Local Excursion: OC Aerial

I am always on the lookout for something to do. I've always been "on the go" (my parents rarely saw me after I turned 16 and got a car). I just prefer to be up and doing something. Lately, I've decided that having a toddler brings this out in me even more. 

My mom commented last year when we were at a playground with my sister's young kids that she missed how I always used to have something planned on the weekends. Her comment stuck with me and I felt like I didn't really know what she was talking about. I didn't remember that I was always the weekend planner.

Well, now that Brooke is one year old, IT'S ALL COMING BACK, ALL COMING BACK TO ME NOW....

I don't like being bored with a baby. I know they are easily entertained by practically anything, but I need to be doing something, not just hanging out with them at home all day. Our home is not baby-proof, so any babies in our home require constant monitoring. I don't enjoy playing with toddlers. I don't enjoy going to "baby friendly" places (those places that are geared towards toddlers...you know the ones!). I enjoy family-friendly activities where my toddler can tag along with me versus me tagging along with my toddler. This explains why I once planned an outing for me, my mom and sister to go apple-picking with Cam before he could even walk. 

Since 2020, Cam has been old enough to play outside with the neighbors' kids on the weekend without any supervision. We definitely still do things and go places, but I just haven't felt the need to plan as many activities because I used the weekends to get things done around the house, read, relax, grocery shop, etc. Even with Brooke as an infant last year, she was easy and immobile and napped a lot. 

Just in the past few months - with the onset of cold weather and a walking toddler - I'm realizing I need to be the planner again. Being stuck in the house all day puts me in a grumpy mood. 

Enter OC Aerial.

We recently went to Angel Island in Durham on a Saturday morning with the kids (highly recommend Angel Island as well), and after our visit, my sister's boss told her about OC Aerial. It's in Durham, very close to Hillsborough. More geared towards older kids and adults. I was intrigued.

This past month I re-read one of my favorite parenting books "There's No Such Thing As Bad Weather." It has reminded me the importance of getting outside! I tend to prioritize being outside even in cold weather, but even I have my limits. It's been bitter cold the past few weeks in NC, and while I don't mind it too much, it's not an enjoyable temperature by any stretch, unless skiing is involved. I have a list of over fifty local places that I'd like to check out with my kids, but almost all of these places are outdoors. OC Aerial was one of the only indoor attractions on my list.

My sister was up for checking out this place with her two kids even though they are on the young side (ages 3 & 5). Overall, I would say it's geared towards older kids, but even the young kids had fun. I paid around $170 for four of us to participate (3 kids and 1 adult). I thought each session was three hours, but they wrote 10am-3pm on our wristbands and we ended up staying 10-1:30. We definitely could have stayed all the way to 3pm but I would have brought lunch to eat in hindsight.

 As a spectator, my sister was able to watch Brooke for me while I participated in the activities. I think after this first trip, I would just pay for my son to enjoy everything and I would hang out for free, which wouldn't be as expensive. I think for kids it's only $33 dollars, whereas the adult ticket was around $60.

For the first time going, I do think it helped that I bought myself a ticket. Being willing to do the activities with Cam made him more comfortable, but after a few minutes, he definitely no longer needed any help or encouragement from me. 

The kids had a blast. The slide was so much fun and hilarious to watch.

The spectating area is convenient and nice for those not paying. I didn't feel any guilt bringing a toddler along, as she was entertained even without participating. 

On the mezzanine upstairs, they had dining tables, couches, and snacks (included with cost of ticket). Ice cream, coffee, slushies, popcorn...this might have been the highlight for the kids. 

It definitely took me out of my comfort zone to try new things like indoor rock climbing and the ropes course. All the activities felt very safe and I quickly got comfortable with them. It gave Cam a boost of confidence to do the zipline, the ropes course, and the climbing.

It never felt too crowded, even though there definitely was a lot more people there than I expected. The morning crowd was more kid-heavy, but the afternoon crowd was a lot of teens and adults. I would definitely come here sans kids too; I had a lot of fun as an adult. It would make a fun date activity.

10/10 recommend this place for a fun outing. 10/10 for how sore my body was the next day.



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