One of my family’s favorite cultural institutions in the Raleigh area, the North Carolina Museum of Art. We love strolling the trails surrounded by nature and large scale sculpture installations.
Inside, the extensive permanent collection is also free and open to the public every day except for Mondays. Special exhibitions, summer movies, concerts, and more are discounted for members. Membership also brings you perks like advanced and/or extended viewing times. Definitely worth a visit.