Tanglewood Festival of Lights Christmas Show in North Carolina

Tanglewood Festival of Lights © Katrena

If you enjoy seeing holiday light shows and are in the Southeastern United States, the Tanglewood Festival of Lights show offers a large display of color, music, and festivities. The largest holiday light show in the Southeast attracts an average of 250,000 visitors each year from mid-November through January 1.

Christmas Light Show at Tanglewood © Katrena

Tanglewood ranks in the top 20 events in the Southeast and the top 100 in North America and has been delighting guests since 1992 with a peak year in 2001 with 300,000 visitors. They offer nearly four miles of nearly one million brightly colored LED lights with about 100 different displays. Yep - this is a big one!

Largest Light Show in Southeast © Katrena

The park is located near Winston-Salem off I-40 and can be reached via exit 184 or 182. We have tried both exits and it seemed like exit 184 moved a little faster. If you have a flexible schedule, I would highly recommend going on the Monday or Tuesday before Thanksgiving or having plenty of fun activities for the kids to enjoy during the wait. We cut our wait time from over two hours on a weekend near Christmas to two seconds when we visited on the Monday before Thanksgiving! Tanglewood also offers Throwback Nights during the season where visitors can enter at discounted rates.

Holiday Light Show Near Winston-Salem © Katrena

Many people ride through the Festival of Lights in a car, truck, van, or bus, but they also offer hayrides for large groups on horse-drawn wagons and smaller carriage rides for an extra fee. Those wishing to set up a wagon or carriage rides may inquire about an alternate route for entry. Runners in the family might be interested in the Running of the Lights, held at midnight on December 31.

Light Show in North Carolina © Katrena

Many of the lights are timed with animations. Soldiers might salute while fishermen may throw their catch. The rocking horse rocks, and Frosty waves as the little ones wave back, smiling with wide and wondrous eyes. My kids particularly like going through lighted tunnels and seeing reindeer jump over the car!

Drive-through Holiday Light Show © Katrena

Just past the big lake with the mermaid was a wooded section with brightly blinking bells. Roll down the windows and visitors can enjoy original music composed by Music Technology students at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

Winston-Salem Festival of Lights © Katrena

After traveling through part of the light show, guests may park and head to the Holiday Gift Village. The building is loaded with beautiful handmade crafts, jewelry, baked goods, and much more. They also have a large fire outside so that folks can enjoy roasting marshmallows over the open flame. Santa is also ready for a photo opportunity with the kids here as well.

Christmas Crafts at Tanglewood © Katrena

My kids loved looking at the wide variety of ornaments and clothes in the Holiday Gift Village. The wooden pieces and winter-themed artwork were quite festive and fun to see. My youngest would have gladly stayed with the little baby dolls nestled in crocheted beds. The scent of homemade breads and fudge beckoned everyone who entered.

Volunteer at Tanglewood Christmas Light Show © Katrena

Tanglewood's Festival of Lights offers a huge display, but the volunteers give the winter wonderland a hometown feel and lots of personality. They are quick to offer a smile. Many of them come back year after year, even when temperatures call for winter coats or even rain gear. The guys at the gift shop just laughed and smiled when I asked if I could take their pictures. All of my girls and I agreed that their generosity and efforts are a special gift!

Largest Holiday Light Show in NC © Katrena

If you would like to take a test drive of the Festival of Lights, here is a fun video of the Festival of Lights set to music that EmilyElzbth posted in 2006. Many of the displays are the same, but each year, you can expect to see something new. Those interested in visiting the Festival of Lights can find hours, prices, directions, special discounts and more at the Festival of Lights web page. Those visiting or living in Forsyth County might also consider visiting Old Salem, the Children's Museum of Winston-Salem, or Adventure Landing.

Fun Christmas Activities for the Family © Katrena

Readers may also wish to read about Tanglewood's Gift Village that is located in the park. Find more of Katrena's travel articles at Love 2 Travel With Kids and Travel NC With Kids.

Traveling With Kids – How to Enjoy the Journey

How to Enjoy Traveling With Kids © Katrena

Some people dread traveling with kids. Driving down winding mountain roads with a kid who gets carsick easily? I feel your pain. Have the whiners, grumblers, fighters, front seat kickers, and multiple bathroom breakers? Hang in there. Can't afford a GPS and realize the MapQuest directions aren't exactly what you expected after driving for miles into what seems like nowhere? I can relate.

