With an abundance of museums, many of which are free to enter, Raleigh has been designated the Smithsonian of the South. It also boasts a dynamite food scene, the charm of a mid-sized Southern city, and a top-notch resort and spa nearby.
Get Settled
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The Umstead sits on 12 wooded acres in nearby Cary, and will set the tone for a weekend of art, good food, and relaxation. Natural elements flood the indoor space, as does a thoughtful collection of nearly 100 pieces of nature-inspired original art. Drop your bags and peruse the art gallery, which showcases rotating regional artists, before heading to the outdoor pool where a cabana and a frozen drink await. You can also while away the afternoon at The Umstead Spa, a luxurious, two-story destination for organic body treatments, lounges equipped with a whirlpools and saunas, a 24-hour fitness facility, and a meditation courtyard.
Museum Hop
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Fuel up at the charming boulangerie, Le Farm Bakery, for fresh pastries or an egg scramble. (Ask them to pack up a few macaroons for the road.) You’ll want an entire morning, or more, to explore the North Carolina Museum of Art. Set on 164 acres, its broad collection spans from ancient Greece to contemporary local pieces, and even dots the landscape along paved trails. Don’t miss the largest collection of Rodin sculptures in the American South, or the exhibit of four bound editions of Audubon’s Birds of America. From there, jaunt into town for more contemporary experience at CAM, a non-collecting, constantly changing gallery, or a swing through the Museum of Natural Sciences where the Coastal North Carolina display brings the outdoors to life. Afterward, snag a seat at trailblazing Raleigh chef Ashley Christensen’s Beasley’s Chicken + Honey, for the crunch of a fried quarter bird and a plate of addictive cheese grit fries.
Wander Along
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The Warehouse District is home to an assortment of shops and restaurants, all set in historic buildings. Grab a rice bowl or plate of dumplings inside Morgan Street Food Hall + Market, before browsing the clever home goods inside Port of Raleigh and the artisan wares of Deco Raleigh. The Raleigh Denim Workshop and Curatory makes all of its own pieces in a workshop on view just past the showroom. For a sweet pick-me-up, step inside Videri Chocolate Factory where, under press-tinned ceilings, you’ll catch the workings (and smell the tantalizing results) of an artisanal bean-to-bar chocolate operation.
Grab a Drink
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Relax inside the modern oasis of Heirloom Brewshop where the baristas pour expertly brewed teas and coffees (some from a pink espresso machine) as well as a selection of sake. For a pint, stop into Brewery Bhavana, a breezy, light-filled brewery, restaurant, and retail space. There’s a stylish library of books to peruse, fresh flowers in the retail space, and for dinner, a selection of dim sum served at communal tables. At the bar, sample a wide selection of lush IPAs and farmhouse ales.
Dine Well
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Put the finishing stroke on an art-filled day with a reservation at Herons inside The Umstead. Working with the on-property, two-acre One Oak Farm, chef Stephen Greene and his team pull inspiration from the field as well as the wall. The Art Tour Menu is eight courses, each crafted to pay tribute to a singular piece of art. From a 62-degree egg nestled over grits inside a hand-carved bowl to a glass plate that arrives smoking, like a foggy morning beside the lake, each dish, presented alongside imagery of the art, strikes a chord—and will leave with you with lingering memories of both the art and flavors of Raleigh.
Getting There
Delta and Southwest operate several daily nonstop flights to Raleigh.