7 Family-Friendly Outdoor Activities For Spring Break In NC

NORTH CAROLINA — With many school districts on spring break this week, parents may be wondering how to keep the kids entertained as COVID-19 precautions continue.

Lucky for North Carolinians, the state has no shortage of outdoor fun that can be done with social distancing. We've rounded up some family-friendly activities to try during spring break and beyond. Let us know if you have other suggestions in the comments.

1. Get started on the state park challenge.
North Carolina has 41 state parks in regions around the state. If you're feeling ambitious, try the North Carolina State Parks 100 Mile Challenge. Once you sign up and log your visits, you are eligible for a prize raffle, with entries based upon how many miles you complete each quarter. Find more information about the program here.

2. Visit the Blue Ridge Parkway or Great Smoky Mountains National Park or another national park.
Sandwiched between the mountains and the shore, there are 10 national parks that call North Carolina home. Explore a section of the Appalachian Trail, take a relaxing drive along the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway or go fly a kite at the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills.
More information about national parks in North Carolina may be found here.

3. Try an outdoor adventure course.
If your family is the adventurous type, try navigating a rope course along the treetops. Go Ape Zipline in Raleigh offers a 500-foot zipline 50 feet in the air for adventure seekers 10 and up. The U.S. National Whitewater Center offers thrill seekers suspended cargo nets, obstacles and ropes bridges over forest and rapids. Want to go higher? Navitat in Asheville offers a 3,600-foot-long mountaintop zip line with speeds up to 65 mph that promise to get your heart pounding.

4. Play a round (or many) of mini golf.
Visit one of the region's various mini golf courses, such as High Seas Miniature Golf, Lake Norman Mini Golf in Cornelius, or Stroke, which turns into an adults only speakeasy at night. Those looking for more space to swing can head to the driving range at Leatherman Golf Learning Center.

5. Explore the grounds of a historic site.
As spring blooms pop up, there's no better time to check out a historic site. With 27 historic sties, North Carolina has plenty of them to choose from, too. Tour what was once the largest Southern Railway steam locomotive repair facility at the North Carolina Transportation Museum, walk the deck of the Battleship North Carolina in Wilmington, or try your luck panning for gold at Reed Gold Mine. Most historic sites in the state may be found here.

6. Relax on a beach before summer crowds arrive.
Before the busy summer season gets underway and people pack the beaches, your family could make a quick trip to the coast. Check out Carolina Beach if you want the boardwalk experience, or Cape Lookout National Seashore if you prefer wildlife watching. If you'd prefer a shorter trip, try a quick get away to Ocean Isle Beach in Brunswick County,

7. Visit the animals at a zoo.
At 2,600 acres, the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro is the world's largest natural habitat zoo. Capacity is limited, however, and admission requires timed tickets. Learn more about the zoo's inhabitants and attractions here.

Emily Leayman, Patch staff, contributed