Best Things to Do with Kids in Apex, NC

Verified September 2026 by Nina, a Raleigh mom.

According to Raleigh Mom Club, the best things to do with kids in Apex, NC center on Pleasant Park's Enchanted Forest playground and Splashlantis splash pad, the lake-front trails at Apex Community Park, the disc golf course and dog park at Apex Nature Park, and a walkable Salem Street loop for pizza at Anna's Pizzeria and ice cream at FRESH. Local Ice Cream. Downtown construction is worth planning around this fall.

Apex calls itself "The Peak of Good Living," and with kids in tow, I get why. It has grown a lot in the last decade, but downtown still has that walkable, small-town feel, and the parks here genuinely punch above their weight. The big draw for families is Pleasant Park, which opened in 2024 and instantly became one of the best playground-plus-splash-pad combos in the whole Triangle. One heads-up before you go: downtown Apex is mid-construction this fall (more on that below), so a couple of my old routines needed a real update, not just a date change. Here is how we actually spend our days in Apex, with the practical details other lists skip.

The Big Parks (Start Here)

Apex put real money into its parks, and it shows. These three are the backbone of a good day out.

Pleasant Park

This is the one to drive across town for. The Enchanted Forest playground is a 1.5-acre setup with nine separate "play villages" (including Kingdom in the Clouds, Gnome's Hollow, a sand-dig area called Discovery Dig, a reading nook, and a nature-play section called Sticks & Stones), plus inclusive equipment for different ages and abilities. In the warm months, the Splashlantis splash pad is the main event, though it's wrapping up for the year by the time you're reading this in late September.

Best for: all ages, with enough variety that toddlers and big kids are both happy

Address: 3400 Pleasant Plains Road, Apex

Cost: free to play

When Splashlantis runs: per apexnc.org, the 2026 season opened weekends-only starting May 23, went daily from June 15 through Labor Day, then dropped back to weekends-only through the end of September, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. So as of late September it's on its last weekend or two before closing for the season — it typically doesn't reopen until late May. Confirm current status on the town's Splashlantis page before you drive over, since it also closes for maintenance sometimes.

Parking: there is a real lot, but Pleasant Plains Road itself is not available for overflow parking per the town's own park page, so arrive earlier on busy weekends when it fills up

Restrooms: yes, at the shelter areas

Mom tip: even in the off-season, the Enchanted Forest playground itself is worth the drive year-round. If you do catch a splash-pad weekend, bring water shoes, a dry change of clothes, and a towel even if you "weren't planning" on the splash pad. There is not much natural shade right over the play villages, so a hat and sunscreen earn their keep midday. For more water-play options once summer rolls back around, this guide to Triangle splash pads and water parks is a good bookmark.

Apex Community Park

The 160-acre community park is built around a 50-plus-acre lake, and it is our go-to for a longer, mellower afternoon. There is a playground, miles of trails, picnic shelters, and a flat loop trail around the lake that is easy with a stroller.

Best for: all ages, especially families who want to combine a walk, a playground, and water views

Address: 2200 Laura Duncan Road, Apex

Cost: free

The lake: this is a fishing and paddling lake, not a swimming lake — swimming is not allowed. Anyone 16 or older needs a NC state fishing license to fish, plus a Town of Apex fishing permit (free for Apex residents, paid for non-residents); fishing hours are 6:30 a.m. to sunset. Kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddleboards, and small rowboats are allowed with a Town boating permit, life jackets required at all times, and gas motors are not permitted. Boats have to be hand-carried to the launch near the picnic shelters, reached from the Laura Duncan Road entrance.

Mom tip: the loop around the lake is roughly two miles and stays mostly flat, which makes it a great balance-bike or scooter route for the preschool set.

Apex Nature Park

Despite the name, the lake everyone pictures is at Community Park, not here. Nature Park is more about active recreation: a playground, paved paths with educational stations, an 18-hole disc golf course, an outdoor amphitheater with free summer concerts and movies, lighted tennis and pickleball courts, sand volleyball, and a dog park. It also anchors the west end of the Beaver Creek Greenway.

