Love 2 Travel With Kids: July 2014

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Carowinds Height Requirements

Height Requirements at Carowinds Amusement Park © Katrena

Rides at amusement parks tend to have height requirements due to safety reasons. If you are visiting Carowinds, it is a good idea to stop at the height check station just to the left of the main entrance. That person will place a color-coded armband that indicates height to assist you in planning which rides are appropriate for those in your party.

Most rides have a minimum height requirement, and some rides will accommodate people within certain height ranges when riding with a supervising companion, denoted by SC in the chart below. A few rides have a maximum height restriction.

People who meet height requirements may still be unable to ride due to health conditions or the inability to fit into a seat. Although Carowinds does not post weight restrictions, riders must be able to fit in the seats and the seat belt or other safety devices must be securely locked on various rides.

Why did I make this chart? Well, it can be a little confusing when you have children of various heights. This chart shows only the land rides at Carowinds and does not include Boomerang Bay water rides. I checked the Carowinds official web site on the date this article was published to create this chart; however, some height requirements for certain rides have changed over the years, so it is helpful to double-check requirements when you arrive at the park.

I hope this format may help you to plan your day with as little frustration as possible - nobody wants to walk halfway around an amusement park to discover that their child does not meet height requirements, but those requirements are in place to help protect one's safety. Letting a child ride who does not meet height requirements could result in potential injury.

In case you're wondering...no, I don't work for Carowinds. I've visited the park since the 1970s and like to post helpful information on my blogs.

Height Requirement	Carowinds Land Rides (Note: SC=Supervising Companion)
Must be able to sit upright	Snoopy's Yacht Club Woodstock's Whirlybirds (under 42" must be accompanied by a SC)
Maximum Height 54"	Snoopy's Space Race
Minimum Height 36"	Charlie Brown's Windup (Maximum height 54") Scrambler Snoopy vs. Red Baron
Minimum Height 36-40"	Lucy's Crabby Cabbie (I'm thinking that children between 36" and 40" may ride with a SC while those taller than 40" may ride alone - at least one rider must be a child)
Minimum Height 40-48"	PEANUTS Pirates (I'm thinking that children between 40" and 48" may ride with a SC and those taller than 48" may ride alone)
Minimum Height 40"	Woodstock Express
Minimum Height 44"	Ricochet Woodstock Gliders (36" - 44" may ride with SC)
Minimum Height 46"	Boo Blasters Carolina Sky Tower (under 46" may ride with SC) Character Carousel (under 46" may ride with SC) Rip Roarin' Rapids Snoopy's Junction (under 46" may ride with SC) White Water Falls
Minimum Height 48"	Carolina Cobra Carolina Cyclone Carolina Goldrusher Flying Ace Balloon Race (under 48" may ride with SC) Dodg'ems, Hurler Rip Cord Southern Star (Maximum height 76") Thunder Road YoYo,
Minimum Height 52"	Windseeker
Minimum Height 54"	Afterburn Drop Tower Flying Ace Aerial Chase (Maximum* height 76", 44" to 54" may ride with SC) Fury 325 (Guests with certain amputations may check with Guest Services regarding eligibility to use a full body harness) Intimidator Nighthawk (Maximum height 81") Scream Weaver Vortex

Thanks for reading my article and visiting my Love 2 Travel With Kids blog!

Related articles:

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Safari in Your Own Back Yard – Fun Mini Summer Vacation on a Budget

Find Fun Things to do at Home © Katrena

Stuck at home this summer? You can turn your own backyard into an adventurous safari with a bit of help from nature. It's easy to miss the plethora of animals right outside one's door in the rush to getting the kids ushered off to school and yourself to the daily work grind. Summer might offer several days without a strict agenda. These are the days for fun memories!

Fun Summertime Activities for the Family © Katrena

Those who have no yard might take advantage of a porch or balcony, planning and planting a container garden, or you may find a nearby park where you can hunt for living treasures. Those with a yard might reap huge benefits if the area attracts a wide variety of wildlife.

Learn About Nature in the Back Yard © Katrena

When going outside, stop and listen. You might even have everyone sit and close their eyes. Perhaps you might hear a bird or cicada calling or a rustling in the nearby grass or bushes. As you look around, you might notice animals all around, from a busy ant to a motionless granddaddy spider.

Make Learning Fun © Katrena

One of the best parts of going on a backyard safari is the element of surprise. In the last week, my kids have been surprised to see a peacock, a juvenile hawk, a rabbit, and a turtle. You might see a whole new crew of animals at dawn or dusk. My kids love to sit and watch fireflies grace the evening with their dainty light show accompanied by the symphony of crickets with a bullfrog bass.

How to Encourage Kids to Enjoy and Protect Wildlife © Katrena

You can turn this backyard fun into a great educational opportunity by learning to identify the various animals using your own experience or a field guide. Check out some books or audiobooks from the local library to learn more about them. Hunt for online pictures and articles featuring common animals in your area. Learn about life cycles, camouflage, defense mechanisms, etc.

Hang some feeders and attract birds or other animals. Experiment with different types of food to see if some animals prefer one type over another. Notice how the animals eat and move from place to place. Add a birdbath and fill with recycled water if possible. Talk about conserving resources and how we might protect these animals for this and future generations. Research local and national news articles about conservation efforts and threats to wildlife.

Create a chart of common animals and watch for an hour, recording a tally mark for each one seen. We use a web site called Create a Graph to design fun graphs. Encourage math skills by comparing or adding the numbers or having the kids to convert some to fractions or percentages. If children can see math at work in one's life, they may be more likely to understand and retain the information.

Practice writing and imaginative skills by encouraging the kids to write a story about what they saw or did, or have them create a whopper of a tall tale by exaggerating the experience or animal on paper. Hone artistic skills by encouraging the kids to draw or paint animals they saw, perhaps creating a family collage. The family might try to create models of the animals with clay or shadows or design new, unique animals.

Your own back yard might be the perfect backdrop for a mini family vacation. It may also provide an inexpensive, fun educational opportunity and a way to unwind and connect with the family. Turning off electronic devices can help this time to be uninterrupted and special for everyone. Who knows? This simple excursion might be that day that you and the kids remember and cherish for years to come!

Additional articles:

Thanks for reading my article! You might wish to read more of my articles at: