# Sycamore Trails & Hands-on Nature Education Exploration

> Place to go for families in the Raleigh–Cary area (NC). Times are Eastern Time.

- When: Park open daily 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM (Visitor Center exhibit hall open 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM).
- Dates: Sat, Nov 7 – Sun, Nov 8
- Where: William B. Umstead State Park (Visitor Center), 8801 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27617
- Ages: Suitable for children aged 2-14 and the whole family
- Price: Completely free and open to the public
- Schedule: Park open daily 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM (Visitor Center exhibit hall open 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM).
- Organizer: North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation
- Official page: https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/william-b-umstead-state-park
- Last checked: Fri, Nov 6

Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 10, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about
Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-10), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/raleigh/activities/sycamore-trails-and-hands-on-nature-education-exploration--listing-7a9daab5b7373ba74b535ab2

## About

William B. Umstead State Park, spanning the borders of Raleigh, Cary, and Durham, is described as one of the core state forest parks in the Triangle area. This weekend, the park's Visitor Center hosts a nature observation day, where children can observe native North Carolina bird specimens and amphibian/reptile exhibits in the indoor exhibition hall and borrow Junior Ranger Discovery Kits. Families may then hike along the gentle Oak Rock Nature Trail or Sycamore Trail, where they might find pinecones, observe moss, and wild squirrels. The park's Visitor Center and surrounding boardwalks are described as flat and wide, which may allow for easy stroller access. The center's restrooms are equipped with non-slip step stools and diaper changing stations, and outdoor shaded picnic tables are available. It is suitable for children aged 2 to 14 and the whole family.

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