Three-fer Thursday: Marbles Museum+The Pit+Videri Chocolate Factory

I know, it's Friday, and this is a Three-fer Thursday post, but I wanted to make sure to squeeze this post in-full of great activities for a summer day.

For this day, we will head on over to downtown Raleigh and explore some of their finest kid-friendly options.  Start your day at 9am at Marbles Museum.  This museum is a fabulous place for kids to run around and explore all day long.  From climbing in all kinds of vehicles to climbing to sailing in a model pirate ship to building cars and huge lego buildings, this place can keep kids busy all day!   One of our problems with Marbles has been that it is a little pricey because you have to pay for adults as well.  However, we just heard that on the first weekend of every month, Bank of America cardholders can get in for free, so we look forward to taking advantage of that little piece of information.

Once lunch time rolls around, head less than a mile down the street to The Pit for lunch.  This is a great BBQ restaurant.  They have kid-friendly meals, yummy adult eats, and hush puppies for everyone to munch on.  Our one difficulty with this place is, because it's so good, they typically have a long wait, but if you time this Three-fer to either do a late or early lunch, maybe the wait won't be too long.

Finally, after you finish at The Pit, head across the street to Videri Chocolate Factory.  This can be a great stop while you wait for a table at The Pit, or for a little sweet treat after your meal.  They have a small factory you can tour with a few free samples, and delicious chocolates you can buy.  They also have a coffeeshop if that's more your speed.  

Variations: If you don't want to pay the money to head to Marbles, you can also visit another museum in Raleigh that just so happens to be FREE.  The NC Museum of Natural Sciences and it's newly opened Nature Research Center can also be a great place to spend a morning or day.  Plus, it's less than two miles from The Pit!

When to go: I would head down to the museums when they first open so that you can enjoy as much time there are you need.  Plus, they are usually a bit less crowded right when they open.  That way you could head to The Pit for an early lunch at 11am when they open and hopefully miss the crowds there too.

What it'll cost you:  Admission to Marbles is $5 per person, and you'll have to pay for parking at either Marbles or the NC Museum of Natural Sciences.  The Pit will run you a little more than your typical BBQ restaurant.  Kids' meals are all $6 while adults meals for lunch will run you around $10 an entree. To tour Videri is free, and you can get a little chocolate treat for a couple of dollars.  The easiest option for parking at the Pit is valet, but you will have to pay for the tip with that option.  The parking across the street is for the Videri Chocolate building, but you may run into problems parking there if you go to The Pit first.

What to bring:  Just bring your wallet and diaper bag and have a great day exploring downtown Raleigh!

Three-fer Thursday: Stay & Play Snack Cafe + Bien Aime Consignment + Lilly's Pizza

Spring is finally here!  So, we decided to make this Three-fer one that you could enjoy by taking a stroll in the lovely weather through downtown Durham.  There are so many great places to check out now in the beautiful Bull City that it was hard to narrow down this Three-fer to three stops, but here goes.

To start off your morning, drive to downtown Durham about 9am and head to Stay & Play Snack Cafe.  You can park right across the street in a parking garage for just a few dollars or find some nearby street parking.  Then, head in to Stay & Play for a relaxing morning of play and fun for the kiddos and coffee and snacks for you.  When the kids get hungry for snack time-for mine that's usually around 10, you can get them some delicious, kid-friendly munchies in the super cute muffin tin snack trays, and your kids will love them!

Once your kids are happily worn out and maybe a little tired, that's the time to head over to Bien Aime Consignment store to do a little shopping for beautiful upscale kids clothes, accessories or gear.  It's only a .7 mile walk away from the Stay & Play Snack Cafe, but your munchkin might even fall asleep in the stroller on the way over after a morning of hard playing.  Because it's a consignment store, you're sure to find lots of great items at completely reasonable prices, so you don't have to feel guilty about indulging in a little shopping.  If you feel like doing a little shopping for yourself you can even head next door to Fifi's or Uniquities and do a little shopping for yourself.

Once you have shopped till you dropped, your kiddos might be recovering from their morning of playing at the cafe and they might be getting a bit hungry, so why not head just around the corner for a little lunch at Lilly's Pizza.  They have delicious pizza including kid-friendly cheese pizza for little picky eaters like mine.  After a delicious meal, you can stroll off all of those calories on the walk back to your car which is still only about .7 miles away.  (If you don't feel like walking through Durham, you can also easily move your car from the garage near Stay & Play to one of several parking lots near Brightleaf Square which are in between Bien Aime and Lilly's.  Bien Aime does have its own parking lot, but it is only for customers at the store so I wouldn't stay there for lunch.) 

Variations: There are so many different variations on this outing I don't even know where to start.  Instead of Stay & Play you could start at a Main Library storytime or just browsing through their kids section or at one of the parks nearby downtown such as Trinity Park or Duke Park.  For the meal portion of the outing you could stay over by Brightleaf and head to Parker and Otis instead or venture further back into downtown to head to other kid-friendly meal spots like Dames Chicken and Waffles, Bull City Burger and Brewery, or Tylers.  Oh, and you could definitely add dessert after your meal and the options are almost endless (The Cupcake Bar, Monuts, Scratch, The Parlour, etc.).

Enjoy, have a great time with all the fun that Downtown Durham can offer!

When to go:  I would do this Three-fer on Wednesday-Saturday because Stay & Play and Bien Aime are closed on Sunday and Lilly's is closed on Monday and Tuesday.  Keep in mind that Stay & Play opens at 10am on Thursday, so if you head there on a Thursday, move this Three-fer to a little later in the day.

What it'll cost you: At Stay & Play admission is $4.50 for the first child and $3 for each additional child.  Snacks there are $1 per snack and you'll pay a little more for drinks or other snacks.  It's $1 to park in the parking garage across the street.  You can spend a lot or a little at Bien Aime depending on how much willpower you have.  Whole pizzas at Lilly's range between about $10 and $25 per whole pizza. 

