Travel NC With Kids: 2017

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Horn in the West Outdoor Drama in Boone, NC

Horn in the West Outdoor Drama in Boone NC © Katrena

Horn in the West is America's oldest Revolutionary War drama, depicting struggles faced by Daniel Boone and local settlers called "Regulators" as they fight for freedom from British authorities and Governor William Tryon. Many families and individuals find themselves involved in these battles, whether by choice or by circumstance.

Daniel Boone in Horn in the West 2017 © Katrena

I purchased tickets online for this show and found the system to work well. If you have children, you'll find the discounted rate at check-out. The online system allows you to select and purchase your chosen seats and print tickets at home.

Fun Things to Do in Boone NC © Katrena

Much of the action takes place in the center portion of the stage, but several scenes also occur on the sides near the front stage. The left side includes a revolving set that may change between scenes. The right side includes several fight scenes. The seating area slants upward as you walk away from the stage, so I would think any seat would provide a good view.

Fun Family Activities in Boone © Katrena

This show features multiple fight scenes. Although we were expecting some fight scenes, that first gunshot about made all of us jump out of our skin! The later fight scenes gave way to a bit more emotion as the audience began to learn more about the characters and connect with them.

Outdoor Drama in Watauga County NC © Katrena

Horn in the West also includes several dance numbers and singing. We arrived about 45 minutes before the start time and enjoyed a brief preview of singing by a few of the actors. We also met several of the young actors before the show. We were surprised to learn that many of the adult actors were from other states, as far away as Maine and Arkansas!

Learn About the Revolutionary War Through Theatre © Katrena

Several scenes were also funny! I loved the way many of the actors brought their characters to life and added their own flair to the part. The cast is quite large, and many of the actors played multiple roles with lots of quick changes in between.

Horn in the West in Boone © Katrena

The show delves into quite a few ethical dilemmas. For example, a dedicated British doctor came to the area to study smallpox only to realize that his teenage son had become sympathetic to the colonists and their cause. A preacher also had to take a long and hard look at whether or not he would bear arms.

Interesting Ways to Learn About History © Katrena

Some scenes also introduced Cherokee characters and their struggle to continue to live on the land native to their people. As smallpox ravaged many people in the area, these indigenous peoples were forced to ask for help from the very people who threatened their existence.

Meet and Greet at Horn in the West © Katrena

After the show, the audience was invited to come up onto stage and interact with the actors. I was impressed with how friendly these actors were after the show. They sell playbills/programs with information about some of the people involved with the show that the actors will gladly autograph!

Learn About Colonial Life at Horn in the West © Katrena

I think for me one of the take-home messages of this play was a greater appreciation for the sacrifices people made for our freedom. War is fraught with many tough decisions and much heartbreak. Reading about the Revolutionary War and looking at statistics does not bring history to life like seeing it acted out on stage.

Travel Ideas for Western North Carolina © Katrena

Those interested in learning more about this time in history may wish to visit the Hickory Ridge Living History Museum before the show. Visitors can visit various cabins set up to resemble a small community and learn about the history of the area and how settlers of the time would spend a typical day through interpreters in period clothing.

Outdoor Dramas in Western North Carolina © Katrena

Visit the Horn in the West official site for ticket information, directions, times, history, and more. Thanks for visiting Travel NC With Kids. You may also wish to read some of my other articles, including another outdoor drama in NC and nearby things to do such as:

Saturday, July 8, 2017

Mount Jefferson State Natural Area - Beautiful View!

Mount Jefferson State Natural Area © Katrena

Mount Jefferson State Natural Area, located between Jefferson and West Jefferson in Ashe County, offers visitors quite a few opportunities to see the surrounding areas from a higher elevation. The park can be seen from the nearby Blue Ridge Parkway. There is no charge to enter this park. This destination was a planned stop for my crew on the way to Boone, North Carolina.

