It's spring and I'm ready to get out of the house, how about you? After being pregnant, having a newborn, winter chill, and avoiding flu season, I was very excited to finally be able to take the fam out and about. One of our first adventures this season was to our state capital: Raleigh, NC. 

Since I wasn't sure how car travel, naps, and eating with a little one would mesh, the appeal of our state museums was great because they are free! If we had to duck out quickly or come and go, no harm done. 

Mr. G is a notoriously bad light sleeper. In fact, at the time we took this trip he had only fallen asleep in his carseat TWICE in his whole life, so I was justifiably nervous. We decided to head out at his morning naptime (around 8:30 a.m.) and sure enough he did fall asleep! We made it to our first stop in Mebane, NC at the Tanger Outlets. After all the business was taken care of, we hit the road again for a quick drive to Raleigh. I'd packed a picnic lunch and we found a nice park to enjoy. Little man even got to watch his first soccer game. 

The weather was absolutely gorgeous and as we drove in to downtown, everyone was out and about at the green spaces. We found some free parking close by and I loaded Mr. G into the ErgoBaby carrier. 

Since it was Saturday, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences was hopping, but it wasn't unbearably crowded. 

There are so many things to see and do here, I knew we couldn't take it all in, but we started with the first floor, but then went up to the fourth floor to work our way down. 

There was so much to take in with just the permanent exhibits and Mr. G seemed to enjoy the sights and sounds. 

My favorite part was the living conservatory on the fourth floor where you got to walk in a habitat with butterflies! 

After the museum, we strolled around a few blocks and then took a rest break on the grounds right in front of the capitol building. 

Do you know which American presidents are from North Carolina?

We hopped in the car and headed home to the tune of an hour and a half nap by one tired little guy. Success!

I highly recommend checking out the Natural Science museum in Raleigh, or your own state museums for a fun, free afternoon!