Enjoy Nature While Traveling © Katrena

Despite the many challenges of traveling with children, I still love to hop in the car and explore with the kids. It can be so tempting to focus only on the destination, but if we never look out the side windows, we might miss the spectacular, yet fleeting, array of colors painted on the edge of the sky. Perhaps that unexpected stop might offer an unusual adventure or ensure that an accident waiting to happen doesn't.

Going Unplugged on a Car Ride - Photo by eleliam at Wikimedia Commons

Although modern technology has many advantages, sometimes the devices tend to divide people into individual worlds. If everyone is wearing earbuds or watching a screen, conversation may evaporate. Going "unplugged" for at least part of the journey may feel risky, but we might grow to have a deeper relationship with the family.

Enjoy Unexpected Detours When Traveling with Children - Photo by Richard David Ramsey at Wikimedia Commons

Traveling with children can be a humbling experience, but those little people in the back seat may all too soon be behind the wheel themselves. Allow extra time for breaks. Be open to the unexpected. Who knows? Maybe the journey will be one of those quirky parts of a trip that everyone fondly remembers years down the road.

Read more of Katrena's articles at Love 2 Travel With Kids and Travel NC With Kids.

Southern Rose Buggy Tour of Beaufort South Carolina

Horse and Buggy Tour of Beaufort SC © Katrena

Learning about history can be awfully dry with a bunch of facts and figures or it can be exciting, fun, and quite memorable. When I told the kids I would like to learn more about the history of Beaufort, SC, they were a bit nonchalant. After they realized we were going on a horse and buggy tour of the Southern town in South Carolina's Low Country, they suddenly decided this might be one of my better ideas!

Learn about South Carolina History © Katrena

We made reservations. The buggies leave at regularly scheduled times, and some of the time slots may fill up. During hot summer months, it might be best to schedule an early morning time if possible. Parking is available in the same lot where the tours leave...for a steep price. You can save money if you park on one of the nearby streets.

See Beautiful Southern Homes in Beaufort SC © Katrena

They have bathroom facilities in the parking area as well. That is very helpful if you are going on a tour with small kids. If you have extra time, a fun playground is right by the bridge and another, larger one is nearby – we walked to that one but my youngest one got a bit weary on that walk. My kids enjoyed visiting the Chocolate Tree after the tour as well.

Learn History the Fun Way! © Katrena

I discovered the Southern Rose Buggy Tour via the internet. I believe two different tour companies leave from the same area – Southern Rose has blue buggies and I believe Carolina Buggy Tours  has red ones. Someone who was staying near us at Hunting Island Campground went on a buggy tour through the other tour company and said they also thoroughly enjoyed the tour and found it to be very informative.

SC Low Country History © Katrena

I particularly like the web site for the Southern Rose Buggy Tour. Half of the fun is the expectation! My girls loved reading about their various horses and could not wait to see which horse would be pulling for our tour. Jake was the beautiful white steed who took us on the rolling history lesson.

See Homes Where Famous People Stayed in Beaufort SC © Katrena

The company does seem to care for the horses well and checked them before and after the 50-minute ride. I was particularly impressed with some of the guys who were doing some construction work beside the road who stopped their power tools while we rode by. Hats off to those guys!

Learn About Rich Southern Heritage © Katrena

I found it interesting that our tour guide said one of her parents was from Beaufort, SC while the other was from Beaufort, NC. The pronunciation of the SC town sounds like "beautiful" while the pronunciation for the NC town sounds like "bow tie." She began talking as we pulled off and continued to share the history of the beautiful town until we arrived back where we started. I was impressed with all of the various details she shared about the architecture, plants, famous people who had visited and lived in the area, older and more recent historical events, and much more.

Tour of Beautiful Southern Town Near Hilton Head © Katrena

My daughters were ages 10, 8, and 4 at the time that we took this tour, and all of them thoroughly enjoyed it and loved having the opportunity to give Jake a treat at the end. I believe they might have even learned a bit about some of our Southern history. When you can experience history in memorable ways, it can be an amazing educational opportunity for folks of all ages!

Learn About Southern History © Katrena

Those traveling with kids to Beaufort might also consider camping at Hunting Island State Park, which is located about 30 minutes away. Find more of Katrena's travel articles at Love 2 Travel With Kids and Travel NC With Kids.

Southern Rose Buggy Tour © Katrena

Visit the Southern Rose Buggy Tour web site for current prices, times, information about their horses, reservations, and more. Readers might also be interested in reading Katrena's article about horse therapy.

