Things to Do in Wake Forest

As the super-otter aircraft climbs through the clouds, the energy in the plane is palpable. First-time skydivers and veterans of the sport, all giddy for the oncoming rush of wind and velocity, ready themselves for their leap into the vast blue yonder waiting just outside the plane’s door. For the skilled staff of Triangle Skydiving Center, that feeling is the reason they come to work every morning. Whether they're plunging themselves and a harnessed patron through midair at 13,500 feet or selling high-quality parachute equipment in the gear store, they're dedicated to helping customers find that thrill that previously was only attained by shrinking the kids and living vicariously through them as they spelunk from picnic tables.

With its first swing of the tee in 1917, Paschal Golf Club is a public course that has played host to legions of golf lovers, weekend warriors, and even the legendary Arnold Palmer. The verdant nine-hole course can be played from four different tee boxes, offering a challenge for golfers of all skill levels. Golfers can loop the nine-hole course twice, allowing them to correct errant shot selections on difficult holes such as the eighth, which presents a forced carry over an elongated pond to reach the green, a heavily fortified zone guarded by bunkers on both sides and another water hazard behind. The tranquil Richland Creek trickles through the course, treating eyes to frequent sightings of wildlife such as deer, birds, and grazing golf carts. A clubhouse, snack bar, and pro shop cater to players as they unwind or stock up on gear, and a putting green warms up pendulums before rounds.:m]]

Kidventurez is a blank canvas where children's ideas spring to life. As the mind behind the creative space, owner Stephanie Walker used her own experience as a mother to concoct the facility. "I really love the whole concept of kids using their minds to play," she told Midtown Raleigh News.

Inside, pintsized visitors hop across various stations that spur ingenuity, such as the performing stage, where they can put on plays for friends, and Kenzie's Kitchen, where they can practice burning fake popcorn in a fake microwave. Smaller children enjoy the freedom of Toddler Town's scaled-down attractions, and parents, similarly, enjoy the freedom of either sitting back and watching playtime unfold or leaving for a short respite.

Before each lesson or scuba diving adventure, Carolina Dive Center owners Captain Jim Sedore and Paul Winders outfit each of their certified divers with the necessities to fit in with undersea fashion experts. After donning wetsuits and underwater breathing apparatuses, guests follow the experts in classes, tours, and spearfishing adventures. Students may also log hours during courses as they work toward their own diving certifications.

Professional artists M. Theresa Brown and Stephen Filarsky channel more than 20 years of experience at the easel to guide students during two-hour art workshops, parties, and afterschool kids’ programs. Workshops elucidate the process of re-creating stunning artworks that depict abstract felines, rustic tobacco barns, and fractals grazing in wintry landscapes. The instructors supply all of the materials and techniques needed to craft masterworks, and encourage participants to hang their take-home paintings in high-traffic hallways. Adult students supply their own beverages at select BYOB classes, and young aesthetes expand their horizons in kids’ classes that encompass drawing, painting, sculpting, and telekinetic printing.