In Wake, waterways and nature trails sit alongside gardens, art and history. You can set your sightseeing priorities and then check which location works for the places you plan to visit.
Nature: Lakes, Trails and Protected Areas
Wake County has more than 250 parks and over 100 miles of paved greenway trails. William B. Umstead State Park in Wake County has three man-made lakes and their tributaries, which are suitable for fishing. This makes it a clear focus for travelers who want to include waterways and fishing in their plans.
Falls Lake State Recreation Area lies in Durham and Wake counties and offers seven access areas to the reservoir. The area also includes a section of the Mountains-to-Sea State Trail. Gas-powered motors are not allowed on Beaverdam Lake at Falls Lake, making the area suitable for paddling. The different offerings provide distinct options: fishing, paddling or a section of trail.
The Museum Park at the North Carolina Museum of Art also combines trails and natural areas: its 4.7 miles of recreational trails lead to specially commissioned works of art. The Capital Area Reedy Creek Greenway leaves Museum Park and continues to Umstead State Park. This greenway connection offers its own route for exploring nature, while the trails in Museum Park include artworks as destinations.
Gardens and Plant Life
The JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University is a public garden and a living laboratory. Its diverse plant collection includes species adapted to the southeastern United States. Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve, by contrast, is home to a unique community of Canadian hemlocks and other mountain plant species. The preserve offers access to about three miles of paved nature trails with a mulch surface. Visitors interested in plants can explore both a collection of regionally adapted species and a protected area with a distinctive plant community.
Art, Exhibitions and Creative Offerings
The North Carolina Museum of Art has more than a dozen galleries featuring works from around the world and a range of art forms. Together with the Museum Park trails, which pass through natural areas to reach specially commissioned works of art, it offers opportunities to experience art in both galleries and outdoor settings.
Pullen Arts Center offers programs in pottery, jewelry making, painting, printmaking, bookmaking, drawing, textile arts, weaving and glass art. Stevens Nature Center focuses on different subjects, with interactive, educational nature exhibits as well as historical exhibits from the Piedmont region of North Carolina. The Cultural Center, named for John P. “Top” Greene, features historical exhibits and offers programs about the history and culture of the South Park and East Raleigh neighborhoods.
History in Raleigh and Wake County
Mordecai Historic Park includes the Mordecai House, dating to around 1785, and the birthplace of President Andrew Johnson. Historic Raleigh Trolley Tours depart from there every Saturday from March through December. Check current departure details before your trip. The City of Raleigh Museum offers educational programs and tours, adding further program and tour options related to local history.
Pullen Park is the first public park in North Carolina and the fifth-oldest operating amusement park in the United States. Historic Yates Mill is the last remaining gristmill in Wake County. Historic Yates Mill County Park covers 174 acres and includes hiking trails and a 24-acre pond; it is designated as a wildlife park. These places offer different perspectives on history, from a late-18th-century house to a gristmill and the history of public parks.
Natural Science and Local Discoveries
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is the largest natural history museum in the southeastern United States and has four levels of exhibits. The Nature Exploration Center displays the world’s most complete known Acrocanthosaurus skeleton. The Nature Research Center includes laboratories, weather centers, exhibits on oceans, fossils and space, and a 10,000-gallon aquarium. Visitors focusing on natural science can explore a range of subject areas here.
Market and Regional Products
The State Farmers Market in Raleigh offers fresh, locally grown produce, plants, shops, restaurants and crafts year-round. The market adds a distinct focus on local products and shopping to the nature and cultural offerings.
To choose accommodation in Wake, first note which attractions matter to you: nature and trails, art, history or natural science. Then compare the locations of potential accommodations with the places you plan to visit. This way, your search reflects the kind of stay you actually have in mind.
Discover more destinations: Raleigh, Cary, Wake Forest, Morrisville, Apex, Garner, Holly Springs, Knightdale, Fuquay-Varina, Wendell.
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