Help with things to do in Raleigh NC

[ellynsoh]

Our family, three kids aged eight, nine and nine, their mom and grandmother are flying to Raleigh NC in June. We have two days to travel to Shallotte, NC for a wedding. We are unfamiliar with the area and wonder if you can suggest nearby activities that might interest the kids or places to stay. Expensive ocean hotels are not necessary, since we are traveling to Disney's Hilton Head Resort after the wedding. Any ideas or help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Momonthegogo]

looks like Shallott is close to Myrtle Beach. One of my kids favorites is Magiquest. Don't know that I would drive to Myrtle just for that but There is lots to do there and this would be a good one for kids. There is a nice science museum in downtown Raleigh. Check out Marbles Children's museum. It is really nice but it maybe too young for your kids. It has an IMAX theatre. Durham has an even better science museum which should not be far from Raleigh.

 

[soar2014]

I absolutely love the NC History Museum and Science Museum in Raleigh. They are a favorite of my son age 7. The price is free you only pay for parking if it's on a weekday, weekends you pay no fee for parking however you must get there early.

 

[havaneselover]

Pullen Park is awesome.
http://www.raleighnc.gov/parks/content/ParksRec/Articles/Parks/Pullen.html

Your problem will be there are so many great things to do in this area.

 

[KTSMOM]

I would check out the Science Museum in Raleigh. They have recently redone it and it is amazing. http://naturalsciences.org/
Also the Life of Science Museum in Durham is fantastic too.http://lifeandscience.org/
There is a fee for the one in Durham but the one in Raleigh is free.
Marbles is a great kids museum in downtown Raleigh. The 9 yr olds might think it a bit young for them but the 7 yr old would really enjoy it. http://www.marbleskidsmuseum.org/
Pullen Park would be fun, they have a carousel and a train for kids to ride.
http://www.raleighnc.gov/parks/content/ParksRec/Articles/Parks/Pullen.html
Now I haven't been to the Three Bear Acres as my DD is 13, but I hear a lot of good things about it and I'm sure your kids would enjoy it. For some reason I can't get the website to show correctly, but google Three bears acres Raleigh NC and you can pull up their website.
If you are traveling to Shallotte by way of Wilmington then you could take the kids to Fort Fisher Aquarium. It's in Kure Beach, which is near Wilmington.
http://www.ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher

Let me know if you have any other questions about places to stay or eat while you are in Raleigh.

 

[HM]

I also concur with the Museum of Natural Science in Raleigh (free) and the Fort Fisher Aquarium south of Wilmington (if you are a member of a Zoo elsewhere, you may get free admission). Also in Wilmington, the SS North Carolina Battleship is a good way to spend some time.

 

[disprincessatheart]

My son is just 4 and I would say pullen park is going to be boring to 8 and 9 yr old seven though my son loves it now.

My suggestion with 2 days is one day for the science and history museums downtown (they are free and next door to each other. That also let's you see downtown (nothing amazing but nice to do). Then 2nd day do the aquarium at ft fisher. It's a 2 hour drive from Raleigh.

 

[havaneselover]

We were there a year ago with my then 9 and 7 year old and they loved it as did I. Depends on the kids I guess.

 

[NC State]

OK, I can't add anything else here...it's well covered.

 

[HM]

You asked about places to stay. Did you want places in Raleigh or near Shallotte?

 

[jeffbear]

Life-long Raleigh resident here ... and yeah, it looks like you've got most of the kid specific Raleigh stuff covered above.

I would also add the North Carolina Art Museum to the list along with Marbles, the Natural Science Museum and the Life and Science Museum in Durham. You could easily fill two days with those alone and the State museums are all free ... which is awesome.

As far as places to stay go, downtown Raleigh has most of the attractions but not much by way of hotels. There are a really only three in the city center area I'd even come close to recommending ... the Sheraton Raleigh, the Raleigh Marriott City Center and the Hampton Inn on Glenwood Ave. The area around the Crabtree Valley Mall has a lot more options and price points available and is only a 15-20 minute drive from Downtown. Also, North Hills shopping area has a really nice Renaissance hotel and that shopping area has probably the best movie theater in town.

If you want to take one of those days down in Wilmington, NC (which would put you within a half hour of Shallotte) you simply cannot miss the Battleship North Carolina with kids that age. There is a fee but it's spectacular. http://www.battleshipnc.com/ Do note that even in the off season, hotels in Wilmington will be a lot more expensive than in Raleigh.

 

[tinkslite]

http://www.ebookmall.com/ebook/fun-...780762773312?gclid=CMyc3anBsL0CFa1j7AodNWEACw

 

[ellynsoh]

You asked about places to stay. Did you want places in Raleigh or near Shallotte?

It looks like we have Raleigh well-covered, unless you can think of other options, but anything along the route from Raleigh to Shallotte would be of interest. Thanks to all!

 

[HM]

It looks like we have Raleigh well-covered, unless you can think of other options, but anything along the route from Raleigh to Shallotte would be of interest. Thanks to all!

There is very little of note between Raleigh and Shallotte, just a boring Interstate and trees.

 

[jeffbear]

There is very little of note between Raleigh and Shallotte, just a boring Interstate and trees.

C'mon now ... Clinton and Burgaw are offended.

OK ... you're right. It's literally the most boring 2 hour drive possible in the whole State.

 

[Straitlover]

If you are planning on driving I40 to US17, you will be going through Wilmington. There's always the battleship USS North Carolina, plus you can stop at the boardwalk at Carolina Beach.