Love 2 Travel With Kids: Carowinds

Showing posts with label Carowinds. Show all posts

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Carowinds Releases Fury 325 First Test Run POV Video and 1st Ride Auction

Carowinds Fury 325 First Test Run POV Video on March 4, 2015

There's a bit of a buzz around town about the new gigacoaster Carowinds is rolling out for 2015. Perhaps people are excited to imagine riding up 325 feet (about 30 stories) for that first drop at 81 degrees. Maybe people are thrilled at the thought of riding a track on a ride lasting three minutes and 25 seconds at speeds reaching about 95 miles per hour. Or perhaps folks are excited at the thought of watching this brand new ride as it zooms under the bridge at the front entrance of the park.

If you are interested in being one of the first 96 riders on March 25, Carowinds is offering an auction with bids being accepted through March 15. Note that riders of Fury 325 must be at least 54 inches. It might help to have a strong and perhaps empty stomach. If you'd like a sneak peak at what it might feel like to ride Fury 325, here is the POV video of the first test run on March 4, 2015.

Additional articles:

Thanks for stopping by Love 2 Travel With Kids!

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Carowinds Great Pumpkin Fest Daytime Activities in October

Carowinds Amusement Park in October © Katrena

In October, Carowinds begins to transform itself into two main themes. During the earlier part of the day, kids can enjoy a variety of fun and games geared toward October and Halloween. Many of these activities start after the park opens and some are offered on a schedule or between certain times. After dark, the amusement park becomes SCarowinds with elaborate frightening trails scattered throughout the NC/SC theme park.

October Musical Shows at Carowinds © Katrena

In 2013, Carwinds offers three October shows in the Peanuts Showplace near the back of Planet Snoopy. The Peanuts Spooktacular features Charlie Brown, Linus, and Lucy all decked out in Halloween costumes. This is a musical show featuring lots of fun tunes like Wooly Bully and Thriller and a bit of dancing and drama.

Puppet Show at Carowinds © Katrena

The puppet show encourages the audience to help Fraidy Cat get over Halloween fears. The Kiddie-Oke show encourages children to sing on stage, so this one in particular is dependent on audience participation. When we visited the Kiddie-Oke show, one child danced on stage for about a minute and then headed back to her seat. They asked if anyone else would like to sing or dance and when no children responded, they simply said the show was over.

Trick-or-Treat at Carowinds © Katrena

Quite a few children dress in costume to attend the costume parade and dance party. Stations are set up around Planet Snoopy where children can trick-or-treat. One type of candy is offered at each station. Kids can pick up a free trick-or-treat bag in the shop across from the Flying Ace Aerial Chase roller coaster. They will allow kids to trick-or-treat who are not dressed in costume and who do not have a bag.

Hay Bale Maze at Carowinds © Katrena

Those riding on Gr8Sk8 can get a nice aerial view of the hay bale maze located right in front of the ride. Kids are challenged to use critical thinking skills as they try to navigate from one side to the other. The maze paths are flanked by hay bales, but they are short enough that many smaller kids can easily see over.

Foam Zone at Carowinds © Katrena

The Foam Zone is another popular spot in the October-themed Carowinds mix. This area allows for the smaller kids within certain height restrictions to have a blast in the bubbles. Lots of children emerge from this area covered with foam and a big grin. Those sending kids into this area will be thankful to have an extra set of clothes for children who look like they have taken a bath in foam.

Fun October Activities Near Charlotte © Katrena

The older truck parked beside the Baby Care Center begins to work magic by making bubbles...and more bubbles...and more bubbles. Lots of kids and even a few adults headed to that area to pop a few bubbles or perhaps see a cool view of the Intimidator roller coaster through a "bubblescope!"

Daytime Halloween Theme at Carowinds © Katrena

A few other areas to note are the talking pumpkin named Peter, who interacts with the children standing nearby and a mural wall where kids are invited to color a scene and then see their work displayed on the wall near Snoopy's Junction train ride. They also feature a "mumpkin" patch where children can pick out a mini-pumpkin to decorate and keep.

Charlie Brown with Halloween Costume © Katrena

Charlie Brown was a hit with me. He was the lone character walking around for photo shoot opportunities. He was sporting his famous ghost sheet costume! The above activities were offered free of charge after entry into the amusement park. I would recommend picking up a paper with show times – we found some near the hay bale maze.

Spooky and Silly Decorations at Carowinds © Katrena

Is Carowinds scary in the daytime during October? For my family, the answer was a bit mixed. My youngest child is pretty scared of spooky decorations. Skeletons, coffins, and various other haunted décor line the walkways throughout most of the amusement park. Once we got over the Planet Snoopy, the scenery was pretty tame and not so scary, although my youngest tended to keep looking over her shoulder just in case a creepy skeleton had tried to follow us over there.

Readers may also wish to read:

Fun Family Activities for October © Katrena

Find additional travel reviews and articles by Katrena at the Love 2 Travel With Kids and Travel NC With Kids site maps.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Carowinds Planet Snoopy Rides – How to Get the Most Out of the Day

Tips for Visiting Carowinds with a Family © Katrena

Looking for tips for shorter wait times at Carowinds? These travel tips may help you to enjoy more ride time and less waiting.

The amusement park is generally less crowded on weekdays. Holidays, weekends, and special events tend to draw higher numbers. Arriving at Carowinds as the gate opens leaves one with an opportunity to ride significantly more rides. Choosing rides early that tend to have notoriously long wait times will give you the opportunity to skip those as the crowds increase while you enjoy the rides with faster moving lines later in the day.

View of Intimidator and Planet Snoopy from Carolina Skytower © Katrena

If you've never been to Carowinds, it helps to visit the official web site and study the map before visiting the park. The amusement park looks sort of like a big circle that lies on the North Carolina and South Carolina border with the front gate at one end and the water park at the opposite end. Those who are unfamiliar with the park can easily get turned around and end up wandering for quite a while to find a desired ride. While looking at the web site, determine which rides look most appealing to the kids and try to ride those early in the day.

How to Avoid Long Lines at Carowinds © Katrena

Get the children's height measured just inside the front gate on the left. Maps are also located in that area. If lots of people are waiting for height bands, grab a map and get the kids' height measured in the Baby Care Center behind the carousel in Planet Snoopy. If you are traveling with older and younger kids, you might consider having one adult hit the larger rides with the older children while another adult heads to Planet Snoopy with the smaller children.

Tips for Visiting Carowinds with the Kids © Katrena

If you have small kids, you will probably spend most of your day in Planet Snoopy, which is located on the SC side on the left after entering the front gate. The Intimidator Roller Coaster runs beside Planet Snoopy. If a child in your party is shorter than 46 inches, ride choices outside of Planet Snoopy and the water park are limited to:

Carolina Skytower (nice view and easy place to meet others in the group)
The Scrambler (be careful if anyone in the group tends to get sick on spinning rides)
Boo Blasters (smaller kids and some older ones may be scared on this one)

Rides for Small Kids at Carowinds © Katrena

Any ride involving small kids will take extra time due to seat belt checks. Some rides that allow only small kids may need to be stopped if a child is doing something unsafe or is starting to panic. Some kids might enjoy the shows, the food, or cooling off in the water park when Boomerang Bay is open.

Fun Rides for the Whole Family at Carowinds © Katrena

Rides to hit early in Planet Snoopy are:

Flying Ace Aerial Chase (this is to the right as you enter Planet Snoopy - fun coaster for the taller kids)
Woodstock Gliders (fun ride that even the adults may like - requires some skill to swing high on this one)
Woodstock's Whirlybirds (slow load time as each helicopter is small and the ride gets hot later in the day)
Snoopy's Yacht Club (this ride tends to get hot later in the day due to no shade)
Flying Ace Balloon Race (beware of this ride if you tend to develop motion sickness but this is another one that tends to have a higher thrill factor and is pretty popular)

Roller Coaster for Children at Carowinds © Katrena

The two roller coasters inside Planet Snoopy (Lucy's Crabby Cabbie and Woodstock Express, formerly known as the Fairly Oddcoaster or the Scooby Doo roller coaster) tend to load fairly quickly. Adults ride with the smaller kids, so the ride is less likely to be stopped once it is cleared to start. Smaller children that like roller coasters will probably enjoy these, and it is a good idea to ride these early if there is even a hint of rain or possible thunderstorms later in the day.

Fun Things to do in North Carolina © H.W.

Rides in Planet Snoopy that tend to have moderate wait times are:

Gr8 Sk8 (for taller kids, nice view - probably not one to hit right after eating lunch)
Peanuts Pirates (fun if you have several in your group and are riding in adjacent ships)
Charlie Brown's Windup (tiny swings that spin...if all of the kids are sitting in the seats)
Snoopy's Space Race (bring ear plugs if all the kids find the buzzer)
Snoopy vs. Red Baron (show younger ones what to do in order to get the plane to rise when loading)

Carousel at Carowinds © Katrena

Rides in Planet Snoopy that tend to have shorter wait times are:

Character Carousel (avoid inner horses if your child wishes to go up and down - loads large numbers at a time and the whole family can ride)
Snoopy's Junction (fun music - good choice if everyone has a full stomach, not much to see on the ride but loads fairly large numbers and the whole family can ride together)

Peanuts Characters at Carowinds © Katrena

Find additional Carowinds articles:

Carowinds – Practical Tips for Enjoying NC/SC Amusement Park with Kids

Favorite Family Rides at Carowinds – Top 5 Picks

How Tall Do You Have to be to Ride the Intimidator?

Roller Coasters for Kids at Planet Snoopy

Visit the Love 2 Travel With Kids site map for additional tips and ideas for fun things to do with children.

Monday, September 2, 2013

2013 SCarowinds Dates at Carowinds

Nighthawk Roller Coaster at Carowinds after Dark © Katrena

As the days grow cooler and the nights stretch longer in the Southeast, many people are looking for some frightful fun after dark with mazes, rides, scare zones, and shows at Carowinds. The amusement park on the North Carolina and South Carolina border offers spooky fun for those who like to be scared by more than roller coasters...but then again, many of the coasters at Carowinds give folks quite a ride as they sit, stand, or even lie down while heading down the track.

Intimidator Roller Coaster at Carowinds after Dark © Katrena

Carowinds provides a nice variety of roller coasters, and riding them after dark can offer a whole new fear factor to the experience. If you thought riding the Intimidator was rough when you could see each of those huge stomach-catching hills, try riding this 3 minute 33 second thriller after dark...if you dare.

Windseeker Ride at Carowinds Amusement Park © Katrena

Here are the dates for SCarowinds Halloween Haunt for 2013:

September 14, 20, 21, 27, 28
October 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27

People who do not hold gold or platinum season passes must purchase a separate SCarowinds ticket. Those who have Gold or Platinum Passes may bring up to 6 friends/pass for $24.99 each on any of the September SCarowinds dates. Gold or Platinum Pass holders may bring up to 6 friends/pass for $29.99 each on October Friday or Sunday SCarowinds dates. Carowinds does not offer SCarowinds Bring-a-Friend Saturday dates in October.

Hours for the haunted attractions include:

Fridays	7 p.m. - Midnight
Saturdays	7 p.m. - Midnight (open until 1 a.m. on 10/19 and 10/26)
Sundays	7 p.m. - Midnight

Carowinds Operating Days in September and October 2013 © Katrena

Carowinds also offers fun for the whole family during daytime hours in September and October, 2013. Small children and some older children and adults may be frightened by the nighttime SCarowinds events, and I would not recommend this activity for them. However, they might enjoy the rides and fun during the day when the temperatures are cooler. Daytime lines for rides in September and October may be shorter than lines during summer weekends. Boomerang Bay, the water park inside of Carowinds, closes for the season after Labor Day, 2013.

Here are the daytime hours for Carowinds in September and October for 2013:

September 2, 7	10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
September 8, 15, 22, 29	12 noon - 8 p.m.
September 14, 21, 28	10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
October 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27	10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Drop Tower at Carowinds © Katrena

These dates and times are based on the official Carowinds web site as of September 2, 2013. Feel free to check the official Carowinds web site for additional information and details.

I'd be thrilled if you'd like to read my other Carowinds articles with more of my pictures as well!

Find additional travel ideas at Katrena's Travel NC With Kids and Love 2 Travel With Kids.

Sunday, April 28, 2013

2013 Carowinds Bring a Friend Dates

2013 Bring a Friend Dates at Carowinds © Katrena

If you are looking for 2014 info, here's the article with the latest info I have found:

If you have purchased a gold or platinum season pass, one added benefit includes bring a friend dates. On these dates, a passholder may bring one friend to the NC/SC amusement park near Charlotte for a discounted price.

