If you’re scrolling through the best bets list in search of a new place to go and see Raleigh on the list, consider a quick trip! It is the perfect place to spend a partial day. This summer, my husband and I enjoyed a day in Raleigh when we noticed nearly one hundred seats were open in either direction. As North Carolina residents, we decided to see our state capital! We enjoyed our day and would recommend the following one-day Raleigh itinerary.

Step 1: One-Day Raleigh Itinerary Brunch

Begin your trip to Raleigh with a coffee and a pastry at Morning Times. I ordered a bagel breakfast sandwich, a latte, and a cookie for later. It was a cute shop within walking distance of most of Raleigh’s attractions. 

On our way to the North Carolina Capitol building from the coffee shop, we wandered the city and stumbled upon Galaxy Conn goers dressed in a variety of their creations. We saw boots, dresses, wings, neon, fur, and more as we walked to our first stop.

Step 2: Tour the Capitol for Free!

While it is true that the North Carolina Capitol building has made lists of least-impressive capitol buildings to visit, it is still worth a stop. We enjoyed strolling around the building to look at its facade framed by the manicured lawn. It is not the largest building, by any means, but it is filled with history. The written details scattered around the building are important to read. While some of the past can be dark, it is crucial to learn about both the good and the bad to do better in the future.

Step 3: Visit a Museum

To continue our historical tour, we went to the North Carolina Museum of History, a free museum. There are other museums in the vicinity, not all of which are free, but still looked interesting.

Step 4: One-Day Raleigh Itinerary Lunch

For lunch, we chose a Greek restaurant called Taverna Agora. The restaurant had two beautiful outdoor seating options. There was an open-air rooftop patio and a covered front porch with open windows. We chose to sit in on the porch and found it to be a lovely atmosphere. We ordered the stuffed grape leaves, strawberry summer salad, and a slice of limoncello cake. Everything we ordered tasted fresh and flavorful, with the added benefit of being on the lighter side. Comfortably full, we ventured to another part of Raleigh for our final outing.

*For an even more budget-friendly option, pack a reusable water bottle, breakfast and lunch in your carry on. Just avoid nuts and liquids! Find a great spot to have a DIY picnic!

Step 5: North Carolina Museum of Art

Our final destination was the art museum. This was not your regular art museum. Entirely free, this campus was so expansive that it required a map. There are two buildings worth of art and acres of land to enjoy. We loved strolling around the sculptures and beautifully landscaped property. The most surprising exhibit we came across was the Ancient Egypt exhibit. They had a surprising amount of artifacts. This museum has something for everyone with its diverse array of exhibits. It is a must for your one-day Raleigh itinerary!

Going home:

After enjoying our time in Raleigh, we determined we had had our fill and were ready to go home. As a non-rev traveler, this flexibility is one of our most unique benefits. We were able to catch an earlier flight out so that we could relax at home for the remainder of the day. When traveling, even if you go in with an itinerary it enhances the experience of being able to adjust your plan according to how you feel in the moment.

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