Hiking Trails Near West Jefferson, NC © Katrena

The park offers several hiking trails; those with mobility issues will be delighted to find that the road offers several viewing area overlooks that can be seen from beside the road. Please note that the climb in elevation can be pretty hard on a vehicle with a small engine. Mine has a 4-cylinder and only made it to the first parking area. If you are traveling with a heavy load or small engine or both (as I was), I highly recommend stopping in West Jefferson for a few hours to cool the engine before attempting the climb in the automobile.

Beautiful Hiking Trails at Mount Jefferson in NC © Katrena

The park rangers were awesome at Mount Jefferson. They were very welcoming, offered water for my radiator, gave us info and a map about the park trails, and were very nice to my daughters. We visited in early July and the weather was wonderful with temps in the 70s and 80s with much lower humidity than our home town.

Plants Along Hiking Trail at Mt Jefferson State Natural Area © Katrena

The folks working at Mount Jefferson did mention there had been some black bear activity a couple of days before our visit but that the bear had not approached any people. We opted not to take any food with us on the hike due to this information, deciding to only carry water bottles. No, we didn't see any bears while visiting the park. Black bears aren't typically aggressive like grizzly bears, but any time you visit a state park or any outdoor area, it is always best to respect nature and to be aware of your surroundings.

Sunrise Overlook at Mount Jefferson © Katrena

I'm not sure the name of the first trail - I believe it has recently been built. It started at the lower parking lot and Welcome Center and wound its way up to the Sunrise Overlook. The trail is easy to miss unless you know where to go; simply walk to the main park sign (see photo at the top of this article) across from the parking lot and the trail begins immediately behind the sign.

Sunrise Overlook at Mt Jefferson State Natural Area © Katrena

This first trail is fairly narrow, allowing for a single-file line, but it is well-maintained. Although the trail works its way up the mountain, much of the trail is pretty level as hikers walk for a while and then turn and go up a ways and then walk in the opposite direction, similar to the way roads are designed when climbing a mountain. The trail was shaded, and we saw some beautiful plants and some large snails - I wish I had thought to take some pictures of the snails!

Sunrise Overlook at NC Park Near West Jefferson © Katrena

The first trail ends at Sunrise Overlook, an area beside the road offering a pretty view of the area. There are several picnic tables at the overlook. This would be an ideal place for a picnic with a nice view. On the day we visited, there was very little traffic on the road and only a handful of hikers that we saw.

View from Sunrise Overlook at Mt Jefferson © Katrena

The other trail we traversed was Spur Trail. If you are standing at the Sunrise Overlook and turn your back to the view, you will find the trail head of Spur Trail directly across the road. This trail would also be easy to miss, but once you are on either of these trails, it is very easy to stay on the trail as they were marked and maintained. There was one place where the Spur Trail split - stay to the left if you want to go to Sunset Overlook.

Spur Trail at Mount Jefferson State Natural Area © Katrena

The Spur Trail was very similar to the first trail. The vast majority of the trail was shaded, and it was also narrow, allowing for a single-file line. I think this one did not climb as much in elevation. There must have been a significant microburst or something as we could see a few trees that had been blown down on this second trail in one section.

Seed Pod that Looked like Starfish at Mt. Jefferson © Katrena

Both trails included several steps made from stones, so these trails would not be a good choice for someone with mobility challenges or for a stroller, but you can opt to drive to the lookouts. We saw a pretty bird nest on this trail and some seed pods that looked sort of like starfish. The ranger would have likely been able to identify those seed pod, but I forgot to ask when we arrived back at the Welcome Center.

Hiking Trail at Mt Jefferson © Katrena

The second trail ended at Sunset Overlook, which was also flanked by a road; this one included a larger parking area. We saw a bench dedicated in memory to someone who must have been very special and also an information board. The view here was impressive and expansive as well.

Sunset Overlook at Mount Jefferson State Natural Area © Katrena

Both of the trails were one-way paths, so we hiked the opposite direction to get back to the parking lot at the Welcome Center. We invested about two hours hiking while taking our time to stop and enjoy the scenery. I believe we only saw about the lower half of the park - several trails were above where we hiked that also had parking areas, picnic tables, and bathrooms fairly nearby. According to the web site, the trails are all moderate or strenuous.

