Springtime in NC! Fun Things To Do To Enjoy This Amazing Season!
Everywhere in America, Spring is welcomed and greatly looked-forward to as the cold days of Winter, disappear. We’re ready to shed all of those heavy layers in exchange for shorts and cardigans. The world around us is in full bloom, as the sun warms and grows the flowers and grass, creating the most lush and vibrant colors we’ve seen in months.
Living in the Raleigh Durham area (or anywhere in NC, for that matter), is a true gratification and one that we’re all lucky to be a part of. Whether you’re just visiting, are new to the area, or have spent your whole life here, it’s obvious that we’re one of the best places to live in the US. Let’s talk about some of the things that Springtime in NC offers, and more specific, the things that are local to our area (or within a short drive).
1. Play some games, go to the movies
(Downtown Cary)
Check out downtown Cary's Downtown Park, which boasts open spaces; shaded tables and benches; and outdoor foosball, table tennis tables and bocce ball court. The park sits across from the Cary Arts Center at 319 S. Academy St. Then, head to Cary's downtown theater, just a few blocks away, to take in a screening of whatever movie is offered for the evening (*see schedule, below) Tickets are $3 to $5. If you go to an evening showing, be sure to check out Downtown Park's large fountain all lit up.
Schedule for ‘The Cary’
http://theca...r.com/events/
2. Check out Kidzu Children's Museum
(Chapel Hill)
The Kidzu Children's Museum hosts lots of regular programming throughout the week, including kids yoga, storytimes and messy morning art programs. checkingchecking out a free science live program at Morehead Planetarium and Science Center and catching one of its planetarium shows out a free science live program at Morehead Planetarium and Science Center and catching one of its planetarium shows.
**See the Kidzu calendar:
https://www....org/calendar/
3. Play outside
Local outdoor family-fun destinations are opening up for the season. Three Bears Acres is open now. Hill Ridge Farmsopens April 7. Go Ape in Raleigh, with two ropes courses, will be open starting March 30. Treerunner Adventure Park, also in Raleigh, is open now.
Three Bears Acres:
http://www.t...earsacres.com
Hill Ridge Farms:
http://www.h...idgefarms.com
Treerunner Adventure Park:
https://www....erraleigh.com
*Top hikes for kids, families in Raleigh Durham Triangle:
https://www....ery/16620431/
4. Play inside
Black light mini golf, anyone? Or, how about coffee for you and play for your little ones? If it gets wet and rainy or, considering this winter, snowy, during spring break week, head inside to one of the region's many indoor play spaces.
**38 Indoor Play Areas in The Triangle:
https://tria...r-play-areas/
5. Artsplosure
This year, we'll celebrate the 37th anniversary of Artsplosure – the Raleigh Arts Festival! Since its inception in 1980, the spring festival has entertained and inspired hundreds of thousands of people, introducing them to underrepresented artists and performances.
This spring celebration of art includes more than 170 visual artists, award-winning musicians, large-scale art installations, crafts and performances for kids.
*Read more:
http://artsplosure.org
6. Take a ride on a 75-foot zip line
You'll find that at the fantastic playground Forest Ridge Park in Raleigh. The newish city park also includes a really easy trail near Falls Lake that's perfect for young children and families.
7. Head to the lab for some fun with Science
The popular Durham museum's Lab is open every day of the week with all kinds of hands-on experiments for kids. . The Lab, which is inside the main building, is free with admission to the museum, which you could seriously spend an entire day at. Admission is $18 and $13 for kids ages 3 to 12. And, don't forget: Parking woes at the museum have been eased thanks to the opening of its new parking deck, which doubles the spaces there. They are also accepting registrations for Summer Camps!
(*Children's Museum Lab): https://www....org/the-lab_1
*Here’s what’s coming up, in May: https://www.....org/calendar
NC museum of life and sciences
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
N.C.'s most popular attraction is a museum that teaches visitors about the natural world. The free museum offers more than 25 permanent exhibitions, including looks at N.C.'s Mountain, Piedmont and Coastal Plain region habitats and wildlife along with discoveries found in the sea and underground. Take the path down the skywalk and check out the Nature Research Center, a wing of the museum where you can watch research scientists and get inspired by the field of study.
8. Admire Nature, In all it's glory:
Stunning, outdoor sights to see:
*Biltmore: This incredible estate welcomes spring with Biltmore Blooms (March 20 - May 24, 2018), where George Vanderbilt, Frederick Law Olmsted and horticulturalist Chauncey Beadle created a dazzling array of formal and informal gardens.
http://www.b...t/buy-tickets
*Sarah P. Duke Gardens: For more than 75 years, dramatic plantings in world-class designs reach the height of beauty in spring. More than 300,000 visitors from all over the world visit Sarah P. Duke Gardens annually, enjoying its 55 acres of specialized gardens in the heart of Duke University. Admission is free, and we are open from 8 a.m. to dusk 365 days a year.
http://gardens.duke.edu
*The gardens of Tryon Palace cover two-and-a-half centuries of history with marigolds and celosia representing the Colonial era. There are seven major buildings, three galleries and 14 acres of gardens for you to discover.
https://www....yonpalace.org
*Also try: The North Carolina Botanical Garden (at NC Chapel Hill)
http://ncbg.unc.edu
William B. Umstead State Park
Outdoor lovers can use 22 miles of hiking trails, 13 miles of bridle or mountain bike trails, camp, fish and paddle all within the nearly 6,000-acre urban recreational area. The park is located only 15 minutes outside of downtown Raleigh and is also a habitat for beavers, raccoons, deer and unique bird species, such as the great blue heron.
Be sure to pay us a visit at our Brier Creek location in Raleigh! Pinot’s Palette offers painting and wine classes where you’ll go from a blank canvas to a stunning, handmade work of art in just 2-3 hours! No prior experience is needed and we have so much more to offer than just the paint and brushes. We have a great selection of wine and beer, some fabulous music, and a helpful and friendly staff. One of our talented and encouraging instructors will walk you through the painting, step by step, offering additional assistance should you need it. Join us for a fun and creative experience where you can bring all of your friends to hang out, come alone to de-stress from a long day, or even book a private party for a celebration or work/corporate event.
You can read all about the many things we offer, here:
Private events: https://www....ivate-parties
Corporate Events: https://www....porate-events
Mobile Events: https://www....ainting-party
Gift Certificates: https://www....-certificates
***Click here to view our full calendar if you’re interested in our standard, public painting and wine classes: https://www....rcreek/events
See you soon, and we hope you enjoy all of the stunning sites and fun events that our lovely area has to offer this season!
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