The Stir Crazy Moms' Guide to Durham

Greystone Indoor Park

2012-01-30T18:16:00.000-08:00

What it is: I wonder why this idea hasn't been done more often. Take a shopping center with an empty spot, insert a public park-indoors! That's what they did for Greystone Indoor Center in Raleigh. It's a playground with regular play structures all contained in one room. They have one of those new climbing structures filled with ropes and nets to climb on, wobbly toadstools to hop on, and curvy bars to climb and spin on. There's also a small rock sculpture to climb on next to a large rock wall.

We took my boys on a rainy weekend day (one of the few cold days that we've had this winter), and they had a great time. The sign when you walk in says that the play structure is made for children ages 5-12. However, my 20 month old and 3.5 year old both had a great time. I could see that older kids would have more to climb on and be able to interact with more parts of the structure, but my boys did manage to spend over an hour playing there, no problem. At least half of the kids that we saw playing there were under 5. There were quite a few kids there, but it really didn't seem that crowded. It was also surrounded with benches for parents to sit on when they're not playing and for kids to sit on while they're snacking. They also have vending machines and restrooms. (Thanks to Katie over at Mom in Chapel Hill for reminding us about this place!)

What we liked: We loved that it was a place where our kids could get their energy out even when it was raining. It was safe and we knew where our kids were at all times, which was nice. In addition, it's free!

What we would change: The major drawback of this place is that it's in Raleigh. It's a bit of a drive but worth it when you need a place for your kids to run and play!

Website and other important information:

Website: http://www.raleighnc.gov/home/content/PRecParks/Articles/PlaygroundGreystone.html

Hours: Monday-Friday: 9am-7pm, Saturday: 9am-3pm

Address: 7713-55 Lead Mine Road, Raleigh, NC 27615

Photos:

1. The rock wall

2. A view of the whole playground

Loaf

2012-01-29T17:49:00.000-08:00

While wandering around downtown Durham this Saturday morning we found a great addition to downtown that is a perfect variation for the Three-fer Thursday that we just posted about. So, head up to downtown, visit the Main Library or Duke Park, and then head down the road to our newest find, Loaf.

What it is: Loaf is one of the new bakeries to open up downtown. It's located on Parrish St. and you can smell the delicious fresh bread from the street as you walk by, drawing you in. So, in we went. Loaf does not have any indoor seating, just a few tables outside on the sidewalk. Inside, there is a pastry counter, shelves of mouth-watering crusty bread behind the counter, a refrigerated case filled with other goodies, mostly local, and a table with some coffee. You can also look back into the kitchen where you can see a huge brick oven where the delicious breads are baked. The owners of Loaf have been selling their wares at the Durham Farmer's Market for a few years, so they've had a little practice creating delicious goodies.

When we walked in we were eyeing the pastry counter for a little morning snack. My sons immediately spotted the cookies while I focused on the chocolate croissant. My husband was interested in the ham and cheddar biscuit. All were absolutely delicious. You can tell when things are well-made. We were also excited to see that they were working with so many other local restaurants. They have stews from Pomegranate Kitchen, milk from Mapleview Farms, and work with fellow downtown eatery Reliable Cheese Co. to create their sandwiches. We will definitely be stopping back by to get a sweet treat or picking up some bread for dinner. Yum! Thanks to Abby on Twitter for pointing us to this new great stop!

What we liked: We loved the high quality of everything they were serving. The croissant was flaky, the biscuit had the most amazing flavorful ham, and the cookies disappeared quickly into my children's mouths. We also love how they work with so many other Durham and Triangle businesses.

What we would change: There's not really much we would change about this delicious stop, except maybe more of their delicious goodies. Oh, and it would also be nice to have indoor seating, but on a nice day, you could always sit at their outdoor tables.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Loaf/102663859807344

Address: 111 Parrish St., Durham, 27701 (You can park on nearby street parking and on the weekends in a lot at the intersection of Mangum and Parrish-I didn't have any luck with that lot on the weekdays.)

Hours: Tuesday-Saturday: 7am-6pm, Saturday 9am-3pm

Photos:

1. yummy pastries

2. bread!

3. Their case of other local goodies

4. The beautiful oven

Three-fer Thursday: Scratch+Main Library Storytime+Duke Park

2012-01-26T19:38:00.000-08:00

Hooray! It's time for another Three-fer Thursday! This time, we're taking a trip to Downtown Durham! It seems that everyday a new great place is popping up downtown, and we're excited to check them all out. This time we're starting off with one of our favorite morning treats at Scratch Bakery. We would park at the Main Library on Roxboro and walk on over because there's not much parking near Scratch and it's only a few minutes walk. Head on in and get a donut muffin for you and the kiddos as well as some coffee for you. (To head from the library to Scratch, head out to Roxboro St. From there we headed diagonally across the courthouse parking lot to Parrish St. Then, we took Parrish to Orange St. where Scratch is. If you don't feel like heading across a parking lot, just head back down South on Roxboro to Main. Then you can take Main to Mangum to Parrish where you'll see Scratch just ahead on Orange St.)

Once you've had your sweet fix, head back over to the library for a storytime of your choice. They have plenty to choose from, or you can just head over to check out their large children's section complete with lots of puzzles, some comfy chairs where you can sit and read, some little tables and chairs, and of course, a great selection of kids books to choose from. Check out their website to find a storytime (http://host4.evanced.info/durhamcounty/evanced/eventcalendar.asp?EventType=ALL&Lib=ALL). There's usually one on most days of the week, so you can probably find one to fit your schedule.

After you've had a little book time, hop back in the car and head a few miles up the road on Roxboro to Duke Park for a little exercise in the great outdoors. If you head North on Roxboro, you'll see signs pointing you toward the left turn that will take you to this park. It has lots of room to run and the largest play structure
with the tallest slides that we've found in town! A great finale to a great morning in Downtown Durham!

When to go: You really could do this Three-fer anytime of day. Scratch has fabulous donut muffins for breakfast but also yummy lunch fare. The Main Library has primarily morning storytimes, but there are some that can be found in the afternoon. Duke Park is great for play anytime.

What it'll cost you: Duke Park is free. The Main Library storytimes are free. The only money you'll have to pay for this Three-fer is for your treat at Scratch. If you stick with the donut muffins, they'll cost you around $2 per muffin.

What to bring: Bring your diaper bag necessities, playground gear, and a stroller for walking from the library to Scratch.

Advisories: If you do attempt this Three-fer, don't forget that Scratch isn't open on Mondays.

Jake's Wayback Burgers

2012-01-24T18:15:00.000-08:00

When we headed to Northgate Mall last week for the awesome MLK celebration we also wandered around the mall a bit and had a bit of fun. Of course, we rode the carousel and checked out some of the ride-on vehicles. Then, we got a bit hungry. That's when we discovered Jake's Wayback Burgers.

What it is: After our stop at the carousel, I remembered hearing that there was a new stop in the Northgate food court that opened last fall, so we headed on over. Jake's Wayback Burgers is your classic burger stop with food served hot when you order. They have burgers including regular burgers and cheeseburgers, garden burgers, and turkey burgers with your choice of toppings, hot dogs again with your choice of toppings, chicken, homemade potato chips, fries, and milkshakes. The kids' meal includes hot dogs, grilled cheese, burgers, chicken fingers, or a BLT.

While it did take a few minutes for our food to be made, it was nice and fresh. The fries were delicious and the burger was tasty, but I have to say that our favorite part was the fancy soda machine, the Coke Freestyle Machine. It has over 100 flavors, and you can select as many of them as you want and mix them together. It was pretty entertaining.

What we liked: Like I said, the fries and the soda machine were our favorite parts. It was also nice to have this fun burger option in the mall so we could enjoy it after a day of fun at Northgate Mall.

What we would change: We thought the potato chips weren't the best, and the few minute wait might make toddlers a bit antsy. However, the wait was worth it for the yummy burgers.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://www.waybackburgers.com/

Address: 1058 West Club Blvd, Durham, NC, 27302

Photos:

1. A view of their food court location

2. The Coke Freestyle Machine

Butterfly Release at the Museum of Life and Science

2012-01-22T19:15:00.000-08:00

We love the Museum of Life and Science, and on our most recent visit we discovered one more reason why it's so fantastic.

What it is: The Museum of Life and Science has a wonderful butterfly pavilion where you can wander around while butterflies flit by in a room filled with beautiful plants, a river, and a few curious birds. It's always one of our favorite places to visit. They have several benches where you can sit and observe the butterflies and try to sit still enough that one will land on you. They also have a glass window where you can watch the butterflies emerge from their cocoons.

After they come out of their cocoons they have to be released and that is where our latest adventure comes in. Everyday at 11am and 3pm one of the museum workers head into the room with the cocoons and collect all of the butterflies into a mesh bag. They then come out into the main pavilion and release the butterflies. When the butterflies first come out of the box, their wings are still damp and not ready to fly, so they need to sit somewhere for a few seconds. Usually, the museum worker holding the bag is happy to take a butterfly and set it on your hand until it is ready to fly away.

Needless to say, my toddler was entranced. While he was still a bit nervous and wouldn't let the butterflies sit on his arm, (he wouldn't have sat that still anyway) he loved to watch the butterflies close up on my arm before they were ready to fly off. It was such a nice, up close and personal experience with the butterflies, and we really enjoyed it.

I can't wait to head back and check out some of the museum's other daily programs. Has anyone been to any other ones?

What we liked: We loved the change to have such close-up interactions with the butterflies! Plus, since they release the butterflies twice a day, there are lots of chances to experience this museum fun.

What we would change: If you happen to be at a release at the same time as a school group it can be a bit crowded.

Website and other important information:

Butterfly release times: 11am and 3pm everyday except Sunday morning

Website: http://www.ncmls.org/

Address: 433 West Murray Avenue, Durham, NC 27704

Photos:

1. The butterfly box

2. One of the butterflies on my hand

3. A few more waiting to take off

Food Truck Friday: Chirba Chirba Dumpling

2012-01-20T17:16:00.000-08:00

It's Friday, so that can only mean one thing: It's time for Food Truck Friday again! Welcome back to our fellow blogger Katie from Discovering the Southern Part of Heaven as she tells us about another great food truck in the area-Chirba Chirba Dumpling.

Thanks to Katie we have also learned where to find Chirba Chirba this weekend. They will be at the first area Food Truck Mash Up this Saturday night at Motorco in Durham-Yum! So, if you can get someone to watch the kiddos, get your tickets and head on down!

I love that the Triangle has such an active Food Truck Scene! I thought it was high time that I start telling you more about them. I checked out the Eno River Farmers' Market on Saturday, and got to try out Chirba Chirba at the same time! Here's what I really liked:

1) The food. I tried the porkedame, their specialty. I have to admit, I'm not really a dumpling person, so I wasn't sure about trying them, but I'm glad I did. They were delicious, steamed pockets of pork and edamame. I would have liked more than 1 dumpling (there are 5 in a serving), but my husband really liked them, and, when it comes to food, he's faster on the draw than I am.

They also have Juicy Buns, Veggie-lings, edamame and sweet sausage. For more details on these menu items, clickhere.

2) The cost. $5.50 for five good sized dumplings. enough said.

3) They are mobile. Intuitive, I know. But really, what isn't to like about a place that you can catch one day at the farmers' market, and another at 3 Cups?

4) It's fun to get such great food from a truck! (I can't wait to try more!)

Want to know where to find them? Check out their website here or follow them on twitter (@chirbachirba).

Oh, and if you are going with a hungry husband, get more than five dumplings. Those things are good!

Nanataco

2012-01-18T18:59:00.000-08:00

What it is: We were so glad when another great restaurant opened up in one of our favorite corners of Durham, just at the intersection of 15-501 and University. Nanataco is a delicious place to get a taco with a variety of regular meat fillings or Nanataco's specialty "dirty meats" much as lamb cheeks or duck. My husband tried the duck while I went with the more traditional fish tacos. The kids' option was a taco with your choice of fillings with rice and beans and a drink for $4, but we split a regular cheese quesadilla between my picky eaters instead. To top it all off we got their guacamole for a pre-lunch treat.

Let me just start by saying that their guacamole was the best guacamole I've had in Durham, even beating out Dos Perros who does a pretty awesome guacamole. When we first got our meals we weren't sure what the kids would eat because the quesadilla was huge, overflowing with cheese. However, my kids realized what was good and eventually they started chowing down. They also enjoyed the chips. My husband and I really enjoyed our entrees and the homemade corn tortillas they were made with. None of our family members were that sold on the rice or beans that came with the meals, I would get an extra helping of the guacamole instead. They also have a really interested relish and condiment bar including things like several different kinds of salsa, cilantro, limes, onion, cucumber with onion, and even more. Nanataco also has milkshakes in flavors such as mexican chocolate and margaritas that I can't wait to head back and try.

What we liked: Like I said, we loved the guacamole. We also like how they really use some different ingredients and do some different things with tacos, but they still have options for kids and people with a less adventurous palate. In addition, they have some nice patio seating for when the weather is nicer and a fun lizard weathervane for the kids to watch. As we've mentioned its proximity to Rockwood Park, Bull City Craft, and Local Yogurt make its location optimal for several hours of fun.

What we would change: As we said, the rice and beans weren't spectacular. Plus, parking is a little tight, but other than that it's a great addition to this little corner of Durham.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://nanataco.com/

Address: 2512 University Dr.

Hours: Tuesday-Sunday: 11am-9pm (Closed Monday)

Photos:

Broad Street Cafe: BSC Kids!

2012-01-16T18:25:00.000-08:00

What it is: We've been wanting to check out this Durham favorite for several years and were fortunate enough to head over this weekend. Broad Street Cafe is a restaurant, bar, and concert spot located, of course, on Broad Street, just North of Duke's East Campus. They have countless fabulous opportunities to check out great music, but on select Sundays at 4:30pm they actually have an opportunity for kids to join in the fun! BSC Kids brings musical entertainment geared toward kids to your family.

This Sunday Baron Von Rumblebuss was the featured group. We went in not quite knowing what to expect. It definitely didn't seem like a kids venue when we walked in. It looked like a restaurant where adults go to eat, drink, and listen to great music, but on this Sunday afternoon it was filled with kids and families crowded at tables, sitting in front of the stage, and standing around in every available space. It was a crowded, but festive atmosphere. Then, the music started, it was definitely kids' music (one song in particular was about the lead singer's "boo-boo"). However, even though it was kids' music, it wasn't too sugar coated. It sounded like fun rock music that I might actually enjoy listening to in the car. Immediately after they started playing, kids started standing up and dancing around. They kept everyone's attention and put on a great show!

When we first walked in we knew we weren't going to find a seat, but that was okay because we weren't planning on eating. We just found a corner with a stool and counter and settled in. The boys didn't know what to think at first because it was a bit louder than they were used to. Then, my oldest started saying something that I thought was "it's too loud", but turns out he was actually saying "down". When I put him down he started dancing around with everyone else. We got the boys a juice from the bar and Dad and I had a cider, and it was quite an enjoyable concert! Now that we know what to expect, we can't wait to head back for more great kids' music that is also fun for the adults!

What we liked: We liked the adult feeling of the venue with the upbeat kids' rock. In looking around, no one was taking themselves too seriously and everyone was just having fun! The event is free although you have to make sure to purchase drinks and food as well as tip to make sure that Broad Street Cafe can continue to offer this free event.

What we would change: It was a bit crowded, so we definitely would have gotten their earlier so we could have found a place to sit or gather closer to the stage.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://www.thebroadstreetcafe.com/

Address: 1116 Broad Street, Durham, NC 27705

Shows are at 4:30 on select Sundays, so you can check their webpage for specific dates.

Photos:

1. Baron Von Rumblebuss performs for a packed house!

Garrett Road Park

2012-01-14T20:26:00.000-08:00

What it is: We've lived in Durham for ten years all together, and I used to drive to work by Garrett Rd. Park across from Jordan High School everyday. While I'd played tennis at its courts, I always wondered what the rest of the park was like. Then, recently, I noticed some new equipment going up as I drove by, so I was definitely curious to check out what was actually there.

Last Saturday morning when the tennis courts were bustling, we headed on over to see what else was there. There are three distinct sections that we noticed at the park. First, there are the tennis courts which are a nice place to play if you can get an open court (which can be tricky on the weekends). Then, there is the trail portion. This trail passes by a lake at the park and connects to the Third Fork Creek Trail which takes you all the way up to Southern Boundaries Park off of MLK. There were plenty of dog walkers heading out when we saw it.

The last part of the park was the part we were most interested in: the picnic shelter and playground area. It was a very weird collection of play structures. They had a tire swing, a bar you could climb on and push around, a net hung between two rocks, and another small rocks to climb. These items were clearly new as well as the mulch underfoot. The playground still had a nice view of the lake which was fenced off to keep kids from running in to take a dip. The picnic shelter was right next to the playground and was clearly not newly renovated, but it did contain several picnic tables and had a grill nearby. Next to the playground was a HUGE, fairly-cleared wooded area. The trees were large and there was plenty of room for kids to run underneath for as long as they wanted. This was actually my favorite part. My boys, however, liked this one older structure off in the woods a little ways that was clearly a remnant of the older playground equipment. It was a ladder that led up into a UFO shaped metal hideout. I remember playing in these when I was little, and my boys had a great time getting up in it.

What we liked: We liked the tennis courts and trail in combination with this playground. We also loved the large wooded area for the kids to run and play in. It was also a nice thought to fence in the lake so kids couldn't jump in.

What we would change: While they do have a nice long fence to separate the park from busy Garrett Rd. it does end if you go far enough up through the trees. So, you would have to make sure your kids didn't wander that far. In addition, when we went in the picnic shelter, we did notice broken glass which was a big negative that day. The fact that it's across from Jordan High School might also mean that you would have high schoolers hanging out there on the weekdays like you do at Hope Valley Baptist Church, but you would have to check that out for yourself.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://www.ci.durham.nc.us/gis_apps/parkapp/park.cfm?selVal=park&ParkNam=Garrett+Road+Park

Address: 6815 GARRETT ROAD 27707

Photos:

1. a view of the woods to frolic in

2. A view of the playground and picnic shelter

3. The tennis courts and trail

4. A view of the lake from the playground

Three-fer Thursday: West Point on the Eno+Chick-fil-A+Goodberries

2012-01-12T20:03:00.000-08:00

For this Three-fer we decided to head up to North Durham. This time we head up Roxboro Rd. to West Point on the Eno to start our day. You can park and hike around the 5 miles of beautiful, wooded trails bordering the Eno River, dip your toes in the river, or even bring your kayak to paddle around. After you're done exploring nature you can head to three historic buildings on the property including the West Point Mill complete with bridge and water wheel that has been restored to functionality. There you can watch the water turn the wheel or pass under the bridge then head inside to check out the inner workings of the mill and even buy some of their stone ground meal or other goodies. These buildings are open 1pm-5pm mid-March thru mid-December.

After your romp on the park, if you don't feel like packing a picnic, head back to Roxboro Rd. and south toward I-85. Not far down the road you will find a Chick-Fil-A for your dining pleasure, always one of my kids' favorite restaurants. After you're finished with your lunch or dinner head next door to the always delicious Goodberries. There you can sit outside and enjoy some delicious frozen custard, perhaps checking out their tasty Carolina Concrete, to finish off this N. Durham Three-fer! If you're feeling in the mood for a different kind of treat you can head a little further south to Pelican's SnoBalls for one of many, many flavors of Sno-Ball. Your choice!

When to go: Since 2 out of 3 of these Three-fer options are outdoors we would check out this option on a day with nice weather.

