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35 Summer Fun Activities in Raleigh

By Nicki Medford, Publisher at Macaroni Kid Raleigh June 11, 2021

School's out and summer has (pretty much) officially begun! But now what?  If your kids are anything like mine, you've probably already heard "I'm bored" more than once.

Beat the summer slump with these 35 summer fun activities in Raleigh.  We're pretty sure you'll win the best parent ever award and make some awesome memories while you're at it. 

Outdoors & Nature 

1) Feed the goats, walk the grounds or go on a scavenger hunt at Historic Oak View Park.

2) Go bird or critter watching at Walnut Creek Wetland Center.

3) Look around the visitor center and take a short walk around picture-perfect Yates Mill County Park.

4) Make fairy houses or mud pies at Prairie Ridge EcoStation.

5) Pack a picnic then walk the gardens at JC Raulston Arboretum.

S.T.E.M 

6)  Channel your inner scientist at North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.

7) Shop or sign up for a unique science class at Science Safari. 

8) Mine for gemstones and learn about minerals and geology at Treasure Quest Gem Mining

9) Give your brain a workout with code breaking, puzzles and math problems to help you escape the rooms at Whole Brain Escapes

Downtown Raleigh

10) Play "I Spy" in the City of Raleigh Museum

11) Enjoy a fun lunch at Morgan Street Food Hall.

12) Browse a carefully-curated selection of kids books at Read With Me Children's Bookstore

13) Hop on and off the FREE R-Line Bus to explore different parts of Downtown. 

14) Stop by Contemporary Art Museum to take in some modern art. 

15) Spend the day at Marbles Kids Museum

Artistic Adventures

16) Take a trip to the North Carolina Museum of Art.

17) Visit the galleries and meet the artists at Artspace.

18) Give the kids $5 to buy their own craft supplies at Michaels Craft Stores and check out their summer art class schedule.

19) Paint pottery at Klaystation

20) Make and take a craft from Craft Habit

21) Sign up for a workshop at AR Workshop Raleigh.

Adventure & Entertainment

21) See the world from high up at Tree Runner Adventure Park.

22) Climb the rock walls at Triangle Rock Club.

23) Go roller skating at United Skates of America.

24) Enjoy mini golf, go-karts, arcades and laser tag at Adventure Landing.

25) Practice your swing at interactive driving range, Drive Shack.

26) Play on the playground, take a train ride and ride the carousel at Pullen Park.

27) Sign up for Kids Bowl Free! 

28) Do more than just bowling at Stars & Strikes, where additional attractions include laser tag, bumper cars and a huge arcade. 

29) Burn some energy at Urban Air Adventure Park

30) Go on a city-wide scavenger hunt with Search in the City

Water Play 

31) Visit one of the City of Raleigh's public pools.

32) Stay cool and visit the Splash Pad at Knightdale Station Park or the Sprayground at Taylor Street Park in Wake Forest. 

33) Take a day trip to Tucker Lake

34) Run through the water fountains at Moore Square.

35) Get a beach-fix without the drive at at Falls Lake or Jordan Lake


Have an amazing summer! 




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!