Things to Do in Raleigh

Buffaloe Lanes facilitates retro entertainment by offering open bowling, leagues for all ages, and arcade games. Each lane boasts bumper capabilities, which makes games easier for younger bowlers or those with oval-shaped bowling balls. Bowlers can also host parties at Buffaloe Lanes, during which groups gather in one of the private rooms to unwrap presents and sing to cakes before eating them. The smoke-free and alcohol-free facilities also host snack bars with soft drinks and concessions.

Rainbow Lanes Family Fun Center invites pin shattering on more than 30 automatic scoring lanes. Between frames, patrons can crack cue on one of the alley's eight pool tables, improve motor coordination in Rainbow's arcade, try the miniature Himalaya ride, or chat with an experienced pro-shop worker about the days when balls rolled uphill both ways.

Start by selecting any plate, bowl, vase, mug, jug, or spittoon from Bisque Art's collection of more than 800 finely crafted artifacts (pieces start at $2.50). After you make a sketch and pick out paint colors, carefully direct your brush in tune with your dreams and wishes, letting your creative juices flow wildly onto the dinnerware of your choosing and spill onto the floor that is thoughtfully provided. Once you're finished, leave the mess and masterpiece on the table. Bisque Art will clean up the mess, then glaze and fire your piece in a kiln; it'll be ready for pick-up in a week or less. Bringing some grub and guzzle for artistic motivation is fine; short of bringing in a keg or a fondue pot, you can make this a dinner theater of arts and crafts.

Paddle Creek’s picturesque launch settings makes it an ideal jumping-off point for river excursions in single and tandem kayaks and canoes or atop a standup paddleboard. The staff of outdoor enthusiasts helps everyone from novice to advanced paddlers select their ideal vessels―for rental or purchase―and even recommends areas of interest. In addition to equipment rentals, the adventure spot offers lessons as well as self-guided tours.

Drum guru Kevin Rader-Rhodenbaugh began teaching to transfer his love of music to others, helping students tap into the world’s natural rhythms through exploration of the drums’ beat-making capabilities. Preaching patience, discipline, and dedication, Kevin tailors lessons to individual students, teaching music notation and body control. Learning unfolds in RimShot Drum Studios, where two drum sets, a professional-grade sound system, and in-house electric guitars help students hone rapid-fire rolls or break Buddy Rich’s world record for longest solo without a bathroom break.

In 1947, the North Carolina Museum of Art made its initial acquisition, hauling in 139 works of European and American art purchased with state funds. In the 65 years since, the museum’s collection has continued to balloon, and today features pieces that range from Egyptian funerary art to sculpture and vase paintings from Greece and Rome. The 164-acre campus surrounds visitors with creativity around every corner, including across the museum park, where more than a dozen works showcase inspirations that were culled from the natural world or extracted from the brains of scarecrows who donated their bodies to science.

During summer months, the Arts in the Museum Park festival series organizes week after week of music and film events. On the weekends, rather than sewing their socks together, siblings can get closer with Family Fun Saturdays. Free guided tours weave guests through the museum’s halls daily. Visits can be capped off with a stop at the museum gift shop or at the elegant Iris restaurant, which dishes out contemporary American cuisine with regional and international twists.