Love Durham as a Family

Gather your crew and embark on a journey of discovery, food and fun. Use the Love Durham as a Family challenge as a scavenger hunt to take the kids to places they will rave about and make memories that you’ll cherish. There’s something for all tastes and ages — from the picky eater to the unimpressed preteen. We’ve got delicious treats that will put smiles on faces, games that will make you laugh out loud and walkable districts to explore together.

The whole family can support local businesses and have some fun by participating in the Love Durham Challenge, part of the Love Durham campaign designed to inspire your Durham love and support small businesses during the slow winter months. Between January 5 and March 14, visit at least ten family-friendly places highlighted in bold on this itinerary, checking out our insider tips with more ways to discover things to love in Durham along the way. Work your way through the participating Durham restaurants, shops and attractions ideal for little ones through teenagers and don't forget to scan the QR code using the Discover Durham app at each of the locations you visit to earn prizes! Kids will be delighted to watch their progress track the places they have been.

Find more detailed instructions on how to participate in the Love Durham Challenge on our blog.

Find Challenge Instructions

Learn About the Love Durham Campaign

The 2026 Love Durham Challenge has ended. Check back next year for details on the 2027 challenge.

A day spent out of the house with small children in tow can be daunting and necessary in equal measure. In Durham, we’ve got plenty of opportunities for joyful exploration, intentional play, kid-friendly dining and more that will have you asking, “are we there yet?”

Start the day with breakfast at Monuts on Broad Street. You’ll be welcomed by a giant rabbit and the sweet smell of sugar. You can’t go wrong with a seasonal homemade doughnut, or build-your-own biscuit and bagel sandwiches. On nearby Ninth Street, take a little tour of Tiny, a cute place for children’s clothing and toys from high-quality brands.

Spend a few hours at The Wonder Lab, a STEM-centered play space and learning center for kids under six on University Drive. Have fun while learning in 90-minute play sessions with open-ended toys like a wind tunnel, pattern-making and building zones, a light table, nature nook and kid-friendly robots.

Stroll through the American Tobacco Campus and let the kids play on the lawn by the man-made river. Enjoy the beauty of the Love Durham light display on the Lucky Strike tower and check in at the QR code on an a-frame sign under the water tower. Don’t miss the beignets at MICHELIN Guide-recommended Seraphine, cute gifts and toys at Parker & Otis, authentic Puerto Rican Soul Food at Boricua Soul, crepes and coffee at Press and more.

Plan to spend most of the day at the Museum of Life and Science, one of the top family-friendly museums in the Southeast, celebrating 80 years in Durham in 2026. There are 84 acres packed full of indoor and outdoor attractions designed to spark wonder and curiosity in guests. Run through treehouses, play in water and mud, let a butterfly land on your shoulder, get all aboard the train, travel the dinosaur trail or see artifacts from space flights. Scan the QR code beyond the entrance.

Perk up with coffee at Omie’s Coffee Shop and Roastery, named after the owner’s beloved grandmother. Savor espresso drinks, drip coffee, cold brew, tea and local baked goods on North Roxboro while the young ones enjoy a corner dedicated for kids to play. Then buy, sell, trade or build at Bricks and Minifigs, a place for Lego lovers to unite on Guess Road.

End the day with a decadent sweet treat at Simons Says Dip This on downtown’s Parrish Street. They’re best known for their extravagant, Instagram-worthy chocolate-dipped ice cream cones overflowing with toppings. Kids will love the colorful Birthday Cake cone with sprinkles, cake crunchies, cake batter dip and cotton candy drizzle.

Explore the Durham County Main Library downtown for free and interactive things to do. Of course, there are books to check-out, but there's also Purple STEAM, a 17-foot-tall, 3D-printed structure, a multi-sensory room, a teen gaming area, recording studio and inclusive play area. Explore all four floors of the library to see other installations that encourage vibrant, modern learning and spend some time on the terrace that has patio chairs and tables. Look for the QR codes for check-ins on the Love Durham-branded a-frame signs near the library entrance.

Your kids will love local favorite Dame’s Chicken & Waffles. Dine on crispy fried chicken and syrup-drenched waffles with sweet schmears, which are flavored whipped butters. Later, pick up a sweet treat from East Durham Sweet Shoppe, a charming site for sweet tooth satisfaction. Choose from cakes, cake pops, cookies, pies, cotton candy, caramel apples, chocolate-dipped strawberries and gourmet popcorn.

In the evening, take your crew to play nostalgic games at Boxcar Bar & Arcade. Purchase tokens for vintage pinball, arcade games and interactive racing. Challenge someone to a Dance Dance Revolution duel or show off your speed at air hockey. There’s a bar and pizza kitchen for when you’ve worked up an appetite and outdoor space for sitting by the fire pit. Children under 21 are welcome with a parent before 7 p.m. daily.

Do something different and take a trip to Boxyard RTP, an entertainment district in the Research Triangle Park made from shipping containers hosting locally owned dining and retail businesses. There’s shopping, dining and live entertainment options that will be fun for all ages. Find QR codes to scan on A-frame signs in the common areas and look for the Love Durham banners on the stage. Buy board games and toys at Guildhall Games, face a code-breaking challenge at Game On Escapes & More, and create something with a 3D printer at The Makery. Order Korean bibimbap from Bulkogi, salads from Will + Well Salads, tacos from La Taquiera and plow-to-pint beer and square pizza from Fullsteam Brewery.

Your teen may roll their eyes when you say you’re going to take them to stare at some walls, but trust us, they’re really cool walls. The murals at UHILL Walls are one of the largest collections of public art in the southeast. More than 40 murals appear on the side of UHILL Apartments, inspired by Durham’s history and famed residents. There are QR codes to scan on A-frame signs in the courtyard areas. At UHILL there are lots of opportunities for shopping, dining and recreation for the whole family, try Peruvian rotisserie chicken from Alpaca Peruvian Chicken, or get a latte from Triangle Coffee House or enjoy pizza from Dino’s before shopping at Bowerbird Flowers and Apothecary. If you want more to do, try to get out of Escape on Purpose, an escape room that will test your code-breaking mettle. This group activity will have you solving puzzles, searching for clues and working together.

Don’t miss the popcorn or the special event QR codes when you go to the Carolina Theatre’s Sensory-Friendly Film Series. Kids movies will be shown January 10 and February 21. The Carolina Theatre will also present BIG LOVE with Stormie Daie, a children’s drag storytime event on February 14, where you can earn an additional check-in.

You’ll have a slam dunk if you take your crew to a basketball game for another opportunity to scan an event QR code. On Sunday, January 18, watch the Duke University Women’s Basketball Team take on Georgia Tech for Special Olympics Night at the famed Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Disney-loving littles will be star struck as their magical icons arrive, ballgown-clad, for Princess Day at the Durham Convention Center on January 10. Get a challenge check in as well as serious parent-of-the-year credit for adding this event to your winter itinerary.

Durham's built for families who play together and maybe compete a little along the way. Hunt for Love Durham QR codes across the city, turn exploration into friendly rivalry, and watch your kids fall for the Bull City as hard as you do. Winner buys ice cream.