Most people don't know the state's number one indoor attraction is a museum in North Carolina. And what a museum it is! The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is, quite frankly, enormous! It spans four floors and numerous buildings on a main campus so large it resembles a university as much as it does a museum.

And one of the very best things about this attraction? Admission is free!

Established in 1879, the museum is the oldest in the state, and possibly even the entire Southeast. In addition to the massive campus you see here, the museum has six facilities and five different campuses. (The newest of which opened in Greenville, North Carolina in 2021.)

The two main attractions found at the downtown Raleigh location are the Nature Exploration Center and the Nature Research Center.

There are creatures representing prehistoric North Carolina.

Gawk if you will at the sheer size of the dinosaurs that once roamed the area.

In addition, the museum sports a 3-D theater, a Coastal exhibit, an underground North Carolina exhibit featuring gemstones and more found under the surface of our state, and even a climate section.

Over in another theater, demonstrations and live talks sometimes feature live animals.

Plus there's also an Arthropod Zoo featuring live and static exhibits.

And all of this mentioned so far... is found in JUST the Nature Exploration Center! The Nature Research Center is equally packed with must-see exhibits and hands-on experiences.

But let's not forget taking time to refuel. A day at the museum can easily fill four or five hours and you'll want to plan some time to get a bite to eat. Head to the fourth floor of the Nature Exploration Center to visit the Acro Cafe, the museum's restaurant.

The restaurant sits in an enclosed atrium overlooking the Living Conservatory, a tropical forest with butterflies and a surprise creature or two.

Visitors love taking a break from all the walking to sit and passively enjoy the view of the Tropical Forest while having a meal.

(Note: if you've visited the museum recently and the restaurant was closed for renovations, it has opened back up as of April 2022.)

Have you visited the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences? Be sure to check the website for hours of operation and for special exhibits and events throughout the year. Note: this museum in North Carolina has free admission but there may be a small fee for special exhibits or events if you want to experience those as well.

This isn't the only museum in North Carolina that features dinosaurs. Check out the smaller but very cool Appalachian Fossil Museum in Blowing Rock, too!