Beautiful View from Mount Jefferson © Katrena

If you would like a map, directions, hours, history, or to learn more about this area, visit the Mount Jefferson State Natural Area web site. They also offer events such as Painting in the Park, Backyard Pharmacy, and more at Mount Jefferson. If you are visiting NC State Parks, I highly recommend the NC State Parks passport program - children and adults can get a "passport" and get it stamped as you visit the various parks.

Bird Nest Along Spur Trail at Mt Jefferson © Katrena

Thanks for visiting Travel NC With Kids! You may wish to read additional articles about other state parks we have visited such as:

Berries Along Spur Trail in Mt Jefferson NC Hiking Trail © Katrena

Friday, April 28, 2017

First Flight Adventure Park - Nags Head, Outer Banks, NC

First Flight Adventure Park in Nags Head, NC © Katrena

On a recent quick trip to the Outer Banks with my kids in April 2017, we decided to try the First Flight Adventure Park located at 6716 South Croatan Highway in Nags Head, North Carolina. We had visited the Outer Banks the previous summer and this park immediately caught the attention of my second oldest child, who began asking to do this course since that time.

High Ropes Course at NC Outer Banks © Katrena

If you are traveling east on Highway 64 and head over to the Outer Banks, look for a Dairy Queen on the left. They also have a sign for First Flight Adventure Park near the road. Check-in is at the building where the Dairy Queen is located before going through a safety demo and walking back to the course. If you make a reservation, allow plenty of extra time, particularly if traffic is heavy.

Safety Equipment for First Flight High Ropes Course at OBX © Katrena

My crew has some various ages and heights. Make sure to check the First Flight Adventure web site for height and weight requirements. They do check heights and weights before allowing participants to go to the course. My youngest was several inches above the lower limit for going on the course, but they checked her height anyway. I spoke with a parent who was three pounds over the upper limit - he was not allowed to go on the course. So yes, they are strict on both heights and weights.

Unusual Things to do at the Outer Banks in NC © Katrena

You can make a reservation ahead of time by going to the web site or calling. I called to see if they offer discounts but found out that they only offer discounts on Sundays. Prices for lodging are higher on weekends, but if you are in the area on a Sunday, this might be a consideration. I'm guessing the crowds may be lower on Sundays as well.

First Flight Adventure Park in OBX © Katrena

We showed up without a reservation. During busier seasons, that might be more of a gamble because if they have a full group, you might end up having to wait for a while to get in. The first group of the day was pretty full and the group coming in after us was also pretty full, but our group was fortunate to have only about six or seven people in it. Small groups are good because you will have less wait time to complete the obstacles. We visited in April during the off season. I am assuming that most of the groups would be pretty full during summer months.

Safety First at First Flight in Nags Head © Katrena

I believe they start a new group every 30 minutes. As we waited, we noticed a video showing what to do and what not to do on the video. It caught my kids' eyes as the guy demonstrated quite a few goofy no-no's and then the video followed up with proper procedure. While we waited, staff members helped the smaller kids get suited up. A guide then led the older kids and adults were led through donning equipment all at the same time. They do have bathrooms near the check-in area. I highly recommend ensuring that everyone in your group has empty bladders before putting on the harnesses. They also provide a helmet and gloves for everyone. Helmets are required; gloves are optional.

Sam Giving Safety Demonstration at First Flight Adventure Park - notice the signs you can see from the road © Katrena

Sam was the guide who went through our safety talk. When asked, he mentioned that he had been working at First Flight Adventure Park almost since they opened. I thought that spoke highly of the place, and I believe that quite a few of their employees have been with the company for a while. Sam did a great job explaining safety rules. They have a small demo area outside so that visual learners can see how to maneuver on the lines and learn about the various equipment used.

