Family Fun Guide

 
Amusements & Activities

 

A Ceramic Keepsake

7035 Knightdale Blvd., Knightdale

(919) 266-2922

www.aceramickeepsake.com

offers a large selection of bisque, award winning instructors, a family friendly atmosphere, and artistic fun for the entire family

Ackland Art Museum

UNC Campus, at the corner of Columbia and Franklin St., Chapel Hill

(919) 966-5736

www.ackland.org

Collection ranges from ancient Greek and Roman sculpture to contemporary painting and sculpture. Changing special exhibits and programs for children and adults.

Adventure Landing

3311 Capital Blvd., Raleigh

(919) 872-1688

www.adventurelanding.com

Offers three 18-hole mini golf courses, 5500 sqare-foot laser-tag arena, quarter mile go-kart track with single seaters and double seaters, a mega arcade and nine batting cages with fast and slow-pitch speeds. 

 

Amazing Glaze Ceramic Studio

327 Blake St., City Market, Raleigh

(919) 856-1234

www.amazinglaze.com

Make little critters, picture frames, banks, mugs and more.

American Tobacco Project

(919) 433-1560

www.americantobaccohistoricdistrict.com

At the center of Durham’s tobacco district is the revitalized Lucky Strike tobacco factory featuring shops, events, festivals, dining and more.

 

AMF Bowling

www.amfcenters.com

AMF Durham Lanes

4508 Chapel Hill Blvd., Durham

(919) 489-9154

AMF Capital Lanes

1827 Capital Blvd., Raleigh

(919) 832-3747

AMF South Hills

301 Nottingham Dr., Cary

(919) 467-2411

AMF Pleasant Valley Lanes

5501 Commercial Ave., Raleigh

(919) 783-0080

Battlezone: The Ultimate Laser Adventure

8311 Creedmoor Rd., Raleigh

(919) 847-4263

www.playlasertag.com

High-tech, live action laser game played in a multi-level, themed arena with special effects, fog, laser beams and music.

Bennett Place State Historic Site

4409 Bennett Memorial Rd.

(919) 383-4345

www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/sections/hs/bennett/bennett.htm

Site of Confederate General Johnson’s surrender to Union General Sherman 17 days after Lee’s surrender at Appomattox. Reconstructed farmhouse, outbuildings, interpretive center and museum.

Birdie Putt

683-A Cary Town Blvd., Cary

(919) 462-9888

www.birdieputtgolf.com

Indoor miniature golf with 18 holes, game room video games and air hockey.

Buffaloe Lanes Bowling

www.buffaloelanes.com

Buffaloe Lanes North

5900 Oak Forest Rd., Raleigh

(919) 876-5681

Buffaloe Lanes South

6701 Fayetteville Rd., Raleigh

(919) 779-1888

Buffaloe Lanes

151 High House Rd., Cary

(919) 468-8684

Brightleaf Square

905 W. Main St., Durham

(919) 682-9229

www.historicbrightleaf.com

North Carolina’s first commercial district to be included in the National Register of Historic Places. Includes turn-of-the-century brick tobacco warehouses that have been renovated into a thriving shopping and dining district.

Bullwinkle’s Family Food ‘n Fun

1040 Buck Jones Rd., Cary

(919) 319-7575     

www.bullwinkles.com

Family theme restaurant and indoor entertainment center offers games, indoor playground, Rocky and Bullwinkle Animatronics show, rock climbing wall and “liquid fireworks” light, sound and water show.

Carolina Sportsplex

3717 Davis Dr., Morrisville

(919) 319-9910

www.carolinasportsplex.com

Providing L’il Kickers program, soccer, inline hockey and more.

Centennial Campus Center for Wildlife Education

1751 Varsity Dr, Raleigh

(919) 707-0209

www.ncwildlife.org

Offers free programs and special events that generally last from 1 to 3 hours.  Center programs are hands-on, use technology, and focus on wildlife themes and Piedmont habitats. 

Creation Station

Michaels of Cary

(919) 550-8135

http://hometown.aol.com/weeklyart

Arts & crafts workshops for homeschoolers, preschoolers, tweens, teens and parents.

Dream Sports Center

1016 Investment Blvd., Apex

(919) 387-2955

www.dreamsportscenter.com

Indoor soccer, roller hockey, lacrosse, basketball, sports nights, summer camps and much more. 

Duke Chapel

Duke University West Campus

(919) 681-1704

www.chapel.duke.edu/home

Neo-gothic centerpiece of Duke University’s West Campus. Features a 5,200-pipe organ, 210-foot tower housing a 50-bell carillon and intricate stained-glass windows.

Duke Homestead State Historical Site and Tobacco Museum

2828 Duke Homestead Rd.

(919) 477-5498

www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/sections/hs/duke/duke.htm

National Historic Landmark features the Duke family’s mid-1800s home, tobacco barns and original factory.

Duke Primate Center

3705 Irwin Rd., Durham

(919) 489-3364

www.duke.edu/web/primate

Established to promote conservation of endangered species of primates. Home to some 500 lemurs, bush babies and lorisees. Tours available.

Exploris

201 E. Hargett Street, Raleigh
(919) 834-4040

www.exploris.org

An interactive museum invites visitors to journey across the globe. Discover connections between people of the world through hands-on exhibits, thought-provoking programs and cultural performances. Also featuring the state's only 3D IMAX Theatre.

 

The Factory

1839 South Main St., Suite 400, Wake Forest

www.eatshopplay.com

Features two ice rinks, indoor soccer, a fitness center, a pottery studio and many shops and restaurants.

The Factory Ice House

1839 S. Main St., Suite 200, Wake Forest

(919) 453-1500

www.factoryicehouse.com

Year-round public and private ice skating, hockey, lacrosse, figure skating and more.

 

Fearrington Village

Rt. 501 South, Pittsboro

(919) 542-2121

www.fearrington.com

Home to the Belted Galloways, or “Oreo” cows, a rare breed of Scottish beef cattle. Also features a nursery, plant and garden shop, McIntyre’s bookstore, restaurants and more.

Frankie’s Fun Park

11190 Fun Park Dr., Raleigh

(919) 433-7888

www.frankiesfunpark.com

Go-karts, mini-golf, laser tag, bumper boats, batting cages, Sky Glider, Drop Zone, Spider Web, Fun House and over 150 arcade games.

 Fun Werks

4020 Tryon Rd., Raleigh

(919) 832-2222

www.funwerks.net

Go-karts, paintball, laser tag, arcade, golf, Buster’s Buddy Zone, and three-story adventure play maze.

GameFrog Café

4810 Hope Valley Rd, #109, Durham

(919) 433-3300

Cary Towne Center, 1105 Walnut St., Cary

(919) 460-6002

Northgate Mall, 1058 W. Club Blvd., Durham

(919) 286-0200

www.gamefrogcafe.com

Offers 24 networked gaming stations, complete with high-speed connections and over-sized monitors. Allows Play Station 2, XBOX, and PC gaming enthusiasts to try out all the latest games and play against each other.

Glazed Expectations

15-501 South and Smith Level Rd., Chapel Hill

(919) 933-9700

www.glazedexpectations.com

Paint-it-yourself ceramic and sculpture studio.

Grand Slam USA

4500 Western Blvd., Raleigh

(919) 233-7522       

www.grandslamusa.biz

Indoor sports center with batting cages, basketball, training academy, arcade, refreshments and more.

 

Grand Slam Sports Center

1839 S. Main St., Suite 360, Wake Forest

(919) 453-1448

www.slamatthefactory.com

Batting cages, basketball courts, sports instruction, special events and more.

 

Gymboree Play and Music Programs

Waverly Place Shopping Center, #210-D Colonades Way, Cary

(919) 859-9300

Greystone Shopping Center, 7713-42 Leadmine Rd., Raleigh

(919) 870-0739 

4810 Hope Valley Rd., Durham

(919) 960-3290

www.gymboree.com

Offers classes and programs in developing educational skills, sensory stimulation and physical fitness.

