Family Day Trips for Charlotteans to Cap Off the Summer
All are within two hours of the city
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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: 2022
It’s that time again, so we caught up with our resident expert Dan Weiss, owner of Harper & Skyler’s Toys & Sweets, to find out which items have been flying off his shelves this season. Our gift guide also includes…
GO. PLAY. SEE.: 4 Fun Things to Experience in Charlotte This Month
STROLL DOWN GINGERBREAD LANE Visit The Ballantyne Hotel from December 1-26 to see Gingerbread Lane. The annual holiday baking event features novice and professional bakers who compete in this gingerbread house contest. Families can also enjoy hot cocoa and festive…
ASK A MOM: Fidgety students, healthy eating, and Thanksgiving etiquette
Q: My son's teacher is always sending home a report that he can't sit still and stay focused. I talk to him about being respectful of his teacher and classroom, and have tried to offer him some breathing strategies when…
A Step-By-Step Guide to Hitting the Slopes with Kids
Planning a ski trip puts fear into the hearts of many parents. Between safety concerns and deciding where to go, what equipment to rent, and when to book ski school, it can feel like a logistical nightmare. Ski Sapphire Valley…
Holiday Gifts That Last All Year
Last November, when I asked my sister-in-law for gift ideas for my nieces and nephew, she was stumped. My 9-year-old nephew had a few items on his list for me to choose from, but my twin 6-year-old nieces weren't asking…
Ways to Give Back in Charlotte
Charlotte is home to so many local nonprofits that serve neighbors in need. Here are 10 ways your family can get into the spirit of giving this holiday season—and throughout the year. Thompson Child & Family Focus acts as a…
WEEKENDER: Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama earned the nickname “The Magic City” thanks to its vast supply of iron ore, coal, and limestone, the three elements needed to produce steel. It experienced rapid growth following the Civil War and into the 20th century, when…
GO. PLAY. SEE.: 4 Fun Things to Experience in Charlotte This Month
SKATE AT CAMP NORTH END Come to Camp North End on Saturday, November 5 and take a spin on the 2,400-square-foot skating rink inside the Ford Building at 400 Camp Road. The experience includes artwork by local artists, a concession…
LILY BAKES: Pumpkin Spice Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
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…
WEEKENDER: Florida Gulf Beaches
As businesses reopen in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, residents just south of Tampa remain hopeful that tourists will visit the Florida Gulf this holiday season. Popular spots like Clearwater and St. Petersburg weren’t directly hit, and their beaches will…
Where to find Spirit Halloween stores in and around Charlotte: 2022
Updated October 2022 The creepiest, crawliest night of the year is coming up, and that means one thing: Box stores that once stood empty have found new life as Spirit Halloween stores move into town. If you can dream it,…
GO. PLAY. SEE.: 4 Fun Things to Experience in Charlotte This Month
CELEBRATE HOWL-O-WEEN AT GREAT WOLF LODGE Great Wolf Lodge Concord’s annual Howl-O-Ween celebration kicks off October 1 and runs through Halloween. This year’s festivities include a Trick-or-Treat Trail, Monster Bash Dance Party, Halloween-themed yoga, arts and crafts, and more. The…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
ASK A MOM: Toddler table manners, camps for kids with developmental disabilities, and boundaries with video games
Q: What do you say and do when the 2-year-old throws food at the dinner table? A: Ask them to pick it up? Not to be basic, but that’s what I do. My son, Hobie, turns 2 this month. Meals…
WEEKENDER: Kingsmill Resort
Kingsmill Resort offers a relaxing getaway with a side of history
Spontaneous Summer Fun
Summer may already be in full swing, but that doesn't mean it’s too late to plan some family fun. We’ve got a roundup of outdoor adventures and weekend getaways you can still add to your calendar. *See approximate driving time from Charlotte listed…
GO. PLAY. SEE.: 4 Fun Things to Experience in Charlotte This Month
CELEBRATE JULY 4 AT THE BALLPARK Come see the Charlotte Knights take on the Norfolk Tides on July 4 at 7:15 p.m., and stay for a fireworks show at Truist field immediately following the game. Gates open at 5 p.m.…
