As a literal Tar Heel born & bred, I’ve always loved spending time in Chapel Hill. Imagine my delight when we moved 15 minutes down the road! I love being able to take our kids to explore campus & around town, not to mention to all of the UNC sports & events. There are so many fun things to do in Chapel Hill, NC with kids.
That said, visiting Chapel Hill as a kid-free adult is a very different experience than with kids. Living in the area, we’ve found some family favorites that are great for free Saturday mornings, or when you want to explore the town for a day.
Read on for 5 of our favorite things to do in Chapel Hill with kids!
Enjoy the parks & playgrounds
There are many to choose from, but our favorites are Umstead Park & Homestead Park. Homestead is off of MLK Blvd near I-40. It’s a bit of a walk (over a bridge!) from the parking lot, but offers trails for running and plenty of shade at the park itself. It also has two separate play structures – one for bigger kids & one for smaller kids – plus swings!
Umstead Park is full sun, so come prepared. Our kids love this play structure itself, plus you can access Bolin Creek near the picnic shelter, which is always a fun option (again, something about kids throwing rocks into water…). There are shelters and bathrooms, plus a field that is great for soccer or other sports.
CC favorite – on your way into town, grab a coffee at Joe Van Gogh. Their iced vanilla latte is my go-to.
Explore UNC’s beautiful campus
We may be a bit biased, but Carolina has an absolutely beautiful campus. Our kids love running around the quads, visiting the Bell Tower and student stores, and shopping and eating on Franklin Street. Coker Arboretum is always gorgeous and definitely worth a walk, too.
Have lunch on Franklin Street
Sutton’s will forever be my favorite. There is nothing like a Sutton’s orangeade after a hot walk around campus. If I’m around campus for lunch, I’m going here 10 out of 10 times. I’m not even sorry about it.
Merritt’s Grill is a close second with their forever famous BLT. Top of the Hill offers the best view around, though wouldn’t be my pick with kids in tow.
Visit Flyleaf Books
We loveeee a bookstore and Flyleaf is the best around. A giant kids section, fantastic adult selection, and a huge used books area with plenty of cheaper options. Our kids could spend hours lounging on the beanbags and making their Christmas wish lists. They also often have really fun author’s here to speak, so make sure to follow their events calendar.
The Chapel Hill Library also has a wonderful children’s area and some fun places to play outside, too. A story walk, giant rock animals to climb on, and music to play keeps kids entertained!
Don’t forget a stop for homemade ice cream
Chapel Chill is hands down our favorite in this area. Homemade, rotating flavors, and absolutely delicious, although a bit more expensive. We also still love Yo-Po as a throwback to our college days.
If the weather calls for indoor activities…
Check out Morehead Planetarium, the Carolina Basketball Museum, or the Chapel Hill Library as mentioned above!
Whatever the weather, enjoy your day in Chapel Hill!
Looking for more things to do near Chapel Hill?
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