My youngest daughter describes a warmness she feels in her heart in the days leading up to visits with family. That’s a similar feeling I experience every time I stand, hand over my heart, for the national anthem at a sporting event, watch a video of a military parent surprising their family with an early homecoming, or listen to Lee Greenwood’s “I’m Proud to be an American” song. Maybe my strong patriotism comes from having vivid 5th grade memories of writing to Desert Storm troops (I still have those letters). Or, maybe it’s a character trait passed down from my grandmother (the most pride-filled patriot I knew) and my dad and grandfather, who both served in the military. Whether it’s more nurture or nature, I’m thankful for all the biological and life experiences that give me such American pride.
Last year on Veterans Day I brought my girls to the Veterans Freedom Park in Cary, NC. I’ve passed by this park dozens of times over the years and finally visited last year. Veterans Freedom Park is located at 1517 N Harrison Ave in Cary. It contains a 90-foot Freedom Tower spire in the middle of a circular path with the five seals of the US armed forces and benches for reflection. Before walking around the tower we slowly walked along the outside of the memorial, taking in the plaques, admiring the military and state flags, and pausing at the fallen soldier “some gave all” statue.
Even though it was an overcast day in the middle of a pandemic without a in-person ceremony we felt full of compassion as we chatted with veterans about their military careers. They spoke with such pride and patriotism as they told us about their helicopter maintenance responsibilities.
Thinking back to my conversations with the veterans made me want to interview other veterans. So, I recently asked my dad more details about his service in the Navy. I wanted to string together the bits and pieces of stories I’d heard over the years. And, because he served in the Navy before I turned one year old I don’t have any memories.
My dad’s cousin Mike (left) and my dad (right)
My dad served in the Navy from 1977 until 1981 as an IFT (in-flight technician) aboard a P3-Orion. He was part of the VP-11 Patrol Squadron based out of Brunswick, ME responsible for monitoring Soviet submarines. My next question to my dad was, “How do you monitor subs from the air?” to which he replied, “By dropping salt water activated sonobuoys.” Duh! I know the military is known for having the coolest equipment, but my mind was blown away by such an amazing piece of technology.
As an IFT on a P3 my dad was part of a 13-man crew, responsible for making inflight repairs to the aircraft – basically, he was charged with keeping the plane in the air. He spent time deployed to the Azores, Germany, Spain, Italy, Chile, Puerto Rico, and Greece, to name a few places. Every other day they conducted 15-hour flying missions. My dad recalled one particular month where they required a special sign-off to exceed their 150 flying hours. Phew – that is a lot of air time!
With so much air time, my dad also helped cook meals on an electric griddle. On most “off days” they performed ground work to maintain other planes on the base. When granted true time off he explored the local countryside with his buddies. When I was born in August 1980, the Navy granted him a short leave from his deployment in the Azores to be with my mom and meet me. Again, military family reunions choke me up, so I can only imagine what it’s like to personally experience one.
In chatting with my dad about his Navy experiences, he amazed me with the amount of details he remembered. But, I guess when the Navy tasked him with super important roles on a global level it really left a lasting impression. Just like my phone call interview to my dad, a veteran, left a lasting impression.
Fun Facts:
My grandfather (my dad’s dad) served in the Korean War from 1952-1954 as an Army tank mechanic. He knew the ins and outs of every piece of heavy equipment because of his time at Buick, so it served him well in the Korea conflict. He, too, missed my dad’s birth because of being overseas. I suppose some things are a result of one’s nature 😉
Summer. My favorite season for its lazy pool days, sweaty backyard fun, and impromptu family and friend adventures. Summer break started a week early over here because both girls headed to overnight camp at Camp Seafarer in Arapahoe. After a crazy year of attending school virtually, hybrid, and ending the year in-person, kicking off summer with increased independence was just the thing for these two!
The start of summer wouldn’t be complete without a bucket list to motivate us to try new things, experience old traditions, and have a lot of laughs along the way.
“Into the woods I go to lose my mind and find my soul.”
John Muir
A quiet and peaceful escape. It looks different to everyone. For myself, I love being outside exploring a path, whether it’s covered in water, leaves, rock, or sand. In 2019 we purchased a few acres of land with a small creek in the Elkin, NC area. Like the first settlers to the region, we were attracted to the area because of its great wilderness and close proximity to water. Probably less like the first settlers to the region, we fell in love with their mix of restaurants and watering holes. So, over the past two years we’ve spent a lot of time exploring the woods, rivers, and towns in the NC foothills. We settle the Winnie in during warm weather months to make weekend visits comfortable. One day we hope to build a small cabin on it, but for now we’re enjoying it as we camp for short getaways.
History
The earliest known visitors came to this region about 10,000 years ago attracted by the convergence of the Big Elkin Creek and Yadkin River. The Sioux Indians settled along the Yadkin River around 500 BC, and the first Europeans settled in the mid-1700s1. The region also owes a lot to the Gwyn and Chatham families who settled and started successful manufacturing businesses.
Richard Gwyn settled in the area and began a cotton mill, the Elkin Manufacturing Company, along the Big Elkin Creek in the mid-1850s. After serving in the Civil War, Thomas Chatham and his brother-in-law, Thomas Lenoir Gwyn, started woolen mill Chatham Manufacturing, most notable for making woolen blankets2. Years later the mill moved closer to the new railroad system, which also happened to be adjacent to the Yadkin River. After the large flood of 1916, Chatham rebuilt its mill in Elkin on higher ground.
Chatham Manufacturing survived the Great Depression and expanded into complimentary industries as the country’s needs changed throughout the World Wars. The business was a huge economic part of the town, employing over 3,500 people at its peak in the 1970s. A Danish company outbid a stockholder group in the late 1980s for ownership of Chatham Manufacturing, which led to its eventual demise. Sadly, the new company then became wrapped up in financial scandal and piece by piece they divided up and sold off Chatham Manufacturing3.
After researching the history of the area, I’m more intrigued than ever to walk the streets of Downtown Elkin more closely and hunt down old blankets from my childhood to see if they don the Chatham name. I feel like we’ve only scratched the surface of the Elkin area and I can’t wait to dig deeper!
Camping in Elkin
Sandy Creek Family Campground
Our favorite campground spot in the area is Sandy Creek Family Campground in Traphill. A friendly, local guy named Barry owns the campground, which used to be part of a dairy farm for his cheese making. The land sits along the banks of Big Sandy Creek, which typically boasts kid-friendly wading and tubing spots. The campground is also within walking distance to the southern edge of Stone Mountain State Park, where you can connect to the bridle trails and be at the Lower Falls in a few miles.
Sandy Creek Family Campground has electric and water hook-ups and a dump station along the road. The sites are all very flat, with lots of tent camping options near the creek. Barry works hard to greet each guest, keep the bath house clean and maintain the open field area with fun recreational toys. We’ve stayed here in spring, summer and late fall and my kids always have fun splashing in the water, playing in the sand and making friends with other visitors.
Stone Mountain State Park
Two years ago we camped with two additional families at the group tent site at Stone Mountain State Park. There are four group sites which feature a clean, convenient bath house and easy Upper Trailhead parking lot access. Stone Mountain State Park provides group, backpack camping, RV and tent spots. Each group site holds up to 25 people and comes with a concrete pad, fire ring, water access and table. The families had plenty of space to spread out their tents and the kids had plenty of room to run wild. Though, I plan to upgrade our backpacking tent to a larger size before trying to cram all four of us into one tent next time!
Additional Spots
When we’re not camping or glamping in this area, we highly recommend the Fairfield Inn or the Ridenour Ranch. The Fairfield Inn is a very clean hotel with a swimming pool, great breakfast buffet and close proximity to 77. We stayed at the hotel one fall season and they blew us away with their Halloween decorations.
Ridenour Ranch is a unique place to stay if you’re looking for that country feel. The rental house sits on a working alpaca farm. The owners renovated an old two-bedroom cabin and live in another house on the farm. We stayed here one summer for a few nights and thoroughly enjoyed the peacefulness of the house and visiting with all the animals.
Riverwalk RV Park is a new campground that opened earlier last summer in the Yadkin Valley area. We haven’t stayed there before, but judging their Instagram photos it looks like campers have a great time and the owners take great pride in maintaining it. Byrds Branch Campground is another camping option in Elkin adjacent to the Mountains to Sea Trail that connects to Carter Falls and Grassy Creek Vineyard.
Grassy Creek Vineyard is home to the Klondike Cabins. Klondike Cabins features unique rental cabins that have been preserved on the former Klondike Farm property. Full of rich local history dating back to the 1920s, I can’t wait to stay here during a visit to the area.
Food & Drink
Food
Since spending so much time in the Elkin area, we’ve gotten to know several local spots for eating and drinking. Skull Camp Brewing features the tenderest brisket and hugest homemade pretzels. They also have a great selection of craft beers – the Tr’ale B’red (Red Ale), Basin Creek Blonde, and Elkin IPA are some of my faves. Skull Camp has a huge facility with lots of outdoor patio area making it very kid-friendly and easy to socially distance.