What to bring: Just bring yourself, diaper bag, wallet, and definitely your stroller if you plan on walking between stops. 

Three-fer Thursday: Defy Gravity+Gigi's Cupcakes+RDU Airport Observation Park

It has been a while since we did a Three-fer Thursday, so we decided to tell you about a great morning of fun that we enjoyed a few Fridays ago. 

Your morning will start off early.  You'll want to arrive at Defy Gravity off of Page Rd. at 9am.  (You can buy your tickets in advance online so you're ready to go when you get there.)  From 9-10am they have a special jump time for kids under 6.  This means that you can go jump for your hour session without being jumped on by bigger kids.  Plus, at that time, parents are free, so it just costs $8 per kid.  We always have a ball every time we go, and we're worn out after our hour there.

After your hour of jump time at Defy Gravity it will be 10am and your munchkins will be hungry.  So, I added in a little excursion for a sweet treat at Gigi's Cupcakes which is just 5 miles down the road in Brier Creek.  You can stop in and eat your sweet treat there, or you can take it to go and eat it at the airport after a picnic lunch.  Both ways are delicious.  I don't know if I could save the cupcake long enough to make it to the airport.

Once you have picked up or devoured your sweet treat, head just 3 miles over to the RDU airport observation park.  This is always one of our favorite stops because what kid could resist watching airplanes?  So, don't trust google maps when being directed from Gigi's Cupcakes to the observation park.  (They take you the long way.)  Use the directions below.  Once there you can watch the planes from the raised platform or just play on the pretend runways or sandbox.  We always like to finish a stop at the airport observation park with a picnic lunch at the tables provided. 

What a great morning!

(Directions from Gigi's to the airport observation park-Head south on Brier Creek Parkway.  You'll probably have to turn right out of the shopping center and make a U-Turn on Brier Creek Parkway.  Turn left on Lumley Rd.  Then make a right on Commerce Blvd.  Continue on as the road turns into International Dr.  Turn left at Business Street, and then right into the observation park parking lot.)

When to go:  The little kids jump time at Defy Gravity is from 9-10, and Gigi's Cupcakes opens at 10.  You can head to the airport whenever and for as long as you want.

What it'll cost you: As we said, Defy Gravity is $8 per child and free for adults at that time.  Don't forget to purchase your tickets in advance just to make sure it doesn't sell out, and ask them for their stamp card.  If you come a certain number of times you can get a visit for free.  A cupcake at Gigi's is $3, and the airport park is free.

What to bring: Bring clothes that are comfortable for jumping because everyone will want to join in on the fun, and a drink after your jumping is nice.  Just bring your wallet for your trip to Gigi's, and sand toys and a picnic lunch are always fun to have at the airport.

Three-fer Thursday-Relaxing at Renaissance Village

I don't know about you, but since school has started and all of the fall activities have started back up, I'm looking for some ways to entertain the little ones that are a little more relaxing, a little calmer and low key.  I'm looking for a nice quiet way to spend an afternoon but still get out of the house.  So, here's a great way to head out in the afternoon for a little activity and fun.

Now, this Three-fer starts with the need for some kiddo haircuts.  I don't know how my boys' hair grows so fast, but it seems like we are always in need of a haircut, and if I attempted that myself, they would end up looking pretty scary.  So, I always head to Sport Clips in the Renaissance Village Shopping Center near Southpoint in S. Durham.  They are reasonable priced and the boys like the atmosphere.  Plus, they are used to dealing with kids and give them a good haircut. 

However, if Sports Clips isn't your thing or you're in the market for a little more entertaining haircut, head across the shopping center to the new location of Peek-a-do.  It's located right next to Tomato Jake's and is also a great option for a kid haircut.  While they are a little pricier than Sports Clips they offer more amenities like train tables, treats you can buy after a successful haircut, vehicles kids can ride on while they get their haircuts, and TV's they can watch. 

So, whatever you choose, you can get your kids a haircut and then head just next door for a little entertainment.  We love stopping by Petco for a little toddler entertainment.  We typically start at the small rodent area, watch the hamsters in their wheels and ferrets in their tubes, then breeze past the fish, see if there are any lizards, observe the birds flitting around, check if there are any cats for adoption, and maybe even watch the puppies getting their own haircuts in the grooming salon.  The kids love it and it's a pretty low key way to get some entertainment.  Hopefully you can also pick up what supplies you need for your own pet.

After your adventure through Petco, you can finish off this Three-fer with a stop at neighboring Moonberries.  This is one of the latest froyo craze, and it's pretty yummy.  The kids love getting the self-serve yogurt and then picking their own toppings.  Plus, you can control the portions they get and what you want to pay for it, so it can be a fairly inexpensive sweet treat. 

Variations: There are several variations on this Three-fer that you could do if you still have not filled your afternoon yet.  You could also stop by Michaels to check out their inexpensive bins of treats for kids or you could head over to Target in the same shopping center and do the same.  Finally, to make the afternoon and evening really easy you could head right into Tomato Jake's and get one of their slices of pizza to split or any other yummy treats for dinner.  You could even save the trip to Moonberries until after the dinner at Tomato Jake's.

When to go: We like this stop for a relaxing afternoon, but there's no reason you couldn't spend a morning wandering these Renaissance Village shops. 

What it'll cost you: The haircuts at Sports Clips are about $14 dollars a piece plus tip and a few dollars more at Peek-a-do.  You can bring money to get your furry, feathered, or fishy friend a treat at Petco or just see the sights, and Moonberries will cost you about $3 per yogurt depending on how full you fill your bowl. (It's 40 cents an ounce.)

What to bring: You won't need anything except your diaper bag and wallet for this Three-fer although you may want some wipes for the frozen yogurt stop.  The great part is if you go to Petco, Sports Clips, and Moonberries you can park the car once and walk up and down the sidewalk to get to each stop. (no loading the kids in and out of the car!)  Peek-a-do and Tomato Jake's are also just a careful walk across the parking lot.

Three-fer Thursday: Crowder Park+Jason's Deli+Pelican's SnoBalls

This Three-fer is all about exploring Cary.  Last week I headed over to Crowder Park in Cary and had a great time, and since it is a bit of a drive from Durham it is perfect for a whole morning Three-fer adventure.  That way, you're not heading all the way over to Cary for just one thing.

So, to start out this Three-fer, head to Crowder Park.  This is a great park which many of our readers have said is their favorite park in the entire Triangle area.  It has one great large playground and two smaller ones. While the large playground can keep my little ones busy for a long time, once your little ones are ready to move on from the playground you can walk a short distance down a trail to a great little pond with a trail around it.  The pond is filled with turtles and has some great overlooks.  

After some outdoor fun at Crowder Park, head back the way you came about six miles to Crossroads shopping center in Cary.  It is a bit further away from the park than we would usually do for our Three-fers, but it is directly on the way back to I-40 and Durham, so this stop works perfectly.  Our stop in the Crossroads shopping center is Jason's Deli located at 210 Crossroads Blvd. in Cary.  We have posted about Jason's Deli in Durham, and the fabulous kids menu and buffet are exactly the same at both locations.  So, it's a very kid-friendly stop for lunch after a busy morning playing at the park.  If Jason's Deli is not your lunch destination of choice, don't worry, Crossroads shopping center has many more for you to choose from.

The next part of this Three-fer was suggested by one of our fabulous readers, and I thought it would be the perfect end to a great morning.  After your lunch at Jason's Deli, head a quick mile down the road  to 2815 Jones Franklin Rd. to Pelican's SnoBalls.  This is another Durham favorite that we discovered had a location in Cary as well.  This location also has 18 holes of mini golf, but we would probably save that for another adventure.  You can just choose a sweet treat from Pelican's 100-or-so flavors to choose from, enjoy, and then make your way back to Durham with some worn out little ones.  

(Keep in mind, the links to Pelican's and Jason's Deli in this post will take you to our entries on their Durham locations, so when figuring out directions, please use the Cary addresses in this post.)

When to go: We planned this Three-fer for the morning, so you could end up at Jason's Deli for lunch, and Pelican's for a post-lunch treat.  However, on a cooler day, you could also head to Crowder Park in the afternoon and do Jason's for dinner and Pelican's for dessert.  

What it'll cost you: Crowder Park is free, Jason's Deli will cost you $5-10 for each meal, and a sweet treat at Pelican's is only a couple of dollars per snow cone depending on what size you get.  

What to bring: You won't need anything out of the ordinary for this Three-fer, just diaper bag and wallet for lunch.  

Three-fer Thursday: Chapel Hill Community Park+Evos+Trader Joe's

Just found out that the Chapel Hill Community Park is temporarily closed for resurfacing (thanks GoAskMom and MominChapelHill), but don't worry it will reopen very soon!  I've got great timing, huh? :)  Until Chapel Hill Community Park reopens, just head to Cedar Falls Park.  It's also pretty close by.)

For this Three-fer we're headed back over to Chapel Hill.  It would be great for a day when you have a little grocery shopping to get done but also want the kiddos to have a little fun.  To start the day head over to Chapel Hill Community Park which has got to be one of my favorite parks in the area.  There's just so much to do.  They have swings, two great play structures, picnic tables, hills for running around, trail access for biking, and a beautiful rose garden for looking and sniffing.  It seems like my boys never get bored when we head over there.  The park is easy to find, located just off of Estes Dr. across the street from University Mall.  There's a nice big parking lot so you won't have any trouble finding parking either.

When you are finished playing and start to get a little hungry, just head out of the parking lot.  A left on Estes, right on Franklin, and right onto Ephesus Church Rd. into the Shops at Eastgate will take you to Evos which is only about a mile away.  Evos is a little restaurant located almost next to Trader Joe's in this shopping center and it's a great place to take kiddos for a bite to eat.  The advertise their restaurant as doing "feel good fast food" and they have all the same foods that my children love cooked in a healthy manner including hot dogs, chicken strips, and "airbaked" fries.  You can read about all of their healthy choices on their website. (http://www.evos.com/)

Once you have had a delicious healthy lunch you can get on with your errands.  I know that so many of our readers love to shop at Trader Joe's...who doesn't?  So, after your kids are sufficiently worn out and well-fed, you can stop  next door at Trader Joe's and grab your groceries.  Don't forget to check out their delicious frozen meal options, great produce section, and my favorite their wonderful selection of snacks!  You can hit this stop last so you don't have to worry about keeping any refrigerated items in a hot car and then head home with everyone happy!

When to go: I thought this Three-fer would be great for a morning.  You could head to the park early before it gets hot.  Then, head over to Evos for an early lunch.  Finally, pick up your groceries and head home in time for nap time.  However, this would work in the afternoon too once the days get cool enough and the play structures aren't so hot from the sun.

What it'll cost you:  The playground is free.  The restaurant will cost you $5-10 per person, and Trader Joe's will cost you whatever you would like to spend on yummy groceries.

What to bring: Bring your diaper bag, snacks for the playground, a stroller or riding toys for the kiddos if you would like to take advantage of the trails at the playground, money for the restaurant, and bags for all of those groceries.

Three-fer Thursday: Trinity Park + Parker and Otis + Amtrak Station

Well, I've been wanting to write this Three-fer for a while now, but I keep sitting down to write it and realizing that it's Monday, or Saturday, or some other day that's not Thursday.  At last, it's Thursday, so I can bring you our latest Three-fer Thursday Adventure!


