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.

Tanglewood Festival of Lights Gift Village Resembles Craft Show!

Festival of Lights Gift Shop © Katrena

The Festival of Lights, a huge holiday light show in Tanglewood Park in North Carolina's Forsyth County, offers four miles of lights that will dazzle the kids and put a smile on the faces of adults as they enjoy the motley array of winter scenes.

Craft Show in Tanglewood Festival of Lights © Katrena

Nestled amidst the largest light show in the Southeast is a gift shop village that is definitely worth the stop for my family. The shop has something for just about everyone! We visited the Festival of Lights drive-through holiday light show and Gift Village in November 2012 and certainly were not disappointed!

Homemade Fudge & Homemade Bread at Festival of Lights Christmas Light Show © Katrena

Those who cook might check out the nice variety of aprons. Folks who enjoy grilling and trying new sauces may be drawn to some homemade barbecue sauce and marinade. The homemade fudge and breads smelled delightful!

Cider and Grape Juice in Tanglewood © Katrena

Folks could also choose from a wide variety of ciders, juices, and other drinks. Tins of Moravian cookies are available as well. Tanglewood is not far from another popular holiday destination: Old Salem, which offers a nice variety of holiday activities for the family as well.

Gifts for People Who Love Sports at Tanglewood © Katrena

We visited during one of the Throwback nights before Thanksgiving. The theme for the evening was to wear clothes in support of one's favorite sports team, but anyone visiting on those nights would receive the nice discount. Several vendors offered a variety of sports-related crafts. My five-year-old particularly liked the colorful letters in the woodworking section. Cool candles also caught our eyes.

Puppets That Dance at Festival of Lights © Katrena

Everyone seemed to be drawn to the dancing puppets! A baby was mesmerized by the display that seemed to dance on stage when we visited. The colorful puppets were set up on a stage and performed almost like the marionette scene in the Sound of Music.

Painted Winter Scenes and More Near Winston-Salem © Katrena

My oldest is taking art classes in middle school, and she especially liked the painted pictures. The artists incorporated a nice variety of bright colors in winter scenes on wood, metal, and objects. Many of these would work particularly well in homes with Southern charm.

Hand Crafted & Unique Jewelry © Katrena

You can also find lots of interesting jewelry pieces here. My second oldest is particularly drawn to "bling" and the sparkling colors and interesting textures of the jewelry drew her like a magnet. You can find quite a few different styles and sizes of jewelry.

Gift Ideas for Everyone in the Family © Katrena

Many crocheted and knitted items are available, from warm scarves to detailed trivets. My youngest was enthralled by the cute little baby dolls nestled in crocheted beds. Quite a few stuffed animals rested on shelves with eager eyes as well.

Christmas Ornaments With Southern Charm © Katrena

Those who plan to put up a Christmas tree won't be disappointed with the nice selection of ornaments. We found ornaments that were shiny, sparkly, tiny, and large. Some were rather whimsical while others offered a hint of nostalgia with Southern charm.

Unusual Christmas Gift Ideas © Katrena

Some items at the shop were rather unusual, such as the demitasse cups and saucers made into night lights. My kids and I pondered for a while trying to decide how the artist made those. Those brought back memories of the times when my mom would set up tea parties with real china!

Fun & Whimsical Christmas Gifts © Katrena

Novelty items abound in the gift shop as well, with everything from large snowmen that can be seen across the room to tiny ones made to hold small pieces of candy. Penguins seemed to want to play while reindeer were ready to fly!

Roasting Marshmallows Over an Open Fire at Tanglewood Light Show © Katrena

Those who wish to brave the weather can find a large fire for roasting marshmallows. Santa is available for pictures in a large tent as well.

Fun Christmas Gifts for Everyone © Katrena

Readers may also wish to read Tanglewood Festival of Lights Christmas Show in NC to find pictures of many of the lights and tips for saving money. See the Tanglewood Park official web site for driving directions, prices, and more.

Gift Village in Tanglewood Festival of Lights © Katrena

Patriots Flag Concourse and Memorial in Salisbury City Park NC

Patriots Flag Concourse and Memorial in Salisbury

If asked what one remembers about City Park near Rowan Regional Medical Center, many would mention the lake or perhaps the many geese and ducks who make the park their home. Perhaps they might mention the popular playground loaded with a climbing wall, monkey bars, a slide, and swings. Some may think of the tennis courts or hiking trails with picnic tables along the paths. A few of us who have been around for a few years might even remember the small train that used to run through the woods.

Rowan County Veterans Memorial

As my family walked around the park in search of a hidden little play area near the intersection of North Jackson and West Miller Streets in the summer of 2012, we made a new discovery: the Patriots Flag Concourse and Memorial. This one is easy to miss – one could easily visit the park and never see this tribute. I felt compelled to return to the spot on November 11.

Veteran Memorial at City Lake Park in Salisbury NC

Reid Leonard of the Rotary Club of Salisbury, NC began with a dream, and with the help of many from the community, a fitting tribute to veterans past, present, and future became reality. The memorial heralds six flags that fly high above the concourse. The base of each flag pays tribute to to those who have served. The American flag stands tallest and is flanked by flags of the armed services including:

• Army
• Navy
• Air Force
• Marine Corps
• Coast Guard
• Merchant Marines

Veterans Memorial Near Rowan Regional Medical Center

Plaques are located throughout the flag concourse with many patriotic quotes. The words of the Pledge of Allegiance can be found here. It does include "under God." Another plaque that caught my eye were words from the Declaration of Independence that begins "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, ...." Another quote is from the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States. These are words that many have sought and fought to protect and uphold...words worth remembering. Words our children may never learn unless we step out and teach them.

