Central North Carolina
We’ve compiled the best of the best in Central North Carolina - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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21. Elsewhere
DowntownThis Greensboro original—a combination art museum, studio, theater, and school—brings complete sensory overload via an astounding explosion of art and artifacts collected over several decades by its former owner, Sylvia Gray, who ran it as a thrift store. Today, a colorful cast of resident artists creates new work from this treasure trove. Expect colorful plumes of fabric hanging from the walls and toys, books, jewelry, and so much more stuffed into every corner of this large space. You can't buy anything here, but you can touch it all. A great time to visit is during First Friday, when galleries and shops throughout downtown host an open house and art walk. Check out the scene every first Friday of the month, 6–9 pm.
606 S. Elm St., Greensboro, North Carolina, 27406, USA336-907--3271Sight Details
Rate Includes: $5 suggested donation, Closed Mon.–Thurs., Wed.–Sat. 1–10 -
22. Executive Mansion
DowntownSince 1891, this 37,500-square-foot brick Queen Anne–style structure, made entirely from materials from the Tar Heel State, with elaborate gingerbread trim and manicured lawns, has been the home of the state's governors. Encompassing an entire city block, the brick-walled gardens explode with color during the spring. Reservations for tours must be made at least two weeks in advance.
200 N. Blount St., Raleigh, North Carolina, 27601, USA919-715--3962Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Tour dates and times vary. -
23. Greensboro Children's Museum
DowntownThe exhibits at this fun museum are designed for children under 12, who can tour an airplane cockpit, explore a fire truck or police car, scale a climbing wall, create crafts out of recycled materials, or learn about buildings in the construction zone. Admission is reduced to $5 Friday 5–8.
220 N. Church St., Greensboro, North Carolina, 27401, USA336-574–2898Sight Details
Rate Includes: $10, Closed Mon.--Wed., Tues.–Thurs. and Sat. 9–5, Fri. 9–8, Sun. 1–5 -
24. Greensboro History Museum
DowntownSet in a Romanesque church dating from 1892, the museum has displays about the city's own O. Henry and Dolley Madison, plus a detailed timeline about the city's textile boom as the country's largest producer of denim. There's also an exploration of the Woolworth sit-in, which launched the civil rights movement's struggle to desegregate eating establishments. Permanent exhibits include a horse-drawn 1886 steam fire engine, an original Cadillac, and collections of Confederate weapons and Jugtown pottery. Behind the museum are an 18th-century homestead and the graves of several Revolutionary War soldiers.
130 Summit Ave., Greensboro, North Carolina, 27401, USA336-373–2043Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Closed Mon., Tues.–Sat. 10–5, Sun. 2–5 -
25. Greensboro Science Center
Northwest MetroAt this expansive park designed to fascinate children at every turn, you can roam through a room filled with dinosaurs, see tigers and red pandas in the 24-acre zoo, meet a penguin or shark in the aquarium, and soar through the treetops on the SKYWILD high ropes course. The grounds include a petting zoo, a reptile and amphibian house, a carousel, and a 3-D theater.
4301 Lawndale Dr., Greensboro, North Carolina, 27455, USA336-288–3769Sight Details
Rate Includes: $16, Daily 9–5; Animal Discovery daily 9–4 -
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26. Hayti Heritage Center
DowntownOne of Durham's oldest houses of worship houses this center for African American art and culture. In addition to local theater productions and exhibitions of traditional and contemporary art by regional and national artists, the center hosts events like the Bull Durham Blues Festival and the Hayti Heritage Film Festival.
804 Old Fayetteville St., Durham, North Carolina, 27701, USA919-683–1709Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Closed Sun., Mon. – Fri. 10–5, Sat. 10–3 -
27. Historic Stagville
Owned by the Bennehan and Cameron families, Stagville was one of the largest plantations in antebellum North Carolina, at 30,000 acres. Over 900 people were enslaved here, and the story of their struggle for freedom and independence, even after Emancipation, is told through exhibits that include four original two-story slave cabins. The plantation today sits on 71 acres and has many original buildings, including the Bennehans' two-story wood-frame home, built in the late 1700s; the Great Barn, built by enslaved workers; and the family cemetery. Call for guided tour times.
