Raleigh, known as the “City of Oaks”, is the capital city of North Carolina and the second-most populous city in this state. The blend of Southern charm, history, and attractions make this metropolis an ideal destination for families, with countless opportunities for children to learn, explore, and have fun.
Beautiful outdoor spaces, amazing museums and parks, hands-on science exhibits… There are many different things to do in Raleigh with kids. So, let’s explore what we consider the best family-friendly activities that make Raleigh a great place for family fun!
The Most Recommended Things to Do with Kids in Raleigh
1
11 West Jones Street | Raleigh, NC 27601
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
Visiting the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is, definitely, one of the main things to do in Raleigh with kids, as it’s the Southeast’s largest natural history museum, offers 4 floors of exhibits, and it’s completely free! Your family will enjoy exhibits and live animal displays, be amazed by a wonderful aquarium, and discover in real-time how researchers study the natural world. Also, if your kids are dinosaur fans, this museum has the most complete fossils of a tyrannosaurus and Triceratops ever found.2
520 Ashe Ave Raleigh, NC 27606
Pullen Park
If you’re looking for things to do with kids in Raleigh that also appeal to you as an adult, Pullen Park is a fantastic option. This is the first public park in North Carolina and the 5th oldest operating amusement park in the United States. There, your family can do a lot of fun activities—ride a carousel, swim, sign up for an art class, play sports, and many more. Additionally, there are not only pedal boats but also kiddie boats, so everyone can have a blast regardless of their age. After having a great time, you can enjoy a good coffee and delicious seasonal foods at the Pullen Place Café.3
201 East Hargett Street Raleigh, NC 27601
Marbles Kids Museum
This is one of the best things to do in Raleigh with kids, as Marbles is a multi-story museum specifically designed for children. It offers your family over a dozen exhibits that aim to develop kids’ social and emotional skills, physical health, imagination, creativity, curiosity, and cooperation.4
2110 Blue Ridge Road Raleigh, NC 27607
North Carolina Museum of Art
If you’re looking for things to do with kids in Raleigh for free, the North Carolina Museum of Art is a great choice. Its galleries span more than 5,000 years, from antiquity to the present, offering very interesting pieces as well as lectures, family activities, films, dance performances, and concerts. Although an art museum may seem a little bit boring for kids, the North Carolina Museum of Art provides them with lots of fun activities, such as a family-friendly tour geared towards children aged from 5 to 11 years old.5
11190 Fun Park Drive Raleigh, NC 27617
Frankie's Fun Park
Frankie's Fun Park is awesome both for kids and adults, so your family will find many different attractions for everyone—mini golf with 54 holes for all ages and skill levels, bumper cars powered by the floor with a zero-turn radius, the most fun bumper boats, a drop tower ride that rotates you 360 degrees while raising and dropping you 30 feet to the ground, a laser tag in a two-level apocalypse-themed world, an exhilarating spinning coaster, and more! Also, if your kids also love video games, there’s a fantastic arcade floor with plenty of games.6
1 E Edenton St, Raleigh, NC 27601
Raleigh Ghosts and Ghouls Hauntings Tour
If your family loves ghost stories, this eerie tour is one of the most exciting things to do in Raleigh with kids. Participants of all ages will discover some historic dwellings along with fantastic haunting stories. Among the places that your family will visit are the North Carolina State Capitol, the Haywood Hall House and Gardens, and Nash Square where people say to witness dark figures that tend to cross the lawn at night!7
327 W. Davie Street Sweet 100 Raleigh, NC 27601
Videri Chocolate Factory
Videri produces fine, hand-crafted chocolate and invites people to visit their friendly factory to discover the process of artisan chocolate. Your children not only will understand how chocolate is made but also they’ll be able to taste it! Besides, you’ll be able to enjoy delicious black-and-white coffee, soft-serve ice cream, and, of course, chocolate in a cozy cafe.8
14460 Falls of Neuse Rd Raleigh, NC 27614
Galaxy Fun Park
When looking for things to do in Raleigh NC with kids, we can’t miss Galaxy Fun Park, Raleigh's largest indoor Family Fun Center, where your children can have a blast enjoying lots of attractions—fantastic mini golf with 18 holes, indoor go-karts with 15,000 square feet of track, laser battle with Gen7 lasers, 2-story spaceships, and a home base to refuel, a ropes course with 8 different event stations, a spin zone with atypical bumper cars, and much more!9
3200 Pleasant Union Church Road Raleigh, NC 27614
Go Ape Zipline & Adventure Park
Looking for outdoor things to do with kids in Raleigh? Say no more! Go Ape is an outdoor adventure experience where your children will have active fun while breathing fresh air. The Treetop Adventure in the canopy and the Treetop Journey is an extremely exciting experience in the natural environment. Besides, your family can enjoy Forest EscAPE, working together as a team and implementing your problem-solving skills.10
2101 Westinghouse Blvd, Raleigh, NC 27604
Sky Zone Trampoline Park Raleigh
This is a place that appeals to a teenager as much as a toddler. Bigger kids will enjoy playing basketball, soccer, volleyball, or dodgeball on an air-filled floor that allows them to perform tricks and stunts that regular fields and courts cannot; will reach new heights while jumping on the wall-to-wall trampoline; and practice their stunts safely into a pool of foam squares. On the other hand, little ones can enjoy playing and jumping at the Toddler Zone.
There’s no doubt that the City of Oaks provides something entertaining for everybody, but it also offers valuable opportunities for learning and bonding. And, with this guide to the best things to do in Raleigh with kids, we are sure that you’ll be able to plan fantastic family outings!
And if you’re on a family vacation, you can’t miss out on our Ultimate Guide to Awesome Places to Visit with Kids Across the US.