Gymcarolina Gymnastics Academy

9321 Leesville Road, Raleigh

(919) 848-7988

www.gymcarolina.com

Offering parents & tot programs, preschool classes, recreational and competitive gymnastics classes from beginner to advanced.

Hill Ridge Farms

703 Tarboro Rd., Youngsville

(919) 556-1771 or (800) 358-4170

www.hillridgefarms.com

Offers gem-stone panning, hayrides, Train rides, Farm Animal Corral, Giant Slide, Play Land, maze, picnic areas, fish feeding and Conference Center.

 

Historic Hillsborough Walking Tour

Departs from the Orange County Visitors Center

150 E. King St., Hillsborough

(919) 732-7741

www.historichillsborough.com

Self-guided walking tour of Historic Hillsborough and its environs. Includes a map of over 40 historic sites. A booklet with descriptions of the historic site and a tape-recorded tour are also available.

Historic Trolley Tours of Raleigh

(919) 834-4844

www.raleigh-nc.org/transit/historic.htm

Tours begin at Mordecai Historic Park. Trolley through the heart of the Capital City on a narrated tour with six stops. Visit historic sites, art galleries, shops and restaurants.

The Ice House

1410 Buck Jones Rd., Cary

(919) 460-2756

103 New Rand Rd., Garner

(919) 861-7465

www.icehouserinks.com

Year-round public and private ice skating, broomball, hockey and more.

Jellybeans

1120 Buck Jones Rd., Raleigh

(919) 467-5283

10701 Common Oaks Dr., Raleigh

(919) 562-2326

www.skatejellybeans.com

Roller skating rink. Private lessons; group rates; spring, summer and winter camps; and public skating sessions.

Kidzu Children’s Museum

105 E. Franklin St., Chapel Hill

(919) 933-1455

www.kidzuchildrensmuseum.org

Offering arts and crafts, storytimes, changing children’s exhibits, hands-on activities, special guests and more.

 

The Little Gym of Durham-Chapel Hill

2501 University Dr., Durham

(919) 403-5437

www.tlgdurham-chapelhillnc.com

Motor skill development, made fun, builds confidence, leading to a lifetime of success, for children 4 months to 12 years.  Classes offered in gymnastics, sports, karate, and dance.

The Little Gym of Fuquay-Varina

1351 East Broad St., Fuquay-Varina

(919) 567-2018

www.tlgfuquayvarinanc.com

Non-competitive gymnastics and sports programs for children ages 9 months to 12 years.

The Little Gym of Raleigh/Cary

1241 NW Maynard Rd., Cary

(919) 481-6701

www.tlgraleigh-carync.com

Non-competitive gymnastics and sports programs for children ages 4 months to 12 years.

The Little Gym of North Raleigh/Wake Forest

8320 Litchford Rd., Raleigh

(919) 876-1391

www.tlgraleighnc.com

Non-competitive gymnastics and sports programs for children ages 4 months to 12 years.

Little River Family Resource Center

Little River Complex, 8305 N. Roxboro Rd., north of Durham.

(919) 471-3231

Offers activities as well as Friday Tots Play Time. Mon-Fri. Kidsville Drop-in Indoor Play Space.

Maple View Farm

3109 Dairyland Rd., Hillsborough

(919) 960-5535

www.mapleviewfarm.com

Working dairy farm north of Chapel Hill welcomes families to see the cows and calves by appointment. Ice cream and milk products for sale at the country store.

The Mardi Gras

6118 Farrington Rd., Chapel Hill

(919) 489-1230

www.mardigrasbowling.com

Bowling, video games, wireless access and food.

