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Spring Break Activities: 15 family-fun ways to spend spring break in Raleigh, Durham, beyond

Spring break is here for some students in the Triangle. For others, it starts at the end of the week. If you're staying in the Triangle, here's how to pass the time.

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Sarah Lindenfeld Hall
, Go Ask Mom editor

Spring break is here for some students in the Triangle. For others, it starts at the end of the week.

If you need a camp - and quick - check our NC camp guide where you'll find venues that offer spring break and track-out camps. If you're staying in the Triangle, here are 15 family-fun activities to keep you busy.

Work your brain at Mazes & Brain Games

Experience plenty of "wow" moments at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences' Mazes & Brain Games, a special exhibit that runs through Sept. 3. Tickets are $5. The hands-on exhibit lets visitors put their brains to the test in a series of optical illusions, full body games and 3D puzzles. There's plenty here to keep kids of all ages - and adults - busy. And don't miss the Rat Maze presentation, where you can watch rats test their own brains. They happen on most days at 1 p.m.

Plant some seeds at Marbles

Little hands can plant little "seeds" at Marbles Kids Museum's newest exhibit, Seedlings. It opened over Thanksgiving and offers lots of opportunities to learn where food comes from and encourages healthy eating. If we're lucky, and it doesn't actually snow during spring break (#fingerscrossed), I expect there also will be lots of activity in Marbles' actual outdoor garden, which connects to the Seedlings exhibit. While you're there, admire the beautiful GIANT new mural next to Seedlings and Marbles' popular pirate ship. (And, if you haven't been downtown in a bit, here's what's happening next to Marbles at the corner of Blount and Morgan streets.) Admission to Marbles is $7 per person.

Sign up for an NC Science Festival event

This year, the annual science festival runs for an entire month, starting on April 1 with free and inexpensive events that are designed for all ages. The festival is a celebration of science, technology, engineering and math (so-called STEM subjects) and its impact on North Carolina. It is the largest science festival in the nation and the first to encompass an entire state, according to the festival's website.The festival has an incredibly easy-to-use calendar so you can pull up events near you. If you're traveling in North Carolina for spring break, don't forget to check out the events that will be offered near your destination too.
The popular Durham museum's Lab is open 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., weekdays, and 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., weekends, with all kinds of hands-on experiments for kids. Admission is $18 and $13 for kids ages 3 to 12.

Head to the lab at the Museum of Life and Science

The popular Durham museum's Lab is open 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., weekdays, and 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., weekends, with all kinds of hands-on experiments for kids. The week of March 27, for instance, the theme is "Magic of the Eye." Participants will learn how and why you can trick your eyes. The Lab, which is inside the main building, is free with admission to the museum, which you could seriously spend an entire day at. Admission is $18 and $13 for kids ages 3 to 12. And, don't forget: Parking woes at the museum have been eased thanks to the opening of its new parking deck, which doubles the spaces there.

Take a ride on a 75-foot zip line

You'll find that at the fantastic playground Forest Ridge Park in Raleigh. The newish city park also includes a really easy trail near Falls Lake that's perfect for young children and families.
You'll find that at the fantastic playground Forest Ridge Park in Raleigh. The newish city park also includes a really easy trail near Falls Lake that's perfect for young children and families.

Play some foosball, go to the movies in downtown Cary

Check out downtown Cary's Downtown Park, which boasts open spaces; shaded tables and benches; and outdoor foosball, table tennis tables and bocce ball court. The park sits across from the Cary Arts Center at 319 S. Academy St. Then, head to Cary's downtown theater, just a few blocks away, to take in a screening of "Wonder," the PG-rated movie that's based on the amazing book of the same name. (Be sure to read a parents guide about the movie to determine if its right for your family.) Tickets to the movie are $3 to $5. It's scheduled for 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., April 5; 9:30 p.m., April 6; 7 p.m., April 7; and 2 p.m., April 8. If you go to an evening showing, be sure to check out Downtown Park's large fountain all lit up.
There's a movie theater, ping pong tables, an ice cream shop, an old-fashioned soda fountain and more.

Attempt to make a basket in these crazy basketball hoops

Tucked away behind William Peace University and Seaboard Station in downtown Raleigh, Halifax Park offers a one-of-a-kind experience that families are still discovering about four years after it reopened. The five-acre park at 1023 Halifax St., which originally opened in 1972 and got a major makeover in 2014, includes a playground and community center. And, for my kids, it's known as the one with the "crazy" basketball hoops - a public art installation called Hoops Playing Hoops that features five organically shaped and interactive basketball hoops that are between five and 16-feet high. It's a lot of fun! Don't worry about bringing a ball. You can check one out from the community center there.

Head to the ball park

The Durham Bulls opens its season with a 6 p.m., April 5, game, at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The Carolina Mudcats starts its season with a 7 p.m., April 5, game at Five County Stadium in Zebulon. Both teams have games at home through April 11. They also have some fun promotions coming up. The Durham Bulls has fireworks April 5 and April 6; it's LEGO weekend for the April 7 and April 8 games with interactive Lego stations around the stadium; and kids can run the bases after the April 8 game. The Carolina Mudcats have fireworks on April 6 and special deals for kids who are part of Muddy's Buddies Kids Club on April 8.
This year, Durham Bulls games feature food trucks, fireworks, $1 concessions night, taco night and more. Check their online schedule for a full list.

Take in some soccer

Both North Carolina FC and North Carolina Courage professional soccer teams have games during spring break. North Carolina Courage has a game at 3 p.m., March 31. They'll have an egg hunt. Also, get 50 percent off North Stand tickets by donating used sports equipment during a drive hosted by the folks at Mix 101.5. North Carolina FC will have a home game at 7 p.m., April 7. Both games are at WakeMed Soccer Park. If you go, check our post on 5 fun things you can do at these games beyond watching soccer (including a pro tip for avoiding the line at Lumpy's Ice Cream).

Try your hand at some art

Inside the N.C. Museum of Art's expanded African Art gallery is Threads of Experience, a hands-on opportunity to learn more about textiles created in Africa. Here you'll find a giant loom that stretches nearly from the floor to the ceiling, embroidery stations, pattern play and a book nook. It's free. During spring break, the museum also will host family-friendly tours at 10:30 a.m., weekends; the What's in the Box program for preschoolers is on April 5; and pop-up art is at noon, April 7, as part of the opening of the You Are Here exhibit. The art museum's calendar has details.

Go for a hike

If it's beautiful out, as it usually is around here during spring break, go for a hike as a family. Not sure where to go? We have a page for that. It lists family-friendly hikes nearly Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and the Triangle.

Consider a day trip

Ready to get out of town for a day? We list road trips across North Carolina that are worth the drive for families.
Ready to get out of town for a day? Maybe it's time to explore a new town you've never visited before.

Check out Kidzu Children's Museum

In Chapel Hill, Kidzu Children's Museum hosts lots of regular programming throughout the week, including kids yoga, storytimes and messy morning art programs. It also offers a pretzel making workshop on March 30 and a Lego engineering workshop on April 6. On April 8 is a special edition of its pay what you can Sunday. It's usually offered on the first Sunday of each month (which is Easter day, when the museum will be closed). In April, they moved the day - when visitors can pay only what they can afford for admission - to April 8. While you're in Chapel Hill, consider checking out a free science live program at Morehead Planetarium and Science Center and catching one of its planetarium shows.

Play outside

Local outdoor family-fun destinations are opening up for the season. Three Bears Acres is open now. Hill Ridge Farms opens April 7. Go Ape in Raleigh, with two ropes courses, will be open starting March 30. Treerunner Adventure Park, also in Raleigh, is open now.
Local outdoor family-fun destinations are opening up for the season. Three Bears Acres is open now. Hill Ridge Farms opens April 7. Go Ape in Raleigh, with two ropes courses, will be open starting March 30. Treerunner Adventure Park, also in Raleigh, is open now.

Play inside

Black light mini golf, anyone? Or, how about coffee for you and play for your littles? If it gets wet and rainy or, considering this winter, snowy, during spring break week, head inside to one of the region's many indoor play spaces. We have a list on our indoor playgrounds page with locations in Raleigh, Durham, Cary and beyond.

Happy spring break!

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