How to Enjoy a Staycation With the Kids – Five Quick Tips for Finding Local Entertainment

You have a vacation from work but not enough extra money to travel to a great vacation destination...or do you? The family budget is tighter than a tick on the dog, but there are many low cost ways to enjoy a vacation while staying near home. Taking short day trips can be a great way to create fun family memories while saving on accommodations. Pack a picnic lunch and you can also forgo expensive restaurant bills.

Here are five tips for finding local spots for entertaining the kids near home:

Find Fun Family Activities Near Home © Katrena

1. Ask friends/family members who live nearby. 

This is a great place to start because they often know your interests and may be able to give you the inside scoop on a nice variety of day trip ideas in the local vicinity. Many folks live within a few miles of a park, museum, ball field, or other recreational opportunity. Some of my friends may remark that they have never been to a place featured in one of my articles that is a short distance from their home.

Find Fun Local Places and Activities at Chamber of Commerce © Katrena

2. Check out your local Chamber of Commerce. 

Many counties, cities, and towns offer free services at the Chamber of Commerce. They often feature a calendar of events in the community and surrounding areas. Many have online services. I also like to visit the Chamber of Commerce in person and find brochures with coupons. Some offer free maps – I realize most folks have GPS now, but some maps include information about recreational activities.

Free Kids Activities at the Local Library © Katrena

3. Visit your local library. 

Many libraries offer free programs for the kids throughout the year. We have enjoyed a wonderful mix of activities at our library, such as Mad Science, animals, music, meet the author, magic shows, story time, and much more. Future library funding may be tied to number of participants, and it would be a real shame to lose resources simply because people were unaware of the great wealth of free programs offered at the public libraries. Libraries also offer books, videos, music, online resources, and much more.

Fun Outdoor and Indoor Activities at Local Parks and Recreation © Katrena

4. Look at your local Parks and Recreation Program. 

Many people look at the parks and recreation program only as a way to sign the kids up for sports. Local parks and recreation give the family a great opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy the scenery and time together. It doesn't have to be fancy. Pack a Frisbee, athletic shoes, and a picnic lunch. You might also find classes and other interesting activities through these programs. If you haven't visited a local park in recent years, you may be surprised to find new resources awaiting!

5. Find your local Smart Start program. 

In my early years of raising kids, I avoided Smart Start. I thought it was another program altogether. Finally, someone clued me in on the wonderful resources at the Smart Start office that are available to local families with young children. Our office offers a great toy library where you can check out a themed box of toys. The kids play with the toys for a couple of weeks, and then we return the box and search for another one. They also have many other resources. This is where I signed my kids up for Dolly Pardon's Imagination Library, a program where the kids younger than 5 receive a book in the mail each month.

Equipped with these five resources, you can quickly transform a boring TV-watching staycation into an amazing time of family fun and adventure. By utilizing local resources, you may help your community to keep adding more opportunities for future generations while creating fun family memories to enjoy together without busting the pig.

Find more of Katrena's travel ideas and reviews at Love 2 Travel With Kids and Travel NC With Kids.

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.

Water Playground (Jackaroo Landing) at Carowinds © Katrena

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.

Relaxing Water Activities in North Carolina and South Carolina © Katrena

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.

Best Water Slides in South Carolina and North Carolina © Katrena

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.

Tips for Going to Carowinds Water Park With Kids © Katrena

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 at Carowinds © Katrena

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.

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.

Lucy's Crabby Cabbie - Roller Coaster for Small Kids at Carowinds © Katrena

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)

Lots of Fun Rides for Smaller Kids in Planet Snoopy at Carowinds © Katrena

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.

Enjoy Shorter Lines at Carowinds on Tuesdays or When Rain is in Forecast © Katrena

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.

Flying Ace Aerial Chase at Carowinds © Katrena

Crocodile Run Lazy River Water Ride at Carowinds © Katrena

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)

See Intimidator Roller Coaster While Riding Joe Cool Car at Carowinds © Katrena

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.

Pipeline Peak Water Slides at Carowinds © Katrena

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.

Character Carousel at Carwinds © Katrena

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.

Eat Lunch by Waterfalls at Carowinds © Katrena

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.

Great Splash Pad and Wading Pool at Carowinds © Katrena

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.

Carolina Skytower at Carowinds © Katrena

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.

How to Enjoy Carowinds With Kids © Katrena