Morehead Planetarium and Science Center

250 E. Franklin St., UNC, Chapel Hill

(919) 962-1236

www.moreheadplanetarium.org

Transports visitors to distant galaxies and takes them deep into the cells of every living organism. Offers Star Theater, digital video theater and special children’s programming. Programs of interest to all ages.

Museum of Life and Science

433 W. Murray Ave., Durham

(919) 220-5429

www.ncmls.org

Explore the Wild outdoor wildlife habitat, Bayer CropScience Insectarium; Magic Wings Butterfly House; Carolina Wildlife;  Treehouse Nature Room; Loblolly Park outdoor play area; aerospace, weather, earth and life sciences; Ellerbee Creek Railroad train rides, cafe, gift shops and more.

 

My Gym Raleigh

9650 Strickland Rd. Suite 100

Harvest Plaza Shopping Center, Raleigh

(919) 848-1940

My Gym Cary

1040 Darrington Dr., Suite 106, Cary

(919) 388-9585

www.my-gym.com

Safe, immaculate children’s gyms offering award-winning gymnastics classes, Mommy & Me programs, special events and much more.

 

Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University

Central Campus, Durham

(919) 684-5135

www.nasher.duke.edu

Collection includes Roman and Greek antiquities, European art and

sculpture, ancient American and African art. Changing special exhibitions of paintings, sculpture, video and photography.

New Hope Valley Transportation Museum

Located between Bonsal and New Hill, NC

(919) 362-5416

www.nhvry.org

Monthly ride days in season from May to December, including Halloween train in October and Santa Train in December. Special garden railroad, charter train rides, operate-a-loco program, museum and more.

North Carolina Botanical Garden

Old Mason Farm Rd., Chapel Hill

(919) 962-0522

www.ncbg.unc.edu/

Workshops and classes, trails, collections of native southeastern plants, habitat displays, herb garden, Paul Green cabin. Coker Arboretum, on the UNC campus next to Morehead Planetarium, is also part of the Garden.

North Carolina Museum of Art

2110 Blue Ridge Rd., Raleigh

(919) 839-6262

www.ncartmuseum.org

Ongoing exhibits, lectures, classes and special programs, concerts, café and films for all ages.

North Carolina Museum of History

5 East Edenton St., Raleigh

(919) 807-7900

http://ncmuseumofhistory.org

Ongoing exhibits, hands-on craft demonstrations, family days, children’s programs and more.

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

11 W. Jones St., Raleigh

(919) 733-7450 or toll-free (877) 4NATSCI

www.naturalsciences.org

Hands-on museum with ongoing exhibits and special programs and classes for children. Daily activities offered. Call for times and to register.

North Carolina State Capitol

Capitol Square, 1 E. Edenton St., Raleigh

(919) 733-4994

www.ncstatecapitol.com

Built between 1833 and 1840, this National Historic Landmark is one of the best-preserved examples of a civic building in the Greek Revival style of architecture. It originally housed the governor’s office, cabinet offices, legislative chambers, state library and state geologist’s office.

North Carolina State Farmers’ Market

1201 Agriculture St., Raleigh

(919) 733-7417

www.ncagr.com/index.htm

Fresh vegetables, fruits, flowers, herbs and baked goods. Special events throughout the year.

North Carolina Zoological Park

4401 Zoo Parkway, Asheboro

(800) 488-0444

www.nczoo.org

Nation’s largest walk-through natural-habitat zoo. Featuring more than 500 acres, including North American and African Continental regions, the Endangered Species Carousel and the Australian Walkabout. Also features indoor exhibits including Sonora Desert and aviary.

Paint the Earth

316 W. Franklin St., Chapel Hill

(919) 968-0400

www.painttheearth.com

Paint-it-yourself ceramic studio.

Paint Your Own Plaster Crafts

8111-159 Creedmoor Rd., Raleigh

(919) 676-0220

www.plasterandcrafts.com

Offers hundreds of pre-cast figures to paint. No cleaning or firing

Involved. Spend quality time with your children at affordable prices. Walk-ins welcome.

Paint Your Pot

2755 Hwy 55, Cary

(919) 363-9333

www.paintyourpot.com

Paint-it-yourself ceramic studio.

Palace Pointe

5050 Durham Rd., Roxboro

(336) 598-5050, ext. 114

www.palacepointe.com

Featuring theater, arcade center with over 80 games, roller-skating arena, bowling lanes, billiards and more.

Party Playland

1313 Buck Jones Rd., Cary

(919) 461-0800 or (919) 462-9337    

www.party-playland.com

Stay-n-Play, hourly drop-off, Parents’ Night Out, café and more.

Playspace Children’s Museum

410 Glenwood Ave., Suite 150, Raleigh

(919) 832-1212

www.playspacemuseum.com

A hands-on, nonprofit, educational play museum for children ages 7 and under and their adult caregivers. Child-sized café, train station, ambulance, water table, castle, computers, music room and more. Ongoing programs in movement, art, music and language. Adults must accompany children.

Pump It Up Inflatables Party Zone

230-107 Capcom Ave., Wake Forest

(919) 828-3344

10700-112 World Trade Blvd., Raleigh

(919) 828-3344

www.pumpitupparty.com/raleigh.html

Large indoor play arena featuring huge air-filled play structures. Separate room reserved for your private party or group event. For schedule of open play time, visit the Web site.

Putt Putt Fun Center

4020 Tryon Rd., Raleigh

(919) 832-2222

www.puttputt.com

Mini-golf, arcade center, go-karts and more.

Raleigh City Museum

Briggs Building, 220 Fayetteville Street Mall, Raleigh

(919) 832-3775

www.raleighcitymuseum.org

Changing exhibits explore Raleigh’s unique history. Children’s special events offered throughout the year.

Raleigh IcePlex

2601 Raleigh Blvd., Raleigh

(919) 878-9002

www.iceplex.com

Year-round public skating, hockey, lessons and track-out programs.

RecZone

912 Hodges St., Raleigh

(919) 754-0441

www.reczone.net

Entertainment and sports complex featuring ice sports, teen club, instruction and field trips.

Scrap Exchange

548 Foster St., Durham

(919) 688-6960

www.scrapexchange.org

Creative reuse of clean, reusable discards in educational and arts programming.

Silver Lake Waterpark

5300 Tryon Rd., Raleigh

(919) 851-1683

www.silverlakewaterpark.com

Featuring spring-fed lake, bumper boats, waterslides, shipwreck walk, sea monster, shallow kiddie area, volleyball, children’s play area, pedal boats and more.

The Skating Place

5300 Fayetteville Rd., Raleigh

(919) 772-4297

www.theskatingplace.com

Indoor ice-skating arena, skate rentals, Family Fun days and more.

Superior Gymnastics

220-F Dominion Dr., Morrisville

(919) 388-1632

www.asuperiorgym.com

Offering children’s gymnastics in Bouncing Babies, Tumble Tots, and Kinder Kids programs. Also offering recreational and competitive gymnastics.

Triangle SportsPlex

1 Dan Kidd Dr.

(919) 644-0339

www.trianglesportsplex.com

Public ice skating, hockey, figure skating, swimming, water and land aerobics, fitness, summer camp, after school, café, nursery and group outings. 

 

Village Bowling Lanes

330 Hardee St., Durham

(919) 682-9145

www.villagelanes.com

Family-oriented bowling center offering leagues, tournaments and open play.

Vollmer Farm

617 NC Hwy 98 E., Bunn

(919) 496-3076

www.vollmerfarm.com

Genuine working family farm offering strawberries in the spring and pumpkins in the fall. Also offers hayrides, educational tours and other types of family entertainment.

Western Lanes Bowling Center

2512 Hillsborough St., Raleigh

(919) 832-3533

Wheels Family Fun Park

715 N. Hoover Rd., Durham

(919) 598-1944

Offers an indoor play gym, roller skating, miniature golf, batting cages, go-karts, a skateboard park, an arcade and a snack bar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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