For this Three-fer, you start off in between Duke's East Campus and Downtown Durham in one of Durham's beautiful neighborhoods called Trinity Park.  In Trinity Park there is a lovely little playground and park.  This playground sits at the corner of Trinity and Watts streets.  So, all you have to do is pull your car right on up and park on the street.  The park has several distinct sections including a larger play structure for the older kids, and a smaller area enclosed in a fence.  Yes, I said it, you can keep your little ones contained in a fence, yay!  We just went there last week with my two year old and had a very relaxing playtime on the smaller structure which was just his size.


After your play at Trinity Park, hop back in the car and head a mile down the road to Parker and Otis.  Parker and Otis is a great little restaurant filled with all manner of delicious eats and gifts to tempt you in every different way possible.  For parking, there are several lots available.  There are some off of Main St. and some off Peabody.  There's also a lot across Duke St. from Parker and Otis that is free and is right next to the train tracks.  However, you do have to cross Duke St. to get to the restaurant and it can be tricky to get to from Trinity Park because of one way streets.  Finally, you could just use street parking.  


Once you have selected your perfect parking spot simply head in.  There you can choose from any number of delicious eats to satisfy a snack craving or hunger for any meal.  They have a delicious meal menu, countless baked good and chocolates, and coffee.  They also have a large section where you can buy gifts, wine, toys, whatever you can find!  It's a great place to just look around although there are quite a few things right at toddler level for grabbing!  You can sit and enjoy your food for as long as you want.  However, our next stop is on a schedule.


Once you have eaten, head on over to the Amtrak Station for a quick train viewing.  I wouldn't move your car, I would just head right on over across Duke St. from Parker and Otis to the parking lot we mentioned earlier that is right next to the train tracks.  From there, you can watch over a low fence as trains come in to the station and passengers load and unload.  It's always a fun, and quick stop for any toddler.  The trains are scheduled to come in at  7:17am, 9:42am, 12:17pm, 2:33pm, 5:24pm, and 7:48pm so I would probably try to view the 12:17 and then head home for nap time, but you could vary this Three-fer to work for any schedule.   Keep in mind, however, if you're trying to view the last train that Parker and Otis does close on the early end-at 7pm most days, 8pm on Friday, and 3pm on Sunday.  One caution-on of our recent train outings, the train was pretty late, so the trains can run off schedule sometimes.  


When to go: You could really do this Three-fer anytime.  I had it planned out for a morning adventure.  However, you could easily do it in the afternoon as well.  Your limiting factor is really the train times.  So, plan the other two stops based on what train times fit in to your schedule.  


What it'll cost you: This one is pretty inexpensive.  Trinity Park is free, You will have to pay for whatever you order at Parker and Otis which can range from a cup of coffee or cookie (which are huge) or a whole meal, your choice. If you choose to park in the parking for Brightleaf Square patrons, you might have to pay.  Finally, it's free to stand and watch the trains pass by.


What to bring: Just bring your standard diaper bag and your appetite-no special equipment needed for this one!

Three-fer Thursday: Brier Creek Community Playground + Gigi's Cupcakes + Brilliant Sky Toys and Books

Anyone who's been reading the blog the past couple of weeks will not be surprised to hear that we're headed up to Brier Creek for this weeks Three-fer.  We've had some fun exploring that nearby part of town, and don't worry, we're adding in some variations for older kids too.

We start this Three-fer at the Brier Creek Community Park.  This is a great little park, especially for the little ones.  There's a picnic shelter, field for playing, fantastic train play structure, and a small structure with small slides to play on.  There's also a trail going around the park if you need a little more exercise after you play.

Once you've gotten all of your energy out and are feeling a little hungry, head 1.4 miles down Brier Creek Parkway to Gigi's Cupcakes located in Brier Creek Commons.  Stop on in and pick out some delicious beautiful cupcakes from their rotating daily flavors.  You can sit outside at one of their outdoor tables and enjoy your sweet treat.

Then, once you've satisfied your sweet tooth, you don't even have to move your car to head across the street to Brilliant Sky Toys and Books.  It's a new toy store with so much to explore and a couple of play areas including a train table to keep your kids busy while you shop.  There is so much to look at that you could spend ages, so head on in and check it out!

Variations: Since the Brier Creek Community Center Playground might not have as much to entertain the older kids, I had to give you guys somewhere to head with the older ones.  Instead of going to Brier Creek Playground at the beginning of this Three-fer, you could head to the RDU airport observation park to start your day.  You could watch planes and play in the sand until you get hungry.  Then, head just a few miles down the road to get your cupcakes and pick up the rest of the Three-fer.

When to go: Brier Creek Community Center Playground and the observation park and the airport are basically full sun, so you may want to check out these places early in the day before the sun really heats them up.  Then, you could make the cupcakes your morning snack, followed by the toy store to round out a fun morning.

What it'll cost you: The playground is free, the cupcakes are 3 dollars a piece, and the toy store can cost you whatever you choose to spend.

What to bring: Bring your sunblock for the playground or airport, bring your appetites (and possibly wipes) for your stop at the cupcake shop, then just your eyes and potentially wallet for the toy store.

Three-fer Thursday: Forest Hills Park+Bull City Craft+Nanataco

Welcome to another Three-fer Thursday!  For this one we went back to one of our favorite corners of Durham. In fact, one of our other Three-fers took place in basically this same corner of town, but there's so much to there that we had to bring everyone back.  We will start this Three-fer at one of our favorite parks, Forest Hills.  It's located in Durham off of University Dr. just north of its intersection with 15-501.  You can head over there and play on their play structure, swings, in the field under the trees, or on the bridge.  Or, if it's summer, you can play in the water feature which is always one of our favorite hot weather activities.

After you've had your fill of hot and tiring play, our next stop is less than a mile south on University at Bull City Craft.  We would time this so that you arrive at Bull City Craft at 11am on Monday-Thursday for their preschool playcraft.  During this time preschool aged kids can engage in lots of creative crafts, plus there are plenty of materials for other aged siblings.  If you can't make it at that time, don't worry because they have drop-in crafts that you can create at any time.  These crafts include birdhouses, beaded jewelry, fabric tote bags, and more.

After you've gotten out all that energy and creativity you and your kiddos might be a bit hungry.  So, at this point,  you don't even have to move your car, just head across the street to Nanataco.  They have delicious food and a kid-friendly environment.  My kids loved the quesadilla, but there are also tacos on the kids menu.  The guacamole is some of the best I've ever had.

Variations: As we've said  before, this is one of our favorite parts of town because there's just so much to do. Instead of Forest Hills, you could go to one of our favorites-Rockwood Park which is actually just off University Dr. as well.  If you're not feeling Nanataco, you could head next door to Q-Shack for your kid-friendly lunch instead.  Then, if you still have any energy after this Three-fer, you can add a fourth activity and head back across the street next door to Bull City Craft to Local Yogurt for a delicious dessert after your meal. Yum!  So many options!

When to go: Like we said, we'd start this Three-fer in the morning so you can make the 11am playcraft at Bull City Craft.  That means you could head to the park about 9 or 9:30 to get plenty of playing in before the craft.  Plus, with summer rapidly approaching, getting to the park early while it's still cool is always a plus.  However, if you'd rather do this Three-fer in the afternoon you could.  Maybe stop by Bull City Craft first for a drop-in craft, then to an early dinner at Nanataco, then finish the evening off with some play before it gets dark at Forest Hills.

What it'll cost you: The park is free.  The playcraft time is $5 for the first child and $4 for each additional child.  Drop-in craft prices are listed on their website.  At Nanataco entrees cost between $5 and $10 with lots of opportunity for several dollar add-ons.  Kids meals are $4.  Don't forget about their milkshakes and margaritas for around $3-6, a little treat for everyone.

What to bring: For the park, you can bring a swimsuit, a change of clothes, and a towel if you'd like to take advantage of their water feature (open in the summer).  For Bull City Craft and Nanataco, just bring your creativity and appetite.  Enjoy!

Three-fer Thursday: Duke Gardens+Blue Corn Cafe+Francesca's

This Three-fer Thursday we head up by Duke University to check out some great kid-friendly stops.  To start out, pick a day with beautiful North Carolina weather and head on over to the Duke Gardens.  The Duke Gardens are sprawling and beautiful, and there are so many things you could choose to do--run on the lawn, marvel at the beautiful flowers and plants, watch the birds in the lake, or just wander and see where a path takes you.  It's a great place to wear out some kids.

After wearing out your kids at the first stop, head on over to Ninth Street for a little refreshment.  While Duke Gardens is at West Campus, Ninth street is a block away from East Campus.  Fortunately, it's only about a mile down the road.  Once there, park in the lot and head to Blue Corn Cafe for lunch.  If the kids have any energy left, there is actually a kids' play area in the back of the restaurant (or at least there was the last time we were there).  So, you can sit and enjoy your meal, and if your kids get twitchy, they can head to the kids' area and play.

Once you have had your fill of deliciousness, you might be craving a little something for your sweet tooth.  That's easily accomplished on Ninth Street.  Just head out of the restaurant and walk a few doors down to Francesca's for a little gelato, yum!

Variations: Wow, there are so many variations on Ninth Street that you could add to this Three-fer.  If the weather is bad and you can't make it to the gardens, don't completely avoid this Three-fer, just head to Ninth Street and start at Playhouse Toys or The Regulator Bookshop.  You can easily spend some decent time at both of these stops.  Then, if Latin American food at Blue Corn Cafe is not your thing, you can head up Ninth Street and have a meal at the equally kid-friendly Elmo's Diner.  For dessert, if you're not feeling the gelato, you can stop by The Ox and the Rabbit for some shakes.  There are so many options, so prepare to have some fun!

When to go: You could head to this Three-fer in the morning with your meal at lunch.  Or, you could do this Three-fer in the evening for a dinner meal.  Keep in mind that Blue Corn Cafe is not open on Sundays and Playhouse Toys is not open on Sunday or Monday.

What it'll cost you: You will have to pay to park at the Duke Gardens, and that cost will vary depending on how long you stay.  So, plan on bringing around $5 for parking.  Then, entrees at Blue Corn Cafe will cost you $5-10 for lunch or $10-15 for dinner.  Francesca's will be another couple of dollars for your gelato.

What to bring: Bring money and your diaper bag.  You may want to bring a blanket to lay on the lawn at the Gardens or a ball to kick around, and definitely bring your camera for some cute kiddos in the picaresque gardens.  For the Ninth Street park of the excursion, just bring your appetites!

Three-fer Thursday: Hank Anderson Park + Carr Mill Mall + Elmo's Diner

After our fantastic food tour in Carrboro a few weekends ago we decided to devote this Three-fer Thursday to the great city of Carrboro.  It's not too far of a drive from Durham and a great place to spend a day.

We would start our morning at Hank Anderson Community Park off of Highway 54 in Carrboro.  This is a great park where you can walk around a lake or play at one of two playgrounds right next to one another.  Your kids can play on the bigger structure with the rock walls and tall tubes and slides or they can go to the smaller play area and play on the smaller slides and tubes or musical structures.

After wearing out at the playground, you can head 2.6 miles up Main St. to Carr Mill Mall.  There you an your kids can head to Weaver St. Market for some fresh local groceries and goodies, or further into the mall to Miel Bon Bons for a delicious handmade chocolate.  However, our first stop in the mall would probably be Ali Cat toys.  After all of the outdoor play at the park, this would be a great place to calm down and look at some creative and interesting toys.

Once you have explored the mall, you might be feeling a bit hungry.  Not to worry, Elmo's Diner is also located in Carr Mill Mall, so you can stop by one of our favorite kid-friendly eateries for breakfast, brunch, or lunch.  My kids love their chocolate chip pancakes.