Carowinds Season Pass Benefits 2013 © Katrena

The biggest 2013 discounts offered are for Mother's Day and Father's Day at $14.99. These Carowinds bring-a-friend dates are:

May 12
June 16

According to their web site on July 14, 2013, additional 2013 dates for bringing a friend to Carowinds at a discounted rate of $19.99 are:

May 17, 18, 19, 27
June 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
July 4, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28
August 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18
September 1, 2, 8, 15, 22, 29
October 6, 13, 20, 27

Please note: I believe September 3 was on an earlier list of Bring-a-Friend dates, but I no longer see that date appearing on the official list.

Balloon Ride at Carowinds © Katrena

If visiting on a weekend, be prepared for a crowd. They usually have fewer visitors before noon on Sundays. If you plan to visit Carowinds several times in a season, you can save money by purchasing a season pass. You may find a discount by purchasing tickets online, and some season passes include free parking, which will save $15 per vehicle. Discounts on foods and drinks are also available for season pass holders.

See Dinosaurs at Carowinds © HMW

Season pass holders still pay extra for:

Dinosaurs Alive! (but they do have several dinosaur statues you can see as you walk around the park and you can get a quick glimpse of the exhibit from the top hill of the Woodstock Express or at the top of the steps while waiting for the Afterburn or while waiting on the track on the Afterburn while waiting to enter the starting point at the end of the ride)
Grand Prix Go Carts
Xtreme Skyflyer
Laser Maze
Mini Golf

Carowinds Water Park Ride With a Friend © Katrena

Friday, August 10, 2012

Boomerang Bay at Carowinds – Fun for Kids of All Ages

Boomerang Bay Water Activities at Carowinds © Katrena

Boomerang Bay is a fun water park area in Carowinds, an amusement park nestled on the borders of North Carolina and South Carolina just off I-77. When I was a child, I remember when the water park at Carowinds first opened. They had a wave pool and people would suntan on the roof of a large building over there. At that time, they charged an extra fee to get into the water park, so I would simply look at this part of the park from some of the highest hills of the Thunder Road roller coaster in those early years.

Wading Pool and Splash Pad at Carowinds © Katrena

Several years back, Carowinds made the decision to include the water park free with admission to the park, but I tended to gravitate toward all the awesome coasters they offer and would usually skip the water areas. Now that I have kids of my own, we tend to split the day between land rides and water fun at Boomerang Bay.

See Thunder Road from Boomerang Bay © Katrena

The water park at Carowinds has shorter hours than the rest of the park. Check the Carowinds official web site for specific hours for Carowinds and Boomerang Bay because they change depending on the day and month. They do provide life jackets for free use while in the water park. Although people are no longer allowed on any roof, lots of chairs are positioned around swimming and water play areas for those who wish to take in the rays or simply sit down and rest for a few minutes. Large umbrellas are in some areas for those who wish to stay in the shade.

Lazy River Water Ride at Carowinds © Katrena

Boomerang Bay is a great place to cool off and relax, particularly if the kids are getting hot and grumpy. Our kids are ages 10, 8 and 4, and each of them found something that they particularly enjoyed in the water park. We let them take the helm on deciding what to do, and it was interesting to see how each child picked activities that tended to showcase her own personality.

How to Have Fun in the Water Park at Carowinds © Katrena

Tips for Enjoying Boomerang Bay with the Kids

If you wish to avoid crowds, try visiting on a Tuesday or when it is cloudy (they do close water attractions if lightening is in the area).
Changing buildings toward the back and side of the water park may be less crowded.
Bring your own sunscreen and reapply as needed.
Sandals or flip flops are very helpful when the concrete walking areas get hot.
It helps to have more than one adult in the group if you have several children of different ages and interests, but there are quite a few fun activities that the family can enjoy together in the water park.

Below are some of our family's favorite activities at Boomerang Bay:

Fun Water Activities for Kids at Carowinds © Katrena

Kangaroo Lagoon and Wallaby Wharf

Kangaroo Lagoon and Wallaby Wharf are wading pools that have splash pad activities stationed in shallow water. All three of our girls loved this area. I believe the one in the back with the mushrooms is supposed to be designed for smaller kids, but all of my girls liked the one with the small slide and lots of different water sprayers. They do have areas where the kids can simply play in the shallow water without getting sprayed.

Kiddie Water Slide (Platypus Plunge) at Carowinds © Katrena

Platypus Plunge

Platypus Plunge is a kiddie water slide that offers tubes that an adult can ride in the back with a little one up front or kids between a height range can ride by themselves. All of my girls rode this one over and over. Even my 4-year-old was giggling all the way down. They have a lifeguard stationed at the top and bottom to help the kids get positioned and riding safely.

