Rio Doce Gem Mine in Spruce Pine NC

Rio Doce Gem Mine is perched along Highway 226 almost in sight of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Spruce Pine, North Carolina. We had visited Linville Caverns earlier in the day. I had read about this gem mine and it was open on Sundays, so we decided to try it out. The mine was easy for me to find with a tall sign and beautiful, colorful flowers inviting us to give it a try!

We visited on a Sunday afternoon in mid-July and were lucky enough to be the only visitors. We hear they can be quite busy any day of the week but are often busier when it is raining and after about 3 p.m. when many hikers are done exploring and ready for their next adventure. Their hours are posted on the web site.

Gem mines typically offer various sizes of buckets that are mostly filled with something like gravel with some uncut gems interspersed within the mix. This gem mine offered a variety of bucket sizes with several additional options. Those purchasing larger buckets could choose a mix of gems or buckets with specific gems or fossils. Those wishing to have a gem cut can select pricing for either one or two cut gems which are mailed to you within a few weeks. For an extra $5, you can choose a family bucket that has one small special pre-cut gem, but we didn't opt for that since I had three kids with me.

Gem mining is a popular family activity throughout North Carolina, but I don't recall ever having done so. My kids have had the opportunity to do gem mining several times, so I leaned heavily upon their opinions regarding how this gem mine compares to other ones they visited.

We selected the family-sized bucket with a mix of gems sourced locally and internationally. Kim picked out our bucket and showed us what to do. We scooped out the mix into boxes with wire bottoms for sifting. Water flows along a track that will wash the dirt off so you can pick out any gems. I recommend looking at the beautiful flowers below the sluice.

Some of the gems were pretty obvious with bright colors and larger sizes. We were not sure about a few of the rocks, so I told my crew if in doubt to include the rocks with their special finds just in case. With four of us working together, we sifted through the large bucket in about 15 or 20 minutes. It was a fun activity of searching for birth stones and special finds!

After we had separated our special finds, we were invited back into the store. Kim and Elain then separated the gems we saved and identified each one, showing us examples of cut stones of the same type. It was fun for me to just stand back and watch the excitement in the room as various stones were identified. Each of us had a sandwich-sized Ziplock bag filled with gems to take home.

Elaine and Kim both seemed quite knowledgeable about the stones. Some stones were easy to identify, but some were different shades from the ones on display and were a bit harder to identify. Their official web site has nice photos of various stones that folks may find in the buckets. They had boxes of prepared stones and showed us how our various stones could look if they were polished and cut. It was actually quite educational and interesting to learn about the various rocks.

Kim mentioned that she is an accountant who helps on Sundays. Elaine is one of the owners and has a delightful British account that she acquired growing up in London. They took the time to chat with us for quite a while as we talked about the rocks, jewelry, and more. We learned quite a bit about different markings on jewelry. Elaine and Kim were quick to answer questions and offer suggestions after learning about my kids' different interests.

My kids mentioned that this gem mine had a larger number of gems per bucket compared to other gem mines they had visited. They also mentioned that at the other mines, they were handed a card for identifying the gems but that nobody looked at their gems to help them to identify what they had found. I think the personalized experience set this gem mine above the rest for my crew.

Lapidary supplies are in the back of the store where the stones are cut. If you are interested in learning more about various techniques for cutting and setting stones, they offer weekly and daily classes by appointment only and also sell lapidary supplies.

The store has a nice variety of items for sale, from arrowheads and jewelry to stone sculptures and lights. We enjoyed looking at all the impressive stonework in the store. Prices seemed to be in line with other stores in the area.

We traveled along I-40 and then Highway 221 for the vast majority of our travel time. If you have children who are prone to get carsick, I recommend waiting to eat and considering sea bands to prepare because Highway 226 has quite a few steep curves and is on a moderate grade for the foothills/mountains area in North Carolina.

My crew thoroughly thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon we spent at Rio Doce Gem Mine. This was a great activity for a hot and humid day in July. Both Elaine and Kim suggested that we visit the Orchard at Altapass, but we opted not to go there after a torrential downpour hit just as we were reaching the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Visit Rio Doce's official web site for complete address, hours, online store, prices, and more.

Thanks so much for visiting my Travel NC With Kids blog! Check out my site map, topics tabs, or try my search bar to find additional travel ideas. Here are a few other places we have visiting nearby:

• Linville Caverns - Enjoy North Carolina's Only Show Cave
• Beautiful Butterfly Habitat and More at Catawba Science Center in Hickory NC
• South Mountains State Park in NC - Great Hike, Beautiful Scenery, and More

Downtown Salisbury Ghost Walk in Rowan County NC

My crew is always up for something that is off the beaten bath, a bit unusual, and perhaps even a bit quirky, so we all agreed that a ghost walk might offer something that each of us would enjoy. We have lived near Salisbury for many years, but we had never tried out the ghost walk, so our tour on May 28, 2022 was a new experience for us.