Variations: We would be remiss if we went on an outing to Carrboro and didn't give you the option of stopping by the local farmer's market.  It is continually voted among the best in the entire country by various sources, and one of the neatest things is that the farmer's who sell at the market also have to be actually present at the market.  Instead of going to the park, you could head to the market which is just down the street from Carr Mill Mall and within walking distance from it's parking lot.  So, on a Saturday morning, you could head to the market and sample local produce, cheeses, and other delicious treats.  Keep in mind that there is also a playground that we haven't explored right next to the farmer's market, so there is a chance to blow off some energy and check out the market.  Once you've explored the market, you can head over and continue the Three-fer at the mall.

When to go: As we said, you can check out this Three-fer in the mornings, but make sure the mall establishments are open if you head over on a Sunday morning.  You could also do this Three-fer in the afternoon and hit Elmo's for a dinnertime treat.

What it'll cost you: The park is free.  The mall is free to wander, but you'll have to pay if you sample treats at Weaver Street Market or Miel Bon Bons.  We know that toy stores can be expensive places if you want them to be, but you don't have to buy anything at Ali Cat.  Elmo's will probably average about $8-10 per person for your meal.

What to bring: Bring your diaper bag and any money that you need and be ready to have fun!

Three-fer Thursday: Northgate Mall+Jake's Wayback Burgers+Westover Park

Hooray!  It's time for another Three-fer Thursday!  This time, we're headed over to the Northgate area of Durham.  This Three-fer starts off at Northgate Mall.  We have always found this mall a lot of fun for the kiddos.  However, it's not so useful for actual shopping.  Start your fun at any point in the mall.  We would hit the carousel for a little horse riding.  Then, find one of the areas filled with ride on vehicles.  My kids can play on these vehicles for hours with our without the quarters needed for making the vehicles move.  Once they have lost interest in the ride-on vehicles you can pay to head into the bouncy house or the bungee jump stations, or take a ride on the new train that travels around the mall.  We haven't been on the train since it arrived, but the boys were so interested the last time we saw it so we know we will be back to try it soon.  If you head to the mall it the summer, you can also head to the outdoor area to check out the water feature, but you might bring a change of clothes if you venture out there!

(Keep in mind, a few things at the mall have changed since our post on the mall...Sea of Learning has closed (boo) and the stationary train has been removed, replaced by the free-moving train.)

Once you've exhausted the mall, we would head to the food court for an early lunch.  On our last visit to Northgate we checked out Jake's Wayback Burgers which opened in November in the food court.  There you can enjoy some delicious burgers and dogs and even more amazing fries.  For beverages you'll have to make the tough choice between the new entertaining Coke Freestyle machine with 100 options for soft drinks or their milkshakes...tough choice.  If you have a more picky eater on your hands, there is also a Chick-Fil-A in the mall for your dining pleasure.

After a yummy lunch, leave time to burn off a little of those calories.  Head back to your car and  head practically across the street to Westover park (It's actually a few blocks North on Guess Rd.).  This is a small park, but my boys had a lot of fun when we visited with play structures, swings, trail access, and a field for running.

When to go: You could do this Three-fer in many different ways depending on nap times.  The fun at the mall opens with the mall at 10 (except on Sun. when if opens at noon).  So, you could head there first as we mentioned, then have an early lunch around 11, and hit the park before afternoon nap.  If you don't have the constraints of nap, then your schedule is much more flexible.  If you would like to start earlier and the weather was warmer, you could do the park first, then as the day heats up, head inside to the mall and finish with a delicious lunch.  Conversely, you could do this Three-fer in the afternoon by heading to the park after nap, then the mall, and finish with dinner at Jake's.  The possibilities are endless.

What it'll cost you: The park is free. The cost of the mall is variable.  Each entertainment will cost you between $1 and $5 dollars.  So, you could keep it cheap by exploring the ride-on vehicles without paying.  Or you could live it up and do everything from the train to the bungee jump to the carousel.  Finally, Jake's Wayback Burgers was definitely on the more expensive end of food court dining averaging about $10 per adult and $5 for a kid's meal.

What to bring: Bring your diaper back and supplies, change for the ride-on machines if you would like to use them, and be ready to have some fun!

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

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.

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

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!

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

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!

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

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. 

Three-fer Thursday: Witherspoon Rose Culture + The Learning Express + Panera or Peony Asian Bistro (+ Home Depot)

I hope everyone's enjoying the amazing weather. It feels like SPRING--I guess it already is--and in honor of such a momentous occasion this week's Three-fer Thursday is devoted to one of my favorite Springtime activities.  Not cleaning, not starting a shiny-new exercise regiment, not even watching a new anime (although I am doing that).  No, I'm talking about SHOPPING.  That's right, ya'll.  Hide your wallets.

Witherspoon Rose Culture +  The Learning Express + Panera or Peony Asian Bistro (+ Home Depot)

Start your morning off right by parking at the Panera Bread on Witherspoon Rd. (off of 15-501.  Then walk on over to Witherspoon Rose Culture (http://www.witherspoonrose.com/). This is an amazing place.  It's right in the middle of the Home Depot parking lot off of 15-501, but it's like a little pocket of rose-preserve-happiness.  They have their own pond, rows upon rows of decorative planted roses, roses to buy, green houses of roses to buy, gazebos, paths to run, etc.  Enjoy the sun and take some time to run around.  You may even want to grab a little rose bush to plant later on.

After you've gotten some good run time, cross the street again.  You can stop for a little playtime/shopping at The Learning Express.   They even have a nice little half-wall of cheap goodies, so you can usually get out of there with a special treat for your kiddo for a few bucks.  The staff is very friendly, too, so they don't mind if you browse.  There are lots of trains and play-kitchens to check out, after all.

