Raleigh Spring Guide: Top Events and 39+ Things to do (2023)

Spring is one of the best times to get outdoors and enjoy the vibrant Raleigh lifestyle. The weather is warming up, and we’re still far from the overwhelming summer humidity (personally I quite like it, but I’ve learned most people in the South don’t).

And just like Fall, Spring becomes a colorful palette of pinks, yellows and whites as life starts to return to our plants. Just driving around and seeing them bloom and pop is a treat. And it’s early this year, with the early false Spring we had in February, so make sure you’re paying attention before the full bloom is here and fades to that lush summer green, we all love.

Spring officially kicks off March 20, 2023 (although current weather is fooling us into thinking it’s months away!)

Let’s get ready to plan a fun spring in Raleigh for 2023. We’ve created a printable PDF checklist of these things to do in Raleigh for the Spring. Enter your name in the form below to receive it, and you’ll also receive our checklists for the top festivals of the year and other seasonal events! We’ll also keep you updated on weekly events and offer insider tips to living in Raleigh!

Attend a Spring Festival

 We love how Spring is one of the best seasons in Raleigh for outdoor festivals and events. These events really start ramping up in April. And we share even more events in our monthly events posts.

Art In Bloom, March 15–19, 2023

• Where: NC Museum of Art, West Building
• Time: Various
• Cost: $30 for members, $33 for nonmembers
• Website: NCArtMuseum.org

There is no better way to kickstart the spring event season than with the legendary Art in Bloom exhibit at the NC Museum of Art. Unfortunately, for 2023 the event is sold out. But you can now add it onto your Raleigh bucket list for next year!

What is all the fuss about? Flowers making art, that’s what! For five days you can enjoy 43 installations of floral arrangements from world-class designers. Some are more than 10 feet tall. 

This event requires tickets and, for 2023, includes admission to “Michael Richards: Are You Down?

Discover what other events are on in March.

Dreamville Festival April 1 – 2, 2023

• Where:  The Big Field at Dorothea Dix Park
• Website: DreamvilleFest.com
• Limited VIP tickets left and a waitlist!

One of the premier live music events in Raleigh is Dreamville, created by J. Cole, North Carolina’s own Grammy Award-winning and multi-platinum hip-hop artist. 

It’s one of the most popular and largest artist-curated music festivals in the country. This year features J Cole, Drake and Usher! Read our full guide to Dreamville Fest.

Mid-Town Square Spring Festival In Cary, April 8, 2023

• Where: Bond Brothers, 202 E Cedar St, Cary
• Time: 12pm
• Cost: Free
• Website: BondBrothersBeer.com

Celebrate the wonders of spring with this free festival in Downtown Cary, featuring local artists, live music, a DJ, food trucks, and the award-winning brews from Bond Brothers (which I love!) 

Wine and cider are also available, and they have pretty decent gluten free beer too. It’s family-friendly with a special Kids Zone too, so bring the whole family!

Ruth E Carter Afrofuturism in Costume Design Exhibit

• Where: NC Museum of Art
• When: April 1–August 6, 2023
• Cost: $20 Adults (over 21), $17 Seniors and Military
• Tickets

Want to see a two-time Academy Award winner’s costumes? Ruth E. Carter: Afrofuturism in Costume Design” will open to the public at the North Carolina Museum of Art on April 1 – Aug 6, 2023.

This exhibit features 60 original costumes from films like “Black Panther,” “Amistad,” “The Butler” and “What’s Love Got to Do with It.
She won an Oscar in 2019 for “Black Panther,” becoming the first Black person to win an Academy Award in that category, and more recently this year for her costumes in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

The Pit’s ‘Cuegrass Festival, April 15, 2023

• Where: Fayetteville St & Hargett St
• Time: 12pm-6pm
• Website: CueGrass.com

Are there two better words to describe North Carolina than barbecue festival? The annual ‘Cuegrass festival hosted by The Pit Authentic BBQ (in the Warehouse District) is a celebration of those two things with two stages of bluegrass music and Eastern Carolina style BBQ. And beer!

