Carolina Raptor Center – See Eagles, Owls, Hawks and More!

Beautiful Birds of Prey at Carolina Raptor Center © Katrena

The Carolina Raptor Center, located within the Latta Plantation Nature Preserve in Huntersville, North Carolina, has been rehabilitating and caring for injured and orphaned raptors since 1975. In 2011 alone, 834 animals were seen at the center. By 2012, they have helped a total of more than 16,000 raptors that are often transported to the facility by volunteers.

Family-Friendly Activity Near Charlotte NC © Katrena

More than 70% of these birds are eventually released back into the wild if they survive the first 24 hours after being brought into the center. The Carolina Raptor Center has some permanent residents that would not be able to survive in the wild, and some of these beautiful creatures are also featured in presentations at the facility and/or off-site educational presentations at places like schools and libraries.

Raptor Rehab in Huntersville, NC © Katrena

The raptor center is conveniently located near I-77 and is close to Charlotte, Lake Norman, and Mooresville and offers visitors a chance to see more than 23 species of raptors. The area is nicely shaded with quite a few benches and picnic tables along the 3/4 mile trail. The trails have gravel with wooden bars to prevent erosion in areas, which can make it a bit more challenging if you have a family member riding in a wheelchair or stroller.

Community Support at Carolina Raptor Center © Katrena

Michele Houck, Community Relations Director of CRC Visits With Girls © Katrena

The people who are working at the center are quite friendly and helpful. Many are volunteers who might be helping in the gift shop, cleaning cages, or even handling the birds and providing educational programs or tours.

Great Volunteer Staff at Raptor Center © Katrena

Community Support of CRC © Katrena

We spoke to several volunteers and discovered that some have made the volunteer efforts into a family affair, working for years with their kids at their side. What a great way to teach about protecting our environment and provide a community service!

Learn About Barred Owls © Katrena

Learn About Barn Owls © Katrena

The hours and scheduled programs vary during the week and year. We had the opportunity to see the live bird presentation. Ann Bowen, a volunteer who has served the center for 14 years, did an great job showing owls and a hawk and providing a wealth of information about these amazing animals. She also does a really nice barred owl call!

Learn About Red-Tailed Hawks © Katrena

Most of the injured raptors have been hit by vehicles, and Ms. Bowen mentioned how litter on the highways attracts mice and other rodents. Even cigarette butts flicked out of a window could eventually lead to the demise of a majestic bird. The emphasis on environmental conservation and prevention of injuries in wildlife is prevalent throughout one's visit to the Carolina Raptor Center.

Learn How to Protect Wild Birds © Katrena

We learned about each animal in the live bird presentation, how it came to live at the center, and some interesting tidbits about that particular species, such as why barn owls might be the origin of many ghost stories and how to identify a red-tailed hawk from the front.

Black Vulture Feeding © Katrena

The vulture feeding followed shortly after the live bird presentation. The center features three different species of vultures in this area: black, king, and turkey. Most of the cages offer educational information, such as how to tell the difference between a turkey vulture and a black vulture by looking at their wings in flight.

Turkey Vultures © Katrena

Beautiful Colors of the King Vulture © Katrena

Trained volunteers fed the vultures within the cages and provided information about their eating habits and how birds can develop imprinting if fed by people at an early age. If this happens, the birds associate people with food and then become unable to survive in the wild. Young birds at the center that are orphaned or hatched may be fed by people, but the people feeding the birds will wear a disguise in the hopes that imprinting will be avoided.

Spectacled Owl © Katrena

Educational Program About Birds of Prey © Katrena

Talons: Birds of the World Flight Show was presented in the amphitheater. Plan to arrive several minutes early in order to see some other animals housed on the trail to the seating area. Tickets are limited, so it is a good idea to purchase those upon arrival to the center.

Birds of the World Flight Show © Katrena

Birds of Prey © Katrena

During the show, handlers brought out several owls and other raptors. Some flew from stage to perches that were located on the right and left of the stage while a few were sent above the stage. Several conservation measures were mentioned during the show as well.

Learn About Protecting Birds © Katrena

Castle-Themed Play Area at Carolina Raptor Center © Katrena

The vulture seemed to steal the flight show with its fun antics as it ambled down the aisle and seemed to enjoy the show as much as the audience! Always ready to play, my girls particularly liked the tower that housed a slide near the exit area after the show.

Fun Family Activity Near Lake Norman © Katrena

Guided Bird Tour © Katrena

The trail trivia tour was informative with Ann Bowen leading the group from cage to cage to learn more about the various raptors. She described quite a few of the hawks and owls. It was particularly interesting to hear personal stories of the various birds along the trail.

