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Friday, March 23, 2012

South Mountains State Park in NC – Great Hike, Beautiful Scenery, and More

Waterfall at South Mountains State Park © Katrena
South Mountains State Park, located in Connelly Springs near Hickory and Morganton in Burke County, offers a wonderful mix of North Carolina's natural beauty and fun, interactive educational resources. I had visited the park quite a few years ago and particularly remember the waterfall, but I was surprised to find a great visitor's center, built in 2006, when I visited the park recently with my daughters. This is one huge park boasting 18,000 acres with elevations ranging from 1,200 to 3,000 feet. Admission into the park is free.

Hiking Trail Near Hickory NC © Katrena
If you are traveling with kids, I would recommend waiting until you get to the park to eat. The park has some beautiful scenic locations for a picnic lunch. Also, some of the roads nearing the park are rather curvy, so those with children who get carsick will appreciate that advice! My kids do sometimes get sick in the car, but the winding section is only about ten minutes, and we made it to the park without any stops.

Fun Things to do with the Kids in NC © Katrena
I'm thinking that there were some really narrow bridges when I visited the park years ago, but the roads seem to be well kept, were paved, and I believe they must have widened some bridges or built new ones. We saw some interesting animals on the drive up there, including a wild turkey and bison.

Enjoy Natural Beauty of North Carolina © Katrena
Upon entering the park, the visitor's center will be on your right. I would highly recommend stopping at the center. Their official web site gives a calendar of events, and you might be able to time your visit when they are offering special activities.

Fun Activities Near Hickory and Morganton © Katrena
My kids really enjoyed looking at the skinks and moths that were sunning and hiding on the rocks on the sign just to the left of the front entrance. This can serve as a great impromtu educational opportunity about native animals, camouflage, etc.

South Moutains State Park Welcome Center © Katrena
I was particularly impressed with the welcome center at South Mountains State Park. The welcome center receptionist was very friendly and helpful and gave me tips for which trails to take and offered information about the park and its facilities.

Park Ranger at a NC State Park © Katrena
The park ranger was knowledgeable about the area's animals and had some good safety tips for families visiting state parks. I didn't realize that the rangers sometimes travel and work at several different parks. He gave me some ideas for traveling to other N.C. parks....future articles for sure!

My kids absolutely loved the room to the left in the welcome center. It is filled with interactive educational opportunities in which they could hunt for animals in the displays, learn about protecting the environment, look through microscopes, and more.

Hands-on Learning at South Mountains State Park © Katrena
Fun Way to Learn About Nocturnal Animals © Katrena
The fisherman, dubbed Fred by the folks at the center, had a bit of a surprise for the kids. You'll have to be brave enough to walk close...I won't give it away! There is also a small room with a curtain that discusses nocturnal animals. It is dark in there, but all of my kids loved it because a recording gave hints about a particular nocturnal animal and then put a spotlight on that particular one. I think my daughters could have stayed in that room an hour!

Learn North Carolina Culture at State Parks © Katrena
The bathroom facilities were clean and well stocked, and my 4-year-old said to mention that the toilet paper is nice and soft! The hallway toward the bathroom features especially nice pictures of the area and additional displays, including old photographs and antiques. There is a large fireplace in the lobby, lots of nice pictures of flowers you might see on the hike, and other resources for folks who are visiting. Campers check in here as well.

Learn to Love Nature on Hemlock Trail © Katrena
If you drive all the way to the end of the road, you'll find a parking lot with several different trail options and the last set of bathrooms before hitting the trails. We opted for the hemlock trail because it was in sight of Jacob's Fork River and offered lots of educational signs so that we could learn more about the animals and plants in the area. The ladies slippers were just starting to bud when we visited on St. Patrick's Day – the park is certainly blessed with a lot of green!

A couple of trails meander around different areas and some join in key locations. The hemlock trail is also handicap accessible, and several piers jut out so that someone in a wheelchair might fish from this area as well. A campsite at the park is also handicap accessible.

We kept following the signs for the waterfall, which was pretty easy because we followed the water. There are quite a few steps and rocks on this trail. If you have climbers in the family, they should be right at home here. They have done a nice job putting rails on some of the steeper areas, and my 4-year-old was even able to navigate the trail without being held. Yea! Well, I did make them all raise their right hand and solemnly swear not to ask me to carry them before we started hiking...