Best for: elementary kids and up, plus families who want to bike the greenway

Address: 2600 Evans Road, Apex (the athletic fields sit just up the road)

Cost: free; park hours are 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. year-round

Mom tip: if you have a kid who is into disc golf or just learning, this is a low-pressure place to try it. The dog park requires you to register your dog with the town ahead of time and get a key card that also works at the Hunter Street dog park, so do not show up expecting to walk right in with the family dog.

Greenways and Smaller Parks

Beaver Creek Greenway

This is the paved trail that ties a lot of Apex together. It is a mix of asphalt, concrete, and boardwalk, and is genuinely stroller- and bike-friendly. It currently runs between Apex Nature Park and Jaycee Park, connecting through Kelly Road Park along the way, with a planned extension to add more miles down the road.

Best for: balance bikes, scooters, strollers, and family bike rides

Parking: the west end has parking at Apex Nature Park (2600 Evans Road), and the east end has parking at Jaycee Park (451 NC Highway 55)

Mom tip: check apexnc.org for any current trail closures before you head out — sections have closed for maintenance or construction in the past, and it's a quick check that saves a wasted trip.

Kelly Road Park

A quieter, shadier option at 1609 Kelly Road, with age-graded playground sections (the KidsTowne playground splits younger kids from older kids), so the toddler equipment is separate from the big-kid stuff. It sits right on the greenway with a short walking trail along Beaver Creek.

Best for: babies, toddlers, and preschoolers who get overwhelmed at the giant parks

Cost: free

Mom tip: this is my pick on a hot day because it has more tree cover than the big open parks.

Downtown Apex with Kids

Downtown along Salem Street is one of the more genuinely walkable main streets in the Triangle, with short blocks and a real small-town feel. One important update for fall 2026: the Town's Salem Streetscape construction project is underway between Saunders and Chatham streets, which means Salem Street is down to one-way local traffic through at least December 2026. Sidewalks and businesses stay open on both sides, but plan for slower driving, use the town's parking map or Apex Parking app, and give yourself a few extra minutes.

Eat and Treat

Anna's Pizzeria (100 N Salem Street) is a long-running, casual Italian spot right downtown, generally open daily from 11 a.m. Pizza is the easy win with picky eaters.

Salem Street Pub (113 N Salem Street) is burger-and-pub fare with a patio; it's closed Monday and Tuesday, so plan a Wednesday-through-Sunday visit and check ahead for exact hours.

Scratch Kitchen & Taproom (225 N Salem Street) is a from-scratch Southern spot in a historic building, open daily. It is a sit-down meal more than a quick bite, but the food is good and the brick-walled space is fun for kids to look around in.

FRESH. Local Ice Cream (109 N Salem Street) is the downtown ice cream stop, but heads-up: per the shop's own site it doesn't open until 4:30 p.m. most days (Monday–Thursday and Sunday), and only opens at 12:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. So an ice cream stop works best as an afternoon or evening treat, or a Friday/Saturday lunch add-on, not a morning errand.

Mom tip: restaurant lineups downtown turn over, so if you have your heart set on a specific spot, a quick call ahead saves a sad walk to a dark window — and with construction crews around, hours can shift more than usual this year.

The Halle Cultural Arts Center

The Halle is downtown Apex's arts hub, with gallery space, performances, concert series, and classes. It's open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (closed Sunday). Programming varies a lot through the year, so it is worth a calendar check before you build a day around it.

Best for: kids who like art and performances, roughly preschool and up depending on the event

Address: 237 N Salem Street, Apex

Cost: varies by event, and some gallery visits are free (confirm current admission and any class fees)

Mom tip: check the calendar ahead of time. The good family events fill, and some require registration.

Apex Farmers Market

A small-town Saturday market at 220 N Salem Street, easy to fold into a morning walk. Hours run 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays from April through October, then shift to 9 a.m. to noon November through March, per the market's own site.

