60+ Fun Things To Do In Raleigh With Kids

The City of Oaks is brimming with family-friendly fun. Whether you’re looking to take your youngsters out on an outdoor adventure or encourage them to be curious at a kid’s museum, or blow off steam at an amusement park, there are so many fun things to do in Raleigh with kids that you would never run out of options.

Since we moved to Raleigh in 2004, we’ve watched our girls grow up from small children to teenagers, so we’re well placed to share the top attractions in Raleigh for kids of all ages. In this guide, we share all the fun things the state’s capital offers families so you can fill your days with laughter, learning, and a little bit of magic.

1. Gipson Play Plaza

Gipson Play Plaza inside Dorothea Dix Park near downtown Raleigh is FANTASTIC! This is Raleigh’s newest destination for families and is a huge area with 18.5 acres of amazing playgrounds, gathering spaces, beautiful gardens, spectacular art, and sweeping skyline views. It is the largest adventure playground in the southeast.

There are multi-story climbing towers connected by swaying and stationary bridges with slides, and a there’s a waterfall and splash pad. Kids will love The Sand Bowl, a collection of wooden playhouses perched above a wet sand play area perfect for little adventures. The Swing Terrace features a 91-foot-long wooden mega-swing with a variety of swing types for all ages and abilities. And the Sensory Maze is paved with ADA accessible gravel, offers benches for resting, and is intended for people of all abilities and ages to wander, play tag or hide-and-seek, and explore again and again.

Picnic Grove has 22 custom picnic tables and benches clustered close to all the action of the adventure playground. Charcoal grills and seating are available first come, first served. And Fountain Plaza is a community gathering space with benches and café tables. From atop the grand stair visitors are treated to sweeping views of Gipson Play Plaza and the Raleigh skyline beyond. 

• Address: 715 Biggs Dr. Raleigh
• Multiple parking lots in Dix Park serve Gipson Play Plaza.
• On weekends, hop on the free park-and-ride shuttle.
• Website: dixpark.org/gipsonplayplaza

2. Ride the carousel (and miniature train) at Pullen Park

Whilst Raleigh doesn’t have big theme parks in the sense that Orlando does, it does have some cool amusement parks and small theme parks. The Historic Pullen Park is one of our favorites, which is the 5th oldest amusement park in the USA (and 16th oldest in the world). It dates back to 1887 and is most famous for the historic carousel, which was built in 1900 and is the oldest ride in the park. It’s one of the most popular things to do in Raleigh for families with younger kids who are new to the city and is where all the locals will recommend you take your toddlers.

Pullen Park is perfect for younger kids because the rides cater to smaller children. As well as ride the historic carousel and iconic miniature train, you can also take paddle boats out on the lake and let your kids run wild at the playgrounds and have a picnic. The playground is a favorite place for Raleigh kids to play. Two slides, swing sets, 6 climbing apparatus, a sand pit, and room to run around. Read our full review on Pullen Park here. 

• Address: 520 Ashe Ave, Raleigh
• Website: raleighnc.gov

3. Step back in time at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences

If you’re looking for more educational things to do, then don’t miss the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. It’s not only a fascinating museum with interactive exhibits that will leave your child in awe, but it’s the largest natural history museum in the Southeast and North Carolina’s oldest and most visited museum. And it’s FREE!

There are over 4 floors of exhibits, with each room focusing on an area of our natural world; from learning about the human body and our DNA to dinosaur exhibits, and even some exhibits with live animals, there is so much to learn and explore. They also offer educational programs and have research centers. Admission to the museum is free, but donations are welcome.

• Address: 11 W Jones Street, Raleigh
• Website: naturalsciences.org

4. Play at Marbles Kids Museum

If you’re in need of things to do with toddlers, then Marbles Kids Museum will be a hit with the little ones! Catering to kids up to the age of 12, this two leveled kid-focused museum has many kids activities and exhibits that inspire creativity and wonder. They have dozens of hands-on exhibits and the state’s only 3D-capable IMAX theater.  Here is our completeguide to Marbles Kids Museum in Raleigh.

