Raleigh-Durham

When the weather is nice there are several miles of trails with outdoor sculpture and other art pieces to explore. — Afar Magazine

At over 200,000 square feet, this museum is the largest of its kind in the Southeast. — Fodor's

Explore the family's humble beginnings at this State Historic Site, which includes the first ramshackle "factory" as well as the world's largest spittoon collection. — Fodor's

With two stories of indoor, hands-on exhibits and a 74-acre outdoor campus, this museum offers kids a range of interactive experiences. — Where

The state's long and colorful history comes alive through innovative exhibits and programs in this state-of-the-art facility. — Frommer's

A wisteria-draped gazebo, the Carnivorous Plant Collection, and a Japanese garden with a lily pond teeming with fat goldfish are a few of the highlights of these 55 acres. — Fodor's

A Gothic-style gem built in the early 1930s, this chapel is the centerpiece of Duke University. — Fodor's

The secret is out: the Lemur Center is the coolest attraction in Durham. — Lonely Planet

Owned by the Bennehan and Cameron families, Stagville was one of the largest plantations in antebellum North Carolina, at 30,000 acres and with about 900 slaves. — Fodor's

This stately Greek Revival structure (constructed 1833-40) is a National Historic Landmark. — Frommer's

The wide path travels along the Neuse River, across wetlands, through woods and is altogether beautiful. — U.S. News & World Report

One block north of the State Capitol, this complex hums with lawmakers and lobbyists when the legislature is in session. — Fodor's

Enjoying a whirl on this vintage Dentzel carousel—with its impressive menagerie of more than 50 beautifully restored animals—is but one reason why Pullen Park is known as Raleigh’s “Central Park.” — Where

Eighteenth century house of the mysterious "Father of Raleigh."  — Atlas Obscura

A National Historic Landmark, the building is one of the best-preserved examples of a major civic building in the Greek Revival style. — Where

One of Durham's oldest houses of worship houses this center for African American art and culture. — Fodor's

In 1865, Confederate general Joseph E Johnston surrendered 90,000 troops to Union general William T Sherman at the humble Bennett Place farmstead, effectively ending the Civil War. — Lonely Planet

Endowed by the Duke family's cigarette fortune, the university has a Georgian-style East Campus and a neo-Gothic West Campus notable for its towering 1930s chapel. — Lonely Planet

The park on the Eno River is home to a mill from 1778 and a 19th-century Greek-revival farmhouse. Enjoy the park every July for a three-day folk festival. — Where

Have a quintessentially American afternoon of beer and baseball watching the minor-league Durham Bulls (of 1988 Kevin Costner film Bull Durham fame), who play from April to September. — Lonely Planet