We followed our trip to the State Fair with a mini getaway to Boone, NC. Boone is located in the mountains of NC and to our surprise was only about three hours from our home in Durham. We decided to split up the drive a little by making a stop at the Greensboro Children's Museum for Edmund. It was a dreary day and the museum was dimly lit, but it still had a lot to offer. GCM isn't as big as Marbles Museum in Raleigh, nor was it as elaborate as the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia, but it had its own charm and enough novel exhibits to keep Edmund entertained.
From my extensive research into children's museums I have concluded that each one is required to have a grocery store section or risk losing children's museum status, but Edmund wasn't complaining. He would have spent the entire visit in the "grocery store" if we didn't gently guide him someplace else, which after twenty minutes I must admit we did. Edmund found a steam engine in another room and spent th
e rest of his time there. He happily sang "Down By The Station" while taking tea in one of the box cars. He helped one of the "big boys" shovel coal to keep that train moving and he rang the bell to send the cows a message to get off the tracks. GCM has a plethora of other activities, which I must admit I spent several minutes exploring myself. While I wanted Edmund to be able to experience all the museum had to offer, Steven cautioned me to let Edmund choose what he played with while there. If you'll recall, Edmund was still recovering from a cold, and Edmund is not what you'd call an ideal patient. We were traveling with a ticking time bomb, and it was best just to let him be.We were able to steer Edmund to a few other exhibits, where he briefly explored a mail room, a pizza shop complete with brick oven, Nonna's house, and a gas tank (another favorite). There was a real fire truck and police car which Edmund had the opportunity to drive , but he ignored these. In another room was a real airplane cockpit with a slide coming out of the emergency exit. This looked like so much fun, but Edmund is still wary of tunnel slides. Perhaps in a year or two he'll realize how awesome it is and his mommy can go down the slide without looking crazy. Edmund ended his museum trip with one last "ride" aboard the train. It was time to hit the road for Boone.
Our drive once we got near Boone was gorgeous as the leaves on the trees were just beginning to change with the autumn weather. We settled into our hotel and headed into the town of Blowing Rock for dinner. Blowing Rock was a quaint town with such personality that we spent much of the time of our two day trip there. The following day we went to the park in the center of Blowing Rock, which Edmund loved. He loved being able to stretch his feet and run after being cooped up in the car while mommy and daddy drove around leaf watching.
Part of the reason we ended up spending so much time in Blowing Rock is that we had to cut short our
trip to our main destination, Grandfather Mountain. We had planned our trip to Boone specifically to go to the mountain, but it turns out wind can shut down a mountain. I can't say I blame them. When we arrived at the fudge shop part way up the mountain, the flower pots located outside blew off the porch. Edmund was screaming because the wind was so strong. The fudge makers saw us outside and kindly let us in, despite it being 15 minutes before opening. The fudge makers kept giving Edmund free samples, which he was more than happy to accept, but Steven and I felt a bit guilty as the store wasn't technically open yet. After chatting with the fudge makers about the famous Chapel Hillians who oft made their way to the fudge shop, including the "coach no-one liked, what's his name, Mike Doherty?"(actually Matt for those not in the know), we purchased some delicious cookies and cream fudge and went on our way.Despite the top of the mountain not being open we were able to visit the Grandfather Mountain museum where we viewed the largest amethyst mined on this continent. Opportunely we also were able to go to the wildlife habitats. To be honest, this was plenty for me. Even if we had gone to the top of the mountain, the chances I'd let my wannabe independent two year old loose on the Mile High Swinging Bridge were nil. Maybe we'll come back in a few years when he's done testing limits. Will that even happen? Make that when he has some a bit more self restraint.
We saw a deer, but those come in our yard and poop on the walkway, so that wasn't anything new. We had the most fun looking at the bears. Edmund was very proud of his observation "bear sticking its tongue out," and indeed it was. From then on Edmund enterta
ined us with his best bear impressions. We had passed the otter enclosure earlier, but figured there was no otter. Then we learned the otter will appear if it hears a girly voice. Edmund still has a girly voice, but I do believe it was I who lured the otter out of his hiding space in its trash can. Once the otter learned I wasn't a zookeeper, thus bearing no treats, it had seen enough and retreated back into its trash can den. I felt a little better that we were able to spot some animals. The wind was still fierce and Edmund was glad to return to the car. Steven was a little disappointed, but at least now we have an excuse to return to Grandfather Mountain in a few years. If Edmund is lucky he may find the bears have a new impression of their own. They'll call it "The Edmund."Greensboro Children's Museum
220 North Church Street Greensboro NC 27401 Phone: 336-574-2898
Grandfather Mountain
P.O. Box 129 US 221 & Blue Ridge Parkway Linville, NC 28646 Phone: 800-468-7325
*We learned the hard way. Be sure to call to check weather status.
