Verified July 2026 by Nina, a Raleigh mom.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 news 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. 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," inclusive equipment for different ages and abilities, a sand-dig area, a reading nook, and nature-play sections. In the warm months, the Splashlantis splash pad is the main event.
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 (confirm current splash pad details before you go)
When to go: the splash pad typically runs daily from late spring through Labor Day weekend, often around 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., but seasons and hours change every year, so confirm the current schedule first
Parking: there is a real lot, but Pleasant Plains Road itself is not available for overflow parking, so arrive earlier on hot summer weekends when it fills up
Restrooms: yes, at the shelter areas
Mom tip: bring water shoes, a dry change of clothes, and a towel even if you "weren't planning" on the splash pad. You will end up there. There is not much natural shade right over the play villages, so a hat and sunscreen earn their keep midday.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. There is a wheelchair-accessible fishing dock (a fishing permit is required), and you can bring a kayak, canoe, or paddleboard to the designated launch. No swimming.
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, disc golf, an outdoor amphitheater, 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 and a second playground sit at 2500 Evans Road)
Cost: free
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 registration, 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, runs several miles, and is genuinely stroller- and bike-friendly. It connects to Kelly Road Park and Jaycee Park along the way.
Best for: balance bikes, scooters, strollers, and family bike rides
Parking: the west end has parking at Apex Nature Park (2600 Evans Road) plus accessible spaces off Kelly Road, and the east end has parking at Jaycee Park (451 NC Highway 55)
Mom tip: there are wheelchair-accessible restrooms near the east end, which matters a lot when you are mid-ride with a newly potty-trained kid.Kelly Road Park
A quieter, shadier option with age-graded playgrounds, 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 smooth sidewalks and short blocks. It is easy to do a loop of lunch, a treat, and a little browsing without anyone melting down.
Eat and Treat
Anna's Pizzeria (100 N Salem Street) is a long-running, casual Italian spot right downtown. Pizza is the easy win with picky eaters.
Salem Street Pub (113 N Salem Street) is burger-and-pub fare with a patio and a family-friendly vibe earlier in the day. Hours skew later in the week, so check before a lunch run.
Scratch Kitchen & Taproom (225 N Salem Street) is a from-scratch Southern spot in a historic building. 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. Soft serve, easy with little hands, walkable from everything else.
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.The Halle Cultural Arts Center
The Halle is downtown Apex's arts hub, with gallery space, performances, concert series, and classes. 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 in the heart of downtown, easy to fold into a morning walk.
Address: 220 N Salem Street area, downtown Apex
When to go: Saturday mornings, with seasonal hours that shift between the warm and cold months, so confirm the current time before heading over
Mom tip: go early, let each kid pick one thing, and you have turned errands into an outing.Rainy-Day and Indoor Options
Eva Perry Regional Library
This is the Apex library, and it is a good one. Free storytimes, 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.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, and the usual trampoline-park add-ons.
Best for: roughly ages 4 and up, plus tweens
Address: 1275 Haddon Hall Drive, Apex
Cost: sold in time blocks, 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 and the first hour of the day are calmer than weekend rushes.How to Pick the Right Outing
Got toddlers and want shade and calm: Kelly Road Park or the Eva Perry library storytime.
Hot day and you want water: Pleasant Park for Splashlantis, in season.
You want one place that does everything: Pleasant Park for the playground variety, 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, FRESH for ice cream, and the Saturday farmers market if the timing lines up.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. It typically runs from late spring through Labor Day weekend, but the season and hours change each year, so 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, 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. 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. You can grab pizza at Anna's, ice cream at FRESH, check the calendar at The Halle Cultural Arts Center, and hit the Saturday farmers market. It is an easy half-day loop without much driving.
What is the best park in Apex for young toddlers?
Kelly Road Park is my pick for the youngest crowd. It has age-graded playgrounds 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.