Safety Instructions Prior to Going on Ropes Course © Katrena

Participants who are under five feet tall will need someone over five feet tall to help them through the course. Due to this, I decided to go ahead and try going on the course so that my older two kids could enjoy the course at their own pace. My daughter who had been eyeing the course for a year was determined to make it through the entire course. I had read on some reviews that participants had to complete each course in order, from easiest to hardest, but I believe they have modified that rule. All participants had to complete one of the two easiest courses and then could skip to harder ones if they felt very comfortable, which is what my second oldest daughter did.

Ropes Course Set up Like Hurricane Categories © Katrena

The park has a central tower and six courses. The tower has winding stairs that take participants to the various levels. Two courses are on each level and are named for hurricane categories. Those that are 12 feet above ground are the easiest ones: Tropical Storm and Category 1. Categories 2 and 3 are above those and the 50-foot courses are the most difficult at Categories 4 and 5. Each course contains seven obstacles. At the end, participants ride a zip line back to the tower and then choose the next course they wish to tackle.

Fun Ways to Get Exercise with the Family © Katrena

Staff members are able to hook and unhook participants from safety lines with special devices. They also have safety mechanisms to ensure that participants do not exit the tower without the go-ahead from a staff member. I noticed that the staff members were very attentive. They would watch participants and offer encouragement or advice on how to complete an obstacle if needed. (If they were placing bets on whether or not I'd be able to get back in the kayak, they didn't let it show.)

Tips for Enjoying First Flight Adventure Park in OBX © Katrena

As a participant moves through the course, there are special metal pieces over which you slide your safety line - these prevent a participant from moving backwards through the course. Only one person is allowed on an obstacle at a time. Two people can be on each platform at the edge of each obstacle, which is helpful if you have a smaller child who needs to have the safety lanyard moved past that metal piece. You can pay someone who works at First Flight Adventure Park to go with a shorter person in your group if you don't have a taller person who is willing or able to help a younger one. If you have two smaller children who need help, one adult was allowed to go with both, but one child would have to wait for the other child and adult to finish a course before the other child would be able to begin, meaning that the adult would have to do the obstacles twice.

Hardest Levels at at the Top - the Kayak was Rough for Me! © Katrena

I'm an overweight, middle-aged woman, but I exercise an average of about two hours per day. This course was challenging for me by the time I got up to the Category 3 level. I think I would have done just fine, but I didn't do well staying in the kayak. The safety line prevented me from having a bad fall, but trying to get back up on the platform was challenging as I don't have a lot of upper body strength. Thankfully, a staff member put a strong guy behind me on the course, and I'll forever be indebted to him for helping me to get back up on that platform not once but twice. I think adding a step under each platform would greatly help folks like me who have an oops moment to be able to complete the course.

Easier Ropes Courses are on Lower Levels © Katrena

Two of my kids are avid climbers with many hours of practice on a rock wall at our local YMCA. My second oldest completed the entire course not once but twice (and also helped my youngest one when I decided I had been challenged enough). A staff member mentioned that very few people do that as the course is pretty challenging physically and mentally. My youngest child also completed the entire course, which is pretty unusual for someone of her height as a lot of reaching is involved with the highest levels. I think it is very helpful for participants to develop good problem-solving skills to overcome physical and mental challenges. Experiences like the rock climbing wall helped my kids to be pretty resilient and to think of alternative ways to accomplish goals. My other daughter has not done a lot of climbing, but she completed all of the courses that she wanted to complete and enjoyed watching others as they climbed.

Zip Line Back to the Tower to Start the Next Course © Katrena

On a day that is not very busy, the staff might ask a participant if they want to be timed on a course for fun. Those who are comfortable with a course might particularly enjoy that added challenge. All participants have a time limit of two hours, which was plenty of climbing time for our family. I don't know if they would let participants have a little extra time if they are having to wait a good bit for folks who might be struggling on the course - we didn't ask about that. I'm guessing that time limits may be a little more lax on slower days, but that's only a guess on my part.

