Love it or hate it, summer in North Carolina is officially here. Pros: It’s sunny, the pool is open, and there’s not a school bus in sight. Cons: Sweat stains, the bugs are back, and everyone on social media is at the beach with seemingly endless amounts of PTO while you’re stuck at work. Yes, summer can often feel like the sea-sun of watching everyone take a vacation until it’s your turn — but summer fun does NOT necessarily require a plane ticket or a trip to the beach. Here are some local options for adults and kids alike, the majority of which are (blessedly) inside.
Urban Air Adventure Park
You might not know it’s there, but Urban Air Adventure Park — located in Morrisville, inside the Wake Competition Center — officially opened its doors on April 1. Owned by Michael Villopoto and his business partner, German Garcia- Fresco, Urban Air provides a safe place for families to jump, soar, race, climb, and play.
“I have been in the hospitality industry most of my life, owning restaurants and recreational parks for over 30 years,” said Villopoto, who started Amante Pizza in 1990 in Carrboro and expanded to six locations over the years. “After a divorce in 2005, I decided to diversify outside the restaurant industry and sold several of my pizza restaurants to get involved in other businesses.”
Take your fun to new heights on Urban Air’s Sky Rider.
In 2008, Villopoto and his business partner, Garcia-Fresco, decided to open a paintball field called Xtreme Kombat, which evolved over time to become Xtreme Park Adventures in Durham. Always looking to diversify, Villopoto and Garcia-Fresco continued to add attractions to Xtreme Park Adventures — but their quest to bring fun to the Triangle didn’t end there. In 2017, after hearing about a Texas-based indoor recreational company called Urban Air, the pair decided to open a location in Morrisville — convenient for residents throughout the Triangle.
“We wanted this Urban Air to offer as much as possible, so we added everything they had to offer — including being the Triangle’s first indoor skydiving facility,” said Villopoto. “We added all the extras like Spin Zone bumper cars, virtual reality, a Snapology lab, and Urban Air’s newest attraction, a Drop Zone tower. We are also the first Urban Air in the country to offer a Glamour Salon where guests can get a manicure or pedicure and have a princess birthday party! And being in the pizza business for 30 years, I was allowed to offer Amante pizza in the restaurant instead of the typical Urban Air food.”
The best thing about Urban Air Adventure Park? It’s for everyone, regardless of age, and there’s PLENTY to do — from skydiving, a ropes course, climbing walls, bumper cars, trampolines, virtual reality, dodgeball, a slam dunk zone, and much more. Urban Air is also a fantastic destination for birthday parties.
“We have 14 birthday party rooms for groups of 10 or 40,” said Garcia-Fresco. “Our favorite rooms are the Glamour Salon princess rooms, where girls can celebrate their birthdays, get their nails done and a facial, and then play! Or come on a Wednesday and have a mommy- daughter spa day. Finally, we have a STEAM room for science and engineering called Snapology, where kids can come and learn about programming, building, and more. We offer after-school programs and summer camps as well!”
Whether you’re there for a party or as a fun way to beat the heat, Urban Air is there to make sure your dreams take flight. Remember — if you don’t jump, you’ll never fly!
urbanair.com/north-carolina-morrisville/
Sports & Social, PBR Cowboy Bar, AVA Rooftop Bar
Treat yourself to a trifecta of good times at Sports & Social, PBR Cowboy Bar, and AVA Rooftop Bar — all owned by Live! Hospitality & Entertainment and located in the same building at Fenton, an upscale mixed-use development in the heart of Cary.
Sports & Social, PBR Cowboy Bar, and AVA Rooftop Bar are all located in the same building — your one-stop shop for fun!
With 11 current locations and 3 more openings planned, Sports & Social combines the traditional elements of a sports tavern with classic games and live entertainment.
“We opened in early February, just before the Super Bowl, in order to show off our 42-foot HD media wall and solidify our position as the premier sports watch location,” said Emily Almond, director of marketing. “Sports & Social offers fans an immersive sports entertainment atmosphere with the next-best game-watching experience outside of a stadium or arena. We have fan cams. We have live entertainment. We have games. We also host large-scale events that create additional entertainment experiences for guests, including themed Mardi Gras, St. Patrick’s Day, Halloween, and more events!”
Take a ride on PBR’s professionally endorsed mechanical riding bull.
