There are plenty of fun things to do in Raleigh, North Carolina, with kids whether you're looking for a fun Southern city to explore with younger kids or beginning the college search with teens. 

Known as the "City of Oaks," thanks to its mighty trees, the North Carolina state capital is the second-largest city in the state, right behind Charlotte. It's home to 12 colleges and universities, so it's no surprise that you'll find plenty of educational venues here, including museums and science centers. If you're also in the market for an action-packed good time, check out the go-karts and obstacle courses to arcades, escape rooms, and trampoline parks around Raleigh. We've also included our favorite free things to do in Raleigh for kids and noted at what ages free admission applies to some of the city's top attractions.

Here are 24 things to do in Raleigh for families, many of which are FREE.

Houston is a melting pot with cuisines from all over the world. Many of the city's restaurants are well known, and they have been featured on television shows like Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, Eat Street, Unique Eats, Man vs. Food, Cupcake Wars, Bizarre Foods, and Food Paradise. If you and your family enjoy trying different foods, you have to check out these Houston-area restaurants featured on the Travel Channel, Food Network, and Cooking Channel. Some of these incredible places offer kids menus and outdoor spaces for children to play while parents enjoy conversing over incredible eats.

And for more ideas on where to eat around the city, visit our Houston Restaurant Guide for families.

There are all sorts of local spots to play indoors when the weather gets frightful. And some of the best spots are absolutely free—including some very special local libraries, which feature unique play spaces along with shelves of books. Whether you’ve got a preschooler or a pre-teen, a trip to at least one of these libraries will be a fun, brain-boosting escape on a cold or wet day.

The new year is upon us, but let's not forget all the fun and exciting openings and attractions that 2019 brought Long Island kids. In 2019, Jones Beach and other state parks continued part of their million-dollar upgrade. Jones Beach also made a new addition to its holiday light show. Meanwhile, multiple playgrounds had ribbon-cutting ceremonies, and indoor play spaces continued to see a boom. Whether you spend your time in  Nassau or Suffolk, or prefer indoor or outdoor fun, 2020 is shaping up to be great for Long Island families. 

Whether your child's birthday falls in winter or you'd just rather not worry about weather (or your house getting wrecked), indoor birthday party spots are great for no-stress kids' celebrations. From trampolines to laser tag to cooking, these Connecticut kids' party venues appeal to a wide range of interests and offer an indoor space as well as many amenities, from supervision to paper goods.

We have more ideas for making your kids' special day magical in our Connecticut Birthday Party guide. For impromptu indoor celebrations, be sure to check out these CT indoor play spaces, too!

Queens kids who just can't get enough holiday lights are in for a treat. Snoopy and Charlie Brown, Frosty, and Rudolph are among the many beloved movie characters on display at a new indoor holiday walkthrough attraction in Queens. Adults and kids of all ages can experience the sounds, scents, lights, and sights of Christmas now through December 28 at the Shops at Atlas Park in Glendale, Queens. Read on for a peek inside, and details on visiting with kids.

Getting into a storytime group can be nothing short of cutthroat in some places. While the registration-only programs ensure you a seat on the carpet, drop-in programs can provide some much-needed flexibility. Who hasn’t suddenly found a morning with nothing planned (or plans abruptly canceled) and a burning desire to just get out of the house? 

We’ve rounded up 16 places with drop-in storytimes—and, best of all, they’re all FREE! Looking for more things to do with your kids in Westchester and the Lower Hudson Valley? Take a look at our Event Calendar and sign up for our FREE newsletters.  

Editor's note: MoMath has shuttered its East 26th Street location. Temporary programming will be offered at 225 Fifth Avenue; an expansion is promised to re-open the museum in a larger home in 2025.

My kids are usually game for adventure. They've trotted all over the five boroughs to help me review a range of museums, playgrounds, and play spaces. So I was a bit surprised when they protested an outing to the National Museum of Mathematics, a.k.a. MoMath. Math is boring, they exclaimed.

What was much less surprising: Their reaction after actually spending an afternoon at MoMath, one of the best STEM spots in NYC. I believe my 6-year-old's exact words were, "That's the best museum! When can we go back?" Read on for seven reasons to love the National Museum of Mathematics, and plan your own fun-filled (and educational!) outing.