.C. Symphony in a stunning outdoor environment.
  21. Dine and Shop – Restaurants and specialty stores like NoFo at the Pig and Zest Café & Home Art come together under one roof to provide the perfect marriage of dining and shopping.
  22. Have a wine tasting – Yes, you heard correctly, the Raleigh area is home to three wineries. Take a tour and stay for a tasting to discover why everyone’s talking about North Carolina wines.
  23. Glide on water – Triangle Glides is the only Raleigh area company to offer Stand Up Paddleboarding lessons on Lake Wheeler and Lake Johnson.
  24. Be a part of “Raleigh’s New World” – Take advantage of deals and savings surrounding the opening of the Nature Research Center.
Categories Adrenaline Junkie, Creative Genius, Fashionista, Featured, Foodie, Free Spirit, Lifelong Learner, Music Maniac, New World

Enter for your chance to win a trip to the Amazon!

By visitraleigh
April 10, 2012 //

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On July 5-14, 2012, Dr. Meg Lowman, director of the new wing at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, will lead a group of educators and naturalists on an amazing, nine-day trip to the Amazon rainforest. The best part: visitRaleigh.com and the museum are giving you a chance to go along!

Now through Tuesday, May 15, enter to win a spot on this rainforest expedition and become part of a team of educators and naturalists studying in the Amazon basin of Peru. The visitRaleigh.com sweepstakes prize includes the workshop cost, in-country air and international air round-trip to Lima.

The winner of the “Raleigh’s New World” prize package can:

  • work side-by-side with scientists in one of the most biologically diverse environments on the planet
  • ascend over 115 feet on a ¼-mile Rainforest Canopy Walkway, one of the few of its kind in the world
  • interact with indigenous people and see how they use the forest for medicine, food and shelter
  • get up-close with as many as seven kinds of primates at Monkey Island’s conservation project
  • use hand lenses, binoculars, maps and taxonomic keys for identification of insects, butterflies, plants, birds and more

You just need to be a legal U.S. resident, be 18+ and have a valid passport, and you could be selected the grand prize winner on May 16! (See official rules for full details.) This dynamic journey is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a Lifelong Learner.

Enter now, and remember to get a jump-start on your nature research experience at the grand opening of the new wing at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, April 20-21, in downtown Raleigh.

Categories Adrenaline Junkie, Lifelong Learner, New World

Get your Amazon On!

By visitraleigh
March 29, 2012 //

On July 5-14, 2012, Dr. Meg Lowman, director of the new wing at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, will lead a group of educators and naturalists on an amazing, nine-day trip to the Amazon rainforest. The best part: visitRaleigh.com and the museum are giving you a chance to go along!

Now through Tuesday, May 15, enter to win a spot on this rainforest expedition and become part of a team of educators and naturalists studying in the Amazon basin of Peru. The visitRaleigh.com sweepstakes prize includes the workshop cost, in-country air and international air round-trip to Lima.

The winner of the “Raleigh’s New World” prize package can:

  • work side-by-side with scientists in one of the most biologically diverse environments on the planet
  • ascend over 115 feet on a ¼-mile Rainforest Canopy Walkway, one of the few of its kind in the world
  • interact with indigenous people and see how they use the forest for medicine, food and shelter
  • get up-close with as many as seven kinds of primates at Monkey Island’s conservation project
  • use hand lenses, binoculars, maps and taxonomic keys for identification of insects, butterflies, plants, birds and more

You just need to be a legal U.S. resident, be 18+ and have a valid passport, and you could be selected the grand prize winner on May 16! (See official rules for full details.) This dynamic journey is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a Lifelong Learner.

Enter now, and remember to get a jump-start on your nature research experience at the grand opening of the new wing at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, April 20-21, in downtown Raleigh.

Categories Adrenaline Junkie, Lifelong Learner, New World

Why April 20-22 is One of the Best Weekends to Visit Raleigh!

By vrauthor
March 21, 2012 //

There isn’t much naturally special about the weekend of April 20 (except Earth Day), so you’re probably wondering why we’d recommend such a random time to visit. For no intentional reason other than that Greater Raleigh is an exceptionally happening and fun-filled place, this weekend is absolutely brimming with events, much more so than usual.

Bring in the Spring with some fun in the sun. The Cuegrass Festival has been an annual hit, hosting one of downtown Raleigh’s largest block parties complete with delicious barbecue and fixin’s from The Pit, not to mention awesome live bands. Get artsy by attending a performance of Leaving Iowa at Raleigh’s Theatre In The Park, or mix your love of food and the arts at the Great Grapes! Art, Music and Wine Festival at the Town of Cary’s Koka Booth Amphitheatre.

Adrenaline Junkies can have the time of their lives with a few N.C. State baseball home games and Carolina Mudcats home games to choose from throughout the weekend. Even aside from baseball, the sports scene will be especially happening, with the ACC Tennis Championship and the North American Table Tennis Olympic Trials at Bond Park, both taking place in Cary.