5828 Old Oxford Hwy., Durham, North Carolina, 28078, USA919-620–0120Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free; $2 tours, Closed Sun. and Mon., Visitor Center Tues.–Sat.9am-5pm -
28. JC Raulston Arboretum at North Carolina State University
UniversityThe university's working, research, and teaching 10-acre garden holds the most diverse collection of hardy temperate-zone plants in the southeastern United States. There's also a garden featuring plants with white flowers and foliage and a 300-foot-long perennial border.
4415 Beryl Rd., Raleigh, North Carolina, 27606, USA919-515–3132Sight Details
Rate Includes: Closed weekends -
29. Joel Lane Museum House
DowntownDating to 1769, the oldest dwelling in Raleigh was the home of Joel Lane, known as the "Father of Raleigh" because he sold 1,000 acres of his property to the state of North Carolina on which the beginnings of the capital city were built. Costumed docents lead tours of the restored house and beautiful period gardens. The last tour starts an hour before closing: 1 pm Wednesday through Friday, and 3 on Saturday.
160 S. St. Mary's St., Raleigh, North Carolina, 27603, USA919-833–3431Sight Details
Rate Includes: $8, Closed Sun.--Tues., Mar.–mid-Dec., Wed.–Fri. 10–2, Sat. 1–4 -
30. Kaleideum North
North MetroThis interactive science museum has 45,000 square feet of hands-on exhibits designed to engage kids of all ages, from a hurricane simulator to an indoor scooter racetrack. There's also a 120-seat planetarium and a 15-acre environmental park with a children's garden and paved walking trails.
400 W. Hanes Mill Rd., Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27105, USA336-767–6730Sight Details
Rate Includes: $10, Closed Mon., Tues., and Thurs., Labor Day–May, weekdays 10–4, Sat. 10–5; Sun. 12-5. June–Labor Day, Sun. 12-5, Mon.–Sat. 10–5 -
31. Marbles Kids Museum
DowntownThis 84,000-square-foot cathedral of play and learning is aimed at children 10 and younger. Everything is hands-on, so your child is free to fill a shopping cart in the marketplace, don a fireman's hat, clamber through the cab of a city bus, scale the crow's nest of a three-story pirate ship, or splash in numerous water stations. Older children can play chess with 2-foot pawns, perform simple science experiments, or learn about the value of cash at the Moneypalooza exhibit. Toddler Hollow, designed with an enchanted forest in mind, is meant for kids under two. The space's wide-open design and its architectural details, including a suspension bridge and a courtyard with a 6-foot marble fountain, give adults something to look at as well. There's also an IMAX theater.
201 E. Hargett St., Raleigh, North Carolina, 27601, USA919-834–4040Sight Details
Rate Includes: Museum $9, museum and IMAX $7--$12, Closed Mon. and Tues., Mon.–Sun. 9–5 -
32. Mendenhall Homeplace
A well-preserved example of 19th-century domestic architecture, this homestead (including the main house and several outbuildings) sits in a cove along a peaceful creek. As Quakers, the Mendenhalls opposed slavery, and here you can find one of the few surviving false-bottom wagons used to help those enslaved escape to freedom on the Underground Railroad. Come in July, when kids can learn how to make a corn-husk doll or design a quilt square during the Village Fair.
603 W. Main St., Jamestown, North Carolina, 27282, USA336-454–3819Sight Details
Rate Includes: $5, Closed Sun. and Mon., March-Dec.: Tues.–Fri. 11–3, Sat. 1–4 Jan.-Feb.: Fri. 11-3, Sat. 1-4 -
33. Mordecai Historic Park
DowntownThis 3-acre downtown historic site dating to 1785 includes President Andrew Johnson's birthplace and the Mordecai family's Greek revival plantation home. Moses Mordecai, a well-respected lawyer, married two granddaughters of Joel Lane, the "Father of Raleigh." Mordecai's descendants lived in the house until 1964. Exhibits acknowledge the struggle of the enslaved people who once toiled here. There are guided tours hourly from 10 to 3. The historical figure's name is pronounced MOR-de-key. Using a long "i" will mark you as a newcomer immediately.
1 Mimosa St., Raleigh, North Carolina, 27604, USA919-996–4364Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, guided tours $7, Visitor center closed Mon., Park open daily sunrise–sunset; Visitor Center open Tues.–Sun 9–4 -
34. Morehead Planetarium and Science Center
UniversityThe original Apollo astronauts trained here, at one of the largest planetariums in the country. A $9.2 million renovation, completed in 2020, expanded the exhibition areas. You can see planetarium shows, science demonstrations, and interactive STEM exhibits for children and adults.
250 E. Franklin St., Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27514, USA919-962–1236Sight Details
Rate Includes: $15, Closed Mon., Sat. 10–3:30, Sun. 1–4:30, hrs vary during the week. Call or check Web site before visiting. -
35. Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
Old SalemThis unique museum on the southern edge of Old Salem showcases the furniture, painting, ceramics, and metalware used in the area through 1820. The bookstore carries hard-to-find books on Southern culture and history.
924 S. Main St., Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27101, USA336-721–7360Sight Details
Rate Includes: Self-guided $10, guided tour $20, admission to both the museum and Old Salem Museums and Gardens $27, Closed Mon., Tues.–Sat. 10–5, Sun. 1–5 -
36. Nasher Museum of Art
Duke UniversityA highlight of any Duke visit, this museum displays African, American, European, and Latin American artwork. The collection includes works by Rodin, Picasso, and Matisse. The museum offers a steady stream of engaging events throughout the year.
2001 Campus Dr., Durham, North Carolina, 27705, USA919-684–5135Sight Details
Rate Includes: $7, Tues., Wed., Fri., and Sat. 10–5, Thurs. 10–9, Sun. noon–5 -
37. North Carolina Central University Art Museum
South/NCCULocated in the first publicly supported liberal arts college for African Americans, this gallery showcases work by black artists. The permanent collection includes 19th-century masterpieces and 20th-century works created during the Harlem Renaissance.
1801 Fayetteville St., Durham, North Carolina, 27707, USA919-530–6211Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Closed Mon. and Sat., Tues.–Fri. 9am–4:30pm, Sun. 2-4pm -
38. North Carolina Museum of History
DowntownFounded in 1902, this Smithsonian-affiliated museum is now in a state-of-the-art facility on Bicentennial Plaza. Its signature exhibit, The Story of North Carolina, traces over 14,000 years of the state’s history. The museum also houses the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, which displays memorabilia from hundreds of inductees, from college heroes to pro superstars and Olympic contenders. You can see Richard Petty's race car, Arnold Palmer's Ryder Cup golf bag, and Harlem Globetrotter Meadowlark Lemon's uniforms. Even if your time is short, it's worth popping in to admire the wall-sized oil paintings of the state's most beautiful natural vistas.
5 E. Edenton St., Raleigh, North Carolina, 27601, USA919-814--7000Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Mon.–Sat. 9–5, Sun. noon–5 -
39. Oakwood Historic District
DowntownSeveral architectural styles—including Victorian buildings—can be found in this tree-shaded 19th-century neighborhood. During spring, the well-manicured lawns and flower gardens make it an especially lovely place for a stroll. Brochures for self-guided walking tours of the area, which encompasses 20 blocks bordered by Person, Edenton, Franklin, and Watauga–Linden Streets, are available at the N.C. Museum of History.
Raleigh, North Carolina, USA -
40. Old Greensborough
DowntownElm Street, with its turn-of-the-20th-century architecture, is the heart of this appealing district. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it has become Greensboro's most vibrant area, with lively galleries, trendy night spots, and interesting boutiques and antiques shops.
Elm St. between Market and Lee Sts., Greensboro, North Carolina, 27401, USA
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