Charlotte, if you haven’t noticed, is super kid-friendly and an awesome place to raise a family. Not that I’m biased at all having grown up here and raising my own family here. Nope, not biased one bit. But, in an effort to prove my case, I’m putting together my child-friendly Top Ten list for Charlotte. Some may be obvious, others may not. Regardless, you can probably track me down at one of these places throughout the week!
1. The train table at Barnes and Noble and Books-A-Million. Yes, we have a train table at home. And Graham enjoys it, but sometimes we just need to get out of the house. This is the perfect place to settle in on a rainy day, cold day, hot day, or lazy day. I get a cup of coffee and few cooking magazines, plop in a chair and let Graham at it. He loves playing with the toys and other children. I love caffeine and picking out a recipe for dinner.
2. Carmel Road Park – This is a great park for little ones. The park has two complete playgrounds, one for toddlers, and a separate area for older children. You’ll also find tennis courts, a basketball court, baseball field, and let’s not forget the restrooms. There’s also plenty of shade to throw down a blanket and enjoy a lovely picnic.
3. Small Hands Big Art – I think y’all know how much I hate messes and crafts and messy crafts, which is why we go to Small Hands Big Art, where they manage all of this for me. Relatives tell me how much they love his art as gifts. I love that I don’t have to keep paint brushes in the house.
4. Chick-fil-A – We have successfully managed to go to Chick-fil-A without incident a few times now. We were dealing with a case of cow-phobia, which as it turns out can sometimes last beyond childhood. But, this is the place to take your kid if (a) you’re hungry (b) your kid is hungry (c) your kid wants to play – check locations for indoor/outdoor play areas (d) you like inexpensive kids meals (e) you appreciate great service.
5. Pigtails and Crewcuts – My kid had a rough introduction to getting his hair cut. But, we’ve slowly grown out of the total break-down phase, and have entered the “I love haircuts, Mommy!” phase. What toddler wouldn’t want a hair cut in exchange for playing trains, watching Toy Story, and getting lollipops, stickers and cookies?
6. My Gym – I really enjoy the classes at My Gym. My kid tends to be on the shy side, so any opportunity for Graham to get instruction from someone other than me is good for him. Any opportunity for him to burn off some energy and get a long afternoon nap is good for me. Not sure if it’s for you? Check out My Gym at one of their free-plays. Non-members pay a small fee to experience what they have to offer.
7. Monkey Joe’s (Indoor Inflatable Playgrounds) – I know that Wednesday is 1/2 price day. I prefer to go any day besides Wednesday. I also prefer to go when school is in session. But, regardless of when you choose to visit, Monkey Joe’s a clean facility with plenty of bouncing options, including an enclosed toddler area, guaranteed to result in a good post-play nap for you and the little one. Check out the new location at Park Rd. Oh, and you can ask that they warn you before Monkey Joe (the mascot) comes out. We’ve had some issues with purple monkey.
8. Free Summertime Movies – I know we are just getting into spring, but I’m looking forward to summer already! Once school gets out, check the cinemas at Stonecrest and the Arboretum for free kid-flicks throughout the summer on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings. Not sure if your child can hang for an entire movie? This is definitely your opportunity to find out.
9. Indoor Play Area at Carolina Place Mall – This is the place to take your kid when they are learning to walk. The floor is padded, and they have age-appropriate, soft crawling features for the little ones to pull up on. Avoid this place when school is out (no baby enjoys being trampled by a six-year-old), but when Graham was around younger, we would go at least once a week and set up shop.
10. Once Upon a Child and Kid to Kid – When I first had Graham, I bought everything at Target, department stores and discount stores. Then I realized he only played with his baby toys for a few months and wore his clothes for even less time. Which is why I discovered that buying things second-hand fit the bill. I prefer Once Upon a Child for the toy selection and Kid to Kid for clothes.
Thank you for the recommendations, I would try them for my kids as well