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YES! The government is no longer shut down! It's National Park time again!
YES! The government is no longer shut down! It's National Park time again!
2/2/2019 Kings Mountain National Park. For whatever it’s worth, we had spent the morning at Cowpens National Park and for some completely unknown reason I took ZERO pictures. Anyway, we migrated from Cowpens to Kings Mountain in the afternoon. Both are sites of major battles during the revolutionary war and both were very pretty places to visit. I’d also like to add that we are starting to REALLY like this winter tourist stuff! The number of times we have been the ONLY people or one of just a small handful of cars inside a National Park has been wonderful. I’m not sure what we are going to do on the day when we have to fight crowds and lines at some National Park. I know it’s coming, but I’m not happy about it!
2/2/2019 Kings Mountain National Park. For whatever it’s worth, we had spent the morning at Cowpens National Park and for some completely unknown reason I took ZERO pictures. Anyway, we migrated from Cowpens to Kings Mountain in the afternoon. Both are sites of major battles during the revolutionary war and both were very pretty places to visit. I’d also like to add that we are starting to REALLY like this winter tourist stuff! The number of times we have been the ONLY people or one of just a small handful of cars inside a National Park has been wonderful. I’m not sure what we are going to do on the day when we have to fight crowds and lines at some National Park. I know it’s coming, but I’m not happy about it!
We walked into the Visitor Center at Kings Mountain and were immediately told that we were just in time for the last Ranger led tour of the park for the day. “Great” we said and promptly neglected to ask any questions about the tour. Turns out that this tour was of the ENTIRE park with LOTS of stops along the way to talk about significant places in the park. It was darn near 2.5 HOURS long! ….all walking! We all found it very fascinating and the kids did a REALLY good job of sticking it out for the whole thing!
We walked into the Visitor Center at Kings Mountain and were immediately told that we were just in time for the last Ranger led tour of the park for the day. “Great” we said and promptly neglected to ask any questions about the tour. Turns out that this tour was of the ENTIRE park with LOTS of stops along the way to talk about significant places in the park. It was darn near 2.5 HOURS long! ….all walking! We all found it very fascinating and the kids did a REALLY good job of sticking it out for the whole thing!
Apparently, when you are the last and only guests left in the park, you get to help fold the flag at the end of the day!
Apparently, when you are the last and only guests left in the park, you get to help fold the flag at the end of the day!
Just a random picture from the park we were camping in. She looked a tad Angelic with the sun coming from behind, so I asked her to make a halo over her head.
Just a random picture from the park we were camping in. She looked a tad Angelic with the sun coming from behind, so I asked her to make a halo over her head.
2/3/2019 Discovery Place in Charlotte. I have come to really enjoy seeing all these different Science/Nature/Hand-On type of museums. Here’s why: they ALL have A LOT of the same stuff, but it’s the DIFFERENT stuff that I really key on. It’s a lot like a group of people working on a problem solving exercise where everyone comes up with a different solution to the same problem.
2/3/2019 Discovery Place in Charlotte. I have come to really enjoy seeing all these different Science/Nature/Hand-On type of museums. Here’s why: they ALL have A LOT of the same stuff, but it’s the DIFFERENT stuff that I really key on. It’s a lot like a group of people working on a problem solving exercise where everyone comes up with a different solution to the same problem.
In the case of Discovery Place, one of their unique things was this “lab” where kids were tasked with first drawing an idea on paper form they were provided and then bringing that drawing to life by raiding their materials bins. The lab then provided the opportunity to use different tools they had to continue the evolution of their project.
In the case of Discovery Place, one of their unique things was this “lab” where kids were tasked with first drawing an idea on paper form they were provided and then bringing that drawing to life by raiding their materials bins. The lab then provided the opportunity to use different tools they had to continue the evolution of their project.
Grace drew a horse and then brought it to life by using their computer controlled router and a piece of wood.
Grace drew a horse and then brought it to life by using their computer controlled router and a piece of wood.
Dylan ended up using their 3D printer to bring his idea to life. (I'm not sure about the facial expression though)
Dylan ended up using their 3D printer to bring his idea to life. (I'm not sure about the facial expression though)
Grant and I worked on building his house with wood, saws, hammers and nails. We even “roofed” it with a piece of fabric and glue.
Grant and I worked on building his house with wood, saws, hammers and nails. We even “roofed” it with a piece of fabric and glue.
One of the truly amazing viewing opportunities here was this octopus. I’ve been to plenty of aquariums in my day, but I’ve never seen anything like this. This octopus was VERY active and watching it move around the tank was mesmerizing. The movements are so fluid and so animated, it’s truly a wonder of nature that they are even a real thing.
One of the truly amazing viewing opportunities here was this octopus. I’ve been to plenty of aquariums in my day, but I’ve never seen anything like this. This octopus was VERY active and watching it move around the tank was mesmerizing. The movements are so fluid and so animated, it’s truly a wonder of nature that they are even a real thing.
They had a special traveling exhibit (from New Zealand) set up that brings an insects’ world to life. It was incredibly well done and a ton of fun. In this exhibit, the world of the Praying Mantis REALLY comes to life!
They had a special traveling exhibit (from New Zealand) set up that brings an insects’ world to life. It was incredibly well done and a ton of fun. In this exhibit, the world of the Praying Mantis REALLY comes to life!
This one was a big hit with everyone. Here’s the back story; Hornets are apparently real jerks and like to bully their way into bee’s nests, kills lots of bees and take whatever they want. The bees on the other hand have found out that hornets are VERY intolerant of heat. So, when a hornet enters a bee’s nest, the bees will swarm the hornet and start flapping their wings, collectively and ferociously. The result of that is that their body temperature spikes very quickly. Eventually, they get so warm that it kills the hornet. In this exhibit, they have these taps pads that makes the bee’s wings flap and only when everyone works together are you able “kill” the invading hornet. Good times were had!
This one was a big hit with everyone. Here’s the back story; Hornets are apparently real jerks and like to bully their way into bee’s nests, kills lots of bees and take whatever they want. The bees on the other hand have found out that hornets are VERY intolerant of heat. So, when a hornet enters a bee’s nest, the bees will swarm the hornet and start flapping their wings, collectively and ferociously. The result of that is that their body temperature spikes very quickly. Eventually, they get so warm that it kills the hornet. In this exhibit, they have these taps pads that makes the bee’s wings flap and only when everyone works together are you able “kill” the invading hornet. Good times were had!
2/9/2018 North Carolina Transportation Museum. This museum is housed in the old main repair facility of the Southern Railroad. It is a MASSIVE place that is heavily focused on the rail industry, but at the same time, they have some amazing history of the trucking and car industry. They also offer a ride around their very large rail yard on a train. Free train ride? Heck yeah, we’re going on that!
2/9/2018 North Carolina Transportation Museum. This museum is housed in the old main repair facility of the Southern Railroad. It is a MASSIVE place that is heavily focused on the rail industry, but at the same time, they have some amazing history of the trucking and car industry. They also offer a ride around their very large rail yard on a train. Free train ride? Heck yeah, we’re going on that!
This is a simulator that allows you be a train engineer. The goal is to get a train up to speed and then slow back down in time to pick up passengers at a train station…….and hopefully not crash.
This is a simulator that allows you be a train engineer. The goal is to get a train up to speed and then slow back down in time to pick up passengers at a train station…….and hopefully not crash.
2/10/2019 Schiele Museum of Natural History. This was a small-ish place, but nicely done and very nicely maintained. I didn't get a lot of pictures while there, but such is life.
2/10/2019 Schiele Museum of Natural History. This was a small-ish place, but nicely done and very nicely maintained. I didn't get a lot of pictures while there, but such is life.
Very nicely done outdoor walking paths with life sized recreations of homesteads from early settlers and what life was like back then. Plus, some very nice and serene waterways.....which our children promptly made LESS serene!
Very nicely done outdoor walking paths with life sized recreations of homesteads from early settlers and what life was like back then. Plus, some very nice and serene waterways.....which our children promptly made LESS serene!
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