Taking the Raleigh Activities for Kids Outdoors

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In our previous post, we ran through several fun-filled Raleigh Activities for Kids that children of all ages can enjoy. However, each of those events and activities was one that takes place in an indoor setting. As the weather begins to cooperate more and more with us here in Rocky Mount and the surrounding areas, it becomes easier to bring them for a fun day outside. Given the close proximity of your new home at Belmont Lake Preserve to the city of Raleigh and its seemingly endless great kid activities, we continue with our second of two posts on the topic. These six activities though, on the contrary to the previous post all take place outdoors.

Now, given the protocol that we spoke of in the last post and despite being Outdoor Raleigh Activities for Kids there still are regulations to be followed regarding social distancing and so forth. You will want to check each individual park or establishment on the list to see what their guidelines are. This way, all will be safe and once that is out of the way, we can get to the most important part of our journey into Raleigh…the fun!

Fresh Air and Great Times to Share: Outdoor Raleigh Activities for Kids

Raleigh, as you can see from the distance listed from each of the destinations below, roughly sits about one hour from your new home in Rocky Mount. Traveling this quick trip down the highway from Belmont Lake Preserve not only gives you and your children a short road trip to have some fun, but it also creates memories that can last a lifetime. In a generation seemingly consumed by technology and devices that many times keep our youth indoors staring at a screen, these Raleigh Activities for Kids are all outdoors and all in spots of beautiful natural scenery. 

Dorothea Dix Park

2105 Umstead Drive, Raleigh

Called on its own official website as a “Park for Everyone, Built by Everyone,” Dorothea Dix Park is the first Raleigh Activities for Kids we will look at in this post. The park is open seven days a week from sunrise until sunset. Bullet pointed below are the five separate areas at the huge park and a brief description of each.

  • The Big Field- 35-acres of open meadow combining rolling hills and flat open spaces surrounded by a mixture of spectacular trees. A popular area for picnics, kites, or just running and playing as you like.
  • The Grove- 16-acres of shaded hillside with an incredible view of the Raleigh skyline.
  • Flowers Field- 11-acres of open rolling lawn. Feature gorgeous daffodils in the early Spring. A very popular spot for family and friend meet-ups
  • Harvey Hill- Another 4-acre, conveniently shaded grassy hillside. This is always a great place to meet up and for the kids to play.
  • Williams Field- 3-acres flat grassy area with a beautiful, high pine-grove backdrop

Distance from Belmont Lake Preserve: 61.8 Miles (1 hour)

Pullen Park

520 Ashe Avenue, Raleigh

Pullen Park was the very first-ever public park in North Carolina. Likewise, it is one of the oldest amusement parks in the world. For these reasons and so many more, Pullen Park has remained one of the most iconic settings for Raleigh Activities for Kids Outdoors for over a century. On top of the park itself and an on-site restaurant, when working at full capacity Pullen features the C.P Huntington miniature train and paddle boats.

Distance from Belmont Lake Preserve:  62.0 miles (1 hour, 2 minutes)

Laurel Hills Park/Sassafras All Children’s Playground

3808 Edwards Mills Road, Raleigh

This next stop for Raleigh Activities for Kids boasts the largest playground in the entire city of Raleigh. The Sassafras All Children’s Playground is one just as described…for ALL the kids. The playground area even features an area accessible for special needs children. In addition, it is an amazing wooden structure with tunnels, bridges, towers, swings, and rings, all set over soft sand that lies beneath. Also at Laurel Hills is a 50-foot zip line feature, basketball courts, and therapeutic, independent play areas and elements for the children too.

Distance from Belmont Lake Preserve: 63.3 miles ( 1 hour, 4 minutes)

TreeRunner Adventure Park

12804 Norwood Road, Raleigh

Here is an outdoor stop for the family with a bit of a more adventurous side. Located in North Raleigh, Tree Runner Adventure Park has the perfect Raleigh Activities for Kids who are seeking a thrill. The Adventure Park has seven different courses, with 70 obstacles, and three different difficulty levels. This is a full-day trip, as it takes some time to get harnessed and go through the orientation process. But once you are there, literally, the sky is the limit.

Distance from Belmont Lake Preserve: 68.1 miles ( 1 hour, 5 minutes)

Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve

2616 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary

A great spot to bring the kids, especially in the summertime, as Hemlock Bluffs boasts many shady areas to enjoy in the heat. This 140-acre park was established over four decades ago. It is highlighted by three miles of mulched walking and hiking trails for all ages that lead to several amazing views from the on-site overlooks.

Distance from Belmont Lake Preserve: 71.8 miles (1 hour, 10 minutes)

Frankie’s Fun Park

11190 Fun Park Drive, Raleigh

Now here is a classic stop among Raleigh Activities for Kids that take place outdoors. Almost every kid and adult in the area has at some point enjoyed this classic amusement park. Features include mini-golf, batting cages, arcade games, bumper cars and boats, go-karts, and laser tag. They also have some rides for the older or more daring children on the trip including a four-story ropes course and local favorite rides the “Sidewinder,” “Drop Zone,” and “Windstarz.”

Distance from Belmont Lake Preserve: 72.9 miles (1 hour, 10 minutes)

Running Free with Outdoor Raleigh Activities for Kids

These Raleigh Activities for Kids are maybe easier to appreciate than ever before after the past year of out of the ordinary happening limiting our outdoor time. Between these and the indoor options included in our first of this two-part series, you can see why so many people, yourself included, are moving to the surrounding Raleigh area. The short drive from BLP to any of these venues is just that a short drive. But the childhood memories of playing throughout these spacious fields and activity parks are ones that will last much, much longer.

For more information or any details on the Belmont Lake Preserve new home community, visit belmontlakepreserve.com.

Photo Credit: visitraleigh.com

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Safe Fun is Just Down the Road with Raleigh Kid Friendly Events

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We have all had to adapt to in the past 10-11 months to restraints that we never before considered. With restrictions put on certain activities, it may seem more difficult than usual for the kids to have a fun day outside of your new home in Rocky Mount. On the contrary, just a short drive away from Belmont Lake Preserve are numerous Raleigh Kid Friendly Activities. So, not only can you enjoy the great local fun, but the city of Raleigh also has a wide variety to keep the whole family busy.

Now, obviously, we are all aware of certain actions that we may have to take when visiting public facilities, especially for those that are indoors. Regardless, with a bit of cooperation for safety’s sake, a lot of fun awaits you and your children at Raleigh Kid Friendly Activities. In this and the post to follow, we will give you no less than ten options to get out with your kids for the much-needed burning off some energy.

Raleigh Kid Friendly Activities: Keeping it Indoors

In our second and final blog entry that is to follow this article, we will look at the outdoors Raleigh Kid Friendly Activities. However, in these initial five stops, as long as safety regulations are followed, a great time is waiting for you all day long.

Marbles Kids Museum,  201 East Hargett Street, Raleigh

The Marbles Kids Museum is the ultimate in Raleigh Kid Friendly Activities. Open from 10:00 am- 5:00 pm Wednesday-Sunday, this classic downtown stop for endless kids fun is well known by all area parents. With innovative, hands-on exhibits, award-winning programs and larger-than-life movies, the hardest part of being at Marbles is finding time to do all the great activities they have in one day! Always fun and always educational, the children and you will truly cherish your trips to the “Kids Museum.”

Distance from Belmont Lake Preserve: 58.6 miles (1 hour, 3 minutes)

Rush Hour Karting, 5335 Raynor Road, Garner

Rush Hour Karting in Garner puts the “Fast” and “Fun” in Raleigh Kid Friendly Activities. Get ready for a day of racing here, as Rush Hour features indoor, high-speed karting. Their 1/3 mile track hosts different types and speeds of European-designed karts, some of which can reach speeds of 40 mph. Bring the whole crew for some hairpin turns and high-speed straight away action! In addition to the track, the kids can tackle the rock climbing wall, play video games, and much more. Once you’ve been on the “fast track” to Rush Hour, you will continue to race back.

Distance from Belmont lake Preserve: 63.2 miles (1 hour, 6 minutes)

Launching Pad Trampoline Park, 6421 Hillburn Drive, Raleigh

Ever heard the expression that the kids are “bouncing off the walls?” Well, at the next destination for our Raleigh Kid Friendly Activities, they can literally “bounce off the walls” and anyplace else. With 33,600 square feet off trampolines and foam pits, combined with basketball areas and even full-size courts, the bouncing and jumping starts upon entry and doesn’t end until you leave. Don’t forget to try the incredible XD Motion Simulator Ride or the Lazer Frenzy Action Zone before you call it a day at the Launching Pad. 

Distance from Belmont Lake Preserve: 65 miles (1 hour, 9 minutes)

The Tower Escapes, 115 West Morgan Street, Raleigh

This historic granite and brick water tower in downtown Raleigh were once one of the city’s tallest buildings. Standing since 1887, it is also one of Raleigh’s oldest buildings, which plays well into this stop for Raleigh Kid Friendly Activities. This will be a “thinking” day of fun, as groups at Tower Escapes are faced with cryptic puzzles, clues, and challenges to solve and overcome in order to “escape” the game. Groups of two through ten people can take part in this creative thinking, role-playing fun.

Distance from Belmont Lake Preserve: 58.8 miles (1 hour, 3 minutes)

Drive Shack, 6901 Play Golf Way, Raleigh

This three-story complex is the ultimate in an interactive golf experience. With no less than 96 climate-controlled golf bays and a 260-yard driving range with physical targets and augmented reality and virtual; games as well. This fun-filled stop for Raleigh Kid Friendly Activities uses TrackMan technology. This innovative tool pinpoints the flight of your ball as you virtually can play on real championship courses. Whether head-to-head with a buddy or just playing solo, this is one place the kids can get all the swings (and putts) in they like.

Distance from Belmont Lake Preserve: 68.6 miles ( 1 hour, 11 minutes)

Continuing Outside with Raleigh Kid Friendly Activities

As you can see, all of these Raleigh Kid Friendly Activities sit under 70 miles and are just about an hour from your new home in Rocky Mount at Belmont Lake Preserve. In our next blog post, we will continue with our listing of Raleigh Kid Friendly Activities but move from indoor locations to outside ones. 

For more information on anything going on at Belmont lake Preserve new home community, visit belmontlakepreserve.com

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The Best Raleigh NC Restaurants are Just an Hour Away

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In our previous post, we took a glimpse at five of the Best Raleigh NC Restaurants. With your decision to move to the Belmont Lake Preserve you are just an hour’s drive from these fine establishments. Thus, what will follow below is the remaining five of the ten restaurants that we will put on our top restaurants’ list. 

There was somewhat of a theme in the prequel blog post to this one. This was that each of the five Best Raleigh NC Restaurants we profile was of a certain type of ethnic theme. You can read that post by clicking the link here. Moving along to the other five Best Raleigh NC Restaurants, we again turn to the News and Observer, Raleigh’s number one newspaper for input on these fabulous eateries. 

42nd Street Oyster Bar, 508 West Jones Street, Raleigh

As is the case with many of our Best Raleigh NC Restaurants, the 42nd Street Oyster Bar has a lot of history with the locals. First opening their doors in 1931, the N&O refers to them as the “area’s undisputed grandaddy of seafood restaurants.”

This one-time grocery store that specialized in oysters and beer has certainly grown and changed with the times. $2nd Street Oyster Bar now offers an incredible selection of seafood. The Southern-fried seafood platters are famous locally. Likewise, so is their cioppino. However, you can not forget the amazing raw bar with a variety of oysters to choose from.

In what became a pretty consistent distance in our first post, the Oyster bar is 60.5 miles from Rocky Mount. Google maps estimate that to be a one-hour drive.

Angus Barn, 9401 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh

Arguably the most iconic restaurant in town. No question it is the most legendary steak house among the Best Raleigh NC Restaurants. Yes, it has got to be the famous Angus Barn. This Raleigh classic has hosted too many birthdays, anniversaries, and other special events for local residents to even try counting.

The N&O does a great job in describing the historic Glenwood Avenue location. “Six decades after its opening in 1960,” they began. “Folks still make the trek out to the big red barn on the outskirts of Raleigh.” The piece went on gushing over Angus Barn, noting its “down-on-the-farm” atmosphere, world-class wine cellar, and its famous aged beef.

The commute from BLP to Angus Barn is just a few minutes further than the one hour we have been seeing on most restaurants. That being said, Google maps puts the distance at 72.2 miles or a one hour and eight-minute drive.

Big Ed’s, 220 Wolfe Street, Raleigh

Nostalgia reigns supreme at Big Ed’s on Wolfe Street in Raleigh. For decades, this landmark of the City Market is serving such Carolina favorites as country ham, grits, and from scratch, red-eyed gravy. The decor is almost as nostalgic as the menu items!

But it’s not just the breakfast menu that has kept Big Ed’s one of the Best Raleigh NC Restaurants for decades. Their sinful, comfort classic include fried and BBQ chicken, roast pork, chuckwagon steak, and fried catfish just to name a few. Big Ed’s has expanded to open two more restaurants in the area. However, it’s the amazing ambiance of the Wolfe Street, Downtown location makes our list.

Coming in just a minute under that magic one-hour commute time from Rocky Mount, Ed’s is 60.5 miles away (59 mins according to Google Maps)

Crawford and Son, 618 North Person Street, Raleigh

Keeping it all in the family just as Jose and Sons did in the first post featuring the Best Raleigh NC Restaurants. Crawford and Son and owner/chef, Scott Crawford is described by the N&O ad as a “towering presence in the local culinary landscape since 2009.” 

In 2016, Crawford opened this specific restaurant and has been presenting the best in comfort food for hungry customers since. Crawford and Son was actually named the Best Restaurant of the Year for Raleigh in 2018.

One-hour seems to be the planned estimate commute time for the Best Raleigh NC Restaurants. Crawford and Son are no different at 58.9 miles from your new home in Rocky Mount.

Poole’s Diner, 426 South McDowell Street, Raleigh

Any of the incredible places under the banner of chef Ashley Christensen could certainly make any list of Best Raleigh NC Restaurants. Owned by the defending 2019 James Beard “Outstanding Chef” Award for the entire U.S., Poole’s Diner is true “can’t miss” dining. 

The News and Observer list several reasons to visit Poole’s Diner. These include “because it was a pioneer in the revitalization of downtown Raleigh.” Likewise, the publication urges you to “bask in the nostalgic vibe of a dining room that preserves the vintage chrome barstools and double horseshoe counter of a pie shop and luncheonette that thrived in this space in the middle of the last century.” The best reason to visit Poole’s though is the food! The diner’s roasted chicken and macaroni au gratin are legendary. Consequently, this could be argued for every entry on the entire menu.

No big surprise here on Poole’s distance from Belmont Lake Preserve. It fits right into our common time frame that is just around an hour. Google maps places the official distance at 59 minutes and 61.3 miles between BLP and Poole’s. 

This is the final post in our two parts on the Best Raleigh NC Restaurants. You can see the first five entries in our previous blog article, here. If you would like to read more on the Belmont Lake Preserve new home community visit belmontlakepreserve.com. 

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