Hands-on Learning Opportunity at Raptor Center © Katrena

Self-Guided Educational Tour About Raptors © Katrena

Fun Ways to Learn About Birds © Katrena

The self-guided tour along the trail creates a large circle as visitors walk up to the large mews, or cages, that are spaced out along the trail. Several of them had interactive educational opportunities, and I particularly liked seeing how the eggs of some of the species looked. They had a nice variety of birds from America and other countries.

Ravens Enjoying the Attention © Katrena

The birds near the gift shop were quite animated when we visited. The pair of ravens looked almost as if they were playing leapfrog with one another and they were making a wide range of calls, almost similar to a mockingbird. My 10-year-old particularly liked the magpie. The African pied crow had a striking color combination of black and white.

Bald Eagle at Carolina Raptor Center © Katrena

Bald Eagles © Katrena

The bald eagles, America's national bird, were stunning. The Carolina Raptor center housed North Carolina's first baby bald eagle hatched in captivity. The bald eagles that are born at the center are reintroduced into the wild.

See Wild Birds © Katrena

My kids got a kick out of Edward in the osprey observation deck as the bird appeared to be dancing if I swayed from side to side. The permanent residents at the center are given names, and a few of the names end up being a bit comical. It can be very difficult to tell the gender of some birds. The center has done DNA testing on several of the raptors to discover that the name seems a bit odd because the guess on the gender was reversed!

Eagle Scout Projects © Katrena

The Carolina Raptor Center offers quite a few opportunities for internships and community service. I noticed that several boy scouts had provided various additions such as a stage and water area as part of an Eagle scout project. There were some interesting architectural details scattered throughout the center. My girls loved the stepping stones along the peace garden in particular.

Raptor Operation Game © Katrena

X-Rays of Wounded Birds © Katrena

Near the door of the gift shop is a table with a sort of raptor operation game. Various bird parts were labeled, and the kids could try their hand at "operating" on the birds. They also had the opportunity to see several x-rays of skeletal injuries along with information regarding how the injury occurred.

Learn About Birds © Katrena

Inside the gift shop was a fun little area where the kids could crawl into a sort of hollow tree. Visitors can become members and enjoy discounts and free admission for a year and extras like a free behind the scenes tour.

Learn How to Adopt a Bird at the Raptor Center © Katrena

People can also "adopt" a raptor for a year and will receive a packet about the adopted animal. Visitors may also sign up to see a raptor released back into the wild.

Carolina Raptor Center in North Carolina © Katrena

Overall, I thought the Carolina Raptor Center was a unique and personal place to learn about how to protect raptors and special identifying characteristics. We enjoyed having the opportunity to see quite a few of them up close. Knowing that the center is dedicated to trying to help these majestic animals to be reintroduced into their natural habitats is wonderful, and I hope they have many more success stories!

Fun Educational Activity Near Charlotte © Katrena

Find directions and additional information about the Carolina Raptor Center at their official web site. If your family loves animals, you might also like to read about the Lazy 5 Ranch. Find additional ideas for kid-friendly activities in North Carolina at the Travel NC With Kids site map.

Gem Theatre in Kannapolis NC Has Rich History & Affordable Movies

Gem Theater in Kannapolis North Carolina © Katrena

Originally opened on December 31, 1936, the Gem Movie Theatre in Kannapolis, North Carolina, is one of my kids' favorite destinations for movies. The colorful lights outside beckon people to come in to enjoy the movie and the nostalgic theater on West First Street.

A historical landmark of the area, the Gem is one of America's oldest single-screen movie theaters still in operation today. A fire in 1942 closed the movie theater until it could be rebuilt several years later. The concession stand served as a distribution area for ration coupons during tough economic times of the World War II era.

March 15, 1948 marked the Gem's reopening date. Tickets at that time were 40 cents for adults and 12 cents for children. Prices remain quite reasonable, and in 2012 they are offering $1.00 movies on Tuesdays for the 10:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. shows on many dates that schools are out for the summer. The theater only accepts cash at this time.

Performers at Gem Theater - Photo from Wikimedia Commons

In the 1940s and early 1950s, customers may have been treated to a stage show before the movie. Roy Rogers and Trigger, Tex Ritter, Lash LaRue, and others provided entertainment at the theater. I discovered that Fred Kirby, a singing cowboy I met when visiting Tweetsie Railroad as a child, had performed at the Gem as well!

With the 1950s came popular wide screens for theaters, so the stage became half as deep with that renovation, marking the end of the live performances. Several other renovations, such as stereophonic sound and updated concession stand, have also been made over the years. Don't worry – they do have air conditioning if you are visiting during warmer weather!

Fun Nostalgic Movie Theater © Katrena

The Gem Theatre has 916 seats and large groups may schedule private events. To top it off, my kids absolutely love the balcony. Very few movie theaters offer balcony seating. My kids wanted to stay after the movie just to look around the theater.