What it will cost you: West Point on the Eno is free, even admission to any of the historic buildings is free. Chick-fil-A will cost typically around $20 for a family of 4. Goodberries delicious frozen custard will cost you several dollars per dessert.

What to bring: Bring your bug spray and sunblock to the park, as well as your best hiking and wilderness exploring attire. For the rest of the outing, bring your appetite!

Happy Three-fer Thursday! If you have any Three-fers to add to our collection please let us know, and to find your own Three-fer you can look at our always in-progress map to see what is located nearby to where you are or where you would like to go adventure!

Eagle Spur Trail

2012-01-10T18:11:00.000-08:00

We've always headed up to Eno River (http://stircrazymomsofdurham.blogspot.com/2010/03/eno-river-state-park.html) or over to Umstead State Park (http://stircrazymomsofdurham.blogspot.com/2010/09/umstead-state-park.html) when we wanted to do some family hiking, so we were so excited when one of our friends told us about a hiking opportunity in South Durham! We had to check it out!

What it is: The Eagle Spur Trail is a flat trail through marshy woodlands that leads you 2.2 miles to a beautiful jetty of land into Jordan Lake. We headed out one Saturday morning to check it out as a family. We parked on the side of Stagecoach Rd. near its intersection with Hwy. 751, put our youngest son in the pack and headed out on the trail with our friends, also with baby pack. Our oldest son, who is 3, was walking with us. You can tell how this will turn out, can't you? We did not make it the whole 2.4 miles to the beautiful viewpoint of the lake. (However, our resident Stir Crazy Dad has made it before and tells us its absolutely beautiful.)

Even though we didn't make it all the way to the end of the trail, it was still a lovely hike. The wetlands on either side of the trail were fun to look at. The kids loved exploring the pools on either side of the trail as well as the sticks and logs. While it was fairly flat and easy terrain, it was not stroller friendly and just made us feel like we were more out in the middle of nature than the similar and nearby American Tobacco Trail.

What we liked: We loved the little slice of nature only several miles away from our house. We can't wait to head back and actually make it all 2.2 miles down to the lake!

What we would change: This is definitely an important note! Keep in mind that this trail and many parts of the American Tobacco Trail in Wake County are on NC Gamelands. This means that hunting is permitted during hunting season. We did see several hunters using the trail and heard shots fired in the distance. This made me a little nervous. So, in doing a little research online my advice is to check out this gem of a trail in the hunting off-season or on Sundays when hunting is not permitted. In addition, when you do go out on the trail, where bright colors including orange when possible just to be careful.

Website and other important information:

Here are several other reviews of this trail from others who have traveled the entirety of the trail: http://www.ncrailtrails.org/web/trails/eagle-spur, http://www.traillink.com/trail/eagle-spur-rail-trail.aspx

Here's a cool photo of the end of the trail jutting off into the lake: http://www.ncrailtrails.org/web/node/90

How to find it: Look for the trail off of Stagecoach Rd. near it's intersection with Hwy. 751. You will see gates on both sides of the road. The trail to the lake is on the South side of the road.

Photos:

1. Hiking down the trail

2. A view off the side of the trail at the marshy areas

Stroller Skating at Raleigh Winterfest

2012-01-08T17:40:00.000-08:00

What it is: When we heard about this great wintertime event, we just had to go check it out! One of the activities at Raleigh Winterfest is ice skating at their outdoor ice rink in City Plaza in Downtown Raleigh. I wouldn't have thought about heading down there with a 20 month old and a 3.5 year old, but then I heard about stroller skating...that's right...stroller ice skating. On Thursday mornings they open up the rink from 10-11am to strollers. So moms can bring their stroller from home and wheel their little ones around the rink.

I read that the toddler ice skate sizes started at size 9 which was close to my son's size, but I didn't know if he would be able to skate. So, I brought the big double stroller so that both of my boys could sit in the stroller if they needed to, but my oldest son could try skating if he wanted to. It definitely sounded like it could be a disaster, but it turned out to be soooo much fun! The stroller helped prop up both this rusty mom and shaky toddler legs and my youngest just sat and took it all in from the stroller. My oldest son just had the best time and slipped and slided slowly around the rink. I'm tempted to take him back to try again another week before Winterfest is over!

What we liked: We loved that Winterfest thought about including moms with strollers and made a special day just for us! We also loved how friendly and helpful everyone was. There was a skating coach on the ice the whole time and she was great with my older son, leading him around the rink and teaching him a few things about skating. The location was also great with places to eat lunch or get coffee as well as outdoor seating surrounding the rink.

(We also wanted to mention that the wonderful ice skating coach who was on the ice with us actually teaches toddler skating classes in Cary. For more information, check out http://cary.pucksystems.com/page/show/94475-mice-on-ice)

What we would change: Parking threw me off initially because when you first see the rink, all you see are parallel parking spaces that are all full. However, there are several nearby lots including where we parked which was a public lot directly behind the rink with easy access to the rink via a nearby ramp. In addition, it's a bit of a pricey outing at $8 per skater plus the cost of parking, which for us was $4. Keep in mind that you only have an hour to stroller skate so leave plenty of time to get there on time.

Website and other important information:

Dates and times: Raleigh Winterfest ends on January 29, 2012, so hurry on over! Stroller skating is available on Thursday mornings from 10-11.

Website: http://www.godowntownraleigh.com/raleighwinterfest/schedule.htm

Address: The rink is located in the 400 block of Fayetteville St. in downtown Raleigh. Our parking lot was located at the intersection of Wilmington and Cabarrus St. but there were lots of other public parking lots around.

Photos:

(a view of the ice rink with lots of skating mommies)

(My son's adorable little ice skates)

Food Truck Friday: Parlez-Vous Crepe

2012-01-06T18:41:00.000-08:00

Welcome to our first Food Truck Friday! I love the food truck scene in the area, but I haven't been able to get out to as many as I would like. So, we've brought in our wonderful blogger friend Katie from A Southern Part of Heaven to impart her wonderful food truck knowledge every Friday. Thanks so much, Katie! You can check out the original post here: http://www.southernpartheaven.com/2011/06/parlez-vous-crepe.html

So, I married a man from Montreal. A man from Montreal who loves crepes. We are talking intense love. We got married early in the day so that our reception could be brunch, including crepes. (more on my love for brunch another day). He, in fact, makes one mean crepe. I'm certain he is thrilled for me to share that. Really. I. am. Even though he makes a great crepe, his schedule doesn't always allow. Let's face it, with work, a toddler, two cats, and a yard to keep up with, he's busy. oh yeah, and a wife. really busy. We were so disappointed when Crepes Veronique closed! But, we've found our fix, and an incredible fix at that. (it has to be incredible because the man from Montreal, is, well, kind of a crepe snob. will not eat pancakes, must have crepes.) You get the picture.

What is this incredible fix? Parlez-Vous Crepe! We love it! In case you haven't heard of Parlez Vous Crepe, it isn't a restaurant, it is one of our local food trucks! Owned by Jody Argote, who learned all about crepes while living in France, Parlez-Vous Crepe serves both sweet and savory crepes and has a couple of regular locations.

First, let's talk about the sweet and the savory--starting with savory. We tried one with brie, sliced apples, mixed greens and apple butter. There is only one word to describe it: Divine. Now the sweet. Lemon Creme with fresh sliced strawberries. Light. Sweet, but not too. It was perfect. No wonder people stand in line for these things!

Now, location, location, location. You can find them regularly on Thursdays at the Southern Village Farmers' Market across from the Lumina Theater. It's a perfect stop for a light dinner or a sweet treat post-market or pre-movie! Have a hankering for breakfast, brunch, or lunch instead? Find them at Johnny's in Carrboro on Saturdays from 9am-2pm. Those are the regular locations, but they have other stops as well. They will also cater your next event. Check out the website at:http://www.parlezvouscrepe.com/main.htm.

Try them! You will love them!

MLK Celebration at Northgate Mall

2012-01-04T19:21:00.000-08:00

Last year we headed over to Northgate Mall for a fantastic MLK Day celebration hosted by several great Durham organizations including Durham Mothers Club. We had a great time and are so glad that it's back again this year! Here's the information on the event and a link to our post from last year. Hope to see everyone there!

NC Moms Rising, Durham Mothers Club, Carrboro/Chapel Hill Mothers Club, Lango, Northgate Books, and Northgate mall all are sponsoring a birthday party in honor of Dr. King on January 16th, 2012. The party is to celebrate Dr. King and his legacy of equality, justice and service. There will be two readings from the book, Child of the Civil Rights Movement, by author Paula Young Shelton, daughter of a civil rights activist. Ms. Young Shelton will be at the event to read from her book and answer questions about growing up in Atlanta with Dr. King and marching in Selma. There will be crafts and cake for children and families. Also, a voter registration drive will be held for parents.

All participants should bring a nonperishable food item or toiletry to donate to families served by Durham Urban Ministries.

The preschool storytime will take place at 10am followed by crafts and cake, while the elementary aged storytime will take place at 12pm. Ms. Young Shelton will also be available to sign her beautifully illustrated book at Northgate books at 11am and 1pm.

This is Durham community at its finest-lots of great Durham organizations getting together for kids and for a good cause!

Previous Post: http://stircrazymomsofdurham.blogspot.com/2011/01/day-at-northgate-mall-durham-celebrates.html (Keep in mind-several things have changed at Northgate since that post.)

Starbucks

2012-01-03T20:25:00.000-08:00

So, a while ago we wrote a post on a specific Starbucks location in Durham, highlighting the unique features that it had for kids. Unfortunately that Starbucks closed down. So, we stopped in another location today and wanted to let everyone know what we found.

What it is: I had all of these grand plans to get out and go on some big adventure with the kiddos today with the holidays officially back to normal and my husband back at work. However, the weather and toddler colds thwarted us, and we needed a more low key day. So, we decided to stay close to home, but we still wanted to get out of the hose.

So, we stopped by Starbucks. I had always been a little hesitant about going there with the kids. I never knew whether we would be able to find a place to sit or whether it would be kid friendly enough. I am happy to report that it was a great outing, just perfect on this cool day when we wanted to be indoors. We headed in and saw lots of people working busily on their computers, but at the mid-morning time that we stopped by there were plenty of extra tables. They actually had kids' hot chocolates available at only $1.25 for 8 oz. I thought this was a really good deal, and I got a hot chocolate for each boy and a pastry to split as a snack. They also had fruit squeezes and some other kid friendly snacks available for sale. The best part-when you order a kids' hot chocolate, they make sure that it's not as warm, so my kids were able to stick a straw in the top and start drinking right away without burning their tongues. They had a high chair we could pull up so it was a great place to sit and have a nice snack with my kids.

What we liked: I loved the price on the hot chocolates and the fact that they make sure the kids' hot chocolates are cool enough for the kids.

What we would change: Since Starbucks locations are typically small, it would be better to pick a time you think would be less crowded so you can find a spot to sit where the high chair can fit as well.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://www.starbucks.com/

Address: You can search for a location near you on their website, but the one that we went to was in the Renaissance shopping center off of Fayetteville Rd. across the street from Southpoint mall-near Healing Waters Spa and PF Changs.

Terrific Tales Storytime

2012-01-01T18:43:00.000-08:00

The weather was fairly delightful for January today, but in looking at the forecast, it looks like some frightfully cold weather is on its way. So, I thought I would share a fun indoor activity for you on a cold day.

What it is: We love a good storytime, and we've tried to post some of our favorites (http://stircrazymomsofdurham.blogspot.com/p/events-calendar.html) for you to check out and find yours. However, storytimes always seem to change, so please let us know if you discover one you like so we can check it out and tell all our readers about it!

This storytime is at Southwest Library so it would fit in perfectly with our last post on a great Three-fer that includes Southwest Library. On Tuesdays at 10:30 is the Terrific Tales Storytime. We stopped by on Tuesday a few weeks ago and found a great morning activity which can be combined with a trip to the library to check out some books. The storytime, let by Miss Amy who is full of energy and keeps the kids attention, is a mix between stories and rhymes for the kids. Plus, like any great storytime, at the end comes bubbles!

What we liked: We loved Miss Amy's energetic personality. She really worked to keep everyone's attention, and the regulars really seemed to know and participate in the rhymes. Plus, all kids look forward to bubbles!

What we would change: While my 3 year old was completely focused and kept having to creep up closer and closer to better see the book, my busy 18 month old lost focus during the longer stories. I might wait until he's a little older before I bring him back next time.

Website and other important information:

*For any library storytime it is always good to check the Durham Public Library calendar because they do take weeks off occasionally.

Website: http://host4.evanced.info/durhamcounty/evanced/eventcalendar.asp?EventType=ALL&Lib=ALL

Address: Southwest Regional Library, 3605 Shannon Road, Durham, NC 27707

Phone Number: 919- 560-8590

Three-fer Thursday: Southwest Library+Bull Street Gourmet and Market+Tutti Frutti

2011-12-29T19:46:00.000-08:00

One of your favorite features is back again! It is Thursday (at least for a few more hours), so I'm going to tell you about three great places to go in Durham that can be combined for a great day with the kiddos. This time, we had to bring in Hope Valley Square, the shopping center in South Durham that keeps adding new, cool things to do all the time. (Why didn't it have any of these places when I lived there 10 years ago?)

Our morning actually starts just down Shannon Rd. from Hope Valley Square shopping center at Southwest library. It's been newly renovated and is definitely a fun place to head to sit and read and check out books from their expansive kids section. Or you could head over for one of their fabulous storytimes. (We particularly like Terrific Tales with Miss Amy Tuesdays at 10:30 but there are plenty of other offerings listed at http://host4.evanced.info/durhamcounty/evanced/eventcalendar.asp?)

After you sit and peruse the books for a while, you might be getting a bit hungry. So, our next stop is Hope Valley Square for a delicious lunch at one of several great restaurants. We chose Bull Street Gourmet and Market because they just opened, and we are really anxious to have some of their delicious pimento cheese again! They have sandwiches and salads and a kids menu. Or, if you're not that hungry, they have coffee and some pastries. So, you can sit and enjoy your lunch with the kiddos then check out the shopping side of the store. There you can pick up some candy for the kids as a treat for later and a bottle of wine for you, also as a treat for later! However, I would definitely save the candy because we still have one more stop on this Three-fer.

After your delicious lunch, pass by the post office, or mail something if you would like, and walk a couple of storefronts down to Tutti Frutti. Tutti Frutti was voted by our readers as your favorite frozen yogurt stop in the area, so it's the perfect was to end this Three-fer. It's self-serve so you can get as small of a serving as you would like, but the yogurt with your choice of toppings is the perfect way to top off the outing.

Variations: If you are feeling the need to burn off a little energy instead of heading to the library, you could head to Old Chapel Hill Road Park which is just a few miles down the road for a little outdoor playground fun at this brand new Durham park. (However, be forewarned, at the time this post was written the closest parking to the playground is closed so you would have to walk from the main park parking-a bit of a hike). For another variation on the lunch portion of the outing, you could head to Only Burger, Pops Backdoor South, or Rick's Diner's new location all in Hope Valley Square just a few storefronts away from our frozen yogurt treat. If you can think of other fun variations to add in, please let us know!

When to go: While we typically would head to the library in the morning, then stop off for lunch,but you could also do this Three-fer in the afternoon and follow up the library with some dinner (keep in mind Bull Street closes early on the weekends. We recommend finding a storytime at the library that fits your family and working around that for this outing.

What it'll cost you: The library is free (unless you have overdue books like I do occasionally). Bull Street's meals are between $7 and $10 for adults and $4.99 for the kiddos. Tutti Frutti charges based on weight, so you're looking at about 30 cents per ounce. We find it usually ends up being cheaper than many of our dessert options.

What to bring: typical diaper bag necessities, library card, bag for checked out books, appetite and sweet tooth

Happy Three fer Thursday, and if you have an idea for a Three-fer that we haven't thought of yet, please let us know!

Happy Holidays from the Stir Crazy Moms

2011-12-24T19:28:00.000-08:00

We hope everyone is having a great holiday this year no matter how you are celebrating. As the stocking sit happily bulging on the mantle and the children are busy dreaming of sugar plums upstairs in their beds, I just wanted to take a minute to wish everyone a happy holiday and a lovely new year!

We have had a wonderful year thanks to our fabulous readers at Stir Crazy Moms. We've had a great time bringing you information about all the fun to be had in Durham and around the area with your kids. We've loved hearing from all of you, so please keep your comments coming. We certainly don't know everything that goes on in the area, and your help keeps the blog going.

This year we've had contributions from several new bloggers and always welcome contributions from you. So, if you'd like to write a post or two just let us know. We've also had 12 awesome giveaways from great local businesses. Keep reading for more great giveaways in the new year, and if you'd like to give away something, just let us know! We've gained more followers, fans, and friends and we are thankful for every one! Posts keep coming and we are continually amazed at how much there actually is to do around here. We're looking forward to updating some things on the site with the new year, so if you know of anything you'd like us to add please let us know.

This had really been a labor of love-we love our kids and we love Durham. Thanks for everything! We will not take a few days off to enjoy Christmas, and we'll see all of you wonderful readers back before the New Year!

The Mad Hatter Bakeshop and Cafe

2011-12-21T12:48:00.000-08:00

While you're out doing all of your holiday celebrating, light watching, and shopping, you might need a little refreshment. So, we thought we'd bring you this report about The Mad Hatter.

What it is: The Mad Hatter is a delicious little bakery and cafe right next door to Duke's East Campus and under a mile from other great kids stops like Playhouse Toys, The Regulator Bookshop, Blue Corn Cafe, or Elmo's Diner. When you first walk in you can see a display of delicious little cookies and brownies that are perfect for a quick sweet treat or snack. Around the corner you can find delicious cakes and cupcakes which can be made to order for anyone. If you're in the mood for a little more food you can also order delicious breakfasts, lunches, or brunches with items like sandwiches, wraps, salads, and much more.

On my most recent stop, we were just in the market for a sweet treat to bolster us in the middle of some marathon errand running. The cheesecake brownie that we found was heavy, sweet, and completely decadent-perfect for mommy and delicious for my son as well. We've also ordered custom order birthday cakes from them in the past and they have been delicious as well. We haven't sampled the mealtime fare? Has anyone sampled it?

What we liked: We love the pastries! Every sweet thing that we have tried from The Mad Hatter has been delicious!

What we would change: We tried to sit down to enjoy our cheesecake brownie after we purchased it, but seating was on a first come first serve basis and there was no room. We were there at about 11 on a weekday and the seats were full of people working on computers either by themselves or in groups. That is probably a result of it's proximity to Duke. I would imagine it would be really crowded on a weekend morning. Has anyone checked it out then? Maybe the time to go would be when students are out for holidays and the summer.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://www.madhatterbakeshop.com/

Address: 1802 W. Main St, Durham, 27705

Phone Number: (919) 286-1987

Hours: Monday-Saturday: 7am-9pm, Sunday Brunch 8am-3pm

The Red Hen

2011-12-19T20:42:00.000-08:00

Okay, attention all you last minute holiday shoppers...this post is for you! Actually, it's for anyone looking for another great place to buy kids items and clothing at reasonable prices.

What it is: The Red Hen is a resale store that recently moved from Carrboro to its new home in University Mall. I was in Chapel Hill the other day, had to head in to check it out, and was glad I did. They had clothing for girls and boys, a handful of toys, a good selection of shoes, and quite a large maternity section in the back. I'm sure the selection varies a little bit because it's a resale store, but I'm sure those sections remain fairly constant. In addition, they had a few new toys and a large area for kids to play next to the dressing rooms.

