New Year's Eve with the Family in Raleigh, North Carolina

New Year's Eve is a time for reflection and celebration. As we gear up for our much anticipated acorn drop, for families like mine it is a matter of finding family friendly events, something our entire family can appreciate. With so much going on in the downtown area not just on New Year's Eve, families can enjoy dining, skating and nearby parks. For a parents getaway, Date Night Thursday can be very relaxing and fun. A lot of restaurants in the downtown area offers Date Night specials, and with your restaurant receipt you can receive a $4 discount off admission for two at the ice rink.

The annual First Night Raleigh event held by Artsplosure is an amazing family friendly, alcohol fee event. Celebration for the kids is from 2-6pm at the North Carolina Museum of History, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and on the Bicentennial Plaza. With the wide range of activities your kids will definitely find lots of stuff they will enjoy, from the Arts Together Toddler Room to the Theater Games with Melissa Lozoff there is always something the entire family can do together.

Admissions buttons can be purchase from the following local retailers: Advance Purchase price is $9.00
HARRIS TEETER
RITE AID
Ben & Jerry's
Borders Books & Music
Café Helios
Marbles Kids Museum
NC Museum of History Shop
Quail Ridge Books & Music
Sosta Café
The Museum Store at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences
The Third Place

For the music lovers, North Carolina Symphony is hosting a New Year's Eve Extravaganza at the Progress Energy Center for the Preforming Art Meymandi Concert Hall. Tickets are price at $40-$60, you can also sale $10 on the price of your ticket if you have your First Night Raleigh 2010 button. The symphony will feature some of North Carolina talented young musicians.

AT&T Raleigh Winterfest offers a two months long event, which features an outdoor ice skating rink in City Plaza on the southern end of Fayettevile Street 400 block. Bring the kids and skate the day away. Couples can enjoy Date and Skate Night Thursday and experience the downtown night life with a free carriage ride from 6-9pm; you must have on your ice rink admission waistband.

This New Year's Eve I have a lot to be thankful for, but more then anything I am truly thankfully for family.