• Address: 201 E Hargett St, Raleigh
• Website: marbleskidsmuseum.org

5. Hike Sal’s Branch Trail (Umstead State Park)

One of the best things about living in Raleigh is the 180-miles of Greenway trails to explore, and many of the trails in Raleigh are kid-friendly. If your family loves nature trails through the forest, biking, picnicking, camping, canoeing, and horseback riding, don’t miss Umstead State Park when you visit Raleigh with kids. This natural oasis surrounds three man-made lakes and is just 15 minutes from downtown Raleigh with access from I-40 and I-70. We love the 2.8 mile Sal’s Branch Trail is probably the most popular of the Umstead trails and perfect for kids! Read our full guide to Umstead State Park.

6. GIANT Trolls at Dix Park

Don’t forget the above-mentioned Gipson Play Plaza at Dix Park. But there are also 5 GIANT trolls hidden in the forest you can discover. They add a playful, storybook feel to the park’s trails and wooded areas. Dambo is an internationally known artist who creates larger-than-life trolls from reclaimed wood, turning discarded materials into imaginative public art. At Dix Park, these trolls make the experience part art exhibit, part outdoor scavenger hunt. Visit for free from dawn to dusk, year-round. Read our guide to Dix Park.

7. Eat Doughnuts

Did you know that the second original Krispy Kreme in the world is in Raleigh at 549 N Person St? That’s right, one of the largest doughnut chains in the originally started two hours up the road from Raleigh in Winston-Salem. We have a lot of great donut spots in Raleigh, but our kids still vote Krispy Kreme as their favorite. See our full list of donut spots here.

8. Play mini-golf at Frankie’s of Raleigh Fun Park

Although Raleigh doesn’t have big theme parks like Busch Gardens, Six Flags, or a big sprawling theme park of Carowinds in Charlotte (2.5 hrs away), it does have Frankie’s Fun Park. Here you’ll be entertained for hours with go-kart tracks, laser tag arena, batting cages, bumper boats, flight simulators, and an arcade! It’s what I would call a nostalgic, classic American amusement park.

One of the things we love to do there is play mini-golf on a warm summers day. They have three courses, which makes up 54 holes in total, and it’s only $10 per person and under 3s play for free. That’s hours of fun for only a small cost. What’s more is that there is no admission price for Frankie’s, you pay per activity, so you can turn up and see what’s available.

• Address: 11190 Fun Park Dr, Raleigh
• Website: www.frankies.com

9. Test your swing at Drive Shack

Ok Raleigh, we think this is one of the most fun activities in Raleigh with kids, even if none of you play golf. For us it’s more about having a hit and a laugh. Drive Shack is a three-story interactive golf driving range that combines physical targets to aim for with augmented reality and virtual games. Read our full review of Drive Shack Raleigh. 

• Address: 6901 Play Golf Wy, Raleigh
• Website: DriveShack.com

10. Eat Ice Cream

What kid (and parent) doesn’t love ice cream especially if it’s a hot summers day. We have a lot of great local-owned ice cream spots in Raleigh we love to visit as a family. Two Roosters Ice Cream is a cool local story. Founded by an NC State University alum, it initially started by roaming the streets of Raleigh in a turquoise 1965 Ford truck. And did you know that Howling Cow make ice cream on NC State’s campus on their 329-acre dairy farm as part of a nationally recognized food science program.

Another inspiring story that started all the way over on the Mediterranean Island of Cyprus and ends up in Raleigh is Andia’s Homemade Ice Cream – you can’t miss their MONSTER shakes and crazy cake shakes. FRESH Local Ice Cream shop is another popular local brand with shops in Raleigh, Cary and Apex. See our full list of 13 ice cream shops in Raleigh.

11. Bowling at Kings Dining & Entertainment, North Hills

Kings is an upscale bowling lounge and our favorite place to go bowling in Raleigh. If you do have to wait for a lane, there’s also a gaming area with pool (billiards), ping pong tables, foosball, and dart boards. There’s a decent selection of food with burgers, wings, fries, sandwiches, pizza, and tacos. Check out these other things to do with kids in North Hills.

• Address: 141 Park at N Hills St, Raleigh
• Website: Kings-de.com

12. Go Indoor Rock Climbing

The Triangle Rock Club is a hit with our kids, they even went to a week-long summer. Triangle Rock Club indoor climbing center offers rope climbing, bouldering, kids programs, fitness classes, yoga, pilates and more. They have two locations, Raleigh and Morrisville. 

• Addresses: 6022 Duraleigh Rd, Raleigh
• 102 Pheasant Wood Ct, Morrisville
• Website: TriangleRockClub.com

13. Goodberry’s Frozen Custard

If ice cream is not your kid’s thing, consider a frozen custard from Goodberry’s Frozen Custard who have been operating in the Raleigh area since 1988 and are a big local favorite. Their custards are made fresh every hour, in store, and they don’t use artificial flavors, chemical fillers or stabilizers. Every day they have a “flavor of the day” which showcases their many different flavors, from banana pudding to strawberry to pistachio. You can check their website to see what the flavor of today is.

14. Escape the room at an Escape Room

If your kids are a little older, they might enjoy an Escape Room! Game On Escapes is one of the newest escape room venues in the Triangle. It features 5 escape room games: Trapped in a Jungle, the Sorcerer’s Mistake, Rest Easy Motel and Blind Eye. Room 5280 is a real life adventure game designed for groups of friends, families, co-workers and strangers. 4 escape rooms in the heart of downtown Raleigh.

15. Play at Downtown Cary’s fantastic 7-acre park!

The 7-acre Downtown Cary Park is more than just a green space—it’s a vibrant hub that blends nature, art, and community spirit into a one-of-a-kind gathering space. Designed to be a destination for all ages and interests, the park has quickly become a standout urban park, not only in Wake County but possibly the entire Triangle region.

The park features imaginative playgrounds designed to spark creativity and engagement in younger visitors. Kids love the giant cardinals (NC state bird) that they can climb over. There’s another nice shady section with places for parents to sit while kids play.

A park favorite of mine, especially lit up at night, is the 17-foot elevated skywalk through the canopy of trees.  And the more than 66,000 new plants and more than 650 new trees (native and adaptive species) were planted in the park. Read our full guide to the Downtown Cary Park. And here is our guide on where to eat, shop and explore in downtown Cary.

16. See the World Famous Durham Bulls Baseball

For baseball fans, the legendary Durham Bulls Minor League Baseball team of the Triple-A East and the Triple-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays play just 30-minutes up the road in Durham. It’s a top family night out. Don’t miss their fireworks!Check this REEL of all the funWe also like going on July 4th, for a fun family friendly celebration. The Carolina Mudcats is also more of a local team that play out at Five County Stadium in Zebulon. It’s smaller than the Durham Bulls, but just as family friendly and fun. See schedule here.

• Address: 409 Blackwell St, Durham
• Website: milb.com/durham

17. Bounce around at Galaxy Fun Park

At Galaxy Fun Park, the sky’s the limit for family fun. This indoor trampoline park is a one-stop-shop for adrenaline-fueled excitement and a sure way to keep kids (and adults) entertained for hours. From the high-flying trampoline park to the glow-in-the-dark laser tag arena, there’s tons of indoor entertainment. There’s also a cool arcade, a mini bowling alley, go-karts, bumper cars, and a multi-level soft play area for younger kids to explore. Whether you’re looking to bounce, race, or challenge each other to a game of air hockey, Galaxy Fun Park is where family bonding and friendly competition come together in the best possible way.

• Address: 14460 Falls of Neuse Rd, Raleigh
• Website: GalaxyFunPark.com

18. Play games at BoxCar Arcade

A popular bar by night, children allowed if accompanied by a parent before 8pm on weekdays and 7pm on weekends. Hundreds of arcade-style games, including 70+ classic arcade cabinets, 12+ pinball machines, and 175+ console games. It’s the perfect rainy day activity in Raleigh!

• Address: 330 W Davie St, Raleigh
• Website: TheBoxCarBar.com/raleigh

19. Visit the playground at John Chavis Memorial Park

John Chavis Memorial Park is a public park that spans 28 acres near Shaw University in the South Park neighborhood of downtown Raleigh. It features an historic carousel, a children’s playground, splash pad, community center and outdoor track. It also features rubber safety surfacing and areas for ages 2 to 5 years and 5 to 12 years, plus adult exercise equipment, a skywalk climbing feature, and nature play elements.