We also recently dined at Angry Troll Brewing in downtown Elkin for the first time. We were really impressed with their wood fired pizzas, crispy chicken wings and selection of craft beers. Down the block from Angry Troll Brewing is Southern on Main restaurant. Southern on Main features a modern take on comfort food. We devoured their crispy brussels sprouts and fried green BLT. Their prices are very reasonable and their wine menu highlights several Yadkin Valley wineries.
If you’re looking for a more country setting, you can’t beat the fried chicken, potato wedges and slushies at Foothills Grocery & Deli in Thurmond. It’s a one-stop shop for gas, food and friendly service!
What is a trip to the mountains without a stop for ice cream! Creamy Dayz is located in a renovated gas station on Bridge St, not far from Downtown Elkin. Their ice cream is very tasty and they’re always experimenting with new flavors. We recently tried the cookie monster flavor, but haven’t yet tried unicorn poop! They’ve also updated their menu to include new offerings, including a donut ice cream sandwich!
Wines
Situated in the foothills of the mountains, Elkin is also a hot spot for wine country. Located down the street from our camp spot is the striking Jones Von Drehle Winery. They are a family-owned vineyard and winery featuring delicious dry wines near the Blue Ridge Mountains. Over the summers I frequently ran over to grab a few bottles of their scrumptious rose. In the colder months, I’ve enjoyed pairing their cab sauv with a steak. Visitors can grab bottles to go or stay to enjoy a glass or tasting on their outdoor patio while overlooking the breathtaking vineyard. I recently joined their wine club and took home a delicious assortment of bottles.
Another great spot we’ve visited through recommendations of Raleigh friends is Elkin Creek Vineyard. Elkin Creek Vineyard is also located in a picturesque area with beautiful spots along the creek for an outdoor picnic. We visited Elkin Creek Vineyard pre-Covid so their full dining menu was available. Based on their website they’re still offering their famous pre-order wood-fired pizzas on Sunday. As always, you’ll want to call ahead early in the week to reserve your dough (no joke).
During Covid we had the fortunate chance to get away for the night (sans children) in Thurmond. We enjoyed our first trip to Grassy Creek Vineyard & Winery, complete with a wine flight and cozy conversation. The owners happily shared the history of their winery as we narrowed down which wines to try! The winery sits on beautiful farm land with outdoor seating, indoor seating, a hiking trailhead, and the Klondike cabin rentals.
Though only Bill has visited, he was a big fan of McRitchie Winery & Ciderworks. The folks were super friendly and the ciders were delicious. He’s more an IPA or cabernet sauvignon guy, but he also really enjoyed their cider.
We recently learned about the Elkin Vine Line, which offers transportation to five different groupings of wineries. You reserve a date/time/line, catch the bus in downtown Elkin and hop between the different wineries. Each bus line serves four wineries so it’s a fun and safe way to visit the vineyards.
Hiking in Elkin
Stone Mountain Hiking
When I first hiked Stone Mountain, I felt as if I were an astronaut who landed on the moon. Stone Mountain features massive granite domes with craters large enough for your family to camp in. From the upper trailhead parking lot we hiked the Stone Mountain Loop Trail (summit side) to the summit (elevation 2,305 ft) and back. It starts off rocky and flat, and then becomes wooded and steep with several switchbacks. Along the way we crossed over the large domes of Stone Mountain’s face. We gingerly walked down the face a few yards to sit among the craters and gawk at the forests below, feeling like Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins. The entire loop trail is about 4.5 miles. If you only hike from the upper trailhead parking lot to the summit and back it’s about 2 miles. The views from the summit and along the way are gorgeous!
During our group camping visit to Stone Mountain we hiked to the Lower Falls from the upper trailhead parking lot. It was a hot summer day, so everyone loved playing in the Stone Mountain Falls. We came prepared with towels, bathing suits and water shoes. After playing in the water, some of the group hiked down to the Lower Falls which was about one mile away.
During a different summer visit to Stone Mountain we parked at the lower trailhead parking lot and hiked to the Hutchinson Homestead area. Hutchinson Homestead is a historic homestead from the mid-19th century that was recently restored. The farm features old buildings to learn what life was like during that time. The homestead sits below the huge granite outcrops, giving guests that jaw-dropping feeling from a different perspective.
Hiking at Grassy Creek Vineyard & Winery
Last year during one of our many trips to the area we hiked from Grassy Creek Vineyard & Winery to Carter Falls. The trailhead is located adjacent to the vineyard parking lot and is about a total 5 mile out and back hike. After about 1/2 mile, the Grassy Creek Trail connects with the Mountains to Sea Trail segment 6. We headed westbound on the trail where we crossed a few bridges, hiked through pine forests, walked along old country roads and farms, and hiked by Byrd’s Campground.
After hiking past Byrd’s Campground (feel free to stop by the camp store for ice cream) we crossed over Pheasant Ridge Rd. Then we hiked along the Powerhouse Trail which winds downward through the woods to a beautiful section of Big Elkin Creek. We played in the water, took in the waterfalls sights, and the girls played on the rocky/sandy island for almost an hour. We brought water shoes to change into from hiking shoes, which helped cross onto the island. Previous hikers built small cairns, man-made rock formations, on the small island.
The Rivers
As noted earlier, the nearby rivers are a huge attraction for visitors. East Prong Roaring River is known for its trout fishing. Big Elkin Creek and the Yadkin River converge near downtown Elkin, providing great recreational sources today. The New River snakes way north of Elkin, also offering fun adventure options.
We haven’t done much exploring on the rivers yet, except for tubing down the New River. We rented tubes at the New River Campground in Independence, Va. They drove us up to the takeout spot and we spent about an hour floating. Summer thunderstorms popped up while we floated causing some scary moments. However, we stayed the course and limited our stops so we could float as quickly as possible. My husband and kids have returned for Y-Guides trips and each had awesome, thunderstorm-free trips!
Years ago we hiked Ivy Bluff Trail along the eastern section of the Yadkin River at Pilot Mountain State Park. This summer we hope to bring our paddleboard and kayak to the Yadkin River for some local paddle trips. The Elkin Valley Trail Association is a great resource for finding a network of connected hiking, biking and paddle trails in the area.
Celebrations
Fourth of July
If you’re looking for down-home family fun the Fourth of July celebration at Mountain Park is amazing. When we visited during 2019 they blew us away with their fireworks display. Other fun annual festivals include:
variety of recreational activities, small town feel, network of connected trails/wineries, breathtaking views at Stone Mountain State Park, great restaurants
“History of Elkin, North Carolina“, Town of Elkin North Carolina, http://www.elkinnc.org/residents/living_in_elkin/history.php.
“Elkin: A Town Woven Together by Chatham“, Explore Elkin, https://youtu.be/fbFv25L8LFI.
“Chatham Manufacturing Was Engine That Drove Town of Elkin for over a Century“, Wilkes Journal-Patriot, 28 July 2017, www.journalpatriot.com/news/chatham-manufacturing-was-engine-that-drove-town-of-elkin-for-over-a-century/article_fe7518ce-73d9-11e7-8418-33de212843ab.html.
I love North Carolina’s weather. The distinct seasons provide a general schedule I can count on each year. Each season lasts long enough that I don’t tire before the next season begins. Then, sometime in early March the weather consistently warms up, the daffodils start to bloom, and the sun stretches beyond 6:00pm. That’s my signal to put away the snow gear, bust out the springtime table runner, finish birthday planning for my oldest, and welcome spring time.
The other weekend we took advantage of the gorgeous spring weather and headed to Durant Nature Preserve for a hike. We’ve visited Durant Nature Preserve several times over the years (see previous blog posts) but it had been awhile since our last trip. For this visit, we brought fishing nets, our collapsible bucket, and rain boots to play in the streams. Despite predictable resistance to hiking, the girls ended up having the best time!
Border Trail
We parked at the north entrance and set off on the White House Rd Trail (see park map). Despite grumpy moods (including a short sit-in) and warning signs about muddy trail conditions we pushed on. From the White House Rd Trail we veered right onto the Border Trail, which circumnavigates the park. The Border Trail leads downhill to the creek, where at the bottom you turn left to stay on the trail. The creek sits between the wooded Border Trail on the park’s side and the paved Simms Branch Trail on the far side. Simms Branch Trail connects to Abbotts Creek greenway trail which connects to Raleigh’s longest greenway trail, the Neuse River Trail. Despite being close to a residential neighborhood the trail feels miles away. We only heard the crunching of our boots on the leaves and the trickle of the water.
Family hiking success (for us) increases if water is involved. As soon as my kids feasted their eyes (and boots) on the creek, their hiking attitudes instantly transformed! Despite being a sunny day the water was super cold. Since the Border Trail parallels the creek, they flipped between walking on the unpaved trail and the creek. They’d scamper down the creek bank, walk through the water or hop across rocks, and then pull themselves back up the creek bank if the water level threatened to flood their boots. This type of hiking continued until we reached Whale Rocks.