Brewgaloo April 21-22, 2023

• Where: Fayetteville St
• Time: Fri: 6-10pm, Sat 2-10pm
• Cost: see below
• Website: ShopRaleigh.org/brewgaloo

One of our favorite spring festivals is the annual Brewgaloo in downtown Raleigh. Kick-off the season with a frothy head from one of the many Raleigh breweries plus taste beer from around North Carolina at the 2nd biggest beer fest in the USA.

There is a Friday night ticketed event with samples included, and a free Saturday festival but with drinks for purchase.

READ MORE: Get a taste of Raleigh at Brewgaloo (what to expect and how to have fun!)

Spring Daze Arts And Crafts Festival, April 29, 2023

• Where: Bond Park, Cary
• Time: 9am – 5pm
• Cost: Free
• Website: TownOfCary.org

This has to be one of my favorite spring festivals in the Triangle area for its beautiful location in the forest beside Bond Lake. and celebration of local artists. 

Grab a local brew and wander around browsing the stalls of more than 170 local artists from across North Carolina. You’ll find art-paintings, jewelry, sculptures and more. 

There are plenty of food vendors, activities for the kids and a stage with local music all day. 

READ MORE: Guide to Bond Park and Lake in Cary and our guide to the Spring Daze Fest in Cary.

VIDEO: Spring Daze

Watch the video below to see how awesome the Spring Daze festival is, and beautiful Bond Park in Cary!

Read more events in April in Raleigh

Apex Peakfest, May 6, 2023

• Where: Salem St, Downtown Apex
• Cost: Free
• Website: ApexPeakFest.com

We’re not going to leave our Apexx friends off the list of spring festivals in the Triangle for 2023. Because they KNOW what the Peak of Good Living is all about. This event draws hundreds of vendors and over 22,000 people to Salem St in downtown Apex.

There is live music all day, artisan stores, entertainment for the kids, food and so much more!

READ MORE: A Guide to Downtown Apex (eat, play, shop)

Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival, May 4-7, 2023

• Where: 1439 Henderson Tanyard Road Pittsboro, NC 27312
• Time: Various
• Cost: Start at $39, kids 12 and under are FREE
• Tickets

Festival lovers may want to take a trip out to Pittsboro for their annual 4-day Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance held on a 75-acre farmstead. 

There is a huge line up across a wide variety of genres including Doina the Buffalo, Sierra Hull, and CimaFunk. Plus, there is family fun, food, crafts, yoga, a sustainability fair, specific teen activities, and camping! 

Meet The Street, May 6, 2023

• Where: White Street, Downtown Wake Forest
• Time: Saturday, May 6; 10-4pm
• Cost: Free
• Website

Hey, Wake Forest, we see your vibrant way of living there on White Street! This premier arts & crafts, music and food festival in downtown Wake Forest includes more than 100 artisan booths featuring handmade items for sale, dozens of food trucks, live music throughout the day, a children’s village filled with activities for kids, and more.

Longleaf Film Festival, May 12 & 13, 2023

• Where: North Carolina Museum of History
• Time: Various
• Cost: Free (and free popcorn!)
• Website

Support local filmakekers at the free Longleaf Film Festival at the North Carolina Museum of History. See dozens of films that have a Tar Heel State connection either through the people involved in making them , their filming location, or through their subject.

There’ll be multiple screens and filming locations as well as workshops, socials, and the presentation of awards.

Artsplosure (Raleigh Arts Festival), May 20 2023

• Where: Downtown Raleigh
• When: May 20-21
• Website: RaleighArtsFestival.com

Let’s go back to Art, as Raleigh is so good at it! So good that we get two premier art and community events in Raleigh during the spring. 

Like Spring Daze in Cary, Artsplosure is another of the annual Raleigh events and features over 175 visual artists showcasing their original works in ceramics, glass, fiber art, jewelry, metal, painting, photography, wood and more. 

