For those families who won’t spend this weekend rushing around in a last-minute holiday frenzy and are looking for ways to keep kids busy , this might be a good weekend to try out a new Triangle attraction.

If you haven’t yet visited Raleigh’s new Buffaloe Road Aquatic Center, you and your kids are in for a treat.

This 6,000-square-foot indoor pool in Northeast Raleigh, just off I-540, opened in late September. It is no run-of-the-mill city pool.

It boasts a three-story water slide, a lazy river and a water vortex.

There are places to play water basketball and volleyball. It also has a kiddie area with a gradual entry, a water curtain, water tumble buckets and a mini-slide.

For the adults, there are three lap lanes.

The pool water stays around a balmy 85 degrees, so it’s a good activity for a chilly day.

One warning: If your child is shorter than 48 inches (like my second-grader), the big slide will be off limits.

The pool is at 5908 Buffaloe Road. It’s open 10 a.m.-6:45 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $3 for kids and $7 for adults.

• If your kids need to burn off energy, they can bounce off the walls to their hearts’ content on Saturday at Pump It Up in Raleigh.

From 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, this large inflatable gym will hold Jolly Jump with Santa.

In addition to bouncing and sliding, kids can listen to Santa read “ ’Twas the Night Before Christmas.” There will also be breakfast treats and crafts.

The cost is $10 for the first child and $7 for a sibling. No charge for parents.

Call 919-828-3344 to register.

• If you just want to forget about Christmas for a couple of hours and take a walk in nature, you can take the family to Lake Crabtree County Park in Morrisville.

From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, a ranger will lead a Nature In Winter hike, where you can learn about plants and animals that survive through cold temperatures.

All ages are invited, and the cost is $5 per family.

Register by calling 919-460-2723.

kristin.familypicks@gmail.com