While on Centennial Campus, head to a grassy open area surrounded by four engineering buildings and the Hunt Library to relax and unwind. Enjoy the outdoor plaza and check out the nearby art installation.

Express your creativity at the Free Expression Tunnel — a heavily trafficked underpass that connects the university’s north and central campuses. Designated a graffiti-friendly zone in the late 1960s, students can tag the tunnel’s walls as they see fit.

Mary Yarbrough Court is a quiet, shady escape named after the first woman to complete a graduate program at NC State. You can find the court, and its gardens, behind Holladay Hall on North Campus, within view of the Memorial Belltower.

The Court of North Carolina is one of the largest green spaces at NC State. It’s a place for leisurely picnics, outdoor lessons and the occasional snowball fight on a wintry day. Unwind on Main Campus near the steps of the 1911 building.

The arboretum is open daily and is only two miles west of main campus. Explore one of the largest and most diverse collections of landscape plants in the southeast United States boasting 14 botanic gardens — including a rooftop terrace.

Sitting on 245 acres of land, Schenck Forest is a unique site that benefits NC State students, faculty and staff as well as the broader Raleigh community. The forest provides outdoor laboratories for students and faculty, publicly accessible trails, an arboretum and 50 acres of dedicated hardwood preservation. It’s located about 10 minutes from NC State’s campus.

Lake Raleigh’s recreation area sits in the heart of NC State’s Centennial Campus and offers plenty of opportunities for outdoor exploration, including hiking, biking, picnics, disc golf, fishing, non-motorized boating and watersports.

Visit the Gregg Museum and experience its wide range of programs, lectures, artist residencies, film screenings and other immersive art experiences. During your visit, explore the museum gardens designed and planted by NC State Horticultural Science students.