Raleigh, North Carolina, is one of the most affordable cities to live in with a welcoming, safe environment and plenty of outdoor activities you and your family can partake in. Whether you are living in Raleigh or vacationing in this state capital, there are always plenty of things you can do outdoors! Here are some amazing outdoor activities in Raleigh NC you just can’t miss!
Go on a Picnic at Dorothea Dix
A sunny day calls for a picnic with your loved ones! The Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh is a wonderful location where you can enjoy a picnic spread. It covers roughly 308 acres of historic architecture and rough landscape and now serves as an open park for individuals of all communities and backgrounds. The park is open seven days a week from dusk to dawn and even includes a dedicated dog park if you would like to take your furry friend along!
Tour Raleigh’s Murals in The Warehouse District
If you want to view truly jaw-dropping artwork, visit the Warehouse District for one of our favorite outdoor activities in Raleigh NC. The Warehouse district covers several stunning public art pieces, including murals and sculptures. These murals aren’t just beautiful to look at but represent the rich history and culture of North Carolina!
You will also find many incredible art galleries in the district, some even on the same block at walking distance. You especially don’t want to miss the CAM Raleigh, Litmus Gallery & Studios, VAE Raleigh, or the Local Color Gallery, all part of The Warehouse District!
Check out the Beautiful 2.5 Acres at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Gardens
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Gardens is part of the first public park in the US specifically devoted to Dr. King and the commemorative role he played in the civil rights movement.
The gardens feature a 6-foot-2-inch life-size sculpture of the civil rights leader and a 12-ton granite water monument that honors major civil rights movement pioneers, all set across a colorful set of trees, shrubs, and flowering plants. Admissions to the park are generally free. However, if you want to rent out the picnic shelter they have onsite; you can do so at $15/hour.
Have a Picnic at Pullen Park
Pullen Park is one of Raleigh’s oldest public amusement parks, initially founded by Richard Stanhope Pullen in 1887! This park has since then been the center of recreation and fun for generations who have lived in Raleigh. Your kids will love the park, which isn’t just ideal for picnic trips but also features pedal boats, carousels, a miniature train, an aquatic center, tennis courts, athletic fields, a playground, and even an art center where you can take an art class! It is one of the top places for fun things to do in Raleigh NC.
Get a Spot on the Patio by the Fireplace at Raleigh Beer Garden
Want to head out somewhere exciting with your friends? Try the Raleigh Beer Garden if you want one of the more unique outdoor activities in Raleigh, NC. This is an exciting North Carolina bar located in the Glenwood South district of downtown Raleigh! It currently holds the Guinness World Record for the most varieties of beer on draft taps. You can get over 386 different varieties of draft beer daily! There is also a wide variety of delectable foods on their menu. You will especially love the outdoor seating and fireplace, where you can enjoy a drink with your friends!
Go Golfing at Lonnie Poole Golf Course
Warm and sunny days call for a game of golf! For those living in Raleigh, you can head over to the Lonnie Poole Golf Course. The Lonnie Poole Golf Course is a public course located on the Centennial Campus of North Carolina State University. The course is incredibly stunning, with breathtaking views of the Raleigh skyline, and is a favorite of the golf community. It is also home to the Varsity women’s and men’s golf teams!
Head to 10th and Terrace for a Cool Rooftop Bar and Lounge Experience
10th and Terrace is a wonderful spot to take your friends out! it features a rooftop restaurant and bar located at the Residence Inn in downtown Raleigh. Have a seat on the terrace and enjoy the lovely view. You can also enjoy cocktails, cheese boards, and contemporary American fusion foods. Outstanding views, great beer and drinks, and incredible foods, all make for a great outdoor experience with your friends!
Go on a Walking Tour of Downtown Raleigh, Solo or with Public Guided Tours
Looking for something fun to do during your visit?
Try taking a self-guided tour or a public guided tour around downtown Raleigh. Raleigh is full of hidden gems, including stunning murals, historical and cultural sites, local parks, and other city attractions. The downtown streets are pretty easy to navigate by walking or cycling, and you will have plenty of fun exploring the streets! Check out some interesting self-guided tours you can try out here!
Watch an Outdoor Movie at Raleigh Rose Garden
The Raleigh Rose Garden is a part of the WPA landmark Raleigh Little Theatre campus. This garden is open to the public from dusk to dawn seven days a week and offers a striking display of roses, trees, and perennials. The Raleigh Little Theatre also features an amphitheater where you can view outdoor screenings of exciting movie adaptations! They also have food trucks on site, although outside foods and non-alcoholic drinks are also welcome!