I headed in not looking for anything in particular. However, I needed one more toy for my son under the tree. I spotted a ride on alphabet train. It in great condition-they had contained all the extra pieces in a plastic bag with a nice ribbon, and the price was awesome! While they might not have the best selection, if you can find an item you want, the price is definitely right.

The Red Hen is a little different than a typical consignment store. They buy the items outright from the sellers. You can check out their website for specific details on this process.

What a great addition to University Mall!

What we liked: We loved the fact that it is a resale store where you can not only find good quality, great bargains, you can sell your own items to make a little money of your own. Plus, they gave me a reward card where you can get $20 off if you spend $200 in the store, not a bad deal.

What we would change: As a result of the resale aspect of the store, selection varies, and just because you find something one day, you may not find it the next.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://theredhen.com/

Address: The University Mall, 201 South Estes Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Hours: Monday-Saturday: 9am-6pm, Sunday 1pm-5pm

(This Stir Crazy Mom should have a new camera under the tree, so stay tuned for more pictures.)

Santa at Southpoint Mall

2011-12-17T20:13:00.000-08:00

What it is: It's definitely a tradition with our family to go see Santa at the mall every year. I love to look back at pictures of me from my childhood wearing all manner of frilly dresses sitting on Santa's lap with my sister. So, I have continued that tradition with my boys. This year, we headed back to Southpoint to visit Santa at the mall, but there are many other options in town. (We'll get to those later.)

We initially stopped by on the weekend, but the line was far too long. It stretched all the way around the display and people looked like they had been in line a LONG time. They had camped out with activities and snacks for their kids. We weren't quite up for that, so we decided to head back on a weekday. This time, the line was MUCH better. It looked pretty short, but it still took longer than I thought.

Once we got to the front of the line we were ushered in front of Santa. I was trying to get both of my boys on Santa's lap, but after much screaming, I realized my youngest son would have none of it. However, they did let me take all the snapshots I wanted of my oldest with Santa. The big guy handed the boys some coloring books as we left and we were done. Afterward, we could have stuck around to wait and see the professional pictures that they had taken and purchased some, but we headed off instead.

What we liked: While I'd heard rumors that they weren't going to allow us to take our own pictures this year and the signs said something to that effect, they didn't mind and we were able to capture the moment ourselves. It was nice that they let the kids sit on Santa's lap without charging just for the experience. However, it was also nice that you could purchase the professional pictures if you wanted. In addition, there were signs offering pet pictures with Santa on given nights. That would be a nice option for anyone who's furry friend needed a little visit with St. Nick. :)

What we would change: The lines are always pretty painful, so I would definitely recommend a weekday. In addition, I felt like everyone involved could have been a little more helpful and hands-on with the whole process. They just stood back and didn't give us much guidance at most times.

Website and other important information:

Website: We know that there are so many options for your mall Santa visit, so we wanted to give you information on them all. Head to http://durham.macaronikid.com/#axzz1gr8duyfw for information about when and where you can find Santa including information on Santa at Southpoint.

December Giveaway Winners!

2011-12-15T15:47:00.000-08:00

This is fun! This time I get to announce 4 winners to the December giveaway! The winners are:

*Pampering Basket-Brandi Miller Almario
*Baby Care Basket-Mimosaflame
*Sample Basket #1-Too Much Good
*Sample Basket #2-Melissa Weeks

If any of these lucky names are you...just send us an e-mail at scmomsgroup@gmail.com and we will get you your wonderful basket. Thanks again to Andrea and Arbonne! Have a Happy Holidays and look for more great giveaways in the new year!

California Pizza Kitchen

2011-12-13T17:59:00.000-08:00

We have been to Southpoint Mall countless times with the kids. However, we hadn't been to this little stop since before we had kids. So, we thought it was high time to check it out again.

What it is: California Pizza Kitchen is a restaurant specializing in pizzas with unique and different toppings. It's located in the outdoor section of Southpoint Mall. We headed on over after a little play time at the play area one weekend morning. Our group had three toddlers, two of which required high chairs, and one infant, and they easily accommodated us with little wait in a nice booth in the back with lots of room for twitchy toddlers to stretch their legs. They gave us crayons and a kids' menu with activities to do and things to color. The menu selection for the grown ups was filled with pizzas, pastas, and salads. We selected the BBQ chicken pizza and the thai chicken pizza, our two favorites from our pre-kid outings.

The kids menu was also nice. We ordered a mac and cheese and a pizza to split for our little ones as well as a side of fruit which you can add on for $1. When the mac and cheese came we realized we definitely didn't need to order two meals. The mac and cheese could have fed the whole family! Plus, the waiter offered to bring the kids' food out before the adults which is always a nice touch and keeps the toddlers from completely melting down. The meal was finished with another nice touch: they took our plates in the back to put the food in to-go containers when we asked-not necessary, but a nice touch.

What we liked: We liked the portion size of the kids menu and the add-on options like fruit and edamame (which I wish my toddlers would eat). We also liked how they were familiar in dealing with small children and knew what we needed-like bread to start the meal, crayons, and our toddler food brought out first.

What we would change: Our meal ended up being fairly expensive for one of our family meals out. However, this would have been helped had we only ordered one kids' meal which definitely would have been enough.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://www.cpk.com/

Phone Number: (919) 361-4200

Address: 6910 Fayetteville Rd Ste 154 Durham ·(at Southpoint Mall)

Glazed Expectations

2011-12-11T18:16:00.000-08:00

So, it's become a holiday tradition to take my children to a paint-it-yourself pottery place and make ornaments for all of the grandparents. This year was no different. So they might be a little bit young, but we still enjoyed ourselves and came home with lovely handmade gifts. I can't wait to continue this yearly tradition and watch and the kids are able to do more and more painting themselves each year.

What it is: This year we found a new spot to head to in order to make our masterpieces. This was Glazed Expectations in Carrboro. It was a little tricky to find on the rainy afternoon that we headed down. It's tucked away in an office-type building, and in the pouring rain, it was a little hard to find. Once we made it inside, it was warm and cozy and such a nice contrast from the cold rain outside.

They were having a birthday party the day we headed over so when we walked in we saw a table full of young kids, probably 4 or 5, all with aprons, anxiously awaiting the opportunity to pick out their paint colors and get started. It seemed like a great idea for a birthday party to us. However, a party was not our mission on this day. We were there to pick out ornaments. They had many ceramic items lining the walls from which we could choose, ranging from inexpensive to way out of our price range. We headed to a nice assortment of Christmas ornaments and picked out those we would paint for their grandparents. (Keep in mind at this point I definitely kept my 18 month old in his stroller to keep him from finding something breakable.)

After we picked our ornaments we were able to walk up to a wall filled with an assortment of paint colors and select our favorites. I was impressed with the selection and my oldest son and his friend LOVED the glitter paints. They had acrylic and glaze options so you could leave it there to have it fired or just paint it and take it home. We chose the take-it-home option-it makes it much easier for busy families. We then headed back to the table and the boys got to painting. While the painting itself was quick, they liked what they did and had fun, especially when my oldest got to mix paints together on his palette when he was done. While it was a bit stressful for me as the parent of young toddlers in a pottery studio (can you say-"bull in a china shop"?) a good time was had by all, and we made beautiful ornaments for our family.

The studio also offers summer camps and classes as well as birthday parties.

What we liked: We liked how kid-friendly the studio was. Unlike some of our previous experiences, they really seemed to welcome our children there. I also loved their huge paint selection which gave us so many fun colors to choose from. They seemed prepared for kids and happy to have them there. It was also nice to have the opportunity to take the ornaments home right after we made them instead of having to leave them there to be fired and pick them up later.

What we would change: As I said earlier, it can be difficult to take little ones to a pottery studio. You have to constantly keep your eye on them to keep them from breaking something or painting where they shouldn't. Plus, they finish their painting very quickly. While our one- and three- year olds were finished extremely quickly, the other family at the table had four- and six- year old sons and they had amazing attention spans and focus on their creations. In addition, as with other pottery studios in the area, this studio charges a sitting fee of $6 dollars for each child. While this isn't much if you do multiple pieces, when you just do one small ornament, it really increases the price.

Website and other important information:

Hours: Check the website for hour as they change seasonally and with holidays

Website: http://www.glazedexpectations.com/

Phone Number: 919-933-9700

Address: 205 W. Main St, Suite 104, Carrboro NC, 27510

Photos:

1. The wall of paints

2. The set up on the tables

3. I thought these were cool...you can paint pottery and put photos on it!

December Giveaway-Arbonne Gift Baskets

2011-12-09T10:13:00.000-08:00

Happy December! I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season. While my family is having a great time this December, I'm also feeling incredibly busy. Tomorrow is the Santa Train, then making homemade Christmas presents and buying presents for the preschool teachers this weekend. There's a lot to do and not enough time to get it all done.

Anyway, we thought we would help our lovely readers make this season a little more relaxing with our December giveaway. Andrea Hirth, one of Durham's local mom Arbonne representatives, is offering several Arbonne gift baskets which you can win for a little much needed pampering for yourself or give as a gift. Here's the best part. We're not just offering one gift basket we're offering 4! Thanks Andrea!

Arbonne itself is a company that sells skin care products based on botanical principals. Here's a description of the four gift baskets from Andrea and Arbonne! The first basket is a pampering basket including FC5 Cooling FOot Cream, Unwind Bath Salts, and Ginger Citrus Sugar Scrub. Andrea uses these products at her Foot Spa Girl's Night In parties! The next basket is a Baby Care Basket including ABC Herbal Diaper Rash Cream as well as Hair and Body Wash. The final two smaller sampler baskets will include FC5 Shampoo and Conditioner, RE9 Anti-Aging Products, and some other goodies.

If you'd like to win one of these fabulous baskets simply comment on this post on facebook or the blog. We'd love to hear about your favorite thing to do during this time of year with your family. Then, we'll randomly pick one winner for each basket. You will have until Wednesday, December 14 at midnight to enter. Enjoy!

If you'd like to contact Andrea about purchasing or finding our more about Arbonne products just e-mail her at ahirth@myarbonne.com or visit her website at http://andrea.myarbonne.com.

Bull Street Gourmet and Market

2011-12-06T19:15:00.000-08:00

The Hope Valley Square Shopping Center is quickly becoming one of my favorite shopping centers in Durham. It has been recently renovated and with the renovations came Pops Backdoor South, Ricks, OnlyBurger, and Tutti Frutti. Now, you can add Bull Street Gourmet and Market to that list.

What it is: Bull Street Gourmet and Market is a combination gourmet and specialty food store and a cafe. My son and I stopped by the other day and found a great little addition to the shopping center. The gourmet foods section is not large, but there are lots of yummy items to catch your eye. There is a wall of candy with lots of unique goodies starting at prices as low as 10 cents, perfect for your kids sweet tooth. My son was especially eyeing the gourmet lollipop stand. Then, across from the candy section is the wine section, perfect for the parents. A little further back is an area with lots of gourmet sauces and other goodies. Then, in the back of the store is a refrigerated case with gourmet sodas and some refrigerated dip including their fantastic pimento cheese spread which I sampled.

The other side of the store was seating for their cafe. Their menu included lots of delicious looking salads, sandwiches and breakfast items. They also have coffee and some pastries. They have a kids menu with selections such as a PB&J, BLT, and other kid-friendly items.

What we liked: We loved the candy section with little cheap items like the 50 cent chocolate flavored straws for milk that we bought as a treat for my sons. It would be a great place to stop after a trip to Southwest library for a little treats or lunch. I can't wait to head back and try the pimeto cheese. Plus, the spread was reasonably priced at $2.99 for the tub.

What we would change: The candy and other gourmet treats were all fairly grabbable, so I might bring the most grabby toddlers in a stroller. :)

Website and other important information:

Website: http://bullstreetdurham.com/index.php

Address: 3710 SHANNON RD, DURHAM, NC, 27703

Photos:

1. a view from the doorway

2. candy, candy, candy

3. The cafe section

Mmmmm, wine

Walmart

2011-12-04T20:18:00.000-08:00

What it is: That's right, I'm posting on one of the most widely known stores in the while country. I know everyone knows that Walmart is a huge supercenter store that sells anything that you could possibly need from groceries to car parts to baby essentials. Why then should I include them if you already know about them? I just wanted to let you know about the new location that just opened up off of Martin Luther King near its intersection with Roxboro. We stopped by the other day and wanted to fill everyone in on what we found.
When we first walked in, we noticed that it just felt smaller than some of the other Walmarts we had been in. However, while it felt smaller it seemed to have all of the sections that we were used to in a Walmart, including a fairly large grocery section.

What we liked: The new location makes it more convenient for lots of shoppers. However, our biggest draw in going to Walmart is that there are just some items there that are so much cheaper than other stores. Our biggest find recently has been the GoGo Squeeze portable applesauces. My toddlers both LOVE these and they're so convenient. At Harris Teeter, we pay $2.99 for a four pack, but at Walmart you can get them for $2.29. Savings like that make it worthwhile for me to head over. Has anyone else found any other items that are a really great bargain at Walmart?

In addition, we've also been stopping in at the Walmart in the New Hope Commons Shopping Center at the intersection of 15-501 and I-40. If you haven't been in there in a while, you might want to give them another try because the store is recently renovated and much more pleasant to shop in now.

What we would change: Walmart is what it is. It's not a local store, and it doesn't have interesting, unique local items. Plus, it can be hard for you to find what you need in such a big store. In addition, I was wondering if the smaller size of the newer Walmart might affect its selection in certain areas. Has anyone found this to be true?

Website and other important information:

Address: There are 3 Durham Walmart locations including their newest store:
1. 5450 New Hope Commons Drive
2. 1525 Glenn School Road
3. 1010 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard

Website: www.walmart.com/

Top 5 Frozen Yogurt Shops

2011-12-02T18:14:00.000-08:00

This has been one of our most closely contested polls yet. Since there are so many new frozen yogurt places popping up, we had to ask you, our wonderful readers, for your favorites. Here are your results:

1. With 38% of the vote Tutti Frutti is your favorite frozen yogurt place in the area. It's a self serve frozen yogurt spot located off of Shannon Rd. in the newly renovated shopping center with Only Burger, Ricks, the post office, and Pops Backdoor South. So, there are plenty of reasons to head that way!

2. In a close second place with 30% of the vote is Local Yogurt. This yogurt spot specializes in local ingredients and a unique assortment of toppings. It's located in the area of town near Q-Shack, Rockwood Park, and Little Gym so there are plenty of places to combine with a trip to this sweet stop.

3. Moonberries comes in third place with 16% of the vote. That's pretty impressive considering this self-serve frozen yogurt stop really just opened. It's located near Target by Southpoint so those in South Durham can enjoy some frozen yogurt goodness.

4. Fourth place with 7% of the vote is another South Durham stop, Sweet Frog. For this yummy self-serve stop, head to the Southpoint area in the shopping center with Babies R Us, McAllisters, World Market, and Portrait Innovations.

5. And last but not least with 6% of the vote is YoPop our one entry from Chapel Hill. This self-serve location in Chapel Hill near MLK can satisfy your sweet tooth if your over in that area.

Thanks so much for everyone's contributions to this poll-we had the most responses we've ever had! Stay tuned and please help us out with our next poll soon!

Tornado Follow-up: Part 2

2011-12-01T17:31:00.000-08:00

**Here is the second part of Lynne's follow-up to her post last week about the tornado recovery efforts in Stonybrook. This entry is from our friends at Discovering the Southern Part of Heaven. Thank you so much to Lynne for sharing her story with us!

Today's post comes from Lynne, one of those who volunteered on the ground in Stonybrook. This post picks up where last week's post on the Tornado Follow-up in Stony Brook left off.

We'd like to again thank our friends at Notes from a Mom in Chapel Hill, the Stir Crazy Moms of Durham, and Tarheel Takeout, for helping to spread the word about disaster relief related to NC's tornado outbreak in April 2011.

empty lots remain

Hopefully you’ve seen the first part of this story. Writing and talking about these events still humbles me. They were the hardest words I’ve ever needed to write. Part II is an update. So if you helped out after the tornadoes or even helped spread the word to others, keep reading. I wanted to shout from the rooftops all the good that has come since April 16, 2011 and how Stony Brook looks now. I also wanted to highlight one family who still needs prayers, support, and a helping hand. I don’t do this for any reason other than to say that just when you think life is bad, maybe it is just our perspective that needs tweaking.

After, when most others have forgotten, I wondered what happened. So often we donate immediately, then go on with our lives in our microcosm of family and close friends. I couldn’t do that. Life didn’t throw a water pipe burst at me two years ago to have me walk away now. I remembered how I felt and how much I relied on friends and my community for guidance, housing, and – let’s face it – money. Most residents in Stony Brook didn’t have insurance when they lost everything. Try telling that to a child, that their bed and their favorite toys are no more. I remember my two-year-old refusing to sleep in his crib in our new apartment for 3 weeks because he wanted to go “home”.

So continues my desire to aid the Stony Brook families, to hasten their return to normalcy whether at Stony Brook or another place where they create a new normal. There are still many families receiving aid, although the mobile home community looks better than it did before. A few sites sit empty, a reminder of the tragedy. But the fall leaves on the remaining trees paint a multi-hued picture of home for current residents.

(CIR - Centro Internacional de Raleigh - deserves complete credit for helping me reconnect and tell the following story). See more about this fabulous, compassionate organization here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TC_giQI3YsM

One particular family has stayed with Stony Brook and kept positive and faithful through their ups and downs. The home of J, C, and their two-month-old has taken repeated nature-related beatings in the past 7 months. They are fixing their home for the third time. First, during the tornadoes they had severe roof damage. They live behind the area where those precious children died. Second, after Hurricane Irene in August, a branch pierced the roof and split the trailer, reaching all the way to the floor. Most recently, during a cold morning awake early with a newborn, a fire ignited underneath their home in its ductwork. The smoke and fire damaged the HVAC system, floor, external parts, and walls. They are repairing bit by bit (without insurance) while also paying rent on the land, renting another mobile home, and saving for a new HVAC system and the inspections that will make their home livable again. They invited me into their home, proud of their work but aware that there are still huge hurdles to undertake. This family works hard and will make it, because they have done so before. But it makes this writer wonder how much hardship one family can be dealt.

I was only one volunteer, and I am still only one. I had the privilege of connecting to this blog (Discovering the Southern Part of Heaven) and my friend Katy at her blog, Stir Crazy Moms, to help spread the word. These blogs and the Durham Mothers Club collected donations, clothes, and money and funneled volunteers to the site. So begins my friendship with this blog’s author (KV) in fact, which I believe happened for reasons difficult for my earthly brain to Brook because we had one goal. So please, if this speech does nothing else, let it connect you with what’s important.

From my commitment to Stony Brook has come new friends and a new world of understanding of what it means to truly help someone. I know that some groups will be the victim’s voice when his or hers isn’t loud enough. I take comfort in that as I hug my family tonight. Life throws unpredictable events at us, and I choose to embrace them and see the good in every situation, because I know that I am blessed. I truly feel connected to each and every person that helped in Stony ant in life, and let it make a difference in someone else’s life.

If you would like to help the family mentioned above or any of the other families still recovering at Stony Brook North Mobile Home Park, you can reach me at lakunc@yahoo.com. I’d love your feedback via the comments section, and please forgive me for this article’s length!

any photos and names included were taken and printed with permission.

