Wake County Parks (wakegov.com) in Raleigh, including Historic Oak View County Park and Blue Jay Point County Park, offer a variety of leisure activities. Blue Jay Point County Park is a 236-acre park with outdoor playgrounds, picnic areas and educational gardens. Historic Oak View County Park has culture and agriculture exhibits, picnic areas and farm animals. Both parks offer fishing and hiking.
For some nature education for your kids, pay a visit to Greensboro's long-time favorite Bicentennial Garden (greensborobeautiful.org). The Bicentennial Garden features deciduous trees, shrubs and flowering plants that keep the garden colorful throughout the year.
For quiet enjoyment, visit Surf City's Family Park. In addition to picnic shelters, swings and slides and a basketball court, the park has a 920 feet boardwalk.
Hendersonville Antique Toy Museum (hendersonvilleantiquetoymuseum.com) in Hendersonville houses toys from 1880 to 1960. Exhibits include: 40 dollhouses, ranging from the period 1900 to 1950; European and American trains from 1887 to 1942; a wind-up toy collection and a doll collection with dolls spanning 1860 to 1960.
The Greensboro Children's Museum (gcmuseum.com), a sprawling 37,000-square-foot facility, offers an educational experience with a variety of hands-on exhibits. Children learn about real-life settings such as groceries, pizza houses and hospitals. They can get creative in the Theater and the Creation Station. The museum is also the first in the country to have the Edible Schoolyard where kids can learn gardening and cooking hands on.
The Children's Museum of Wilmington (playwilmington.org) has several playful hands-on exhibits to spark your child's imagination and help him learn simultaneously. Your child can sculpt, paint or weave at the Art Studio here, or visit the Imagination Circus and perform circus acts.
Ev-Henwood Nature Preserve in Leland is a 175-acre coastal forest set in rural Brunswick County. The Preserve features native animals and plants, and fields and ponds. Western North Carolina Nature Center (wildwnc.org) in Asheville houses various species of plants and animals indigenous to the southern Appalachian region. Summer camps for children and several educational programs on southern Appalachian region are held. Encourage your kid to give a better life for orphaned, injured or homeless animals through the Center's Adopt an Animal program.
Jambbas Ranch Tours (jambbas.com) in Fayetteville provides an opportunity to take your children on an adventurous ranch tour. The ranch raises many animals including buffaloes, llamas and elk as well as cows, deer and camel. There are a range of exotic birds and domestic animals at the ranch. There are also some scenic views to be enjoyed. It takes more than one hour to tour the ranch.
Indulge in some family shopping while in North Carolina. Flora Ottimer Children's Boutique (floraottimer.com) in Blowing Rock sells clothes, furniture as well as gift items, toys and accessories for children. If you are planning some surprise treat for your kids, try 3 Bears Popcorn in Morehead City; this store has all types of candy and popcorn. For all-family shopping, head to B & B Gifts and Interiors in Sylva. This store has gift items and collectibles for kids, men and women as well as household items.
