Travel NC With Kids: January 2014

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Important Note to My Readers

THANKS TO MY READERS!

I want to thank you for reading the Travel NC With Kids blog! I seek to provide timely, practical, and helpful information for many different people and write this blog because I enjoy writing and want to share my resources with others.

It has come to my attention that some other web sites are copying all of my blogs onto other web sites. This practice helps people who plagiarize and hurts independent bloggers like me. I do not charge people to access information on my blogs - they are free of charge for anyone to browse on the Internet. Advertisers enable me to provide this free service.

I would love for any reader to continue to visit my blogs regularly. Feel free to share the URLs for any of my articles on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or other social media sites.

Here are the direct URLs for all of my sites:

Fit Tips 4 Life focuses on fitness at:
http://fittips4life.blogspot.com/

Wildflower Bouquets offers scavenger hunts, printables, & family-friendly articles at:
http://wildflowerbouquets.blogspot.com/

Travel NC With Kids gives tips for traveling in NC with children at:
http://travelncwithkids.blogspot.com/

Love 2 Travel With Kids offers tips for family travel in and out of North Carolina at:
http://love2travelwithkids.blogspot.com/

Student Survive 2 Thrive provides resources like practice tests, flash cards, & tips at:
http://studentsurvive2thrive.blogspot.com/

Thank you again for taking the time to read my articles and I hope that each of you finds my free online resources to be helpful and inspiring. Feel free to email me at katrenaallison@gmail.com any time if you have questions, ideas, or just wish to send me a message.

Katrena Allison

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Children's Museums – Great Choice for Winter Fun with Kids

Encourage Imaginative Play at Children's Museums

The children are all nestled....well, maybe not. The children just might be jumping on the furniture and decorating themselves with markers. Yep, that's more like it. The winter blahs can be challenging for a parent, especially when temperatures do not allow for many outdoor activities.

Hands-on Learning Opportunities at Children's Museums

Children's museums can be a great option to keep the kids entertained while they learn. These museums are not the kind where kids can look but never touch. Exploring with the senses is encouraged, even expected, at children's museums!

Indoor Play and Opportunities for Kids to Create

Our family has visited several of the children's museums in North Carolina. Each offers different learning opportunities. Some feature traveling exhibits that change at regular intervals. Many have so many exhibits that we tend to see something new every time we have visited. Each of the museums has been fun, interesting, and entertaining.

Creative Ways to Encourage Kids to Read

I particularly like how each children's museum encourages literacy. The kids have the opportunity to read about blue blood in horseshoe crabs in Statesville or see huge letters taller than many of the adults visiting in Winston-Salem or deliver and read mail in Greensboro. Many children's museums have libraries packed with a variety of books that beg the children to curl up in a bean bag or snuggle in a lap and enjoy a story or perhaps puzzles, puppets, games, and more.

Explore Careers at Children's Museums

Role-playing reaches a new level at children's museums. Kids might act on stage, complete with costumes, lighting, and sound effects controlled by other children; ride in a jet or train; or climb onto a fire truck. Careers might be born in a children's museum as little ones practice being a dentist, doctor, build a huge tower, conduct surgery, or make a batch of doughnuts. Budding physicists can learn more about laws of motion as they see those laws up close and personal while future parents might cuddle a baby doll and tuck it into bed.

Active Indoor Play at Children's Museums

Those with climbing kids in the family may find a children's museum that offers a huge beanstalk, a climbing wall, slides, or try other opportunities to explore vertically. I feel your challenges if you have a climber in the family – I have two who fit that bill and know it can be difficult to find fun, safe activities for them to enjoy.

Fun Places for Kids to Play Inside in NC

The decor is warm and kid-friendly, and many have rooms with areas designed for different ages, which can be very helpful for an adult who is entertaining different aged children. Architectural elements might be particularly inviting with bright colors and unusual elements for those who notice details. If you have older kids who aren't exactly thrilled at the children's museum, you might encourage them to take some pictures with a digital camera and create a scavenger hunt or you might snap a few challenging shots for the older ones to discover while the younger ones play.