Cares Child Aviation Restraint System

2011-11-30T18:40:00.000-08:00

Tis the season of holiday travels, and we just got back from a long journey to visit our family. The journey included several plane flights including one that I had to make by myself with my two boys. I had to tell everyone about this discovery that made my journey SOOO much easier! I don't normally include things like this for the blog, but it was so helpful I wanted to let everyone know.

What it is: I was debating whether or not I would bring car seats on the planes for my boys to sit in. I had tried this once before and lugging the car seat onto the airplane where I didn't feel like it fit securely in his seat what extremely difficult. However, I knew my boys, especially my youngest wiggle worm needed something in addition to the airplane seat belt. Than, I stumbled upon the CARES harness. Apparently it's the only FAA approved harness, and it is made specifically for airplanes. It is a simple harness that you can fit in the diaper bag. When you get on the plane, you can slip it over your child's seat and it turns the seat and existing seat belt into a five-point harness like you would find on your car seat. It's easy to install and then your child is cozy and protected just like they are in a car seat!

What we liked: I didn't have to lug my car seat onto the plane! The harness was easy to install, much easier than installing the car seat in the airplane seat. Plus, they don't even charge the baggage fees to check car seats!

What we would change: They were fairly expensive to purchase. However, I feel like it was definitely worth it! In addition, airplane tickets are expensive, and you must purchase a seat for your child in order to use the harness.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://www.kidsflysafe.com/

Carolina Rollergirls

2011-11-29T08:18:00.000-08:00

What it is: Last week, we took our toddlers to see roller derby. It wasn't an obvious choice for kids, and perhaps the sport was a little over the head of my youngest son, but my older son was fascinated as, I think, most older kids would be. Carolina Rollergirls is a roller derby team that plays in Dorton Arena at the state fairgrounds. If you've never been to a derby competition, it's definitely a lot of fun. I don't know how adept I will be at explaining the rules, but fortunately, your tickets come with a program describing the rules. As far as I can understand, the girls on the team skate around the track. Then, one member from each team tries to pass as many members of the other team as she can and earns points for doing so. You can either sit in the stands or bring folding chairs and sit down on the floor for a closer view of the action. (We chose the stands to keep little toddlers from running out onto the track.) They had a concession stand selling typical concession stand food and a couple of bake sale table to raise money for breast cancer research.

What we liked: It is a sporting event, and like all sporting events they're interesting for kids to watch and be exposed to. I think this would be perfect for a girl that's a little older, about 5 and older, to see. You don't get as much of an opportunity to see women in sporting events with crowds cheering them on. In Roller Derby you get to see strong women which I think is a good thing for young girls and young boys to see.

What we would change: For younger toddlers with little attention spans it can be difficult to keep them focused. My youngest spent most of the time climbing the stairs of Dorton Arena finding every dirty corner he could to stick his hands in. In addition, some of the names of the players and attire can be a bit mature, but it was still a family-friendly event with lots of kids in the stands.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://www.carolinarollergirls.com/

Address: DDorton Arena, State Fairgrounds, Raleigh

Ticket Prices: $5-10

Photos:

(A close up view of the action)

(A view of the whole competition)

Pullen Park

2011-11-26T19:47:00.000-08:00

What it is: We love this park in Raleigh! It has been closed for renovations for a couple of years and this past weekend it opened back up, complete with fabulous new improvements. We decided to head on over and see what it was like. When our family arrived the first thing we noticed was the wooded fields interspersed with picnic shelters, a great place for a midday picnic lunch with space for toddlers to run. Our destination, however, was the renovated area. We walked up and saw the new playground. It was great! It had two distinct areas, one for toddlers and one for older children. Both areas were interesting, full of different and fun play structures. They had rope nets to climb, sandboxes, and even a few see saws! We wish we had more time to explore the playgrounds because the kids could have spent days exploring it all.

Afterward we went and bought tickets for the train. That's right, they have a little train who's track encircles the park, similar to the Museum of Life and Science train. Tickets cost only $1 per person! In there's addition, the tickets are only $1 for the kiddie boat rides near the train as well as the newly renovated indoor carousel! Very reasonable! In addition, tickets were only a little more to enjoy the paddleboats on the nearby pond. In addition, the hours of these attractions were weekdays from 10am-6pm, so there's plenty of time to stop by and enjoy everything. We only took the train, so we're looking forward to heading back and checking out the other fun.

While we were buying tickets, we noticed the other more practical amenities like the heated restrooms and the new cafe. We were a little bummed that we had brought our lunch because the cafe looked WAY above and beyond your typical park concession stand. Everything they had looked well thought out and yummy,

including their Vietnamese-style Bahn-mi sandwiches and hummus as a healthy snack.

What we liked: We loved all of the new renovations and can't wait to head back on a weekday when it's not crowded with grand-reopening visitors! We especially liked the cost of the tickets. At $1 per person, it's a reasonable expense on most park outings! In addition, the playground had so much to do, and the cafe looked like it had a great selection. Plus, the parking was easy and right next to the park.

What we would change: The only thing we would change is the fact that it is in Raleigh, a little bit of a hike from Durham, but well worth it!

Website and other important information:

Website: http://www.raleighnc.gov/arts/content/PRecRecreation/Articles/PullenPark.html

Address: 520 Ashe Ave, Raleigh, NC 27606

Hours: 10am-6pm Daily

Photos:

1. One view of the newly renovated playground

2. The train

3. The carousel

4. A view of the paddle boat lake

4. The toddler playground

Thanksgiving 2011-Tornado Follow-Up

2011-11-24T19:08:00.000-08:00

**I hope everyone is having a lovely Thanksgiving. We wanted to pass along this post from Discovering the Southern Part of Heaven for an update on the recovery efforts from the Tornado this April. Thanks to all local blog readers for your generosity and thanks to Lynne for sharing.

As we celebrate today with family and friends, we are very aware that so many in our community are still struggling to rebuild from the storm of April 16, 2011. We are especially thankful for the readers who contributed an overwhelming number of toys and books to the drive started by the Durham Mom you will read about below, and our friends at Notes from a Mom in Chapel Hill, the Stir Crazy Moms of Durham, and Tarheel Takeout, for helping to spread the word about that drive.

Today's post comes from Lynne, one of those who volunteered on the ground in Stonybrook.

East Coast weather isn’t known to spawn a large number of tornadoes. I used to watch the Midwest in awe and fear when tornadoes devastated entire towns. But my perspective changed April 16, 2011 when a series of tornadoes (at least 8, possibly more) tore across an area of NC that spanned hundreds of miles. Just in my state the tornadoes killed 23 people; the weather system was blamed for a total of 43 deaths across 7 states. This “family of tornadoes” were all part of one thunderstorm system that created new rotating updrafts in succession. Almost no warning, no sirens, no time to react.

On that Saturday afternoon, tornadoes had literally traveled all around my house (as close as 10 miles away). I felt that I was left undamaged but with a purpose. Like other concerned citizens, I watched and read everything I could online and on television. I was glued to social media and the Internet, every story pulling at my heartstrings to urge me – and others - to contribute. This is the long way of saying I became involved with Stony Brook North Mobile Home Park in Raleigh, NC.

Stony Brook was the site where three children (3, 8, and 9) were killed instantly when a tree fell on their mobile home, while they were huddled in a closet. A fourth child, a 6 month-old girl in her mother’s arms, died a few days later. Over half of the 200 homes were deemed unlivable, due in part to the large trees that made the area so quaint in happier times. The sad fact that so much devastation occurred in NC left relief organizations scampering to spread themselves over a huge area, and Stony Brook needed more help. Many residents did not speak enough English to navigate the FEMA paperwork or had no family nearby (in a state of shock after such an event, I doubt even I could decipher federal documents without assistance). In stepped volunteers mobilized with large trucks, manpower, and, most importantly, desire. I met many new people from different walks of life that day. I must mention their work because without it Stony Brook would still be floundering. What they did – and continue to do – is selfless and makes me proud to live in the Triangle. A list of the volunteer organizations I worked with is at the bottom, although it is not a complete list.

Volunteer champion and a fellow Durham Mothers Club member , Kim Johnson is featured here to explain how residents from Stony Brook received aid.

If you’re reading this blog (or have been funneled here through others), chances are you also identify with these events. First, I must back up and explain myself. I had the privilege to visit the Stony Brook site twice: once on Good Friday 6 days after the tornadoes and another almost 7 months later (early November). This part of the story starts it all. Friends have asked me what it was like. It is incredibly hard to describe. The images from my first visit: a soggy, rainy holiday in April, are forever burned into my mind. The makeshift tents formed a small shantytown to protect the donated clothes and the valuable computers used to log in residents’ damages. The smell of pine from on-site tree mulching was overwhelming. The scene was so horrific and depressing that I only took one picture. ONE. It was of a twisted, partially fallen tree. I couldn’t bring myself to photograph houses, or people, or the general scene. But I didn’t need a picture, because I knew I would never forget it. I felt it improper to be taking pictures when a fellow human’s possessions were in their front yards and the homes that were left had huge gashes, trees splintering the insides, and broken glass on the ground.
This YouTube video will show you a glimpse of the aftermath.

These groups were at Stony Brook solving problems and connecting families with resources all over the Triangle.

Centro Internacional de Raleigh (I will talk more about CIR and the great work they’re doing with over 100 families at Stony Brook in Part II).

The NC Baptist Men (includes women, too):

Multiple faith based groups

Countless interpreters from Wake County and private organizations

The American Red Cross, Triangle chapter

Countless other groups provided food and support so that the process of identification and support could move swiftly. I especially need to thank the Starbucks on Capital Blvd near Brentwood Rd who donated and gladly refilled huge containers of drinks and stuffed bags full of pastries for residents and volunteers. I feel horrible that I have not said “thank-you” until now. That day I felt that so many others were behind me, taking away the cold wind gusts and pelting rain while I tried to do my part.

Note: Part II of our story will continue next week with an update on Stony Brook now, plus a look at one family and how they are still putting the pieces back together after a series of hardships that began with the tornado.

any photos and names included were taken and printed with permission.

To help with ongoing efforts, please contact Centro Internacional de Raleigh.

The New and Improved Kidzu

2011-11-21T18:41:00.000-08:00

What it is: We've already told you about Kidzu before, the great children's museum in Chapel Hill full of hands-on fun for kids to explore. However, several months ago, Kidzu closed to begin construction on their new larger location. This past weekend, they finally opened up their temporary location in University Square shopping area on Franklin St., and we are thrilled that they are back!

Basically, Kidzu has most of the same exhibits that they had before from the blocks to the large kitchen area. So, check out our previous post for all of the details on what they have. There were several new additions including a row of animal puppets along the wall, a farm area, and and expanded drawing and art area.

What we liked: We love the fact that Kidzu is back! It's always a great rainy day or any day option. I also liked that the area for younger kids was physically separated from the rest of the museum, so the older kids wouldn't be as tempted to join in on their fun!

What we would change: With the large windows on one side, we felt like it got a bit hot in the museum. However, the windows did bring in a lot of brightness.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://www.kidzuchildrensmuseum.org/

Address: 123 (Suite B) W. Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27516

Hours: Tuesday-Saturday: 10am-5pm, Sunday 1pm-5pm, Monday closed

Photos:

1. Their new cozy book area with the light coming in from their large windows

Scratch Bakery

2011-11-19T18:29:00.000-08:00

What it is: So, we've been hearing about the infamous donut muffins for months now. So we had to head over to Scratch Bakery in downtown Durham to check out the deliciousness for ourselves. Scratch is a small bakery located on Orange St. in downtown right next door to The Fun Zone and across the street from Dos Perros. We headed over on a rainy morning this week to investigate. They had several delicious pastries in cases for us to drool over, some savory, some sweet. But of course, our eyes went right towards the donut muffins, coated in sugar and waiting in a bowl for us to pick several out. They also had coffee and a lunch menu with soups and sandwiches that looked tasty, but we will have to check those out next time. The bakery was filled with people chatting or working on computers. There were no other kids in the bakery at that time, but everyone else didn't seem to mind us sticking around to eat. The donut muffins were only around $2 per muffin so we sampled both the chocolate and buttermilk. They were a delicious treat on a rainy day, and we can't wait to stop back by soon.

What we liked: We loved their delicious donut muffins so I'm imagining that the other goodies they have to offer are equally yummy. We liked their proximity to The Fun Zone, so if their hours overlap, maybe on the weekend, you might be able to drop your kids off at The Fun Zone and enjoy a child free meal right next door at Scratch (You'll have to check everyone's hours to see if this would really work out.)

What we would change: The seating wasn't the kid-friendliest. I felt that we were too close to other patrons that were trying to work in their nearby table. My toddler kept trying to strike up a conversation with the girl working at the table next to us. However, there were tables that were more convenient for kids and high chairs, but they were taken when we were there. In addition, there's a parking lot right in front of Scratch, but I think it's only available for the public on the weekends. I tried to go in their and get a ticket when we went, and we couldn't get a ticket. However, I was able to snag a parallel parking spot nearby.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://piefantasy.com/

Address: 111 Orange St, Durham, NC 27701

Hours: Tuesday-Friday: 7:30am-4pm, Saturday-Sunday: 9am-3pm

Photos:

1. DONUT MUFFINS!

2. Inside the bakery

3. A view from the outside

November Giveaway-and the winner is...

2011-11-17T19:37:00.000-08:00

We are happy to announce that we have a winner for our fantastic giveaway to the Museum of Life and Science! Our winner is...Jana Parks. Jana commented, "My son just asked 2 go the other day. We love that there r so many things 2 do - dinosaur trail and dig, butterflies, sailboats, etc. Would also like 2 see the race exhibit." If this is you, just e-mail us at scmomsgroup@gmail.com and we will set you up with your tickets. For everyone else, thank you so much for being our fantastic readers! Just wait and see what our December giveaway will be!

The Outer Banks

2011-11-15T18:05:00.000-08:00

Every once in a while, we like to include some ideas for kid-friendly getaways. I know that my husband and I have always loved to travel. However, since we've had kids, trips have gotten more difficult. One of the major reasons is cost. It wasn't too bad to buy plane tickets for my husband and I. However, four plane tickets is a bit more difficult and expensive. So, we've been including some ideas for getaways that are driveable and doable in a weekend or long weekend. Here's our latest adventure, enjoy!

What it is: The Outer Banks is one of my favorite places in North Carolina or anywhere. It is technically the series of barrier islands on the coast of NC. There's so much to do, but we'll only focus on a few things that we found fun for families with kids. Our first kid-friendly destination was the Wright Memorial in Kill Devil Hills. I have to say that this wasn't particularly interesting for our younger toddlers. However, kids that are a little older and can really understand what happened there, that the first airplane flew at that location, would find the place fascinating. They have models of the gliders, rocks marking the flight distances, and a hill with a large statue for the kids to play around. The distances are a bit large for toddler feet, so keep that in mind.

Our next stop was the beach! We headed a few miles down the road from The Wright Memorial to the beaches at Nags Head. Even though we went in this fall and the kids couldn't get in the water, they had a great time running around, digging in the sand, picking up the large shells that had drifted ashore, and watching the waves. I loved the fact that since we went in the off-season the beaches were practically deserted!

My ultimate favorite place in the Outer Banks is Jockey Ridge State Park which again was only a few miles away from the Wright Brothers Memorial. It is a beautiful sand dune park that is just breathtaking. It feels like your wandering through the Sahara only without the heat! From the tops of the dunes the views are amazing. Kids can watch the kites soaring, the hang gliders jumping off the dunes (an activity I highly recommend for adults), digging in more sand than they've ever seen, rolling down the dunes, or sledding through the sand. My favorite was watching the kids just run and not having to worry about where they were because the sand just stretched on forever, beautiful!

Another stop on our trip was the NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island. This is just across the sound from all of the sights we just mentioned. Since it was off season, we basically had the aquarium all to ourselves and it was great! Plus, since we have an NC Zoo membership, our admission was free! We saw huge sharks, colorful fish, sea horses, moray eels, turtles, otters, and alligators. We were able to touch sea urchins, starfish, and even sting rays. (my three year old felt very brave when he did that.) They also had an outdoor section with beautiful views of the sound.

Outer Banks is known for its lighthouses. We only went to one on this trip, however we've visited others in the past, pre-kids. Our sons just loved looking up at the huge towering structure and hearing about what it was used for. I'm sure kids would like climbing them as well. However, I read that there are some height requirements for climbing them, so make sure to check that out before visiting. There are also wild ponies to spot, delicious laid back, kid-friendly eateries, and much much more to entertain families while at the Outer Banks. I have to say that the Outer Banks Brewing Station was especially fun because they have a pirate ship and fenced in play area in the back so you can sit on a picnic table and enjoy your locally made beer or root beer while your child plays. Their food was delicious and kid-friendly. Plus, it's the only wind-powered brewery that I've ever been to!

If you've been to the Outer Banks and have any fun activities or insights to share please comment and let us know!

What we liked: We loved the laid back feel of the Outer Banks and all the ways to get out and explore the outdoors, and while I'm sure it is great in the summer too we loved going to check it out in the off season when everything was not quite as crowded. Plus, we were able to get there in about 4 hours which is not too far away for a weekend excursion.

What we would change: One of the negatives to going in the off season is that some of the restaurants and attractions are closed. However, we still found plenty to do. In addition, we felt that the Wright Memorial was a bit expensive with admission charged for each person in your car.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://www.outerbanks.org/

Jockey Ridge: http://www.jockeysridgestatepark.com/

Wright Memorial: http://www.nps.gov/wrbr/index.htm

Lighthouses: http://www.outerbanks.org/attractions/lighthouses/

NC Aquarium: http://www.ncaquariums.com/roanoke-island

Photos:

(Wright Brothers Memorial)

(Beautiful Outer Banks Beaches)

(Jockey Ridge State Park)

(My boy and I running through the dunes and Jockey Ridge)

Couch 2 5K

2011-11-12T17:49:00.000-08:00

I am currently sitting here preparing to run my first marathon tomorrow, yikes! I was thinking back to a couple of years ago when I couldn't even run a mile. I was also thinking how great it is for me to have running as a release and something I do just for myself. As a mom, I don't have many moments to myself, and running is something I can squeeze into my schedule to help me stay sane So, I thought I would share with everyone the plan that helped me get to the point where I could run a 5K. This is something that most moms could do, even if they don't feel like they can run at all. If I could get to this point, then lots of non-runners can. (Let's hope I survive the marathon tomorrow!)

What it is: There are lots of websites and plans out there now which take you from the "couch to a 5k". The website that I used is one of the originals. It gives you a plan to take you through three run/walks a week and gives you nine weeks to train to run a whole 5K!

What we liked: The nice thing about this plan is the intervals that you run are given in time intervals or distance intervals so you can pick the way that works for you. It also starts you completely from the beginning, so you don't have to have any running experience to get started. Plus, it's a completely free training plan. I really enjoy being able to exercise and feel a sense of accomplishment without taking the time or money to go to a gym. Running has been perfect for me as a mom because I can squeeze it in in the morning or at night easily or even take the kids in a stroller for a jog during the day.

What we would change: Couch 2 5K doesn't really have any way to extend the plan if you feel like you need more runs at a certain level. My best advice would be to repeat a week if you feel you need more practice before moving on.

Website: http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

Crosswinds Cafe at RDU-Indoor Plane Watching

2011-11-10T17:32:00.000-08:00

What it is:

Crosswinds Café is a wonderful (and comfortable) large space to enjoy watching planes at the RDU airport while enjoying a comforting snack from INSIDE! My boys absolutely love watching the planes come in and take off at the outside park, but on a cold and windy day, the Crosswinds Café was perfect! The café feeds pilots, travelers, as well as folks that simply love watching planes. The panoramic views are fantastic!

