Raleigh is the capital of North Carolina and the state's second-largest city, after Charlotte. Pick up a car rental at Raleigh-Durham International Airport and head for I-40 E to reach the city, which has been featured on a number of 'top ten' lists since the turn of the 21st century thanks to its high standard of living. As well as taking in attractions like the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh, you can venture beyond the city to explore a state that encompasses everything from beaches to mountain ranges.
This 66-acre open space was the first public park in North Carolina, opening in 1887. It provides a beautiful setting for a relaxing walk, particularly during the autumn months when the leaves change color. There is plenty here to keep younger visitors entertained, including a miniature train, pedal boats for cruises around Lake Howell and a playground with a water play area for hot days.
This museum hosts permanent exhibits and traveling displays that will take you on a journey through the fascinating past of North Carolina. Highlights include Native American tools, costumes from the Revolutionary War era and weapons from the American Civil War. You'll find the museum at E Edenton Street in the center of Raleigh, a vibrant, exciting area that offers enough activities to keep visitors entertained for days.
For a closer insight into local history, pick up your car rental in Raleigh and take a drive to Historic Oakwood, a downtown neighborhood known for its cemetery and Victorian houses. You can book a place on a tour of the area, or embark on your own journey to see sights like the Tucker House, a particularly impressive Neoclassical Revival-style property.
If you're keen to see North Carolina's most populous city, follow I-40 W and I-85 S out of Raleigh to reach Charlotte in a little over two and a half hours. The city's most popular attractions include the NASCAR Hall of Fame, which celebrates the most successful drivers, crew chiefs and owners in NASCAR driving, and Discovery Place, a science and technology museum where visitors of all ages can enjoy hands-on interactive exhibits, activities and experiments.
Wilmington is one of the most recognizable parts of North Carolina, having played host to more than 400 film and television productions. The city serves as the main gateway to the beaches of the Cape Fear coastal region and is also home to attractions like the battleship North Carolina, which is moored across the river from downtown Wilmington. Oral histories, photographs and mementos will introduce you to the stories of the people who once served aboard the ship.
North Carolina's Brunswick Islands are made up of ten distinct communities where you can spend time relaxing and soaking up the sun on some of the region's most stunning beaches. Rent a car at Raleigh-Durham International Airport and take I-40 E to visit destinations like Bald Head Island, which is home to Old Baldy, the oldest standing lighthouse in North Carolina. The 108-step climb to the top is rewarded with unrivaled views of this picturesque island.
A convertible for full enjoyment of the scenery in North Carolina's coastal areas.
Raleigh-Durham International Airport
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June, with an average of 267 hours of sunshine.
July, with 120 mm of rain on average.
Hopscotch Music Festival, Wide Open Bluegrass, International Festival of Raleigh