A HUGE thanks to our Guide Sponsor, Powercade Bar & Arcade, the first arcade+bar in Alamance County! Kid-friendly and open to gaming fun for all ages until 8pm Mon-Sat (closed Sunday).
Sponsors keep Macaroni KID Burlington-Hillsborough a FREE community resource, so please support them wherever possible!
Anyone who's lived through a summer in North Carolina knows how brutally hot they can get - especially when the Southern humidity really starts kicking in. While we're always a fan of getting out & about for some fresh air & nature (see: our Guide to Parks & Playgrounds from Burlington to Hillsborough for lots of great local places to play outside), we know that sometimes it's just too darn hot! So we've rounded up a list of local businesses that have options for the days when being outdoors just isn't one!
Head to a Kid's Museum
What better way to get that energy out than taking them somewhere specifically designed to let them run around!
- The Children's Museum of Alamance County (CMAC) in Graham is a family favorite - and is by far the closest (right off I-85/40) and most affordable option ($6 a person) around!
My kids love when we head down the road for a visit to CMAC! | Photos by Samantha Earnhardt
Other Kids Museums in the Region:
- Greensboro Children's Museum in Greensboro
- Kidzu Children's Museum in Chapel Hill
- Museum of Life and Science in Durham
- Marbles Kids Museum in Raleigh
- Nido & Mariana Qubein Children's Museum in High Point
Play Some Games!
Powercade Arcade + Bar in downtown Graham has just reopened under new ownership!
- Arcade is open to all Ages for gaming fun until 8pm (then get a sitter and come back!)
- Tues-Thurs 4pm - 8pm (adults only 8pm-midnight)
- Fri & Sat 11am - 8pm (adults only 8pm-midnight)
- Sun 11am - 7pm
photos courtesy of Powercade Arcade+Bar
Other Places to Play Arcade games:
- Bouncin Around' in Holly Hill Mall (PLUS ... bounce houses!)
- Broadway's Family Fun Center in Burlington
- Putt Putt Fun Center in Burlington
- Ready Up Game Lounge in Burlington
- Westside Arcade & Game Room in Burlington
Level Up Up with Laser Tag!
- Ground Zero Tactical Laser Tag in Elon
- Lazer X in Burlington
- Celebration Station in Greensboro
Do Some Art!
- Painted Grape (Burlington & Mebane) offers multiple options for indoor fun this summer at both locations:
- Weekly Walk-in Studio hours
- Fri 12-5 @ Burlington
- Sat & Sun 10am-3pm @ both locations
- Parent & Me Paint classes (rotating themes) - every Sat & Sun 4-6pm @ both locations
- Drop-off Summer Camp (daily!) Monday - Friday at both locations
- Mebane (9-12pm)
- Burlington (9-12pm or 9-4pm with BiziKids)
- Learn more about Summer Camp options at both Painted Grape locations!
- And Enter our Giveaway for your chance to win a FREE pair of Summer Art Camp Day Passes! (ends 6/27/23)
- Weekly Walk-in Studio hours
- What's All The Rage Smash and Splash in Burlington - Get extra messy in the Neon Paint Splatter room!
- Every Tuesday this summer, join the Burlington Artists League & Fine Art Gallery for Kids Art Class! (2 Age-Specific Sessions)
- For 4 weeks, Michael's stores nationwide have special crafts available through Camp Creatology every Mon, Wed & Fri from 10am-12pm (In store & online options)
- Week of 6/19: Camp Creatology, Week 1: One of a Kind
- Week of 6/26: Camp Creatology, Week 2: Wild One
- Week of 7/3: Camp Creatology, Week 3: Have Fun
- Week of 7/10: Camp Creatology, Week 4: Hello Summer
Go Skating!
- ICE SKATING:
- The Orange County Sportsplex in Hillsborough has afternoon Public Ice Skating hours every Saturday & Sunday and many weekdays as well!
- For more info on Ice Skating at the Sportsplex, head to their Public Skating page.
- ROLLER SKATING:
- Roll A Bout Skating Center Burlington in Burlington is open Mon-Sat all summer long!
- Special Skate Times:
- Tues & Thurs 1:30 - 3pm: Daytime Summer Skating Sessions
- Wed 6-9pm: Evening Cheap Skate
- Thurs 6-9 pm: Family Skating Night!
- Christian Music Skate Night (2nd Tues of each month: 8/8)
Build Something!
Monthly Kids DIY Workshops on select Saturday mornings at Home Depot & Lowe's Home Improvement stores nationwide
- 7/1 - Fireworks Bean Bag Toss Game @ Home Depot (Burlington & Hillsborough)
- 7/15 - Tic-Tac-Toe Grill Game @ Lowe's Home Improvement (Burlington & Mebane)
- 8/5 - Treasure Chest @ Home Depot (Burlington & Hillsborough)
- 8/12 - Rolling Toy Pickup Truck @ Lowe's Home Improvement (Burlington & Mebane)
Our kids are big fans of DIY workshops. We have a Lowe's and a Home Depot within 15 min drive in either direction of our house! | photos by Samantha Earnhardt
Enjoy the Theater!
- Fri, 6/23 - Sun, 6/25: Roald Dahl's Roald Dahl's Matilda Jr: The Musical at Studio 1
- Fri, 7/21 - Sun, 7/23: Disney's The Aristocats Kids at Studio 1
- Fri, 8/5 - Sun, 8/7 - Mary Poppins Jr. at Studio 1
Enjoying our first local Youth Community Theater experience at Studio 1's How to be a Pirate in summer 2022 | photo by Samantha Earnhardt
Go Bowling!
Bowl locally at Buffaloe Lanes Family Bowling Center in Mebane
- Summer Youth Bowling Program! (5/1 - 8/31) Half off bowling all summer for kids who sign up!
- Cosmic Bowling (with Cosmic Light Shows) - every Fri & Sat 8-10pm
- While you're there, grab some authentic Soul food at Sister's Full of Flava restaurant!
Catch a Movie!
- $2 Summer Kids movies are BACK at Graham Cinema in downtown Graham. Check out their awesome summer lineup!
- Or head to Elon University's Turner Theatre for Their Summer Movie Series with some family-friendly options:
- 6/21: Horton Hears a Who (G)
- 7/13: Lyle, Lyle Crocodile (PG)
When visiting events and local businesses, be sure to tell them Macaroni KID sent ya... and don't forget to tell all your friends, too!