There are also live music performances on the main stage, free arts and crafts for kids in the Kidsplosure section, and art installations throughout Fayetteville St.

Video: Raleigh Arts Festival

Read more events in May

International Food Festival, June 3, 2023

• Where: Fayetteville St, Downtown Raleigh
• When: June 3
• Website

Time to celebrate the vibrant cultures that make up Raleigh. Over 50 food trucks/dessert trucks from around the globe, live performances, and an outdoor international dance party. Shop local, experience international.

N.C. Hops Festival, June 11 & 12

• Where: Jim Graham Building at North Carolina State Fairgrounds
• When: June 11 & 12
• Cost: $45
• Website: shoplocalraleig.org

We’re closing out the Spring Festivals with more beer tasting! June takes us to the showgrounds for the annual NC Hops Festival featuring NC craft beverages, live music, local makers, and food trucks!

Tickets are $45 per session to enjoy unlimited samples of NC beer, ciders, seltzers, and more. 

Last year we enjoyed finding a few more local craft brews including Meade from Asheville and non-alcoholic kombucha and soda from Tribucha! There were games set up outside and fun stein holding competitions.

Be sure to read our top festivals and events guide for 2023. 

Enjoy these Gardens and Parks in Raleigh this Spring

There’s nothing that will get you into spring fever more than the sights and smells of a flowering garden. Spring tends to bring both sunshine and rain, which is also a perfect combination for wildflowers.

The Triangle has several beautiful parks and gardens to enjoy this Spring. (You may have to dodge that pollen in between but it’s worth it!)

Raleigh’s Rose Garden

Tucked away in the Hillsborough St residential area is the stunning Raleigh Rose Garden. Evergreen and deciduous trees encircle sixty rose beds teeming with a diverse array of hybrid teas, floribundas, grandifloras, miniatures, and antique roses.

The roses are typically in bloom between Mother’s Day and the first hard freeze of the season, normally around mid-November. It’s a popular place for reflection, picnics, proposals and photos. 

It’s located behind the Raleigh Little Theater, so why not combine your visit with a show OR their movies in the Garden, which air monthly, beginning at the end of April. Read our full review of the Raleigh Municipal Rose Garden.

The Daffodil Field at Dorothea Dix Park

Have a picnic amongst the field of yellow daffodils in Dorothea Dix Park. The daffodils are planted in the park’s Flowers Field off Umstead Drive near the historic cemetery.

They also have a range of springtime events such as yoga in the park, birdwatching, walking tours, fun festivals, and outdoor movies. 

In summer, the daffodils are swapped with beautiful sunflower fields. 

Pullen Park

As one of the oldest public parks in the world, Pullen Park has a lot of springtime love to share. Take a tranquil stroll past flowering trees, over arched bridges, and gazebos for a rest with a view. 

There are plenty of beautiful spots for selfies or photos with your loved ones and grassy picnic fields.

Amongst the blooming flowers you have carousels, train rides, pedal boats, and lots of other fun things to do! Read our full guide to Pullen Park.

Until mid-April you can also enjoy the Luminocity Festival to enjoy glowing art installations, motion dinosaurs, and displays.

• Pullen Park Address: 520 Ashe Ave, Raleigh
• Website: Raleighnc.gov/places/pullen-park

WRAL Azalea Garden

The WRAL Azalea Garden is a sanctuary in the middle of the city. Bursting with southern flowers – dogwoods, magnolia, hydrangeas and, of course, azaleas.

The 1.5-acre gardens have expanded in size and plant varieties over the years, and winding paths, shaded benches and manicured lawns are a feature.

You can bring a picnic basket with food and drink to enjoy at one of the benches or spread out on the grass.

• Address: 2619 Western Blvd, Raleigh
• Website: wral-gardens.com
• Free and open to the public, year-round from dawn until dusk.