Observation Deck with Ropes Course in Sight at First Flight © Katrena

Those who are not paying to participate will be directed to an observation deck. You can see part of the course really well, but don't expect stellar pictures from the deck unless you have a really good zoom lens. I would have loved to have taken pictures from the tower, but that would be a safety issue to have people standing on the tower taking pictures. All pictures of the course in my article were taken from the desk. The guides must constantly watch climbers and don't need any extra distractions. They do have a few places where pictures are automatically taken and downloaded on the course - you'll need the number off your helmet to find them on the computer screen after your group is done. They wrote our helmet numbers on our wrist bands so we could find the pictures after we finished.

Nice Layout of Ropes Course in Outer Banks © Katrena

A few of my tips:

Read the web site carefully - don't expect them to fudge on height and weight requirements. I think they do change a few of the obstacles occasionally, but what we saw on the web site was a pretty good indication of what we saw on the course.
Ensure that everyone is wearing comfortable clothing in which they can bend and reach easily. Those participating in the course must wear closed toe and closed heel shoes.
Bring water bottles - they can be left in the tower. This is a physically challenging course. The Outer Banks can get really hot during summer months, and you can expect those participating to sweat.
People who are physically fit will probably enjoy the course the most, but others can choose to stay on easier levels.
Off season and cooler weather was great for us - it wasn't very crowded and the cooler weather felt great.
Participants might want to watch someone go through a course before going out to see what works and what doesn't work.
Look toward the tower and ask a guide for tips if you get to a place that looks challenging. If I had done that, I probably would not have fallen out of the kayak! Everyone was very supportive of those struggling on any of the obstacles. And if a person absolutely cannot finish a course, they do have safety measures in place to help get someone off the course.
Congratulate anyone in your group who does the course, no matter how far they go. It doesn't have to be a competition - it can simply be fun and an opportunity to encourage yourself and others.

One Photo Opportunity is in the Middle of the Heart © Katrena

Overall, this was a fun, safe, and challenging experience for my family. The price is a bit high for someone with several kids who is on a budget; I've looked at other courses in North Carolina and the prices look comparable. They do offer season passes during the off season only. If we lived close to the Outer Banks, I'm sure my kids would be begging for season passes.

High Ropes Course in Nags Head, NC © Katrena

Feel free to visit the First Flight Adventure Park official web site for prices, FAQ, reservations, waiver, etc. NOTE: First Flight did not offer me any incentives for writing this article. This is an activity my family wanted to try, and we enjoyed it, so I decided to write an article about it. All of the equipment looked to be in good condition and those who worked there were knowledgeable, helpful, and nice.

Adventures in NC Outer Banks © Katrena

Additional articles I've written about trips to the OBX:

Thanks for visiting my Travel NC with Kids blog!

First Flight Adventure Park Ropes Course in Nags Head, Outer Banks of NC © Katrena

Thursday, April 27, 2017

The Christmas Shop and General Store - Manteo, Outer Banks, NC

The Christmas Shop and General Store in Manteo NC © Katrena

Go ahead, look back at the date. I realize April is not anywhere near Christmas, but my crew tends to celebrate holidays at any time of year. After working as a cancer nurse for nearly 18 years and losing quite a few relatives suddenly, I decided that any holiday is fair game on any given day!

Star Trek Themed Room at The Christmas Shop © Katrena

I last visited this shop about 25 years ago, but I remember how much fun it was to look at the vast supply of ornaments and other holiday items way back then.

Fun Things to do in the Outer Banks © Katrena

My kids and I were headed back from a short vacation at the Outer Banks, so I thought it would be fun to visit the store again. For me to say I enjoyed going to a store is a big deal - I typically despise shopping and would rather go to the dentist than to shop.

Fun Rainy Day Activities at the Outer Banks © Katrena

The store is easy to find. It is located at 621 S. Highway 64 in Manteo. It is very close to The Lost Colony theatre and the NC Aquarium at Roanoke. You could easily make an entire day of those three activities.

The Christmas Shop and General Store is celebrating their 50th anniversary this year. Apparently, the store closed for a few years, but the owner, Mr. Green, got a bit bored and wanted to open his shop again. This resulted in some challenges as the Christmas items and huge supply of antiques had been sold when the store closed. But folks who are determined simply look at challenges as another opportunity and keep moving forward.