What we liked:

It was cozy and roomy and the people were very friendly. I had two toddlers with me and we weren’t always as quiet as I would’ve liked, but the people working there did not seem to mind our “enthusiasm”. It was almost lunch time so we did not actually order a snack, but I ventured over to see a variety of small to larger snacks as well as beverage choices. The views were amazing and the boys would’ve been happy to stay there for hours. Also, bathrooms were nearby and very clean. Finally, parking was a breeze. I noticed only a couple of spaces marked for the café, but was told that I could park on either side of the gated entrances for free (up to four hours). Yay!

What we would change:

The runway we overlooked was mostly private jets and there wasn’t as much coming an going on this runway compared to the other side. However, we did see several smaller planes as well as a couple larger jets land. It may have been the time of day, but there were less planes coming and going. However, lots of workers to watch and lots of equipment moving around- all of which keep a toddler very curious and interested!

Website and other important information

Website: www.crosswindscafe.com.

Crosswinds Cafe
Location: General Aviation Terminal
Hours: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. (closed weekends)
Phone: (919) 840-7625

Address: Crosswinds is located in the airport's general aviation terminal on East International Drive near the Air Traffic Control Tower.

To get there from I-40, follow signs to the airport terminals. Drive past Terminal A and turn right onto W. International Drive. Follow signs to General Aviation.

From US 70, take Exit 293 onto Lumley Road. The airport entrance will be on your left. Turn left into the airport on Commerce Drive. This becomes International Drive. Follow signs for General Aviation.

Photos:

November Giveaway-Museum of Life and Science!

2011-11-08T17:47:00.000-08:00

We didn't want to make you wait until the end of November for this fabulous giveaway, so here's our November giveaway a little earlier in the month. Everyone in Durham LOVES The Museum of Life and Science, so what could be better for a giveaway?

This month Stir Crazy Moms and the Museum of Life and Science are offering tickets for a family of four to the Museum of Life and Science AND their special Carolina Wonderland Express exhibit which opened this weekend! So, not only can your family enjoy all the wonderful sights and experiences that the museum has to offer you can also check out the Wonderland Express. In this 2200 square foot indoor exhibit, model trains on more than 340 feet of track chug through a wintery wonderland including many famous sights in North Carolina including Kitty Hawk and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Check out their description below for all the details.

So, if you would like to win this awesome giveaway simply comment on this post on blogger or facebook. Let us know what's your favorite part of the Museum of Life and Science or if you've never been, simply let us know what you're looking forward to. Follow us on facebook, twitter, or blogger and let us know that you do for an extra entry for each. The giveaway will run from now until next Tuesday at midnight, so happy entering!

CELEBRITY TRAIN CHUGGING THROUGH A WINTERY NORTH CAROLINA STARTING THIS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5

(DURHAM – NC) The Museum of Life and Science in Durham is unveiling its Carolina Wonderland Express exhibition this Saturday, November 5. This handcrafted exhibition made of natural materials and designed by the award-winning artisans of Applied Imagination, is sure to immerse you in a magical world. Watch as model trains, including a popular celebrity train journey through a snowy Carolina, traversing mountains, crossing bridges and disappearing through tunnels.

Bells ring and whistles blow as trains chug along the Blue Ridge Parkway and journey to popular landmarks such as Kitty Hawk, the State Capitol Building, Jennette’s Pier, the Swinging Bridge and more. With more than 340 feet of track winding in and out of hills and valleys, this 2,200-square-foot, indoor holiday exhibition is sure to delight all ages.

The Museum of Life and Science in Durham is located at 433 W. Murray Avenue. Hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. An additional fee applies for the train exhibition. To see a sneak-peek video of the exhibition and for additional information, visit www.lifeandscience.org or call 919.220.5429.

YOUTUBE VIDEO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvM3fPKuEOg&feature=youtu.be

McAllisters Deli

2011-11-06T17:25:00.000-08:00

What it is: We were excited when the new McAllister's opened in the Rennaissance Center shopping area near Southpoint Mall. It's great to have another kid-friendly option so nearby, and since it's the second one in Durham in addition to one in Chapel Hill there's one close to lots of our readers. So, one day after another successful trip to Portrait Innovations in the same shopping center, we stopped by.

McAllister's Deli has lots of delicious options for grown ups and kids alike. For adults, there are a variety of soups, salads, and sandwiches as well as some of the largest fountain drinks around. For kids there are lots of toddler friendly options such as mac and cheese, little individual pizzas, grilled cheese, or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Most of the kids options come with chips or applesauce and Teddy Grahams as a little dessert treat. However, our kids' pizza did not come with the side, so make sure and double check.

What we liked: The food was delicious, and the kids liked the food, especially the Teddy Grahams. They also had the option of outdoor seating which we thought was a nice touch. McAllister's is a good addition to the S. Durham kid-friendly dining options. (We have also heard that the 15-501 location offers a kids eat free night with paying adult on Mondays after 4pm. Does anyone know if this location offers the same perk?)

What we would change: We didn't have the best service at this new location. However, we've never had that experience before at McAllisters. Perhaps they are just working out some of the kinks in their new restaurant operation.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://www.mcalistersdeli.com/

Address: 6807 Fayetteville Rd, Ste 117, or 5218 New Hope Commons Dr.

Oakwood Park

2011-11-05T06:21:00.000-07:00

We love the fact that we're seeing new playground equipment going up at several local parks! We already told you about Old Chapel Hill Road Park in Durham, and now Chapel Hill following suit with a great renovation at Oakwood Park. We headed over last week to check it out, and here's our report.

What it is: Oakwood Park is really pretty close to Durham, just a quick jaunt down Hwy. 54, turn right before you get to the intersection with 15-501, and there you are! We were a little thrown off because google maps directed us to turn right on Oakwood Dr off of Hwy 54, but that is a one way street going the wrong way. So, if you are coming from that direction on 54, go past Oakwood Dr. to Hamilton instead and you can backtrack to the park with a right turn from Hamilton onto Berkley Rd.

Now, to the fun part. Once we did find the park it was awesome! One of the greatest parts was that there was a fence all the way around. So, even though it was right next to the street, the fences kept our little ones contained. Our three year-olds favorite part was definitely the see-saw. That's right, it was a modern see-saw, and the kids spent most of their time riding on it, going up and down. They also had a large play structure with slides and bars, and some swings There was a nice sandbox in the middle where my youngest son spent most of his time. It was right next to the picnic tables.

They had a little play structure with rings to climb through on the other end of the playground which both my little and bigger kids enjoyed. While not part of the playground itself, just on the other side of the fence at the back of the playground in someone's backyard was a little chicken coop. It was far enough away that the kids couldn't get their fingers pecked, but close enough that the kids got a real kick out of watching them.

What we liked: We loved the fence. It was great that the kids could just run around and play without fears of them running out in the street. In addition, the see saw was a great unique feature that we haven't really seen at any other local playgrounds. The kids just loved it!

What we would change: They did have a lot of different playground surfaces in one playground: mulch, gravel, sand, etc. We thought they might get mixed up after lots of kids running through the playground. Not a big deal, but it was the only negative we could think of!

Website and other important information:

Website: http://www.ci.chapel-hill.nc.us/index.aspx?page=1588

Address: 20 Oakwood Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27517

**We weren't the only ones checking out this great new park. Mom in Chapel Hill also checked it out recently and posted her review on Friday. She also let us know that the park is having its grand re-opening celebration today, November 5 at 10am. Thanks, Mom in Chapel Hill!

Photos:

(The smaller play area)

(a view of the larger play area)

(Another view from the back of the playground)

The Chocolate Door

2011-11-02T18:03:00.000-07:00

As we continued on our Franklin St. adventure, we had one more stop before we made it all the down to Carrboro. We headed down to The Chocolate Door for a little sweet treat, and it didn't disappoint. We headed in and it was a very small shop with one small display case and table behind it. You could look into the other room beyond the counter into the kitchen where they make their delicious treats. The table had a seasonal display of goodies including homemade marshmallows. The display case was filled with delicious goodies including truffles and bark that looked beautiful. The flavors were also very unique including Mayan chocolate, pomegranate, and chocolate bacon.

What we liked: We loved the quality chocolates made right there in their little shop. In addition, they have kids themselves, so they had a little playpen at the front of the store. This kept my boys happily occupied while my husband and I drooled over the chocolate display. The Chocolate Door is a great place for a yummy sweet treat after a great meal on Franklin St.

What we would change: The one negative was that the kitchen was open to the rest of the store. My roaming toddler did try to roam back into the working kitchen at times. Not a good plan.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://www.chocolatedoornc.com/

Address: 516 W. Franklin St. Chapel Hill, NC

Phone Number: 919-240-7290

Hours: Sunday & Monday-closed, Tuesday-Saturday 11-8

Photos:

(The display case)

(more goodies)

(The play pen)

Glee Kids

2011-10-31T18:36:00.000-07:00

As I said earlier, last week we took a tour of Franklin St. in Chapel Hill. As I already wrote about, our first stop was The Yogurt Pump. It was the perfect sweet treat, and after that stop we headed down the street to University Square. I had never been to University Square and was curious to check it out as it will be the temporary home of Kidzu.

What it is: Glee Kids is a children's clothing and gift store located in University Square. The majority of the store was unique kids' clothing and hats. However, they did have some neat gifts and toys interspersed. While we were there we picked up a great little car as a gift for a baby birthday party we were attending later.

What we liked: We loved the different items that we saw there. It was a boutique where you could find items that you couldn't find elsewhere. They also had a train table located in the back of the small store which is always a nice touch. The train table gave me a chance to look at the goodies in the store while my boys happily played in the back.

What we would change: As I stated earlier, the store was small. I felt that there was not a large selection of boys clothing to choose from, but what they had was adorable.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://www.gleekids.com/

Address: 133-C west franklin street | university square | chapel hill, nc 27516

Hours: 10:00am–5:30pm monday through saturday and by appointment

Photos:

1. A view from the back of the store

2. One of the displays of gifts

3. More gifts

4. The train table and gifts at the back of the store

And the Winner is...

2011-10-29T19:21:00.000-07:00

We are happy to announce that the winner of our fabulous October giveaway-two tickets to a cooking class at The Cookery is...Pam!

So, if you are Pam and you said, "This would be great! Love to eat and love to cook." If this is you, please e-mail us at scmomsgroup@gmail.com to claim your prize. You will have a week to claim your prize before we draw a new winner.

If you didn't win, please stay tuned. November's giveaway is shaping up to be very exciting!

The Yogurt Pump

2011-10-27T18:55:00.000-07:00

Last week we had the opportunity to do a little roaming on Franklin St. in Chapel Hill. Up to this point, we hadn't really checked much of the street with kids just the old Kidzu location (can't wait for it to open back up), Locopops, Ben and Jerry's, and Sugarland. We changed all that last week. While we probably still didn't find every great kids' spot on the street, we got a start, and here was our first stop.

What it is: The Yogurt Pump has been a Franklin St. institution since 1982. It's stuck back on the side of a building just past the intersection with Columbia St. I just tried to explain where it's located and failed miserably. So, what I will do is refer you to their website which has a lovely map to their somewhat hidden location. Once there, you can enjoy some frozen yogurt deliciousness. The atmosphere looked a little older and less fancy than some of the other frozen yogurt spots that have been popping up all over town, but the yogurt was fabulous. They had several flavors and you could add on toppings for 50 cents a topping. My oldest son chose the chocolate with UNC colored M&M's while my youngest got the crushed Andes mints on chocolate (a brilliant topping choice). It was a great stop to start our tour of Franklin St.

What we liked: We loved the prices with the treats for my boys being $1.50 plus the 50 cents per topping. The yogurt was thick and tasty and we especially liked the Andes mints!

What we would change: The location is a bit tricky to find, and of course, parking on Franklin St. can be tricky. However, the lot on Rosemary St. is not far at all from the Yogurt Pump and you can find their location on their helpful map on their website.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://yogurtpump.com/index.htm

Address: 106 W. Franklin St. (Next to NY Pizza)

Hours: Mon-Thurs 11:30am-11:30pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am-Midnight, Sun Noon-11:30pm

Photos:

(Yummy toppings)

(Yogurt tribute to UNC)

(our table)

(The Yogurt Pump in its hidden alley)

**Just to be fair...if you would like to vote for The Yogurt Pump for your favorite frozen yogurt in town, just comment on this post and I will keep that in mind on our current poll for favorite frozen yogurt shops.

Old Chapel Hill Road Park

2011-10-25T17:45:00.000-07:00

Yay! I'm thrilled to report a new park in Durham! That's right, shiny new playground equipment for you to explore, and this equipment is so much fun that even adults will want to join in the fun! Thanks so much to Christie for telling us about this one!

What it is: Old Chapel Hill Road Park's official parking lot is located off of SW Durham Dr. in South Durham near Githens Middle School. Up until recently this park contained soccer fields and some great hiking trails. However, now, it also has a fabulous new playground. Strangely enough, this playground is not located near the parking lot of the park, in fact it's quite a toddler walk from that point. Instead, we accessed the park from Old Chapel Hill Rd. where there is a new dirt access point directly next to the playground. There's no official parking lot but there is room for a few cars to park near the construction dumpster. Other parking might be available at Githens Middle School, but I'm not sure how far that is from the playground.

Now on to the fun stuff, the actual playground. It was great! Someone made the comment that it was like a playground that Ikea had built, and I can see that comparison. The equipment was different and interesting. It seemed that there was one half that was geared more toward younger children and then one for older. However, I think that ANY age could enjoy this playground. In fact, while we were there with my one year old and three year old some middle schoolers arrived and had just as good of a time. There were swings, a structure with a slide and a small cargo net, and a model car. There were also some great spinning buckets to sit in and a circle that you could sit on and spin around that reminded me of a newer version of the old metal merry-go-rounds that we used to play on when we were younger. They also had a contraption that looked like a skateboard on metal rails. You could grab on to some handles and swing the skateboards from side to side. There was a huge climbing structure with rock climbing grips. Then there was a HUGE rope structure that would even be fun for adults to climb around on!

After we played on the play equipment for a long time, we wandered down the trail toward the rest of the park. It was a nice trail. Our little group of toddlers only made it as far as the first soccer field we saw which was a fabulous place for them to just run.

What we liked: We loved the different, new playground equipment. It's always nice to head to a park with new equipment that the kids have never seen before. Plus, the playground is fun for all different ages. It is also nice that the trails and fields are near the playground in case the kids need a little more to do.

What we would change: Right now, it definitely seems like the areas around the play area aren't quite finished. While the surface of the playground itself is great, around the playground is dirt, or (if it rains) mud. So, you have to watch out if you have some mud-loving toddlers that they don't find some puddles. In addition, the parking situation right now is not ideal, but there is room for some cars in the dirt area off Old Chapel Hill Rd. Hopefully, they will build a parking area at that side of the park soon.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://www.ci.durham.nc.us/gis_apps/parkapp/park.cfm?selVal=park&ParkNam=Old+Chapel+Hill+Road

Address: 3751 SW Durham Dr. 27707

Photos:

1. A view of some of the bigger equipment

2. The climbing structure

3. The smaller side of the playground (notice the spinning tulip seat in the foreground)

4. The soccer field

October Giveaway-The Cookery's Culinary Workshops!

2011-10-23T18:02:00.000-07:00

It's finally time for another fabulous giveaway from a new local business, and this one sounds like great fun! This time you could win two tickets for your choice of cooking class at Durham's own The Cookery! If you haven't heard about The Cookery before...it's a commercial kitchen that rents by the hour in Durham and offers their kitchen facility to food entrepreneurs. They also offer a variety of hands-on culinary workshops to the public. In these workshops, professional chefs such as Tanya Catalos of Daisy Cakes, the Chirba Chirba Dumpling food truck team, or Aaron Benjamin of Rue Cler teach on a variety of yummy topics. They also do private classes and parties if you're interested. To find out more, you can head to www.DurhamCookery.com.

So, what could be better than a mom's night out or date night learning from Durham's best chefs? You could even combine the class with a night out at one of the fabulous restaurants downtown or even a trip to the nearby West End Wine Bar. Sounds like fun to me! (You can redeem the gift certificate until January 31st, 2012. Tickets valid for workshop prices for $40 or under if space is available.)

To enter and win two tickets to a cooking class of your choice at The Cookery, all you have to do is comment on this post either on facebook or the blog by next Friday, October 28 at midnight. To earn extra entries simply follow us on facebook, blogger, or twitter and let us know that you do. Once everyone has entered we will randomly select a winner and let everyone know the good news.

So, enter now, thanks to The Cookery, and Happy Entering!

Hank Anderson Community Park

2011-10-21T17:50:00.000-07:00

What it is: So, this week, we ventured down to Carrboro to check out Hank Anderson Communuty Park. It was the first morning this year that we've really had a taste of fall chill in the air. The kids had to put on their gloves but seemed to have an added bit of energy with the crispness in the air. (Unfortunately, I had forgotten my fleece, so I had an extra bit of shiver!)

Hank Anderson Park was a great place to take the kiddos for some outdoor fun. The unique feature was that there were two playgrounds right next to each other. That way, the kids could run in between the two when they got tired of one. It seemed that the playgrounds were geared toward older and younger kids respectively, but my kids enjoyed both of them. One of the playgrounds was taller and had a rockwall feature and climbing tube that were unique. Our older boys had fun playing in the "volcano tube". The smaller one my son called the "music playground" it had a smaller play structure with slides and tubes. In addition, they had some neat plastic drums and bells that the kids could explore. The two playgrounds were bridged by a swing set that included regular swings, bucket swings, and a swing for children with special needs. The park was much larger than just the playgrounds. There was a lake with a nice trail for bike riding around, a dog park for puppy watching, a picnic shelter, and fields for baseball, etc.

What we liked: We liked the fact that the two playgrounds were right next to each other. They also had nice large trees for some shade cover at the playground and picnic area. In addition, the park was large enough so we had some room to get some toddler energy out with bike riding to visit the various park components.

What we would change: The park was a bit of a hike from Durham, even more so because of the traffic that we encountered when passing UNC hospital on 15-501.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://www.carrboro.com/parks.html

Address: Highway 54 West (Old Greensboro Road), Carrboro, NC 27510

Photos:

1. The larger playground

2. The "music" playground

North Carolina Wine Country

2011-10-19T18:39:00.000-07:00

What it is: Every once and a while every parent needs a break from things and needs to have a little fun. This post is devoted to that and devoted to one of our favorite North Carolina diversions, the North Carolina Wine Country. When people think of places with wineries and vineyards, the first place that comes to mind is usually not North Carolina. However, over the past decade, hundreds of vineyards have opened in the state and are creating really good wine. So, what could be better than to drive through the beautiful NC scenery heading into the mountains and stopping along the way to sample wine?

We have traveled to the NC wine country several times. There are several different ways to experience it coming from Durham. If you feel like sampling NC wine without leaving town. Don't worry, we've got you covered. There are several wineries actually in the Triangle! We have been to both Southpoint Vineyards and Chatham Hill in Morrisville, and they both make lovely wine, even though Chatham Hill is located in a warehouse-type building in the middle of RTP.

If you feel like heading a little further afield but still not being in the car all day, you can do that as well. While we've never been on it ourselves, there's actually a Haw River wine trail featuring several great wineries near the Pittsboro area. We can wait to take a day and check them out!