Ann & Jim Goodnight Sculpture Park, NC Museum of Art

It’s not just the art that’s blooming in the Spring at the NC Museum of Art, but also the outdoor gardens. Enjoy the hiking trails and wide fields filled with unique and interesting sculptures as well as places for picnics. Watch our video of the NC Museum Sculpture Park:

JC Raulston Arboretum, NC State

One of the prettiest gardens in Raleigh, especially during the spring, is NC State University’s own arboretum. The flowers and plants across more than a dozen landscaped gardens are stunning.

Blooms include perennials, shrubs, trees, grasses, bulbs and more. More than a dozen landscaped gardens. Small trails weave in and out of the different types, like the Japanese Garden and Color Trials, Perennial Border and Geophyte Border.

It’s an explosive experience for the senses. Plant lovers will enjoy the variety of programs, classes and tours they hold, including activities for kids.

On April 29, they host Raulston Blooms includes an exceptional plant sale, garden talks, demonstrations, food trucks, ice cream and more.

• 4415 Beryl Rd, Raleigh, NC 27606 
• Hours: Mon- Fri, 9am- 4:30pm; Sat – Sun, 10am – 5pm

Video: JC Raulston Arboretum

Sarah P Duke Gardens

One of the most beautiful gardens in the Triangle, especially in the Spring, is the Sarah P. Duke Gardens in Durham.

This year, in 2023, the flowers have already begun to bloom. Expect to see lilacs, irises, Japanese camellia, gold-edged winter daphne, Japanese apricot and many more.

Pack a picnic and enjoy walking the many trails. The colors and smells will get your chakras spinning back into balance. 

Read our full review of Duke Gardens here, and while you are there, here are some of the best things to do in Durham.

• Address: 420 Anderson St, Durham
• Website: Gardens.Duke.edu

Video: Sarah P Duke Gardens, Durham

Juniper Level Botanic Garden

A stunningly beautiful 28-acre garden if you love plants, from local to the exotic, and from different countries. Even our kids enjoyed this garden, and they are hard to impress sometimes!

This is the private garden of Tony and Anita Avent and is only open to the public 8 weekends per year; two weekends each in winter, spring, summer and fall

Spring Dates for 2023 are April 28 – 30 and May 5 -7.

• Location: 9241 Sauls Rd, Raleigh
• Website: JLBG.org

Video: Juniper Level Botanic Gardens

North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill

• 100 Old Mason Farm Rd, Chapel Hill, NC 27517
• Website

At the North Carolina Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill, 1100 acres of cultivated land showcase unique Piedmont wildflowers and native carnivorous plants in its display gardens. There is an abundance of buzzing bees, birds, and butterflies. The gardens highlight specific regions of North Carolina and their corresponding plant species.

Enjoy the 34th Annual Oakwood Garden Tour

• Where: Historic Oakwood
• When: April 15th & 16th
• Cost: $25
• Tickets

Join a self-guided walking tour of Historic Oakwood’s gardens. Your self-guided walking tour ticket includes a map of the walking route to the gardens. Garden docents will be at the entrance and within the garden to welcome you and tell you about notable features. Walk is about 1.5 miles.

Be sure to wear your favorite garden hat and enjoy some iced tea stops along the way. And for later in the year keep in mind their Christmas candelight tour!

Visit Eno State Park in Durham

Eno River State Park is home to a variety of blooming flowers: hepatica and trout lily in March, dutchman’s breeches and yellow lady slipper in April, and rhododendron and mountain laurel in May.

Since 1969, they have offered a Spring Wildflower hike series that showcase the wildflowers blooming along the Eno.

You can also hike it yourself. One of the best spots to access and view wildflowers include the Pump Station access point and the Blue Indigo Preserve.

Go Strawberry Picking

Spring means sweet strawberry season. You can buy them in abundance from the local Triangle markets or go pick your own at any of the you-pick farms in Wake County.

