As the Capitol of the State of North Carolina, Raleigh and the surrounding counties offer many interesting attractions to visitors. Some are listed below.

The area is anchored by Research Triangle Park, a major high-technology area. There are three major universities: North Carolina State University in Raleigh, Duke University in Durham and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. College sports, especially basketball and football, are major attractions.

Area shopping malls are also listed

A computer connected to the Greater Raleigh Convention and Tourist Bureau's web site will be located in the Registration area of the Convention. You will be able to find additional information on local attractions and activities, and generate a map on how to get there. If you wish to plan ahead visit the web site at www.visitraleigh.com/visit/thingstodo .

Progress Energy Center for Performing Arts

The Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh offers Raleigh Memorial Auditorium along with three new theaters — the 1,700-seat Meymandi Concert Hall (home of the North Carolina Symphony Orchestra), the 600-seat Fletcher Opera Theater and the 170-seat Kennedy Theater. A wide range of entertainment is available at the Progress Energy Center.

The following performance will be featured during Rails to Raleigh:

For tickets call the Box Office at 919-733-2750.

Directions from Convention Hotel
Turn right onto Harrison Oaks Boulevard (there is no left turn from Harrison Oaks Boulevard to Harrison Avenue north). Turn left at the traffic light onto Weston Parkway. Turn left at the next traffic light onto Harrison Avenue north. Proceed to the entrance to Interstate 40. Take the ramp to I-40 East. Proceed east on I-40 to the exit 298-B. Turn right on South Saunders Street and go 1.5 miles north to South Street. Turn right on South Street and go two blocks. The Progress Energy Center is on the right.

Carolina Hurricanes Hockey

Raleigh is home to the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League, who play at the RBC Center, only two exits away from the Embassy Suites.

The Canes will play one game at the RBC Center during Rails to Raleigh.

Tickets may be purchased through the RBC Center Box Office at 919-834-4000 or online via Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com .

Directions from Convention Hotel
Turn right onto Harrison Oaks Boulevard (there is no left turn from Harrison Oaks Boulevard to Harrison Avenue north). Turn left at the traffic light onto Weston Parkway. Turn left at the next traffic light onto Harrison Avenue north. Proceed to the entrance to Interstate 40. Take the ramp to I-40 East. Stay in the right lane and proceed east on I-40 to the next exit (Wade Avenue). Follow Wade Avenue to the first exit which is Edwards Mill Road. Turn right on Edwards Mill Road and follow the signs and lane markings to the RBC Center entrance. The RBC Center is on the left.

Morehead Planetarium and Science Center

250 Franklin Street
Chapel Hill, NC 27599
919-962-1236

Located on the campus of UNC Chapel Hill, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center transports visitors to distant galaxies and takes them deep into the cells of every living organism. The Star Theater with its Zeiss Model VI Star Projector is the focal point for programming. Each year more than 100,000 visitors stream through the Star Theater doors for a schedule of shows designed for all ages.

Visitors to the Morehead Center will also want to explore the exhibit area where they will find explanations of astronomical phenomena and a tribute to Mercury, Gemeni, Apollo and Skylab astronauts who trained at the Planetarium until 1975.

Directions from Convention Hotel
Turn right onto Harrison Oaks Boulevard (there is no left turn from Harrison Oaks Boulevard to Harrison Avenue north). Turn left at the traffic light onto Weston Parkway. Turn left at the next traffic light onto Harrison Avenue north. Proceed to the entrance to Interstate 40. Take the ramp to I-40 West. Follow I-40 west to exit 270 (HWY 15-501) towards Chapel Hill. Take a left off of the exit to get onto 15-501. After a one and half miles, the road forks. Stay to the right and get on Franklin Street when it splits off. The Morehead Center is 2.5 miles on the left on Franklin Street.

NC State Fairgrounds Flea Market

NC State Fairgrounds
1023 Blue Ridge Road
Raleigh, NC

The Oldest, Biggest & Best in North Carolina

Every Saturday and Sunday (except during the State Fair) the Flea Market is open from 8:00am to 5:00pm. It is housed in the Commercial and Education Buildings at the Fairgrounds, plus two domes, seven small shops and outside grounds.

You will find the largest selection of antiques, jewelry and furniture in North Carolina, plus lots of other "stuff" and even model trains. Services offered on the grounds include framing, jewelry repair, contact and eyeglass prescriptions filled, custom stained glass, embroidery, key making, knives and scissors sharpening and kitchen remodeling.

