Raleigh, NC, The "Smithsonian of the South"

When people think of museums, they think of Washington, DC, the Smithsonian Institute, and even New York City. But would you ever think about Raleigh, North Carolina? Ever since the reopening of Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh, the city has been pushing for visitors across the world to discover the spirit of Raleigh. From its many attractions and historic sites to its arts and entertainment district, Raleigh has continued to evolve into a destination for families and out-of-town visitors. Only one thing separates Raleigh from being a superpower destination like larger cities - visitors.

Often called the "Smithsonian of the South," Raleigh is home to many museums. Three of Raleigh's most well-known museums include the North Carolina Museum of History, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, and Exploris Museum. In addition, the North Carolina Museum of Art is within a short drive of downtown Raleigh. Whether one is looking for one of Three Places for Lunch with Children and Dad in Raleigh or any other family-friendly destination in Raleigh, its many museums have something sure to please everyone.

At the North Carolina Museum of History, visitors can explore exhibits ranging from "Rhythm and Roots of North Carolina Music" to the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. For the summer, the museum is offering several programs for visitors. "Time for Tots: First Fast Foods" offers children and families the opportunity to learn about foods native to North Carolina, and then create their own treats. In addition, bluegrass fans may enjoy learning how bluegrass got its start and the musical instruments unique to the musical genre. Also planned for the summer are programs planned around learning about life in the Appalachian Mountains and a summer performance series, including artists such as Donna Washington, Charles Pettee, Larry Nixon, David Blevins, and Steve Gage. Another sure hit for families, "Pirates Ahoy!" allows children to hear pirate tales, create pirate crafts, and learn about North Carolina's famous pirates, Blackbeard and Anne Bonney.

Next door to the History museum, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences enraptures people of all ages with its unique dinosaur exhibits and wildlife presentations. The museum is home to the world's only dinosaur with a fossilized heart, Willo. This 66-million-year-old skeleton reveals an advanced heart structure, the first discovery of its kind in the entire world. Other highlights include a complete mountain-to-sea exhibit to represent habitats found in North Carolina and a world-class display of giant whale skeletons. Special exhibits coming to the museum later this year include "Wild Music: Sounds & Songs of Life" and "Dinosaurs: Ancient Fossils, New Discoveries."

The Museum of Natural Sciences also offers several summer camps for children of various ages. From explorations into wildlife to outdoor excursion camps at local landmarks, the summer camps offer week-long daily activities to keep kids engaged in learning, even over the summer months.

A quick drive from the Museum of Natural Sciences, the North Carolina Museum of Art has presented many well-known exhibitions throughout the years. From Rodin to Monet in Normandy, the museum currently features exhibits on large-scale photography in The BIG Picture, as well as "Temples and Tombs: Treasures of Egyptian Art from the British Museum." Along with its special exhibitions, the regular collections of the museum span 5,000 years of art from ancient Egypt to contemporary art.

Another unique museum to downtown Raleigh, Exploris is one of the only interactive museums about the world. Exhibits range from "Tradeworks" (an exploration into how international one's home is) to meeting and greeting people all over the world in "Many Voices." In addition, the museum currently features an exhibit on the life and times of Anne Frank entitled "One Voice." Another exhibit labeled "Living in Balance," allows guests to examine the use of Earth's natural resources by sampling different waters and hearing sounds of rainforests in a Nature Sound Studio. "People and Places" allows children to take part in cultures around the world by participating in traditional dances and dressing-up in festive clothing representative of various cultures.

After exploring Raleigh's top-of-the-line museums, guests may choose to visit the IMAX Theater at Exploris. The IMAX Theater at Exploris boasts a giant 52 foot screen and 12,000 watts of digital surround sound. Not only does the theater present popular IMAX documentaries, but it also presents blockbusters like Harry Potter and Spider-man and even 3D films.

For more ideas of things to see and do in and around Raleigh, North Carolina, be sure to visit A Guide to Interesting Sights in Raleigh, NC. Families and young adults may also enjoy parks and local hotspots highlighted in A Guide to Raleigh, NC. Either way, Raleigh has something for everyone, especially in its "Smithsonian of the South" museums.