10 things to do in Raleigh for $20 or less

Enjoy a range of fun things to do in Raleigh without breaking the bank.

Now that summer is here, it’s the perfect time to go outside and soak in some sunshine. As prices continue to rise, though, it may be tough trying to find fun ideas that won’t eat into your budget. The good news is that there is a wide variety of activities for everybody that are either free or available at a low cost.

Whether you love admiring Van Gogh’s landscapes at the museum or you prefer packing up your van and going down to a park to enjoy a more natural landscape, you’ll definitely find things to do in Raleigh that are up your alley.

Add these free activities to your bucket list 

Take an adult field trip to a museum

One of the perks of living in a mid-sized city like Raleigh is free access to the city’s numerous museums, including the North Carolina Museum of Art. With the exception of certain exhibitions and events, admission to the People’s Collection at the Museum of Art’s West and East buildings is free, as well as the Museum Park. While the park is open daily until dusk, the museum buildings are only open Wednesday to Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Left-brained people who prefer dinosaurs to dynamic cubism can rejoice over the fact that the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is open seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Currently, the museum has a special exhibition on blue whales and the genetics behind racial diversity. Additionally, the museum features permanent exhibitions that showcase “dueling dinosaurs,” as well as research and exploration of nature.

If you work in downtown Raleigh, attending one of the live feedings of lobsters and snapping turtles would be a fun way to spend your lunch hour.

Soak in the outdoors and stop to smell the roses

There truly isn’t anything like a summer down South—time seems to stand still as the sun takes its sweet time to set. With Raleigh being known as the “city of oaks,” you should definitely take advantage of the scenery and sunset as an alternative to happy hour drinks. J.C. Raulston Arboretum on North Carolina State University’s campus offers nearly 11 acres of gardens that are currently in full bloom, filled with native and international flowers.

Just a small sample of the types of gardens at the arboretum includes the tranquil Japanese Zen Garden, the resilient Xeric Garden, which features desert plants with unique genetic adaptations to conserve water, and the eclectic Scree Garden, which houses plants found in arid, mountainous climates, such as aloe and agave.

The arboretum also cultivates more than 100 different types of magnolia flowers, and crowd-favorite White Garden features one of them. Modeled after the Sissinghurst Gardens in England, the White Garden is a highly recommended location for weddings. The center is open from Monday to Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and closes at 7 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Taking a hike and riding a bike through Umstead State Park is another great way to enjoy the great outdoors. Located in Northwest Raleigh, the park contains nearly 35 miles of hiking, 13 miles of biking, and 13 miles of horseback riding. The park is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day until August. The closing times change after August, coinciding with the earlier sunsets.

Join the pickleball craze and listen to live music

If things haven’t been going that well for you, then playing pickleball may just be the best way to get out of that pickle. Interest in pickleball seems to be steadily rising, with USA Pickleball reporting 4,000 new pickleball courts in 2024. For those who are looking to try out the latest fitness trend.

Method Community Park in West Raleigh offers free outdoor and indoor pickleball courts. So you can still get a fun workout in, rain or shine. The center also offers indoor and outdoor basketball courts, as well as a playground for kids.

Last but not least, make sure to mark your calendars on July 23 and Aug. 20 for Downtown Raleigh Alliance’s “Live After 5” concerts that run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. “Live After 5” is a series of block parties at City Plaza that feature indie bands and food trucks.

Try these entertaining ideas all under $20 

Immerse yourself in cultural & educational experiences

To be outside, or to be inside—that is the question. The good news is that Raleigh offers an indoor option perfect for live theater enthusiasts. Raleigh Little Theatre is a community-based thespian group that auditions actors for their local productions, which they present at their campus in West Raleigh.

The troupe’s next show will be “Hadestown: Teen Edition,” an adaptation of the Broadway musical, and will run from July 25 to Aug 10. Tickets cost anywhere from $9 to $19, depending on the seat location.

If you’re looking for a low-cost, kid-friendly activity, then you’ll definitely want to check out the Marbles Kids’ Museum in downtown Raleigh. There are two floors of exhibits, as well as an outdoor section that will keep your kids both entertained and informed. The wide variety of exhibits ranges from “Toddlers’ Hollow,” where children under three can explore a forest-like setting, to “Power2Play,” where older children can play hockey and learn how to make healthy food.

Advance tickets cost $9.50 for everyone above the age of one, while buying them day-of will cost $12. People with Bank of America debit or credit cards can also get one free ticket on the “first full weekend” every month. Just be careful—your kids may just lose their marbles over all the interactive exhibits here!

Get your gains & eat your mains 

Arguably, the adult equivalent of an interactive museum is trying out all the weight machines at a gym. Gym membership costs can unfortunately add up, and getting out of those pesky contracts isn’t a walk in the park. Luckily, there is one affordable fitness center that gym buffs should check out.

Method Community Park, which we mentioned earlier, also features a fitness center that only costs $15 per month. The best part is that it’s month-to-month, and you aren’t bound by any contracts.

And we have the best recommendation to refuel after you get those reps in. A Place at the Table offers a unique dining experience located right in downtown Raleigh. Called “Raleigh’s first pay-what-you-can cafe,” all of the menu items are $15 or less.

There are several options to cover your meal, including paying the prices as listed on the menu, donating a minimum of $3, or volunteering for an hour. By eating food at this restaurant, you are supporting the cafe’s mission of providing “community and good food for all regardless of means.”

Known for his food reviews on TikTok, viral influencer Keith Lee tried out A Place at the Table and gave it a high rating. According to the News and Observer, the cafe has also been featured on “Today” and “The Kelly Clarkson Show.” With plenty of money to spare, you now have a whole summer itinerary full of cultural immersions, outdoor activities, and healthy ideas.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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