101 Family Day Trips and Day Trips Around the Research Triangle Area
**Follow each link to get details about your visit directly from your destination, since some places operate seasonally or by reservation, as well as to check each venue's COVID requirements (masks, limits, social distancing).
Free activities and splurges that are worth it. The coolest stuff for a staycation in town and road trips for less than a tank of gas from Raleigh. Kids Out And About has tons of ideas for family travel, with places to explore, learn, and have fun!
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Take A Deep Breath In the Garden
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Lavender Oaks Farm |
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Sarah Duke Gardens |
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WRAL Azalea Garden |
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Raleigh Rose Garden |
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North Carolina Botanical Garden |
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Juniper Level Botanic Garden |
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Cape Fear Botanical Garden |
Get Wild on a Hike
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Duke Forest |
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Eno River State Park |
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Lake Brandt |
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Morgan Creek Trail |
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Salem Lake Trail |
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Mountains-to-Sea Trail |
Time Travel Today
Make Life a Beach
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Jordan Lake State Recreation Area |
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Falls Lake State Recreation Area |
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Wrightsville Beach |
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Kitty Hawk Beach |
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Carolina Beach State Park |
Splash into Some Water Fun
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Wet 'n Wild Emerald Pointe |
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White Lake Water Park |
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Lions Water Adventure |
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Great Wolf Lodge Concord |
Spend the Day at a Museum
Explore These Cities
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Fayetteville |
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Greensboro |
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Charlotte |
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Winston-Salem |
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Rocky Mount |
All Aboard Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (and Boats!)
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New Hope Valley Railway |
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Airborne & Special Operations Museum |
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North Carolina Transportation Museum |
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North Carolina Maritime Museums Beaufort |
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Wright Brothers National Memorial |
Grow Some Fun at the Farm
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Waller Family Farm |
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Page Farms |
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Naylor Family Farm & Giant Corn Maze |
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Hill Ridge Farms |
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Granville Haunt Farm |
Play Ball!
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Fayetteville Woodpeckers |
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Greensboro Swarm |
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Burlington Sock Puppets |
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Carolina Hurricanes |
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North Carolina Courage |
Treat Yo' Self
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Fresh Local Ice Cream |
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The Parlour |
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Pelican's SnoBalls |
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Frozy |
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Groovy Duck Bakery |
Connect with Nature
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Sarah P. Duke Gardens |
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JC Raulston Arboretum |
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North Carolina Botanical Garden |
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Cape Fear Botanical Garden |
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Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden |
Amuse Yourself at These Amusement Parks
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Frankie's Fun Park |
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Pullen Park |
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Adventure Landing |
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Carowinds |
Talk to the Animals
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Dead Broke Horse Farm |
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North Carolina Zoo |
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Piedmont Farm Animal Refuge |
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Carolina Tiger Rescue |
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Sylvan Heights Bird Park |
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Duke Lemur Center |
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Aloha Safari Zoo |
Explore the Globe Close to Home
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Bimbe Cultural Arts Festival |
Let's Go Chasing Waterfalls
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Historic Yates Mill County Park |
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William B. Umstead State Park |
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Stone Mountain Falls |
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Hanging Rock State Park |
Get Active Indoors
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Galaxy Fun Park |
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DefyGravity Raleigh |
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Buffalo Road Aquatic Center |
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Sky Zone - Durham |
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United Skates of America Raleigh |
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Bumper Jumpers |
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Triangle Rock Club |
Challenge Yourself
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Go Ape Zipline |
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Xtreme Park Adventures |
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Carolina Ziplines Canopy Tours |
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Cape Fear River Adventures |
Shop Your Heart Out
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The Raleigh Market |
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Crowemag Toys |
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The Teach Me Store |
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Nick's Trains |
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The Enchanted Fairy |
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Quail Ridge Books |
Limiting our list to 101 ideas meant some great destinations may have been left off the list - if there is something you’d like to see added, share it with us on Facebook!
Most of these destinations are within an hour from downtown Raleigh. For those that are a bit farther away:
= Less than 1 hour away
= 1 to 2 hours away
= 2 to 3 hours away
= Just over 3 hours away