If you love fluffy alpacas, a trip to Serenity at Stony Point Alpaca Farm just outside Statesville, NC, about two hours from the Upstate, is the place to go, especially if you’re planning a trip nearby! Thank you to Visit Statesville for setting up our trip to their beautiful town.
Looking for an exciting biking spot with great mountain biking trails near Charlotte, NC? Airline Bike Park in Charlotte is the place to ride. With free access, exciting trails, and features built for fun and progression, it’s an awesome option for older kids, teens, and parents who want a real trail experience with a lot of variety.
Looking for an easy outdoor adventure the whole family can enjoy? Rankin Lake Park in Gastonia, NC, is packed with fun — from disc golf and boat rentals to shaded playgrounds, picnic shelters, and a beautiful lakeside trail.
Whether you’re there to play, fish, walk, or relax, this park is a great spot to slow down and make some memories.
Looking for a day trip from Greenville? Just an hour from the Upstate is Gastonia, NC. We discovered this town is full of things to do, like a museum, parks and some of the best milkshakes in the country, according to USA today. Since its so close to the Upstate it makes a great day trip!
Are you looking to explore some hiking and biking trails in Cabarrus County, NC? Cabarrus is home to dozens of trail systems, and explorers are rewarded any time of year with the naturally beautiful landscapes the trails carve their way through. From family-friendly hiking and mountain biking to leisurely strolls and water recreation, Cabarrus County has a nature trail for you to fall in love with!
Are you struggling to find easy school-night dinner ideas and tips and tricks? With a schedule this year that allows only a small slot of time for family dinner, I was struggling myself to figure out how to ensure we have a family dinner with as little work as possible. I asked our Kidding Around readers for tips and they delivered with a great list for you of weekday dinner ideas, ways of saving time in the kitchen, and more.
Have you visited the Schiele Museum of Natural History? Located in Gastonia, North Carolina the museum makes a great day trip. Kidding Around’s Melanie had a lot of fun visiting the museum with her children. They enjoyed exhibits on dinosaurs, minerals, animals, critters, nature and so much more! If you haven’t been yet, you should definitely add it to your museum bucket list.
You can explore Lake Glenville, the highest lake in Eastern US, in Jackson County, NC by boat with Lake Glenville Scenic Boat Tours. We did the beautiful boat tour and will tell you all you need to know to enjoy the scenic lake.
If you’re looking for something fun to do with your family this fall in the Greenville-Spartanburg area, Strawberry Hill Cooley Farms needs to be on your list. In fact, it should probably be on your bucket list every year. Strawberry Hill and Cooley Farms have been family owned and operated since 1947, and they truly understand and value families. With a cafe, ice cream shop, and produce stand of fresh pumpkins, jellies, jams, corn, and more, you’ll find plenty to satisfy your cravings. Plus, the hay ride and corn maze provide more than enough entertainment and memory-making for a couple of hours.
Charlotte Kids Fest is back! Join Charlotte families at a free festival in University City on Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm. Interactive zones, live performances, giant trucks, food trucks, and more — and admission is free!