Special Post

Mother’s Day 2015 Ral-ideas

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My sister, Ginni, my mom and I (summer 1983, Atlantic Beach, NC)

Mother’s Day is right around the corner and it’s the perfect time to show your mom, wife, or other special maternal lady in your life how much you care about and appreciate her!  While it’ll be a bitter sweet conglomerate of emotions for me this year, I’m glad to be carrying on my 10-year tradition of heading to Nags Head with friends to drink run my way through the Yuengling Nags Head Woods 5k race.  Even though my mom can’t be at this year’s race with us, I’ll have fond memories of races past to reflect on with dear old friends.

But, if you’re around in Raleigh this weekend and are looking for a special way to celebrate the mom in your life, look no further than this list of unique organized events and park/picnic/restaurant/brewery ideas.

  • Readings & Drinks for Girl’s Night Out (Thursday, May 7th or Friday, May 8th): give mom the night off to hear local bloggers/authors in the Listen to Your Mother (LTYM) show at Kenan Hall at William Peace University followed by drinks in the nearby Seaboard Station; I’ve attended the LTYM shows the past two years and have left full of emotion
  • Mother’s Day Craft & Playtime with Stroller Strides at North Hills (Friday, May 8, 10-11am): Join Fit4Mom’s Stroller Strides group after class today for open play in the play area, a Mother’s Day craft, a game of Cow Toss, sample some Chick-N-Minis and MEET THE COW!
  • Mother’s Day Surprise program at Optimist Park (Friday, May 8 at 12:30pm): creative arts-and-craft project or edible creation; ages 3-5; $7; program barcode #171955; at the time of this blog post publication only 1 spot remained
  • Mother’s Day Family Class & Muffins with Mom at Pullen Park (Saturday, May 9 at 9:30am): Join the Fit4Mom Stroller Strides exercise class at 9:30am and a “Muffins with Mom” snack and playtime after class starting at 10:30am! Meet us for class and our Muffins with Mom time in the grassy area near the stage, behind the Pullen Cafe.  The flat rate of $15/mom/class allows you to bring your family members to workout with you too (bring Dad along)!
  • Decorate a Cookie for Mom at Whole Foods on Wade Ave (Saturday, May 9, 9-10am): stop by the cafe between 9-10am to create a cookie for Mom
  • Family Fun Saturday at NC Museum of Art (Saturday, May 9 at 10am): take a guided tour in the Museum Park followed by a sketch of your explorations; families with children ages 5-11; $3 members/$5 non-members; plan ahead and bring a picnic lunch or stay for lunch at Iris
  • Springtime Safari at Lake Crabtree Park (Sunday, May 10 at 1pm): trek around the park and discover flowers, insects, birds and more and then create a bouquet of flowers to give to Mom or someone special; $3 person/$5 family; plan ahead and bring a picnic lunch

Get out and try something fun:

Additional Resources

Just Do It – City of Raleigh 2015 Summer Camps

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IMG_9748It’s hard to believe with the icy weather last week that it’s time to begin planning for summer activities!  Summer has quickly bubbled to the top as my favorite season with all the pool trips, picnics, late summer evenings and general care-free outside playtime!

Between a lot of our unscheduled outdoor summertime it is nice to throw in some bursts of routine lest anyone thinks this care-free time lasts forever.  Last summer Ashley attended morning summer camps through the City of Raleigh and she really enjoyed them.  Being a young 3-year old I wasn’t sure how she’d do in a new environment for several hours; having just finished a year at preschool coupled with several on-her-own City of Raleigh ballet and soccer classes, she didn’t look back!  It also helped that we coordinated our camps with familiar friends.

The camps for three-year olds are mostly indoors and there are different themes, dates, times and locations to choose from.  Last year we spaced out the timing of the camps and registered for the All Sports Camp and Space Camp.  The counselors were a mix of ages and everyone I spoke with was very friendly.  Ashley came home with lots of handmade crafts and always exclaiming that she had lots of fun.

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Ashley’s first day of summer camp – 2014

Summer camps are great for so many reasons – they add routine to kids’ summer schedules, kids meet and socialize with new friends and these camps are so affordable!  From ages 3 to 17, the City of Raleigh offers a variety of indoor and outdoor half-day and full-days camps.  They also offer specialized camps for individuals with developmental disabilities.  If you’re looking for a fun and affordable regular activity for your kids this summer, be sure to check out their camps.

More Information:

 

Top 5 (off the beaten path) Triangle Parks for Fall Foliage

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Edna Metz Wells Park

With the peak of Fall foliage on our heels in the Triangle, I wanted to recount some of my favorite local parks for capturing beautiful autumn pictures.  There are a lot of obvious places to visit such as Umstead Park, Historic Yates Mill Park and Pullen Park, so here’s my Top 5 (off the beaten path) Triangle Parks for Fall Foliage:

  1. Edna Metz Wells Park (intersection of Smallwood Dr & Clark Ave in Raleigh) – gorgeous yellow and orange colors
  2. Brookhaven Nature Park (5125 Berekeley St in Raleigh) – a little bit of every color, but check out the reflection of the trees on the small pond

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    Brookhaven Nature Park
  3. Fearrington Village (Pittsboro, NC) – even though it’s not technically a park, there’s still lots of open space for wandering and gorgeous trees bursting with color
  4. Crowder District Park (4709 Ten Ten Rd in Apex) – hiking trails, a pond, playground and more among a spectrum of trees
  5. Eliza Pool Park (1600 Fayetteville St in Raleigh) – open spaces and playgrounds surrounded by colorful trees

 

 

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2014 Summer Bucket List Follow-up

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bucketlist69The first day of Fall began this week with a few days of colder temperatures, which led me to reminisce about my first full summer home with both girls.  Despite having a tough adjustment period from 3-day-a-week preschool to zero-day-a-week preschool, things smoothed out and we had an awesome summer!  I find myself longing for more pool, beach and picnic days and having more of that carefree, energetic spirit!  We completed a lot of things on our original bucket list, but did so many more unexpected things too – spent time at the Rappahannock river, welcomed my niece Ava, watched Claire take her first steps, watched Ashley head off to her first summer camps, had cookouts with friends, celebrated Ashley’s swimming successes, spent time with family, and visited old college and high school buddies and all their kiddos.  For all these reasons and more, summer makes for endless fun and is our favorite season.  But, Fall is here now and that means preschool fun, Hokies football and pumpkin beer, so #bringonfall2014!

Enjoy the slideshow below with pics from our #bringonsummer2014 adventures!

  1. Visit the library (completed June 6)
  2. Play with water balloons (completed June 1)
  3. Visit the Eno River State Park
  4. Camp in the backyard
  5. Attend an outdoor concert (completed June 19, Pickin’ in the Plaza in downtown Raleigh)
  6. Visit Fearrington
  7. Paddle board at Lake Wheeler (completed Aug 24, Lake Wheeler via Triangle Guides)
  8. Take Ashley fishing (completed Sept 3 in OBX)
  9. Play with the slip n slide (completed July 4 in VA)
  10. Let the kiddos enjoy the water fountains at NC Museum of Art after a Stroller Strides class (completed June 24)
  11. Go blueberry picking (completed July 9, Creekside Farm)
  12. Discover three new parks and be current on blog posts (We were busy – Simms Branch Trail, Neuse River Trail MP 13.25-15, Top of the Hill Trail, Halifax Park, Hobbit House @ NCMA, Caroline County Park in VA, Optimist Pool, Neuse River Trail MP 11.5-13.25)
  13. Catch lightning bugs
  14. Explore the Prairie Ridge Ecostation again (completed Sept 16)
  15. Survive solo trips to the pool with both kids (completed at least 12 times beginning June 5)
  16. Take Ashley to the movies (completed June 14)
  17. Attend a Durham Bulls game (completed Aug 17)
  18. Discover a new (to us) brewery (strangely enough we didn’t make it to any new Raleigh breweries, but we visited two popular RVA breweries Ardent Craft Ales (July 5) & Strangeways Brewing (Aug 9))
  19. Make s’mores (completed July 5 in RVA)
  20. Fly a kite (completed June 3 @ NCMA)
  21. Watch the Sandlot movie (completed June 11)
  22. Visit Waverly Place splash area in Cary (completed July 3)
  23. Walk for ice cream at the new Quail Corners Creamery in our ‘hood (completed numerous times this summer)
  24. Grill homemade pizza (completed June 4)
  25. Visit the farmers’ market (completed Aug 13 at downtown Farmer’s Market and Sept 19 at State Farmer’s Market)
  26. Go to the beach (completed Aug 16 and week of Labor Day in OBX)
  27. Visit the Asheboro zoo
  28. Play putt putt (completed June 28 with Gaga & Papa at Frankie’s Fun Park)
  29. Enjoy a bushel of crabs (completed July 4 in VA)
  30. Take a boat ride (completed June 7 in VA)
  31. Stomp in rain puddles (completed in June)
  32. Watch the clouds overhead

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2014 Fall Festivals @ Local Parks

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Here’s a list of upcoming Fall Festivals happening at various parks in the Greater Raleigh area:

Southeast Raleigh Community Day @ John Chavis Memorial Park – Sat., Sept 20 from noon-4pm; free event that will feature free food, health information, music, voter registration info and more

9th Annual Fall Harvest Celebration @ Historic Yates Mill Park – Sat., Sept 20 from 11am-3pm; free event includes costumed corn-grinding tours of Yates Mill, a fun children’s scavenger hunt activity, live music and dance, story-tellers, community displays, hand-craft demonstrations and sales, antique vehicles, farm tool displays, food vendors, and more; pre-registration is not required; all ages

Community Art Day Festival @ Powell Drive Park – Sat., Sept 27 from 10am-2pm; free kid-friendly activities such as bracelet making, sidewalk chalk, painting and more; performers will be on site; art vendors will be on site to purchase from local artists with vendor spaces still available

4th Annual Festival in Motion along Walnut Creek Greenway – Sat., Sept 27 10am-2pm; designed to get people out and moving in nature; enjoy this day of discovery with live music, art-in-the-making, nature games and fitness challenges

IMG_1592Heritage Day @ Historic Oak View County Park – Sat., Oct 4 from 10am-4pm; a free “county fair” type event featuring live animals, antique farm equipment displays, heritage crafts, handmade items, live music, antique cars, horse-drawn carriage rides, quilt auction, cane pole fishing, and more; food will be available for purchase

Annual Heritage Day at Jordan Lake (White Oak Recreation Area) – Sat., Oct 4 from 10am-3pm; enjoy hands on activities, live entertainment and demonstrations all relating to the unique cultural and natural resources of this region; gain an appreciation for the rich history of the land and natural resources; for more information or volunteer opportunities for this event, please contact Ranger Jim Trostle at 919-362-0586 ext. 227 or jim.trostle@ncparks.gov

Haunting at Harris Lake: Creatures of the Forest – Sat., Oct 18 from 1-6pm; free event with games, activities, crafts, and a wagon ride adventure as you search for the weird, creepy and outrageous creatures of the forest; wear a costume or come as you are; all ages

Fall Events @ Umstead Park – hosting a variety of events in Sept & Oct from Free Weekend Matinee Movies, Take a Child Outside Week events, Trail Running with a Ranger, Big Year Birdwalk, From Farm to Park and more; for additional info, visit the main Events page and search for September and October 2014

Take a Child Outside Week: Sept 24 – 30, 2014

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Brookhaven Nature Park hike, Fall 2012

With the fall weather on our heels, it couldn’t be a better time to participate in Take a Child Outside Week (TACO), held September 24-30, 2014. Take a Child Outside Week is an national initiative through the NC Museum of Natural Sciences with partner organizations throughout the country.  The program emphasizes outdoor nature activities with children to increase their awareness and appreciation of the environment.  Here are several outdoor activities at local parks to highlight this program:

Umstead Park – various organized events that week including: Animals of Umstead, Hug-a-Tree, Learn to Fish, Millin’ Around, American Beech Hike; for more info search their September calendar

JC Raulston Arboretum – various organized events that week including: Leaf Rubbings, Garden Bingo, Plant Sale, Cloud Watching, Garden Storytime; for more info visit their September calendar 

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Prairie Ridge Ecostation Nature Play Space

NC Museum of Natural Sciences – a few events that week including Nature Stories and a family-friendly event on Sat, Sept 27 at Prairie Ridge Ecostation; for more info visit the Prairie Ridge Ecostation TACO Events Page

Historic Yates Mill County Park – enjoy several events including Paddle the Pond, Apple Orchards, Mill Tours, Fishing Footprint, and an organized Nature Hike; for more info visit the Yates Mill Events

Blue Jay County Park – free events this week including Hopper Herding and Nature Stories; pre-registration is required; for more info visit the Blue Jay County Park Events

Bill hiking with Jerry at Harris Lake, circa 2008
Pre-kiddo pic of Bill hiking with Jerry at Harris Lake, circa 2008

Lake Crabtree County Park – free scavenger hunt event on Mon, Sept 29 at 6pm; pre-registration is required; for more info visit the Lake Crabtree County Park Events

Harris Lake County Park – various events including Park After Dark and a Drop-in Nature Exploration; for more info visit the Harris Lake County Park Events

American Tobacco Trail – attend the Biking with Bats 3-mile bike ride on Sun, Sept 28 from 6-8pm; for more info visit the ATT Events

 

Durant Nature Park

  • Durant Family Campout (COR Reclink barcode #161109) – Fri, Sept 26 at 6pm; ages 6+; a lakeside campsite will be your home for the night; have an overnight experience including dinner, a night hike, s’mores, a light breakfast and fishing; Adults $15, Youth $10; for more info check the Reclink description or visit the Nature Programs page
  • Wee Walkers (COR Reclink barcode #161125) – Thu, Sept 25 from 10-11am; easy paced hike around the park; free; pre-registration is required; for more info check the Reclink description or visit the Nature Programs page

If you can’t make it to any of these organized events, check out TACO’s list of suggested activities and head to the nearest park or greenway and just explore!

By the way, what TACO activities in the Greater Raleigh area am I missing?  Please let me know in the comments section below.

9/15/2014 Update: Since this post was originally posted, the City of Raleigh has compiled a list of TACO week events happening at various parks around the county.

3-year Blogiversary & 2014 Summer Bucket List

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20140601-221046.jpgSo apparently it’s common in the blogging world to celebrate the yearly date of your first blog post aka your “blogiversary.” I’m sorry I don’t have any freebies to give away but I wanted to say thanks to everyone who has read, commented and supported me with this blog over the past three years. I had no idea what a resource it would become and am tickled whenever I meet someone new and discover they’ve visited the blog for outing ideas! I’ve loved exploring the Greater Raleigh Parks & beyond over the past three years and am continuously amazed by the facilities and activities we discover.

But now that preschool is over for the school year it’s time to set some goals for new (and old) places to visit and things to do this summer! In no particular order, here’s my kiddo-friendly summertime bucket list:

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  1. Visit the library
  2. Play with water balloons
  3. Visit the Eno River State Park
  4. Camp in the backyard
  5. Attend an outdoor concert
  6. Visit Fearrington
  7. Paddle board at Lake Wheeler
  8. Take Ashley fishing
  9. Play with the slip n slide
  10. Let the kiddos enjoy the water fountains at NC Museum of Art after a Stroller Strides class
  11. Go blueberry picking
  12. Discover three new parks (and be current on blog posts)
  13. Catch lightning bugs
  14. Explore the Prairie Ridge Ecostation again
  15. Survive solo trips to the pool with both kids
  16. Take Ashley to the movies
  17. Attend a Durham Bulls game
  18. Discover a new (to us) brewery
  19. Make s’mores
  20. Fly a kite
  21. Watch the Sandlot movie
  22. Visit Waverly Place splash area in Cary
  23. Walk for ice cream at the new Quail Corners Creamery in our ‘hood
  24. Grill homemade pizza
  25. Visit the farmers’ market
  26. Go to the beach
  27. Visit the Asheboro zoo
  28. Play putt putt
  29. Enjoy a bushel of crabs
  30. Take a boat ride
  31. Stomp in rain puddles
  32. Watch the clouds overhead

(With trepidation) I’m looking forward to my first full summer home with both girls. This might seem like a busy list, but I’ve got some energetic girls who will keep me on my toes! I know the next three months will fly by but we’ll have great memories and photos to cherish so #bringonsummer!

Greater Raleigh Drop-in Rainy Day To Do List

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With all the recent rainy and snowy weather in Raleigh I wanted to create a list of drop-in activities that I could refer to whenever I’m grasping looking for something to do with little ones in tow.  Here’s a starter list of indoor activities outside the house that are guaranteed to educate and entertain the sweet babes:

Get Out & Play

  • Fit4Mom/Stroller Strides of Midtown Raleigh – grab your Bob Stroller (or any stroller, really) and join other mommas for a great workout with your babes; first class is free; check out the Facebook group which is free to join and full of fun playdates
  • Tot Time with City of Raleigh Parks & Rec – free, indoor playtime (ages 5 and under) at various community centers around the city of Raleigh; each center has different toys (i.e., basketball hoops, tunnels, push cars, slides, etc) available for play; my favorite Tot Time is at Laurel Hills Community Center; consult the most recent Leisure Ledger for dates/times at each center
  • DefyGravity trampoline Park in Raleigh features great fun for all ages, including a special jump session from 9-10am for kids under 7 where they play fun princess/toddler music
  • Bounce Houses – refer to the list of bounce houses compiled by WRAL’s Go Ask Mom
  • Rainbow Play on Glenwood Ave – large indoor party room with swing sets mostly designed for kids older than 2, but they do have a small area for early walkers and crawlers; open play time is Mon-Fri from 10am-2pm but call during other times to see if room is available for play; $5/child for ages 2 and up
  • Tumble Gym of Raleigh – open gym time with trampoline, balance beam, bars, and more; $10/hr per child; call for dates/times: 919-977-0357
  • City of Raleigh indoor swimming pools – with so many options for year-round swimming in Raleigh, visit one of the indoor pools: Pullen, Millbrook, Optimist, Buffaloe Rd Aquatic Center; be sure to check the hours of operation before heading out
  • City of Raleigh’s Greystone Recreation Center – indoor playground in North Raleigh with rock climbing wall and various rope climbing structures; designed for kids ages 5-12, but I’ve found Ashley began enjoying this park at age 2 1/2; playground times vary, so be sure to check their schedule or sometimes I’ve found it’s easiest to call for their hours: 919-996-4848

Coffee, Read & Play

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Snickerdoodles play area
  • Great Harvest Bread Co in North Raleigh – has small play area with toys for kids while you enjoy delicious coffee and breads!
  • Snickerdoodles in Raleigh features open play time, messy art/craft studio fun with coffee and snacks. I recently took my kids here over the summer. Though they resisted at first because the toys seemed too babyish for them, they had lots of fun! You pay by the day for open play or art time or buy an annual membership.
  • Storytime at the library – libraries throughout Wake County have several storytimes grouped by ages: baby, toddler, preschool and family; storytime at Cameron Village featuring Mr. Erik is the most interactive library activity we’ve been to; check the list of kids’ events for dates, times and locations
  • Storytime at NC Museum of Natural Sciences – free, downtown museum with an amazing variety of exhibits, events, and hands-on displays for kids of all ages, but the daily storytime and “Meet the Animals” activities are our favorite activities
    • storytime and “Meet the Animals” schedule
    • complete list of events
  • See an IMAX movie at Marbles – other than the latest Hollywood movies, this theater shows several educational documentaries that are appropriate for toddlers
  • Bass Pro Shops in Cary and local pet stores – endless rows of interesting animals and fish to see
  • Train tables at Barnes & Nobles (Triangle Town Center) and Logan Trading Company in Seaboard Station offer great fun for little ones

Museums & Creations

  • Paint your own pottery – paint ceramic pieces (plates, mugs, household items, etc) in a pottery studio; prices usually include all painting supplies, glazing and firing; pieces are available to pick up about a week later; makes for great gifts; our favorite is Klaystation off Durant Rd
  • Marbles Kids Museum – hands-on kids museum in downtown Raleigh that offers two floors of interactive, creative play for children; $5 per person over age one; one of the only indoor places in Raleigh open on Sunday mornings
  • NC Museum of History – free, downtown museum that has fewer hands-on exhibits for toddlers, but still boasts a large permanent collection on the history of NC along with several very interesting rotating exhibits (be sure to check out Watergate); weekly storytime on Thursdays; check full schedule of events
  • Kids’ Workshops at Lowe’s and Home Depot – free hands-on workshops to teach kids about tool safety and do-it-yourself projects; Home Depot runs workshops on the first Saturday of each month – check local store for times; Lowe’s runs clinics on select Saturdays – consult schedule
  • The Farmers’ Corner at Historic Oak View County Park – this is a fantastic park that is so much fun for kids and adults, but the Farmers’ Corner in the Farm History Center is where kids can plant and harvest crops while reading books and playing dress-up; main building is open 8:30am-5pm on Mon-Sat and 1-5pm on Sundays but the Farmers’ Corner is sometimes not available due to scheduled programs, so call ahead 919-250-1013; see previous posts on this park

On-hand Rainy Day Supplies

Here’s a starter list of indoor art/craft activities and supplies that I try to always have on hand for the little babes to do. Now that they’re older I’ve put the supplies at eye level so they can more easily access things:

Where else in the Triangle do you explore on rainy or snowy days?  Let me know what I’ve missed so I can include your ideas.

Raleigh Snow Day 2014

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20140130-073545.jpgWhile this isn’t a typical park-related post, I wanted to make a note of the fun snow memories and photos from the big Raleigh Snowpocalypse of 2014!  Yesterday will go down as one of the best.days.ever!  We got about 3 inches of snow in Raleigh and spent the day making amazing family memories in our ‘hood.  Bill worked from home so he was also able to enjoy in the snow festivities.  And, thanks to my mom Ashley was outfitted with snow pants and the best sledding saucer!

Yesterday was all about being a kid and I constantly found myself recounting fun childhood snowy day memories, especially all the exciting sledding we did on Beech Dr in Lake Arrowhead.  I look forward to so many more snowy day memories even though yesterday was pretty jam packed with sledding in the neighborhood, drinking hot cocoa, eating grilled cheese sandwiches, watching a movie, taking amazing naps, making snow ice cream (see recipe) and making snow angels and snowmen. My favorite moment had to be when Ashley came inside after a long round 2 of sledding and snowman building with Bill and recounted her adventure to Claire, who was grinning ear to ear in her high chair. I love those girls!

So, here are some photos from our snow day:

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2013 Thanksgiving & Christmas Park Events

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2012 Holiday Express @ Pullen Park
2012 Holiday Express @ Pullen Park

With the holidays quickly approaching, I wanted to compile a list of all the kiddo-friendly activities taking place at nearby Raleigh parks.  The events below are either organized through the Wake Co Parks & Rec, City of Raleigh Parks & Rec or JC Raulston Arboretum.  Some of the events require pre-registration so be sure to follow up for more information and let me know which ones I’m missing! And be sure to visit TriangleExplorer.com to see a complete list of Christmas parades, concerts and more.

Turkey Time at Crowder District Park – Sun, 11/17 from 2-3pm; $5/family; for all ages

A Side of History: Pilgrims at Play at Historic Yates Mill Park – Fri, 11/22 from 11am-noon or 2-3pm; $5/family or $3/individual; for all ages

Holiday Wreath Making at Durant Nature Park – Sun, 12/1 from 2-3pm or 3-4pm; $5/person; ages 5+

Home School Day: The Spirit of Giving at Historic Yates Mill Park – Mon, 12/2 from 10am-noon; Free; ages 7+

Children’s Wreath Workshop at JC Raulston Arboretum – Tues, 12/3 from 9:30am-noon; $35/member or $45/non-member; ages 6-12