Directions from Convention Hotel
Turn right onto Harrison Oaks Boulevard (there is no left turn from Harrison Oaks Boulevard to Harrison Avenue north). Turn left at the traffic light onto Weston Parkway. Turn left at the next traffic light onto Harrison Avenue north. Proceed to the entrance to Interstate 40. Take the ramp to I-40 East. Stay in the right hand lane to take the first exit to Wade Avenue (Exit 289). Proceed on Wade Avenue to the second exit (Blue Ridge Road). At the end of the exit ramp turn right onto Blue Ridge Road. Pass two traffic lights and the Fairgrounds are shortly on your right.

NC Museum of Art

2110 Blue Ridge Road
919-839-6262
Raleigh, NC 27607-6494
www.ncartmuseum.org

The museum was designed by Edward Durrell Stone, architect of the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, DC. Works of art are displayed inhistorical sequence through eight major collections: Ancient, European, American, 20th-Century and contempory, Jewish ceremonial art, African, Oceanic and the Ancient Americas.

Representing eight schools and five centuries of Western art, the paintings include works by Thomas Hart Benton, Sandro Boticelli, John Singleton Copley, Winslow Homer, Claude Monet, Georgia O'Keeffe, Raphael, Peter Paul Rubens, Anthony Van Dyck and Andrew Wyeth.

An excellent restaurant is located in the museum serving lunch and refreshments.

Directions from Convention Hotel
Turn right onto Harrison Oaks Boulevard (there is no left turn from Harrison Oaks Boulevard to Harrison Avenue north). Turn left at the traffic light onto Weston Parkway. Turn left at the next traffic light onto Harrison Avenue north. Proceed to the entrance to Interstate 40. Take the ramp to I-40 East. Stay in the right hand lane to take the first exit to Wade Avenue (Exit 289). Proceed on Wade Avenue to the second exit (Blue Ridge Road). At the end of the exit ramp turn left onto Blue Ridge Road. Pass three traffic lights and the Museum is shortly on your right. Look for a large granite marker with flags.

NC Museum of History

5 E. Edenton Street
Raleigh, NC
919-807-7900

This 170,000 square-foot museum chronicles the lives of North Carolinians from the state's origins to the present day. Exhibits focus on the state's history, folklife, healing systems, struggles during the Civil War and the NC Sports Hall of Fame.

Directions from Convention Hotel
Turn right onto Harrison Oaks Boulevard (there is no left turn from Harrison Oaks Boulevard to Harrison Avenue north). Turn left at the traffic light onto Weston Parkway. Turn left at the next traffic light onto Harrison Avenue north. Proceed to the entrance to Interstate 40. Take the ramp to I-40 East. Stay in the right hand lane to take the first exit to Wade Avenue (Exit 289). Proceed on Wade Avenue 3.9 miles to the second traffic light (Faircloth Street). Turn right onto Faircloth Street and proceed 0.5 miles to the fist traffic light (Hillsborough Street). Turn left on Hillsborough Street and proceed 1.8 miles to Morgan Street. Turn right on Morgan Street and proceed 1.2 miles to Wilmington Street. Turn left on Wilmington Street and go 0.1 mile to East Edenton Street. Turn left onto East Edenton STreet. The Museum is shortly on your right.

NC Museum of Life & Science

433 Murray Avenue
Durham, NC 27704
919-220-5429
www.ncmls.org

The museum offers nature and science displays and an aerospace exhibit, including an Apollo 15 mock-up and the Mercury space capsule that was the first US spacecraft to orbit the earth. Visitors can see native anilmals in the Nature Center, experience rare insects in the Aventis CropScience Insectarium, hold a box turtle in one of several discover rooms, encounter more than 1,000 exotic butterflies and meet animals in the farmyard.

Climb aboard the Ellerbee Creek Railway at the Herald-Sun Station. The 5/8"-scale train runs daily, every 30 minutes in the morning, every hour in the afternoon until 4pm. $1.50 per person. See red wolves and other wildlife on an old-time excursion.

The Caterpillar Cafe offers a variety of healthy choices for lunches and snacks.

Directions from Convention Hotel
Turn right onto Harrison Oaks Boulevard (there is no left turn from Harrison Oaks Boulevard to Harrison Avenue north). Turn left at the traffic light onto Weston Parkway. Turn left at the next traffic light onto Harrison Avenue north. Proceed to the entrance to Interstate 40. Take the ramp to I-40 West. Follow I-40 west to Highway 147 (Durham Expressway). Take Highway 147 into downtown Durham and exit at Duke Street (Exit 12C). Drive north two miles on Duke Street and turn right onto Murray Avenue.

NC Museum of Natural Sciences

11 W. Jones Street
Raleigh, NC
919-733-7450

One of the largest museums of its kind in the Southeast, the Natural Sciences Museum explores the diverse geology, geography and wildlife of North Carolina. The museum is home to the first dinosaur discovered with a fossilized heart, as well as a fully restored skeleton of the predator Acrocanthosaurus. The state's natural treasures, including emeralds, Venus flytraps, tiger beetles, fossilized shark teeth and scarlet tanagers are exhibited.

Other exhibits include Mountains to the Sea, with live animals and a 20-foot waterfall. Great whale skeletons are displayed in Coastal North Carolina and visitors can walk among hummingbirds and butterflies in the living Conservatory.

Directions from Convention Hotel
Turn right onto Harrison Oaks Boulevard (there is no left turn from Harrison Oaks Boulevard to Harrison Avenue north). Turn left at the traffic light onto Weston Parkway. Turn left at the next traffic light onto Harrison Avenue north. Proceed to the entrance to Interstate 40. Take the ramp to I-40 East. Stay in the right hand lane to take the first exit to Wade Avenue (Exit 289). Follow Wade Avenue to Capital Boulevard (toward downtown). Take Capitol Boulevard SOUTH toward downtown Raleigh. Capitol Boulevard SOUTH becomes Dawson Street. Turn LEFT onto Jones Street. Go three blocks EAST; the museum will be on the RIGHT.

North Carolina State Capitol

Union Square
1 Edenton Street
Raleigh, NC
919-733-4994

The State Capitol is a restored Greek revival structure built 1833–40 that houses the governor's office as well as historic rooms, artwork and exhibits. The 19th century house and senate chambers feature period wall colors, decorative finishes, and original furniture and paintings. The State Library Room and State Geology Office are restored to their 1850's appearance.

Directions from Convention Hotel
Turn right onto Harrison Oaks Boulevard (there is no left turn from Harrison Oaks Boulevard to Harrison Avenue north). Turn left at the traffic light onto Weston Parkway. Turn left at the next traffic light onto Harrison Avenue north. Proceed to the entrance to Interstate 40. Take the ramp to I-40 East. Stay in the right hand lane to take the first exit to Wade Avenue (Exit 289). Follow Wade Avenue to Capital Boulevard (toward downtown). Take Capitol Boulevard SOUTH toward downtown Raleigh. Capitol Boulevard SOUTH becomes Dawson Street. Turn LEFT onto Hillsborough Street. The Capitol will be directly ahead of you in one block.

Burlington Manufacturer's Outlet Center
336-227-2872
Burlington, NC
Click for Website

Outlet stores include — Burlington Brands, Casual Male, Dress Barn, Izod, KB TOys, Le Creuset, Mikasa, Pfaltzgraff, S&K Menswear, Burlington Coat Factory, Dress Barn, Hanes, Jockey, Liz Claiborne, Samsonite, Bam Heusen, Totes/Isotoner.

Directions from Convention Hotel
Turn right onto Harrison Oaks Boulevard (there is no left turn from Harrison Oaks Boulevard to Harrison Avenue north). Turn left at the traffic light onto Weston Parkway. Turn left at the next traffic light onto Harrison Avenue north. Proceed to the entrance to Interstate 40. Take the ramp to I-40 West. I-40 will join with Interstate 85 in Hillsborough. Continue on I-40/I-85 to Exit 145. Exit to the right, then turn left at the first light. The mall is on the right.

Carolina Premium Outlets
1025 Industrial Park Drive
Smithfield, NC
919-989-8757
Click for Web site

Main stores — Carolina Pottery, Polo, Ralph Lauren, Nike Factory Store, Gap, Brooks Brothers, Izod and Liz Claiborne. Other stores include Banana Republic, Bombay Outlet, Casual Corner, Dress Barn, Eddie Bauer, Mikasa, Pfaltzgraf, Reebok, Tommy Hilfiger, Van Heusen.
A discount booklet for these outlets will be included in the Convention package.

Directions from Convention Hotel
Turn right onto Harrison Oaks Boulevard (there is no left turn from Harrison Oaks Boulevard to Harrison Avenue north). Turn left at the traffic light onto Weston Parkway. Turn left at the next traffic light onto Harrison Avenue north. Proceed to the entrance to Interstate 40. Take the ramp to I-40 East. Proceed east on I-40 to Interstate 95 (Exit 328B). Follow I-95 north to Exit 95 in Smithfield. At the end of the exit ramp turn left and cross the bridge over I-95. Turn right at the first traffic light. The mall is about 1/4 mile on your left.

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