Hike with the Kids in Piedmont © Katrena
High Shoals Falls is rather spread out and drops 80 feet. A bridge is located at one point that will take you directly in front of one of the largest waterfall areas. If you look way up and a little to the left while standing on that bridge, you'll see the top of the waterfall. It is worth the hike.

Several others were hiking the trail the day we went. Many of them had dogs on leashes, and I was impressed with how nice everyone was. One lady let us pet her ferret that was also on a leash! The flowers and plants were beautiful, and if you slow down a bit, you might find some great surprises, like a millipede or a snail.

See Wildflowers Like Foamflower (Tiarella) and a Type of Rue-Anemone © Katrena
Millipede on the Trail © Katrena
South Mountains State Park also offers equestrian trails, and this could be a great opportunity for the kids to enjoy a North Carolina state park from horseback. Horses are not allowed on the trail up to the waterfall – it would be too steep in places. The mountain-bike loop is 17 miles, so this could be another family fitness opportunity. A few trails may be closed for renovations, but you should be able to find the information such as current renovations, directions, fees for camping, and more on the South Mountains State Park official web site.

Jacob's Fork River in NC © Katrena
The camping area is a short drive from the trails and welcome center. I believe all sites are primitive and designed for equestrian camping. This park is a nice place for relaxing as well as hiking, fishing, and a variety of other nature-related activities.

Enjoy Natural Beauty at NC State Parks © Katrena
North Carolina offers a wealth of fun family activities. Check out more of my articles and pictures at the Travel NC With Kids site map.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Village Park in Kannapolis NC Has Playground, Splash Pad, Train, and More

Village Park Playground in Kannapolis NC © Katrena
Village Park, located in Kannapolis, NC at 700 West C Street, has a fun assortment of activities for the kids all year. My family can easily spend hours at this park simply playing in the playground. Admission into the park is free with very reasonable fees for the extra activities.

Village Park Playground

I've been impressed with this playground every time we have visited this park. With three kids ranging in age from 10 to 4, it can be a bit challenging to find one area where everyone is having fun, but this place definitely fits the bill. Several sets of swings connect two large play areas with a variety of slides and climbing opportunities. I have two climbers. I had to put the chairs on top of the kitchen table when they were smaller. Now they have learned how to shimmy up the door facings and I tend to have footprints on my kitchen counters. Parents of climbers, I feel for ya!

Great Inexpensive Places to Play in North Carolina © Katrena
This playground also offers challenges for quite a variety of abilities. The kids can sit and rock back and forth in the play vehicles and animals or they can attack the three twisting handles that are much more difficult than your average monkey bars. Parents who wish to sit and watch will be glad to know that there are several benches in the shade. One of my favorite parts of the playground is that the train track comes nearby, so you can enjoy watching groups riding by on the Rotary Express.

Fun Climbing Wall at Village Park © Katrena
The Rotary Express - Kannapolis Train at Village Park

The Kannapolis train, named the Rotary Express, is modeled after an authentic CP Huntington and is number 262 out of 320 hand-crafted g-24 scale replicas. The train was transferred to Kannapolis from the New Orleans, LA area two weeks before Hurricane Katrina devastated that area. We have ridden the train several times, and I have been particularly impressed with the friendliness and dedication of the gentlemen who have braved some pretty cold nights with a smile and fun personality!

Train Ride at Village Park in Kannapolis © Katrena
Riding the train costs $1.00 ($2.00 for the Christmas train ride) per person, and discount punch cards, group rates, and season passes are also available. The train runs on weekends only during Spring and Fall and daily during the summer months. The train can accommodate a wheelchair near the front.

Kannapolis Village Splash Pad

If the kids want to get wet on a hot summer day, a splash pad can be loads of fun. This splash pad offers two play areas, one for kids aged 5 and under and one for those aged 6-12. There are many opportunities to get sprayed, splashed, and have water poured on you in this play area.

Kannapolis Village Park Splash Pad © Katrena
Splash pad admission is $1.00 and adults who are simply chaperoning can get in for free. Hours for the splash pad are similar to those of the train. Bathroom facilities are located here as well as on the far side of the train station.

Shelters and Concessions

The Village Park building, near the front parking lot, sells concessions. The park has several different sized shelters with lights, electricity, and grills available for rent. The walkways are paved and tend to have gentle slopes.