Jackaroo Landing

Jackaroo Landing is a big playground filled with water sprayers. A huge bucket fills and then will tip over onto a roof every so often. Many of the kids will station themselves so that they can enjoy the bucket's huge splash. Others may avoid that splash area at all costs! They do have a small water slide in this play area – this one tends to splash a bit more than the Platypus Lunge.

Crocodile Run

My oldest particularly enjoyed Crocodile Run, a relaxing and rather quiet water area. It is set up like a lazy river ride where you ride a water ring around a large circle. They do have a couple of spots where water will spray you from the sides and as you go under a bridge. I did not see any way to avoid the spraying, so you might want to walk to the bridge and look at the sprayers to determine whether or not the kids are ready for that surprise if you have little ones that might not like to get sprayed.

Pipeline Peak

If you have kids that are all about adventure, head for the water slides near the back at Pipeline Peak. My 8-year-old was absolutely determined to try the biggest water slide Carowinds offers. The line on the right takes visitors all the way to the top of the tower, and riders do not use tubes. This is the one that drew my child. Be prepared for a climb, but there is a nice view from that tower. The guy at the top mentioned that the black slide on the left was his favorite. This water slide is very fast and dark. A few tiny lights are located in the slide, but for the most part, you have no idea which direction you will turn and water tends to splash in your face as you careen to the bottom. This is a water slide for thrill seekers. Yep, my 8-year-old is definitely a thrill seeker and was ready to go again as soon as she made it to the bottom.

Other Water Slides

Carowinds also offers a nice variety of smaller water slides for those who want a thrill but are not quite ready for the biggest and fastest water slide in the back. Down Under Thunder offers huge tubes that the whole family may be able to ride together. The line on the left of Pipeline Peak only goes about halfway up the tower and two riders can ride one tube, but it is still a pretty intense ride for some folks. Awesome Aussie Twisters and Sydney Sidewinder offer shorter water slides near the front of the water park that you might want to try first before tackling the larger slides at the back.

Wave Pools

Carowinds now offers two wave pools. A warning buzzer sounds before the waves begin. The one in the front has shorter, choppier waves while the one in the back features larger waves. They do have zero entry areas where the water is shallow. Smaller kids and non-swimmers need to wear life jackets in these swimming areas.

Boomerang Bay, a water park near the back of Carowinds, has a nice variety of water activities for all ages. Even the walkways feature sprayers and misters for folks who simply want to cool off.

If you are purchasing a season pass, you might want to check out the 2013 Carowinds Bring a Friend Dates article. The Carowinds official site has directions, current prices, and hours of operation. Readers may also enjoy finding practical tips for visiting Carowinds with the kids. Visit Love 2 Travel with Kids and Travel NC With Kids for more of Katrena's articles.

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Carowinds – Practical Tips for Enjoying NC/SC Amusement Park with the Kids

Carowinds, a Cedar Fair amusement park located off I-77 at the North Carolina and South Carolina border, is an amazing and fun destination for families with kids. Carowinds has been entertaining folks since 1973.

I remember visiting Carowinds in its early days when we could get discount tickets for $9.00 from my dad's employer. I recall standing in a huge line after the Carolina Cyclone roller coaster was first built and riding it nine times in one day. I have seen the park grow as I became an adult and now my own children also enjoy the thrills at this amusement park.

Tips Before Visiting Carowinds with Kids

I have found that I can save quite a bit of money and headaches by packing carefully when going to Carowinds. Here are a few items that I found most helpful:

Tickets (you can skip a line and save money purchasing ahead of time – some employers offer discounts and the Carowinds web site offers special deals and discounts as well)
Umbrella stroller (I tend to park mine in the stroller stroller parking area under the Carousel while the family is in Planet Snoopy)
Diaper bag with plenty of diapers/wipes and a change of clothes
Swimming suits and towels if planning to visit Boomerang Bay
Sunscreen
Cell phone (it is helpful for each adult to have a cell phone if planning to separate so that different aged kids can enjoy different rides)
Comfortable shoes and clothes
Rain ponchos (some rides and the water attractions will close if lightening is in the area – we took our chances even though storms were forecast and enjoyed a great eight hours at the park)
Snacks and meals (you have the option to get everyone's hand stamped to re-enter the park if you wish to pack a cooler and save money on food by eating outside the park – ensure that you keep your ticket stubs in case the hand stamp rubs off!)
Camera (lots of photo opportunities await - the characters will simply wave if the little ones are too scared to get close)

Carowinds now offers many more rides that the smaller kids can ride, and most of them are located in Planet Snoopy. The Carowinds web site gives lots of details, including height restrictions on each ride, so it can be very helpful to do a bit of homework so that the kids will know what rides will be available as choices before entering the park. Planning the visit can add to the fun as the family can explore the web site together and decide which rides and areas will be priorities and verify park hours before setting a date.

