Raleigh is probably not the most important state capital nevertheless it’s removed from boring, particularly in case you have tweens and teenagers. It seems, there are many issues to do in Raleigh with youngsters, from standup paddleboarding on one of many many lakes to snapping Instagram selfies with artwork murals.
Whether or not your teenagers are outside fanatics, music-obsessed, trend loopy, or want to spend their days on their iPhones scrolling social media, there are many methods to maintain them entertained and excited in The Metropolis of Oaks.
As locals to Raleigh with two teenage ladies, we all know the challenges dad and mom face once they wish to get them out of their bedrooms and do one thing worthwhile on the weekends, so we’ve ready this record of concepts for what to do with teenagers in Raleigh so you possibly can spend high quality time collectively as a household.
Issues to Do in Raleigh with Teenagers
1. Hit the Boutiques!
Raleigh is a consumer’s paradise, and never due to the quantity and high quality of its malls crammed with world manufacturers and recognizable chains, but additionally due to its big vary of distinctive, unbiased shops providing a wide range of stylish and trendy gadgets.
Whether or not you’re searching for new garments, equipment, house items, or collectibles corresponding to vinyl information or vintage books, the town’s love of supporting locals contributes to the abundance of one-of-a-kind boutique outlets.
Youngsters searching for stylish and trendy clothes and niknaks ought to take a look at Fringe of Urge, a boutique retailer with a curated choice of stylish clothes, equipment, and residential items with a concentrate on distinctive and unbiased designers.
One other store our teenagers love is the Pop-Up Outlets on Martin St, which is the place you will discover fashionable and customized clothes, for thrift retailer lovers, Unorthodox Classic is a consignment boutique with a big selection of gently used, stylish clothes and niknaks at inexpensive costs.
Alternatively, stroll across the Village District, North Hills, or Crabtree Valley Mall for top road model names and well-known shops. My ladies and I all assume South Level Mall in Durham is best than Crabtree. (So could also be value the additional drive!)
2. Standup Paddleboard on Lake Johnson
Certainly one of our favourite issues to do in Raleigh on a sizzling summer time’s day is take our standup paddleboard out onto one of many lakes in Raleigh.
Of all of the lakes to select from, our private favourite is Lake Johnson, as a result of its location close to NC State College makes it simply accessible, and regardless that you’re minutes from downtown, it feels very quiet and peaceable.
Because it’s by the college, the park is commonly crammed with school youngsters and younger professionals and creates a vibrant and easy-going ambiance that teenagers will love.
Lake Raleigh is one other lovely lake on NC State’s Campus. It’s a real hidden gem of Raleigh!
3. Play Classic Arcade Video games at Boxcar Bar & Arcade
I at all times like introducing my teenagers to issues that have been particular to me after I was their age, and so displaying them classic video games at Boxcar Bar & Arcade is a technique to do this.
You possibly can play traditional Donkey Kong and Pacman video games, or problem one another to a sport of air hockey or Mario Kart.
Whereas loads of the leisure is nostalgic for Mother and Dad, it’s not all classic. You can too play Stranger Issues and Rick and Morty Pinball, which modern-day youngsters will love.
The bar meals is primary, however the video games make it value visiting.
4. Blow Off Steam at Drive Shack
When examination season rolls round, your teenagers might have an outlet to blow off some steam, and what higher manner to do this than to hit one thing? By one thing, I imply a golf ball at a driving vary.
We’ve visited Drive Shack in Raleigh a couple of occasions and at all times have an excellent snort practising our swings. Extra subtle teen golfers might even wish to go to one in all Raleigh’s golf programs.
5. Get Your Ninja On at OC Aerial
Only a 35-minute drive from Raleigh is OC Aerial, an indoor journey park in Durham, which is form of like a trampoline park blended with a ninja course and mountaineering health club in a single.
Unfold out over 16,000 sq. ft, it has 4 ninja programs, a 165-foot zip line, and a 16-foot excessive, excessive ropes course.
