Last Updated on September 5, 2023
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There are plenty of fun winter things to do in Raleigh, when it’s cold – but not too cold – and loads of special events are happening. Before you get ready to visit North Carolina’s Oak City during the colder months, you’ll need a comprehensive guide like this one. We’re going to share all the best activities, odds, and ends that help us enjoy winter in Raleigh.
Here, you’ll find museums, arcades, and awesome places to eat and drink when hanging out in Raleigh, whether it’s during the week or on weekends. Let’s dig into our favorite ways to enjoy winter in one of our favorite North Carolina cities.
We love Raleigh so much during this time of year that we included the city among our favorite winter getaways! If you’re searching for great places to stay, check out these cool Airbnbs in Raleigh!
This post is part of our series on Raleigh and more awesome places to visit in Central North Carolina.
Winter Things to Do in Raleigh
Museums for Everyone
One of the best things to do in Raleigh is to explore its museums, which are among the best in North Carolina and the country. Here are a few of our favorites, with a mix of just about everything, and all featured in our guide covering free things to do in Raleigh.
NC Museum of Natural Sciences
The NC Museum of Natural Sciences has one of the coolest exteriors of any museum I’ve visited. A massive two story globe marks the entrance to a whole world of discovery. On the inside, the museum is filled with beautifully curated exhibits and houses creatures many of us know and some that I had no clue live in North Carolina.
Check out the Daily Planet Cafe on the first floor of the new addition. Grab a local bite or locally roasted Larry’s Coffee there during your visit.
The NC Museum of Natural Sciences is also featured in our guide to children’s museums and how to make it a Date Night in Raleigh!
NC Museum of Art
I’m also a big fan of the North Carolina Museum of Art, which is near the State Fairgrounds. Explore their permanent collections that span the globe, but keep an eye out for exciting special exhibits that come through.
There’s also the very nice Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park that you can enjoy on nicer days. Raleigh can be quite temperate in the winter, so you’re bound to find a few days, even in January and February, that are warm enough to walk through the outside exhibits.
More Raleigh Art Spaces
NC State’s Gregg Museum of Art & Design has an interesting story and a growing collection of viewable artifacts. Also, Be sure to check out CAM Raleigh if you’re in search of a great space for contemporary art.
History and Kid-Friendly
There are so many amazing things to do with kids in Raleigh, and we’ve mentioned a few already. Here are some more.
Next door to the Museum of Natural Sciences is the North Carolina Museum of History, which celebrates the state’s distant past, present, and future. Inside, you can also find a dedication to the state’s rich athletic traditions via the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.
Families traveling to Raleigh can enjoy all these attractions, but especially Marbles Kids Museum. This interactive destination has been keeping children entertained and informed for over a decade and is still going strong.
Read More: 15+ Important Tips to Enjoy the NC State Fair
Games, Games, and More
Winter in North Carolina means college basketball is in full gear, and the NC State Wolfpack are showing off their stuff at PNC Arena. The NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes play there, too, which means some of the best athletes in basketball and hockey come through Raleigh.
If you’re more interested in playing games yourself or with your family and friends, check out Frankie’s Fun Park. They have a ton of stuff to do outside, but when it’s cold, check out the games inside.
My personal favorite is the life-sized Angry Birds and massive Pac Man, but there are more choices found in this massive amusement park.
Bonus Arcade: Still kid-friendly but also keeping adults in mind, Boxcar Bar + Arcade is geared toward the arcade fan, with over 100 classic and modern games, ski ball, and a massive bar stocked with craft, bottled beer, and spirits.
Eat at these Raleigh Restaurants
Breakfast, Brunch, and Dinner
Raleigh’s food scene is pretty hard to top, even by North Carolina’s very competitive standards. For breakfast, grab a bite at Big Ed’s City Market Restaurant’s delicious food, unlimited biscuits, and crazy-cool decor.
For brunch and beyond, The Raleigh Times Bar is an iconic spot in Raleigh and filled with history. Their massive drink menu and exquisite dishes will keep you full of joy.
We’re also big fans of Hummingbird, Bida Manda, and the foodie heaven otherwise known as Morgan Street Food Hall.
We mentioned a few of these places in our guides to date nights in Raleigh and the city’s must-eat restaurants, too!
Chicken and ‘Cue
Of course, I couldn’t leave out Beasley’s Chicken + Honey. This is where James Beard-winning chef Ashley Christensen offers a wonderful menu that includes chicken and waffles, as well as some really cool rotating special options.
Her cookbook Poole’s also featured in our list of essential cookbooks.
If you want a good fried chicken sandwich, head out to Driftwood Southern Kitchen. We included it as part of our deeper look at Lafayette Village, otherwise known as Foodie Paradise.
Barbecue
You thought I was going to talk about food in Raleigh and NOT mention barbecue? Around here, pulled pork deserves its own section. Head down to The Pit and let them convince you that pit-cooked barbecue absolutely can be perfected in a contemporary setting.
You can also roll back the clock and grab some grub at Clyde Cooper’s BBQ, which has battled many competitors since the 1930s. Both of these places were mentioned in our guide to North Carolina barbecue, by the way.
Get a feel for Raleigh’s food scene with Ashley Christensen’s Poole’s: Recipes and Stories from a Modern Diner, co-written by Kaitlyn Goalen.
Who Else?
I know Raleigh has even more food to discover. Who did we leave out? Let us know as we prepare to unveil an epic Raleigh food guide!
Where to Drink
#NCBeer
So, I don’t know how else to write this, but North Carolina has some good beer. And if you want to discover just how much beer is produced in the Tarheel State, then you should explore the Raleigh Beer Garden.
It holds the Guinness World Record for most unique beers on tap, and over 200 of them come from North Carolina.
We mentioned the Raleigh Beer Garden in our North Carolina Bucket List. What else do you think we put there?
Raleigh Breweries
A lot of
Grab a flight at Crank Arm Brewing, also known among the area’s cyclists, thanks to their weekly bike ride. Brewery Bhavana is interesting because the owners have created a brewery, taproom, dim sum restaurant, and flower shop and put it in one building.
More awesome breweries worth mentioning include:
Bonus Place to Drink: Head over to Whiskey Kitchen for delicious mixed drinks and one of the largest spirits selection you’ll find in Raleigh. Don’t forget that they offer a delicious food menu, too!
Are we drunk? Who did we leave out? Let us know and we’ll be happy to include them here. Also, some of these Raleigh breweries featured among our favorites throughout the state.
Ready for Winter in Raleigh?
Are you ready to explore all these fun winter things to do in Raleigh? Now, let’s put it to you!
Where would you go first when exploring Raleigh during the winter? Have you checked out any of the places we covered? Did we leave something out? Let us know in the comments section below!