I had seen groups gathering for a walking tour in Salisbury several times over the years and eventually read about the Downtown Salisbury Ghost Walk at their official web site. We could either make reservations or walk up and hope for empty spots. Since this was a spur of the moment decision, we decided to wing it and hope for the best. We were in luck! Even with our group of five, the tour group totaled less than 20 people. I recommend that you make a reservation if you are traveling to this event from out of town or if everyone has their heart set on a particular date because numbers in the group are limited due to COVID. Some tours may be full, particularly in October and near a full moon, but the web site looks pretty easy to navigate for reservations.

The web site recommends packing flashlights, but John Tucker, our guide was well prepared with flashlights for anyone who did not bring one. Although you might consider using a flashlight on a smart phone, it will likely be easier to use a separate flashlight if you are trying to get photos and videos with your phone during the tour. Warmer weather beckons mosquitoes to the Tarheel State like a porch light attracts moths, so be prepared with bug spray if you go on any outdoor adventure in NC in warmer months. We have been blessed with some unseasonably cooler nights lately and the mosquitoes were not an issue when we did the tour in late May. Be prepared with gear appropriate for any weather conditions since this tour goes rain or shine except for perhaps a rain delay or the possibility of a cancelled tour due to lightening.

The weather was perfect for our tour. The evening temperatures were ideal for jeans and a short sleeved shirt. About 15-20 minutes prior to our scheduled tour, people in our group began to join John on the white marble steps of a county office building nestled at the corner of Innes and Church Streets. Similar to Spencer's famous storyteller Jackie Torrence, John told stories to many children when he worked for the public library years ago. The starting point of the tour is actually in sight of Rowan Public Library and also in sight of the original location of Fame, a confederate statue that stood in the middle of the intersection for 111 years. Before the tour was even scheduled to start, John was already sharing tidbits of information about several ghost sightings while also sharing research related to the architecture and history surrounding us.

Amidst a city boasting several buildings predating the Civil War and a large overcrowded Civil War prison just a few blocks away from the main square, it is no wonder that ghost tales abound in the area. One person in our tour mentioned that he was going on his sixth tour and said he learns something new and different each time. Another group brought a contraption that I think was supposed to pick up ghost-like activity. John offered a few people in the group some devices that had green lights that turn red if they pick up paranormal activity. Ours turned red numerous times when we tried it out. Hmmm....could it be for real?

Did we see or interact with ghosts? The jury might still be out on that one. One of my daughters tried sitting on a rope swing that was featured on the tour. She said it was moving on its own, which could indicate interaction with a ghost. Did she want to have the experience so badly that she unknowingly moved the swing with slight movements of her own body or did a spirit give her a few pushes? The photo above, taken by John, shows two orbs above her. Are these orbs actually spirits captured by the camera or are they accompanied by some sort of scientific explanation like reflections of other light sources? I'll let you be the judge on these questions!

John offered various additional evidence of ghosts, including pictures on film, photos and videos on his phone, and recordings of what might have been voices of ghosts answering questions. The web site has examples of several photos, but the tour offers quite a few additional pieces of evidence. As we walked around, we were invited to peer in certain windows and several lucky people had a few moments to sit on a swing to see if a ghost would push them. We walked into a studio at one point, but that opportunity is not guaranteed. Pictures and videos are encouraged throughout the tour. Several pictures that were taken during our tour had orbs in them. John mentioned that the spirits often become much more active the week before a full moon. Who knew?

Even if you are not particularly interested in ghost sightings, if you are a history buff or would like for your kid(s) to learn some memorable information about the history of downtown Salisbury, this tour is likely to be a hit with your group. My daughter who is finishing the eighth grade lit up as she heard about famous battles and people who were featured in her social studies class. Tidbits that I particularly remember from out tour include a famous pre-Civil War era African American barber, a Lindbergh flyover, an elevator tragedy, card game clues, secrets under some of Salisbury's shops, famous postcards, the significance of the train depot, soldiers being buried alive, a haunted hotel and theater, Salisbury's ties to a former President of the United States, a lookout, a love triangle, a ghost cat, the bell tower, and a family cemetery in a basement that also offers a final resting place for a young student from an all-girls school. Yes, I'm being vague, but I wouldn't want to ruin the plethora of information that you'll glean from this tour. John certainly put a significant number of hours into researching his topics and also shared his personal experience of participating in the quest to find hauntings in quite a few buildings. He also mentioned that PBS was doing a special on the topic that will air soon.