I particularly like to visit Carowinds on a Tuesday. The lines for the rides tend to be much shorter. We last visited the park on a Tuesday, and there were many times when the ride operators would allow folks to ride more than once without getting off if no one was waiting for the seat. They will even run the rides with very few people on them during slow times as you can see from the photo above.

Tips While Visiting Carowinds with Kids

If you have kids of various ages, it is quite helpful to have more than one adult or a teenager along if you have children of mixed ages. Some of the smallest rides have maximum height restrictions while bigger rides often have a minimum height requirement or may require an older rider to accompany a child within a certain height range. The whole family might be able to enjoy a few attractions together, such as:

Carolina Skytower (you can get some great aerial pictures!)
Character Carousel (each horse has a name printed on the side – the horses on the inside do not go up and down)
Snoopy's Junction (I remember seeing an albino squirrel while riding the train a few years back)
Woodstock's Whirlybirds (I believe the limit is three on each helicopter)
Flying Ace Balloon Race (this ride may make some people a bit nauseous)
Kangaroo Lagoon & Wallaby Wharf (these water slides will appeal to the daredevils in the family)
Jackaroo Landing (the water slide may scare some of the smaller kids in the water playground, but an adult can ride the Platypus Plunge water slide with a child – my 4-year-old particularly liked that small water slide)
Crocodile Run (there are a few areas where water will spray you on the lazy river water area)

After entering the front gate, kids can be measured and provided with an armband that is color coded and has their maximum height range listed – this can save time at the rides because the kids won't need to be measured before each ride, particularly if they are borderline on height. It can be helpful to pick up a brochure in this area that contains a map, show times, and height restrictions.

My daring 8-year-old daughter wanted to try even the biggest of all the rides but was not quite tall enough. I mentioned that she could look forward to trying those thrills on a future trip. Height is measured with bare feet in the water area. My 8-year-old was delighted to be able to ride even the biggest water slides in the Boomerang Bay. You can easily spend a day at Carowinds and not even make it all the way around the park (which was the case with us) – yep, it is that big, so choose your plan carefully, especially if you are visiting on a crowded day.

Since my kids are small, we tend to turn left after entering the gate and head for Planet Snoopy. Carowinds has an air conditioned building behind the carousel for diaper changing, and the restrooms inside are available for kids aged 10 and younger. These did not have automatic flush, which can be helpful for some kids. Private areas for breast feeding are also located at this location.

My favorite location for eating at Carowinds is a cute and rather peaceful area beside a waterfall. If you head toward the bridge near the Snoopy Vs. Red Baron airplanes and make a right just as you are exiting Planet Snoopy, you can find this nice seating area. A mother duck and her two ducklings kept everyone entertained as we ate our lunch.

If the kids are getting hot and cranky, it can be quite helpful to watch a show in an air conditioned building (these are generally in the afternoon and may be on the far side of the park, so plan ahead). Another great way to cool off is to play in the water at Boomerang Bay (opens about an hour after the regular park and closes before the rest of the park). The lifeguards are very attentive in the water park. I remember when visitors had to pay an extra fee to enter the water park – this area is now free with admission and offers a wide range of water-themed rides, play areas, and opportunities for swimming.

Family Fun at Carowinds

Visiting Carowinds can provide great fun for the whole family. My kids had a blast at this amusement park and would love to go back over and over again! Many of the staff members went out of their way to make everyone's visit to Carowinds special and upbeat, including a staff member named Haydon (picture below), who entertained visitors during a long thunderstorm. I hope you find my tips to be helpful.

Visit the official Carowinds web site for directions, hours, and loads of information about the park. Readers may also wish to read Favorite Family Rides at Carowinds – Top 5 Picks. Check out my Carowinds 2013 Dates and What's New article too. Find more of Katrena's articles at the Love 2 Travel With Kids site map. Find lots more articles at the Travel NC With Kids site to find more kid-friendly travel ideas and tips in North Carolina.