Swings, Slides, and Splashes at Village Park © Katrena
Nearby Indoor Family-friendly Opportunities

The park is beside Cannon Memorial YMCA. Some folks park at the Y parking lot in order to get into Village Park. Many Ys offer an A.W.A.Y. program in which members of one Y may be granted free or reduced admission at another Y, so this can be a great opportunity to try another facility and add to the fun. The Gem Theater, one of the oldest single-movie theaters still in operation, has a huge balcony that my kids love and is only a few blocks away. This theater was originally built in 1936 and then re-built in 1948 after a fire destroyed the first building.

Train Ride in Kannapolis North Carolina © Katrena
Village Park in Kannapolis Ranks High on My Kids' Fun List

Looking for a fun way to spend the day with the kids without spending a lot of money? Village Park in Kannapolis has a large playground, splash pad, and train ride. Check out the Village Park official web site for hours, prices, and additional details. My family enjoys combining this trip with a visit to the Gem Theatre, which is rich in history and located very near this park. Here is the 2015 schedule of $1.00 summer movies at Gem Theatre.

Two other great kid-friendly places fairly nearby are the Carolina Raptor Center and Lazy 5 Ranch. Find more fun places in North Carolina at the Travel NC With Kids site map.

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Salisbury NC Friday Night Out Offers Free Trolley Rides and More

Have Fun at Salisbury Friday Night Out © Katrena
Salisbury, North Carolina, located in the Piedmont area in Rowan County, encourages folks to come out and enjoy what their downtown has to offer. On certain Fridays, they have a fun assortment of activities, and many of the shops are open.

Trolley Rides in Salisbury NC © Katrena
My kids are particularly fond of the free trolley rides. They have trolley stops stationed along a route that will take folks near businesses and activities offered during the special night out. It is not completely about the destination. The ride is the big thrill for my kids.

Brian Moore and the Karaoke Trolley Ride in Salisbury © Katrena
Brian Moore, the kids' favorite trolley driver, might invite people to come up front and belt out a few tunes as Salisbury's trolley is transformed into the Karaoke Trolley. It doesn't matter if the song is "I'm a Little Teacup," the latest song from American Idol, or opera, Mr. Moore makes sure that the singers all feel welcome and that the riders enjoy their time.

Salisbury Night Out Offers Lots of Fun Activities © Katrena
Different months feature different themes, with some more geared toward kids while others are more geared toward adults, but the free trolley rides have been offered each time we have attended. The kids have enjoyed a wide variety of entertainment, such as:
  • Jumping castles (you might want to get there early or look for the smaller one near Simply Good to avoid the larger crowds)
  • Dogs brought from the Humane Society
  • Animals from Dan Nicholas Park
  • Clown that blows up balloons for the kids
  • Horse rides (both live ones during one Kids Night Out and a musical carousel-type one on Main Street)
  • Musicians
  • Car shows
  • Drum circle
  • Artwork (both the work of others and sometimes offered the opportunity to make their own works of art)
  • Games
  • Shopping - my kids are especially fond of the shop near the square that has a cat
This Horse Was a Gentle Giant at Friday Night Out © Katrena
Some nights out offer special extra opportunities for a fee. For example, the October Night Out has a guided walking ghost tour through part of the historic section and a haunted trolley. You could easily make a day of visiting Salisbury with several family-friendly places nearby such as Dan Nicholas Park, Lazy 5 Ranch, Dunn's Mountain Park, and the North Carolina Transportation Museum.

Great Country Cooking on the Grill at Salisbury Night Out © Katrena
They offer a nice variety of food at the various downtown restaurants and cafes, and some street vendors offer food as well. My kids have multiple food sensitivities, so we couldn't do a lot of taste testing, but one guy near the square who brought a huge grill looked like his food would have absolutely melted in your mouth!

Fun Family Activities in Salisbury and Rowan County © Katrena
The Salisbury Night Out dates for 2012, according to the Downtown Salisbury, Inc. web site are (all offered 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.):
  • April 20 - Earth Night Out
  • May 11 - Spring Night Out
  • July 20 - Crazy Night Out
  • August 3 - Summer Night Out
  • September 7 - Kids' Night Out
  • October 12 - OctoberTour Night Out
  • November 23 - Holiday Night Out
Wide Variety of Music Offered at Salisbury Night Out © Katrena
We have met so many nice people at the Salisbury Night Out on Fridays, and each one has been unique. This can be a great opportunity to simply enjoy a family evening together for free or you can make it into a time to shop after normal business hours and enjoy a meal together.

Fun Free Things to do With the Kids in the Piedmont © Katrena
Check out the Travel NC With Kids site map for more great family activities in North Carolina! Readers may also wish to see the 2013 dates and themes for the Salisbury Night Out activities.