Tribute to Military Branches

A sidewalk creates a circular path that leads to two large brick sculptures created by Sue Landerman of Portsmouth, Virginia. Each sculpture depicts three scenes representing each of the six branches of military service. You will find the flag raising at Iwo Jima and Old Ironsides here. You will see bombs being dropped. If you look closely, you will see small details etched within the larger pictures. Each scene is accompanied by a brief description.

Depiction of Flag Raising at Iwo Jima

You will also see many names of people who helped to make the memorial happen. Many are veterans. Others are family members of veterans or those who have been deeply touched by the sacrifices of the many men and women who have served the nation with honor. Veterans are often quick to mention that family members have a tough job holding down the home front when duty calls. They also are witness to the lives that are forever changed by military service as many veterans find that a piece of themselves remains forever on the battlefield.

As you walk around the circular sidewalk, you will find a large gazebo. When we visited on November 11, beautiful roses beckoned. The area is peaceful, serene, a nice place for quiet contemplation. A place where the kids can learn about sacrifice and some of our nation's history. A place to give thanks for blessings that most of us take for granted.

Veterans Tribute by Rotary Club

This memorial is a fitting tribute that shows great respect for those who have served, are now serving, and those who will serve in the future. The kids may love the lake, the geese, and perhaps even a picnic lunch, but you can make the outing much more significant via a walking history lesson by visiting the Patriots Flag Concourse and Memorial. Many thanks to those who made this memorial possible!

Many people faithfully serve veterans through simple, tangible, and meaningful ways, such as the Rowan County Military Guard. Readers may also wish to read Kids Can Learn a Lot About Life From Veterans and Katrena's American Flag Scavenger Hunt. Find more articles at the Travel NC With Kids site map.

Carolina BalloonFest Night Glow – When Tongues of Fire Light the Night!

Carolina BalloonFest Night Glow 10/20/12 © Katrena

Lots of folks head out the gate at the Statesville Regional Airport after the balloons lift off and sail away in a majestic array of colorful character in the crisp October breeze. But the evening ascension is only part of the fun at the balloon festival on Saturday. The night glow is a special treat for those who stay after dusk. I believe the Balloon Night Glow is only scheduled for the Saturday night portion of the balloon festival in Iredell County at this point.

Night Show at Statesville Hot Air Balloon Festival © H.M.W.

As the sky begins to paint its beautiful natural colors via the Piedmont sunset, some balloon pilots and their teams begin to return to the airport after floating above the Autumn palette. The chase vehicles and crews have gone out to follow their team and have carefully packed envelopes, gondolas, and other supplies after the landing, but these teams are not headed home. They are preparing for one last show of the day.

Balloon Glow at Night © Katrena

The atmosphere is a bit more laid back as each team picks a favorite open spot. A few people may head down to the field to meet some of the balloon enthusiasts. Spectators tend to spread blankets along the side of the hill while the kids may find it exciting to work their way up and down the steep areas. Everyone waits for dusk with expectancy. Yes, it is worth the wait.

Balloon Envelope Glow at Night © Katrena

North Carolina's Autumn night sky might still be dappled with a few lightening bugs, or fireflies for those of you reading who aren't from around these parts. But these lights come from fire, and it is not the fire Southern folks might enjoy as they roast marshmallows or hot dogs over an open flame. These fires are only lit after a wind storm...well, actually, the wind comes from a fan that blows the envelope open. After all, no balloonist wants to catch his or her ware on fire!

Night Balloon Fest in Iredell County © H.M.W.

As the balloons once again rise, something amazing happens as darkness closes around the field. As the flames rise, the balloon starts to glow. Some look like huge lanterns, aglow in a bright blaze of yellow, orange, red, or white. Others illuminate darker colors of green, blue, purple, and even black.

Statesville BalloonFest Night Glow in North Carolina © H.M.W.

My kids remarked that the nighttime Statesville Balloon Glow is sort of like a fireworks show, minus the loud booms. I agree. The flames create an unusual serenade as onlookers are dazzled. One balloon will flicker on for a few moments and as it begins to darken, another balloon begins to brighten the field. After most of the balloons are upright, someone starts counting down. My kids and I join in. "5...4...3...2...1!"

Fun Outdoor Activities in October © Katrena

Wow! All the crews begin to coordinate a huge glow as they light up their hot air balloons simultaneously. I hope the people who design and create balloons get the opportunity to see their work illuminated at night. It is almost like a spotlight on a crazy quilt. Some are tall and thin while others are wide and shorter. Each balloon is accompanied by a special crew with an amazing story. My kids loved them all!

Hot Air Balloon Glow in the Dark © Katrena

Many thanks to those awesome balloon crews who came back to provide the night-time balloon show. Fuel is not cheap and folks don't ride in the balloons as they are held down during the glow. If you guys could have seen the looks on my kids' faces, you would definitely know that those efforts were absolutely appreciated.

Unusual Autumn Family Activities © Katrena

When a balloon pilot takes off during daylight hours, he or she plans to follow the wind and enjoy the ride. With a night show, the pilots provide a beautiful show for all who wish to see. I asked my kids which they liked best – the evening balloon ascension or the night glow. The answer was unanimous: BOTH! Find out more about Statesville's Carolina BalloonFest at their official web site. Read about the daytime balloon show and find more of Katrena's articles at Travel NC With Kids.