Smarty Day Trip Series: Our Own High Point!

By Rachel H and Guest Blogger, Alison Nolan

Thus far, we have run numerous Day Trips about exciting, educational, and adventurous places to take your family outside of the Triad area. For the next few weeks, we are focusing on activities right here in our own Triad area!

This week, we will start with a blog written by Alison Nolan. She has highlighted some of her favorite family spots in the High Point area. We hope you'll make a day out of it and visit some of these places. At the end of the blog, be sure to add any other family-friendly venues in High Point that you think our readers would enjoy! Then stay tuned throughout the next few weeks as we hit other Triad cities! ... Rachel H

You may think of High Point as that little town that has Furniture Market – but there are also plenty of really fun things to do here! I have listed a few below that maybe you’ll look into because you just didn’t know about it before!

One of our most favorite parks in which to play is High Point City Lake Park – mailing address is in Jamestown but the name is High Point so we can claim it! (The link for the park is currently not connecting, but I am in hopes it will be fixed by the time this blog runs!) This park has so much for kids of all ages to enjoy. Want to wear the kiddos out? Bring them here and enjoy a very large playground area for big and little kids, amusement rides (a carousel!!), a fun train ride and more. The pool and waterslide opened for the weekends on May 29th and will open daily on June 14, 2010. There are fees, which are noted on the park website.

Park Description: 340 acre lake with boating, fishing, paddle boats, picnic areas with shelters, fishing boat and canoe rentals, amusement rides, train, waterslide, largest outdoor swimming pool in the state, miniature golf, gymnasium, playground and excursion boat.
602 West Main Street
Jamestown
336.883.3498 and Pool Phone 336.883.3501

Another great park in the area, which is a little smaller, is Gibson Park which is right off of Wendover. They have a small playground and some great walking/hiking trails. Bring a comfortable pair of shoes because you’re in for quite a hike. Warning - if you take your little ones and walk too far, you may be carrying them back! My little (Aaron) looked up at me and asked if I could carry him back because he was too tired which was about ½ a mile – there was a lot of whining on the way back…by both of us. There are also two baseball fields if you’re in for a friendly game or just a little practice.
5207 West Wendover Avenue
336.454.0259

There is also a campground in our area, Oak Hollow Campground, if you’re looking for a short and not too distant camping trip. I have to say I’m not much of the “camping type” but I hear it is very nice. It’s also close to the Reitzel Tennis Center if you want to walk just a short way to play a game. They even have “some sections with cable TV” in their description – I guess you can “rough it” and watch The Backyardigans, too?
Over 100 full service campsites along Oak Hollow Lake, featuring modern bathhouse, showers, play area, pool, some sections with cable TV.
3415 N. Centennial Street
336.883.3492


Do you have kids that are nature and animal lovers? Then you’ll want to check out the Piedmont Environmental Center. They have classes, camps, walking trails (on over 376 acres that have been preserved and protected) and more activities going on throughout the summer. I called and spoke to the Director, Dick Thomas, and he told me that they have been holding their summer camps since 1975 and shared that they have some of the best (if not THE best) camps in the state. The membership costs are fairly low and give a big discount to their programs and camps. There is NO FEE to walk through their building, which is made of 60% recycled materials, or to walk the trails and explore.
Center Open: Monday - Friday 9-5.
Building closed Sat. & Sun. but trails remain open.
1220 Penny Road
336.883.8531


All-A-Flutter Butterfly Farm is a cool place where kids learn about all of the stages of the butterfly’s life cycle. Girls AND Boys of all ages will be in awe of how they change from a caterpillar to a beautiful butterfly. The farm gives them the opportunity to have the butterfly placed on their hands or clothing and then they fly away, the butterflies not the kids! The program is interactive and fun for kids of all ages! You can read Katie's Day Trip Blog about All-A-Flutter by clicking here.

Open April through October 9th for Family Days on Saturdays from 10-11am and 3-4pm and Sundays from 2-3pm (just show up about 10 minutes early). Admission fee is $6 for adults and $5 for kids and seniors 65+. If it’s raining at 8am you’ll want to call before heading over there. There are times available during the week, but are for groups only.
7850 Clinard Farms Road
336.454.5651

Thank you for these fun ideas, Alison! I also have to throw in the fact that High Point has some great shopping, so if your children can hang for some extra "mommy-time" I highly suggest checking out some local businesses including Poshh Boutique (You can get 20% off any one item by mentioning Smarty Pants!), The Gilded Lily by Patra, Kits Company, and Hang-Ups. There are also some fabulous places to shop for furniture (of course!) and fabric. We have quite a few listed on our Best Kept Secrets blog for great deals in the High Point area. You can also check out our blog on the High Point Museum here. We would love for you to share more of your favorite spots below!

Posted by Triad Smarty Pants at 5:00 AM