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15 Things You Don’t Want Kids To Miss In Durham NC

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15 Things You Don’t Want Kids To Miss In Durham NC when you plan your visit this summer is sponsored by the DCVB. All opinions are my own.

I can’t believe we only have a year left on our NC tour. I love being in the military and traveling but coming home for five years was nice and I’m really going to miss North Carolina. One of my favorite places to hang out with the kids during the summer is Durham, NC. Today I’m sharing 15 things your kids will love you for doing with them while you visit Durham. If you live here in NC and haven’t done everything on this list break out a pen and pad and make your Durham, NC bucket list!

As a Tar Heel fan, you will have to excuse me for not putting anything on this list related to Duke University. Sure it’s beautiful but my husband would disown me if I actually recommended you visit it (go, visit, but don’t cheer for Duke). 😉

15 Things You Don’t Want Kids To Miss In Durham NC:

American Dance Festival – Called “The world’s greatest dance festival” by the New York Post, the American Dance Festival is not something you want to miss. ADF features up to 70 public performances from more than 30 companies. If you want to expose your children to dance I recommend ADF Kids Saturday Matinees! The shoes begin and 1 pm and are followed by a FREE kids part in the DPAC lobby!

AMF Durham Lanes – Who doesn’t love to go bowling? With 32 lanes, video walls, an arcade, and billiards your family can see just how competitive you really are!

Bayer CropScience: Bayer Bee Care Center Tour – If you’d like to visit this center be sure to plan as tours need to be requested a week ahead of your scheduled date. Learn about preserving bee health and promoting sustainable agriculture.

DefyGravity – If you’ve watched American Ninja Warrior and thought “I could totally do that” then you will love proving yourself right at DefyGravity. DG is a trampoline park that boasts an “Ultimate Challenge” Ninja Course that will give you bragging rights with your kids if you can complete it!

Duke Lemur Center – The Duke Lemur Center is the world’s largest and most diverse collection of lemurs. Did you know that lemurs are the Earth’s most threatened group of mammals outside of Madagascar? Enjoy a visit with your animal lovers today and then share what you learn with everyone you meet!

There are a few different tour options so be sure to check out the site to choose a time.

Durham Ballet Theatre – Dance is a beautiful art, and the ballet is one of the most beautiful forms of dance I have ever seen. You’ve missed Peter Pan for the year, but you can still catch the ballet in December. Check out Winterfest (December 2nd & 3rd) and Cinderella (May 2018).

Durham Bulls Athletic ParkThe Durham Bulls are the Triple-A baseball affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. You can catch games from April – September, and if you do you should watch the movie Bull Durham before you go!

Durham Central Park Skatepark – Got skaters in your family? This 10,000-sq.-ft. State-Of-The-Art park features a floating quarter pipe, launch boxes, step-up bank, three stairwells with handrails, a street clam, and an eight-foot trog bowl. Helmets and pads are required.

Eno River State Park – Looking for a fun nature-filled day? Eno River State Park is the place to be if you love hiking, canoeing, fishing, camping, or just taking nature walks! Pack the kids and picnic and get ready for an adventure!

The park opens at different times throughout the year so check the website for more details.

Museum of Life + Science – Our favorite thing to do when we are in Durham is visiting the museum! It’s unlike any other museum we’ve ever been to!

At the Museum of Life + Science you can visit Hideaway Woods (treehouses the kids will love), cool off at Into the Mist, get up close and personal with butterflies in the Magic Wings Butterfly House, Climb a Rock Wall and Explore the Wild and see beautiful bears!

Plan to spend the whole day when you visit!

Northgate Wild West Train & Carousel – Enjoy shopping at the Northgate Mall while you bribe the kids with a train ride! Totally kidding (maybe). The train runs Thursday – Monday from 12-7 and costs $3. I couldn’t find the carousel hours but I did see that every 1st Tuesday they offer one free ride and story time! They are located in space 216.

Sky Zone Durham – If you’re kids need a place to let loose and go wild then Sky Zone Durham will be their favorite place to go. As a parent, you’ll love it because they will wear themselves out on the trampolines and foam pit while you sit back and read that book you’ve been dying to finish! They have a variety of programs like Glow, Skyfit, Toddler Time, and even Dodgeball! So jump over to Sky Zone when the kids are going crazy indoors!

Wheels Fun Park – The triangle’s original fun park truly has a little of everything! If you’re looking for a great way to spend the day with children who aren’t sure what they want to do Wheels Fun Park is the answer! They have a roller skating rink, play gym, go-karts, batting cages, mini golf, a maze, and an arcade. Hours vary so be sure to check the website for details.

Xtreme Park Adventures – Paintball, Airsoft, Laser Tag, Ziplines… need I say more? Usually, parks like this aren’t ideal for the entire family because only the older kids can have fun, but at Xtreme Park Adventures there is truly something for everyone. For the smaller kids in your family, you can enjoy the Pillow Jump. Laser Tag, Bunker Tag, and even Wall Tag!

Open from 10-6 on the weekends and 10-4 during the week.

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