Check out:

• DJ’s Berry Patch is right near Downtown Apex. Fields are open from late April thru mid-May.
• Page Farms U-Pick normally begins Mid-April and lasts through the first week of June. They also sell seasonal vegetables and pre-picked bundles of flowers. 
•  Phillips Farm in Cary has tons of spring events for families, including strawberry picking. In April, they have Shop & Play Saturdays partnering with local farmers and artisans to showcase their offerings via a market. Family fun included! 

Read More: 14 Strawberry Picking farms in Raleigh, Wake County and counties near Raleigh.

Buy your spring produce at the State Farmers Market

Who doesn’t love popping a juicy blueberry in their mouth in the middle of spring? Spring at the State Farmer’s Market is hopping with fresh vegetables. Apart form Strawberries and blueberries, other fruits don’t start coming into season until June. That is your raspberries, plums, peaches, and blackberries.

So, get those pie recipes ready. While at the State Farmers market, you can pick up other produce like grass fed beef, local honey, handmade candles and soaps and more.

You may also want to stop for one of Raleigh’s best breakfast places, at the State Farmers Market Restaurant or have a fry up lunch at the NC Seafood Restaurant. 

More Farmers Markets in Wake County

You have more options in Wake County for buying local, seasonal produce.

•  The Cary Downtown Farmers Market is a vibrant gathering place where the community has direct access to multiple farmers and unique craftsmen all in one place. April – October on Saturdays, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at 200 E. Chatham St, Cary, North Carolina. (Winter market still on until those dates.
• Gather at the Midtown Farmers Market in the heart of Midtown Raleigh, where you can buy local, family-farmed foods. Apr 15 — Nov 4 in the Market Commons 8am- noon (winter market still on until those dates)
• Moore Square Market features vendors selling fresh, seasonal goods as well as original, high-quality crafts and live music! May 14 – Oct 22 Sundays 11am -3pm

Eat Outdoors at Some of Raleigh’s best patios & Rooftops

The pollen will not keep me from sitting outside with a delicious meal on a fine patio. Raleigh has several great ones to choose from.

We have a post sharing some of our favorite patio restaurants in Raleigh. We also have a post with some top rooftop bars in Raleigh. And of course, don’t forget our amazing choices of breweries in Raleigh, many of which have patios, food trucks, and entertainment.

We’ll be adding to these lists throughout Spring and Summer.

Don’t miss the spring vibes on these trails (hike, bike, or run)

Anyone who’s been following us for a while now knows we’re hiking year-round! Spring is a great time to hike as the humidity has not yet hit and the air is fresh, crisp, and the forests are blooming with flowers and lusciousness!

We have a post on 25 best hiking trails in Raleigh to help you plan out your Spring hiking adventures! You can also bike or run them!

Some of our favorite hikes:

• Sycamore Trail, Umstead State Park
• Loblolly Trail, Umstead State Park
• Hemlock Bluffs, Cary
• Lake Lynn, North Raleigh
• Lake Johnson, Southwest Raleigh
• Bond Lake, Cary
• Yates Mill Historic Park, South Raleigh – combine this with an ice cream at Howling Cow after!

Click play below to see videos of our favorite trails:

Take up Disc Golf or Pickleball

Two trending sports right now perfect for a group of friends to enjoy outside this spring are disc golf and pickleball.

Search for a course near you and you’re bound to find a place to play, lessons or even friends to start this new hobby with.

Disc Golf is a lot of fun, especially as a family activity. You simply throw a disc at a target (metal net) using rules similar to golf.

• NC State Centennial Campus has a wooded, and hilly course.
• Diavola at New Hope Disc Golf in Cary was ranked #7 on the World’s Best Disco Golf Courses in 2021. Is there a list the Triangle has not made?
• Kentwood Park Disc Golf Course in Raleigh hosts tournaments and has been voted as NC’s most popular disc golf course.

Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the USA right now. Pickleball is an easy and active paddle sport, played with a perforated plastic ball, on a court about one-third the size of a tennis court. It combines many elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. You can find pickleball courts here and here. Pickleheads is also a great resource.

Get trained up and prepared for the anticipated opening of Swing Racquet + Paddle in 2024. This 45-acre sportainment complex will have tennis courts, pickleball courts, volleyball courts and more!

Enjoy an outdoor concert

Raleigh has several fantastic outdoor music venues and the season starts ramping up in the Spring. Here’s a list of some of the concerts to come:

Red Hat Amphitheater, Downtown Raleigh

• Indie Rock Band, Mt Joy, April 14, Red Hat
• Ryan Adams & the Cardinals, May 28, Red
• Dermot Kennedy, June 3, Red Hat
• Subtronics, June 9
• Noah Kahan, June 14
• Pixies, Fran Ferdinand & Bully, June 16
• Rebelution, June 17

Koka Booth, Cary

• Kate McGarry Quartet, April 5
• Ruben Studdard & Clay Aiken, April 29
• Pitbull, May 12-13 at Koka Booth

Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek

• Dead & Company, June 1
• TLC, Shaggy, EN Vogue & Sean Kingston, June 7
• Dierks Bentley, June 16

Don’t forget about some of the smaller venues in Raleigh, like weekend markets, food halls and beer gardens that often have live music. And of course, indoor venues, like PNC, Lincoln Theater, and the Ritz have concerts year-round! Stevie Nicks and Lizzo will be playing at PNC this spring.

Midtown Beach Series (North Hills)

Midtown Park in the North Hills District has their outdoor Midtown Beach Music Series every Thurs, 6-9pm starting April 20 until June 22, 2023, in their Coastal Credit Union Midtown Park.

Lineup includes feel good music everyone loves from Beach music to Motown, Oldies, R & B and more. Beverage and food options are available to purchase on site.

Cheer on our local Sports teams

• Carolina Hurricanes are still working on closing out the season strong. Seeing a game live is one of our favorite things to do in Raleigh.
• We love watching the NC Courage (women’s soccer) play games at WakeMed Soccer Park. Their season has kicked off!
• NC Football Club (men’s soccer) has also started their season with home games at WakeMed Stadium.
• And as those nights start warming up, there is no better way to enjoy it than at a baseball game. We’ve got Durham Bulls in Durham (Opening Day 2023 Friday, March 31) and the Carolina Mudcats at Zebulon (Opening week April 11-16)
• The Town of Cary and WakeMed Soccer Park will host the NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Championship for the first time ever. May 26 – 28
• This June WakeMed Soccer Park will host a seven v. seven 32-team World- Cup style soccer tournament (June 1-4). Ryan Reynold’s is rumored to be playing. His Welsh team, the Wrexham Red Dragons are playing even if he doesn’t strap on the boots.

Visit a Spring Market

While Artsplosure and Spring Daze elevate an ordinary market to legendary, once-a-year festival status, the Triangle has lots of smaller versions each week to help you connect to local community.

Each year, there seems to be more markets popping up all over the Triangle. They range from vintage goods to modern art, and many have other features like live music, food trucks and kids’ activities.

Here are a few to check out. Please leave any other suggestions in the comments.

• Midtown Farmers’ Market – Beginning April 15, this market in the Commons at North Hills is in its 15th season. All products sourced locally within a 100-mile radius. Features cooking demonstrations, live music, and kids events.
• The Raleigh Market is a long-standing weekend market at the NC State Fairgrounds. You’ll find hundreds of stores inside and out with all kinds of vendors selling high-end antiques, furniture, jewelry art and more.
• Triangle Pop Up brings together local creators, artists and vendors at various locations across the Triangle. Click here to see where they’ll be popping up next!
• The Raleigh Night Market is ready for spring evenings filled with music, entertainment and Triangle artisans, food and drinks. Held in City Market. But wait, there’s more. They also have them in Cary, Garner, Durham, and Wilson.
• The Geek and Grub Markets are for geeks of all ages across a diverse range of geeky interests. This free market is held monthly and typically follows a theme. The markets have geeky games, competitions, cosplay, kids’ area, grub and vendors.
• Pop Up Raleigh at Trophy Brewing on Maynard. Pop-Up Raleigh will have monthly markets with 40+ vendors, March-December at one of Raleigh’s favorite breweries. Great beer garden too!

Do your Spring Cleaning

You know it! Spring is the time for decluttering, organizing and taking on those home projects. So, while you’re blowing away the thick layer of green pollen dust, consider using local businesses to help you reduce the negative impact of broken things, and too many possessions. Make more room for moments and memories instead.

We know how incredibly hard it is to do these things within the space of a hectic family life. We’re hoping to pull in some help from:

• Sarah Valeri and her Hello Clutter services can help remove clutter and organize what’s important. See our podcast chat with her here.
• Houseplant Hippie or Copperline Plants to help deck out our house with plants we can actually keep alive. We may wait until we get back from Europe in the summer for that one!

Why not get a group of friends together, or neighbors, to help each other spring clean and garden? Break out the barbie and the cooler full of your favorite drinks and turn the painful into party!

Host a Porch Party

Speaking of parties in the home, gather your best friends together and host a Designed for Joy Porch Party. You can also all spring clean together before it and then reward yourself after with a drink and little splurge on some gorgeous handbags and accessories.

You don’t have to host this on a porch – it can be on your kitchen table if you like. Just host the space and people and Designed for Joy will provide you with a box of products and props. Guests receive a 10% discount and Porch Party Hostesses receive $100 in product credit.

Follow the Johnston County Beer, Wine, and Shine Trail

Grab a group of friends (and a DD) and celebrate the arrival of warmer weather with an ice-cold beverage on a patio with a view. Either do it in one day or split it into multiple days for a fun spring project.

Johnston County has laid it out for you on their Beer, Wine, and Shine Trail, the first of its kind in North Carolina. Stops include four breweries, two wineries, and two distilleries along rural roads past tobacco, cotton, and corn fields.

Why not make it a getaway? Clayton is a great base as they have a charming Main Street with incredible local restaurants and bars.

• This VRBO rental is in Downtown Clayton
• The Holiday Express just outside downtown is another option for a traditional hotel
• This cute rental home is another option, which is about halfway between Clayton and Smithfield.

There are many fun things to do in Johnston County, including great places to eat (including BBQ), trails to enjoy, and cute country towns. Read about our date night experience in JoCo.

Take a Day Trip Near Raleigh

Our girls are currently on their Spring Break and we are planning on visiting a few nearby towns for some spring day trip fun. High on our list is to explore:

• Afternoon tea at Fearrington Inn near Pittsboro.
• Chapel Hill
• Fuquay Varina
• Wake Forest
• Zebulon
• Rocky Mills (camping trip planned in a tiny home for April)
• Pinehurst (weekend getaway planned for April)

If you have any tips for the above, please share them in the comments below.

Read More: 15 Fun Day Trips from Raleigh (within a 2-hour drive)

Take a Spring Getaway

If you want to go beyond just a day trip from Raleigh, consider jumping in the car for a spring getaway. With high flight prices at the moment, you’ll be glad you opted for the more affordable and flexible four-wheel adventure!

We’ll be headed for a relaxing beach vacation on Ocracoke Island before the summer crowds arrive. Fingers crossed for warm weather. Here are some other ideas:

• Spring Mountain getaway to Virginia’s Blue Ridge (only three hours away)
• Boone in the North Carolina highlands is only a three-hour drive away.
• Head to Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach or Ocean Isle Beach before the crowds get in your way.
• Why not take the skies and go hang gliding in Jockey Ridge State Park before it gets too hot?
• I’ve been hearing a lot about the Highlands area of the North Carolina Mountains recently. May be a great lessor known Spring vacation spot.

Comment: What are some of your favorite things to do in the Spring in Raleigh?