This larger-than-life attraction dives deep into the biology, behavior, and downright jaw-dropping science behind the largest animals to ever live on Earth. Yes, even bigger than the biggest dinosaurs.
These gentle giants can reach up to 110 ft long, weigh up to 400,000 pounds, and have hearts the size of a small car (be still, my beating Honda).
Their voices? Powerful enough to travel 1,000 miles underwater, which is nearly the distance from Raleigh to Austin, TX, and let’s not forget the appetite — a staggering 16 tons of krill per day.
Whale-sized activity lineup
Get ready to touch, play, and learn with displays and interactive stations that include:
The world’s only scale model of a blue whale heart on exhibit
A blue whale skeleton
“License to Krill,” a fast-paced game of survival at sea
Photo ops inside a life-sized blue whale jaw
Tracing whales’ incredible evolution from four-legged land dwellers to ocean giants (did you know whales started on land? We didn’t)
Surround-sound whale calls — comparing the calls of belugas, humpbacks, and blue whales
Touching real baleen
Bonus: The Blue Whales Special Lecture Series launches tomorrow, July 10. This four-part program will be led by renowned whale researchers (including local scientists from Duke University) sharing mind-blowing discoveries and conservation efforts.
To whaley get into the ocean fun, the exhibit also features a limited-time special store with handmade gifts from local artisans, T-shirts, stuffed animals, models, and other cute, whale-themed merch.
Put on your marine biologist hat: How wide is a blue whale’s fluke?
A. 10 ft: The height of a basketball hoop B. 15 ft: The distance to the free throw line C. 20 ft: The height of football goalposts above the crossbar D. 24 ft: The width of a professional soccer goal
A watch party for “Love Island USA?” Our dream date, cute. And Raleigh knew that.
Whether you’re in it for the drama or to cheer on local Huda Mustafa as her journey comes to an end — here are five spots to watch the reality show’s final week of the season.
Pay-What-You-Can Farmstand | 4-7 p.m. | Raleigh City Farm | Price of purchase | Get produce like peppers, herbs, tomatoes, bouquets, and more at this local seasonal market.
Grace Hartigan and the Poetry of Painting | 6-7 p.m. | North Carolina Museum of Art | Free, RSVP | Hear curator Jared Ledesma discuss the museum’s current exhibit featuring work from the 1950s + 1960s, intertwined with unconventional writings.
Sculpt & Sip | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | OMTea NC | $55 | Sip on boba tea while sculpting two trinket dishes + choosing your glaze colors.
Thursday, July 10
Little Fentonians Book Bonanza | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Fenton Square, Cary | Free, RSVP | Bring your kiddo for “Pepito & The Trash Cans”, a bilingual musical storytelling experience + take home a picture book.
Tai Chi | 9:30-10:15 a.m. | Beth Meyer Synagogue | $75+ | Begin your journey in this eight-session class that focuses on Tai Chi’s sun style for arthritis + fall prevention.
Friday, July 11
Shakey Graves | 8 p.m. | The Ritz | $25 | This musician and actor from Austin, TX is hitting the stage to perform hits like “Tomorrow” + “Roll the Bones.”
Stamp your Hillsborough Street Food Walk Passport this summer
Presented by Hillsborough Street Community Service Corporation
Ready to eat, explore, and earn rewards just for having a good time? | Phone graphic provided by Hillsborough Street Community Service Corporation
Calling all foodies, explorers, and weekend warriors: The Hillsborough Street Food Walk Passport is your summer guide to discovering new bites, shops, and hidden gems while exploring one of Raleigh’s most iconic streets — also while earning points, badges, and prizes.
Now through Monday, Aug. 11, make plans to hit up participating Hillsborough restaurants (some are even offering discounts). “Save” or “share” them directly in the app to plan ahead.
Once you’re at the table, “check in” — then share food pics, leave menu pro tips, and spread the good vibes.
Each action earns you points and unlocks badges like Check-In Champ, Vibe Spreader, and Local Scout. Gotta collect ‘em all.
Look out for family-friendly events, monthly bonus challenges, and prize announcements to keep things fresh.
Getting there is the easy part (walk, scoot, ride, or park) — we’ll let you battle the group chat on which restaurant is up first.
As our neighboring communities continue to deal with the aftermath of floods from Tropical Storm Chantal, there are several ways to lend a hand. From crowdfunding and heading to donation sites to sharing emergency resources available — check out this full guide. (WRAL)
Transit
City Council awarded a $28.7 million construction contract to Rifenburg North Carolina, LLC for the New Bern Corridor as part of the Bus Rapid Transit project. Years in the making, a pre-construction meeting is set for August — and once complete, the line will connect downtown to WakeMed and New Hope Road.
Community
As the temps continue to rise this week, Wake County has temporarily reopened local cooling stations. Get some relief today by heading to any of the public library branches or one of these centers that will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.
Festival
Catch us hopping on one foot in anticipation as we wait for the Hopscotch Music Festival to drop its lineup tomorrow at 12 p.m. Can’t wait that long? Download the app on your iPhone or Android to get the news at 11 a.m. — we’ll be back Friday morning with a full guide.
Health
Wake County and Live Well Wake have released the 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment — a report that signifies priorities for the next three years. Notably, the summary focuses on addressing affordable housing + homelessness, expanding access to healthcare, and mental health services.
Open
If you’ve ever contemplated Asian vs. Mexican cuisine for takeout, this newly opened spot can cure both cravings. Wong’s Tacos is now serving up fusion dishes daily on Parklake Avenue near Crabtree Valley Mall. Think: Moo shu mushroom tacos, tuna poke nachos, and more on the menu.
Shop
Raleigh Brewing will host a Book Fair with Quail Ridge Books on Saturday, July 19. From 1 to 6 p.m., you can add to your TBR piles, shop stationary + handmade goods, and listen to a live set played by John’s Weathered Son.
Mailbag
When you subscribed, you may have received an email asking for your favorite nearby restaurant, and yes, we’ve been reading every response. For newcomer Jennifer C., who hasn’t “had a chance to try any local bites yet” — let us dish out these suggestions.
Dix Park is on its way to feeling sunny as we await for peak blooms to turn the five-acre field into a sunflower destination later this month. While these flowers aren’t for cutting, picking, or eating, there’s still plenty of fun to have while visiting. Stay tuned for sunflower events + learn more before you go— and keep an eye out for the Sunflower Power Poles on Lake Wheeler Road as you head into the park.
Bonus: You can already see blooms at John Chavis Memorial Park.
It’s day two of Amazon Prime Day. Shop standout deals that just went live:
⚡ The 40 oz. Stanley Quencher — aka the world’s most popular water bottle — is usually $45, but today you can get it for $27.
⚡ Sony’s $348 noise-cancelling headphones are marked down to $183.
⚡ Make football season bigger and better with 50% off Sony’s 65-inch 4K Ultra HD TV — saving you over $1,800.
⚡ Philips’ espresso machine + milk frother will look cute in your kitchen, make high-quality espresso drinks, and save you $150 with today’s deal.
⚡ Stock up on a good iPhone charger cord while it’s marked down to $9.99, the lowest price of the year.
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.
Yesterday, I shared the news of Godfather’s Pizza returning to Oak City, and one reader was raving about the cheese pizza. The cheese pull from the restaurant’s homepage gives me high hopes.
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