By now you may be hungry.  If so, you have a number of options.  You can hit lunch at Panera, which if you've been reading Three-fer's, you already know that I have an irrational attachment to (what can I say?  They keep giving me free pastries with that card-dealie!).  You can get some Chinese at Peony Asian Bistro.  We haven't written them up before, but they are this Stir Crazy Mom's favorite Chinese in Durham.  They use no MSG or additives, have great mapodofu, amazing Mongolian Beef, and even sushi and Thai (although I haven't tried their sushi or Thai menus, so I can't speak for them).  If you haven't had good Chinese in a while, have some here.  Chinese food is amazingly pre-schooler friendly.  Everything's already in bite-size pieces and you'll never run out of rice.  And if you're in the mood for something else, there's a subway, a pizza place, and even a Cold-Stone Creamery.

(I'd go for Chinese, though.  And then maybe a coffee at Panera. :-))

At this point you can either go home or keep going.  If the weather's nice, keep going.  Walk all the way down to Home Depot.  On the way, you can stop by the pet store and look at fish.  Or hit Total Wine and buy yourself a bottle of Riesling for Mommy-time.  Or even look at shoes at DSW, longingly, and recall how there was a time in your life when you wore heels.  Either way, when you get to Home Depot you can check out the gardens and wander some more.  You may even want to pick up some strawberries for your kid to plant!  When they finally grow, you can eat them with your wine.  

Oh, and the best part of this Three-fer:  It extends home.  If you did buy plants, come back and plant them with your kids.  Playing in the dirt is an awesome way to spend a sunny afternoon.  And you may even get flowers out of it!

when to go:  head out around 9:30 am and expect to head back before 2:00 pm

 

what to bring:  all the usual pre-schooler supplies.  If you need a diaper change, make sure to do it at Panera or The Learning Express.

 

what it'll cost you:  Well, that depends.  Did you buy a $40 rose?  Did you invest in some new Thomas toys?  How about Total Wine?  Did you buy the good Mosel Valley Riesling, or the almost-as-good $10 bottle?  Were you broke before you even got to lunch?  Spending's up to you.  

 

advisories:  Witherspoon doesn't really hit full-bloom until early summer, so you may want to save your visit for a time when everything's blooming.  All of these spots have standard hours, but you should check them anyway. Oh, and if you grab mapodofu or pepper beef at Peony Asian Bistro: do not let your kid eat those dried red peppers.

Three-Fer Thursday-Southpoint Mall Edition

Today's Three-fer Thursday is late.  And in honor of that occasion, it's all about TARDINESS.  Because if there's one thing that parenting has taught this particular stir-crazy mom, it's that I no longer possess the ability to get anywhere on time, ever.  So how do you make it to a lunch-date on time with kiddo-in-tow? You make sure you're there approximately three hours ahead of time.  Oh, and you pick your lunch spot accordingly:  Panera Bread at Southpoint Mall.

Panera (coffee!) + Southpoint Play Area + Mall Walking + Barnes & Noble + More Mall Walking + Panera Bread (lunch!)

(I promise this isn't an advertisement for Panera.  But I do love Panera.)

Anyways, start your morning off right with a big ole' cup of coffee.  Get the plain, boring, black coffee. There are free refills, so you can keep your caffeination-IV going for the entirety of the morning.  Once you've filled up, stow your gear and warm up at the play area.

If you have a more reserved little one, show up around 9:00.  The mall isn't open until 10 so you can play without too much of a crowd.  If your kiddo craves lots of playmates, wait until 10:30.  That's when the calvary arrives.  Once you've both gotten your fill (my 2. yr. old can last up to about 45 min. before he gets bored), start walking.  

Here's my favorite route, starting at the play area:

--Head into JC Penny's and ride up (and down and up) the escalators.  If it's Spring, you can check out all the cool swimsuits that you'll never wear.

--Finish on the top floor and get a good bird's-eye view of the play area.  There are cool lights up here, too.  Totally worth checking out.

--Return to the first floor via the escalators in front of Belk.  Repeat as many as times as it's necessary.

--Swing by the play area and wave to the random people you ran into but aren't going to get to talk to.

--Keep walking.  Try not to look in the Godiva chocolate store (warning:  they have freebies).

--When you get to the Mall-Center (where Santa likes to visit), run through Williams & Sonoma.  They usually have something out for the little ones to sample, and they are super kid-friendly.  If you have an extra $250 on you (ha!), buy one of those awesome Le Crueset dutch ovens.

--Do some more escalating.  Nordstrom has an excellent selection of shoes and you can actually SEE them from an extended escalator-tour.

--Run into the food court and get some water.  It's free.

--Check out the open space and ginormous windows in the very back.  Play chase.  Ignore people giving you the eyebrow.

--Head downstairs and outside!

--Don't let the creepy golden-eyed fountain children look at you.  *Creepy.*

--But do enjoy splashing the water a *tiny* bit.  

--Go to Barnes & Noble and play with the trains on the second floor.

--AND... approximately one hour before your scheduled lunch date, start heading back to Panera.

Now.  Enjoy some lunch with your friend.  You have approximately 25 min. before you have to ride some more escalators.

when to go:  anytime!

 

what to bring:  you can pack super-light for an early-morning mall visit.  Just bring the basic necessities.

 

what it'll cost you:  coffee at Panera is under $2.  Lunch for two can run from about $8-$12  

 

advisories:  I guess the only thing you really need to watch out for is a mall closing.  But that NEVER HAPPENS EVER.  So enjoy!

Three-fer Thursday: All About Meadowmont

This week's Three-fer Thursday is once again venturing a wee bit out into Chapel Hill.  We hope you don't mind :-).  One of the great things about living in Durham is that both Chapel Hill and Raleigh are close!

All About Meadowmont:  Bean Traders + Trails/Playgrounds + Lickety Split + More trails

Head over to Meadowmont and park near the round fountain at Meadowmont Village Circle.  There's usually plenty of parking here, and since you're going to be taking advantage of some of the great retail options, you can park for the entire morning.  After you've spent ample time running around the big fountain, grab your stroller and head North up to Bean Trader's Coffee and grab a cup of joe and a snack for your little one.  You're going to need it!