Garden Buds Winter Fun at JC Raulston Arboretum – Fri, 12/6 from 10-11:30am; $10/member or $12/non-member; ages 3-5

Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Clause at Historic Yates Mill Park – Fri, 12/6 from 11am-noon; $4/child; ages 5-7

IMG_2470Holiday Express at Pullen Park – tickets are only available for Fri 12/6, Fri 12/13 & Sun 12/15; 4-9pm; $8/person; all ages

Sleigh Rides & Cider at Oak View County Park – Sat, 12/7 from 5-7:30pm; all ages

Handmade Holidays at Historic Yates Mill Park – Sat, 12/7 from 1-4pm; $4/person; for all ages (ages 6 and under require accompanying adult)

All American Girls Create & Play – Sat, 12/7 at Kiwanis Park from 10am-noon or Sat, 12/14 at Optimist Park; $15/person; ages 5-11

Little Holiday Creations at Lions Park Comm Ctr – Sat, 12/7 from 11-11:45am; $5/person; ages 4-6

Poinsettia Open House at JC Raulston Arboretum – Sun, 12/8 from 1-5pm; FREE; all ages

Holiday Card Making at JC Raulston Arboretum – Tues, 12/10 from 9:30am-noon; $25/member or $35/non-member; ages 6-12

Holiday Ornaments at Five Points Center – Tues, 12/10 or Tues, 12/17 from 1-3pm; $20/person; all ages

German Christmas Papercutting at Pullen Arts Center – Thurs, 12/12 from 7-9pm; $10/person; ages 16+

Holidays Open House at Mordecai – Fri, 12/13 (noon-4pm); Sat, 12/14 (10am-4pm); Sun, 12/15 (1-4pm); FREE; all ages; call 919-857-4364

Wake Audubon’s Winter Bird Count at Historic Yates Mill Park – Sat, 12/14 from 8-11:30am; no fee shown

Walnut Creek Christmas Bird Count at Walnut Creek Wetland Center – Sat, 12/14 from 7am-noon; FREE; all ages

Holiday Tours at Mordecai – Sat, 12/14 from 5-10pm; $5/person; all ages

Holiday Crafts for Little Hands at Millbrook Exchange Comm Ctr – Sat, 12/14 from 9:30am-10:15am; $10/person; ages 3-5

Holiday Ornaments for Young Crafters at Millbrook Exchange Comm Ctr – Sat, 12/14 from 11am-noon; $10/person; ages 6-10

Holiday Cookies and Milk with Santa – Sat, 12/14 at Anderson Point Park from 10-11am or Sun, 12/15 at Lake Lynn Comm Ctr from 1:30-2:30pm; $8/person; ages 18months – 8yrs old

Holiday Gifts from Nature at Durant Nature Park – Sat, 12/14 from 2-4pm; $4/person; ages 6-12

Holiday Stop, Drop & Shop at Laurel Hills Comm Ctr – Sat, 12/14 or Sat, 12/21 from 9:30am-2pm; $20/person; ages 6-11

Holiday Workshop at Lions Park Comm Ctr – Sat, 12/14 from 10:45-11:45am; $5/person; ages 4-10

Winter Wrap Up at Crowder District Park – Sun, 12/15 from 2-3pm; $5/family; for all ages

Holiday Wrapping Paper at JC Raulston Arboretum – Tues, 12/17 from 9:30am-noon; $25/member or $35/non-member; ages 6-12

Little Sprouts: Sparkling Snow at Historic Yates Mill Park – Wed, 12/18 from 1-2pm; $4/child; ages 3-5

Winter Tree ID at Lake Crabtree Park – Sat, 12/21 from 1-3pm; $5/family or $3/person; ages 7+

Winter Hayrides at Harris County Lake – Sun, 12/22 from 1:30-3:30pm; $5/family or $3/individual; for all ages

Winter Break at Lake Crabtree Park – Sun, 12/22 from 1-3pm; $5/family or $3/person

Christmas Games & Crafts at Harris County Lake – Mon, 12/23 from 12-4pm; $16/child; ages 7-12