I don't have a good memory of exactly what the store had 25 years ago, but I was impressed with how the shop was set up, decorated, and themed. The shop looks to be an old house, or perhaps several houses connected, and each room or area features similar items.

The very first thing that caught my kids' eyes were the nutcrackers in the check-out area as you enter the building. They were characters from The Wizard of Oz. Anything Oz is going to be a favorite with my kids, and from that point, my kids knew they would like this store.

There were quite a few nostalgic areas with items related to old TV shows and movies, such as I Love Lucy, Star Trek, The Christmas Story, The Wizard of Oz, etc. Many of the rooms and hallways had trees decorated with various ornaments and decorations that were for sale.

One room featured different types and sizes of nutcrackers. Some of them were pretty unusual, perhaps an idea for someone who collects nutcrackers.

They also had quite a few themed areas featuring newer items, such as Minions, Frozen, and Disney princesses. The store had items younger boys would like, but since my crew is all girls, we didn't linger in those areas!

My youngest particularly liked the room for new additions to the family. That area had several antique baby dolls and an old play stove. According to my source, the store has fewer antiques than it did before, but the ones they have are nicely displayed.

Several ornaments could be customized, with space for adding a name, such as in the pet room where they had a good variety of ornaments resembling various types of dogs and cats. They have an area at the check-out where staff will personalize items.

One large room had several Christmas trees and many different types of glass ornaments. Some looked to be blown glass. They also had brightly colored thicker glass decorations and wild animals featured in this room.

Another area featured beach-themed ornaments and items. After all, we were in Manteo, right by the ocean. We saw a few pirate-themed items as well.

Moving farther back in the store, I noticed a nativity area and another large room, this time with more of a country store feel. Jewelry, hand-made soap with fairly intricate designs, and some shells caught my kids' eyes.

A sports-themed area beckoned to those who enjoy the thrill of the game. They had a pretty wide selection of different teams in that area.

Past the sports area was a hallway that led down to several Halloween-themed rooms. If you have folks in your group who are frightened by scary figures and items, I wouldn't recommend taking them through this one, but this is off to the side, so it is easy to skip.

The Halloween area lighting is low, and quite a few of the figures are motion activated. You have to go through several doorways to see all of the Halloween areas, and the area gives you the sense of walking through a haunted house. If you have people in your group who love all things Halloween, you might have to drag said members out of this area.

You can bypass the Halloween area by turning left and heading down another hall toward a large room. This one has fudge, candy, magnets, suncatchers, and more. This area reminded me a little of The Candy Shoppe in Salisbury, NC.

Several halls are lined with artwork, perhaps reminiscent of when Mr. Green and Andy Griffith would sit by the road in front of what would become the store and sell paintings many years ago.

I *think* I found all of the rooms at The Christmas Shop and General Store. Although I had planned to run in for 30 minutes or so, we ended up exploring for about an hour and a half. All of the people who worked in the store were very friendly and helpful.

The store looks to be accessible with a ramp going to the front door and fairly wide aisles for maneuvering. You might contact the store if you have special needs as they would have more specific information on that.

We visited during the off season and there were very few other customers, but I would think this store could hold quite a few people browsing due to the many rooms and shopping areas. We could have checked out very quickly, but we chatted a while since nobody else was waiting in line behind us. Like I said, everyone was very friendly!

I don't typically purchase Christmas ornaments, so I'm not a good one to rate the prices. Many of the ornaments were running $10 and up. My oldest daughter said this was her favorite activity of our trip to the Outer Banks. Particularly if you run into a rainy day while at the OBX, this would be a great idea with the potential to be memorable and fun.

NOTE: I wrote this article because this shop interested my group and we enjoyed the experience. I did not ask for or receive anything from this store to write this article. I can tell that a lot of effort has gone into bringing this Christmas shop back to life. For more information, including hours, visit The Christmas Shop and General Store official web site.

Additional articles I've written about our trips to the OBX:

Thanks for visiting Travel NC With Kids!

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