Family-Friendly End-of-Summer Bucket List
Parents, looking for family-friendly, end-of-summer activities in Durham? Here are 11 fun things to do with the crew to make sure you soak up every bit of sun you can before the seasons change.
In the blink of an eye, the back-to-school bell will be ringing, and it will be time to bust out the backpacks and lunch boxes. Soak up these last days of summer with a quick family weekend getaway to Durham filled with new adventures.
To bring you the ultimate family-friendly end-of-summer bucket list, Discover Durham teamed up with Christina Riley, a local mother and co-owner of NC Tripping. From picking blueberries to hanging with the lemurs, this list will help you make long-lasting end-of-summer memories with your little ones in Durham.
1. Visit the Museum of Life and Science
With 84 acres of hands-on learning for all ages, the Museum of Life and Science is the perfect summer stop for kids of all ages. Experience the four-billion-year-old story of how mountains rise, rocks turn to sand, and water reshapes the planet at the Earth Moves exhibit. Explore a hopeful glimpse into a sustainable future with the museum's newst exhibit, From Here On: Shaping Our Future. Discover the science behind clouds at Into the Mist and trek through Hideaway Woods, a two-acre nature discovery environment featuring treehouses, a flowing stream bed and more. For all our tips on enjoying the museum, check out our blog.
2. Plan a trip to Sarah P. Duke Gardens
Stunning year-round, Sarah P. Duke Gardens is a magical garden wonderland offering a range of fun and imaginative programs for children and families. With numerous open green spaces and pavilions, it's the perfect spot for a picnic. Explore the discovery garden, meet the chickens or adventure around the 55 acres of specialized gardens filled with unique plants and flowers. Our blog post dedicated to the gardens will give you the full tour.
Over the past year, Duke Gardens has been going through renovations, and the transformation is finally complete. With a new entrance, visitor center, cafe, expanded green spaces and improved learning and event facilities, the gardens are now back in full and better than ever. Check out the Garden Gateway Project webpage for more details.
3. Go on a Mural Hunt
Durham's public art scene stretches far and wide across the city. From murals to statues and more, you could devote a whole trip to seeing it all. Art lovers will want to make sure they devote at least an afternoon to scoping things out.
A mural scavenger hunt is a fun and creative way to get the kids out of the house. Create fun clues and help your kids discover murals around the Bull City.
The mural guide highlights 26 of the city's incredible murals. Take the crew to Satellite Park, a park full of eight decommissioned satellites painted by local artists, and UHill Walls, a commercial space with 40,000 square feet of murals.
Request a guide so you can have all the information right at your fingertips.
4. Grab a Local Cold Treat in Durham
It's hot out there, so cool down with a sweet treat from one of Durham's best ice cream shops! Enjoy a popsicle from Locopops or try a unique flavor at Pincho Loco Ice Cream. Get your ice cream dipped at Simons Says Dip This or indulge in a scoop (or two) from The Parlour. Head to the family owned La Monarcha Michoacana to sample flavors like the signature Mango Tango.
5. Go for a Hike in Durham
Durham holds plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities. The Eno River flows through Durham for 33 miles before tumbling into Falls Lake on the eastern edge. Much of the land that touches both the river and the lake is available for public use, including the trails that wind around the two bodies of water. The Mountains to Sea Trail offers excellent trails for both day hikes and backpacking excursions. Eno River State Park also offers many beautiful, well maintained trails to take the family out on. Check the website ahead of time to stay up to date on trail closures. The Bull City also holds other hiking and walking opportunities outside of the Eno and Falls Lake. Stay close to town on the American Tobacco Trail or take a stroll around the Duke University Golf Course at the Al Buehler Trail. Take the kids on a dino hunt and go search for Bronto on the Ellerbee Creek Trail.