Whale Rocks is a stop along the Border Trail that boasts large rock formations as big as, well, whales. My kids loved jumping from whale rock to whale rock and timing themselves to see how long it took to climb from the creek bed to the rocks and back.
After hiking with the whales we continued on the Border Trail bouncing between walking in the creek and walking on the trail. This trail is mostly flat and features many hardwood trees and rock outcrops. We found dry creek beds and natural sand pits along the way that made for fun imaginary fossil dig play. They also enjoyed climbing across several of the trees that laid across the creek.
When we hiked about halfway around the Border Trail we turned left to follow Order of the Arrow Trail to the lake. Order of the Arrow Trail is a wide, flat trail surrounded by many pine trees. At the fork in the trail we turned left to stay on the trail and continue towards the lake. When the trail intersected with White House Rd, we turned right onto White House Rd. Then we turned left on Lakeside Trail, following the north side of the lake. The map posted along the trails was a helpful guide.
The north side of Lakeside Trail parallels the edge of the lake providing gorgeous views. The girls enjoyed walking along the shore line to spot turtles, lizards, and minnows. We also saw and heard several red-tailed hawks. We walked past campsites, benches, the closed boat house, and the fishing docks before ending at the playground.
Secret Creek Trail
After playing on the playground we followed the Secret Creek Trail, which begins across from the playground. We originally discovered this trail about 3 years ago when my now 4th grader attended a field trip at Durant Nature Preserve. To this day, it was one of her most memorable fields trips. She caught (and released) tadpoles and dragonfly nymphs, and had an awesome time exploring the Secret Creek Trail with classmates.
Secret Creek Trail is an easy trail with a few small hills along the 1/2 mile hike. The trail parallels a section of the creek that has gentle banks and small waterfalls throughout. In past visits we’ve seen a family of deer behind the park office and huge turtles resting in the creek under the large trees. Again, we flip flopped between walking on the trail and walking in the water. The trail’s canopy provides a lot of coverage, making it a cooler walk during warm weather. We also discovered some large sandy spots great for picnics, digging, and relaxing. Secret Creek Trail finishes at Camp Durant Rd, so you have to walk up the hill along the road to return to the main parking lot.
After we finished our hike, we headed to Char Grill for some much needed lunch! As we ate we recounted how fun the hike was and how we can’t wait to explore it again during the warmer weather months!
Thumbs up: improved trail markings and maps, rocking climbing at Whale Rocks, easy access for exploring the creek
We’ve explored Forest Ridge Park a few times over the three years it’s been open and it never disappoints. Forest Ridge Park is such a great addition to our city’s mix of parks. It fills all the buckets: biking, playgrounds, open space, hiking, nature programs, fishing, and it has clean bathrooms.
Forest Ridge Park is located at 2100 Old NC 98 Hwy in north Raleigh along a finger of Falls Lake. The park features nearly 600 acres of parkland with multi-use trails, a community center, playgrounds, a sand pit area for fossil digging, nature programs, mountain biking trails, and fishing.
Playgrounds
Just off the main parking lot are the large playgrounds, picnic shelters, open green space, bathrooms and wildlife garden. These areas are surrounded by a paved loop trail, which can be perfect for incorporating some biking into your outing. The playground for older kids features challenging climbing walls and ropes, zip-lining, tall slides, spinning chairs, swings, and balancing pieces. Most of the older-age playground’s features are connected, making it a super fun place to play “the floor is lava.”
The smaller-age playground features fun climbing walls, steps and ladders, single and double slides, and riding dinosaurs. Extra picnic tables with umbrellas are also conveniently located close to the playgrounds.
Trails
The paved loop trail surrounding the playgrounds is 1/4 mile long, contains a bike repair station, and has a fossil hunting sandpit in one corner. There’s also a large open green space in the middle perfect for pick-up sports and frisbee. When my youngest daughter started riding her pedal bike, this easy, flat loop helped build her biking confidence. The mountain biking trails are accessible along this paved loop trail as well. The few times we visited the park the mountain biking trails were closed because of wetness, so just check the status before coming.
The park’s hiking trails are located near the intersection of Old NC 98 Hwy. According to the interactive park map, the trails vary from 1/3 mile to 1.5 miles long, and are either natural or gravel. Visitors can fish from the Falls Lake shoreline by following the multi-use trail. We haven’t yet explored the hiking trails, but with so many and the close proximity to Falls Lake shoreline, I bet they’re easy, fun and packed with views.
Nature Programs and More
The Forest Ridge Park welcome center also provides explorer and art backpack loaner equipment for children and adults, along with nature programs. A quick search of upcoming winter programs showed several with spaces still available:
Animal Survival (program barcode 263391 and 263392)
Bike Maintenance course (program barcode 263395)
Jakes & Jennies Young Explorers (program barcode 263414)
Make & Take Blue Bird Boxes for Adults (program barcode 263418)
Thumbs up: challenging climbing areas, biking options, easily accessible bathrooms, plentiful picnic spots, variety of hiking trails, fun zip lining feature
Swim camp started last week (summer swim team’s Covid-19 cousin), the fireflies are out, and the gardenias are blooming – three cyclical indicators that school is out and summer is here. To say this school year felt different with its abrupt stop, online restart, and virtual year-end parties (my older daughter’s teacher is visiting in person this week) would be an understatement. Despite how the school year changed, I’m so very thankful for our amazing teachers who worked tirelessly to recreate content and stay connected, and the entire school community who stayed in touch with helpful newsletters and silly videos.
In looking back at the end of the school year, I hope my kids found closure in its ending. I know it seemed anticlimactic compared to previous years, but we tried staying true to some traditions – picking out any cereal they want for the last day (yes, I’m the mom who doesn’t do everyday sugar cereals), taking last day of school pics (poolside this year), making “thank you” teacher cards, and receiving some year-end sussies (a term my mom coined decades ago to mean thoughtful gifts).
Last Day of School: Poolside-style
We also did some new things to signal the end of the year. We drove through the school’s carpool lane like it was a Chick-fil-a drive-thru to collect yearbooks and all their items left in the classroom. Our kids said goodbye to friends and teachers virtually through online end-of-year parties. And, my older daughter’s teacher is stopping by for a visit this week (cue the happy tears).
End of Year 1st Grade PartyEnd of Year 3rd Grade Party
The end of the school year wouldn’t be complete without a summer bucket list to ease our transition into the summer months and motivate us to do some things, especially when boredom sets in. So, here it goes…
When I was little my siblings and I occasionally spent weekends with my Uncle Mike when he lived in Richmond. We always had a lot of fun when he took us bowling, to the movies, or playing pool and watching sports together in his bachelor pad basement. Thinking back, I have no idea how he fit us into his old red sports car! Three rambunctious kids was no joke and after a crazy incident at the bowling alley I wondered if he’d ever have us back again!
Around the same time my uncle got married and had kids, our weekends filled with social and sports activities, so we saw him less frequently. Eventually his family moved to Tennessee and he embarked on an amazing journey to start Safe Step tub and shower company. At the same time, I graduated from college and moved to Raleigh. Therefore, we’d only see his family during our annual Chinese Christmas gift exchange. Over the years I missed seeing his family because I could always count on some good stories and sports smack talk (he LOVES UVA).
After my mom passed away five years ago my uncle Mike committed to planning annual extended family vacations. His family still lives in Tennessee so it’s always lots of fun to get together with my cousins and catch up while we’re away together. For our most recent family vacation my uncle rented a large villa in the Providenciales region of Turks & Caicos. If there’s one place you need to visit in your lifetime, you must make it to Turks & Caicos! To think I was hesitant to go because the trip butted up against my kids’ new school year is crazy!
So, sixteen of us hunkered down in a gorgeous villa for the week and embraced everything about Turks & Caicos. We swam in the crystal clear waters, attended a local festival, visited a brewery (yes, they have a brewery), kayaked, paddle boarded, snorkeled, grocery shopped, took a sunset cruise, drove on the left-side of the road and more.
Getting Around Turks & Caicos
Turks & Caicos is a developing country (British-owned territory) made up of several islands. They speak english and accept American money. We stayed near the Sapodilla Bay area of Providenciales (aka Provo) which is in the southwestern part of the region. The island of Providenciales accounts for most of the country’s development. It has decent infrastructure, stores, and accommodations but imports just about everything. Several locals we spoke to mentioned how expensive shipping is and the slow government processes. In my opinion, the island’s natural marine beauty easily eclipses those shortcomings.
The flight from RDU to Turks & Caicos was super easy. We had a short layover in Ft. Lauderdale and then took a smaller plane to the Provo airport. It took awhile to get through customs, but the girls were so excited to get their first passport stamp. We quickly retrieved our bags, rented a car, and drove off full of fear on the left-side of the road!
