play date

Parks, museums, and experiential learning spaces beckon the young at heart.

By: Laura Lee

This page: Kaleideum; Opposite, clockwise from the top: Tanglewood Park, Kaleideum, Quarry at Grant Park

Winston-Salem’s beloved children’s museum and science center, Kaleideum, will move into its new five-story downtown home early in 2024. Until then, the whole family is invited to Kaleideum’s North campus on Hanes Mill Road. Here, a science lab, planetarium, animal exhibits, outdoor garden, climbing wall, and indoor play area educate and entertain kids of all ages.

When it opens in February 2024, head to the heart of Winston-Salem to experience the new museum concept.

“The 70,000-square-foot facility features incredible architecture and nine exhibition areas, a rooftop playground, and a digital dome for movies — not to mention a planetarium and laser shows,” says Leigh Ann Woodruff, vice president of communications and operations. “It encourages experiential learning for all ages.” kaleideum.org

Just a five-minute drive from downtown, The Quarry at Grant Park is a stunning iteration of the property’s past life as a mining operation. When mining stopped in the 1970s, the quarry filled with water and eventually became a 200-feet deep, 12acre lake. Today, the public park features five scenic overlooks, including a pedestrian pier that juts out 100 feet over the lake, affording magnificent views of the surrounding cliffs and city skyline. Paved biking and walking paths meander around the 200-acre property. Adults and kids alike love the brand-new, mining-themed playground, featuring a 42-foot tower with mega slide, in-ground trampolines, embankment slides built into the hillside, gravel pit with digging equipment, natural stepping stones, and multiple rope swings. cityofws.org/quarrypark

A few miles away, Winston Waterworks is a city-run waterpark featuring multiple slides, splash pads, and a lazy river. It's open on weekends throughout the summer. cityofws.org/ winstonwaterworks

Just off I-40, Tanglewood Park offers plenty of ways to get outside and stay active. Go horseback riding or mountain biking through picturesque trails, or cut loose at one of the park’s two state-of-the-art playgrounds. Reserve a tennis or pickleball court, or make a tee time for the Par 3 course or the highly ranked Reynolds and Championship courses. Tanglewood also offers Softgolf, a kid-friendly golf game featuring oversized holes, clubs, and balls — all of which are supplied. Glow-inthe-dark balls are also available, allowing you to play a round after the sun goes down.

Tanglewood’s Mallard Lake is a scenic option for getting out on the water in a pedal boat — pack your fishing pole! Or bring your pup to explore the park’s nature trails, greenways, arboretum, and off-leash dog park. When you need a break, cool off at the park’s Aquatic Center, which features a zeroentry wading pool, splash pad, slides, diving boards, and tubing river. tanglewoodpark.org