The question you might have if you’re new in town, or maybe even if you’ve lived here for years but get stuck: What to do in Morganton in winter? Ever feel how your house shrinks when you’re stuck inside with kids who really need/want to participate in Olympic games? Yeah, me too. So here’s a brief (and not all-inclusive) guide to some key survival tips.
Family Connections
I’ll be honest. When I first moved to the area, I was unaware of how good this place truly is. Coming out of Charlotte, Facebook pages and/or websites usually were a good gauge for what type of place you’d find. Not so for Family Connections. Their online presence doesn’t do it justice. This is a great, FREE space for kids to dress up, drive toy vehicles, play dinosaurs, read books, and burn energy. So, don’t let the lack of information scare you away – this is a great option for cold/hot/rainy days!
Burke County Public Library System
Morganton and Valdese have fantastic children’s library spaces. My personal preference is the Valdese location because of the one level coziness of the space, but I’m sure the other patrons might disagree when we walk in! Bonus: Check their websites for story times and special events.
Pay-to-Play Art
We have a good selection of places to go for art exposure in our community – not all towns are so lucky! These aren’t free options and not always on open schedules, so be sure to check the websites or give them a call to find out when you can take advantage of play or classes. Sketch Art Space, Tumblemania, Me You & Some Glue, and Kindermusik are all options in our community.
KidSenses (Rutherfordton)
This is a bit of a drive, but a great children’s museum space. In fact, they’re actually in process of preparing a new space they purchased (details). They always have a great variety of exhibits for a variety of ages & lots of special play spaces and programs.
Food as a Destination
I grew up in the Midwest, so this is not a new concept for me, but feel free to use places like Chic-fil-A (playground, but bring sanitizer) or a treat place (like Di’lishi– we’ll host another story time this month!) to get those kiddos out of the house for a bit.
Parents’ Morning Out (or in this case, kids)
North Morganton United Methodist plays host to Wee School. And, Wee School, while a fantastic preschool, also offers a parents’ morning out program where you can drop your kids off unannounced for a few hours. They’re open 8:30-1 M-F (but check for weather delays), and their staff is awesome.
Catawba Science Center (Hickory)
There’s always something interesting happening at the Science Center. Plus, if you drive to Hickory you can grab Starbucks (hello, drive-thru coffee) and maybe even swing a Target run. Maybe.
Valley Hills Mall (Hickory)
Kids love the soft play area. I honestly don’t know why, but it appeals to kids from 1-15. Pop the Vitamin C, grab the sanitizer and let them run wild.
Play Dates!
This is likely painfully obvious, but find a good friend who you can swap hosting playdates with – even changing the scenery by adding another kid or 3 can be helpful. Plus, you’ll get another adult to talk with and save yourself from only being able to answer questions like “why do I have to wear socks?” and “where is the crown I had when I was two that had the thing on it?”. Sigh.