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5 Free Activities to do with Littles in Raleigh

By Akilah Driver, Content Writer at Macaroni Kid Raleigh May 21, 2021

When I first moved to Raleigh last month, it was very easy to become overwhelmed with the plethora of things you can do with children in this city. It’s absolutely awesome to have so many options and it's allowed me to explore things with varying budgets. When my daughters started school, I needed to find something to do during the day with my two younger (and very active) sons, so I set out to find some! 

In today’s article, I am going to share five FREE activities that we've experienced to enjoy loads of fun! 


  1. Moore Square Park & Splashpad 

I was very amazed at how fun Moore square was for my little ones. They have a small play space, a splash pad and foam blocks to play with on the very spacious greenery. We brought a picnic blanket and had lunch there and then splashed at the splash pad for a bit. I highly recommend it, as it did have great seating and a great view!

  1. North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences 

We initially took a trip to this museum because it was free. Well, we were absolutely blown away! It was very clean, spacious and interactive. Due to Covid, they aren't currently allowing the touch amenities, however there still was so much to see! There were habitats, animals and it was so educational! Very easy to intrigue and engage little minds! 

  1. Pullen Park

Pullen Park is a nice park option because it is very open and has different things that you can do. You do have the option to ride rides which does cost money but you don’t need to because there are many pathways and play spaces, amusement park, etc that kids can have a great time at. My favorite part about this park is that they have a concession stand which is very helpful if I don’t have time to pack lunch (or just don’t want to *shh*) with outdoor seating! 

  1. William B. Umstead Park

This park is a great one if you want to take your kids out for a peaceful time away. Of course they can still be kids and run and explore, but the breathtakingly beautiful park allows a calm atmosphere that I would highly recommend for a picnic or a nature walk and just relaxing time away from the city hustle!

  1. JC Raulston Arboretum

Enjoy a guided tour at JC Ralston arboretum! There are many gardens, including a Zen garden, and there are also different programs offered to children as well! A great place to build that foundation of learning about plants! 


Let us know if you try any of these out, and feel free to tag us on Instagram if you do visit any of these places! 




Macaroni Kid Raleigh is a FREE online publication dedicated to helping you find family-friendly things to do in the Raleigh area! Join our e-mail list to receive a weekly calendar of events, guides to activities and local information and be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook!