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Changes: SE – WILMINGTON CHILDREN’S MUSEUM is now the CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF WILMINGTON (pg. 156) and has a new website: www.playwilmington.org. The museum will open early spring 2006 in the historic buildings at 2nd and Orange Streets. Additions: NE – Corolla, Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education. www.ncwildlife.org. The “Life by Water’s Rhythms” exhibit hall and auditorium are housed inside a 22,000-square-foot facility located on Currituck Sound between the historic Whalehead Club, a 1920s hunting lodge, and the Currituck Beach Lighthouse, an 1875 beacon still in operation. Many of the exhibits feature hunting and fishing traditions of the area, including an extensive wooden decoy collection, a vintage outboard motor display and a life-size marsh diorama that includes a 12,000-gallon aquarium and a re-created duck blind scene from the golden era of Currituck hunt clubs. W – Blue Ridge Parkway Area Gem Mining opportunities:
W – Rutherford. KIDSENSES CHILDREN’S MUSEUM. 172 N Main Street. (828) 286-2120 or www.kidsenses.com. Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 9:00am-5:00pm, Sunday 1:00-5:00pm. Admission: $5.00 general. Imagine the excitement of kids as they create a castle, act as a tv commentator, or explore the streets of a fun city just for them. Look around some and then interact in a kid-size Dental Office, Grocery, TV station, Factory, or Stage. Climb the Big Climber or play small in the Alphabet Trail area. Play with Science and Art, too. More Fun Information About: NE - Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education; P.O. Box 502 (near the historic Whalehead Club); Corolla, NC 27927; (252) 453-0221 or www.ncwildlife.org/fs_index_08_education.htm. Visitors to the center (opening in 2005) will have opportunities to learn about the wildlife of North Carolina's northeastern coastal region. Waterfowl hunting, decoy-making and fishing. Because the center will be located on the Currituck Sound, it will offer visitors a chance to experience a barrier island first-hand. While the center is being built, the activities are run from the shelter at the Whalehead Club Park. Fans of our KIDS LOVE NC book emailed us that their kids have participated in the animal tracking, birdwatching, and marshwalk activities. They have also fished and kayaked in the sound for free through the center. The wildlife guides (Erin, Garrett, and Chandler) provide all supplies for the activities, as well as act as instructors and nature guides. They also have herp hunt and decoy making programs. Stay posted as this will most likely change (admission charged?) when the center is officially opened this year. THESE APPEAR TO BE GROUP PROGRAMS with on-site staff, pre-arranged – call first, please. CE – A WEEKEND IN DURHAM - Hey, let’s start with some great food joints. You know, we feel Durham has some of the most eclectic, yet, family-budget-friendly eateries around! It’s exciting to try these places – be sure to begin by trying one of their daily specials. RICK’S DINER – 4015 University Drive, BB&T Plaza (919) 419-0907. They’ve consolidated two stores into one. Notice the historical photos from the Durham Herald Sun – fun to look at. Try their Blue Plate specials – salads, seafood and quiches are adult favorites. No kids menu but just ask for kids portions. Most specialty dishes here are Rick’s recipes and some are from Uncle Ray and Mama. ELMO’S DINER – 776 Ninth Street, Ninth Street District. (919) 416-3823 or www.elmosdiner.com. Daily 6:30am-10:00pm or later. Food Network’s “$40 a Day” host Rachael Ray proclaims that the diner is an “awesome pick.” Though breakfast is served all day, Elmo’s whips up splendid lunch and dinner favorites. We call this a gourmet diner. Highly recommend the perfectly seasoned spicy Italian Meatloaf and Hummus dip. There quiches are wonderfully creamy and fresh. Anything on the kids menu is great and under $3.00. THE Q SHACK – 2510 University Drive, (919) 402-4227 or www.theqshack.com. Lunch and dinner, picnic style. Barbeque all grown up. Chili-rubbed sliced brisket (Texas style – excellent), hand-pulled pork and ribs are must-orders. Sides are Southern. Everyone (even kids size) gets hush puppies. Most BBQ’s don’t serve salads but this one does. Try their giant salad greens topped with brisket and blue cheese dressing – yum! Now, on to places to walk or bike the calories off…. Patterson’s Mill Country Store. 