Most of our experience with the NC wine experience lies with the wineries that are a little further afield. We frequently make the drive along I-40 heading west whether we are headed to my grandmothers house in TN or to Asheville. I-40 conveniently passes directly through portions of NC wine country. So, you can actually plan out a winery tour only traveling several miles off of the freeway. My husband and I did that a few months ago on our way up to Asheville and visited 4 lovely wineries with great, award winning wines and still made it to Asheville in plenty of time for dinner.

If your really ready to check out all that NC wine has to offer, we suggest heading to Yadkin Valley and taking time to check out all the wineries there. That's truly where NC winemaking is at its most abundant with more wineries than you could ever want clustered in that general area. It is located north and a little west of Winston-Salem so you would probably want to find someplace to stay the night if you wanted to visit Yadkin Valley.

What we liked: We love how many great wines there are in NC! There are reds and whites to rival any in California. In addition, it's nice to have some nearby as well as conveniently located on near the freeway. You can cater your wine tasting trip to your needs, and the NC Wine website has great maps and even trail suggestions to make your planning easier. Visiting the wineries would be perfect for a moms' vacation weekend with the girls or a couples getaway from the kids.

What we would change: The heart of NC wine country is a bit of a drive away, so it takes a bit of a trip to reach some of the best wineries. However, there are some options that are close by. In addition, it can be a bit problematic to bring kids to wine tastings. (It's not particularly relaxing.) So you might want to wait until you have some time off from the kids to check them out.

Websites: http://www.visitncwine.com/ (official site), http://www.visitnc.com/itineraries/index/all/1/100029/ (wine trails)

Photos:

(Westbend Vineyards)

(Raylen Vineyards)

(More of Raylen)

(Grapes and Lake James Cellars)

(Views from Lake James Cellars)

Fresh Market

2011-10-17T18:19:00.000-07:00

It was definitely a Monday today, but before our usual Harris Teeter grocery trip, we decided to take a little detour. We headed to Fresh Market, and it definitely brightened my day!

What it is: Fresh Market is a specialty grocery store located off of Hwy. 54 in Chapel Hill near its intersection with 15-501. We have passed by this store many times on the way from Durham into Chapel Hill and never stopped by, so we decided to check it out. When we walked in the first thing I noticed was the lovely, wonderful smell of fresh, mulled apple cider, one of my absolute favorite fall smells (and they had little cups for you to sample!)

Then we took a look into the rest of the store. It looked much more like an open market than most of your typical grocery stores with high ceilings and low shelves. It was a pleasant place to walk around. Their produce was beautiful but expensive. They had all sorts of yummy gourmet treats from a huge deli with beautiful pasta salad, dips, pimento cheeses, and other delicious treats. They had a coffee section, a great wine section, cheeses, meats, gourmet spices and oils, and bins upon bins of trails mixes, nuts, chocolate covered goodies, and dried fruits. My overall impression of this grocery store was that it was a wonderful place to shop that could be so much fun if I had all the money to spend on groceries that I wanted. Until I reach that point, it could be a very dangerous habit.

What we liked: I loved the feel of the store and the gourmet inventory. However, what really made me walk out of the store smiling was the customer service. One of the employees made a point of coming up to me and my son while we were perusing the trail mixes and told us that we could sample any that we wanted. That was music to my toddler's ears. In addition, when I was debating whether I would splurge on pimento cheese from the deli for lunch, one of the deli employees walked up and offered me a free sample so I could make my decision more easily. Then, when my son was fussing because we finished our free sample, she gave us a bit more. Plus, every other employee we passed smiled and waved and my son and fussed over him in a way that made him feel like the center of attention. It's always nice to go to a store where they go above and beyond like that.

What we would change: Of course, we would make all of their delicious fresh food a little more inexpensive. However, our one purchase was some dried apples and bananas which turned out to be cheaper than we would have gotten in our typical grocery stores. So, hopefully there are more deals like that to be had. I'm willing to go back and scope it out!

Website and other important information:

Website: http://freshmarket.com/

Address: 1200 Raleigh Rd., Chapel Hill

Phone Number: (919) 932-7501

Photos:

1. Our view as we entered the store

Science Safari

2011-10-14T19:11:00.000-07:00

What it is: Science Safari is a toy store in Cary that specializes in scientific toys... from chemistry sets and microscopes to stuffed animals and games. It's a small store jam-packed with all manner of toys for inquisitive kids.

What we liked: It was hard not to like all the toys - if we didn't have kids and had the time, they would be wonderful toys for our inner children. Every toy in the store does something and makes you wonder what it is and how it works. Tickle-me-you-know-who has his place, but in Science Safari the toys make the real world a wonderful fascinating place. Other than loving (and appreciating) the science toys, they have a small collection of live animals to see, and they host birthdays in their back room. Even though the store is geared for kids older than our toddler (no chemistry sets, yet), she had a great time playing with what she could get her hands on, like the little wooden train set and things that light up when you shake them (OK, not science, but she's small). This is the store we wish was around when we were young.

What we would change: First off, we would move the store closer to South Durham :-). We've got Learning Express, and it has more for toddlers for Science Safari, but in a few years I think we'll be making pilgrimage to Cary to shop for toys. Also, we would toddler-proof the store a bit more so that we could relax and explore a little more easily.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://www.scisafari.com/

Address: 1255 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary, NC 27511

Phone: 919-460-6051

Lego Kids Fest

2011-10-12T18:50:00.000-07:00

My son has recently really gotten in to building "rockets" and "towers" and anything else he can think of with his Lego Duplo blocks. So, we were thrilled when we found out that Lego Kids Fest was coming to Raleigh and excited that we had the opportunity to check it out.

What it is: Lego Kids Fest is a traveling tour that comes to several cities each year. They set up in a convention center for a weekend and fill it with Lego fun. There were huge piles of both larger Duplos and smaller regular sized Legos where kids could create anything they wanted with more Legos than they would ever need. There were displays of fantastic Lego sculptures like models of Hogwarts and the Harry Potter characters, human-sized models of the toy story characters, dragons, sharks, and even a car-sized Lightnin' McQueen. There were stations to build Lego race cars, building stations of Legos of the same color, building competitions, a gift shop, booths from several local businesses (like Marbles and NCMLS), and more.

What we liked: I can tell that children between the ages of 7 and 10 would have a fabulous time for hours exploring everything that Lego fest has to offer. My children, being a little younger, did not quite have that attention span. Their favorite was definitely the Duplo pit. We spent quite a long time digging and creating whatever they wanted to. My boys were in awe of the Lego models and wandered around all of them just staring. They also spent quite while building race cars and racing them down the ramps.

What we would change: The biggest drawback of Lego Kids Fest is definitely the price. It is $18 for kids and $20 for adults. While there is so much to see, that is a lot of money to spend for a family outing. In addition, there were several things at Lego fest that were a bit difficult to navigate with really young kids (under 3). There were lots of escalators to get to the festival and we had to find alternate ways to get the stroller down each time. In addition, I had to watch my little one like a hawk to make sure he didn't get ahold of any Lego pieces that were too small. However, he did have a great time in the Duplo area.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://www.legokidsfest.com/

Locations and Dates vary, just check website.

Photos:

1. a view from above

2. My son's favorite-Woody and Buzz

3. Lightnin' McQueen in Legos

4. A Lego map of the US

5. Model Darth Vader

6. The pile of Legos for building

Pirates, Princesses, and Triangle Boat Tours

2011-10-10T17:29:00.000-07:00

*Thanks so much to Southern Part of Heaven for sending this information over! If you haven't already, you definitely need to check out the blog for great area info. and events.

I've always wanted to try out Triangle Boat Tours, and now seems like the perfect chance! Next weekend, they are hosting a Pirates and Princesses Festival! With arts, crafts, pirate music, and a 20 minute boat ride with Captain Don, it sounds like a great time for the whole family--your little ones get to channel their inner pirates and princesses, and you get a great boat tour on Jordan Lake with your little ones! For tickets and more information, please go to www.TriangleBoatTours.com.

Here's what you need to know:

Triangle Boat Tours
Pirates and Princesses Festival
Friday, Oct 14 & Sunday, Oct 16 (9am - 2pm)
Jordan Lake State Park - Ebenezer Church Recreation Area, Apex NC (no park entrance fee!)
www.TriangleBoatTours.com.

*For our take on our last Triangle Boat tour outing, check out or post from when they first got started several years ago: http://stircrazymomsofdurham.blogspot.com/2010/05/triangle-boat-tours.html

Woodcroft Soccer

2011-10-08T06:23:00.000-07:00

As this fall Saturday morning rolls around, so does another soccer game. So, I thought it was a perfect time to tell everyone about our latest toddler sports adventure!

What it is: Triangle United Soccer at Woodcroft is a soccer league that has teams for ages 3 and up. However, since my oldest son just turned 3 not too long ago, the younger end of that spectrum is really all that I can speak about at this point. Please add your comments if you have anything to add about the other ages.

As the summer came to a close, soccer registration started. So, we headed online to their website, and registering was fairly easy. We signed up for the co-ed under 4 division. You simply fill out some information online and then mail them a check as well as a registration form you can fill out and a copy of their birth certificate. When registering online you can also request other children who you want to be on your team, and all of our requests were granted. After they have all of your information, they take a few weeks to come up with the teams. The organization and the coaches will e-mail you your information and the season is off and running.

For the littlest players they have practices one evening a week and games on the weekends. I was a little wary about how soccer practice would go for a bunch of 3 year olds, but our coach was wonderful. The kids were a little apprehensive, but it is definitely okay if your child wants to hang out on the sideline for a while or needs a parents to participate with them. The coach leads them through some game and skill activities while teaching them about the basics of soccer. While my son wanders off at time or gets sidetracked by something, he is able to follow the directions and is actually learning some soccer skills!

The first game was equally as low key. We were divided up into groups that were 4 on 4. There were no goalies and the kids tried to kick the ball into the goals for 4 time periods divided up with breaks for drinks and snacks (every toddler's favorite). While I can safely say that my son is not an immediate soccer star (he's an expert flower picker though), it has been a good experience for him, and as the season progresses he's gradually getting the hang of teamwork and the rules of the game.

What we liked: The cost of the season is pretty low at $75 for registration and uniforms. In addition, the games for the little children don't have any pressure and just focus on helping them have a good time. In addition, I'm pretty sure that watching under 4 soccer is one of the cutest things I've ever seen!

What we would change: I think that the nature of the league means that your experience can be very coach dependent. We have a great coach that is good with the kids, but I can see how a different coach might really change your experience. In addition, on some weeks they have two games in a weekend. That can be a lot for the little guys.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://www.triangleunited.org/Woodcroft/index_E.html

Address: All games and practices for us took place at the Woodcroft clubhouse at 1203 West Woodcroft Parkway, Durham, NC 27713

Season: Our soccer season runs from early September to early November

Photos:

Drum Lessons with Russell Lacy

2011-10-05T18:26:00.000-07:00

What it is: Durham Drum Lessons w/ Russell Lacy- perfect for all ages. Russell has two studios- one in Carrboro and one in Durham. My son is only three, but enjoys banging on his drum set at home. We were excited for the opportunity to work with a professional!

What we liked: Russell is a talented musician and is great with children. He works with a variety of ages, but he knew how to make things simple and positive and FUN for my little guy. Step by step, patiently using repetition (as well as high fives;), Russell was able to teach my three year old how to: properly hold drum sticks, drum using alternating arms, include counts- 1, 2, 3, 4 as well as 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and, repeat rhythms, learn names of various drums, and even jam a bit on an adult sized drum set! All within 30 minutes- an impressive accomplishment with any toddler!

What we would change: Honestly, I was completely happy with his lesson! If you have lots of questions (like I always do:) I would encourage asking before (if you can arrive early or call/email ahead) or after session. I found myself taking up a few minutes of my son’s lesson...oops!!

Website and other important information:

Website: http://russelllacymusic.com/

Address: For Durham drum lessons his studio is located by Duke’s east campus very close to the corner of Markham and Broad Streets (1805 W.Markham Street, 27705).
For Carrboro drum lessons my studio is right next to the Music Loft on Main Street.

Phone: 919-491-0911

Cost: $25 for 30 minutes, $37.50 for 45 minutes, and $50 for 60 minutes.

Photos:

1. Russell poses for a picture

2. Russell instructs his young pupil

3. Drums are fun!

Duke Homestead

2011-10-03T17:48:00.000-07:00

We lived in Durham for six years before we had kids. We always saw the signs for the Duke Homestead but never visited. We thought it was about time to check it out, so we loaded the kids in the car and headed on over.

What it is: Located just North of I-85 off of Guess Rd., the Duke Homestead site is where the Duke family lived and produced tobacco as well as the site of a small tobacco museum. I was a little wary about taking the kids for a morning there, but we actually had a great time. We started with a walking tour of the historical buildings where the Duke family lived and worked. I wouldn't recommend taking the guided tour with children under 3, but they had a great time touring the buildings at their own pace. The guided tour would be interesting, however, without the young kids. My 3 year old was mildly interested in the historical tobacco shed and homestead complete with antique furniture. Fortunately, the grounds are filled with lots of grassy areas to run so it's an excellent place for kids to just run around and explore while taking in a bit of history.

After our outdoor adventure, we did head in to check out the museum briefly. It's pretty dated and there wasn't a whole lot to interest the kids, but there were a few buttons to press. It was also a topic that was fairly hard to explain to toddlers. We did pick up a Moon Pie in their small gift area on the way out which was a fun treat. Then, we headed back out to eat our picnic lunch at a lovely collection of picnic tables overlooking the homestead in a field under a large tree. This was the best part of our outing. The table we found was perfectly toddler size and shaded and the field was nicely contained. The kids happily played under the tree for quite a while after we ate. We had a lovely morning. It wasn't a typical outing for us, but it was fun, and I think the kids always get some good out of going someplace historic.

What we liked: We loved the grounds, and it was fun to run around in the grassy fields past the zig-zagging wooden fences. The picnic area was a great place for a toddler lunch.

What we would change: The museum wasn't particularly interesting for our crowd and some of the exhibits weren't working, so we felt the grounds were the more interesting part of the trip.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://www.nchistoricsites.org/duke/

Address: 2828 Duke Homestead Road, Durham, N.C. 27705

Phone: (919) 477-5498

Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Closed Sunday and Monday

Photos:

1. One of the tobacco buildings

2. A view of the actual Duke homestead

3. Their kitchen

4. One of the museum displays

5. A Liberty Bell made entirely out of tobacco

6. Our picnic area with a view

Top Malls in the Area

2011-10-01T18:03:00.000-07:00

We've headed out to all of the local malls in the area and found all kinds of fun things to do at each one. So, we posted a poll where you, our wonderful readers, could select your favorite mall in the area. Here are your results:

1. With 88% of the vote your clear favorite mall in the area (and ours too) is Southpoint Mall in South Durham with large indoor play area, outdoor fountains and shops to explore, lots of room for kids to roam, and great shopping.

2. In second place with 7% of the vote is Crabtree Valley mall in Raleigh with smaller play area, lots of kids shops like Disney Store and the Lego Store, and coin operated vehicles to play on.

3. In third place with 4% of the vote is University Mall in Chapel Hill with a variety of unique store like A Southern Season, several kids stores, and kid-friendly places to eat.

Stay tuned for another poll posted soon. Stir Crazy Moms wouldn't be the same without your opinions...keep them coming!

Peek-a-Do

2011-09-28T18:19:00.000-07:00

What it is: A child's first haircut only comes around once. I always remember looking in my baby book and finding the page with a picture of me sitting in the salon chair looking a little nervous and next to it, the little lock of blond hair in the envelope. For some reason, that was my favorite page in the whole book. So, when it came time to get my boys' first haircuts, I wanted it to be a bit special. That's why we headed to Peek-a-Do. This is a salon completely catering to kids. They have chairs in the shapes of airplanes, cars, or trains, TV's that your child can watch while they get a haircut, a play area for the siblings, and an area for purchasing little gifts or rewards for a successful haircut experience.

One of the biggest draws for me, however, was their first haircut package. I liked the fact that they acknowledged that first haircuts were special. They understood that this moment could reduce many moms to tears, so they made it a little special. In addition to the other Peek-a-Do amenities I've already mentioned they gave us before and after pictures, a certificate, and that little envelope full of baby hair. My boys both handled it pretty well, with lots of smiles and only a few tears. It was a lovely first haircut experience.

What we liked: Like I said, they did a great job making the first haircut experience special for us. In addition, it was fun for the kids because of all the kid-friendly amenities. The play area for waiting and siblings was a brilliant idea.

What we would change: It is more expensive than a typical haircut ($20 for a regular cut and $26 for the first haircut package), so I don't think I can justify it for a regular haircut, but it was great for those special moments.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://www.peekado.com/

Address: 7011 Fayetteville Road, Durham, NC 27713-7745

Phone Number: (919) 544-5775

Hours: Open Mon-Tue,Fri 10am-6pm; Wed-Thu 10am-8pm; Sat 9am-5pm; Sun 12pm-5pm

Photos:

(a view of the outside of the shop)

(the reception area)

(waiting/shop area)

(little goodies for purchase)

(part of the waiting area)

FItness World

2011-09-26T17:26:00.000-07:00

*Check out another great post from our Stir Crazy Dad about how to squeeze in a little exercise and keep your kids entertained at the same time!

What it is : Fitness World is gym, but more importantly to the Stir Crazy Parent, they have a wonderful kids' room. Our daughter has been playing there since she was 5 months old and needed lots of attention to get used to being away from Mommy and Daddy. The rules are pretty simple. They watch kids 3 months old and up. Under 1 year old, you can leave your kid with them for an hour; over 1, for two hours each day. Since they're not a daycare, you'll have to remain in the gym. It's a nice chance to get some exercise, but for this full-time dad, it's also a nice chance to be off-duty for a little while. If you go fairly regularly, you can look at your membership price as babysitting for $2-3 dollars an hour (plus playmates!)

What we liked: The staff is wonderful. I not only trust them with our daughter, but she loves seeing them, and they've done a wonderful job caring for her as she's gotten used to being around strangers. There is a separate area for babies so they don't get bumped into by the older boys and girls. All the toys are washed daily and the play areas have always been clean and tidy. As a gym, it's a friendly, laid-back place, with some exercise classes throughout the day. Lastly, Fitness World is in the same strip mall as Bean Trader's Coffee, so if you figure a muffin is 500 calories and you have 1 hour on the exerbike... well you see where this is going.

What we would change: The kids room is a little small. When enough little ones accumulate, they move to the basketball court to give everyone enough room, so it's not a problem, but it would be nice for the kids to have enough room to play in their kids' area when it's busy.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://www.fitnessworldnc.com/

Kids' Room Website: http://www.fitnessworldnc.com/childcare.shtml

Address: 105 W NC Highway 54 Suite 271 Durham, North Carolina 27713

Phone: (919) 544-9000

Moonberries

2011-09-24T17:23:00.000-07:00

Seems like they're popping up everywhere. The latest area frozen yogurt shop has just opened and added even more deliciousness to the local sweet treat scene. These self-serve frozen yogurt shops are trendy, but for good reason. They are healthier than many sweet treat choices, fun for the kids to design their own, and relatively inexpensive.

What it is: Moonberries is the newest self-serve frozen yogurt shop, recently opened in the Petco/Target shopping center off of Renaissance Parkway near Southpoint Mall. We headed over there this afternoon after the soggy weather cancelled our soccer game, and it was a great way to lift our spirits. Everyone was very friendly and welcoming on their grand opening celebration. They offered us free samples and greeted us warmly. We made our decisions-chocolate and chocolate M&M's for my oldest (of course), lemon and strawberries for my husband, and pumpkin spice, granola, and caramel for me. We selected our portions and served the frozen yogurt ourselves, dished up our toppings, set them on the scale for payment, then ate and enjoyed.