Parents of young kids will be glad to know that bathroom are also located upstairs for convenience. We made a day of it in Kannapolis, visiting Village Park and the movie theater, which made a great combination of indoor and outdoor fun activities. The two destinations are less than five miles from one another.

 The Gem Theatre is offering $1.00 movies during the summer of 2012. Find a listing of these and other free or reduced movies this summer in Rowan and Davie Counties at my Wildflower Bouquets article.

Learn more about the Gem Theater in Kannapolis at their web site. Find other ideas for traveling with kids in North Carolina at my site map.

Dan Nicholas Park in NC Has Wide Variety of Water Fun

Dan Nicholas Park, located in Rowan County near Salisbury, North Carolina, features several different ways to enjoy water with the kids, including a nature trail that encircles a lake, fishing, paddle boats, and a splash pad.

Beautiful Wooden Bridge at Dan Nicholas Lake © Katrena

One of my favorite activities at Dan Nicholas is to simply walk the trail that encircles the lake. Walkers can see the lake throughout the short hike, and the majority of the trail is shaded, serene, and relaxing. They have a large steel bridge to the left of the concession stand, but I particularly like the small wooden bridge at the back of the lake.

Beautiful Wild Animals in Rowan County NC © Katrena

You can often find turtles, butterflies, dragonflies, and more near the bridge and along the trail. I like gardening and always enjoy looking at the nice collection of plants in and near the water on this trail as well. The camping area is adjacent to part of this trail, and several shaded areas have benches where you can relax and take in the beauty of the lake and the animals that call this area home.

Ducklings and Goslings in North Carolina © Katrena

I have fond memories of feeding the ducks and geese at the lake with my family when I was a child, and now my kids get the opportunity to share in that simple joy. Some of these feathered friends might even eat out of your hand. They might not be as hungry when the weather is comfortable and lots of folks are visiting, but you can usually find several that will readily clamber for some treats.

Fishing at Dan Nicholas Lake Near Salisbury NC © Katrena

You will often see folks fishing around the edges of the lake. Those with a state fishing license can fish at the Dan Nicholas lake for a modest fee paid at the concession stand. The local fee is waived for seniors and children under age three. The concession stand has quite a few pictures of people who have made some pretty nice catches at the lake as well as duck food, cool drinks, and several options for snacks.

Family Fun on Paddle Boats in Rowan County © Katrena

Riding paddle boats can be a fun family activity and great exercise, especially if you're the only one who can reach the pedals! The character boats are big and bold, and they have updated the smaller paddle boats as well.

Character Paddle Boats at Dan Nicholas Lake © Katrena

I prefer to go out on the lake early in the day if the weather is very warm. They have added a spraying fountain in the lake that can cool you down quite nicely if you discover that the Southern summer heat is moving in quickly.

The splash pad is the newest addition to the family water fun at Dan Nicholas. Located near the carousel and train station, this free area was a big hit with all of my kids. Actually, I found several excuses to go out and check on the kids while they were playing in this one!

Family Fun at Dan Nicholas © Katrena

It helps to have sandals or flip flops nearby because the cement gets a bit hot in the dry areas when the sun is blazing. A wide brimmed hat and sunglasses are also helpful for adults who are sitting by the splash pad. The splash pad at Dan Nicholas is slated to open for the 2012 season on May 26.

Visit the Travel NC with Kids site map for more articles on Dan Nicholas Park and several other fun family activity ideas in North Carolina.

Greensboro Children's Museum – Interactive and Educational Activities for Kids

Children's Museum in Greensboro NC © Katrena

The Greensboro Children's Museum offers a nice assortment of fun, educational activities for children of a variety of ages. My kids were quite excited to see this children's museum because of the huge black and white sculpture standing out front. Many colorful and interesting surprises awaited inside as well!

Fun Things to Do at Greensboro Children's Museum © Katrena

Parking is limited at the Greensboro Children's Museum. We have visited the museum more than once, and each time we have had to circle the parking lot waiting for an open space because the lot was full. They have a sign stating that parking is available across the street for a fee, but we circled for a while and ended up getting a spot in the museum parking lot both times.

Wear Costumes and Act on Stage at Greensboro Children's Museum © Katrena

Practice Using Sound & Lighting Equipment © Katrena

The museum is set up in a circular fashion and the floor is painted to resemble a road going through a town. Fun and unusual opportunities for educational play are found throughout the museum. My kids decided to turn to the right first. They loved dressing up and putting on a play for the adults in the theater. The raised stage has a curtain, some props, and several choices of different sized costumes back stage. Out front, the kids can get some practice with lighting and sound effects. It was interesting to see the kids being creative and imaginative in their productions!

