There are plenty of spots to sit and soak in the NC Freedom Park’s many testimonies. | Photo by RALtoday
Whether you’re looking for a place to play with the kiddos or to decompress with some off-screen time, Raleigh features more than 200 parks and recreational spots to enjoy.
Ready to plan your trip to the park? Grab your shades and trusty water bottle — here are some of Oak City’s best:
Family parks
Fred Fletcher Park
This urban, tranquil park has multiple picnic shelters, basketball and tennis courts, a softball and multipurpose open field, and a sand surface playground.
NC Freedom Park
Honoring Black North Carolinians, this park is topped off with the Beacon of Freedom and was designed by the late architect Phil Freelon, who also led the design team for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC.
Dog parks
West Street Dog
There is something for both humans and pooches at this indoor off-leash dog park. Grab a drink from the bar and watch your pup mingle.
Millbrook Dog Park
Raleigh’s oldest dog park, which opened in 2003, features agility equipment, drinking fountains, picnic tables, shade structures, and the area is lit at night.
Living in the Pasta | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Wyntons World Cooking School, Cary | $85 | Learn how to make pasta by hand alongside three classic sauces.
95+ Point Wines Tasting | 6-7:30 p.m. | Westgate Wine Bar | $45+ | These wines have been scored among the best of the best by major critics — get a taste for yourself.
“Hamlet” | Through Sunday, June 29 | Theatre in the Park | $21+ | Local thespians will present this Shakespearian tragedy of love and revenge.
Friday, June 27
Early Birds at Prairie Ridge | 5:45-9 a.m. | Prairie Ridge | Free | Drop in to see the unique birds Prairie Ridge has to offer.
Raleigh Ghost Walk | 10-11 p.m. | NC State Capitol | $15 | Explore the facts + fiction behind some of Raleigh’s creepiest folklore.
Special Event: Hannibal Buress | Friday, June 27-Sunday, June 29 | Times vary | Goodnights Comedy Club | $45+ | You know him from collaborations with Eric Andre and his roles in various movies — grab a laugh with him in Raleigh.
This wine region is the Carolinas’ best-kept secret
Presented by Visit Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is an easy home base for winery hopping at award-winning vineyards. | Photo provided by Visit Winston-Salem
Picture this: a crisp glass of locally grown white wine, rolling mountain views, and a breezy summer evening. It’s closer than you think.
Winston-Salem is the gateway to NC’s Yadkin Valley Wine Region, where you can experience world class winemaking + picturesque vineyards without a long flight to the West Coast. The topography and mild climate of the Blue Ridge region produces award-winning wine just a quick trip away.
According to Climate Central, Raleigh is experiencing more extreme heat due to climate change with summers clocking in at 4.4 degrees hotter than in the 1970s. While the Triangle stays hot, don’t forget to drink water and take frequent breaks while outside. (WRAL)
Closing
The Harris Teeter off Western Boulevard in west Raleigh will close by July 20 due to low performance. This location opened in 1986, and its approx. 100 employees will have the option to transfer to another store. According to the grocery store’s website, they have 11 Raleigh locations. (Triangle Business Journal)
Sports
Ahead of the Canes’ 2025-2026 season, the team will host three exhibition games in September. The Canes will play three home-and-home games against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Nashville Predators, and the Stanley Cup champ Florida Panthers, and tickets will be on sale soon.
Arts
Raleigh Times just got a new look thanks to a streetery mural honoring local storytellers. Created by artist Sean Kernick, this vibrant public art is full of local icons and references to the former Raleigh Times newspaper. Visit it for yourself over an outdoor meal on Hargett Street.
Read
INDY Week sat down with GoTriangle’s new CEO Brian Smith for a conversation about RUS Bus, commuter rail options, and ridership. Read the full conversation, and get excited for RUS Bus’s ribbon cutting on July 25.
Coming Soon
A Durham nonprofit is creating a sign to welcome travelers to Durham when they land at RDU to join an existing Welcome to Raleigh sign. Plus, you can take a survey to share what you think should be included on the sign, from Duke University iconography to a Lucky Strike smokestack. (The News & Observer)
Eat
Think of it as a campfire classic — reimagined for your microwave. This s’mores mug cake blends honey graham cracker crumbs, melted chocolate chips, and gooey marshmallow creme in a single-serve dessert ready in just 10 minutes. Sweet tooth, satisfied.*
Shop
This doctor-recommended vibrator has been shown in published studies to help heighten arousal and support comfort when dryness occurs, thanks to its ultra-flexible shape designed to stimulate all the right spots. Even better? Save 30% today.*
Finance
It turns out all that glitters is gold — at least, in a gold IRA, which lets you hold real gold minus the storage hassle. (Gold is projected to hit $4,000 an ounce by 2026.) Grab your glitter.†*
The basics you need while they’re on sale. Amazon Basics just marked down tons of products in a sale exclusive for Prime members — time to restock the bathroom/office/supply closet shelves:
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
I keep ending up in Durham for my summer fun, but can you blame me on Tendies and Tallboys night? On Tuesdays, the Durham Bulls offer chicken tenders for $2 each — or $15 when you split 10 with friends, like I did — and select tall boy beer cans are $5.
Speaking of — I’m in total agreement with Walt Barron’s op-ed in INDY Week about bringing the MLB to Raleigh with both a team and the league’s research and development department.
I’ve got enough chicken tenders to share with the whole crew.
}})
