kids
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Child’s
Jasiya Ward, 11, celebrated her birthday in January at OC Aerial.
play 30 activities to try as a family in 2023
BY SAM ANNE TTA PH OTO G RA PHY BY JO HN MICHAE L SIMP SON
If you’re stuck in a rut when it comes to planning family outings, this list is sure to dig you out of it. We’ve got your tried-and-trues, a few ideas that are new and – when the weather warms up – plenty of outdoor options, too.
UP, UP AND AWAY
Jump tickets at Sky Zone give you access to all trampolines, the Foam Zone, Ultimate Dodgeball and Sky Slam, Sky Zone’s trampoline basketball court. The Durham location also offers special events on certain days. On Friday and Saturday nights, the park turns into a glow-in-the-dark, jumping dance club with blacklight, lasers and music. On Saturday mornings, head to Little Leapers, a fun, high-energy play adventure created for parents and their kiddos to enjoy together. Triangle Rock Club is the largest indoor bouldering space in North
Carolina with more than 27,000 square feet of climbing terrain. Not a fan of heights? There’s also a yoga studio, a strength and functional fitness area and a dedicated cardio space. Peruse its calendar, and you’ll find a variety of fitness and yoga class offerings, skills clinics, teen climb nights, parents’ night out events and community get-togethers.
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John Coates and Christine Coates, and their son Alex Coates, designed indoor adventure park OC Aerial with the intention to create an
enjoyable experience for the whole family, not just for kids. It opened in May 2022 complete with attractions like a ropes course, indoor climbing, zip lining, bouldering, two large slides, a ninja course and a variety of other obstacles and attractions. Family memberships are available, and day passes are good for three hours of fun, along with free coffee, popcorn and frozen yogurt. “We are a destination,” John says. “There is not a park like this in the Southeast.”
Sign your kids up for a class or camp with USA Ninja Challenge, an obstacle course training program for kids ages 2-17. The sport of ninja combines skill sets from gymnastics, climbing, cross-training, and track and field. With six levels to master, the training helps kids build confidence through fitness. Jump, climb and swing on a variety of obstacles, including climb ropes, ladders and warped walls.