Kids Who Like to Climb May Love Children's Museums

Some children's museums offer special programs with a variety of themes. Birthday parties can also be a lot of fun as kids explore a museum with their friends. Those concerned about the cost may be pleasantly surprised that some offer discount nights – these are often quite popular. Those who plan to visit several times a year may wish to ask about becoming a member – some facilities may offer reciprocal privileges at other museums, which could be a great indoor idea to consider when traveling.

Fun Educational Opportunities for Kids

North Carolina Museums Council has a list of children's museums in NC.

Practicing Life Skills at Children's Museums

Additional articles:

Children's Museum of Winston-Salem Offers Hands-on Active Fun
Iredell Children's Museum Offers Creative Play in Signal Hill Mall
Greensboro Children's Museum – Interactive and Educational Activities for Kids
Here is a collection of free scavenger hunts I designed

Fun Ways for Kids to Discover the World

Find more of my articles at Travel NC With Kids and Love 2 Travel With Kids.

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Ellis Park Has Playground, Nature Trail, Circuit Exercise, Sports and More

Ellis Park in Rowan County NC © Katrena

Ellis Park, located in the Franklin Township in Rowan County of North Carolina on 3541 Old Mocksville Road, has been supported by community efforts since the site was chosen to serve the people in the surrounding area. As part of Franklin D. Roosevelt's "New Deal" program, the site was first developed as a school site. Some local residents cut trees from their own property and donated the lumber that would become Ellis School in 1933.

Free Playgrounds in Rowan County NC © Katrena

That school building would be transformed into the Ellis Park community building in 1971. Local neighbors of the Ellis Community once again rolled up their sleeves, many volunteering to help refurbish the property into one of Rowan County Parks and Recreation's many community parks.

Fun Family Activities in North Carolina © Katrena

Park admission is free. Some classes and sporting activities are offered for a fee. Our family has visited Ellis Park quite a few times. Although it is very near to the hustle and bustle of Salisbury, the park atmosphere is serene and feels like a park far removed into a country setting.

Outdoor Family Outings Near Salisbury © Katrena

My kids were immediately drawn to the playground directly behind the community building. The playground area offers a nice variety of equipment, including swings, slides, monkey bars, a tunnel, and a small climbing wall. The hanging rings and bar were a big hit with my second oldest.

The playground area also encourages imaginative play with a large van, tractor, and ducks to ride. Something that this playground offers that is particularly nice for caregivers is shade. Many pieces of playground equipment tend to get hot as temperatures soar in the summer months, but this playground area is nicely shaded and adjacent to the parking lot, making this park especially nice for folks who may have mobility issues. Some playground equipment is handicap accessible as well.

NOTE: in June of 2018, this playground was updated. It is no longer shaded, but the playground is large and is ADA accessible. Click here to learn more about the updated playground.

The bathroom facilities are also very near with a nicely landscaped flower garden along the sidewalk that flanks the building. Parks and recreation staff members are friendly and willing to answer questions and offer suggestions for activities at the park.

Just behind the playground area is a wooded trail that meanders behind the picnic shelter and through the trees. This trail also serves as part of a disc golf course. People can try their skills at throwing a disc (my age group would probably more readily call it a "Frisbee") into the various targets.

Of course, nature always provides areas of interest along an outdoor trail, and the various seasons provide a different backdrop for visits. You might want to bring along a field guide for identifying plants and birds or search for an online guide if you have internet connection with you. If you continue along the walking trail, you will see ball fields, tennis courts, and additional picnic shelters.

The trail ends with a surprise: a free fitness circuit training area for the adults! Of course, my kids had to try out some of the various training areas too. These fitness stations provide a great workout with opportunities for pull-ups, balance, cardio training and more. Each station offers pictures and suggestions for exercises. Before starting or changing any exercise program, one should consult his or her healthcare provider.

This is a nice, relaxing park that offers families the opportunity to have fun, play, and unwind. You might want to pack a picnic lunch to enjoy while visiting. This park offers recreational and fitness opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. Visit the Rowan County Parks and Recreation Ellis Park page for additional information.

Nearby outdoor recreational opportunities:

I hope you enjoy this article featuring Ellis Park in Rowan County, NC. Find more of my travel articles at Travel NC With Kids and Love 2 Travel With Kids. If the weather is rainy or you are looking for fun family indoor activities, check out my free scavenger hunts, printables, games, and more at Wildflower Bouquets.