5109 Farrington Rd between NC 54 & Old Chapel Hill Rd. (919) 493-8149. Open daily except Monday. This turn-of-the-century country store and doctor’s office/pharmacy displays mercantile and pharmaceutical Americana. The best part- real Penny Candy! Enjoy a soda and sweet treat while browsing through gobs of crafted art and jewelry mixed with antiques. Something fills every square inch. Fall and Christmastime are good times to visit. HISTORIC STAGVILLE (pg. 14). The American Girl figure, Addy, is loosely based on stories from this place. The slave cabins are unusual because they’re off the ground (not dirt floors) and several stories high – once housing dozens of people. Historic buildings are only open during hourly guided tours. AMERICAN TOBACCO TRAIL. www.triangletrails.org/ATT.HTM. Downtown to NC 54, six (soon to be eight) miles of trails for bicycle, hiking, walking and running. LITTLE RIVER REGIONAL PARK & NATURAL AREA. www.tlc-nc.org, northend. Relics from tobacco farmland like barns, houses and sheds have been restored and now serve as picnic shelters and info centers. 15 miles of walking, hiking, mountain-biking, and horseback-riding trails. Spending the night? Try LaQUINTA INN & SUITES RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK (I-40 exit 278, 1910 WestPark Drive, 919-484-1422). For $69-$119 per night you receive a spacious room with a nice outdoor pool and complimentary deluxe breakfast buffet. Fresh breads and pastries were abundant. SC – CHARLOTTE WEEKEND - What’s new at CAROWINDS (pg. 110)? They now have the largest Nickelodeon area at any theme park in the world. Nickelodeon Central is based on popular characters and shows. Kids can interact with NickToons celebrities in the Celebration Parade (one daily, summertime) after they get slimed in the Nick Live show. Two new rides were our kids favorites: Phantom Flyers -all ages can steer their course swooping up and down, weaving side to side, gliding thru the air; and the Flying Dutchman’s Revenge – all ages can navigate rotating mini-pirate ships pivoting, twisting and turning a full 180 degrees while sloping up and down along the terrain. Several rides are for the preschool set, other mini-coasters for the preteens. Throughout the park, notice one thing: the names of rides pretty much tells the story. Example: Hurl (stomach leaves the body); Cyclone (loopy); Richochet (jerky side-to-side motion). The waterpark area was nice and compact but beware of pre-summer weekends when the water feels cool for awhile. We’d recommend staying overnight at STAYBRIDGE SUITES SW CHARLOTTE located at the Arrowood exit off I-85. Just a few miles from the park. All suites have kitchens (equipped)and free high speed internet. The property offers guests a convenience store, sportcourt, heated outdoor pool, bbq pavilion, dvd rentals and a library. Oh, and the (hot/cold) items on the deluxe breakfast bar were good. Now that you’re thoroughly exhausted from a day at Carowinds, enjoy more leisure and quiet exercise in nature. The Carowinds campgrounds are closed so many retreat to nearby MCDOWELL OUTDOOR EXPLORING CENTER (pg. 111). NEW WEBSITE: www.parkandrec.com. Or, head over to the CHARLOTTE NATURE MUSEUM (pg. 108, mistakenly our book named it Charlotte Outdoor Exploring Museum). NEW ADMISSION: $5.00 age 2+. Insect Alley has games, videos and interactives and serves as a great primer for Butterfly Garden. Make sure you meet the guard over the butterflies – Lovey Dovey. Or, meet Queen Charlotte, the groundhog. Live animals to see around every corner. Their Grandpa Tree room is the best show of it’s kind we’ve ever seen! Need to refuel? Try lunch at FUEL PIZZA SOUTHEND. 704-335-7375 or www.fuelpizza.com. Located in old 50s gas stations, the theme and food are so fun! They have a kids menu and offer play dough (real pizza dough), crayons and fun sheets. Try an Extreme Fuel, Whole Engine or Lasagna Pizza with a side of wings and garlic knots. They give Pizza Tours (mornings by appt.). CW – High Point, MILLIS REGIONAL HEALTH EDUCATION CENTER (pg. 56). We absolutely love their program here. Initially, begin with a classroom orientation. Start with models of brains (works at 200 mph); then, on to the heart (60-100 beats/minute); lungs; and finally, the digestive system (food to waste and everything in between). The demos are fantastic. |
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