Christmas Hayride Through Downtown Mocksville, NC Like Being in Norman Rockwell Picture

Christmas Hayride in Mocksville NC © Katrena

Mocksville, located in Davie County of North Carolina, hosts a beautiful array of Christmas lights downtown. The trees and areas businesses along Main Street are outlined with beautiful white lights. Yes, there are small trees along the street, but the most noticeable trees by far are the four oak trees in the center of town. The lights on these majestic trees can be seen from quite a distance.

Downtown Mocksville Christmas Lights © Katrena

Or even close-up on a hayride. In 2012, free hayrides were offered to folks to enjoy the quaint Southern town in the Piedmont decked out for Christmas. Folks could climb aboard the flatbed lined with haybales and enjoy the sights and sounds of the season.

Santa and Mrs. Claus in Davie County © Katrena

Santa and Mrs. Claus smiled and waved as guests rode by. I asked one of the little boys on the hayride if he was going to ask Santa for socks and underwear for Christmas. He emphatically informed me that those were not on his list and then told me about his hopes for this year. We also talked about how cool it can be to watch meteor showers.

As we traveled beneath the four oaks, I could not help but notice how pretty the courthouse looked as white lights illuminated the large clock on top. The hayride took us down Main Street, where not so long ago the first annual bed race was held and then up some side streets and back around again. Riders could enjoy seeing a beautiful nativity scene, wall mural, and perhaps even a few impromptu Christmas carols sung by the kids and adults together.

Restored Tractor for Hayride © Katrena

Of course, Main Street also hosts a variety of activities, from the summer car shows to the annual tractor parade. I asked the driver if he had driven his tractor in Mocksville's tractor parade this year. He said that his work schedule conflicted with this year's parade but that he hopes to ride next year, saying his father would have been proud of the recent restoration done on his tractor. I would have to agree.

Enjoying Family Time Together © Katrena

For me, tonight was a night to spend time together with family, remembering that time and life is precious and not something to take for granted. Many in our nation will not have the opportunity to hug ones in their family or circle of friends tonight or this Christmas season, and my heartfelt condolences, prayers, and thoughts go out to them.

Readers can find more of Katrena's articles at Travel NC With Kids.

The Cookie House in Hanes Mall at Winston-Salem

Home-made Cookie Sandwiches at The Cookie House © Katrena

The Cookie House in Hanes Mall at Winston-Salem, North Carolina may be small, but it is now one of our favorite tantalizing stops. The aroma of baking cookies beckons folks to come in and enjoy the experience!

See Cookies Baking in Oven in Hanes Mall © Katrena

Right beside the entrance to The Cookie House, guests can see the home-made cookies baking in the oven. The various racks are constantly turning, similar to a Ferris wheel at a county fair. My kids could not wait to see their favorite cookies coming around and to see which ones would appear next.

All Shapes and Sizes of Delicious Cookies at The Cookie House © Katrena

When entering the store, people cannot help but notice the huge cookies mounted high on the wall. They display a fun array of different themes. My kids quickly began naming the various characters they recognized on these cookies that are about the size of pizza pans.

Cookies on a Stick and Gingerbread Cookies © Katrena

The display cases offer a fun variety of cookies, from simple and small to large and elaborate. The decorations on the cookies are colorful and vibrant. Many of the cookies are themed to reflect characters seen on television and may be quite whimsical. A few cookies are made on a stick, reminiscent of a Popsicle or lollipop. Some look like cookie sandwiches, while gingerbread cookies grin from behind the glass.

Watch Cookie Decorating at Hanes Mall in Winston-Salem © Katrena

For me, the best part of visiting The Cookie House was having the opportunity to meet and see some of the cookie designers at work. April was decorating large batches of colorful cookies the day we visited, and she was very engaging and personable with the kids, mentioning that sometimes school groups will tour the cookie shop. April has been decorating cookies for years, and she made it look quite easy as she quickly designed fresh-baked cookies in front of our eyes and watering mouths!

The Cookie House in Hanes Mall © Katrena

My kids thoroughly enjoyed visiting The Cookie House. Although I have visited Hanes Mall many times, I had never actually gone into this store, but you can bet that I will put this one on my list of fun places to see on future visits. I especially like the friendliness of the staff and how they interact with the kids.

Fun Indoor Activities for Kids in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County © Katrena

Readers may also wish to read our visit to Old Salem, including a visit to their bakery. Find more of Katrena's articles at Travel NC With Kids.