Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
North Carolina Museum of Art
MUSEUM
(
www.ncartmuseum.org
; 2110 Blue Ridge Rd; 10am-5pm Tue-Thu, Sat & Sun, 10am-9pm Fri)
The light-filled glass-and-anodized-steel West Building won praise from architec-
ture critics nationwide when it opened in 2010. The fine and wide-ranging collection,
with everything from ancient Roman sculpture to Raphael to graffiti artists, is worthy as
well, as is the winding outdoor sculpture trail. A few miles west of downtown.
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
MUSEUM
(
www.naturalsciences.org
; 11 W Jones St; 9am-5pm Mon-Wed, Fri & Sat, to 9pm Thu & 1st Fri of
every month, noon-5pm Sun)
The museum was the state's most visited attraction in
2012, surpassing even the Biltmore. Thanks goes to the glossy
Nature Research Center
,
a new wing that's fronted by a three-story multimedia globe. The research center spot-
lights scientists and their projects, and visitors can watch them at work. Skywalks lead to
the main museum building, which holds habitat dioramas, taxidermy and the world's
only dinosaur with a heart (it's fossilized).
There's also a scary exhibit about the Acrocanthosaurus dinosaur, a three-ton carnivore
known as the Terror of the South. Its toothy skull is the stuff of nightmares.
North Carolina Museum of History
MUSEUM
(
www.ncmuseumofhistory.org
;
5 E Edenton St; 9am-5pm Mon-Sat, noon-5pm Sun)
This
engaging museum is low on tech but high on straightforward information. Artifacts in-
clude a 3000-year-old canoe, Civil War photos, and a 1960s sit-in lunch counter. There's
a special exhibit about stock-car racing.
Raleigh State Capitol
HISTORIC BUILDING
(Edenton St)
Check out the handsome 1840 state capitol, one of the best examples of
Greek Revival architecture. It's open for visitors.
Sleeping & Eating
Downtown is pretty quiet on nights and weekends, except for the City Market area at E
Martin and S Person Sts. Just to the northwest, the Glenwood South neighborhood hops
with cafes, bars and clubs. You'll find plenty of moderately priced chain hotels around
exit 10 off I-440 and off I-40 near the airport.
Umstead Hotel & Spa
HOTEL$$$
$$$
