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 before the temperatures drop.
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. Discover the science behind clouds at Into the Mist and trek through Hideaway Woods, a two-acre nature discovery environment featuring treehouses, a flowing streambed and more. For all our tips on enjoying the museum, check out or 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.
Duke Gardens is currently undergoing renovations, so parking and accessibility will be different than the norm for the time being. Check out the Garden Gateway Project webpage for more details.
3. Go on a Mural Hunt
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, made in partnership with Mural Durham, 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.
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 Simon Says Dip This or indulge in a scoop (or two) from The Parlour. Head to the newly opened Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream to sample flavors like the signature brambleberry crisp.
5. Take a Dip or 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. While many of the Eno's trails and access points are currently closed due to summer flooding, Penny's Bend Nature Preserve has been cleared for public use. Section 9 and the first 25 miles of section 10 of the Mountains to Sea trail are also closed for the time being. Aside from these closures, Falls lake offers many trails, swimming access areas and campsites for visitors to enjoy.
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 sensory room. 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.
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. Explore Durham's Unique Farms
Spend some quality time with your kids and pick some fruit at a local farm. Herndon Hills Farm in South Durham has u-pick blueberries, blackberries, and muscadines. Head to Elodie Farms for a private tour to meet friendly goats and savor a five-course farm dinner, hopefully with a cameo by JoJo, the farm’s mini donkey. Or mark your calendar for an open farm day. It is a delicious activity that's perfect for summertime fun. The best part is creating yummy ways to use your fruit at home (if you have any left).
Both Waller Family Farm and Bahama Bluebs are closed for the season, but bookmark them for their 2026 season.
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.
Sit outdoors, get a coloring sheet, and expand your kid’s tastebuds at Luna Rotisserie and Empanadas on Main Street.
Let the kids stretch their legs in the expansive outdoor section at Lakewood Social while parents lounge over smashburgers, salads and drink specials.
