How to Save Money in Raleigh

Raleigh has earned the nickname “The Smithsonian of the South,” and with good reason. Visitors can explore many of the city’s celebrated cultural and historic hotspots on the cheap (or for free!). Score a hotel deal in Raleigh, then add one of these budget-friendly gems to your must-see list.

• The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is the Southeast’s largest natural history museum. Here, you can enjoy hands-on activities and exhibits that feature everything from live sloths to the world’s most complete Acrocanthosaurus dinosaur. General admission to this Smithsonian affiliate is free.
• The North Carolina Museum of Art features more than a dozen galleries of art from around the world, and admission is free. Or, discover art alfresco in the 164-acre Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park, located just outside the museum. The park’s paved hiking and biking trails are lined with commissioned art pieces, and the museum hosts free concerts here during the summer.