Take a Long Walk or Hike along the Loblolly Trail
If you want to take a long walk or go on a hiking trip with your family, don’t miss the Loblolly trail! The Loblolly trail covers 10.3 kilometers of lush trail lines. If you are up for a moderately challenging trail, you should give this one a go. It should take you roughly 2 and a half hours to fully complete. This trail is also perfect for running and walking, not just hiking. The trail is open year-round, so whenever you are looking for a fun outdoor activity, go hiking!
Go Boating at Lake Johnson
Lake Johnson is a part of Lake Johnson Park, first established in the year 1952. The park covers around 500 acres of land, and the lake itself covers around 150 acres. The park is covered with beautifully paved greenways and natural trails, whereas the lake offers seasonal boating rentals for you to enjoy a nice boating session with your loved ones! They also allow fishing from the boardwalk and rental boats if you like!
Check out Monument Park at NCMA
Like many of Raleigh’s wonderful parks, the monument park at the North Carolina Museum of Art is no exception. This park is open to the public from dawn to dusk and has plenty of artwork on display for you to see. These artworks are inspired by the natural world and offer a new perspective on the role of nature in contemporary and modern society. For a truly thought-provoking time, have a visit someday!
During Warmer Months, Catch Theatre In The Park
Theater In The Park is an indoor theater located in Pullen Park, Raleigh, and is renowned and highly acclaimed for its incredible theatrical achievements. It has been operating for over 70 years, offering exceptional theatrical performances to its audience base in Raleigh. You can visit the theater to witness a wide range of comedies, contemporary dramas, musicals, and all types of theatrical displays available all year round.
Check out NC Birding Trail
Are you an avid lover of wildlife? You may enjoy the North Carolina birding trail in Raleigh. This is a network of over 300 viewing locations, including spruce-fir forests, pine savannas, and coastal estuaries, which house over 460 different species of birds. This trail serves as a hotspot for birding hobbyists and an educational and historical attraction to the public. The Anderson Point Park, Abbotts Creek Greenway, the MD Nature Preserve Park, and the Blue Jay Point County Park are all locations you should visit!
Visit JC Raulston Arboretum
The JC Raulston Arboretum is one of the nationally acclaimed gardens located in Raleigh, home to a diverse selection of landscape plants. This is one of the most beautiful outdoor activities in Raleigh NC. This 8-acre garden covers a variety of temperate zone plants along beautiful trails, excellent varieties of flowers and trees, and plenty of secluded spots where you can settle down and enjoy the scenery! You will also be pleased to know that admissions to the conservatory are free to the public!
Rent a Kayak for Lake Raleigh
Located on the southern end of the NC State Centennial Campus are 86 acres of the Lake Raleigh Recreational area. This is an area dedicated to the community and features the 75-acre Lake Raleigh. This area further offers plenty of recreational opportunities, including hiking, biking, fishing, and kayaking in the lake!
Bike or Walk on the 104 Miles Greenway Miles
Raleigh boasts one of the most extensive greenway systems in the US, with over 100 miles of paved greenways throughout Raleigh that are just great for walking and biking around the region. If you have some time to kill, why not explore these greenways for yourself? These greenways connect with many of Raleigh’s neighborhoods, schools, parks, and other city attractions you don’t want to miss out on! You can discover a total of 104 miles of trails or 28 individual routes!
Rent SUPs for Jordan Lake or Neuse River
Have you ever heard of stand-up paddleboarding or SUP? This is a wonderful water sport you should try during your visit to Raleigh, and Jordan Lake is the perfect spot to do so.
Jordan Lake is located around 30 miles west of downtown Raleigh and covers over 14,000 acres making it one of the ideal spots for outdoor recreation for Raleigh residents. It offers stand-up paddleboarding, a type of non-motorized water sport you can enjoy with your loved ones! There are also adult paddleboards and specialized junior paddleboards for your kids, so they don’t miss out on the fun!
Lastly…
These were some of the top outdoor activities in Raleigh NC you can indulge in. As you can see, there are plenty of exciting outdoor activities Raleigh has for you in store! The next time you have got a day to yourself, pick out any of the fun outdoor activities we have listed and explore what it means to live in this wonderful city!
