The Big List

Fifty-six hundred acres of real forest wedged between the city and the airport — hike the Company Mill loop past the old grist-mill stones, then cool off with a rowboat on Big Lake in summer.

A 2.8-mile loop where long wooden boardwalks run right over the lake — turtles, herons, and the best golden-hour reflections in North Raleigh. Park at the Ray Road community center.

A free self-guided chocolate factory wander that smells like heaven, ending in a café. Pairs perfectly with poking around the Warehouse District.

The two-mile paved loop is North Raleigh's town square — herons at dawn, strollers by nine, and a long view down the water from the dam. Playgrounds at both ends for the kids.

Free admission to a legitimately world-class collection — a whole gallery of Rodin bronzes — plus 4.7 miles of park trails threading past giant outdoor sculpture. The rare art museum where half the crowd shows up in running shoes.

West Raleigh's default after-work walk — a wooded three-mile loop with a boardwalk over the water, plus kayak and paddleboard rentals by the waterfront center in warm months.