The ghost walk web site mentioned to expect the tour to last about an hour, but our tour lasted about two hours - and nobody in our group seemed bored. No, you won't be walking for the entire time. The tour encompasses a total of about six blocks. John would stop often and offer interesting details of stories while mentioning names and details of various people whose spirits might still be near. We looked at some images of these people from the past and then compared them with photos that were said to be their ghosts. Our group actively asked questions and the weather was gorgeous, so I'm sure that contributed to our longer tour length.

Two of my kids are teenagers while one has surpassed the two decade mark, so it's challenging to find something to appeal to everyone. This was one of those rare activities that appealed to my whole group! I appreciate the obvious effort that went into researching the history and people of the area. John has been offering these tours since 2010, so he is well-prepared with a variety of stories and interesting opportunities and also knows about other ghost tales in other parts of the Piedmont. John carried a microphone, which was very helpful since we were walking along some busy streets. If you have small children who are frightened easily, you might want to consider how they might react if they hear about ghosts and such, but the atmosphere of this tour was one of learning and being inquisitive rather than attempting to surprise or scare people. "Family friendly" tours are also available that leave out information about drinking and such with a sole emphasis on history and haunted tales. I would suggest calling or emailing John if you wish to customize the experience.

Visit the official Downtown Salisbury Ghost Tour web site where you can see some pictures of the ghosts featured on the tour, find helpful tips about preparing for the tour, make reservations, find the address for starting the tour, and more. If you have a larger group, private tours can be arranged outside of the listed days.

Thanks so much for visiting my Travel with Kids blog! Feel free to check out other articles through my site map, topic area, or try typing in specific information in my search bar. Here are a few additional articles featuring additional activities nearby:

• NC Museum of Dolls, Toys, and Miniatures in Spencer NC Boasts and Amazing Variety
• Dunn's Mountain Park in Salisbury, NC - Beautiful View!
• Looking for Fun and Free Family Activities This Summer? Check Out Your Local Library

NC Museum of Dolls, Toys & Miniatures in Spencer NC Boasts an Amazing Variety

Some very nice and dedicated people are associated with this museum, but I honestly can no longer recommend NC Museum of Dolls, Toys, and Miniatures in Spencer, NC. My daughter volunteered and dedicated approximately 1,000 hours of her time at this museum, and her dad and I also volunteered our time almost every week for nearly five years. We paid for a family membership throughout those years, and I considered the owner to be a friend and regularly liked and shared many of her Facebook posts. The owner has provided many great opportunities for the community, such as providing a building for a senior lunch program and for a local religious group.

However, after I sent one email to the owner in frustration after my daughter was forced to change clothes, which resulted in her missing about 45 minutes of a museum program due to the travel time home and back after she had paid $90 to attend one of the museum programs, the owner immediately fired my daughter and said she was no longer welcome to volunteer. My daughter misunderstood the program announcement to dress up "as preferred" to mean that she could dress as she wanted to dress. She had designed and spent five hours making her shirt that she originally wore to the program.

My email also mentioned my concerns that some people at the museum had pressured my daughter into having photos made for the museum several times after my daughter had mentioned that she preferred not to have her picture made.

I have never known anyone who likes dolls more than my daughter, and she absolutely lights up whenever she sees one. She has bought many, many dolls from the museum over the years and would excitedly mark the dates on her calendar to ensure she did not ever miss an opportunity to shop at the monthly museum sales, where they sell treasured dolls that people have donated to the museum. This place was one of the shining lights of my daughter's life.

My heart is shattered to know that one email by me in all of these years resulted in my daughter being fired. The owner has the right to exclude whomever she wishes from the doll museum or from her programs, but I feel others should be aware of issues such as this when choosing places to visit.

Spencer and Salisbury have quite a few fun, welcoming family opportunities, such as the NC Transportation Museum, several community theaters, a ghost walk, and numerous nearby parks that I would recommend.

Thanks for checking out my article. Feel free to visit my Travel NC with Kids site map to find all of my articles or you may particularly enjoy reading more of my articles below:

• Greensboro Children's Museum - Interactive and Educational Activities for Kids
• Textile Heritage Center in Cooleemee NC - Learn About Cotton Mill Town Heritage
• Dan Nicholas Park Nature Center in Rowan County

Winterfest at Carowinds - a Fun Time with the Family!

Winterfest at Carowinds, an amusement park in sight of I-77 on the NC/SC border, offers a nice variety of family-friendly activities on select evenings in November, December, and January. My family has enjoyed the experience and I'll share some of that experience with you.

We visited Winterfest twice in December 2021. The kids were just getting out of school for winter break on the first visit and our second visit was between Christmas and the beginning of the new year. It was much more crowded the second time we visited. When the park is crowded, the rides that take longer to load tend to have particularly long lines. Hours are shortened during Winterfest, so I suggest that you prioritize activities because it is unlikely that you would be able to ride all the rides, see all the shows, and participate in all the activities in one visit.