Bill did most of the driving for the trip including the initial drive from the airport to the rental house which took about 15-20 minutes. I attempted to navigate us, but the lack of road signs, plentiful traffic circles, and random traffic lights tested my abilities (and our marriage)! We finally made it to the house and received the warmest welcome from the host’s staff.
We stayed in the residential area of Provo. Therefore, we had to drive when we wanted to visit the beaches, go out to eat, grab groceries or do any exploring. It was pretty common to see stray dogs (and even livestock) walking along the sides of the road. Groceries were very expensive there so get ready to pay about $90 for a 24-pack of American beer.
The Beaches
Sapodilla Bay Beach
Sapodilla Bay Beach is a public access beach located along Chalk Sound Dr in the residential area of Providenciales. We expected to see signs for the beach and parking, but did not, so we relied on our car’s GPS location relative to the map to figure out where the beach was located. Chalk Sound Dr is a narrow two-lane road with little shoulders. Parking is limited to on-street and across the street. Be sure to lock your doors and take any valuables with you.
After you park, walk through the desert shrubs towards the beach area. After a short walk, you’ll discover the reasons people come to Turks & Caicos – the white sandy beaches and turquoise waters! It’s absolutely beautiful! This beach was hardly busy; only a few families and some locals selling drinks, grilled burgers, and jet ski excursions. Compared to some east coast beaches it felt like we had the beach to ourselves. The beach is in a small cove so the water stays calm and shallow, too. We stayed all morning swimming in the water, making sand castles and enjoying the breath-taking views.
Our rental house was located less than a five minute drive from Sapodilla Bay Beach, so some of us paddleboarded out and back one morning. The wind on the ocean is consistently strong, which made paddling extra hard in one direction. I loved the freedom of traveling by paddleboard though!
Grace Bay Beach
One morning we headed into Provo’s resort area to explore Grace Bay Beach. Grace Bay Beach extends for miles on the northern side of Provo. We parked in a public parking lot between the Seven Stars and Ocean Club West and walked a short bit to find a spot at the water.
The Grace Bay Beach area was pretty busy with tourists, jet ski riders, parasails, and resort traffic. The water on this side of the island definitely had a beautiful emerald and teal blue color to it. The waves were choppier than at Sapodilla Bay Beach, but still a very calm beach. The sandy bottom felt comfortable on our toes, but we had to watch the kids more closely because the water levels were drastically different.
After hanging in the water we walked along the beach to scope out the different resorts. They all looked beautiful and relaxing, and I wondered how our trip would’ve been different had we stayed in a resort. We hoped to find a casual oceanfront place for lunch, but after looking around it wasn’t obvious if we could walk into any resort with wet clothes. Finally, we decided on walking back towards the car to find a casual spot on the main street.
Taylor Bay Beach
Taylor Bay Beach is a hidden gem of a beach! Located within walking distance of our villa, it’s tucked away in small secluded cove. We walked out about 50 yards and the water was still only to our knees! The water was crystal clear and warm, making it another great beach for kids.
Water Excursions
Half-Day Boat Charter
While staying in Provo we really wanted to take advantage of exploring this new island. Early in the week we booked a half-day excursion with Silly Creek Water Sports, which got fabulous Trip Advisor reviews. They offer half-day and full-day small group boating excursions in the western and southern areas of Provo.
First, they picked us up from our dock in the morning and drove us to Bay Cay, known for their iguanas. Over ten years ago, people brought iguanas to this small uninhabited island, which now acts as a sanctuary. As soon as we got off the boat, several of the iguanas came right up to us. Our captain, Cynthia, walked us around the small island and introduced us to the iguanas, which she recognized by name. Tyrone was super friendly, and even our kids got close enough to pet them. After spending about 20 minutes on the island my sister and I jumped off a cliff into the turquoise water and swam back to our boat that was waiting for us. Even though it was only about 10-12 feet above the water, it was still super thrilling and memorable!
After cliff jumping we boated to Pirate’s Cove island to seek out old pirate markings. We climbed up a ladder through the cave and walked around the top of the island. Cynthia showed us the centuries old carvings, which our kids really enjoyed. From the top we gazed around, taking in the gorgeous 360-degree views of the ocean.
Then, Cynthia drove us to one of her favorite snorkeling spots. The water was calm and only about 12 feet deep in this area, so the girls wore life jackets. To prep for snorkeling we bought the girls their own equipment earlier in the summer and they practiced breathing with snorkels in our neighborhood pool. It definitely took some getting used to, but having practiced before hand really gave them an edge.
Snorkeling with my family was one of the coolest, most memorable moments of the whole trip. We saw a lot of colorful fish and coral, but seeing a huge school of purple tangs was the favorite! To see your kids (age 5 & 7) experience a brave new adventure is truly breath-taking and made us so proud! I only wish I had an underwater camera to preserve a photo!
After snorkeling Cynthia drove us back to the house. She drove slower allowing us to enjoy some much deserved beers, snacks and conversation. We loved this excursion because we were able to customize the trip to our group, Cynthia took us to some exciting places, and she shared some history of the country.
Sunset Cruise
My uncle is a sunset seeking savage! On vacations he frequently plans his dinners around the local sunset time so he doesn’t miss a moment of the sun’s golden descent. He’s also the only person (other than maybe my mom) who frequently wears binoculars around his neck on vacation. He’s always on watch for the “green flash” and sometimes drives far distances to find the ultimate westerly viewing spot.
On the second night of our trip my uncle booked a sunset boat cruise with a local tour company. All sixteen of us boarded the pontoon boat for a two-hour excursion. The captain drove us along the western shoreline of the vacation homes near our place. He noted celebrities who’d frequented the islands and told stories about some of the homes, but after awhile all his storytelling lost its pizazz. The ride was a beautiful way to see the islands, but a bit too expensive.
I captured some decent sunset shots from the boat’s upper deck, which, despite the super windy conditions, were the best spot for photo ops. We never witnessed the “green flash”, but still came home with fun memories and group photos.
Chalk Sound National Park
As an early birthday present, Bill organized some time for us to explore the nearby Chalk Sound National Park by kayak. The Chalk Sound National Park is located in the southwest portion of Provo right off Chalk Sound Drive. It was a short 5 minute drive from our villa. We rented two single kayaks from Las Brisas restaurant and set off for a two-hour adventure.
The guide at Las Brisas advised us on the best “path” to kayak to ensure the fierce wind worked with us for most of the trip. Chalk Sound National Park is a beautiful turquoise lagoon with several small rocky islands. We kayaked westerly from Las Brisas and stopped at a few islands along the way. The iguanas darted around the islands and poked their heads out as we came ashore. The wind and water are slowly eroding the underpart of the islands leaving small rocky holes. Bill and I cautiously walked around so as not to cut our foot on the sharp pockets of land.
We paddled really hard against the fierce wind to get back to shore. We definitely wanted to explore more of the sound, but feared going further would be too exhausting to get back. After getting back to shore, we headed to the outdoor seating area of Las Brisas for a few mid-day drinks.
Places to Eat & Drink
Las Brisas
We rotated cooking most meals at home each night because our group was so large. I love to cook, so I always enjoy making food for other people and trying meals that others cook. However, the first night we were all a bit too excited to cook so we headed out for a big group dinner.
The western side of Provo is mostly residential so our nearby dining options were very limited. Luckily we stayed only a few minutes from Las Brisas, which is located on the beautiful Chalk Sound. They sat us outside on the deck where we enjoyed the beautiful views of the turquoise lagoon. We enjoyed fabulous service, seafood, drinks and family – I’d definitely recommend!
Turks Head Brewery
As I mentioned earlier, beer from the grocery stores cost upwards of $4 per can. In an effort to save money and explore the area, we delighted in finding Turk’s Head Brewery, a local brewery within 10 minutes of our rental house.
Turk’s Head Brewery features regular style craft beers (IPA, Lager, Amber Ale, Wheat, etc) along with some seasonals. My favorite was the GON-TA-NORT amber ale which was well-balanced and full of flavor. We enjoyed chatting with the bartender who explained the brewery’s logo was designed to look like the turks head cactus, which grows natively on the island. Before leaving, we shopped the merch and bought several six-packs to take home at a fraction of the cost of the imported beer in the grocery store.
Downtown Grace Bay
The Downtown Grace Bay area is full of walkable restaurants and shopping. During our visit to Grace Bay Beach we walked across Grace Bay Rd for lunch. Surprisingly, there weren’t many lunch options so we settled for the first one we saw at Skull Rock Mexican Restaurant. It was very crowded, so they seated our group of 7 fairly quickly.
We ordered a variety of tex-mex food, including lots of kid menu items. The fish tacos were our favorite! Overall, the food was decent, but nothing we’d seek out again. The beers were cold, service was quick and location was convenient to our beach outing!
Thursday Night Fish Fry
On the Thursday night of our stay we drove to Bight Children’s Park for the city’s weekly fish fry. Located adjacent to the ocean and in Central Providenciales, this event features live music, and local vendors selling prepared seafood and chicken dishes and yummy drinks. First, we walked by the vendors scoping out their menus items before settling on some fried conch, fresh fruit, french fries, jerk chicken and grilled fish. Then, we dashed to a covered picnic table to reserve a small spot for our entire group – it was a blazing hot night.
While half the group stayed at the picnic table the other half (of adults) grabbed beers from the Turks Head Brewery beer truck or tropical drinks made from freshly hollowed-out pineapples. The local food tasted fresh and full of flavor. I’m glad to have tasted fried conch, but to me it was too chewy. If you’re looking to take in the local scene, the Thursday night fish fry was such a lively, beautiful spot to explore.
If there’s a vacation we continually dream about revisiting it’s definitely Turks & Caicos.
Thumbs up: the beautiful blues and greens of the water, shallowness of the water, water sports, snorkeling experience, beautiful weather, local festivals, friendly locals
Thumbs down: very salty ocean so bring goggles or a mask, previous hurricanes damaged a lot of the homes in Provo and years later it still shows
“Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.”
John Muir
My mom was always a big believer in the healing powers of being outdoors. She didn’t do much hiking or camping, but she was really into gardening and birding. She used to joke about telling my teachers that I needed more fresh air and sunshine instead of homework and projects. Over the years, we’ve tried instilling this in our kids by trying to spend a lot of time outdoors. When it comes to hiking our kids might push (a lot) at first, but in the end their bodies naturally pull and they have a wonderful time. Therefore, we’ll keep pushing!
In light of all the local closings (including Wake County Public Schools) because of coronavirus, I’ve compiled a list of the Top 10 Short Hikes in Raleigh to do with kids. The weather forecast is looking soggy, but don’t let that stop you from suiting up in boots, raincoats and umbrellas. Finally, before heading to a park check with the individual parks to verify their operating status and follow any CDC guidelines.
Top 10 Short Hikes in Raleigh
Umstead Park: Oak Rock Trail (northwest Raleigh) – this unpaved trail is about 1/2 mile long and meanders through the forest. It’s also part of the Kids in Parks TRACK trails system of family-friendly hikes. Bring water shoes, fishing nets and buckets if you want to further explore the shallow stream that crosses the trail. TRACK trails also offers several printable activities by season to incorporate while hiking.
Horseshoe Farm Nature Preserve (northeast Raleigh) – features 1/2 mile natural hiking trail that runs along the tree line of the park. With over 140 acres of park land, this nature preserve is full of sun and also a great spot for flying kites, having picnics, and accessing the Neuse River Greenway.
Top of the Hill Trail @ North Wake Landfill Park (north Raleigh) – features 1/4 mile walk up the gravel trail to the top of the old landfill. Once on the top, you have beautiful 360-degree views and can even see downtown Raleigh on clear days. Surrounding the bottom of the hill is a paved pedestrian path great for biking, running, scootering, etc.
Museum Art Park @ NC Art Museum (west Raleigh) – features miles of paved and natural walking trails in full sun and through the woods. Our favorite things include sliding down the piggie slide, finding art in the forest (as of a few weeks ago the Hobbit House exhibit was closed and under construction), jumping over the streams, and walking along the Reedy Creek Greenway and pedestrian bridge.
Durant Nature Preserve: White House Road & South Lakeside Trail (north Raleigh) – features a one-mile hike through the woods crossing streams and has lake views. Another fun shaded hike is Secret Creek Trail which starts opposite the playground. It follows a stream where we’ve regularly seen huge snapping turtles, deer and birds. If your kids love exploring aquatic habitats, bring their nets and buckets to this park! Try scooping with nets near the dock to find tadpoles and dragonfly nypmhs!
Falls Lake Day Hike M Little Creek Bridge (north Raleigh) – a few months ago we hiked a portion of this more adventurous Mountains-to-Sea trail. First, we parked at the dead end of Santee Rd. Then, we hiked west across the Little Creek Bridge, which is a narrow footbridge crossing Falls Lake. After crossing the bridge we back tracked to continue on the trail in the eastern direction. The trail parallels the water and is a little hilly. We turned around after about 1.5 miles, making our whole hike about 3 miles long. Though I never blogged about this hike, I’m sharing some pictures below. It’s a must-do hike with beautiful lake views, interesting old artifacts, and
Hiking Trails @ Blue Jay Point County Park (north Raleigh) – features easy, shaded trails that start near the visitor center and the playground area. Trails feature beautiful views of Falls Lake and lots of open green space throughout the park.
Pott’s Branch Trail @ Umstead Park (northwest Raleigh) – relatively easy 1.6 mile hiking trail through the shaded woods. Bring your water shoes if you want to explore the small stream that parallels a portion of the stream. You access this trail from the entrance at Glenwood Ave.
Loblolly Trail @ Umstead Park (west Raleigh) – beautiful out and back hike (5.4 mile round-trip distance) through the woods, so you can shorten this hike to the needs of your companions. You access this trail from the entrance at Reedy Creek Rd. The trailhead is located in the back right section of the parking lot. Though I never wrote a blog post about this trail, I’ve hiked it a few times solo and with family over the past two years. Its terrain varies with a few hills and streams to cross. The scenic Davie Pond
Loop Trail @ Anderson Point Park – features a half-mile paved loop trail in the middle of the park. Great park for walking, biking, having picnics and accessing the Neuse River Greenway or Crabtree Creek Greenway.
Beyond Raleigh
If you’re looking for a quick day trip idea, here’s a few trails we’ve explored within an hour from Raleigh:
If your family hasn’t tried geocaching yet, now is the time! Our girls have recently gotten into it and especially enjoy doing it with friends. Geocaching is essentially treasure hunting in nature and all you need is your phone with GPS enabled. Geocaches are usually stored in a small container and hold a paper log of people who’ve previously found it. Sometimes the container holds small collectible items and the geocache owner might offer a trinket to you if you leave a trinket.
To begin geocaching, first you need to download the free Geocaching app. Then, scroll around the map and pick a geocache to find. Then, hunt for the geocache by following its GPS coordinates and descriptions. Finally, log the item as found in the app and sign the log book – it’s that simple! We love explore open public spaces with multiple geocaches nearby. Geocaches are everywhere – even in urban areas like downtown Raleigh. Eastgate Park is a great spot to start for geocaching, plus you can try to find the Star Wars themed geocache we added a few weeks ago!
When talking with a friend earlier this week she remarked that maybe families will embrace the time together talking, reading, and playing. I love the simplicity of that thought, and will try to remember it as the days go on. Whether that time is indoors or outdoors may your families be in good health and positive spirit!
I carry my childhood close to my heart. I didn’t really realize what effect it had on me until later in life, when I started having kids and after my mom’s passing. Several times I find myself wondering what I was like at ages that correspond to my kids’ ages. I love re-visiting special places from when I was young so I can pass those fun memories onto my kids and, also, selfishly so I can feel the spirit of my childhood.
As I’ve written about in the past, my mom was big on taking us to local parks and libraries. My dad, who worked all day at IBM, always spent late evenings and long Saturdays with us on the soccer field or in the backyard. My parents were also really big on introducing us to different experiences, mostly outdoorsy ones like skiing, water sports, and animal husbandry (turkeys, ducks, dogs… you name it and we had it). Though my aunt lived 90 minutes away in Charlottesville, she also played a big part in my childhood. My parents often met her halfway at a car dealership on Route 29 and she’d whisk us away for some type of crazy adventure that usually involved hiking, camping and swimming!
My aunt’s old farmhouse
One of the favorite places my aunt used to take us was to Mint Springs Valley Park in Crozet, Va. So, when we planned out our 2018 summer trips (not a typo, that’s how far behind in writing I am), I suggested camping in Central Virginia so I could get back to Mint Springs.
Mint Springs Valley Park
Mint Springs Valley Park is nestled in the mountains of Albemarle County sitting at 1,000ft in elevation. As soon as we drove up, the tree-lined entrance took me back to being 10 years old again. The park seemed just as I remembered, though so much time had passed. We drove past the stocked fishing pond and to the main parking lot outside the swimming lake.
The swimming lake sits between the mountains and features a large sandy beach with designated swimming area. It’s a great place to bring noodles, floats and small inner tubes. The swimming area has at least two lifeguards on duty – one on the sandy beach and one on the wooden dock. The wooden dock sits about 25 yards from shore, and makes for a great spot to sun and jump into the deep water. As a tribute to my childhood, I swam the 25 yards to the dock and sat with my feet dangling over the water and waving to my family back on shore. I thought about old trips with my aunt and siblings where we jumped over and over from the dock into the colder, deeper water. And then, without hesitation, I plunged into the water and swam back to shore.
After swimming and picnicking on shore, we drove to the fishing pond, where we tried to catch some fish. Without any live bait we didn’t have much luck fishing. But, we did enjoy the peacefulness of the pond, casting from the dock, and using our nets to catch and release minnows.
