Nature & Outdoors

Raleigh is a great city for nature and outdoor adventures with plenty of lakes, greenway trails, parks, gardens, playgrounds and more!

Girl walking through a garden of roses

Garden Lover? Don’t Miss JC Raulston Arboretum (5,000+ plants)

If you love gardens, plants and trees, don’t miss the nationally acclaimed JC Raulston Arboretum ...
Girl taking photos or roses in a garden

Don’t Miss the Beautiful Raleigh Rose Garden (Free & Open 365 Days)

Tucked away off Hillsborough Street near the main campus of NC State University, the Raleigh ...
Mother and daughter on stand up paddle board in swamp waters

Hidden Gem Near Raleigh: Paddling Robertson Millpond Preserve

Your first thought upon arriving at Robertson Millpond Preserve will be, “are you sure there ...
Man paddling a paddle board on a lake surrounded by forest

15 Top Lakes Near Raleigh NC (for Adventure + Relaxation)

Ahh, lake life! We grew up on the beaches of Australia but have fallen in ...
Mom and two daughters walking a trail in the woods

25 Fantastic Raleigh Trails (for Hiking, Biking, Running, or a Gentle Stroll)

In case you don’t know, 2023 is the Year of the Trail in North Carolina ...
Girl standing in a rose garden taking photos

6 Lovely Gardens in Raleigh (and one amazing garden nearby!)

We’re fortunate to have access to several gorgeous gardens in Raleigh that are home to ...
A person standing next to a tree in a forest

Hiking the EASY Pott’s Branch Trail, Umstead State Park

Now the weather is warmer and the trees are in full lush, we're on a ...
A person sitting in a forest looking at stone bridge and river

Hiking the Loblolly Trail (plus a loop) in Umstead State Park

You know how sometimes you just scratch your head and wonder how on earth you ...
A man standing next to a river

Hiking the 7 Mile Sycamore Trail: Umstead State Park, Raleigh

We love that William B Umstead State Park is only a 15-minute drive from downtown ...
A person standing in front of a flower

A Guide to Sarah P. Duke Gardens in Durham (30 minutes from Raleigh) 

We recently spent a few hours on a beautiful spring day walking through the gorgeous ...
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