What we liked: The toppings were plentiful, and it's always fun to create your dish yourself. As we said earlier, the cost is reasonable and the yogurt itself is pretty healthy (if you choose the right toppings). In addition, the yogurt was really tasty and seemed thicker and richer than some of the other frozen yogurt places we have checked out recently. They have outdoor tables which is also a nice touch.

What we would change: It was delicious, so there's not much we would change. The price is 40 cents per ounce which is ever so slightly higher (about 3 cents and ounce) than some of the other self-serve frozen yogurt places, but that doesn't really make for a meaningful difference.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://moonberriesfrozenyogurt.com/

Address: 8200 Renaissance Park way Durham, NC 27713

Phone Number: 919-484-7700

Photos:

1. The view of the storefront

2. A view of the inside

3. A few of the frozen yogurt dispensers

4. Toppings, toppings, and more toppings

5. Mmmmm, sauces

Skytop Orchards

2011-09-21T19:16:00.000-07:00

The weather's finally getting colder, and it feels like Fall is finally here. It's time for all those great fall activities that we love like the State Fair, pumpkin patches, soccer games, and of course apple picking. We've discovered that it's a little harder to find a place to pick apples around here, so we had to report on this spot that we've found even though it is a bit of a drive.

What it is: Located in Flat Rock, NC, Sky Top Orchards is a fall spectacle of apple picking fun. The day that we went out there we were definitely not the only ones that had that idea and the parking lot was full. Once we got out of the car we saw a two playgrounds with slides, swings, hay spiders, and more for your kids to play and pose on. There were also several tractors to play on and investigate. The first thing I noticed when I arrived, however, was the smell of freshly-made donuts. So, when we got there I immediately headed through their shop, past the counter where you could buy apple slushies, apple cider, apple fritters, and more to the donut counter. Their apple cider, cinnamon sugar donuts were just as good as they smelled and a perfect way to start our excursion.

We also picked up a basket and prepared to head out into the orchard. There were about 5 different types of apples that were available to be picked that day. There were some that were low enough for our little boys to pick them off the bottom branches and others where their daddy had to scale the trees to get the best apples. Regardless, the kids had a great time running around and climbing the trees, as long as we kept them away from the fallen apples at the bottom of the trees.

What we liked: I always like exposing the kids to where their food actually comes from. It was great for them to see where apples actually grow. Plus, there's nothing better than running through the trees in the mountains on a crisp fall day.

What we would change: Of course, we would bring the apple orchard closer if we could. 4.5 hours is a long drive for apples. However, it is only 30 minutes from Asheville, so it would be perfect for a weekend excursion to the mountains!

While we love Sky Top orchard, but we'd love to hear about your apple picking experiences as well and where else we could venture from Durham for some apple picking fun!

Website and other important information:

Website: http://skytoporchard.com/

Address: 1193 Pinnacle Mountain Road, Flat Rock, NC 28731

Phone Number: (828) 692-7930

Photos:

(Green apples-our favorite was the Mutsu variety.)

(A few of the apple trees in the distance)

(Red apples-these were harder to find.)

(Fun on one of the play area near our picnic table.)

North Carolina Museum of Life and Science-A Tour

2011-09-19T19:03:00.000-07:00

Stir Crazy Moms has posted on the Museum of Life and Science before, but that was a long time ago. Since that time we have been to the museum many, many times, and we feel like we know it like the back of our hands. We thought we had more information to share, so here we go...

What it is: The North Carolina Museum of Life and Science has been voted by our readers as their favorite museum in the area. It is one of the best places to take kids in the area, period. There are many different parts to the museum, and we will do our best to describe them.

After we buy our tickets, our tour of the museum starts one of two ways. If we would like to spend most of our time outside, we head to the right behind the ticket counter. If we would like to do some inside touring, we head left. When we head left we walk past the first room which can be filled with intriguing special exhibits, but is usually filled with tables where you can build block sculptures. Up to this point, my kids have been a little too young to head into this room without knocking over something or chewing on it. Perhaps soon we can explore it, but until that point we will move on to the next room, the weather room.

We love to stop in the weather room. For a long time the cloud basin in this room was my son's favorite part of the museum period where he can dip his hand into the mist of a cloud. There's also the platform where a tornado can be formed which I'm never sure whether the kids are aloud to stand on or not and several globes with swirly liquid to twirl around and explore.

Next to the weather room is a room filled with all sorts of fun things to look at from sparking gemstones to dinosaur skulls. When my son was younger, under two, we breezed past this room because there didn't seem to be much to hold his attention. However, now that he's three, he's beginning to like to explore the room and examine all of it's exciting contents.

Next to the rocks and dinosaur room is the Carolina Wildlife exhibit. Both of my sons love this room. You enter the doors and say hi to the owl. Then you can enter the rest of the exhibit to say hi to snakes, alligators, frogs, turtles, possums, woodchucks, fish, and other North Carolina wildlife. Many of the displays are conveniently set low to the ground so the youngest walkers and kids in strollers can take a peek more easily.

After Carolina Wildlife comes the space area. When my son was very young we didn't spend too much time in this area either because it didn't hold his interest. Again, as he gets older he loves looking at the rockets, especially the one that you can actually walk into and press some buttons.

From there you can choose to go upstairs. Upstairs is an area that we haven't honestly explored as much as other areas of the museum. There are some interactive exhibits with shadows, beads, sounds, and some other math concepts as well as a lab that is occasionally manned by museum staff. It seems to us to be geared more for kids that are a little older, but please let me know if you have some favorite areas up there that we shouldn't miss.

From the space area and upstairs you can follow the museum around past the ant farm and bones exhibits which are fun to explore. My oldest son has started to enjoy watching the ants while my youngest actually sat in the bin of bones and took a look at them for a long time last time we were there.

After the bones is one of the best areas for young children in the whole museum. It's the kids' play area. It is divided up into two parts, one for young toddlers and one for older kids. The younger area is great because it's contained. This keeps this little ones in and the older ones out so that the young ones can get out of their strollers, stretch their legs, and play with locks on the wall, a little house and slide, and plenty of objects to touch, feel, and explore. The older kid play area (which is still geared toward fairly young children) has a little rock wall, ball/pipe system on the wall, blocks, a kitchen area, and much more. My kids typically spend a good amount of time in this part of the museum.

After a stay at the kids area, you can stop at the nearby restrooms and drinking fountains and head outside. When you first get outside you are greeted by a playground, which looks like fun, but my kids honestly haven't explored that much. What does everyone think of it?

The reason my kids don't typically explore the playground is because they make a beeline straight towards the pipes along the walkway where they can find sticks and hit them to make music to their hearts' content. My sons usually make music all the way to the water fountain area which is off of the left where kids can pump and shoot water and even dip their toes into into a stream of water or head to the sandbox with diggers, shovels, and excavators galore. Next to the sandbox is a real train caboose. While the inside is nothing spectacular, this seems to be a must for any toddler train enthusiast. They love it.

After we've explored this area, we head on down the sidewalk to the farmyard. In the farmyard, we enjoy saying hi to the donkey, goats, sheep, pigs, ducks, turkey, rabbits, and cows. They are so used to people that they are, for the most part, usually out for everyone to view and not hiding. This area is not quite as nicely paved as other parts of the museum, but it is still navigable for the strollers. While you're walking on the main sidewalk near the farm yard, make sure to look off to your other side and say hi to the museum train as is passes by, but we will tell you all about the train later.

After the farm yard, continue up the sidewalk to the butterfly pavilion. We love this place! There are two parts to the butterfly pavilion, the butterfly area, and a fairly large exhibit on creepy, crawly bugs. There's also a gift shop where you can get all of your butterfly gear as well as restrooms and drinking fountains. You enter the butterfly area through a series of doors meant to keep the butterflies in. Once you enter you are in a rainforest complete with plants, a river, and butterflies flying all around. There are even some birds that will scurry around your feet if you wait and watch closely. It's a great place to sit on a bench and just watch. You can even get lucky and show up when the caretakers are releasing new butterflies. About half way around there's a wall where you can watch butterflies come out of their cocoon which is really interesting to see. During certain seasons, you can head out a door at the back of the pavilion where you can see some more butterflies in an outdoor setting.

Once you leave the butterflies you can head over to see the cages of creepy crawlies. My son's favorite is always the colorful poisonous dart frogs, but you can also see ant farms, scorpions, centipedes, bugs that look like leaves, cockroaches, and more. If you don't like bugs, this is definitely not the room for you!

After the butterfly pavilion, you can stop by Grayson's cafe and sit outside with a snack or meal. Or you can just keep going to the train station. Don't forget...you HAVE to buy your train tickets when you enter the museum. You cannot get them at the station. The train leaves every half hour and has a short 10-minute loop where you head through the trees, pass the dinosaur walk, then head through a tunnel (where you have to scream as loud as you can), and by the museum walkway. The ride is short, but toddlers enjoy it. I do have to say, however, that both of my boys cried when going through the tunnel when they were very young, so keep that in mind. The museum offers several special events in relation to the train including the santa train and the new train ride to the pumpkin patch. These are fun, but you have to watch out because they sell out FAST!

After the train, you reach the dinosaur trail. The trail starts off with a model dinosaur that kids can touch and sit on. Then, you follow the trail around and see models of many other dinosaurs that are just for watching. I've found that the trail is a good length for new little walkers to practice stretching their legs. We head around the loop to the left first which brings us back by the fossil dig area at the end of our loop. This area is not so good for the littlest ones, but the older ones love it. I think when my sons get even older they will enjoy it even more. In the fossil dig area, you can take a shovel and dig for your own fossils. I even occasionally get pretty into searching for a prize, including the shark teeth scattered in the area. You can even take home your finds. I recently read a story about someone that had found a fairly rare valuable fossil in the dig area. Who knows what you'll find!

I have to say that we don't make it further than the dinosaur trail on a regular day, but the museum has plenty more to offer for the intrepid explorers. From there, you can take one path to take a look at some animals or head the other way to explore the wind area of the museum. This is all one big loop, but it is quite a bit of walking, so I would definitely have the stroller before attempting this part of the museum. The animal area has bears, wolves, and lemurs and the wind area has some sailboats you can drive yourself and other experiments to explore the nature of wind.

After the long walk back you can head inside the other door to the museum that you didn't take when you first went outside. It's on the other side of the playground. This one takes you back into the museum near the ticket counter. It's the way we head when we want to spend most of our visit outside. There's one more little stop before you make it back to the ticket counter and that's the music room. They have a floor that tracks your steps and plays noises depending on the way you walk. The kids love running around and playing some music on that floor. Just a word of caution, make sure they don't go too fast because my son did have a pretty nasty collision with another toddler on that floor.

On your way out, if you're feeling brave, you can stop by the gift shop. It's actually a nice gift shop, and I'm sure your kids will find all sorts of things they want there. It's a pretty good place to get little, interesting gifts if you need them.

By this point in the day, you're probably hungry. I know you probably wanted to bring in your lunch. However, that's not allowed. There is another option though. You can head across the street past their overflow parking and they have a great pavilion with picnic tables where you can eat your picnic lunch after you explore the museum. We've done this quite a few times. If you do have time to combine your museum trip with another excursion, you can stop by Edison Johnson Park which is nearby, or get a sweet treat at the nearby Pelican's Sno Balls or Goodberry's.

This is our take on the museum, but we would love the hear what you do when you go to the museum, especially any fun exhibits that we may have missed. So, please share your comments!

What we liked: We LOVE the museum! There's so much to do, and it's great to have a place where the kids can learn and explore so much right here in Durham. Our advice would be to get the membership because admission can be expensive and it is definitely worth it $125 for 4 people for a year)! They also have great special events and exhibits that are worth checking out, and kids can have birthday parties there for a fee.

What we would change: As we said, admission can be expensive (adults $12.95, children 3-12 $9.95, under 3 are free), but the membership can be a good option. However, they offer free admission for Durham residents on Wednesday afternoons if you can't pay the admission price. In addition, the outdoor areas can be a bit of walking, so be prepared for that if you want to check out those parts of the museum.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://www.ncmls.org/

Address: 433 W Murray Ave, Durham, NC 27704-3101

Phone Number: (919) 220-5429

Hours: Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 12pm-5pm (Closed Mondays at certain times of the year, so make sure to check before you head over on a Monday.)

Photos: Coming soon! Hey, it gives us another chance to head back to the museum and have some more fun!

Shiki Sushi

2011-09-17T18:11:00.000-07:00

My husband and I actually lived within a few miles of this restaurant for many years without ever stopping by. We headed on over for our anniversary based on recommendations that we kept on getting from different people and had a great time. I'm including it on the blog as a place to go for a great Moms Night Out. However, I've heard from several people that they have taken their kids. The verdict's still out on that one, so please weigh in and give us your comment if you have an opinion.

What it is: Shiki Sushi is a restaurant located in a the Homestead Market strip center, and it doesn't look like much from the outside. That's maybe why we waited too long to check it out. However, when you walk inside it is much larger than you think and the ambiance is that of a nice restaurant. They serve sushi and a wide variety of other Asian food. We sampled several of their sushi selections as well as other entrees. All of the food was delicious and we had a great date night out.

What we liked: We loved the surprise of finding this great restaurant hiding in our local strip center. We also thought the atmosphere and quality of the food made this a great place for adults to have a nice relaxing night out.

What we would change: While we were there, we did see some families eating there. However, the verdict is still out on whether this is a kid-friendly restaurant or not. I don't think I would take my son because he is such a picky eater, but some kids might enjoy it. Let us know your opinions.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://www.shikisushionline.com/

Address: 207 West Nc Highway 54, Durham, NC 27713-2491

Phone Number: (919) 484-4108

Hours: Open Weekdays 11am-2pm, 5pm-9pm; Weekends 12pm-8:45pm

And the Winner of our September Giveaway is...

2011-09-15T17:20:00.000-07:00

I'm so happy to announce the randomly selected winner of our September giveaway, winning a birthday party at The Fun Zone, is Maureen Churchill! If this is you, and you commented...

"What an amazing place. We would love to have a party there. I'm on my way to Facebook now to follow you!"

...simply send us an e-mail at scmomsgroup@gmail.com to claim your prize. If you didn't win, don't worry, just wait till next month, we've got another great local giveaway in the works that you're bound to love!

North Cary Park

2011-09-13T19:25:00.000-07:00

What it is: As park season continues, we continue our exploration of any new and interesting park we can find. This time we headed to North Cary Park. It was a new and interesting park to check out and definitely had some different features that we hadn't seen before. There was a good sized play structure to climb on, complete with mini zip rail for the older kids. On the other side of the play area was a large sand pit with a house to play in and two diggers to sit on. There were also two slides built into a hill so that kids could either climb steps to get to the top or just run up the hill to take their turn sliding down the slide. Nearby there were several steep boulders for climbing. This would definitely be for older children as the rocks were steep and tall.

What we liked: Our favorite part were the slides. My son is a little scared of heights, so normal slides scare him a little. Since these slides were build into the hill, they didn't feel like they were as high to him so he confidently ran up the hill and down the slide over and over again.

What we would change: The boulders were an interesting feature, especially if you like rock climbing. However, we would have liked it if there were some that toddlers could play on. As an adult, I even had trouble climbing them.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://www.townofcary.org/Departments/Parks__Recreation___Cultural_Resources/Parks_and_Greenways/Parks/North_Cary_Park.htm

Address: 1100 Norwell Blvd, Cary, North Carolina 27513

Photos:

1. Slide built into the hill

2. Sandy area

3. Play structure

4. Boulders

Trader Joe's

2011-09-11T17:15:00.000-07:00

**Welcome to our newest Stir Crazy Mom, Helene! Here's her take on her most recent visit to Trader Joe's. Thanks so much, and welcome to Stir Crazy Moms!

What is it: Trader Joes is a grocery chain that recently made its way to the Triangle. Trader Joe's is known for its low cost, high quality and wide variety grocery items. I always find something new and different to try. The store is also very kid friendly which makes it easier to get your shopping done too. They have a fresh produce section, packaged fresh meat, nuts and crackers, deserts, frozen dinner items galore, and a nice wine/beer section for the grownups (they are often sampling some too!). Their frozen meal options taste fantastic and are quick and easy for that busy day when you just don't have the time to cook. They also have awesome inexpensive (but high quality!) fresh flowers just when you walk in the store. It's always fun to stop and let your child smell the roses. There is always something new and different to try, so shopping is anything but boring!

Located in the Eastgate shopping plaza in Chapel Hill, Trader Joes is easily accessible from 15/501 and I-40. There is also a plethora of other interesting shops nearby.

What we liked: We love the "Customer in Training" shopping carts. They are a perfect size for your toddler or preschooler and allows them to push their own cart of groceries - surprises for Mom and Dad are sure to be picked up! My daughter loves to "help out" with our shopping, get her own snack and drink and tote them around the store. We also love the lively atmosphere, food sampling in the back of the store, and pocket friendly prices! You can enter to win $100 if you bring in your own grocery bag too. The Trader Joes team is super friendly and it's never hard to find someone to help you find what you need.

What we would change: The store can get pretty busy on the weekends making navigating the store difficult for your child and their cart. The store is also on the smaller side as well so that adds to the crowding and long lines/waits at checkout. The shopping center can also get pretty crowded making getting out (back onto 15/501 or Franklin St) take a bit longer. There aren't that many "Customer in Training" carts so you may need to ask if you don't see them.

Website and other information:

Website: http://www.traderjoes.com

Address: 1800 E Franklin St, Chapel Hill

Photos:

1. View from parking lot

2. Fresh Produce

3. Frozen food isle, some snacks and treats on shelves above

4. Toddler-in-Training cart out front

Lowe's Hardware-A Stir Crazy Dad's Opinion

2011-09-09T18:12:00.000-07:00

**Take a look at our newest Stir Crazy Dad, Scott's take on a trip to one of our favorite stores-Lowe's. Thanks, Scott! Turns out it's a great place for toddlers to explore (with a little adult guidance). For a little more Lowe's fun, check out our post on their "tractors".

What it is: Almost everyone knows what a Lowe's is, but now that we've got a toddler in tow, we thought we'd take her along to enjoy it and gain a fresh perspective on home improvement. It turned out to be a pretty good place for kids to learn and play!

What we liked: The paint aisle was fantastic. Our little one had the opportunity to get ahead of her peers by learning all the colors. Talk about prepared for Preschool! In the lighting aisles, our toddler enjoyed riding on Daddy's head and pulling on the sparkling chandeliers to hear them rattle. Lowe's also has an excellent selection of wooden blocks - some of the biggest we've seen. Many of them were too high up for our little one to grasp, but they provide a forklift for retrieving them and stacking them... and knocking them down again!

What we would change: Near the front of the store there was a good selection of our favorite Makita and Doug toys, but most of them were placed out of reach. We would have enjoyed letting our toddler try cutting out her alphabet with the skill saw, but holding her up that high gets pretty tiring.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://www.lowes.com/

Address: 4402 Fayetteville Road, Durham or 117 William Penn Plaza, Durham

Hours: M-Th 7 a.m. - 9 p.m., Fri-Sa 7 a.m. - 10 p.m., Su 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. (These are the specific hours of the Fayetteville Rd. location)

September Giveaway-Birthdays at The Fun Zone

2011-09-07T19:12:00.000-07:00

At last, it's time for another awesome giveaway from a fabulous local Durham business. We are so lucky that The Fun Zone is generous enough to offer us a giveaway for the second time! The Fun Zone offers drop off child care in downtown Durham as well as birthday parties and continues to be one of our most popular postings of all time.

