Between free museums and big parks, Raleigh is easy with kids.
Museums
Natural Sciences and History are free; Marbles Kids Museum is ticketed and great for under-10s.
Parks
Pullen Park’s carousel and train, Chavis Park’s historic carousel, and Dix Park’s Gipson Play Plaza.
Outdoors
Lake Johnson and Shelley Lake have easy loops; Umstead has longer hikes for older kids.
The short version
Pair one museum with one park per day and you’ll never run out of ideas.