6. Tour the Duke Lemur Center
Plan a visit to the Duke Lemur Center, the world's largest sanctuary for endangered lemurs, to see lemurs up close. Reserve a ticket online for a tour that allows families to walk through the lemur’s habitat. Get all the details on the 14 lemur species at the center, tour information and more, on our blog post.
7. Visit the Durham County Main Library
A visit to the Durham County Main Library should definitely be on your summer bucket list. Check out the children's area complete with an interactive large lite-bright board and book time to check out the multi sensory environment. Explore all four floors of the library to see other installations that encourage vibrant, modern learning and then spend some time on the terrace that has patio chairs and tables.
Enjoy the local programming, family-friendly spaces and rows of books filled with adventure at the six other libraries around Durham as well.
If you're looking for another stop after the library, check out our full guide on accessible activities in Durham.
8. Spend some time at Durham Central Park
With a beautiful view of the Durham skyline, Durham Central Park is an excellent spot for you and the kids to run around, play or just soak up the sun. Create a collaborative family masterpiece on the pixel wall. Let your kids make some friends on the playground. Located in the heart of downtown, this park has plenty of open green space, a covered pavilion and many community events to enjoy. Durham also has 68 other amazing public parks with open green spaces for adventures, picnics, and more.
9. Go on a Back to School Shopping Spree
Get your kids amped up for the new school year by shopping for new school supplies. Shop local to turn heads at school with unique things that no one else has. Hit stores like Parker & Otis and Parker Paper Company for essentials like notebooks, bags, pens, pencils, erasers and more. If you're in the market for cute accessories and sustainably sourced clothing, head to Rose and Lee Collective. Indio offers stationary, home goods and fun accesories like bags, scarves and hats. For a broad selection of goods from both independent and national stores stores all in one place, look no further than The Streets at Southpoint. Lastly, the 15-501 corridor has a number of big box stores to stock up on the everyday essentials.
10. Discover Durham's Family-Friendly Indoor Activities
While we all want to soak up the last rays of summer sun, sometimes it's just too hot. Take a break from the heat and step inside one of Durham's awesome indoor attractions.
Whether you have teenagers or pre-schoolers, the adventure park at OC Ariel will prove to be a blast. With activities friendly to ages 3 and up, the whole family can enjoy a ropes course, rock climbing, zip lining and more.
Take a few spins around the rink at Wheels. This roller rink offers guests the chance to get up and get moving without having to be outside. Rent a pair of roller skates or blades for you and the fam and hop into the rink. If you need a break, take a seat at the roller cafe for pizza, fries and more before winning big in the arcade.
Take the energetic crew to Notasium, an interactive, music-based play space where kids can bounce, sing, beat and slide on structures and instruments. From toddlers on up, kids will enjoy sliding down a giant guitar, bouncing around in the enclosed drum bounce houses and playing music notes on the interactive wall.
Equally as fun and educational, The Wonder Lab is an early childhood STEM play space geared towards children 6 months to 6 years of age. Parents can take their kids here for open play, scheduled classes and even birthday parties.
The surrounding 15-501 corridor is home to lots more family-friendly dining and entertainment, so check out our district guide to plan a full afternoon.
11. Eat at a Family-Friendly Restaurant
Ticking off all of these summer activities is sure to bring an appetite! Durham is a city filled with families and foodies, so it's no surprise that there are incredible local restaurants that cater to families.
Add extra whipped cream to your French toast and sit in a comfy booth at Elmo’s Diner, a family-friendly diner on Ninth Street. Named the best diner in NC by Food Network, Elmo's is sure to be fun for the whole family. With offerings on both the sweet and savory sides of breakfast, Monuts is another great spot for a family breakfast.
Sit outdoors, get a coloring sheet, and expand your kid’s tastebuds at Luna Rotisserie and Empanadas on Main Street.
Kick back at Jean's by the Sea while your kids enjoy coloring pages or run around and play with toys in the spacious back yard.
Let the kids stretch their legs in the expansive outdoor section at Lakewood Social while parents lounge over smashburgers, salads and drink specials.