After you've all refueled, walk North on Meadowmont Village Circle.  After you pass the Harris Teeter, turn left onto Sprunt Street.  You'll pass an intersection with the Meadowmont trails on your right.  You can tackle that another time, though... you're heading to a playground!  So keep walking until you reach Weaver Mine Trail.  Turn right here and get a nice tour of the ridiculously-awesome million-dollar townhomes towering over the middle of Meadowmont on your left.  When you reach Circle Park Pl (L)/Parkridge Ave.(R), turn right.  There's a nice little fenced in play area here.  You can at least burn 45 min. with some easy climbing and exploring here.

When you and your little one are ready for more travel, head North on Parkridge.  Take your first right onto Simerville.  You'll see another access point to the Meadowmont Trail system on your right.  Take it, get some good walking/running in, and follow it all the way back to W. Barbee Chapel Rd.  At Barbee Chapel Rd. turn left.  And... congratulations!  Bean Traders is right in front of you!

By now you're probably hungry for some lunch, so turn right back onto Meadowmont Village Circle.  Head to Lickety Split and grab hot dogs for everywhere.  You can play here for at least an hour--the kids can wind down a bit with reading, playing with their train table, and get hyper again with some great ice cream for dessert.  When you are all (re) wound up, stop by the car to pick up a soccer ball or frisbee, and head out again.

Head back to Barbee Chapel Rd., turn right, and turn left where the trail crosses your path.  There's a great field and pond directly past a little patch of woods front of you.  On nice days, you'll see people running, playing frisbee, and just hanging out.  You can do the same!  Let your kid run off some of that tasty ice cream and explore.  This is a hilly area, but it's pretty easy to keep an eye on your little ones.  When you're done--WHEW!--climb that hill and head back to you car.  

When it's summer, you can add in a swim at the Meadowmont YMCA and TRULY wear out your kids (and yourself).  If you're a member at the UNC Wellness Center, you can swim year-round.  And even if it's winter and chilly, Meadowmont is a great neighborhood to explore and enjoy a change of pace.

when to go:  anytime the weather is reasonable.

 

what to bring:  you're going to be outside, and you're going to be walking.  Bring a stroller, outside-play toys, sunblock, and all the regular toddler necessities.

 

what it'll cost you:  All you have to buy is coffee and lunch... you can spend as much or as little as you like at Bean Trader's.  A plain coffee is usually about $1.75, but snacks or specialty drinks (yum!) will run more.  Lunch at Lickety Split should be less than $15 for two.  If you want ice cream specialties, you may need to spend more.  

 

advisories:  as usual, check operating hours before heading out.

Three-fer Thursdays: Airport Observation Deck + Cracker Barrel + Carter Outlet Stores (Morrisville Outlet Mall)

This week's Three-fer is a cleverly-disguised shopping trip.  Sometimes, we have to have them.  So save this one for a big sale day or when the consignment sale is going on at the Outlet Mall.  You'll have some fun, and maybe even get some cheap-o goodies.

Start your morning off right at the Airport Observation Deck.  Despite it's relatively unassuming nature, it seems that the kiddos can spend hours here.  Bring a few sand toys for the sand play area; maybe an airplane or two to run down the runways.  If it's spring or summer, load up on bug spray and sunblock.  If it's chilly pack a hat... the wind is killer in the cold weather.

After you've thoroughly exhausted your little ones running around, head over to lunch at the nearby Cracker Barrel.  This one's off of Airport Blvd., so all you have to do is exit the airport (towards I-40, not 540), cross over I-40, and drive down about a mile.  Cracker Barrel is on the right, a little bit past a Schlotzky's Deli.

This one is RTP-Central so expect to wait at least 15 minutes on weekdays (longer on weekends).  Fortunately, we've never had to wait much longer than that, and there's plenty to entertain and distract in the Olde Country Store and out front, in the rocking chairs.  You'll be at your table before you know it.

They have a pretty extensive kid's menu, but our favorite is the veggie platter.  You can let your kid indulge in some mac and cheese (totally a veggie, right?) and *maybe* even sneak in some green beans or baked apples.  The biscuits and corn muffins are always a success, as well.  Just make sure your table has strawberry jelly.

After you've filled up head back over towards I-40.  The outlet mall is on your left, immediately before the highway.  Park near the Carter's Outlet and pick up some goodies.  If you've subscribed to their mailing lists, they send out a 15% off of a $50 purchase coupon about every two months.  You can really get some good bargains if you plan accordingly, shop the super-clearance, and tear through all of the bargain bins outside the store.

A seasonal kids consignment sale also takes place in the empty storefront directly across from Carter's.  It's best not to do both at once (Carter's will already be picked through), but the consignment sale is worth a trip out there on it's own.  Just make sure you're registered and coming on the appropriate day.

The Morrisville Outlet Mall is also conveniently empty (not for them, I suspect).  For parents and toddlers, it's a great place to walk around and explore.  You can shop but you can also run down vast empty halls, climb around on deserted stairwells, and even stop for a snack in the food court.  It's a fun, interesting spot, even though it's desolation is a bit confounding.

when to go:  plan this one for the big consignment sales, when you've got a coupon and a newly-sprouted toddler in need of pants, or even when you're grabbing a friend at the airport (as long as they don't mind tagging along!)

 

what to bring:  again, double up on sun and bug protection in the summer at the Observation Park.  Pack coupons.  And if the consignment sale is on, bring the minivan.

 

what it'll cost you:  $10-20 will easily cover lunch for two at Cracker Barrel (you can get off cheaper if you split an entree or order sides).  As for the shopping, that's up to you!

 

advisories:  double-check the Outlet Mall and the Observation Deck's hours before opening.  We've ended up in Raleigh ready to play at the airport only to discover it was shut down for one reason or another.  The Outlet Mall also seems to have strange hours.  Of course, Cracker Barrel is always open.  :-)