For those who’re searching for a strategy to get energetic along with your teenagers and have enjoyable within the course of, this is likely one of the finest points of interest in Durham County to just do that.
It’s fairly the enjoyable exercise! Don’t miss the excessive pace slide – simply be be ready for an explosive touchdown.
6. Play Minigolf at Journey Touchdown
Journey Touchdown is nostalgia in its purest kind. This iconic amusement park in Raleigh has been a household favourite attraction for many years and is the place to go for a day of Go Karting, Miniature Golf, Laser Tag, enjoying Arcade Video games, or hitting the Batting Cages.
For those who’ve by no means been to Journey Touchdown earlier than, you then’ll wish to be sure to go at the very least as soon as. It’s one of the iconic issues to do in Raleigh as a household.
7. Take On The Excessive Ropes at GoApe
We’ve performed many excessive ropes impediment programs and zip line experiences with our daughters since they have been youngsters, and now their teen and tween age, they nonetheless benefit from the excessive ropes at GoApe.
Situated close to Falls Lake, only a 25-minute drive from downtown Raleigh, GoApe options 20+ obstacles and two zip traces, which take about an hour to finish.
Climb up into the canopies and navigate your manner throughout suspended bridges, over obstacles, and whizz down zip traces while immersing your self within the tranquil setting of the timber.
The minimal age to do Go Ape is 10 years previous, so that is actually an exercise designed for tweens and teenagers.
8. Go on a Hike
A good way to get energetic and spend high quality time along with your teenagers is to go away the gadgets at house and hit the climbing trails.
There are a number of fashionable climbing trails in Raleigh, however our favourite place for climbing must be the William B. Umstead State Park, which is only a 15-minute drive from downtown, has a wide range of trails of varied lengths, and is appropriate for all ability ranges.
For those who don’t wish to depart the town limits, Lake Johnson Park has a stunning lakeside path that options scenic views of the lake and passes by way of lush forest.
Alternatively, The Neuse River Path is one other favourite amongst locals and vacationers alike. It’s a multi-use recreation path recognized for its picturesque views alongside the Neuse River and is utilized by hikers, bikers, and horseback riders.
One other simple one teenagers might love is the Yates Mill Historic Park. It’s solely a mile lengthy and what they’ll in all probability love essentially the most is ice cream with the cows after it throughout the highway on the NC State Diary Farm, the place they produce the enduring native ice cream, Howling Cow.
9. Snap Selfies with Artwork Murals
Raleigh has a thriving artwork scene, and it’s one of many the reason why we love residing there. There are dozens of artwork murals that add colour and character to the town’s panorama, largely painted by native and visiting artists.
Our teenagers love snapping photos of those murals and admiring the intricate and colourful artworks.
A number of the most well-known artwork murals might be discovered within the downtown space, particularly within the Warehouse District and alongside Fayetteville Road.
A few of our favourite murals are the “All Are Welcome” signal by Luke Buchanan, painted on the aspect of Poolside Pies, the so-named “Mount Rushmore of Hip Hop ” mural of hip-hop artists (Drake, Nicki Minaj, Kendrick Lamar, and J. Cole) on S. Dawson St, and Raleigh’s Smallest Backyard artwork set up on 415 Hillsborough St.
Simply the opposite week, we did a motorcycle tour of the Downtown murals with our tween Savannah! You possibly can see that right here.
10. Go on a Bike Journey
Raleigh is just not in need of greenway trails, so if you happen to like to go on bike rides, then make sure you pack your bikes with you when visiting Raleigh.
A number of the most well-known biking trails in Raleigh embrace the Neuse River Path, talked about above, and The Capital Space Greenway System, which is a sequence of 28 single trails, that quantity to 112 miles (161 km) by way of Wake County.
The Greenway passes by way of parks, forests, and concrete areas. You don’t need to bike all the trails, however a stunning part for first-timers is the Neuse River Greenway Path to Falls Lake State Recreation Space. This part encompasses all the finest that Raleigh has to supply, from its industrial suspension bridges to its untamed wetlands and previous agricultural fields.
