Raleigh and the surrounding Triangle is a BEAUTIFUL place. People move to Raleigh for its abundance of greenways, parks, trees, and mild winters.
The City of Raleigh itself is also pretty good at promoting Raleigh’s natural beauty, with projects like Dorthea Dix Park in development and an abundance of murals around town.
Raleigh is a great place to snap a selfie with friends while out on Sunday brunch, or when you’re out with your kids on a Saturday outing.
Where are the best spots? Well, there are TONS of great spots. But, I have a few favorites. And here they are, ranked!
The five best photo ops in downtown Raleigh are:
5. Marbles Kids’ Museum
Photo link: https://www.wral.com/take-the-
This is a great spot for a lot of reasons, but the wall art installation called Color Pop Corner at Marbles is a crowd pleaser for sure! It’s great for any kind of photo op - selfie, family session, or for any aspiring photographers to photograph their subjects. If you’ve never taken your kids inside Marbles, you simply must.
4. City Market
(JR Photography)
City market is a cobblestoned square just east of Fayetteville street that is home to a few great place to eat - City Sushi and Woody’s, to name a few - as well as two wedding and event venues and lots of other local color. During First Friday, you can see pop up markets here. The string-lit walking paths are a beautiful photo op for a romantic photo or two.
3. Sprinkles the Bobcat
Photo Courtesy of Downtown Raleigh.Org : https://downtownraleigh.org/
This colorful and eccentric mural attracts many local photographers and models. Located around the corner from C. Grace, a popular spot for drinks. This is a universal favorite, great for kids and adults alike to get some amusement out of.
2. Dorthea Dix Sunflower Field
Photo by JR Photography
This one is seasonal - and it wasn’t available in 2020, unfortunately - but it is a must-see. Every summer, the City of Raleigh plants fields of sunflowers in Dorthea Dix Park. They even hold an outdoor festival to celebrate their blooming in mid July. Lots of local photographers book mini sessions to celebrate the occasion, but professional or not - you can’t call yourself a Raleigh resident without at least one photo with these massive flowers.
The best time to go is usually the first or second week of July, but it depends on the rain and the heat each summer. Follow the City of Raleigh and Dorthea Dix Park on Facebook to get exact updates every year!
1.Wye Hill / Boylan Bridge
Photo by JR Photography
Wye Hill is a new brewpub to downtown Raleigh in an old favorite spot - the former location of Boylan Bridge Brewpub. Wye Hill’s craft beer and cocktail selection is good, but its view is my favorite spot in Raleigh. There is nothing better than sipping a refreshing beer in the summer while you watch the sun set on the city.
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