• Address: 505 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
• Website: Raleighnc.gov

20. Stroll through the park at North Carolina Museum of Art

One of the most popular Raleigh attractions is the North Carolina Museum of Art, and admission to the art museum’s permanent collection and Museum Park is free.Don’t miss taking a stroll through the Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park, the 164-acre park and trail system through natural areas that features more than a dozen commissioned works of art. Read our guide. Our girls loved attending the annual Art in Bloom Festival at the museum held every March.

• Address: 2110 Blue Ridge Rd., Raleigh
• Website: ncartmuseum.org

21. Explore at Lake Johnson

Lake Johnson is our favorite of the lakes in Raleigh, and we lived on Lake Johnson for four years. You can walk the awesome 3-mile loop trail, one of our favorite trails. The trail is fully paved, there’s plenty of shaded spots in the warmer months, and nice colors in the Fall. We also love getting out on the lake for stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking, and pedal boats, and there’s a small beach area and picnic shelters. Read our review:Why Lake Johnson is our favorite lake.

• Address: 4601 Avent Ferry Rd., Raleigh
• Website: raleighnc.gov/places/lake-johnson-park

22. Jump around at a Trampoline Park

There are many trampoline parks in Raleigh, so you’re never short on options! One that we like is DEFY Apex & Raleigh, a fun indoor trampoline park with various jumping and climbing equipment including a ninja obstacle course, trapeze, super tramps, foam pits, battle beams, dodgeball and angled tramps.

Launching Pad Trampoline Park also has a massive main jump court with walled trampolines, 2 regulation dodge ball courts, 3 basketball dunk lanes, a large foam pit, a Jousting Pit, and Rope Ladder Pit.

Urban Air Adventure Park is a large-scale indoor trampoline center hosting open jump, spin zone bumper cars, dodgeball, sky rider coaster, ropes course, climbing wall, and tubes indoor playground. 

Sky Zone Trampoline Park is a space to move, create and be yourself with freestyle jump, sly slam, ultimate dodgeball, foam zone, sky hops, sky joost, wall climbs and much more!

One of the newer rock climbing and indoor adventure parks we’ve discovered is OC Aerial, which is like a combination of a trampoline park and ninja course. It has a climbing wall, zip lines, rope courses and more. It’s a playground for adults as well as kids!

23. Attend a Carolina Hurricanes Ice Hockey Game

Raleigh is home to the Carolina Hurricanes ice hockey team who play in the Lenovo Center. Going to a live game is awesome and one of our favorite things to do in Raleigh for sports fans. Go Canes! Read our full guide to the Lenovo Center.

• Address: 1400 Edwards Mill Rd, Raleigh
• Website: NHL.com/hurricanes

24. Sassafras All Children’s Playground (Laurel Hills Park)

One of the most popular and best playgrounds in Raleigh is Sassafras, a colorful and engaging playground with different areas to play including a zip line, swings, slides, monkey bars, and things to climb on and explore. It’s very well maintained and a popular park to take young children. It’s the perfect place for them to run around and play and make new friends.

• Address: 3808 Edwards Mill Rd, Raleigh
• Website: Click here

25. Watch the National Women’s Soccer League team play

Women’s soccer is a BIG deal in North Carolina, and the North Carolina Courage is a professional women’s soccer team who are also based at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, and they compete in the NWSL. It’s another must-see sporting event to go to with your kids, especially if you have daughters, as watching women play professional sports is always inspiring! You can also watch the North Carolina FC team play here (the men’s professional team!)

• Address: Soccer Park Dr, Cary
• Website: NCCourage.com

26. Go ziplining at xTreme Park Adventures

Another venue full of stimulating attractions is xTreme Park Adventures, just on the outskirts of Raleigh. It offers a high-flying, heart-pounding adventure, from ziplining through the treetops to tackling obstacle courses, there’s an exhilarating challenge for everyone. There are also kid-friendly courses for young adrenaline junkies, while older kids can test their skills on the high ropes or go for a ride on the pedal karts. It also has one of the best simulated cities for paintball, laser tag and airsoft combat games. Plus rock climbing, an escape room and ATVs. 

• Address: 7460 Wake Forest Rd, Durham
• Website: xtremeparkadventures.com

27. Cycle the Lake Lynn Trail

This 2.6 mile paved loop trail is another of our favorite family trails in Raleigh. There’s a nice boardwalk over parts of the lake, and mostly flat with a few small inclines. Read our full review of the Lake Lynn Trail.

