Eastern Carolina Parent - April 2009 - (Page 13) the New World, which completely vanished without a trace. This two-hour show is captivating and intriguing and comes to life through drama, period costumes, and music. This open-air theater, under a beautiful star-lit sky, is the most wonderful characteristic of the play. Piedmont Emerald Pointe Water Park is the place for all those who want to cool off during a hot summer day! Located in Greensboro, conveniently off of the interstate, this water park is North Carolina’s largest. With a variety of slides, water rides, and other attractions, there is fun for the entire family—even the little ones! Your youngest will enjoy toddling in the creatively designed splash areas while your thrill-seeking daredevils will enjoy the 76 foot drop down the deep-water chute. This summer, the park unveils their Tunnel of Terror attraction, which is only one of two in the entire nation. For more information, visit www. emeraldpointe.com. The Lazy 5 Ranch, located in Mooresville, North Carolina, has been privately owned and operated by Mr. Henry Hampton and his family since May of 1993. However, Mr. Hampton is known nationwide for his 35 years of experience in raising and handling exotic animals. The Lazy 5 Ranch is an unbelievable exotic drive-thru park boasting a 3 ½ mile safari through the pasturelands of the Piedmont. This experience, unique to North Carolina, allows visitors to view over 750 animals from six different continents around the world. You may choose to enjoy the journey from the comfort of your own car, or you may elect to call ahead to reserve a horse-drawn wagon for your tour. There is no other collection of animals like this in the Southeast! While at the Lazy 5 Ranch, be sure to check out the petting areas, the blacksmith shop, horse barn, play ground, gift store, and picnic areas. Open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until 1 hour before sunset and Sundays from 1:00 p.m. until 1 hour before sunset. Call (704) 663-5100 or visit www.lazy5ranch.com for more information. Debit and credit cards not accepted. The North Carolina Zoological Park, located in Asheboro, North Carolina, is the country’s largest and finest walk-through natural habitat zoo. Boasting more than 500 acres of African and North American continental habitats, the Asheboro Zoo reveals animals and plants in settings that closely resemble the natural habitats of the wild. This place of wonder and discovery will bring out the inner child in each guest as she observes animals from A to Z like alligators, giraffes, polar bears, and zebras. For more information, call (336) 879-7000. The Discovery Place, located in Charlotte, North Carolina, is one of the top hands-on science museums in the nation. It is a paradise of kid-friendly science exhibits and presentations that are ever-changing and ever entertaining! Permanent exhibits such as the aquarium, the stuffed and mounted North American animal collection, an amateur radio education center, and a machine shop dot the museum’s “discovery halls”. The Discovery Place fosters the interest of areas such as life science and space exploration. Additionally, its IMAX Dome Theatre and planetarium are must-visit attractions while exploring the Discovery Place. Adult admission is $10, children ages 2-13 are $8. Visit www.discoveryplace.org or call (704) 372-6261 for more information. While in Charlotte, consider visiting Paramount’s Carowinds Theme Park, which is the state’s largest theme park offering more than 100 state-of-the-art rides and attractions for guests of all ages. There’s plenty to do for older children, teenagers, and even mom and dad! You may also want to pack your swimsuits for a fun-filled day at Boomerang Bay Water Park, located inside the gates of Carowinds, for fun on exciting waterslides and swimming pools. To get the most out of your theme park experience, visit www.carowinds.com for a breakdown of the age appropriate activities for families. Also, in the Charlotte area is the U.S. National Whitewater Center, which is the largest and only man-made re-circulating whitewater venue of its kind in the world! With over 12 million gallons of water, visitors can check out guided rides for all ages, from two hours of flat river paddling and rock climbing, to white-water rafting (for those over 12), and mountain biking. Located just outside of Charlotte, this would be the perfect addition to your weekend stay. Call (704) 391-3900 or visit www.usnwc.org for more information. LA TE MINA HARDW OOD CORK TILE BLINDS CARPET Mountains RUGS Eastern Carolina’s Premier Flooring Store www.fullserviceflooring.com 2010 Allen Road • Greenville, NC 27834 www.easterncarolinaparent.com Full Service Flooring 252.756.9308 Carolina Ziplines Canopy Tours located in Westfield, North Carolina, is the perfect destination for the adventurous family seeking thrills and chills! This offers the thrilling opportunity to soar through the forest treetops suspended by a cable up to 50 feet above the ground. The Ziplines allow participants to enjoy the beautiful Carolina nature escorted by guides on individual, group, or family tours. There are two courses to choose from: the High Course and The Web. The High Course consists of a series of suspended platforms, which extend throughout the forest with the grand finale cable that spans over 1,000 feet. The Web is a fun course perfect for large groups of children or for those who are not quite ready for The High Course. (cont. on page 32) Eastern Carolina Parent : April 2009 13 http://www.discoveryplace.org http://www.lazy5ranch.com http://www.emeraldpointe.com http://www.carowinds.com http://www.usnwc.org http://www.fullserviceflooring.com http://www.easterncarolinaparent.com
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