Late August is the perfect time to journey from the coast for a day in the Capital City of Raleigh.  Dubbed the "Smithsonian of the South" due to the high quality of museums, this trip features visits to two of them along with a stop at one of the nation's best and most modern Farmer's Markets.  

First stop is at the North Carolina Museum of History for a guided tour of the Story of NC Exhibit that chronicles the state's rich and diverse history.  A special treat is the curator led tour of the temporary exhibit "Quiltspeak".  This exhibit displays quilts from the past 200 years, providing insight into the stories and expression of women's lives.   If you are not interested in Quilts, there are plenty of other exhibits to enjoy such as the NC Sports Hall of Fame,  a special exhibit on the Reconstruction Era or One Giant Leap about NC's role in the Space Race.   

Following this Museum visit there will be time for lunch on your own at any of the restaurants or cafes in the Museums or you can walk across the street to take in the architecture and "political" vibe in the NC Legislative Building cafeteria.  When was the last time you dined in one of these?  

After lunch, enjoy a self-guided tour of the Museum of Natural Science, considered the Southeast's largest Natural History Museum with four floors celebrating nature and science.  

Before we travel back east, we make one final stop at the State Farmer's Market.  This indoor/outdoor space offers vegetables, fruits, meats, dairy, handmade and homemade items, specialty shops and a garden center.  You will see plenty that you don't see at our coastal markets.  Coolers and boxes will be provided on the bus for the goodies!