The performance arts will be going strong during this weekend, with Steel Magnolias and Passport to Wales both set to be performed by the N.C. Theatre and N.C. Symphony, respectively. The Raleigh Amphitheater will host the intoxicating DAYGLOW show, a high-energy fusion of music, art, dance and paint that forms the world’s largest paint party. The Carolina Ballet will also be at the Progress Energy Center, with a dazzling performance of Carmina Burana.

Make sure to get your laughs over the weekend with the belly-rolling humor of the comedians performing at the World Series of Comedy at Goodnight’s Comedy Club. Or watch clowns, dancers and artists perform daring feats at the Cole Brothers Circus at the N.C. State Fairgrounds.

On top of all this, Raleigh will host the area’s largest grand opening, possibly ever! The new Nature Research Center wing at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences will open its doors for the first time on April 20, complete with a 24-hour celebration. This will be the largest all-night party downtown Raleigh has ever seen!

There sure isn’t a shortage of fun things to do in Greater Raleigh April 20-22, and we’re positive you’ll leave wishing the weekend had lasted a little longer so you’d have had time to fit in even more!

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Categories Adrenaline Junkie, Free Spirit, Lifelong Learner

Get Your March Madness in Greater Raleigh

By vrauthor
March 16, 2012 //

It’s that time again. You know, one of the most notoriously unproductive times of the year, when it seems like everyone and their mother is glued to a screen watching basketball game after basketball game. It’s March Madness!

If you’re in town March 25-27 then you’re in luck, because this year Raleigh has the honor of hosting the 2012 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship Regionals. Thousands of players and fans will flock to North Carolina State University/PNC Arena to witness all of the March Madness in person.

Looking for a great spot to watch the games? Tobacco Road on Glenwood Avenue in downtown Raleigh is a local favorite, with a full wall of televisions so you’ll know for sure that your game is on. Other popular hot spots for sports watching include Backyard Bistro, with five huge screens, and the Brickhouse Sports Pub.

March Madness goes beyond the NCAA basketball games in Greater Raleigh. During the month of March, Adrenaline Junkies can take a break from the games and enjoy several races, including the Tobacco Road Marathon and Half Marathon and the St. Patty’s Day Run Greek 8k, as well as Carolina Hurricanes hockey games.

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Categories Adrenaline Junkie

Outdoor Activities to Bring in the Spring

By vrauthor
March 16, 2012 //

As the weather warms and flip-flops start to emerge from hibernation, we’re sure you’re ready to get back in touch with the great outdoors. An awesome perk of visiting Greater Raleigh is that you can get the metro experience, complete with performance arts, outstanding museums and delicious restaurants, AND the natural, outdoors experience far away from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

There are so many outdoor recreation opportunities in the area that your outdoor plans for the day are limited by only one thing: what you feel like doing! If you’re an Adrenaline Junkie looking to get active, then why not go mountain biking on one of the many trails in the area, or take a swim in the Falls Lake State Recreational Area (there’s even a waterslide).

Free Spirits can get in touch with nature during a few hours of horseback riding on local farms such as MacNair’s Country Acres Stables, Painted Sunset Farm or Phillips Farm. If you’ve got an equestrian friend of your own, feel free to bring him/her along and enjoy a day trail riding at the William B. Umstead State Park or the Southern Oak Equestrian Center.

Foodies aren’t confined to the indoors of restaurants in this area. Choose a restaurant that has an outdoor patio so you can catch a few rays during your daytime meal, or pick up some delicious local eats to-go and picnic at any of dozens of area parks with beautiful views. The combination of mouthwatering local bites and the beauty of the outdoors will make for a meal you won’t forget.

Whether you’re in the mood for a canoeing or sailing excursion, taking a hike or trail run, or playing a round of golf, you’ll find that Greater Raleigh is nearly limitless in what it can offer in the outdoors.

Categories Adrenaline Junkie, Foodie, Free Spirit

Upcoming Events at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds

By visitraleigh
February 8, 2012 //

Every year, the North Carolina State Fairgrounds stays alive with a diverse array of events that attract all kinds of visitors. The Fairgrounds is one of the special places in Raleigh where large-scale events can be hosted for Lifelong Learners, Adrenaline Junkies and Free Spirits all within the same month.

For the Lifelong Learners, there’s the Native American Indian Art Show on Feb. 26th to the 28th in the Holshouser Building. This art show and sale displays pieces from the southwestern tribes and pueblos, including Santa Clara, San El Defonso, Laguna and Navajo. There will be hundreds of items for you to enjoy, such as jewelry, drums, bows, pottery, artifacts and framed artwork, to name a few. Admission to this event is free.

Adrenaline Junkies can discover a different kind of sport at the Capital City Gun Show on Feb. 25th and 26th in the Jim Graham Building. This event attracts collectors, hunters and enthusiasts from all over the state in order to buy, sell and trade everything from guns and knives to hunting supplies and ammo. Daily admission is $8, but discount coupons are available here.