You’ll find extra adventurous, off-road tracks in William B. Umstead State Park, which is extra fashionable with mountain biking fanatics.
11. Escape the Room
Does the concept of being locked in a room along with your youngsters for an hour with no technique of escape petrify you? Don’t fear, it’s not as dangerous as you would possibly assume!
In truth, going to an escape room along with your teenager might be an extremely enjoyable and rewarding expertise! Not solely does it provide the alternative to bond and work as a staff, fixing clues and puzzles with the intention to escape, however it could actually additionally strengthen communication and problem-solving expertise.
Escape rooms are additionally extremely enjoyable! The storylines and the joys of a countdown add a component of pleasure, and the mysteries inside the room can spark curiosity and encourage essential considering, making it a good way to spend high quality time collectively as a household.
A terrific, teen-friendly escape room in Raleigh is Nerd Escape Rooms.
12. Go Tenting at Kerr Lake
Are you struggling to get your teen to place their telephone down and be current? You’re not alone, this can be a wrestle for many dad and mom today, together with ourselves.
A good way to get your teenagers to cease doom scrolling on-line and disconnecting from our digital society, is to embrace the outside on a household tenting journey.
A spot we like to go tenting, which is lower than an hour away from downtown Raleigh, is Kerr Lake. The most important lake in North Carolina, and in addition spans the border with Virginia.
Kerr Lake is a spot the place you possibly can slip into rest mode, go for a swim, hire a ship, or launch your personal boat, and easily take pleasure in being in nature.
We often go to the campsite close to Satterwhite Marina, because it’s one of many closest websites to Raleigh, however there are a number of campsites across the lake, every with their very own blissful and tranquil setting.
You possibly can examine our tenting journey at Kerr Lake right here.
13. Ten Pin Bowling at Kings Eating & Leisure
One other nice wet day exercise, and even for a night after dinner, is a sport or two of ten-pin bowling at Kings Eating & Leisure.
We love Kings due to its fashionable and smooth design, which feels extra like a special day venue over a dingy, sticky bowling alley. Every lane comes with plush leather-based seats and is illuminated by neon lighting, which creates a moody and energizing ambiance.
The meals at King’s is straightforward bar meals delicacies. They serve pizzas, burgers, and tacos – one thing all youngsters like to sink their tooth into!
14. Go to a Stay Music Live performance
Have a teen, you already know a teen can’t be discovered with out headphones glued to the within of their ears. I used to be that manner too with my Walkman!
Music is so necessary to youngsters and Raleigh has loads of alternatives for them to see a stay live performance both indoors or outside, plus Raleigh has the massive, annual J Cole’s Dreamville Competition, crammed with hip hop and rap artists.
Kalyra simply attended her first live performance at Pink Hat Amphitheater with mates – no dad and mom in sight! We’ve taken the women to concert events at our largest venue, the indoor PNC Enviornment, and Savannah and I will likely be touring to close by Greensboro in August for Zach Bryan.
We’ve got loads of smaller venues as nicely. The newly opened Downtown Cary Park has an excellent amphitheater with rising musical acts enjoying, Koka Sales space Amphitheater is one in all my favourite outside venues within the nation, and Kalyra and I will likely be seeing Inhaler in October within the smaller indoors Ritz Raleigh.
Even smaller, which Kalyra cherished is the Candlelight live performance sequence held in a historic house. Hear fashionable pop artist’s most well-known tunes performed by a string quartet. Kalyra cherished this mom daughter date expertise listening to Taylor Swift and Savannah is asking I take her to the Coldplay model #mostcertainly The Bridgerton model is coming quickly in September!
15. Go to a Board Sport Cafe
For those who’re searching for issues to do with teenagers on a wet day in Raleigh, then relatively than keep at house or in your resort, go take a look at a board sport cafe corresponding to The Kitchen Desk or Meeples Brew.
They’ve over 400 board video games, so there may be sure to be at the very least one which piques your teen’s curiosity. Have a chunk to eat over a sport of Exploding Kittens, or get aggressive over a traditional sport of Danger.
