Spring break means lots of chances to explore new destinations with your family. From road trips to the best local playgrounds, WRAL Family has your guide to the fun.
Spending less at pump, but more on other things
Before you hit the road, makes sure to check out our Fuel Tracker to see local gas prices. AAA Carolinas said the average gas price in North Carolina is $2.87 per gallon as of Friday. Overall the travel company says gas prices are 30 to 40 percent cheaper than last year at this time.
While you might be saving more at the pump, AAA says that overall hotel stays are costing 8 percent more than last year. If you are flying somewhere, domestic flights are costing passengers about 7 percent more this year.
Day trip ideas
Spring break is a perfect chance to explore a new places with your family. Plus day trips mean no hotel stay to worry about.
We have a list of five neat places to visit with your family, including the Shangri La Stone Village in Prospect Hill. It features a miniature stone town.
Hitting the road? Make sure to keep an eye out for these roadside attractions, including South of the Border and Buc-ee's.
More day trip ideas:
Visit some playgrounds
There are many new playgrounds to check out, including some indoor ones.
More than 20 park projects are underway in the city of Raleigh, some coming with features like edible gardens, boardwalks over water and other jaw-dropping additions firsts in the Triangle's playground and park scene.
There's also a new 300-acre park planned near Garner and Fuquay-Varina. Beech Bluff County Park will feature trails, community gardens, playgrounds, picnic shelters, a wildlife viewing platform, classrooms and more.
In the last year alone, three new playgrounds opened in Apex, Cary and Wake Forest, attracting hundreds of families.
Families can spend several hours at Pleasant Park in Apex. It opened in late 2023 at 3400 Pleasant Plains Road. The star feature of the park is its 35-foot-tall tunnel slide, but the park also features an "Enchanted Forest" with nine inclusive play villages for kids of different ages and abilities.
The Downtown Cary Park opened in 2023 with giant cardinal slides and a splashpad -- but it's so much more than a place to play. Residents approved a $68 million bond project to develop the park. The six-acre park features ponds, a waterfall, walking bridges over bubbling streams, gardens, event space and nature-based areas. There is an amphitheater, a grab-n-go market, picnic areas, multiple dog parks, a dog bar and playgrounds for kids of all ages.
The Town of Wake Forest opened the Holding Park Inclusive Playground in early 2024. Located at 133 W. Owen Ave., this large playground was designed for children of all abilities with wheelchair accessible entrances, rides and slides and a mix of sensory-rich play experiences.
More playgrounds
While some days may be great for a trip to the playground, on yucky days those littles still need somewhere to get their energy out. We have a list of great playground options for smaller children and those ages 5 to 12.
Plan your spring break and summer
As we move into pool and beach season, WRAL Out and About and WRAL Family will have even more tips on how to beat the heat and explore the state!