The NC Diocese Ignited by Truth Conference is not your typical visitor attraction, but it’s still something Free Spirits can enjoy. This weekend of spiritual insight and inspiration for people of all faith traditions will feature workshops, speakers and discussions ranging in subject from spiritual combat to scripture. Sessions in Spanish are also available.

No matter what your visitor personality is, you’re sure to find something that speaks to you at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds this month. Check out a full calendar of events here.

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Categories Adrenaline Junkie, Free Spirit, Lifelong Learner

U.S. Olympic Table Tennis Trials

By visitraleigh
January 24, 2012 //

A high-intensity game that reaches far beyond the basement of your home where you sometimes play, table tennis is officially classified as an Olympic sport. You may be surprised, wondering how chasing a ping pong ball around a room all day could possibly qualify for the Olympics, but that’s probably only because you haven’t seen the game played at its highest, most entertaining level.

If you’re curious and want to see the action yourself, you’re in luck. The 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials in Table Tennis will take place in Greater Raleigh’s very own Cary, N.C., from Feb. 9-12. A few months later, the North America 2012 Olympic Games Qualifying Tournament will also be held in Cary in the same venue at Bond Park.

Attending this sporting event will leave you anxious for the 2012 Olympics to begin, so you can continue following your favorite players and see the champion through to the end. Adrenaline Junkies everywhere can step out of their usual sports comfort zone and get a glimpse of a game just as exciting and sometimes as physically involved. This isn’t your childhood ping pong tournament; this is a matching of the best table tennis players in the entire country, and later, in all of North America.

Intrigued? Tickets are on sale now for both events, starting at only $5 for daily tickets and $75 for a VIP Welcome Reception and admission to both trials. The Embassy Suites in Cary will serve as the host hotel for both events, and rooms are available for just $89 a night. For more information on how you can take advantage of this unique opportunity here in Greater Raleigh, visit this site.

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Categories Adrenaline Junkie

Valentine’s Day Date Ideas

By visitraleigh
January 24, 2012 //

With Valentine’s Day approaching and the season of romantic dates upon us, we thought we’d create a few date itineraries for our Foodies, Creative Geniuses and Adrenaline Junkies out there. When it comes to what makes a date great, everyone has her own ideas, and we’re here to share a few exceptionally different, yet all very fun ideas.

Foodies would obviously enjoy a decadent multiple-course meal at a restaurant that takes cuisine seriously, but what about the drinks? After dining at Zely & Ritz, The Umstead’s Herons Restaurant or The Mint, venture over to Foundation, which makes their own everything. Next, find delicious gourmet cupcakes at the Cupcake Shoppe Bakery in flavors you won’t find anywhere else.

If you’re a Creative Genius who enjoys visual and performing arts, why not start off your date with a wonderful show at the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts or a fun walking tour of the many art galleries around downtown Raleigh.

An Adrenaline Junkie’s ideal date may not be considered technically romantic, but it sure can be fun and exciting! Catch a Carolina Hurricanes game with your special someone (make sure to buy him or her a souvenir!), or head to one of these awesome local sports bars where gourmet food is served and you’ll never want for a large-screen TV.

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Categories Adrenaline Junkie, Creative Genius, Foodie

Top 5 Winter-Proof Activities

By visitraleigh
January 19, 2012 //

Winter weather may not be the ideal time to head out on the boat or go on a garden tour, but we’ve found plenty of indoor activities around Greater Raleigh that are just as Winter-proof as they are fun. Of the seemingly endless list of things to do when it’s cold outside, we’ve narrowed it down to five favorites.

1)      Indoor Shopping: As a Fashionista, you may have the largest and most stylish winter wardrobe, so why not show it off? There’s no need to bundle up on your next shopping spree. Just head out to Crabtree Valley Mall or Triangle Town Center where you can browse all your favorite retailers without needing the bulk of your jacket (as fabulous as it may be!).

2)      Hurricanes Game: Calling all sports fans! If you’ve recently been to an outdoor game, you know just how chilly it can get. While we’re sure you Adrenaline Junkies weren’t phased by the weather, just know that you can catch an action-packed Carolina Hurricanes hockey game from the warmth of the RBC Center. Who knew being a great fan could be so comfortable?

3)      Catch a Show: In need of entertainment? Creative Geniuses everywhere will find something to look forward to on the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts’ calendar. Watch talented performers sing, dance and act their way through shows tailored to the season.

4)      Museum Hopping: Wonderful museums dot the Greater Raleigh map, but if you want to do some quick museum hopping with as little outdoors time as possible, you’ll love how close the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences and the Museum of History are. Just pop out of one and right on in the other for a two-in-one experience that will keep you out of the cold.

5)      Indoor Play Areas: If you’ve got kids who have a lot of pent-up energy, why not take them to one of the many indoor play areas? Indoor ice skating, inline skating, sports, bouncing and jungle gyms all await you and your family when you need to get out of the house.

If you see something you love, try it out! If you’ve got something else in mind, check out this great website of Greater Raleigh things to do!

Categories Adrenaline Junkie, Creative Genius, Fashionista
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