• Address: Lynn Rd, Raleigh
• Website: raleighnc.gov/places/lake-lynn-park

28. Walk the Shelley Lake Trail

An easy 2-mile paved scenic greenway trail loops around Shelley Lake and is popular with locals in North Raleigh.

29. Bike the Art to Heart Trail

We love biking the 6-mile Art to Heart Trail, a point-to-point trail that connects the North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA) to the heart of Downtown Raleigh (NOT a loop trail). Read our full review of the Art to Heart Trail.

30. Walk in the Historic Yates Mill State Park

Hiking trails, a 24-acre pond, and the Historic Yates Mill make up this 174-acre wildlife refuge and resource center. Admission is free, but to tour the mill to learn about the “farm-to-fork” process, witness the corn grinding costs $3-$5 (March through Nov.). 

The Yates Mill Pond Trail is a 0.8 mile moderately trafficked loop trail perfect for families and all fitness levels, and is accessible year-round. Add on to this trail by doing the 1-mile Creekside Trail. When finished head across the road to enjoy ice cream with the cows at NC State’s Howling Cow Ice Cream!

• Address: 4620 Lake Wheeler Rd, Raleigh
• Website: click here

31. Explore on Bond Park & Lake, Cary

Bond Lake in Cary is popular with the locals. The Boathouse has boat rentals for all ages and abilities, including pedal boats, kayaks, and canoes. If you don’t know how to kayak or sail, there is a wide range of classes available including sailing, kayak and canoe lessons.The 2-mile Bond Park Lake Trail is another favorite of ours, and we have walked it many times with our kids.

It hugs a picturesque lake, and the trail is a mix of paved and unpaved natural woodland setting. The lake is situated in Bond Metropolitan Park is the largest municipal park in Cary and covers 310 acres.It offers plenty of opportunities for many types of recreation including 4.2 miles of trails, a variety of athletic fields, disc golf, a challenge course, playgrounds, boating, kayaking, picnicking and much more. Read our review of the Bond Lake Trail. 

• Address: 801 High House Rd, Cary
• Website: Click here

32. Bike the Lake Pine Trail

Lovely 2-mile loop trail around beautiful Apex Lake. Fully-paved trail and mostly flat, plenty of shade, accessible year-round and easy for all ages. And, close to charming downtown Apex. 

• Address: 1808 Lake Pine Dr, Apex
• Website: Apexnc.org

33. Get into nature at Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve

For family-friendly nature trails, Hemlock Bluffs in Cary is a good nature preserve to explore. Do the 0.8 mile Beech Tree Cove Trail, and then connect with the Chestnut Oak Loop Trail (1.2 miles), and the Swift Creek Loop Trail (0.8 miles). Read our review of hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve.

• Address: 2616 Kildaire Farm Rd, Cary
• Website: click here

34. Laze on the beach at Jordan Lake State Recreation Area

Jordan Lake is an outdoor recreation lovers paradise. This undeveloped, 14,000-acre reservoir is the closest you will find to a beach in Raleigh, and while it doesn’t have waves, it does have a lovely, soft golden sandy beach that’s perfect for lazing on. It’s also a popular place to go boating, fishing, camping, kayaking, hiking, picnicking, and swimming. Perfect for a day out, or a long-weekend getaway.

• Address: 280 State Park Rd, Apex
• Website: ncparks.org

35. Jump on the splash pad at Moore Square Park

This four-acre urban green space in the heart of downtown is one of our favorite spots in Raleigh to visit with kids because they love running on the splash pad in the summer. There’s a large grass area that hosts many family-friendly events such as movie nights and block parties. There’s also a playground with a slide, a cafe, and surrounding the square are many family-friendly restaurants, cafes, galleries, and the Marbles Kids Museum. 

• Address: 201 S Blount St, Raleigh

36. Go kayaking at Falls Lake State Recreation Area

Falls Lake is a North Carolina State Park in Wake and Durham Counties. The 12,410-acre Falls Lake is the focus and offers a range of outdoor experiences including camping, boating, fishing, kayaking, hiking, and picnicking. There are five beaches that you can swim from and there are several boat ramps where you can launch your own boat, kayak or SUP. Over towards The Beaverdam, there’s a network of mountain biking trails if you’re kids are a bit older and need more adrenaline.

