Raleigh Travel Guide

Travel guide to Raleigh, USA with comprehensive information about events, shopping, and major Raleigh sporting events to help you enjoy your visit more.

Raleigh Overview

Raleigh is the capital of North Carolina in the United States and has a rapidly growing population, last measured at around 340,000 people.

It is a longstanding traditional American city that still retains a lot of its heritage, creating with that a real spirit of togetherness. By developing the city carefully it has retained a lot of the charm of the older elements, with many old buildings taken back to how they used to be, plus a whole host of open areas with parks and woodland.

The modern aspects of the city do not detract from this Victorian splendour though. Rather they build upon it, working with what is already there and always maintaining the city's spirit. Perhaps this is why it is so popular?

As a home for culture Raleigh is an excellent host. With the free to enter Museums alongside the theatres and opera houses that regularly present fine works there is so much to see and enjoy here.

Sport is another major part of life here, although unlike many American cities it is more the taking part than watching that is important. Golf for example is tremendously popular, probably because of the surrounding beauty that typifies the whole area. Other sports also have a big following, with local leagues in place for football, soccer and basketball to name but a couple.

Top Raleigh Attractions

Raleigh is a very open and welcoming city, with many areas of parkland along with a number of historical sites to explore. In Oakwood for example there is a lovely Victorian area that even has houses open to the public showing what life was like in those times. There are also the cultural centres that are free of charge to visitors and are definitely worth a visit - the Museums of Art, National Sciences and History.

Shopping in Raleigh

Raleigh is the home of the Mall or at least that's how it appears. With the heart of the city retaining a lot of its heritage it has been left to the Malls to offer the diversity of retail options that a thriving city such as this demands. Crabtree Valley Mall for example has over 200 retailers, and this is not the only one in the area.

Raleigh Sporting Events

Professional sports in Raleigh are somewhat limited, although the College scene is a thriving one with the Universities all having strong teams in the main US sports of American Football and basketball. At a more recreational level though sport is tremendously popular here, with many leagues active in a diversity of sports.