Open Sunday through Wednesday from 11 a.m. to midnight and Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., Sports & Social is the perfect go-to for late-night entertainment — from watching the game to playing Skee-Ball, hoops, and shuffleboard.
“We also have a James Beard-nominated chef that has curated our entire menu,” added Almond.
Menu highlights include the quesabirria egg rolls, truffle mushroom flatbread, Nashville hot chicken sandwich, Southwest bowl, and beef barbacoa tacos — as well as a variety of signature Crush drinks, including the Orange Crush, Tequila Crush, and Paloma Crush.
“Sports & Social is for everyone,” said Almond. “Sports fans, families, men and/or women of all ages. Our goal is to make this a space where people want to spend time with their friends and family.”
If you want to put the wild in wild, wild, west, grab some friends and head to PBR Cowboy Bar, located in the same building as Sports & Social.
“PBR Cowboy Bar is a partnership with Professional Bull Riders that fuses the spirit of independence with first-class hospitality, bringing an authentic country Western experience to the Triangle,” said Almond. “PBR Cary features the only professionally endorsed mechanical riding bull, as well as multiple signature bars, private VIP booths, and 1,300 square feet of outdoor patio space. We opened in early February and have been riding the wave ever since.”
The perfect venue for a fun night out, PBR’s bull riding, line dancing, and live music can get a little rowdy — but cowboys aren’t known for their pretty manners! Customers are invited to let their hair down and experience premier nightlife without ever leaving town.
“We offer line dancing classes every other week and live music every Friday and Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m.,” said Almond. “PBR also hosts Freedom Friday on the first Friday of every month, Buckin’ Birthdays on the second Friday of each month, and a monthly mayhem themed party on the third Friday of each month.”
From cocktails to beer, AVA Rooftop Bar has the perfect drink to take the edge off a hard day.
Looking for a calmer vibe? Visit the AVA Rooftop Bar, carefully curated to bring an elevated rooftop experience to Cary. Situated on top of Sports & Social, a short ride up the elevator will transport you from the world of sports and cowboys to lush greenery, lounge-style seating, and Mediterranean-inspired small plates, wine, and cocktails.
“AVA Rooftop Bar is a rooftop oasis great for date nights, girl time, and gathering with friends,” said Almond. “We host a sunset toast every night and have monthly experiences like sunset yoga. DJs, live entertainment, and Instagrammable moments make this the place to be.”
Whether you’re on a date night or enjoying some much-needed cocktails with coworkers, AVA Rooftop is a perfect relaxing oasis with a delicious curated food and drink menu. Highlights include the mezze platter, cauliflower tabbouleh, grilled lemon chicken, grilled merguez, and grilled shrimp skewers. For drinks, try the Aqua de Valencia, Watermelon Spritz, or the AVA Margarita — perfect for cooling down on a hot summer’s day.
Rush Hour Karting
With a new location right next door to Urban Air Adventure Park, Rush Hour Karting — owned by Adam and Tamer Saad — has everything you need to fuel your need for speed.
“We finally opened up a second location in Morrisville (we actually call it RTP), which is night and day different from the track in Garner,” said Adam Saad. “Where Garner has gas go-karts, RTP has electric karts that drive completely differently. It is nice to experience the difference! Also, RTP is a multi-level track, where Garner is a longer, single-level track. Since the karts are electric in RTP, there is no noise or fumes that can bother some people, and the whole facility is climate controlled.”
At Rush Hour Karting, crew members work to ensure that every driver has a fun (and safe) experience.
For companies looking for great teambuilding opportunities, Rush Hour’s RTP location is top-notch, offering a giant meeting room that can hold up to 300 people and a smaller board room equipped with golfing simulators (because why not?). In addition to the racing, Rush Hour provides a giant 34-passenger luxury bus to pick up and drop off corporate clients.
“We offer many entertainment activities — from karting, to axe throwing, to golf sims,” said Saad. “We even have five racing simulators, which are the real deal — completely motion-activated seating and three screens make you feel as if you are in a real F1 race car! We can cater an amazing meal, including cocktails, beer, and wine. There is a great restaurant/sports bar in both locations, where everything is made from scratch. We even make our own dough and pizza sauce for the pizzas! Best in town!”
With a mezzanine overlooking the whole track for a bird’s-eye view, don’t forget to bring your camera (and your A-game, for bragging rights). Whether you’re new to the track or a serious racing enthusiast, it’s time to hop in for the ride.
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