Address: 220 N Salem Street, downtown Apex

When to go: Saturday mornings, with the shorter fall/winter window starting in November

Mom tip: go early, let each kid pick one thing, and you have turned errands into an outing.

The Apex Rotary Christmas Parade

This is the big downtown family event of the season. It traditionally runs the first Saturday of December down Salem Street in the early evening, which would put it around Saturday, December 5, 2026 — but with Salem Streetscape construction ongoing, the route or format could change this year. Check apexnc.org's parade page closer to the date before you plan your spot.

Rainy-Day and Indoor Options

Eva Perry Regional Library

This is the Apex library, and it is a good one. It's a Wake County branch with free storytimes (baby, toddler, and family sessions), kids' programs, LEGO and maker-style clubs, and a well-laid-out children's area.

Best for: babies through tweens, depending on the program

Address: 2100 Shepherd's Vineyard Drive, Apex

Cost: free

Mom tip: popular storytimes and clubs can hit capacity, so check the Wake County library events calendar and the registration rules before you count on a specific session. For more ways to use your library card, see this guide to free Triangle library programs.

Sky Zone Apex

When the weather is bad and everyone has energy to burn, the trampoline park does the job. Expect jump time, foam pits, dodgeball, and a Ninja Warrior-style course.

Best for: roughly ages 4 and up, plus tweens

Address: 1275 Haddon Hall Drive, Apex

Cost: sold in time blocks (recently around $27 for 90 minutes or $35 for an all-day pass), and prices change, so confirm current rates and book online if you can

Mom tip: grippy jump socks are usually required and sold there, so factor that in. Weekday afternoons are calmer than weekend rushes. If you want to compare it against other Triangle trampoline parks first, here's a rundown of trampoline parks in Raleigh and Durham.

How to Pick the Right Outing

Got toddlers and want shade and calm: Kelly Road Park or the Eva Perry library storytime.

You want one place that does everything: Pleasant Park for the playground variety (splash pad in season, roughly late May through September), or Apex Community Park if you also want a lake walk.

Older kids with energy: Apex Nature Park for disc golf and the greenway, or Sky Zone when it rains.

A low-key downtown morning: Salem Street for lunch and the Saturday farmers market, saving FRESH's ice cream for an afternoon or Friday/Saturday visit — just build in a little extra time for the ongoing construction.

Fall/holiday plans: put the Apex Rotary Christmas Parade (traditionally the first Saturday of December) on the calendar, and double-check the route given this year's downtown construction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a splash pad in Apex?

Yes. Splashlantis at Pleasant Park (3400 Pleasant Plains Road) is the main one, and it opened in 2024. In 2026 it ran daily from mid-June through Labor Day and weekends-only into late September, per the town's website, so by the time you're reading this in fall it's likely closed for the season. It typically reopens in late spring — confirm the current schedule before you go.

Are there free things to do with kids in Apex?

Plenty. Pleasant Park, Apex Community Park, Apex Nature Park, Kelly Road Park, the Beaver Creek Greenway, and the Eva Perry Regional Library are all free. The splash pad is free to play (in season), and the farmers market is free to browse.

Can you swim in the lake at Apex Community Park?

No. The lake at Apex Community Park is for fishing (permit required) and small non-motorized boats like kayaks and paddleboards launched from the designated spot near the picnic shelters. Swimming is not allowed. For water play with kids, the Splashlantis splash pad at Pleasant Park is your best bet in season.

What is there to do in downtown Apex with kids?

Salem Street is walkable and stroller-friendly, though it's currently a construction zone through at least the end of 2026 (sidewalks and businesses stay open, but traffic is one-way in the construction block). You can grab pizza at Anna's, check the calendar at The Halle Cultural Arts Center, hit the Saturday farmers market, and swing by FRESH for ice cream in the afternoon or on a weekend. It is an easy half-day loop without much driving, plus the Rotary Christmas Parade in early December.

What is the best park in Apex for young toddlers?

Kelly Road Park is my pick for the youngest crowd. It has age-graded playground sections so the little-kid equipment is separate, more tree cover than the big open parks, and it connects to the greenway for a short, flat stroll.