Haunted Houses and Trails in Charlotte
Prepare for a thrilling weekend or evening scare at one of these haunted houses or trails.
Charlotte
THE PINT-SIZED FOODIE: An introduction to The Penguin
Each month, our 9-year-old resident foodie visits a different Charlotte-area restaurant that’s kid-friendly—but not a kid-topia. He orders something he’s never tried before and reports back with his recommendations for kids and their parents. Here is his review of The…
Where to go for your family photos this fall
Charlotte is full of talented photographers eager to help capture your family memories. We narrowed this list down to some of the best, most highly recommended photographers that are offering family portrait specials ahead of the holiday season. Nest…
How Does Your Garden Grow?
As parents, it's common to worry about what our children are eating. We want them to enjoy a wide range of nutritious foods and to develop a healthy relationship with food, but getting children to try new flavors and eat…
ASK A MOM: Blended families, inflation anxiety, and age-appropriate books
Q: My kid’s stepmom’s birthday is coming up. We’re not BFFs, but we get along really well and she’s been a great SAHM to my kids while I’m at work. We haven’t had much interaction outside of the kids, so…
LILY BAKES: Lily’s Banana Pudding
Lily Barnes is our 11-year-old resident kid baker. Each month she shares an original recipe that kids can make at home with their parents, plus a few behind-the-scenes tips and tricks to make your treat extra special. Here is Lily’s…
Books for Back to School
The Kissing Hand, by Audrey Penn (2007) Age group: preschool, early elementary It’s time for Chester Raccoon to start school, but he doesn’t want to go without his mom. Mrs. Raccoon soothes his worries with the Kissing Hand—a family secret…
TRAVEL: Island Hop Through the Florida Keys
Fly to Ft. Lauderdale or Miami, rent a car, and head south to the Florida Keys. Make these stops along the way or set up a home base and take a series of day trips with your family. Miami Book an…
PARENT TO KNOW: Clary Hilliard Gray
In honor of National Childhood Cancer Awareness month, we’re passing the pen to local mom, Clary Hilliard Gray. You might recognize her from Hilliard Studio Method, the popular fitness studio she co-founded with her mom, Liz Hilliard, in 2008. In…
WEEKENDER: Chattanooga
In 1941, Glenn Miller immortalized the city with his hit, Chattanooga Choo-Choo. Today it’s home to an expanded riverfront, aquarium complex, and one of the world's longest pedestrian bridges. Chattanooga is a six-hour drive from Charlotte (or a one-hour flight…
ROOM WE LOVE: A Polished Pantry
When Tamara Leicester’s clients hired her to design the interior of their two-story modern craftsman in Dilworth, they needed it to function for their growing family, which included three children under age 6. Just off the kitchen, they budgeted for…
GO. PLAY. SEE.: 4 Fun Things to Experience in Charlotte This Month
CREATE A STARRY CONSTELLATION Drop by the Mint Museum Randolph Wednesday, September 7 through Saturday, September 10 during museum hours and pick up a Mini Art Kit. This month’s kit includes out-of-this-world drawing materials to create a starry constellation at…
THE PINT-SIZED FOODIE: An introduction to The Jimmy
Each month, our 9-year-old resident foodie visits a different Charlotte-area restaurant that’s kid-friendly—but not a kid-topia. He orders something he’s never tried before and reports back with his recommendations for kids and their parents. Here is his review of Weekend…
A Family-Friendly Guide to Fall
Here’s a guide to fall activities for parents and children—heck, grandparents and grandchildren, too—that comes close to what you might have encountered in 2019, the last time we could bob for apples without the embarrassment of having failed to take…
LILY BAKES: Snicker Cake Mix Cookies
Lily Barnes is our 11-year-old resident kid baker. Each month she shares an original recipe that kids can make at home with their parents, plus a few behind-the-scenes tips and tricks to make your treat extra special. Here is Lily’s…
Charlotte's Fall Festivals and Fairs: 2022
Fall festivals feed your need for fried dough, live music and family fun.
Ask A Mom: Boundaries, tough conversations, and curbing end-of-summer boredom
Q: My daughter and her boyfriend are going out a lot, but they never tell me where! And they come back so late! I don't know what to do... A: Ask her. You’re her mother, not her friend. You control…
THE MOM’S SPACE: Authentic Friendships
As moms, finding and maintaining authentic friendships can be difficult. How nice would it be if the opposite were true? What if moms felt free to be real and unite through the messy experience of motherhood? Instead, we tend to…
Easy At-Home Arts & Crafts for the Non-Pinterest Parent
If you’re not a creative and crafty parent, fear not. We’ve pulled together five easy projects that are simple to execute, make minimal mess, and entertain your children. No arts degree required. Paper Plate Maracas Items needed: Paper plates Stapler…
Charlotte's Consignment Sales: Fall 2022
Find bargains this fall at one of these Charlotte-area consignment sales.
PARENT TO KNOW: Neely Verano
Neely Verano’s lifelong passion for the arts led her to serve in various nonprofit leadership roles at the Mint Museum, McColl Center for Art + Innovation, and The Arts Empowerment Project. She’s also a co-founder of LaCa Projects, Charlotte’s contemporary…
WEEKENDER: New Bern
If you drive toward the coast, about 4.5 hours east of Charlotte, you’ll find the waterfront town of New Bern, North Carolina. Nestled where the Neuse and Trent rivers converge, this small city is the state’s former colonial capital and…
The Cult of Mom Friends
My husband and I lived in our South Charlotte neighborhood for about a year before we had any meaningful interaction with our neighbors. Then one weekend, I showed up to the pool sporting 38 weeks of pregnancy. Suddenly I was…
GO. PLAY. SEE.: 4 Fun Things to Experience in Charlotte This Month
BUILD A SUMMER CAMPER Bring your little builders to Home Depot on Saturday, August 6 between 9 a.m. and noon for their monthly Kids Workshop. August’s project is a summer camper, and all kids in attendance receive a kid-sized Home…
