Children's Activities

Discover the many free opportunities for family fun across North Carolina. Whether your family enjoys exploring nature, our rich history, or simply spending time together on an adventure, there's a weekend of family fun ahead! Better yet, plan an inexpensive vacation around the many public attractions and activities in North Carolina:

Museums

See artifacts and works of art that help tell the story of North Carolina and of the whole world.

Aquariums

Discover North Carolina's unique environment by touching stingrays, watching river otters play or looking a shark in the eye.

Zoo

Meet animals from across the world and see diverse plant life all without ever leaving the Tar Heel State.

Historic Sites

Pan for gold at the site of North America's first Gold Rush, relive a colonial or Civil War battle and more at these historic places that tell the North Carolina story.

State Parks

Experience North Carolina's most prized natural treasures from the state's highest peaks to its pristine shorelines and everywhere in between.

Take a Carolina "Zoofari"

Get aboard a specially outfitted, open-air vehicle for an exclusive tour of the 37-acre Watani Grassland exhibit! Fun for the entire family awaits you at the N.C. Zoo in Asheboro.

Tours run twice daily, Thursday through Sunday.

Learn More About the N.C. Zoo's Guided Tour

Tour Historic Tryon Palace in New Bern, North Carolina

Discover Tours at Tryon Palace

Concerts by Your North Carolina Symphony

From selections from the greatest hits of classical music like Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 to fan favorites from the world's best films to engaging concerts of accessible music specifically chosen with kids in mind, the nation's first state-supported symphony offers something for everyone.

Learn More About The North Carolina Symphony

Cultural Trails

North Carolina has such a wealth of wonderful arts experiences that it's hard to know where to begin. Six web-based guides, produced by the N.C. Arts Council, highlight noteworthy cultural destinations available in different parts of the state. Guides cover music, literature, craft, performing arts and more.

Plan Your Carolina Cultural Adventure Today