Indoor Fun I (Winter 2012)

Posted on December 14, 2012 by daddyweekly

“There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.” That’s what I heard a lot as a kid, especially during, um, bad weather. But as the temperature drops and more and more people start talking about snow, I say it is perfect timing to consider some indoor activity options that drop further down the list during the nine months of summer we have around here.

With this post I am introducing the “Indoor Fun” page, a list (to grow in the future) of places where kids can play nice when the weather doesn’t.

Sleigh Rides and Cider at Oak View Park (12/2/2012)

Posted on November 30, 2012 by daddyweekly

Let me make a safe prediction by saying this Saturday will not see heavy snow as in the picture above. With temperatures in the sixties and no precipitation, it may even be hard to imagine a winter wonderland at all. But the sleigh in Oak View has wheels (hopefully) and a glass of hot cider is always welcome.

“Sleigh Rides and Cider” at Oak View County Park. Saturday Dec-1, from 5p-7:30p. Free, open to the public, no registration.

I featured this park in a summer post and on Father’s day; a leisurely 0.8mi hike is published at http://goo.gl/maps/JXlt. Go early for the hike – stay for the sleigh ride and cider!

The image is One horse open sleigh! By pmarkham, used under the CC BY-SA license

Can I just skip Halloween? (10/31/2012)

Posted on October 26, 2012 by daddyweekly

I’m sorry, no you can’t. Unless you stay home and hide, which may not be the worst plan given the rainy weekend forecast.

This weekend, you can pretty much go to any of your favorite hangouts and expect to find a Halloween-themed happening. Long-time readers will know that I often have outdoorsy, or science-y, or artsy, so here one event for each of these three categories:

Let’s start with the outdoorsy stuff: There is a haunted hike on Tuesday at Jordan Lake State Park; walk the 1/2 mile trail anytime between 7p-10p and meet real (and not-so-real) nighttime creatures.

New Hope Valley Railroad does haunted rides this Saturday at 4p, 5:15p, 6:30p and 7:45p. (The 7:45p ride not for small kids, I read.)

The NC Symphony is playing spooktacular music at 1p and 4p. Show up early to try out some classical instruments yourself.

Then there is a new event, Raleigh Living Dead taking place on City Plaza. The website states it is for all ages (before 8p at least) and it does have kids activities, but all the grown-ups walking around in zombie costumes might be a little bit too much. Tickets are $10, and $5 for kids.

Buffaloe Road Aquatic Center

Posted on October 12, 2012 by daddyweekly

The new Buffaloe Road Aquatic Center

Update: Buffaloe Aquatic Center is closed for maintenance until Aug-27, 2013.

Eagerly awaited, but it still took us a couple of weeks to get to check out the new indoor pool, also known as “Buffaloe Road Aquatic Center”. (Side note for map geeks: If you look at the location on Google Maps, the top-down view still shows forest, whereas the 45-degree view shows the center under construction; toggle back and forth to see how the location changes.)

Buffaloe Road Aquatic Center with water slide, river, vortex, toddler area, volleyball and basketball

I am impressed by how much was packed in a relatively small space; I would say the building envelope is about a third of the size of Pullen Aquatic Center. However, it does not feel cramped, even though you can find a wading pool with implements, toddler slide, water volleyball, water basketball, a river, a “vortex”, and towering over everything, a three-story water slide for “anyone between 48 in. and 300 lbs”. There are only 3 lap swim lanes, and they are not Olympic length. (However, an Olympic size pool is planned for phase 2, in an adjacent building.) The building features a nice, open design, and is equipped with the latest sustainable features. Solar heaters, green roof, etc.

Spacious family changing rooms

The changing rooms are of course also brand spanking new, and I was particularly pleased to find two family changing rooms. (In other pools, no children above 5 are allowed in the changing room of the opposite sex, and I will one day be slightly nervous about sending my 5-year-old daughter alone to the changing room.) So the family room is much appreciated, and is very convenient. (Not perfectly labeled, though: Just enter the door that says “Pool” next to the regular changing rooms.)

Not open when we went, but available in a month or so were a concession stand and a birthday celebration “room”; it can be reserved ahead of time.

We (2-year-old and daddy) both liked the pool, and for this age-group, it is well worth the 15-minute drive from downtown instead of going to Pullen with its “big-boy-pool”.

Toddler area with gradual entry, toddler slide, water curtain, tumble buckets

Hours: (check website)
Monday: Closed
Tue-Sat: 10am-7pm
Sun: 1pm-5pm

Admission: (check website)
Slightly more than other pools; $3 for kids, $7 for adults, and double that if you’re not a Raleigh resident. (It did cost $8 million to build.)

Directions:
“Up Capital and right on Buffaloe”. Or look up 5908 Buffaloe Road, Raleigh NC 27616.

Festival in Motion (9/29/2012)

Posted on September 28, 2012 by daddyweekly

Last year, I think I stumbled upon the Festival in Motion by accident on one of my green-way walks. This year, I’ll make a point to go again. If you haven’t been on the greenway system much, this is an excellent “show case” opportunity, Because with some planning, you can check out

Eliza Pool Park
Walnut Creek Wetland Center
Chavis Park
Rocky Branch Greenway
Walnut Creek Greenway
Little Rock Greenway

All in one loop! See a custom map that I’ve put together, which is a (long) loop walk for anyone living in downtown proper or nearby. Here is how you could spend your Saturday:

Head out along Rocky Branch to Eliza Pool Park, where starting at 11am there will be a bike decorationg session.
Around noon (I guess), the decorated bikes will parade along Walnut Creek Greenway to the Walnut Creek Wetland Center with a police escort. Either ride with the bike parade, or head out a bit earlier and watch them ride by.
At the Walnut Creek Wetland Center you’ll find food trucks, live music and other assorted merrymaking, culminating in a 5K in the early afternoon
Head back toward downtown along Little Rock Greenway, stop for a snack and some more play at the awesome Chavis Park playground
Head back top downtown along Chavis Way and Lenoir St.

I’ve walked (and biked) this loop several times now, and it truly is an excellent cross section of Raleigh Parks and Rec; note that this is 6.25 mi, and thus 2-3 hours of walking, breaks not included. Plan to be out for most of the day…

BugFest 2012 (9/15/2012)

Posted on September 14, 2012 by daddyweekly

Every year in September, Centennial Plaza and surrounding areas turn into a crawly, fluttery, buzzing celebration of our dear friends, the insects. Everybody working with insects will be there, from the Franklin County Beekeepers to Alberti’s Flea Circus. Special guest this year: The mantids. (The picture above is from our own Boylan Heights backyard; parying mantis are not uncommon around here.)

The one attraction I haven’t been able to stomach in previous years, but may attempt this year is Cafe Insecta. If you have a funny feeling about what this might be, you’re right. We’re not talking about ladybug shaped cookies or spaghetti “worms”. We’re talking bugs. Real bugs. You eat them. The good news? Prepared by famous Raleigh chefs. Try Cricket Bruschetta, courtesy of Wilmoore Cafe. Or Peanut Bugger Crunch from buku. I dare you!

BugFest is on Saturday from 9am-7pm, and beyond grilled bugs, there are tons of other exciting activities and presentations.

Iceplex Raleigh: So cool (2012)

Posted on August 17, 2012 by daddyweekly

What would be a better place to escape summer than an Olympic sized sheet of ice? Prepared, clean, smooth ice. Judging from yelp reviews, Iceplex seems to have quality ice, definitely one of the key factors for an ice skating rink. Iceplex is also where kids and adult hockey leagues meet and where you can send your youngens to become world-class figure skaters.

This Saturday, Iceplex opens the doors for everybody who would like to find out more – or just cool off. The Open House is from 1:00 – 4:15; it is $2 to get in. (I always thought that “Open House” means no admission, but I guess that is not the case.)

The Open House will include a hockey and a figure skating exhibition; sign-up for the fall season is just around the corner and classes (ages 3 and up) start after Labor Day.

IcePlex is just outside the beltline. From downtown, take Capital Blvd. and (soon after crossing 440) turn right onto Brentwood and go about a quarter mile.

www.iceplex.com

Image credit: the family that skates together… by angela7dream, used under the CC BY-NC license

Family Fun Day at Artspace (8/18/2012)

Posted on August 17, 2012 by daddyweekly

Labor Day is approaching, and summer camps are coming to an end. Among them, the Summer Arts Program at ArtSpace. Since art is made to be seen, the program (week-long half-day classes for over 600 kids) ends with a large exhibition.

Family Fun Day is the conclusion of the the exhibition (and the summer program). See what the kids have created this summer, and look what your own kids are drawn towards. Acrylic painting? Clay? Large sculptures? Keep in mind for next year’s classes, and perhaps their work will be on display in 2013.

painting time by Ernst Vikne, used under the CC BY-SA license

2nd Annual Family Science Olympiad (7/28/2012)

Posted on July 27, 2012 by daddyweekly

I’ve added some tips to get away from the 100 degree weather in previous posts, with one recommendation notably absent: Marbles. Marbles is cool, in many ways; cool things to do, and of course cool enough even in the heat of summer.

This Saturday, for all those who didn’t quite make it to London, they are hosting a Family Science Olympiad where you can prove your science skills in direct use for what I would call “competitive crafts projects”. (Drop an egg without breaking it; launch rockets; …) This designed to be completed as a family team, so you’ll have a good bonding opportunity over shared problem solving and shared success – or the lack thereof!

Marbles Kids Museum; 1pm-4pm; free (with admission)

Science Olympiad by Art Jessen, used under the CC BY-NC license

Wild Water Wipe Out at Logan’s Trading Co. (7/14/2012)

Posted on July 13, 2012 by daddyweekly

If you live around downtown Raleigh and have a house with yard, you’ve probably been to Logan’s Trading Company at Seaboard Station. Together with the ACE Hardware across the street, the are a good reason that you don’t need to go outside the beltline when searching for a hardware store. (Reminder: I’m not paid to write this. I just mention stuff I like and find noteworthy.) Now it would seem that such a store does not need extra events to attract customers, and my guess is that they are doing it just for fun!

And fun it is: Every second Saturday of the month, Logan’s is hosting Wipe-Out, a family event featuring a Bouncy House Water Slide, water games, beach music and more.

Kids should wear their swimsuits under the clothes so they are ready for some wet action while the parents check out the rhododendron and hydrangea. When you’re done, head over to ACE Hardware (there’s always something you need from the hardware store) and don’t forget the free popcorn on the way out.

Logan’s Trading Co.: 707 Semart Drive, Raleigh, United States, 27604.
Wipe Out every second Saturday of the month from 11-4.

ACE Hardware: 802 Semart Drive, Raleigh, United States, 27604.
Cool stuff and Popcorn year round.

The Daddy Weekly

Things to do with Kids in Raleigh, NC

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