Wake Rack offer kayak and stand-up paddle board rentals on Falls Lake. They’re unique in that you can order your kayak online and collect it from a locker or from a nearby convenient store, and take it to your nearest lake. They have inflatable options if you don’t have a roof rack.

• Address: 13300 Creedmoor Rd, Wake Forest
• Website: ncparks.gov

37. Go back in time at Mordecai Historic Park

Mordecai Historic Park may not be the most exciting place to visit for toddlers and young kids, but if your kids are learning about the economic boom in the 17th and 18th centuries at school, then this would be a great place to take them to bring history to life. It was once the site of the largest plantation in Wake County, and now home to some of N.C.’s most extraordinary treasures, including the Mordecai House (1785) the oldest house in Raleigh on its original location.

It’s known as the birthplace of 17th President Andrew Johnson. You can read more about the Mordecai Historic Park guided tour. They also often have special events and market days. We always share them in our weekly event email newsletter. Subscribe so you don’t miss out!

• Address: 1 Mimosa St., Raleigh
• Website: raleighnc.gov

38. SUP at Lake Raleigh Recreation Area

Lake Raleigh is a hidden gem located on NC State University’s Centennial Campus. We have walked the lake trail here many times and love going stand up paddle boarding here. And it’s a nice small lake for fishing on the bank or in a kayak. Read our review of Lake Raleigh. 

• Address: Main Campus Drive
• Website: Click here

39. Picnic at Apex Community Park

Another park we love is the 160 acre Apex Park, centered around beautiful Apex Lake, which offers picnic areas, playgrounds, fitness and nature trails. There’s also athletic fields, tennis courts, volleyball and basketball courts, plus fishing and kayaking allowed on the lake. 

• Address: 2200 Laura Duncan Rd, Cary
• Website: apexnc.org

40. SUP or kayak in Lake Crabtree County Park

Another great place to take a stand-up paddle board is Lake Crabtree. Located on 215-acres adjacent to a 520-acre lake, the park is a tranquil oasis in the heart of the city. It has more than 16 miles of trails, plus playgrounds, catch-and-release fishing, and seasonal boating and kayaking/paddle boarding. It’s also a great spot to see the sunset. 

• Address: 1400 Aviation Parkway, Morrisville
• Website: .wakegov.com

41. Take them for indoor mini golf at Partee Shack

Partee Shack offers a fun, relaxed environment where families can kick back, play, and make memories. From cornhole tournaments and giant Jenga to friendly rounds of mini-golf and arcade games, there’s no shortage of activities to keep everyone entertained. The vibrant, laid-back atmosphere is perfect for a casual day out, and with food trucks often parked nearby, you can grab a bite while the kids run around or challenge each other to a game.

• Address: 5300 Fayetteville Rd, Raleigh
• Website: https://parteeshack.com/

42. Take kids to play at Roanoke Park

Roanoke Park is a hidden gem playground in Raleigh and a quaint little park in a nice neighborhood setting. It’s suitable for ages 2-12 and has wood-chip surface. Also, the Tot Cart parking lot has donated toys, scooters, and bikes for the children to use. To search all playgrounds in Raleigh, click here or use the park locator app. 

43. Enjoy Farm Fun at Phillips Farm, Cary

One of the most well-known farms in the Triangle area that families love is Phillips Farms, located in Cary. They’ve really expanded it into a fun park for kids of all ages. Their Family Fun Zone has activities that include toddler town, hayrides, cow trains, giant games, apple slinging, and a fun and fast giant slide.

During the Spring they have their popular Shop & Play Saturdays featuring a market, family fun and MORE! They partner with local farmers and artisans to showcase their offerings. And Fall is their hugely fun season with pumpkin patches and a corn maze included in the Family Fun Zone and a spooky Halloween zone at night. There’ll be food trucks including Dampf Good BBQ, and Local Donuts. Watch our video.

• Address: 6800 Good Hope Church Rd, Cary
• Website: www.phillipsfarmsofcary.com

44. Play at the Fantasy Lake Adventure Park, Wake Forest

Kids are guaranteed to love the Fantasy Lake Adventure Park in Wake Forest. Our tween keeps asking us when we will go back. It is quite pricey, but for many families, the experience is worth it. This 100-acre park features a 65-acre lake that is sectioned off for an inflatable water park filled with tramps, slides, and obstacle courses.