For our September giveaway, The Fun Zone is offering one of their basic birthday packages. With this package you can have 2 hours of birthday celebration at The Fun Zone for up to 10 kids. There, they can have fun with all the great toys and activities that The Fun Zone has to offer. When the weather is nice they can also bring the fun outdoors for more riding fun. This birthday party package is geared toward children ages 2-6 years old. Check out their website for all the details!

To enter this awesome giveaway simply comment on this post. If you are a facebook, twitter, or blogger follower/fan, let us know in your comment to gain an extra entry for each. If you're not a follower or fan, simply become one and let us know in your comment to gain those extra entries. You will have until next Wednesday September 14 at midnight to enter. Then, the winner will be drawn randomly and announced. Once the winner is announced they have a week to respond before a new winner in chosen.

Thanks for being such wonderful readers, and enjoy this great giveaway from a great local Durham business!

Navitat

2011-09-05T18:29:00.000-07:00

With Labor Day, came the itch to get out of town and go on an adventure. So, this Stir Crazy Mom decided to head out to the mountains for a little vacation. This destination is a little further afield, but great for an adult's getaway adventure or a new experience with your family with older children.

What it is: Navitat offers canopy tours in the mountains of North Carolina via zip lines, rappelling, and suspension bridges. It is located about half an hour north of Asheville. So, it's probably about 4 hours away from Durham, great for a weekend getaway. We headed out there on Saturday morning and had a fabulous experience. They've only been open about a year and a half and stress an environmentally friendly adventure experience. While I went with my husband and left the kids at home, you can take anyone over 90 lbs on the trip.

We spent 3.5 hours hopping from tree to tree in the beautiful North Carolina forest. There were 10 zip lines ranging from 100 to over 1000 feet. The tallest tree platform is 50 ft. and the highest off the ground that we were on a zip line was 250 ft, but don't worry, there are plenty of harnesses and buckles to keep you safe. You don't need any particular skill to enjoy the day, just a willingness to learn. When you're soaring between the trees at speeds of up to 40 miles an hour, you realize how great of an experience your having.

What we liked: The experience was great! It felt relatively safe while still exciting at the same time. We liked how we were also able to learn something about the forest while we were on the tour. We enjoyed this as a chance to get away as a couple and reconnect. However, I can also see how this would be a great experience for the whole family to do together.

What we would change: Of course, the most difficult part of this adventure for us Durhamites is the distance. It's a bit of a trip, but it's worth it. Besides, there's so much to do in the Asheville area that there will be plenty of other activities with which to fill your trip. In addition, it's not cheap. The 3.5 hour canopy tour is $90 a person.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://www.navitat.com/

Address: 242 Poverty Branch Rd., Barnardsville, NC 28709

Phone Number: 828-626-3700

Photos:

1. One of the suspension bridges

2. One of the highest zip lines on the course (The tiny speck in the middle is my husband flying across.)

3. One of the platforms

4. Our guide zip lining across

Kelly Road Park

2011-09-02T17:10:00.000-07:00

What it is: One of our friends spotted this park while on a bike ride. Even though it was a bit of a drive (off of Hwy. 64 in Apex), we decided to check it out, and boy are we glad we did! This has got to be one of my favorite parks in the area already! Kelly Road Park is made mostly of wood. There are two different sections-one for the bigger kids, and one for the toddlers. Both areas are full of wooden platforms, pathways, bridges, ramps, and countless hiding spots. This playground has swings, sandboxes, a model wood boat, cargo nets, rings, covered picnic tables, vending machines for drinks, restrooms, and anything else you and your child's hearts could desire in a playground. We loved it! There were so many different nooks and crannies to hide and play in that we definitely didn't discover them all in one trip. We will certainly be heading back there soon!

What we liked: It is such a unique playground. I haven't seen any other ones like this in the area. The sheer amount of *stuff* to climb and play on will lead to endless entertainment for kiddos. It was also nice that they had two separate play areas for the different ages, but my little ones spent most of their time on the big play area anyway.

What we would change: It is a sunny playground, so make sure to have sunblock and a hat. It would be perfect for a shady or cooler day. Watch out for the ants! We made the mistake of setting our diaper bags down on the ground. When we picked them up, the ants had already made their way in and found the snacks. Closed-toed shoes would also be recommended for that reason.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://www.apexnc.org/services/parks-recreation-cultural-resources/park-facilities/kelly-road-park

Address: 1609 Kelly Road, Apex, NC 27502

Photos:

1. The play area for older kids-doesn't that just look fun?

2. Another view

3. The area for younger kids

4. A close up of one of the structures

Whippoorwill Park

2011-09-01T18:22:00.000-07:00

What it is: We hit this park up on a day when we were exploring all of the fun that North Durham has to offer. It definitely would have been great to pair up with a stop by Pelican's Sno Balls which is just around the corner! This was a nice big playground set back away from the road in the trees. It also has some tennis courts and a baseball field. The playground itself has two structures-a bigger one for the older children and one geared towards the younger kids. There were also swings and benches for everyone to enjoy. My kids enjoyed both structures-the younger one was definitely good for my one year old. They were fairly typical play structures, but the kids enjoyed them.

What we liked: The playground was big and had a lot of space. The structures were also interesting and had enough to keep our kids entertained.

What we would change: We went the day after Hurricane Irene visited and there was a lot of mud that had drifted down from the hills to the edges of the playground. While I feel like it wouldn't be that bad if the weather was drier, I don't think that mud was just a result of the recent rain and it might be a little bit of a problem at other times.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://www.ci.durham.nc.us/gis_apps/parkapp/park.cfm?selVal=park&ParkNam=WHIPPOORWILL+PARK

Address: 1632 ROWEMONT DRIVE 27705

Photos:

1. A view of the whole playground

2. The structure for the big kids

3. The smaller play area

Superman Juice

2011-08-30T18:14:00.000-07:00

**Thanks to our new blogger Cleo for this great toddler recipe. I can't wait to make it for my super picky little man. Welcome to Stir Crazy Moms Cleo!

If your budding toddler is anything like mine, it's a battle to get them to eat anything other than chicken nuggets, hot dogs, and goldfish crackers. Luckily, my little one will readily gulp down smoothies and juices of all colors and consistencies. Hurrah! Here's our recipe for green juice, or as my kid calls it, "Superman Juice".

Superman Juice

- 3 to 5 leaves of kale, pulled off the stalks (you can also substitute spinach)
- 2 apples of your choice, roughly chopped up (we use granny smith and red delicious, but fuji or pink lady would be awesome too)
- 2 or 3 stalks of celery
- A squeeze or two of fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup of water

Throw everything into your blender or juicer (we have a Ninja blender that I could rave about for an eternity but that's another post for another day), and strain contents into a tall glass. Add as much leftover pulp as you like / as much as your child can stand (I usually throw a spoonful in there - gotta have fiber).

Here's the key: throw half of the green juice into your kid's sippy cup and add a splash of their regular juice (berry, apple, orange, it doesn't matter). You drink the other half. It's a win-win situation. Cheers to your health!

1. The materials

2. In the Ninja blender

4. Straining

5. Half for you

6. and half for your toddler!

Jared The Galleria of Jewelry

2011-08-28T17:34:00.000-07:00

I was so excited when I found this! I think it's one of the most fun hidden treasures that we've found, so enjoy!

What it is: Most people have seen the commercials or the storefronts for Jared's. It's a great place to go to for beautiful jewelry. Not a place I get to shop in very often, but they have very beautiful things. I recently received a ring for a gift, and I needed to head somewhere to get it sized and appraised, so I headed to Jared's. I had to bring both my one and three year old sons, and I didn't know how it would go to bring both of them into a fancy jewelry store. We headed in and immediately we were greeted by a very friendly salesperson. She looked at us and immediately ushered us over to the kids' area! That's right, Jared's has a kids' area! They had a separate room with a TV playing a movie, a video game TV, a climbing area, toys, and a picnic table. What a great idea! The kids played happily while I got all of my ring sizing taken care of and even looked in some of the pretty display cases.

What we liked: We thought this was a brilliant idea! This gives you the opportunity to fulfill all of your fancy jewelry shopping needs, even with your kids present. No excuses for your significant other to not go jewelry shopping...the kids can come! While I still don't anticipate shopping there everyday, I think this was a very nice innovation for a store that is typically thought of as one of the least kid-friendly type of stores.

What we would change: Of course, it's not a kids' play area, it's a nice jewelry store. You must still keep an eye on your kids. There's no door on the kids' area, so they're not completely contained.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://www.jared.com

Address: 6813 Renaissance Center at Southpoint, 6813 Fayetteville Rd. Ste. 104, Durham NC 27713

Hours: M-S 10AM-9PM, Sun NOON-6PM

Orchard Park

2011-08-25T10:25:00.000-07:00

Another beautiful day in Durham-Another beautiful park in Durham!

What it is: This time we headed to Orchard Park which is located near Forest Hills and Lyon Park in Durham. You could easily combine a trip to this park with a trip to one of the other nearby stops. This park did not have much equipment, but it had other features that recommended it as a fun stop for you and the kiddos. The playground only had a slide, swings, and a sandbox, but my kids enjoyed all of these features while we were there. The playground was surrounded by a large grassy field where the kids could run and play. They also had a large picnic shelter next to a beautiful community garden. One of the most unique features was the foundation/remains of an old greenhouse. When we saw it, we thought it looked like a maze, and the kids had a ball running around it and trying to hide from each other.

What we liked: We loved the old greenhouse. It's so nice when you can find a unique feature at a playground that the kids really enjoy. In addition, the proximity to the other playgrounds in the area makes for a fun outing.

What we would change: The playground equipment was minimal, so kids might lose interest in that park of the playground pretty quickly.

Website and other information:

Website: http://www.ci.durham.nc.us/gis_apps/parkapp/park.cfm?selVal=park&ParkNam=Orchard+Park

Address: 1000 SOUTH DUKE STREET 27701

Photos:

1. the picnic shelter with the garden behind it

2. The maze-like greenhouse remains

3. More greenhouse

4. The little play area

Lyon Park

2011-08-23T18:04:00.000-07:00

As the weather cools off slightly and playground equipment is no longer quite so scorching to the touch, I can feel park season coming on. The cool fall weather makes me want to hang out at the parks all day long. So, in tribute of park season I thought I'd tell you about another great Durham park that we just found.

What it is: Last week we headed up to Lyon Park which is located near Forest Hills park. It's a small park, but was a nice diversion from our usual haunts. It consists of a swing set with regular swings and bucket swings, a really interesting play structure, a basketball court, a covered picnic table, and a little path with a bridge. We were able to spend a fun morning there.

What we liked: We loved the play structure. It was unusual, and that made it very appealing to our toddlers. There were nets to climb, wiggly plastic platforms to "surf" on, and a really tall (slightly dangerous), slide which the kids liked to ride with a little assistance from their moms. The path with a bridge was also entertaining for the kids. My kids always like to hang out by bridges and grab little sticks to throw over the rails.

What we would change: While the play structure was great for our three year olds, the littler ones didn't have as much to do. The couldn't climb on as many things and just wandered around looking at the structure. In addition, even though there was a fence, there was a break in the fence in between the play area and the swings, and that break led to a fairly busy road. You definitely have have to keep an eye on the kids when they're near the gate. The slide is also fairly tall and a little dangerous for kids to use by themselves.

Website and other important information:

Website: http://www.ci.durham.nc.us/gis_apps/parkapp/park.cfm?selVal=park&ParkNam=Lyon+Park

Address: 1200 W. LAKEWOOD AVENUE 27707

Photos:

1. The path leading from the play structure to the basketball court.

2. The play structure

3. The swings

Great Wolf Lodge

2011-08-21T18:35:00.000-07:00

What it is: Great Wolf Lodge is a large 80,000 square foot indoor water park located in Concord, NC, near Charlotte. Indoors they have water slides, pools and rides appropriate for different ages, an arcade and live-action adventure games for older children. Outside they have a zero entry outdoor pool and min golf.

What we liked: Great Wolf Lodge is a great water park for children of all age. Located 2 1/2 hours from Durham, it makes for a great weekend or 2-day get away. They have a lot of activities and rides for toddlers. They have an entire section for toddlers with splash rides, water slides and zero entry pool up to 1 1/2 feet (Cub Paw Pool). For the more adventurous toddlers there is a wave pool, and 4 story tree house with larger water slides (Fort Mackenzie) that they can ride on their own. Our son who was 2 1/2 was a bit reluctant at first to go on the larger water slides by himself. After watching other kids he went down and we could not pull him away. Lastly they have lots of planned activities like treasure hunts and story times with animated characters including a night time story time where all of the kids get dressed in their pajamas.

The suites in the lodge were very spacious, clean and comfortable. We stayed in the 'Wolf Den' Suite which has bunk beds with a cave theme. We were able to save money by signing up for an upgrade to this suite based on availability. This cost less money than if we had originally reserved the suite.

Everything was very contained and convenient within the lodge including the activities, story time, arcade, ice cream shop, and various restaurants such as Dunkin Donut and Pizza Hut Express. There are also a lot of restaurants located within a one mile radius outside of the lodge so you don' t need to go very far to eat.

You can also make two days of the water park because they allow you to stay until 5pm the next day.

What we would change: They have strict requirements on height for various water slides and rides. At the time our son just missed the cut off for a few rides to go on with us. So it felt like what he could go on was a bit limited.

It can also be very pricey but they do run specials and offer discounts throughout the year. We went on a Sunday and Monday night since it was cheaper. You can view the deals for different months on their website or you can sign up to receive e-mail offers.

Website and other important information:

http://www.greatwolf.com/concord/waterpark/?s_kwcid=TC|15988|charlotte%20NC%20lodge||S|b|7229017980

Link for all activities and rides for toddlers:
http://www.greatwolf.com/concord/explore/toddlers

Address:
10175 Weddington Road
Concord, NC 28027

Reservations: 866.925.9653

Resort Direct: 704.549.8206
Fax: 704.549.8207
Email: ncinfo@greatwolf.com

Photos:

Fort Mackenzie in background with indoor pool in front

Indoor pool with floating tree trunks to cross

Bottom of water slide at Fort Mackenzie

Triangle Town Center

2011-08-19T20:00:00.000-07:00

Malls in the area have been a great place for us to retreat with our little ones when it's too hot or too cold or too rainy outside and they just need somewhere to get a little energy out. The malls don't have to cost anything, there's lots to looks at, and usually there are several activities specifically for children in the mall. These factors have led us to track down all of the nearby malls we can find. We had one more to track down, so here's our report on Triangle Towne Center.

What it is: Triangle Town Center is a mall just north of Raleigh off of I-540. We'll admit, it's a bit of a hike from Durham, probably the furthest afield of the malls we've reported on. But at only about 1/2 hr. drive away, it's another new and different diversion if you're looking for some indoor fun for your kids. Triangle Town Center is the newest of the area malls, and as far as a mall, it's nice. It's open and airy and has lots of fun shops. However, what we're focused on is the kids.

So, when we arrived we made a beeline to the Sears wing of the mall where the kids' area was. The area itself was similar in size to the one at Southpoint. However, they didn't have the fun activities on the wall of the area for the kids to play with. There were several big sculptures to climb up, slide down, and crawl through. Next to the play area was an area with more of the coin operated vehicles for kids to play in. However, the part that immediately caught my oldest son's eye was the train! That's right, there's a train in the mall, and when it choo-choo's around the kids' area as it does every 15 minutes or so, all the kids turn, stare, and then burst into tears begging their parents to let them ride it. At least, that's what happened to our son. So, we ended up letting him see the mall on a very short ride from the vantage point of the train.

After the train ride and the play area became less interesting we wandered the rest of the mall. They had a food court with a small carousel to entertain the little ones, and one of the mega jump activities found in so many malls right now. Right next to the jump area was a nice little toy store called "Play N Learn Toys". While they were a very small store, they had the largest selection of Melissa and Doug brand toys that I've seen in a toy store. The best part was that they had a little playroom in the back where the kids could take a breather and play while we could browse the shop. Great idea! We had to check out the glow in the dark putt putt golf center across the mall from the toy store. It looked like a great activity to come back and check out another day.

What we liked: We like the new and open feel of the mall. In addition, they had a train! This makes it completely awesome in the mind of a great majority of three year olds. Having a toy store is always an added bonus for a mall, and of course, since it's two story, they had escalators we could ride.

What we would change: The play area seemed VERY crowded and full of big kids. This seemed to be a much bigger problem than it was at the other mall play areas we've checked out. My sons didn't last long in there because they were too worried about being stepped on. They had the same height restrictions as other area malls, but people certainly weren't following the rules.

Website and other important information:

Website: www.triangletowncenter.com

Address: 5959 Triangle Town Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616

Phone Number: 919.792.2222 x250

Hours: Monday-Saturday 10am-9pm, Sunday 12pm-6pm

Photos:

1. An aisle of Play N Learn Toys

2. The food court with mini carousel

3. The coin operated vehicles

4. The TRAIN!

5. The play area

Three-Fer Thursday: Marbles + Imax + Roly Poly Sandwiches

2011-08-17T19:08:00.000-07:00

Welcome back to one of our favorite features-Three-fer Thursdays! Enjoy!

This three-fer Thursday is a great way to stay indoors on one of those sultry NC summer days. Start your morning by going to Marbles museum (http://bit.ly/j7iohZ). Then head over to see a movie at the IMAX theatre (http://www.imaxraleigh.org/). Right now they have a documentary showing in 3D called “Born to be Wild” (http://www.imaxraleigh.org/nowshowing/BW01). It’s a wonderful documentary narrated by Morgan Freeman about orphaned elephants in Kenya and orphaned orangutans in Borneo. I took my 3 year old son to see it and he lasted 35 of the 45 minutes. He even kept the 3D glasses until nearly the end of the movie at which point his attention was waning and they became a toy. Then we headed back to Marbles for some more play. We ended our morning with a delicious lunch at Roly Poly Sandwiches (http://www.orderrolypoly.com/). They are attached to the IMAX and thus conveniently located right next to Marbles. They offer an enormous menu with yummy hot and cold wraps, soups, salads and kids meals. It’s affordable, casual and very kid friendly.

When to go: Get to Marbles early at 9am when they open to beat the crowds. Catch “Born to Be Wild” at 10am or 12pm or “The Ultimate Wave Tahiti” (http://www.imaxraleigh.org/nowshowing/UW01) at 11am. Then head back to Marbles for some more play or head over to lunch at Roly Poly. You could always head back to Marbles after lunch as well since there is so much to see there.

What to bring: Camera, normal diaper bag must-haves, light snacks and drinks

What it’ll cost you: You can buy a combo pass for IMAX and Museum entrance for $9.95 for kids and $12.95 for adults. If you are a member of the museum the IMAX documentaries are buy one get one free. Kids’ sandwiches at Roly Poly cost $2.95 or $3.95 with drink and pasta or potato salad. Half sandwiches/wraps (6”) average about $4 and regular sandwiches/wraps (12”) average about $6. So it is a very affordable lunch option.

Advisories: During the summer there a lot of summer camps and during the school year there are a lot of class field trips that visit the museum so it can get crowded around 10:30 or 11am. But if you get there early enough you can beat the crowds and head to an IMAX movie as it starts to get more crowded.