Things to do with kids in Wilmington: city playgrounds, the Northside Splash Pad, free library story times, Fit For Fun, museums and rainy-day picks.

Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Hours and prices come from each venue’s own website, linked below; playgrounds from the City of Wilmington’s parks and amenities list.

Wilmington has a strong lineup for children: a downtown children’s museum, a new history and science museum with a planetarium, a battleship to climb through and a free story time somewhere in the county almost every weekday morning.

Who to call

  • Children’s Museum of Wilmington: 910-254-3534
  • Fit For Fun Center: 910-341-4630
  • Cape Fear Museum: 910-798-4370
  • Wilmington Railroad Museum: 910-763-2634
  • Battleship North Carolina: 910-399-9100

Indoor play and museums

Place Address Hours Admission
Children’s Museum of Wilmington 116 Orange St. Tue-Sat 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun 1-5 p.m.; Mondays too in summer $10; under 12 months free
Fit For Fun Center (ages 6 months to 5) 302 S. 10th St. Mon-Fri 9 a.m.-noon and 2-5 p.m., Sat 9 a.m.-noon $6 per child per session; adults free
Cape Fear Museum 230 Grace St. Mon-Sat 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun 1-5 p.m. Adults $16, ages 3-17 $10, 2 and under free
Wilmington Railroad Museum 505 Nutt St. Mon-Sat 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (to 5 p.m. and Sundays 1-5 p.m. in summer) Adults $12, ages 3-12 $8
Battleship North Carolina 1 Battleship Road Daily 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Adults $14, ages 6-11 $6, 5 and under free
  • Children’s Museum: discounts for military, educators, seniors and EBT cardholders through Museums for All, and free community passes that families can reserve at the New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender county public libraries (hours and admission). Closed on Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
  • Fit For Fun Center: a large indoor playroom with slides, tunnels and ride-on toys, an art room with a sensory nook, an infant-friendly pretend-play room and a fenced outdoor playground. It closes from noon to 2 p.m. for cleaning; ages 10 and up enter free as helpers (city page).
  • Cape Fear Museum: the county museum’s new building has a planetarium with shows most days on the county calendar; New Hanover County residents pay half price, and the first Sunday of each month is free for residents with a reservation (admission).
  • Railroad Museum: cash prices; cards add 3% (website).
  • Battleship: nine levels on a self-guided tour, most of it indoors, rain or shine (visitor page).

Free library story times

The New Hanover County Public Library’s events calendar lists these weekly story times for young children:

Day Story time Branch
Monday Family Storytime, 10:15 a.m. Pleasure Island (Carolina Beach)
Tuesday Family Storytime, 10 and 10:45 a.m. Pine Valley, 3802 S. College Road
Tuesday Family Storytime, 10:30 a.m. Main Library, 230 Grace St.
Wednesday Family Storytime, 10:15 and 11 a.m. Northeast, 1241 Military Cutoff Road
Wednesday Outdoor Family Storytime, 10:15 a.m. Pine Valley
Wednesday Music & Movement Storytime, 10:30 a.m. Main Library
Thursday Bilingual Family Storytime, 10:15 a.m. Main Library
Thursday Family Storytime, 10:15 and 11 a.m. Northeast and Northchase, 4400 Northchase Parkway W.

Pleasure Island also runs sensory and yoga story times on some Tuesdays. Check the calendar before you go; holiday weeks change.

Playgrounds and the splash pad

The city’s amenities list marks playgrounds at 22 city parks. These also have restrooms and parking:

  • Empie Park, 3405 Park Ave.: playground, restrooms, picnic shelters, tennis and the city dog park.
  • Greenfield Park, 1739 Burnett Blvd.: playground, restrooms, fishing, kayak access and the lake loop.
  • Halyburton Park, 4099 S. 17th St.: playground, restrooms, nature center and trails.
  • Maides Park, 1101 Manly Ave.: playground, restrooms, courts, fields and the Davis Center.
  • Olsen Park, 5510 Olsen Park Lane: playground, restrooms and athletic fields.
  • James E. L. Wade Park, 3500 Bethel Road: playground and restrooms, at the Gary Shell Cross-City Trail.
  • Archie Blue Park, 1306 Stanley St.: playground, restrooms, fishing and water access.
  • Robert Strange Park, 401 S. Eighth St., and Portia Mills Hines Park, 400 N. 10th St.: playgrounds and restrooms.
  • Riverfront Park, 10 Cowan St., downtown: playground and restrooms.

The Northside Splash Pad, 750 Bess St., is the city’s splash pad, closed in winter (pools page). Remember: dogs are not allowed on playgrounds or in water features under the city’s park rules.

Rainy-day picks

  1. The Battleship: almost all indoors and open every day.
  2. A planetarium show at the Cape Fear Museum.
  3. The Children’s Museum for under-10s; Fit For Fun for under-6s.
  4. The locomotives and exhibits at the Railroad Museum.
  5. A library story time, then the children’s room.

What this means for you

  • Under 6? Fit For Fun is $6 and closes at noon on Saturdays.
  • New Hanover County residents: free first Sundays at the Cape Fear Museum and Airlie Gardens.
  • Summer camps and pools are on our summer page.

Related: free things to do, walking and biking trails and things to do this weekend.

Frequently asked questions

Where can toddlers play indoors in Wilmington, NC?

The city’s Fit For Fun Center, 302 S. 10th St., is an indoor play center for ages 6 months to 5 years, $6 per child per session with adults free. The Children’s Museum of Wilmington, 116 Orange St., is open Tuesday through Sunday.

Are there free story times in Wilmington?

Yes. The New Hanover County Public Library holds free family story times at its branches most weekdays, including a bilingual story time Thursdays at the Main Library and outdoor story time Wednesdays at Pine Valley.

Is there a splash pad in Wilmington?

The city’s Northside Splash Pad is at 750 Bess St., next to Earl Jackson Pool at Northside Park. It closes for the winter.

How much is the Children’s Museum of Wilmington?

General admission is $10 for adults and children; babies under 12 months are free. Families can also borrow free community passes from the public library.

What can kids do in Wilmington on a rainy day?

Indoor options include the Children’s Museum, the Cape Fear Museum and its planetarium, the Wilmington Railroad Museum, Fit For Fun and Battleship North Carolina, where most of the tour is inside the ship.