Feeling the pressure of Spring Break? While this time off is often only offered to students of all ages, it is not uncommon for friends and families to band together to relax and refresh. Spring Break does not have to mean spending dull hours on trains, planes, or automobiles. Instead, look local and treat yourself like a visitor. Use this time to check off a few hometown activities, big or small!

If spring break calls you outdoors, check out these opportunities for fresh air fun:

• Take a walk: Visit the Historic Oakwood neighborhood in Raleigh for a picture-perfect stroll among a plethora of preserved Victorian Homes.
• Take a hike: The Triangle area is home to one of the best greenway systems in the country with parks and trails available at nearly every corner. Umstead State Park is among the favorites with over 30 miles of hiking trails that offer views of three manmade lakes.
• Take a bike: The Capital Area Greenway System also boasts over 180 miles of interconnected, wide trails for bikers, including access to the Mountain to Sea Trail. Many trails are located within close proximity of restaurants, so making a day of it will be quite simple.
• Take a paddle: Lakes, lakes, and more lakes. From Lake Johnson to Lake Wheeler to Jordan or Falls Lakes, the water is calling for kayaks, canoes, and paddle boards. While the water may still be a little chilly, the views will be spectacular and offer the perfect spot to recharge.

For those who prefer their outdoor time to be a little less “active,” let someone else do the work:

• The Triangle is lucky enough to be home to two minor-league baseball teams. Both the Carolina Mudcats and the Durham Bulls start playing in April. If you’ve not tried a minor league game before, now is the time! Games are filled with entertainment, and traditional ballpark food, and are affordable for groups of all sizes.
• Not ready to give up the cold weather? Head inside for a hockey game with the Carolina Hurricanes. The team is having a stellar year that will likely carry deep into the post-season, which means games straight through the month of April.
• Don’t forget the loads of college teams hoping to fill their stands this spring! Options are plentiful with baseball, golf, track, tennis, lacrosse, and more competing throughout the month of April. Which local team is your favorite?

Adulting 101:

• There is nothing wrong with some adult time during spring break. Why not have some on the Raleigh Beer Trail? With over 30 breweries local to the Triangle, wherever you are - there is a barstool waiting for you.
• Have you been to Brewgaloo yet? This two day festival owns the end of April with over 100 craft breweries coming to Raleigh to show off their best flavors. Along with the breweries, there will be local food vendors and two stages filled with bands throughout the event.

Out-of-the-Box Activities?:

• Fantasy Lake Adventure Park is the largest scuba diving park on the east coast and it is right here in the Triangle!
• Daniel Dhers Action Sports Complex is the largest bike/skate training and learning facility in the world. Dhers, a five-time X-Games Gold Medalist, chose the area to build this action sports mecca because of the dependable, year-round favorable weather.
• Triangle Rock Club has two locations available for all climbing levels. Not a climber? Check out the Raleigh location for alternative activities such as yoga or cardio.

A break from school doesn’t have to mean a break from learning. The Triangle (and beyond) is flush with opportunities for intellectual growth:

• North Carolina Museum of Art: This museum tics off multiple categories with an extensive art collection and artifacts with global representation. Take a few steps outside and discover the expansive museum park filled with installations reaching for the sky.
• North Carolina Museum of History: Are you a history buff? The history of the state of North Carolina is showcased with artifacts spanning over six centuries. Greats who have called North Carolina home? Blackbeard, Dolley Madison, Daniel Boone, and more! Learn more about famed North Carolina residents with a visit soon.
• North Carolina Science Festival: April is dedicated to science! This statewide festival offers opportunities for all ages in endless locations (including virtual). From the Afterschool Olympics, an online program for grade schoolers) to Sunset Moonrise Paddles to the return of the adults-only Carolina Cafe - this event brings learning to life.
• North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences: Not all sciences are equal and this one is filled with exhibits highlighting the natural world and its conservation. As the largest natural science museum in the southeast, this gem of the Triangle is not to be missed.

The Triangle Area has so many wonderful opportunities for spring break activities - too many to list, actually! Residents of Harbinger Homes’ new build communities hardly have to lift a finger to find something perfect for friends and family to do. From concerts and canoes to gardens and greenways, those lucky enough to live in (or visit!) the Triangle will never be without wonderful ways to spend quality time together.