One of the nice things about visiting Carowinds for Winterfest is cooler weather. Summertime can be scorching hot with humidity that can frizz your hair and frazzle your nerves with a southern sun that can be merciless. Since Winterfest is open for evening hours, most of the time spent in the park will be after dusk. Those who have sun-sensitive skin will find this arrangement quite nice. Temperatures this time of year can be pretty unpredictable, but they were unseasonably warm and comfortable for us on the dates we visited.

As the sun sets, the area takes on a colorful glow all around. The lights offer a cheery atmosphere from the ground all the way up to the top of the Windseeker. I think it would have been amazing to have ridden the Windseeker during Winterfest just to see the lights from up above, but that ride was unavailable. However, the Skytower offered a 360 degree aerial view during Winterfest.

My family has particularly enjoyed the rides at Carowinds over the years. Some of the rides are open during this event, but many are not. If your family is looking for the large coasters like the Fury, Hurler, or Intimidator during Winterfest, you'll be disappointed, but Copperhead Strike and Afterburn were open when we visited. Smaller coasters like Woodstock Express and Carolina Goldrusher were also closed, but some of the smaller rides like Do-Si-Do and Kiddy Hawk were running. Boo Blasters, Peanuts Pirates and the carousel and similar rides were also running during Winterfest.

If rides are your primary purpose for visiting Winterfest, I would highly recommend going to the Carowinds website to see exactly which rides will be open so you won't be disappointed if you were planning to ride certain coasters or rides. Also, be prepared with a mask if you plan to ride something indoors like Boo Blasters. I appreciate the efforts made to try to decrease the likelihood of furthering the spread of a pandemic virus.

The line for Copperhead Strike was particularly long, but it moved much faster than summer lines because they weren't allowing Fast Passes on that ride. Thank you for that, Carowinds! A lot more people had the chance to enjoy rides without having to watch some people go to the front of the line over and over again like what happens in summer months. I would encourage you to limit the number of Fast Passes people can use in a day so that everyone can enjoy the park a bit more.

If you are interested in seeing and hearing entertainers, you will find a wide variety at Winterfest. We saw an energetic drum group perform toward the Fury and a fun jazz group perform in a gazebo near the Boo Blasters. 

Another performance featured traditional Christmas music near a nativity and enjoyed a petting area toward the bumper cars. Another group near the entrance for the water park sang holiday tunes reminiscent of the 1950s. These performances tended to be repeated each hour with times posted near each stage.

Our group separated because we wanted to ride different rides, so part of our group waited near the Rock 'N' Roller where they were playing party-type line dance music like the Wobble. I might have embarrassed my kids a little over there since I like to dance!

Winterfest also offers quite a few activities for the family such as ice skating, a horse-drawn carriage ride, cookie decorating, and more. I believe most of those activities involved an extra fee, so my group opted out but we saw several people enjoying those options.

If you like to take photos, you'll like Winterfest. They had quite a few photo stations set up with various folks in costume and also cute whimsical areas like a prop that looked like you were making snow angels or posing with penguins and much more. My kids particularly liked the one pictured above.

When we were walking in Camp Snoopy, we noticed what looked like a Christmas tree farm. It was a quiet area with a surprise hidden over there for people who like to meander and explore.

We saw the parade by accident the first night we visited. We were actually headed back out of the park but were detained as they blocked off the area and large crowds of people gathered. The parade offered a small high-energy caravan of floats and people walking. Some were even on stilts.

Although my family visited Winterfest twice, we had some different experiences each time. Although we typically focus on riding rides at the amusement park, we slowed our pace at Winterfest and enjoyed many of the shows that happened to start when we were in the area. If you like to shop or play carnival style games, many of these were offered, including an ugly Christmas sweater shop.

Overall, I think Carowinds did a really nice job with Winterfest. The atmosphere was welcoming, bright, and colorful with all the lights. Not all rides were open, but lines did move pretty well on the ones that were offered. We saw different shows each time we visited and if we had visited a third time, we could have easily seen completely different entertainment again, so this was a winning activity with my family and one of the favorite things we enjoyed at the end of 2021. If we didn't have such a long drive, we would have visited at least once more.

I hope you find my article about Winterfest to be helpful as you make plans for next year! You may wish to check out my site map or some of my other articles below:

• SCarowinds - Are you Looking for Ghosts, Skeletons, and Frightful Fun?
• Favorite Family Rides at Carowinds - Top 5 Picks
• Carowinds - Practical Tips for Enjoying NC/SC Amusement Park with Kids

Find directions, hours, specific information about rides, food, and more at the Carowinds official web site.

Thank you for visiting Travel NC With Kids!