You can also kayak, paddleboard, and scuba dive here. It really is fun for all the family. If you can make it work in your budget, reserve some of the beach chairs or cabanas. Because it’s also nice to lie down and relax and enjoy the beautiful views while the older kids relax. Read our guide to downtown Wake Forest for more ideas while you’re exploring this area!

• Address: 3601 Quarry Rd, Wake Forest
• Website: www.gofantasylake.com/

45. Cheer on the NC State University Wolfpack

Raleigh is home to NC State University, and going to a game in any sport is always fun. The Wolfpack compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and the atmosphere is always electric! I highly recommend you go and watch a game at least once in your life. Read our guide to Carter Finley Stadium.

46. Climb into the canopes at Go Ape Tree Tops

At Go Ape you can take on various tree top obstacle courses and ziplines, depending upon your age and your comfort level for adventure (and heights). Their courses are created to deliver adventure, fun, and a sense of accomplishment and perfect for families. Read our full review.

• Address: 3200 Pleasant Union Church Rd, Raleigh
• Website: GoApe.com

47. Zip Line at TreeRunner Adventure Park Raleigh

With over 100 exciting obstacles and zip lines, five difficulty levels, seven different aerial courses, and five different Junior Park trails, there is plenty to explore, located in North Raleigh.

• Address: 12804 Norwood Rd, Raleigh 
• Website: TreeRunnerParks.com

48. Go BMXing

Yes, there is a BMX track in Raleigh! Capital City BMX is a bicycle motocross racetrack is located at the Lions Park and BMX racing is open to boys and girls who can ride a bike. 

• Address: 516 Dennis Ave, Raleigh
• Website: ccbmx.org

Daniel Dhers Action Sports Complex is another BMX track that was founded by pro BMX rider Daniel Dhers. This is the largest action sports facility in the world with more than 37,000 sq. ft of indoor and outdoor riding terrain. Facility includes beginner area, pump tracks, foam pit, resi quarters and viewing areas. 

• Address: 171 Tradition Trail Suite 301, Holly Springs
• Website: ddasc.com

49. Splatter Paint at iSmash in Wake Forest

For a colorful, hands-on activity kids will love, head to the Paint Splatter Room at iSmash in Wake Forest. It’s like a giant art playground where they can fling paint with brushes, balloons, or squirt bottles, cover the walls in neon splatters, and even create their own canvas masterpiece to take home. Expect giggles, messy fun, and lots of creative expression.

While younger kids will gravitate to the paint splatter experience, older kids and teens (8+) can also try out the rage room for some extra excitement, smashing glass bottles and old electronics in a safe, supervised environment.

Read our review of iSmash and paint splatter in Wake Forest

50. Play old school video games at Dave & Buster’s

Dave and Buster’s is a great place to find fun arcade games for kids, especially for kids 5 and up. It also has lots of old school video games for adults to enjoy. It does get busy on the weekends and has lots of TV screens for watching sports. It’s also not known for food, more for the fun!

• Address: 1105 Walnut St, Cary
• Website: DaveAndBusters.com 

51. Go bowling at Buffaloe Lanes Bowling

Buffaloe Lanes Bowling is a family-friendly bowling alley with no-alcohol, 32 bumper lanes, party and game rooms, and bumpers that come up and down automatically for each bowler if needed.

• Address: Raleigh, Cary and Garner.
• Website: BuffaloeLanes.com 

52. Attend the NC State Fair

The most iconic of thing to do for families in Raleigh is attend the NC State Fair, which takes place every year in October. Here you can indulge in rides, music, animals, and all the greasy fair food you can imagine. Here is the list of new food at the NC State Fair this year. Raleigh locals flock to the annual North Carolina State Fair every year as it’s always a laugh and full of enjoyment. Read our guide to the NC State Fair.

• Address: 4285 Trinity Rd, Raleigh
• Website: NCstatefair.org

Video: North Carolina State Fair

53. Visit GalaxyCon Raleigh

Another festival in Raleigh that’s fun for kids is the three-day Galaxy Con, which for fans of pop culture, superheroes, science fiction, anime and more will love! It’s held annually at the Raleigh Convention Center in July.

• Address: 500 S Salisbury St, Raleigh
• Website: GalaxyCon.com

54. Get creative at Artsplosure

Raleigh’s original and longest running arts festival, Artsplosure, is held each year. This two-day family event features 175 juried visual artists from across the US showcasing works in ceramics, glass, fiber art, jewelry, metal, painting, photography, wood and more. There are many workshops and classes for children throughout the event.

55. Check out Spring Daze and Lazy Daze Arts and Crafts Festival

TheSpring Daze Arts and Crafts Festival in Cary puts local artists and craftsmakers in the spotlight. There are more than 300 artists from 16 states attending the festival, plus there’s multiple stages of live music, a beer garden and plenty of food trucks.It’s one of our favorite festivals for it’s beautiful lakeside venue immersed in the forest at Bond Park. In the summer, it is called Lazy Daze and is held in the Town of Cary Campus.

56. The Krispy Kreme Challenge

Another fun annual event in Raleigh is the Krispy Kreme Challenge, which was started by NC State University students and now happens every year. This is a 4-mile fun run, from NC State campus to Krispy Kreme, where you can consume 12 doughnuts, and then run back. While it may not be a run that younger kids could do, it’s fun to watch! Our girls did it with us when they were 9 and 13 – and we walked for most of the way. They LOVED the donut break! Plus, proceeds go to the UNC Children’s Hospital. 

57. Attend Falling For Local

Autumn lovers and families will love the Falling For Local festival at Dorothea Dix Park every October. Featuring live music, local makers and vendors, craft beer, food trucks, games for kids, hay rides, free pumpkins and more!

58. Check out Raleigh Wide Open

A festival we loved to visit every year with our kids was the IBMA World of Bluegrass, which sadly is no more, but it’s replaced by the Raleigh Wide Open which is organized by the same people. This two-day event in downtown Raleigh includes five blocks and six stages of music, plus food trucks.

59. Watch the Raleigh Christmas Parade

The Raleigh Christmas Parade is the largest such parade between Atlanta and Washington, D.C., and marches through downtown Raleigh and features marching bands, dancers, classic cars, superheroes and Santa Claus. If you’re looking for things to do around Christmas time, don’t miss this! Kids absolutely love it and come from near and far!

60. Check out the State Farmers Market

Considered one of the nation’s best, the Raleigh Farmers Market boasts 75 acres of indoor and outdoor vendor space where you can sample and shop for fresh fruits and vegetables, meats and gift products from farmers across the state. Here is our guide to the Raleigh State Farmers Market.

• Address: 1201 Agriculture St., Raleigh
• Website: www.ncagr.gov

61. Shop at The Raleigh Market

This flea market at the State Fairgrounds offers one of the most unique and entertaining shopping experiences. Each weekend, over 600 indoor and outdoor vendors showcase an incredible range of items, from high-end antiques to power tools and everything in between. Read our guide to farmers’ markets in Raleigh.

• Address: 4285 Trinity Rd, Raleigh
• Website: TheRaleighMarket.com

Check out these family friendly breweries in Raleigh

62. Learn about birds at Sylvan Heights Bird Park

If you’re up for a short road trip from Raleigh, Sylvan Heights Bird Park in Scotland Neck is absolutely worth it. Kids will love the chance to walk through huge aviaries filled with flamingos, toucans, owls, and parrots, and the highlight for many is The Landing Zone, where friendly birds may perch right on their shoulders while they feed them.

Beyond the colorful encounters, families can explore treehouse views over natural wetlands, spot turtles and deer along the trails, and even take on the Wetland Safari Challenge to become “scientists for a day.” It’s hands-on, educational, and one of those rare experiences that mixes fun with learning in a way kids will remember.

• Address: 500 Sylvan Heights Park Way Scotland Neck, NC
• Website:  shwpark.com

Read our full review of Sylvan Heights Bird Park in Scotland Neck

63. Learn about local history at North Carolina Museum of History (temporarily closed)

Founded in 1902, it welcomes 80,000+ school groups a year and on display is more than 14,000 years and 150,000 artifacts of North Carolina history. Free admission. Charge for some special exhibits. 

• Address: 5 E. Edenton St., Raleigh
• Website: ncmuseumofhistory.org

Now it’s your turn, what are you most excited to do in Raleigh with kids? Let us know in the comments.