From the mountains to the sea, there are plenty of fun-filled activities for the whole family in North Carolina. But some of them can get a little pricey, so its helpful to find a few activities that go easy on the wallet. Many of North Carolina's museums are free to the public, and the state's aquariums and zoos never go past $10 for admission.
According to its website, the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences is the largest museum of its kind to be found in the American South. The museum has a skeleton of an Arcocanthosaurus, a carnivorous dinosaur, and it is the most complete specimen on display to the public in the world. The museum also has exhibits on prehistoric North Carolina, ecosystems from the mountains to the sea, a fossil lab, and a large collection of live snakes. The museum is free to the public and is open daily.
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
11 West Jones St.
Raleigh, NC 27601
919-733-7450
naturalsciences.org
Located on 15,000 acres, the North Carolina Zoo is one of the largest "natural habitat" zoos in the country. The habitats do not make use of cages; all animal enclosures make use of their respective creatures' natural habitats. The zoo houses more than 1,000 individual creatures and more than 200 species. The zoo focuses on the animals of North America and Africa and includes specific ecosystems such as marsh, prairie, forest edge, grasslands and desert. Tickets to the zoo are only $10 for adults and $6 for kids. The zoo is open year 'round from 9-5 except for Christmas Day.
North Carolina Zoo
4401 Zoo Parkway
Asheboro, NC 27205
1-800-488-0444
nczoo.org
There are three North Carolina Aquariums spread across the state's Outer Banks. The locations at Pine Knoll Shores, Fort Fisher and Roanoke Island all offer families a chance to get up close to some of the state's most beautiful and intriguing aquatic life. Visitors can touch stingrays, watch otters gleefully play and come face to face with a shark. Though the aquariums are stationed at the Outer Banks, the exhibits focus on aquatic life in all regions of the state. The N.C. Aquariums are open 9-5 daily year round, except for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission is $8 for adults and $6 for children 6-17. Admission is free for children under 5.
ncaquariums.com
Roanoke Island Aquarium
374 Airport Road
Manteo, NC 27954
1-866-332-3475
Pine Knoll Shores Aquarium
1 Roosevelt Boulevard
Pine Knoll Shores, NC 28512
1-866-294-3477
Fort Fisher Aquarium
900 Loggerhead Road
Kure Beach, NC 28449
1-866-301-3476