Practice Being a Dentist at Greensboro Children's Museum © Katrena

Kids can try their hands at being a dentist a little farther down the hall in the medical area.  This can be a great opportunity to talk to little ones about what to expect at the dentist's office and to give them a chance to sit in the chair and role play being the dentist as well. My girls were really hoping that the chair would go up and down, but it was stationary. My oldest daughter in particular thought it was cool to dress up and be on the giving, rather than the receiving, end of the dental chair!

Practice Being a Surgeon © Katrena

Practice Taking Care of Babies in the Greensboro Children's Museum © Katrena

Just a few steps away is the doctor's office, where kids can practice being a receptionist, inspect x-rays, take care of newborn babies in the nursery, or perform surgery. The surgical table resembled a huge life-sized Operation game. My youngest would have probably been content to take care of the baby dolls in the nursery the whole time we were visiting. They had lots of blankets for the babies, and my 3-year-old particularly enjoyed tucking in the dolls and holding and rocking them in the rocking chair.

Nonie's House in Greensboro Children's Museum © Katrena

Collecting Eggs at Greensboro Children's Museum © Katrena

Nonie's House was next on my kids' list of fun places to visit. This area was set up like an old fashioned home, complete with hens sitting on their eggs in the "yard" beyond the picket fence. You could pick some wooden flowers, place them in a vase, and walk into the house to decorate the dining room table and even look out the windows to see the view of the street. Great Southern homes often center around the kitchen, and kids can explore the cabinets, refrigerator, and more in this vintage-style kitchen.

Delivering the Mail in Children's Museum in NC © Katrena

The mail room had lots of letters, a full-sized mail truck, and some equipment one might see behind the counter at the post office. My girls loved taking the mail around to the various areas in the museum and placing them in the mailboxes. This can be a great activity for kids who are learning how to read in particular.

Tot Spot Provides Fun Play Activities for Toddlers © Katrena

The center of the circular area hosts a large Tot Spot, designed for preschoolers. My kids were all wanting to go explore in that area and were disappointed that it was for little ones! There are lots of safe places to crawl, explore, and play in that area. It is especially nice for the caregivers to have a gated area so that the little ones can explore away from the bigger kids for part of the time.

Practice Balancing on Rope Bridge and Stepping Stones © Katrena

Climbing Wall at Children's Museum © Katrena

Camping Area in Greensboro Children's Museum © Katrena

On the far side of the museum circle is a large room with stepping stones, a small climbing wall, rope bridge, and camping area. Two of my kids want to climb on everything, so they particularly enjoyed the challenges in this section. They also enjoyed climbing in the sleeping bags, zipping the tent, setting up a picnic, and telling a few stories in the camping area. Their granddad, an avid camper and fisherman, would have been proud!

Pretend to be a Fireman © Katrena

Kids Can Drive a Race Car © Katrena

Kids who love vehicles and transportation will love the back part of this room. Several full-sized vehicles are located in this area. They feature a fire truck, race car, and police car. The kids can climb in and out of these vehicles and imagine zooming down the road! They can also fill the race car with gas, or put out a fire while wearing firefighting garb. The racing flags around the edge were cool too – I'll have to look up what the various colors mean one of these days. My girls were really excited to see kids on a UNC-TV commercial playing on the same fire truck when they were watching television!

Kids Train at Children's Museum © Katrena

Children's Museum Passenger Train © Katrena

The transportation theme continues into the next large room. A train offers kids the opportunity to ride, add coal, load suitcases, or don an engineer's hat and drive for a while. Passengers in the train can have a grand tea party. They also have a table in front of the train where kids can play with a model train track.

Airplane at Children's Museum in Greensboro NC © Katrena

Fly a Jet at Greensboro Children's Museum © Katrena

Along the other wall is the front part of a DC-9 jet. Climb the stairs along the side of the airplane to become passengers with loads of leg room and even seat belts! More daring kids may want to climb into the cockpit and test out all the instruments. If the kids don't want to climb back down the stairs, they can hop into a tunneled slide and ride down to the bottom.

Having Fun a Children's Museum in North Carolina © Katrena

Hands-on Education at Children's Museum © Katrena

Curious George at Greensboro Children's Museum © Katrena

The room with the jet and train sometimes features traveling exhibits and sometimes offers a large area where kids can play with balls, hula hoops, and other items. We saw a Curious George exhibit in this room once, and it was full of interactive opportunities. A side door in this room leads to the outdoor garden area, which is packed full of plants, flowers, and charming decorative pieces.

Walk Through the Garden at Children's Museum in Greensboro © Katrena

Several other areas are offered for fun and educational play at the Greensboro Children's Museum, but the ones I have featured have been some of my kids' favorite stops. A family can easily spend hours in this hands-on museum that is kid-friendly. Visit the Greensboro Children's Museum official site for rates, times, and additional learning and play opportunities. Readers may also wish to find more great places to visit with the kids at my Travel NC With Kids site map.