Camping
We stayed for three nights over Fourth of July weekend at North 340 Campground. Overall, it’s a great campground with all the amenities – swimming pool, full hook-ups, camp store, and playground. The campground even hosted a Patsy Cline tribute singer one night, who was really fabulous! The girls loved biking around the campground and per usual, met friends to swing with at the playground and shared sparklers with neighbors. However, we felt the campsites were very closely packed next to each other. We could definitely hear the comings and goings of our neighbors who had a large group of people and dogs.
Exploring Waynesboro
When we weren’t swimming at the campground or at Mint Springs we explored all over the Waynesboro area. From caves to breweries, farms, and downtown parks, we did it all!
Grand Caverns
The morning after exploring Mint Springs, we headed to Grand Caverns in Grottoes, Va to explore the caves. Bernard Weyer (not the landowner) discovered the caves in 1804 when he was looking for his lost raccoon trap. Grand Caverns opened in 1806 to the public, and has hosted many tourists since then, including several Confederate and Union soldiers during the Civil War. Grand Caverns is an enormous space with many rooms to explore. Rivers once flowed through the rooms, and the cave is mostly formed into the hill so there’s not much cave space underground.
Grand Caverns conducts walking group tours that last about an hour. Our tour guide was super knowledgeable about the caverns and kept our group moving. He told us interesting facts about special events and church services held inside the caves in the 1800s, and pointed out unique stalagmites that seemed to take the shape of old presidential faces. Despite the lengthy tour, there was so much to admire that it held our kids’ attention.
Despite the name of this stop on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Slacks Overlook (near milepost 20) does not have an overlook. We hoped to find the nearby White Rock Falls so we headed off on an unmarked trail behind the picnic tables hoping it was the White Rock Falls trail. The pull-off area did not have a map and our cell reception was not working, but we pushed on.
After hiking awhile we found a sign showing we were on the Slacks Trail. At the directional sign we continued towards the White Rock Gap Trail. After hiking a bit longer we never found the falls. We noticed stormy weather coming and with little things of interest on the hike, we decided to turn around. The girls also became super frustrated on this hike, which started the idea of bravery stones. They found stones on our hike to hold that helped them refocus and get back to the car with less crying. Since this hike, we’ve found many bravery stones on future trails.
Though our hike was a bust, we made it back to the car right before the heavens opened up on us. After further research I found a similar website highlighting more information about how to find the White Rock Falls waterfall. And, I feel better knowing he, too, had difficulty finding the falls at first.
Breweries
During our trip we explored Basic City Beer Co and Stable Craft Brewing. Even though both places are breweries, that’s where the similarities stop. Basic City Beer Co is located near the intersection of 340/250 at 1010 E. Main St in a renovated warehouse in the older downtown part of the city. The brewery’s name is a tribute to the history of the Waynesboro area, and features a cool steel structure outside. Basic City Beer Co is the first brewery I’ve been to that features an area in the back for food trucks to pull-up to and operate a mini storefront, complete with a counter – genius!! We enjoyed delicious food, played kid-friendly games, sampled beers, and can’t wait to return some day!
We visited Stable Craft Brewing after our big hike fail from above. Stable Craft Brewing is located in the western part of the city among the beautiful rolling countryside. We first visited this brewery in 2015 when it hadn’t quite opened yet, and was the setting for a friend’s wedding. I remember falling in love with this space then, and couldn’t believe the beauty of it the second time around.
Stable Craft Brewing is a working horse farm, special events venue, restaurant, and brewery all wrapped into one. We enjoyed some yummy dinner and beers inside, and then took the liberty to explore the farm before having a final beer overlooking the countryside. The girls loved climbing the spiral staircase out front to look over the barn, seeing inside the horse stalls, and waving to the horses from afar. If you are craving country hills and yummy beers, this is the place. Dare I say it rivals Rising Silo Brewery in Blacksburg??
Ridgeview Park
On a different day we explored Ridgeview Park located adjacent to the South River at 700 S. Magnolia Ave. With its huge open space, rolling hills, established trees and easy river access we all immediately fell in love with this park! Situated on 85 acres along the South River, this park also features a large outdoor swimming pool, ball fields, amphitheater, Serenity Garden, shelters, tennis courts, and soccer fields.
The girls played on the playground for awhile and then cooled off in the river. The South River is very shallow for a good stretch, making it pretty kid-friendly. We walked up and down the banks of the river and even rented kayaks from the nearby swimming pool for some extra activity. This park also features a pedestrian bridge that connects to a large neighborhood on the other side. Bill and I seriously checked Zillow for surrounding houses for sale – the proximity to the park and river would be amazing for any family!
Dining Out
We made most of our food at the campground, but did make it out for food a few times. After our big hike we made our way to Kline’s Dairy Bar for delicious ice cream. They’ve been around for 75 years, so it felt great to support such a historic spot.
For lunch one day we enjoyed coffees and light food at Farmhaus Coffee Co at 908 W. Main St. The weather was perfect for sitting outside on the patio, though they also have beautiful sitting areas inside, too. I loved the farmhouse decor, bookcases of books everywhere, and oh yeah – the food and coffee were delicious too!
Waynesboro, you exceeded all our expectations! We packed in so many adventures, but with the rural settings our trip still felt very peaceful and relaxing. We can’t wait to come back one day!
Thumbs up: Ridgeview Park, South River kayaking and access, breweries, peaceful rural settings, campground amenities, proximity to dining/hiking/adventure
Thumbs down: squished feeling at North 340 Campground, hiking trail signage at Slacks Overlook
Last month we surprised the girls with a trip to Disney that we’d been planning for over four months. We took them geocaching at Eastgate Park where we hid a cryptic message near the geocache that they had to solve. They instinctively worked together solving the message, thereby proving Disney’s magic transcends to sisterhood.
Surprise Disney Reveal
After sharing the surprise with the girls we had about a week to finish last minute planning details. We bought some Mickey, Star Wars, princess and Lion King t-shirts before leaving on our trip. We also watched the Bucket List Family’s 30 Stays in 30 Days of Disney World episode and walked through all the rides and parks we planned to visit. The girls got increasingly excited, and it was so thrilling to witness their anticipation build throughout the week.
Though it’s only been about a month since returning from Disney it feels like forever ago. Disney truly has the ability to magically transport you into a separate universe during your stay only to return you to reality as soon as you come back.
Over six hot days (without rain) we each walked over 110,000 steps equal to about 45 miles. Having just conquered Disney, naturally, I feel like we have super powers and can do anything. Here are our tips and tricks that worked for us while we were there.
Getting a Disney Planner
One of the most crucial parts of our trip was using a Disney Planner. I got a recommendation from a friend to use Haley at Wishing Well Travel and she was fabulous from the beginning. She met with me in person to learn about our trip goals and go over the millions of questions I had about hotels, FastPasses, dining plans, transportation, and more. After our meeting she sent me quotes comparing the different hotels. Based on our kids’ ages (8 and almost 6) she steered us towards certain hotels, leaving out all the guesswork.
After we booked the hotel and 4-day pass, Haley started reserving character meals. Then, once our FastPass window opened up she helped with our FastPasses. Throughout the months she occasionally checked in with me to see if we needed anything. As we got closer to the trip she arranged for our Magic Bands and Magical Express bus transportation. During our final meeting she gave me a packet showing our schedule for the week along with a list of her special tips and reminders. Having her expertise throughout the trip planning really helped ease my Disney fears; I’d use her again for the next trip too!
Another recommendation Haley gave us was to get the Memory Maker photo package. With this package we enjoyed unlimited photos throughout the parks. We simply scanned our Magic Bands after rides or after crew members took our pictures. Then, the photos showed up magically in our Disney app and we could download them after getting home. It took the hassle out of taking our own cell phone photos and ensured we got really great photos!
Staying There
Choosing a Hotel
Since entering elementary school both girls claimed to “be over” princesses and way into Star Wars. So, when trying to decide about where to stay we really looked hard at the hotels near Hollywood Studios. Ultimately, we nixed the idea of staying too close to Hollywood Studios because of the unknown Disney magic that might draw them back into the world of princesses. Boy, am I glad we didn’t commit to a Hollywood Studios hotel location! My oldest embraced all the Disney magic from her toddler/preschool days and even travelled with Cinderella dress-up, which she wore to the Cinderella character dinner at 1900 Fare – my heart was full! In case anyone needs a reminder of their former princess obsession love here’s a (little) montage of their Disney dress-up:
After we decided on a more centrally-located hotel, we deliberated more about which hotel and which room within the hotel to choose. Since we were staying for 6 nights we compared the pricing, space, and room features when deciding between getting two adjacent rooms, a suite, or just one room. Ultimately we stayed with our original decision of getting one room at Port Orleans Riverside, and opted for a River View room. For us we felt the extra room/suite cost wasn’t going to be worth it since we wouldn’t be spending much time in our hotel room.
As it turned out, we wouldn’t have needed the extra space in a suite or second room. We left our room by 7:30am each day and usually didn’t return until dinner time. Everyone immediately passed out when their head hit the pillow, too! The corner room we stayed in had two queen beds, a small table/chairs, dorm fridge, TV, and double sinks with a black-out drape for privacy.
Port Orleans Riverside River View rooms were beautifully adorned with tasteful princess decor. The girls loved discovering the hidden decorations in the room. The room’s carpet incorporated Aladdin’s magic carpet, the headboards featured light-up fireworks, and the wall trim had accents of Chip from Beauty & the Beast. We also awoke each morning to a wake-up call from Winnie the Pooh telling us, “I do hope you’ll have a wonderful day!”
Hotel Fun
When we weren’t sleeping in our room or exploring a park we spent time in the hotel’s pool and dining area. The pool area featured a winding slide, island with waterfalls, adjacent playground, hot tub, nearby bar, and separate baby pool area. The girls enjoyed climbing on the island and jumping into the waterfalls. Sadly, they’ve been spoiled with our neighborhood pool’s new slide and were unimpressed with this one (you’re killing me, Smalls)!
We were all really impressed with the dining options at our hotel. We enjoyed breakfast each morning in the casual dining area with either a quick-service meal or on-the-go snacks (fruit, bagel, muffin, cereal). One night we enjoyed a table-service meal at the Boatwright’s Dining Hall restaurant, which had delicious cajun-inspired food. We all agreed it was the most delicious meal of the week.
Friends who did Disney earlier this year told us to make sure we picked up our reusable thermoses that were included with our dining plan. The thermoses have a chip that allows you to get unlimited sodas and coffee at the hotel. We usually chugged coffee in the morning on the way to the bus while the girls filled theirs up with ice water. When we got to the parks we used them to refill with free ice water stations at the quick-service restaurants. The girls and I regularly use them around the house now!
Our hotel’s gift shop also contained a decent selection of convenience, snacks and beer. I almost Instacarted a small grocery order to our hotel room, but in hindsight wouldn’t have needed the extra food. We brought enough snacks, took home left-overs and bought an overpriced six-pack to keep in the room.
Getting Around
Going into the trip I felt a little overwhelmed because of not completely grasping the transportation between hotels and parks. Once I thought of Magic Kingdom as a transportation hub, it all dawned on me! Each park has buses that run to each hotel that are clearly marked. Near Magic Kingdom there’s also the monorail and boat that run to nearby resorts like the Polynesian and Grand Floridian. Port Orleans Riverside hotel also featured a special boat that ran to the Disney Springs area, which we took on our first day.
We took advantage of every mode of transportation, but mostly rode the Disney buses. The Disney app features transportation times where you can check bus arrivals, however that wasn’t always dependable. If you go into the trip knowing the buses usually run every 15-20 minutes, then you probably won’t be disappointed. We never tried to catch a bus based on arrival times in the app. The hotel bus stop shows incoming arrival times so we’d just show up and wait. We definitely witnessed some irate people complaining about bus arrivals, but to us it wasn’t worth the extra aggravation. And, yes, sometimes our kids sat on the bus floor because the bus was so packed, but they didn’t care.
We also hailed an Uber driver when leaving parks or other hotels in the late evening hours. After dinner at Ohana (Polynesian) and 1900 Fare (Grand Floridian) we easily got an inexpensive Uber ride to our hotel. For us, it was worth the extra $10 to avoid the extra transportation time getting back to Magic Kingdom and then to our hotel.
On our last night we rode the boat from Magic Kingdom to the Polynesian to watch fireworks. Fireworks start around 9:15pm during summer so we arrived about an hour early. The girls played in the sand while we enjoyed delicious drinks and watched a pre-fireworks water show. After the fireworks we easily caught an inexpensive Uber ride back to our hotel, avoiding big crowds at Magic Kingdom.
Getting Through Security
Disney takes security seriously! They spend time opening each zipper pouch and taking out items to get to the bottom of the bag. Our family arrived at each park before the usual 9am opening, so we waited about 5-7 minutes for bag check. Friends of ours suggested stuffing your cargo pockets with a small, foldable book bag and snacks to go through the “No Bag” security line with no wait. It would’ve been nice to save that time especially if you arrive during a busier time, but with all the sunscreen, water bottles, and rain coats we couldn’t make it happen.
Each day I wore my REI Trail 25 book bag filled with sunscreen, dried fruit, extra water bottles, back-up cell phone charger and raincoats. This book bag worked great because it has small interior and exterior pockets, including three exterior spots for water bottles. Bill also carried a small book bag for his things and used a carabiner clip to attach his Disney thermos to the outside.
Food
We signed up for a Dining Plan that provided each person with one quick-service meal, one table-service meal and two snacks per day. As soon as we settled on our trip dates and planned out the park visit schedule we started making meal reservations. We changed some reservations along the way and even forfeited some money by cancelling a dinner at Hollywood Studios because we didn’t give enough notice. But, our kids were exhausted by 4pm at Hollywood Studios and there was no way we’d make it to a 6pm dinner.
The Disney app was really easy to use when searching for available table-service reservations. We quickly learned to save our table-service meals for character dining plans because it was a great way to see all the characters in a relaxed, cool environment. We also learned that we really enjoyed having table-service meal reservations for lunch – it gave us some downtime in the A/C while filling our bellies. It also meant we had more flexibility for dinner in case we just wanted to eat at the hotel and go swimming.
Our favorite meals were the character ones at 1900 Fare (Cinderella), Crystal Palace (Winnie the Pooh), Tusker House (Safari Donald and friends) and Cinderella’s Royal Table (princesses). Our kids really love Winnie the Pooh so I’m glad we switched out a Belle lunch for the Winnie the Pooh lunch at the Crystal Palace. We all really loved the Cinderella dinner at 1900 Fare with Cinderella and her stepmother and stepsisters. The actresses interacted with each other and really stayed true to their character during dinner.
The only dinner we wouldn’t repeat again was Ohana at the Polynesian. The food was really good, but it was too much food and it wasn’t the best spot for kids, especially at 9pm. We got a late reservation hoping to get a good window seat for the fireworks, but instead we sat with a view of the kitchen while one kid picked at her food and the other slept through dinner.
I was also overwhelmed trying to determine the difference in the meal options included in the Dining Plan. I didn’t understand what snacks were included and where the different meal plans were accepted, which meals were served at which restaurants or how many meal credits each table-service restaurant used. Before our trip, I found a helpful website summarizing all of the quick-service and table-service options. Once we got to Disney, I learned that dining plan snacks are designated with a purple Mickey icon. Some snacks we ordered included french fries, veggies and ranch, Mickey pretzels, popcorn, ice cream treats, and fruit.
We tried using the mobile ordering option when possible to avoid waiting in long lines. I specifically tried using it while waiting in line for the Star Tours ride, but the order never went through. Luckily, the Backlot Express was pretty quick and easy. Don’t forget to use your alcoholic beverage allowance included with every quick-service and table-service meal!
Here’s a quick glance of where we ate over the week. We used up all our meal credits and even had to pay for 1/2 of the breakfast at Cinderella’s castle because it uses two table-service credits per person. The Cinderella breakfast wasn’t on our original schedule, but I kept calling the night before and they had a last-minute morning opening, which worked great with our schedule and the extra Magic Hour. The Disney app was also helpful for tracking how many meal credits you had remaining.
Sun (travel)
Mon (MK)
Tues (HS)
Wed (TL)
Thurs (AK)
Fri (MK)
BF
hotel food court
hotel food court
hotel food court
hotel food court
Cinderella’s Royal Table
L
Disney Springs
Crystal Palace
Backlot Express (quick-service)
Lowtide Lou’s(quick-service)
Tusker House
snacks
D
1900 Fare at Grand Floridian
Ohana at Polynesian
hotel food court
Boatwright’s
hotel food court
Pinocchio’s restaurant (quick service)
The Parks
Magic Kingdom
The mountains are calling and they are Splash, Thunder and Space. On this trip we discovered that our kids are crazy for coasters – the faster, the better. In most of our roller coaster pictures their eyes are closed and their heads are down, but as soon as we got off the ride they screamed, “That was amazing, let’s do it again!” And, as soon as they saw friends back at home they shared stories about how much fun they had on the coasters.
We originally planned for only one day at each park (MK, HS, AK and Epcot). However, about halfway through the week we decided to swap the Epcot plans on the last day for another day at Magic Kingdom. We’re so glad we added the extra Magic Kingdom day, as we were able to take advantage of early magic hours and score a last minute breakfast at Cinderella’s Castle.
Each land (Adventureland, FantasyLand, etc) has a special 9am rope drop signaling when you can proceed to the areas and ride the attractions. At 8:55am there’s a special opening ceremony at the Magic Castle where Mickey and his friends welcome you to the park. This was one of the most magical parts of the whole trip because you see so many characters dancing and singing together, and then the Fairy Godmother arrives and exclaims, “Bippity, Boppity Boo” – it’s a great way to start your magical day! I definitely teared up during the short 5-minute performance.
Visit Sir Mickey’s (usually Castle Couture, but it’s under renovation) and ask a cast member for a pixie dust sprinkling
My husband loved the Dole Whip dessert located in Adventureland
We originally had FastPasses for Splash Mountain, Thunder Mountain and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. We used the first two FastPasses in the morning, but then Seven Dwarfs Mine Train became temporarily closed during the afternoon FastPass time. They gave us a replacement FastPass Experience where we were able to select one ride from many choices, so we traded it for Space Mountain. Of course, shortly after getting off Space Mountain, Seven Dwarfs became operable and the standby line was over an hour long.
Thumbs Up
Enchanted Tales with Belle experience was magical and interactive
We loved the movie music and up-close encounters riding in a clam shell at Under the Sea Journey of the Little Mermaid ride
Lunch with Pooh and his friends at the Crystal Palace (restaurant with glass atrium) was enchanting and dear
Pirates of the Caribbean ride was suspenseful and fun (we rode it twice, taking advantage of short lines and cool temperature waiting area)
Splash, Thunder and Space Mountain were all our favorite rides – the rides are longer and faster and worth the wait
The Hall of Presidents show was beautiful and relaxing
The Monsters Inc Laugh Factory Floor was interactive, restful, and funny
Thumbs Down
Winnie the Pooh ride had beautiful story details, but the pace of the ride was too fast to enjoy everything
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train features a beautiful, slower mid-ride mine exploration, but overall the coaster was too short
Hollywood Studios
Our family loves Star Wars so we were really excited to visit this park and experience the character meet and greets, Jedi Training and First Order marches. We arrived to the park right before 9am and already noticed a really long wait time for Slinky Dog Dash. So, instead we took advantage of no wait times with the Star Wars characters, which were super fun. We caught a glimpse from far away of the new Star Wars Land set to open later this summer, and can’t wait to explore that new land in a few years.
Originally, we had FastPasses for Toy Story Mania, Star Tours and Tower of Terror. We used the first two FastPasses in the morning, but then (again) Tower of Terror became temporarily closed during the afternoon FastPass time. Again, we got a replacement FastPass experience where we could select one ride from many choices (Slinky Dog not included). Based on our day-before experience at Magic Kingdom, we killed a little more time to see if Tower of Terror would get fixed quickly. However, it was a trade-off because as soon as you ride a third FastPass you get an additional FastPass. After 30 minutes, Tower of Terror was still inoperable so we blew our last FastPass on Indiana Jones. Sadly, the Slinky Dog Dash FastPass was not available, so we just waited in line anyways.
Thumbs up:
Everyone really enjoyed the indoor shows, which provided a great break from the intense heat. We saw Frozen Sing-a-Long, Ariel’s Sea Voyage and Muppets 3-D. All were great shows with a lot of fun comedy and singing.
Character Meet & Greets – when the park first opened we quickly got in line to meet Chewbacca and BB-8; meeting Chewie was an especially fun treat for my kids and husband
Star Tours simulator – a fun simulator ride for the whole family that tilts and moves as you ride through space
Jedi Training – despite the intense heat, Claire rocked this interactive training session with her focus and expert training
Indiana Jones Experience – similar to what I remembered as a child, this brought the movie to life in front of our eyes with suspenseful music, action sequences and audience participation
Slinky Dog Dash – without a FastPass we waited about an hour in the heat for this ride. We killed time by people watching and playing “I Spy” and the popular iPhone game “Head’s Up.” The ride was super fast with a fun quirk in the middle. Both girls exclaimed, “That was so worth the wait” after getting off the ride!
Guest Services store sells deodorant, which was super helpful when I realized I had forgotten to apply some
Thumbs down:
Bathroom and water fountain facilities seemed harder to locate
In hot summer months, it would’ve been nice to have more water rides or places to escape the heat
Animal Kingdom
The last time I went to Disney World was over 20 years ago when Animal Kingdom wasn’t built yet. The park design, restaurant decor and rides really blew us all away. We arrived right before rope drop so we could take advantage of short lines on Expedition Everest. Claire was a yeti hair above the height requirement, so we rode it three times in a row! The girls closed their eyes for most of the ride especially when the yeti came out, but they loved the thrill of it!
Thumbs up:
Kilimanjaro Safari ride – riding in the safari jeep with the oppressive Orlando heat and seeing the different animals really helped imagine the reality of an actual safari. We saw close-ups of giraffes, elephants, rhinos, and hippos and enjoyed listening to our guide tell us interesting animal facts. My favorite part was driving right by a sleeping a giraffe, who sleeps standing up!
Festival of the Lion King – Broadway-style show features songs, puppets, acrobats, fire dancers and stilt walkers celebrating the movie, The Lion King, all in a 360-degree stage. We all loved this show and again, it provided a great break from the heat.
Flight of Passage – unfortunately Claire didn’t pass the height requirement for this ride, which was the same as Expedition Everest. We waited in the ride’s gift shop for Bill and Ash to finish the ride. Then, after lunch I used my FastPass and Ash rode it again (they gave us a Rider Swap). This 3D simulation ride was unlike any ride before. It’s a simulation of riding on a Na’vi banshee bird and you’re strapped into a motorcycle-like contraption. The ride exhilaratingly overloads your senses with dips, tilts, and ascents as you ride through the Avatar world. You feel mists of water and puffs of air as you ride through Pandora and duck through forests, encounter whales, and skim across the ocean. I walked away from the ride in complete awe, and Ashley was over the moon about getting to ride it twice!
Thumbs down:
Kali River Rapids – the ride reminded me of King’s Dominion’s White Water Canyon but with less drenching. We were all really hoping to get drenched, but we didn’t. The ride was okay, but it seemed too short in my opinion. I’m glad we had a FastPass for it.
DinoLand – seemed too rundown and old; we only rode the Triceratops Spin ride, which was mildly amusing for this crowd
Typhoon Lagoon
For our mid-week “down day” we made a last minute decision to visit a water park. We debated between Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach and ultimately decided on Typhoon Lagoon because of having a wave pool. Plus, I visited Blizzard Beach when I was younger so I wanted to try a different water park. Typhoon Lagoon has a fun selection of water rides for the whole family, and really fast rides for adults too! The lines are all generally short and despite walking around a park another day, it felt relaxing and cool!
Thumbs up:
Wave pool – the girls LOVED trying to survive the super high waves
Ketchakiddee Creek – the girls enjoyed splashing around the kiddo playground and rafting down the small river
Several crew members circulate around the park ready to capture your memories so you can leave your phone in a locker all day; we especially enjoyed chatting with a photographer in the Ketchakiddee Creek area
Crush ‘n Gusher – full adult/taller kid ride with raft
Keelhaul Falls – great raft ride for all ages
Gangplank Falls – fun four-person raft ride
Castaway Creek – relaxing, twisty lazy river with several waterfalls for getting wet
Fast and easy lunch options with lots of shaded seating
Thumbs down:
Humunga Cowabunga – a steep and fast ride on your butt, so expect water to go into all orifices
Fast Passes
FastPass windows open up 60 days in advance of your Disney hotel check-in and 30 days in advance (if not staying on Disney property). Again, our Disney planner helped us with our FastPasses and these are the ones I’d recommend getting FastPasses for because they have longer wait times and are awesome rides. The Disney app was super helpful for checking wait times and deciding which ride to go on next.
Magic Kingdom
HollywoodStudios
Animal Kingdom
Space Mountain
Slinky Dog Dash
Expedition Everest
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Toy Story Mania
Flight of Passage
Splash Mountain
Star Wars 3D
Kilimanjaro Safari
Big Thunder Mountain
Kali River Rapids
Random Things That Worked For Us
Bring a bag of gum – Disney doesn’t sell gum at the parks, so bring your own. Having gum helped save us some whiny waiting times.
Pack raincoats in gallon-sized ziplock bags – we could fit 2 in each gallon-sized bag and felt they saved us precious book bag space
Try to pre-order meals while waiting in line – if you can time it right, place your next meal order while you’re waiting in line for a ride so you can easily pick up food after your ride
Set limits for souvenirs – we gave both girls a maximum limit for souvenirs and kept a running total of the items they bought throughout the week, so they could get what they wanted within the limit.
Next Time
Our time at Disney was truly magical, and we learned so much along the way. Some things I’d like to do next time include:
Staying closer to Magic Kingdom at the Polynesian (the pool and sandy beach area seemed really inviting)
Watching the big afternoon parade at Magic Kingdom
Visit the new Star Wars Land at Hollywood Studios
Spend a day exploring Harry Potter World; our kids should probably be old enough for most of the rides by then
Spend a day visiting Sea World – I remember being amazed by the animals
