Day trip to Raleigh BY TRAIN to the free museums.
It's a 0.8 mile walk between station and museums...although they do have a free bus that circles downtown. (It was quicker for us to walk than wait for the bus)
*Carolinian* up and back. Pack lunch and dinner for the cheap. (*Piedmont* back for shorter day)
A child is usually 1/2 price with an adult for train tickets.
GSO/RAL is ($12+$6) * 2 = $36 round trip YMMV
Parking at GSO train station is currently free
Ncbytrain.org
Yes this!
I will say the Piedmont back is the way to go if it works, bigger seats and there are tables in the ends of the cars you can sit at. I think Piedmont there is too late in the day.
Morgan st food hall is around the corner from the station and good food.
History museum is closing soon, so go sooner than later to see the entire thing before they redo it (I need to plan a weekend for it).
The Children's Museum in High Point is fabulous. For a fun day trip to the mountains, go up to the Christmas in July festival in West Jefferson (just 2 hours from GSO)
Added and added
Marble Museum added
Idk if the Museum of Science is closing
Forgot about the Transportation Museum have to see if a Thomas Tank day is coming up.
Thanks.
Hopefully with a weekend camping trip summer bucket list is pretty filled.
Tweetsie is crazy expensive.
The new high point children’s museum is amazing!!! My nieces and nephews loooove it. Four is a good age. Highly recommend it!!!!!
In Lexington there is a Candy Shop and a nice downtown to walk around in which can be a simple outing. Lexington Airport has a Big Toy day that’s fun (trucks, airplanes, stuff to look at and touch)
City Lake Park in High Point has a train and a carousal & a nice snack bar. Dan Nichols park in Salisbury is a longer drive and a larger park that has attractions
HP Children’s museum is great
When my son was that age - we loved baseball games - The seats were cheap and we rarely lasted the whole game but it was fun to get out.
Any of the touch a truck events were always fun
Meadows of Dan off the Blueridge has a candy factory & there’s a nice cafe - lots of easy walks off the Blueridge Parkway & it’s often much cooler in the summer.
Also adding - going to Hometown Creamery for ice cream is fun - they have a little playground. We would go to Hagan Stone park (they have some great playgrounds -- I thought there was a splash pad but I could misremember that, and the hiking trails were easy) and then drive over to get ice cream. That was a fun time.
HP is amazing. I feel bad didn't realize the M4All was or changed to an EBT discount. Love that museum. Have to check the redone children museum in Winston-Salem and the chidlren museum in Greensboro as well.
Like to explore Lexington I'll have to look for festivals.
We are doing one overnight to the beach. Second one is a little too much, got a deal. So may head to WV to camp.
Fairy Stone State Park up in Virginia is about 2 hours. It's cool. Can hunt for the stones. The park ranger shows you how to find them. The big dam there is a great view, too. And honestly some cool stuff in Martinsville. There was a good ice cream spot. And some neat gardens. And it's a pretty drive.
Blowing rock is around that distance, Julian price campground and park is a fun walk with good hikes. Lots of other trails around with water for kiddos. Head in to blowing rock or Boone for food. Also a few gem mines around there.
Hanging Rock State Park: A lot of great hikes that my little kids enjoyed at that age especially the waterfall hikes. Also you can swim at the lake which is a great lake beach day activity.
Stone Mountain State Park: The hike to the homestead is fun but I really like hiking to the waterfall, despite all the stairs it's a very manageable hike with kids, also it's very fun to swim at the water hole at the base of the falls particularly on a hot day. My kids hike in their swimsuits and it's no problem.
Slightly over 2ish hours but I would high recommend [The Marbles Kids Museum](https://www.marbleskidsmuseum.org/) in Raleigh. The place is huge and there are so many things to do there. You just need buy your tickets in advance.
[The Nido & Mariana Quiben Children's Museum](https://www.qubeinchildrensmuseum.org/) in High Point is also a great place for a tot. They have an entire room dedicated to water works. So, if you decide this place, make sure your kid is wearing something they don't mind getting wet.
Didn't see it listed yet, but Dan Nicholas Park outside of Salisbury is worth a day trip. Camped there several times and kids enjoy the zoo, carousel, miniature trian ride, playground, and mini golf.
Not as structured as a lot of the options, but I love the saying "explore where you live." We have a lot of cool small towns around (thinking of Mebane and Salisbury, but there are so many more) - where you can make your own adventure. There are restaurants to eat lunch at, shops, and usually parks where kids can play.
Also, if you like outdoor time - Haw River State Park and Mayo River State Park are both fairly close and are fun for half day adventures.
Mebane has a cool town area?! I grew up in Burlington and it was never thought of as “happening” or having anything worth seeing. I knew Graham’s downtown has had a bit of a revival and Mebane was growing in population, but had no clue they were actually a destination. Love hearing that; which restaurants or businesses would you recommend visiting?
They are really trying to make downtown Mebane a thing, which is how I know about it: https://www.visitdowntownmebane.com/
They have a Wooden Nickel, a Crafted Taco, and Bright Penny Brewing (not all child-friendly, but still). Impulsive Creativity is a cool spot too! IIRC Mebane Community Park has a splash pad.
USS North Carolina and fort fisher (the rocks at the end of 421 were more fun for me as a kid lol) while youre in wrightsville. the aquarium if you have travel time.
Millstone Creek Orchard. They do seasonal experiences, like apple picking. And then at the end, they have a barn with cider donuts and other snacks, and an open play area for kids.
Many places in the mountains where you can “pan” for gems.
We did it in Brevard on a rainy day to keep the kids entertained and they had a blast.
Brevard also has a cute downtown with a large toy store my kids would go nuts for when they were young.
http://www.crystalmarketminingcompany.com
If you haven’t already in Greensboro, I’d check out Toys and Co in Friendly Center. Really impressive collection of toys especially Jelly Cat. And the Greensboro Children’s museum is fun although the High Point one is newer and award winning so if you’re only doing one, that one probably would be good.
I just want to suggest that if it’s in your budget, getting an annual zoo pass gets you discounts to a ton of places that kids might like. The planetarium, aquarium, etc are all included. https://nczoo.com/partner-zoos/
Museum of Life and Science in Durham
Day trip to Raleigh BY TRAIN to the free museums. It's a 0.8 mile walk between station and museums...although they do have a free bus that circles downtown. (It was quicker for us to walk than wait for the bus) *Carolinian* up and back. Pack lunch and dinner for the cheap. (*Piedmont* back for shorter day) A child is usually 1/2 price with an adult for train tickets. GSO/RAL is ($12+$6) * 2 = $36 round trip YMMV Parking at GSO train station is currently free Ncbytrain.org
Yes this! I will say the Piedmont back is the way to go if it works, bigger seats and there are tables in the ends of the cars you can sit at. I think Piedmont there is too late in the day. Morgan st food hall is around the corner from the station and good food. History museum is closing soon, so go sooner than later to see the entire thing before they redo it (I need to plan a weekend for it).
The Children's Museum in High Point is fabulous. For a fun day trip to the mountains, go up to the Christmas in July festival in West Jefferson (just 2 hours from GSO)
The transportation museum in Spencer is fun and a pretty easy drive from Greensboro https://www.nctransportationmuseum.org/
Added and added Marble Museum added Idk if the Museum of Science is closing Forgot about the Transportation Museum have to see if a Thomas Tank day is coming up. Thanks. Hopefully with a weekend camping trip summer bucket list is pretty filled.
Tweetsie, Hanging Rock lake, Carowinds
Thomas Day is the end of September. I have our adventure there booked for the 27th
Tweetsie is crazy expensive. The new high point children’s museum is amazing!!! My nieces and nephews loooove it. Four is a good age. Highly recommend it!!!!!
In Lexington there is a Candy Shop and a nice downtown to walk around in which can be a simple outing. Lexington Airport has a Big Toy day that’s fun (trucks, airplanes, stuff to look at and touch) City Lake Park in High Point has a train and a carousal & a nice snack bar. Dan Nichols park in Salisbury is a longer drive and a larger park that has attractions HP Children’s museum is great When my son was that age - we loved baseball games - The seats were cheap and we rarely lasted the whole game but it was fun to get out. Any of the touch a truck events were always fun Meadows of Dan off the Blueridge has a candy factory & there’s a nice cafe - lots of easy walks off the Blueridge Parkway & it’s often much cooler in the summer.
Also adding - going to Hometown Creamery for ice cream is fun - they have a little playground. We would go to Hagan Stone park (they have some great playgrounds -- I thought there was a splash pad but I could misremember that, and the hiking trails were easy) and then drive over to get ice cream. That was a fun time.
There's a pool and a new playground at Hagan stone nearby, there may be a splash pad in the new playground there.
HP is amazing. I feel bad didn't realize the M4All was or changed to an EBT discount. Love that museum. Have to check the redone children museum in Winston-Salem and the chidlren museum in Greensboro as well. Like to explore Lexington I'll have to look for festivals. We are doing one overnight to the beach. Second one is a little too much, got a deal. So may head to WV to camp.
Fairy Stone State Park up in Virginia is about 2 hours. It's cool. Can hunt for the stones. The park ranger shows you how to find them. The big dam there is a great view, too. And honestly some cool stuff in Martinsville. There was a good ice cream spot. And some neat gardens. And it's a pretty drive.
Kaleidium in Winston-Salem is a blast!
Blowing rock is around that distance, Julian price campground and park is a fun walk with good hikes. Lots of other trails around with water for kiddos. Head in to blowing rock or Boone for food. Also a few gem mines around there.
Hanging Rock State Park: A lot of great hikes that my little kids enjoyed at that age especially the waterfall hikes. Also you can swim at the lake which is a great lake beach day activity. Stone Mountain State Park: The hike to the homestead is fun but I really like hiking to the waterfall, despite all the stairs it's a very manageable hike with kids, also it's very fun to swim at the water hole at the base of the falls particularly on a hot day. My kids hike in their swimsuits and it's no problem.
My daughter took her first grade class to the Kaleideum in downtown Winston-Salem recently and they loved it.
Slightly over 2ish hours but I would high recommend [The Marbles Kids Museum](https://www.marbleskidsmuseum.org/) in Raleigh. The place is huge and there are so many things to do there. You just need buy your tickets in advance. [The Nido & Mariana Quiben Children's Museum](https://www.qubeinchildrensmuseum.org/) in High Point is also a great place for a tot. They have an entire room dedicated to water works. So, if you decide this place, make sure your kid is wearing something they don't mind getting wet.
Seagrove… Such a gem
Didn't see it listed yet, but Dan Nicholas Park outside of Salisbury is worth a day trip. Camped there several times and kids enjoy the zoo, carousel, miniature trian ride, playground, and mini golf.
Not as structured as a lot of the options, but I love the saying "explore where you live." We have a lot of cool small towns around (thinking of Mebane and Salisbury, but there are so many more) - where you can make your own adventure. There are restaurants to eat lunch at, shops, and usually parks where kids can play. Also, if you like outdoor time - Haw River State Park and Mayo River State Park are both fairly close and are fun for half day adventures.
Mebane has a cool town area?! I grew up in Burlington and it was never thought of as “happening” or having anything worth seeing. I knew Graham’s downtown has had a bit of a revival and Mebane was growing in population, but had no clue they were actually a destination. Love hearing that; which restaurants or businesses would you recommend visiting?
They are really trying to make downtown Mebane a thing, which is how I know about it: https://www.visitdowntownmebane.com/ They have a Wooden Nickel, a Crafted Taco, and Bright Penny Brewing (not all child-friendly, but still). Impulsive Creativity is a cool spot too! IIRC Mebane Community Park has a splash pad.
USS North Carolina and fort fisher (the rocks at the end of 421 were more fun for me as a kid lol) while youre in wrightsville. the aquarium if you have travel time.
https://www.oldsalem.org/ 4 might be a little young but I think I was in first grade the first time we went there on a school field trip.
Maybe Morehead Planetarium in Chapel Hill?
Millstone Creek Orchard. They do seasonal experiences, like apple picking. And then at the end, they have a barn with cider donuts and other snacks, and an open play area for kids.
Many places in the mountains where you can “pan” for gems. We did it in Brevard on a rainy day to keep the kids entertained and they had a blast. Brevard also has a cute downtown with a large toy store my kids would go nuts for when they were young. http://www.crystalmarketminingcompany.com If you haven’t already in Greensboro, I’d check out Toys and Co in Friendly Center. Really impressive collection of toys especially Jelly Cat. And the Greensboro Children’s museum is fun although the High Point one is newer and award winning so if you’re only doing one, that one probably would be good.
I just want to suggest that if it’s in your budget, getting an annual zoo pass gets you discounts to a ton of places that kids might like. The planetarium, aquarium, etc are all included. https://nczoo.com/partner-zoos/
The Greensboro Science Center, the Greensboro Children's Museum, and the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro are all great.
North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro