Love 2 Travel With Kids: amusement park in NC

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Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Carowinds and Carolina Harbor Waterpark August 2016 Calendar

Carowinds and Water Park August 2016 Calendar

Although many schools start back to class in August, summer is not over yet. Carowinds and Carolina Harbor Waterpark still have plenty of dates for folks to come and enjoy the rides, slides, and more.

The dates I have provided in this article are accurate on the date of publication; however, Carowinds can change dates/times without warning. For example, August 12 had been scheduled to close earlier, but I see they've changed the close time to 10:00 p.m. recently.

Below are the dates and times for the 2016 season:

Carowinds August 2016 Calendar

Open @ 10 a.m.	Close @ 8 p.m.	August 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28
Open @ 10 a.m.	Close @ 10 p.m.	August 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 26, 27
Carowinds Closed	Carowinds Closed	August 29, 30, 31

Carolina Harbor Waterpark August 2016 Calendar

Open @ 11 a.m.	Close @ 6 p.m.	August 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28
Open @ 11 a.m.	Close @ 7 p.m.	August 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
Open @ 11 a.m.	Close @ 8 p.m.	August 5, 6, 7
Carolina Harbor Waterpark Closed	Carolina Harbor Waterpark Closed	August 29, 30, 31

Additional articles

Thanks for visiting my Love 2 Travel With Kids blog - my family has had lots of fun at Carowinds over the years and hope your family does too!

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Carowinds 2015 September Calendar

Carowinds September 2015 Calendar © Katrena

As school starts back into full swing, Carowinds cuts back on their schedule of open days, but folks can still enjoy the amusement park with perhaps some cooler temperatures and shorter lines. The hot item for the 2015 season is the giga coaster dubbed Fury 325.

Here is the 2015 September schedule for Carowinds:

Carowinds Open @ 10 a.m. Close @ 8 p.m.	Carowinds Open @ 10 a.m. Close @ 10 p.m.	Carowinds Open @ 10 a.m. Close @ 5:30 p.m.	Carowinds Closed
September 7, 12, 13, 20, 27	September 5, 6	September 19, 26	September 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30

Additional articles:

Find the entire 2015 Carowinds schedule and lots more articles at my Love 2 Travel With Kids site map.

Monday, March 30, 2015

Carowinds 2015 August Calendar

Carowinds August 2015 Schedule - Planet Snoopy Ride © Katrena

The Carowinds August 2015 schedule includes lots of days packed with opportunities to enjoy coasters, water rides and water park, and some air conditioned indoor shows. The Fury 325, a much anticipated giga coaster, is sure to attract lots of guests in 2015. You might find shorter lines as folks prepare to start back to the school grind in the South.

Here is the Carowinds schedule for August 2015:

Carowinds Open @ 10 a.m. Close @ 8 p.m.	Carowinds Open @ 10 a.m. Close @ 10 p.m.	Carowinds Open @ 10 a.m. Close @ 6 p.m.	Carowinds Closed
August 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 23, 30	August 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 15, 22, 29	August 17, 18, 19, 20, 21	August 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31

Additional articles:

Find the entire Carowinds 2015 schedule and many more articles at my Love 2 Travel With Kids site map.

The Carowinds schedule of dates and times was determined from the Carowinds official web site and was accurate at the time this article was published.

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

When is Carowinds and SCarowinds Open in November 2014?

Carowinds 2014 Calendar for November © Katrena

Those who plan to visit Carowinds in November 2014 have a very short window of time to enjoy the NC/SC amusement park. As the season winds down, many people are already preparing for next year. The deepest discounts on season passes are generally offered at the end of the previous season, so it might be worth researching if you are planning to purchase Carowinds season passes for 2015.

So, when is Carowinds open in November 2014? Here are the dates listed on their web site on the date this article was published:

Carowinds Open 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.	Carowinds Open 10 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.	Carowinds Closed
November 1	November 2	All other dates in November

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When is Carowinds Open in August 2014?

Carowinds 2014 Calendar for August © Katrena

As August approaches, many families are looking for that last short vacation before school starts. A trip to Carowinds might be a great option, particularly if you have kids who love roller coasters, rides, swimming, and/or water slides. Carowinds, an amusement park split down the middle by the NC/SC state line, has been entertaining families since the early 1970s. A family can easily spend all day or several days at Carowinds.

Carowinds and the inner water park called Boomerang Bay open at different times in August, and they are closed on the weekdays for the last two weeks of August. Below you'll find a chart with dates and times for both parks that was accurate per the Carowinds web site on the date this article was published.

Carowinds Open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.	Carowinds Open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.	Carowinds Closed
August 1 August 2 August 3 August 4 August 5 August 6 August 7 August 8 August 9 August 10 August 16 August 23 August 30 August 31	August 11 August 12 August 13 August 14 August 15 August 17 August 24	August 18 August 19 August 20 August 21 August 22 August 25 August 26 August 27 August 28 August 29

Boomerang Bay Open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.	Boomerang Bay Open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.	Boomerang Bay Closed
August 1 August 2 August 3 August 4 August 5 August 6 August 7 August 8 August 9 August 10 August 11 August 12 August 13 August 14 August 15 August 16 August 17	August 23 August 24 August 30 August 31	August 18 August 19 August 20 August 21 August 22 August 25 August 26 August 27 August 28 August 29

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Monday, February 17, 2014

Tweetsie Railroad Amusement Park 2014 Opening Date and Season

Tweetsie Railroad Amusement Park in Blowing Rock NC © Katrena

Tweetsie Railroad, an amusement park in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, offers visitors the opportunity to ride a coal-powered steam locomotive, watch western-themed shows, and ride several rides while enjoying the beautiful view in the NC mountains near Boone.

This year, Tweetsie is scheduled to open on April 11, 2014 for their regular operating season. Below are the dates and times that Tweetsie is scheduled to be open in 2014 per their official web site accessed on 2/17/2014:

Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.	Open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.	Open 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. for Ghost Train
April 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27 May 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 26, 30, 31 June 1 through 30 (all June dates) July 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 August 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 17, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31 September 1, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28 October 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 31 November 1, 2	July 4, 5, 12, 19, 26	September 26, 27 October 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25, 31 November 1

Additional articles:

Visit Love 2 Travel With Kids and Travel NC With Kids for more family-friendly travel ideas.

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

Thursday, August 9, 2012

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

How to Enjoy Carowinds With Kids © Katrena

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.

Aerial View of Nighthawk (Borg) Roller Coaster at Carowinds © Tim

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.