For mother and pa, you possibly can take pleasure in a craft cocktail, and for the kids and tweens, they’ve alcohol-free mocktails, so that they don’t really feel ignored. Maples Brew additionally has fairly good espresso.
16. Take a Cooking Class
For one thing a bit of completely different and distinctive, how about taking a cooking class? It’s no secret that youngsters gained’t be teenagers perpetually, so why not assist them put together for maturity by studying methods to cook dinner?
A cooking class with Kate, an professional cook dinner and gardener, offers them the chance to learn to make Italian-American or Cuban meals, utilizing culinary traditions handed down by way of generations in her household, in addition to utilizing contemporary produce she grows in her backyard.
These cooking courses happen in Durham, only a 30-minute drive from downtown Raleigh.
My tween has additionally loved a Chocolate Extravaganza cooking class at Flour Energy Cooking Class earlier than in North Hills the place she made Chocolate Brownie Cookies, Chocolate French Toast, and Chocolate Whipped Cream. .
In addition they do themed weekly courses for preschool to teenagers, plus summer time and faculty break camps, and additionally household and grownup cooking courses!
17. Go Museum Hopping
One factor Raleigh is just not quick on is museums. Town has a number of famend museums that put Raleigh firmly on the map, and museum hopping is one in all our prime issues to do in NC.
The North Carolina Museum of Artwork is likely one of the most well-known within the space, that includes an in depth assortment of visible arts, together with work, sculptures, and ornamental arts from numerous time intervals and cultures, together with an authentic Picasso portray in its assortment.
The museum additionally has a stupendous park with outside installations which can be value exploring. We additionally love visiting throughout their annual Artwork in Bloom pageant the place you possibly can see artwork items reimagined into lovely floral sculptures.
The North Carolina Museum of Pure Sciences is one other fashionable museum, particularly for teenagers and teenagers, as a result of it has 4 flooring of interactive reveals on subjects corresponding to dinosaurs, wildlife, and environmental conservation. They even have stay animals and a analysis heart the place you possibly can watch scientists at work.
For youngsters concerned about historical past and sports activities, the North Carolina Museum of Historical past and The North Carolina Sports activities Corridor of Fame each supply compelling reveals and interactive shows. Each Duke and UNC Universities have actually attention-grabbing sports activities corridor of fames and small museums.
Raleigh’s museums usually are not solely academic for youngsters but additionally inspiring.
18. Attend a Sports activities Occasion
Raleigh is a sports activities metropolis, whether or not you’re into school soccer, hockey, or baseball, one can find Raleigh’s sports activities scene is not like some other.
Probably the most well-known sporting venues in Raleigh is the PNC Enviornment, house to the Carolina Hurricanes NHL hockey staff and the NC State Wolfpack basketball staff.
The sector usually hosts thrilling hockey video games and basketball matches, the place you and your youngsters get the possibility to cheer on their favourite groups and really feel the vigorous and electrical ambiance.
Raleigh can be house to NC State College, the place college-level soccer, basketball, and soccer video games are held usually.
We additionally love seeing the NC Braveness (ladies’s) or NC FC (males’s) skilled soccer staff at WakeMed Soccer Park. We additionally generally watch school playoffs there as nicely! In truth, as I’m getting ready this submit for publishing, we’re headed to the NC Braveness sport tonight, the place I will likely be honored at half time as a lady who contributes positively to the Raleigh neighborhood. I’m fairly excited for that! And sure, the kids are coming!
Alternatively, head over to Durham to observe a Durham Bulls baseball sport, a Triple-A minor league baseball staff whose sport days are at all times thrilling!
19. Be part of the Go Karting Academy at Rush Hour Karting
A good way to supply your teen some thrilling enjoyable is to tear up the Go Kart monitor at Rush Hour Karting.
This isn’t only a Go Kart monitor but additionally has an Superior Karting Academy, which is a course particularly designed for youngsters to permit them to be taught sportsmanship and precious driving expertise.
They’ve an enormous, multi-story monitor, with state-of-the-art karts and security tools.
Whereas your teenagers be taught to drive, mother and pa can take pleasure in some meals or a sport of billiards or foosball.
20. Play with VR at Augmentality Labs LLC
Step into the long run at Augmentality Labs LLC, the one Digital Actuality Arcade within the Triangle space.
Nestled inside Paterson Place Procuring Heart in close by Durham, this VR expertise offers you the possibility to play as much as 70 video games, a few of that are group video games, so you possibly can your teenagers can play collectively.
Strap in your VR goggles and headsets, and tackle the function of dragon slayers or tackle pirate lords and sail the seven seas, there’s a sport to go well with all ages and style.
Is Raleigh good for teenagers?
Raleigh is a good vacation spot for youngsters as a result of it has a lot for them to see and do. There’s a vibrant arts and tradition scene, with quite a few museums, galleries, and theaters to discover.
Additionally, as a result of Raleigh is house to a number of universities and schools, there’s an general youthful and energetic ambiance, and most of the points of interest are geared towards the youthful crowds.
There are additionally so some ways to get outside and supply your teenagers an opportunity to place their telephones down and detox from the digital house. All year long, there are numerous seasonal and vacation festivals and occasions, with Christmas being a specific thrilling time for teenagers.
We additionally discover Raleigh to be a really secure metropolis. As talked about, I let my 16 yr previous go to a live performance within the metropolis on her personal (We dropped her off and picked her up), nevertheless it was secure, nicely organized and managed and lots of safety personnel available!
No matter your youngsters are searching for, be is enjoyable, journey, tradition, or a spot to unwind, you will discover all that and extra in Raleigh.
Ideas for Teenagers Touring to Raleigh
To make your journey run smoother, listed below are some phrases of recommendation about touring to Raleigh with teenagers…
- Contain them within the planning course of. Discover actions and points of interest that curiosity each member of your loved ones, not simply your teen (it’s your trip too!)
- Pack snug sneakers. There are loads of nice alternatives for strolling, even if you happen to don’t go climbing, you possibly can discover most neighborhoods on foot.
- Flip off social media for some time. It’s nice to remain linked with family and friends by sharing your experiences by way of social media, however ensure to plan some downtime off your telephone to take pleasure in time as a household.
- Plan for naps and breaks. Everyone knows how teenagers like to sleep. We advocate staying in downtown Raleigh so you’re near every little thing, after which you possibly can return to the resort for downtime.
The place to Keep in Raleigh
We at all times advocate the Residence Inn downtown Raleigh by Marriott to our family and friends once they go to, as a result of regardless that they’re a well known luxurious resort chain, they’ve cozy condominium fashion (all-suite) lodging which is good for households in want of house to unfold out.
We’ve stayed right here a couple of occasions and have discovered the suites snug. The rooms embrace kitchens plus a seating space for stress-free in. There’s additionally a rooftop bar with unbelievable sunsets and skyline views, which our teenagers like to snap pictures of!
The placement can be preferrred, simply throughout the road from the Performing Arts Heart, so you possibly can simply stroll to eating places downtown in addition to the museums and leisure venues.
See costs and availability right here!
Ultimate Ideas on Visiting Raleigh With Teenagers
As dad and mom of teenagers, and residing in Raleigh, we all know how good is it to do issues as a household that entails actions that will let you bond along with your teen on a extra mature degree.
It’s one in all our favourite ages for journey, as a result of they’re beginning to turn into extra unbiased, and develop their very own values and opinions, and their pursuits are extra just like mother and pa. We’re happy the playground days are behind us.
We hope this information gave you some concepts for what to do along with your teen and have an pleasant time within the Metropolis of Oaks.
If you wish to dive deeper into any of those points of interest and actions talked about on this submit, you’ll wish to go to our different web site, That is Raleigh – it’s crammed with a great deal of info on visiting or residing in Raleigh. Simply use the search bar or navigation to seek out what you want.
