A holiday itinerary for the whole family 🌟

Holiday itinerary for Raleigh, NC

The North Carolina State Capitol decorated for the holidays. | Photo by @ariannastewart

The holidays are here and if you’re hosting out-of-town guests, it’s time to step into the role of “official Raleigh tour guide.” We’ve got plenty of recommendations for you to build the perfect itinerary for your visitors and show your folks around like a total pro.

Sightseeing

Is it even a trip to the Smithsonian of the South without seeing the People’s Collection at the NCMA? Let the kids — or grandkids — run around and explore the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, and don’t miss The Power of Women in Country Music exhibit at the NC Museum of History. And if there are any history buffs in the group, head to the Executive Mansion or State Capitol.

Eat and drink

Get ready to get your grub on because we’ve got plenty of articles to help you navigate the local food scene. You can’t miss these Raleigh brunch restaurants that are a favorite among locals and visitors alike. Our personal picks include brunch at Relish and dinner at Mandolin. Don’t forget to satisfy your holiday sweet tooth at The Cupcake Shoppe.

Fans and a player celebrating at a Carolina Hurricanes hockey game. — Caniacs are known as the “loudest fans in hockey.”

Activities

Temps this time of year can get pretty low, so spend a day exploring one of these Raleigh indoor activities to stay warm. Catch a performance of The Nutcracker at Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts and be sure to snap the perfect family photo in front of the decorated holiday tree out front. And if you’ve got any sports fans in the group, here is the Carolina Hurricanes’ winter home game schedule.

The fun doesn’t stop there… Be sure to send your visitors the link to our events page in advance to get a feel for what they’ll want to see and do while in town.

If your visitors aren’t planning to crash with you, click the link below for a few places to stay.

3 LOCAL SPOTS TO STAY

Click here to have your event featured.

Friday, Dec. 23

Philadelphia Flyers vs. Carolina Hurricanes | Friday, Dec. 23 | 7 p.m. | PNC Arena, 1400 Edwards Mill Rd., Raleigh | $33-$350 | Join the loudest fans in hockey and cheer on the Canes at home.
Visit Santa | Friday, Dec. 23-Saturday, Dec. 24 | Times vary | Crabtree Valley Mall, 4325 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh | $34.95-$45.95 | Share your wish list and snap a photo with Santa.

Saturday, Dec. 24

Miracle at The Haymaker | Saturday, Dec. 24 | 5 p.m.-1 a.m. | The Haymaker, 555 Fayetteville St., Raleigh | Free | Sip on holiday drinks like the Yippee Ki Yay served in Santa’s boot at this holiday pop-up bar.
WRAL Nights of Lights | Saturday, Dec. 24 | Dorothea Dix Park, 1030 Richardson Dr., Raleigh | $30-$60 | It’s the last night to experience this drive-thru light show featuring local art installations, illuminated trees, and holiday light displays.

Saturday, Dec. 31

Wye Hill First Night NYE Party | Saturday, Dec. 31 | 5:30 p.m.-1 a.m. | Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing, 201 S. Boylan Ave. | $55-$125 | Savor sliders, flatbreads, charcuterie, and desserts, enjoy a special beer release, and watch Raleigh’s fireworks show from the patio. Top off the evening with a complimentary champagne toast.
NYE with Eddie 9V | Saturday, Dec. 31 | 7 p.m. | Transfer Co. Food Hall, 500 E. Davie St. | $45-$55 | Kick off the new year with a live show featuring this award-winning soul artist. Tickets include food and a champagne toast.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Weather

48º | Sunny and windy | 24% chance of rain 🌤️

Opening

It’s official. Tapas restaurant Las Ramblas, hospitality pro-Giorgios Bakatsias’ latest venture, is opening on Tuesday, Jan. 17 in North Hills. Check out three more Raleigh eateries opening next month.

Biz

Bourbon bar and restaurant The Oak (located at 4035 Lake Boone Trail) is under new ownership. Marco Fregenal of Fathom Realty and Nick Giuggio of Apex Wings partnered to purchase the restaurant from Justin and Ryan Riek of JMR Kitchens. Make a reservation. (Triangle Business Journal)
The City of Raleigh will begin accepting applications for its next cycle of Building Up-fit Grants on Friday, Jan. 6. This funding helps local small business owners activate their vacant or underutilized commercial building space to create new business use and jobs by matching up to 50% of qualified construction costs. Learn more and apply by Sunday, January 29. 🔨

Drink

Neighborhood bakery Anisette Sweet Shop is open today from 6-10 p.m. for a wine night. Enjoy a glass inside the renovated dining area or outside. Bonus: The shop is rolling out baked goods soon. 🍷

Cause

Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree. Once the holidays are over, drop off your undecorated tree at a designated convenience center between Monday, Dec. 26, and Sunday, Jan. 22. The pines will be recycled to mulch trails at Wake County Parks. Last year, the program recycled 5,732 trees to create more than 102 tons of mulch for our trails. 👟

History

Did you know there are 214 National Historic Places in Wake County? Buildings, objects, sites, and city blocks all across Raleigh are worthy of preservation. Contact your State Historic Preservation Office if you’ve got a tip on an unsurveyed historic place.

DYK

In a recent list, North Carolina was ranked No. 2 for number of trees harvested and distributed from local Christmas tree farms — which means your friends and family on the other side of the country could very well have a North Carolinian tree in their home this year. 🎄 (Stacker)

Drink

Scrambling to find a last minute gift? Enter: Flaviar — a subscription for those who love premium spirits. Send loved ones a gift subscription and they’ll have the opportunity to taste new, rare, and limited edition spirits of their choice each month. 🥃*

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We’ll be back, soon 💚

Happy holidays, Raleigh. | Photo by RALtoday

As we sit down to our laptops for the last time in 2022, it’s nice to reflect back on the year behind us and be thankful for all the great stories we were able to write.

From 321 Coffee’s expansion to reminiscing about the NC State Fair, we had fun sharing this wonderful city with you. Thank you for being a reader of RALtoday.

We will be taking a break next week, catching our breath and spending time with friends and family. Your next regularly scheduled newsletter will hit your inbox Jan. 3, 2023. We hope you’re able to step away as well. And if you find yourself with some downtime, here are a few ways to get out there and explore Raleigh:

Take a scooter art tour around the City of Oaks
Discover your new favorite brunch spot
Learn about Raleigh from A to Z

Have a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year.

— Anne and Cat

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Anne.

Editor’s pick: Although we won’t be in your inbox next week, I wouldn’t dream of leaving you hanging for New Year’s Eve. Make plans with our curated list of 23 NYE events to ring in 2023. See ya next year, Raleigh. 🎉

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Learn about the chances of a white Christmas in Raleigh.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Cat George, Anne Tate, Sarah Leonhardt, Erin McPherson, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Charis Painter | Advertise with us.

Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.

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