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Fun & family living in CHAPEL HILL, CARRBORO, DURHAM & the North Carolina Triangle. |
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Chapel Hill Area BERRY Picking (U-Pick) |
| Editors' note: One of our favorite things about the Chapel Hill/Triangle area is the abundance of nearby farms to visit and berry patches where you can pick your own strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, grapes and more! Berry picking is a fun way to spend a morning out in the fresh air, and children feel so proud and happy to be able to help with grown-up work - especially when fresh-picked berries are the reward! |
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Seasonal
Strawberry Picking |
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Hunt's Strawberries, 4505 Watkins Rd., Raleigh, NC 27616.Call first for availability. |
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Lyon Farm Strawberries, 5 minutes north of Durham, Exit 186A off I-85, follow the signs. Strawberry picking from Spring through mid-June. Kids will also enjoy feeding the goats! Have a strawberry picking birthday party on the farm (children can pick berries, feed the goats, have ice cream and cake in the picnic area. $4.50 per child includes quart container of berries). |
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Seasonal Blueberry Picking - (NC Season July - mid August) |
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Blueberry picking is a fun activity for the whole family and gives children a hands-on experience of nature and the delicious fruits of nature! CALL FIRST to check on berry availability and conditions. Some self-pick farms establish specific days and hours; others offer hours by appointment only. |
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Nice Berries and Philoxenia (organically grown Blueberries) - Two Patches run by different owners in same location - Blueberry Picking in Hillsborough, NC Interesting Local History:
About the Human Kindness Foundation
(previous operators of the blueberry patch outside Hillsborough)
If you wish to
continue supporting the work of Human Kindness Foundation, please visit
their website catalog to see
the books, CDs, tapes, videos, t-shirts, stained glass, artwork and
other items they sell to support the Foundation. If you aren't
familiar with the Human Kindness Foundation or its founder, spiritual
teacher Bo Lozoff, take a look at the their website.
Children's icon Fred Rogers (of Mr. Roger's Neighborhood fame) was
greatly impressed with Foundation founder Bo Lozoff, and in speeches
Fred Rogers often named among his heroes Ghandi and Bo Lozoff.
When he passed away in February 2003, Rogers left a sizeable bequest to
Mr. Lozoff in his will in support of the Foundation's work. The
Dalai Lama also is an admirer of Mr. Lozoff, and wrote the foreword to
Mr. Lozoff's book, It's a Meaningful Life: It Just Takes Practice (Viking).
Of Mr. Lozoff's book, the Dalai Lama said, ""Anyone of any faith, or none, can benefit from the universal ideas and realistic advice in this book." |
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| MORE BLUEBERRY & BLACKBERRY PICKING Farms in the North Carolina Triangle |
Faircloth Farm - 577 Gilmore Rd., Chapel Hill, NC 27516 |
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As always for berry picking, CALL
FIRST to check on berry availability and conditions. Some
self-pick farms establish specific days and hours; others offer hours by
appointment only.
Ayrshire Farm (contact: Bill Dow) |
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N.C. Farm Tour / State
Directory of Agritourism Browse by location to find farms close to home or near your vacation destination; also browse by category to find petting farms, pumpkin patches, Christmas tree cutting, and more. www.ncagritourism.com |
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Berry Picking Tips: Don't pick your berries into a deep
container, as the weight of the berries on top could damage the berries
underneath. It's a good idea to pick your berries into low-sided
containers or fill lots of small containers.
Berry Handling Tips: Always handle berries very gently, keep them dry and refrigerate them, and don't wash them until you are ready to use them. (Wash gently!) If you have some mushed/wet berries among your fresh-picked berries, pick them out as they can cause the other berries to go bad quickly. Also, do not wash berries before freezing them; instead, freeze them straight from picking, and then wash them only after thawing, right before you use them. |
| NC Farm Trivia: April/May is the beginning of the season for North Carolina strawberries, peaches, cabbage, greens, snap beans, and sweet potatoes. In the Chapel Hill area, the season for blueberries typically begins in July (this year, probably mid-July). |
| MORE NC PICK-YOUR-OWN: In addition to our listings below, see http://www.pickyourown.org/NCpiedmont.htm for more Pick-Your-Own options throughout the NC Piedmont area (listed by County). |
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Chapel Hill Area Blueberry
Picking |
| Vineyards: |
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| Farmers' Markets and Arts & Crafts Markets |
| Carrboro
Sunday Arts & Crafts Market 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month (April - December), 1-5pm Next to the Carrboro Town Hall at the Carrboro Town Commons Contact: Sally Bond, (919) 929-3986.
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| Carrboro
Farmers' Market,
Town Commons, 301 W. Main St. Carrboro Saturday Farmers' Market is held on Saturdays, 7 a.m. - 12 noon next to the Carrboro Town Hall at the Carrboro Town Commons. (Not held in Winter.) Carrboro Wednesday Farmers' Market is held on Wednesdays from 3:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. (Not held in Winter.)
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| Fearrington
Farmers' Market "Growers Only" Market, Open Rain or Shine! Fearrington Village, Hwy. 15/501, Pittsboro, NC Open April - November on Tuesdays, 4:00 p.m. - early evening
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| Hillsborough Farmers' Market Open Saturday mornings in the CCB parking lot downtown on N. Churton Street and Wednesday afternoons in the Sherriff's Dept. lower lot on E. Margaret Lane. (Not held in Winter.)
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| Pittsboro
Farmers' Market Chatham County Fairgrounds, Pittsboro, NC Open April-November Thursdays, 3:30-6:30 p.m.
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| Southern
Village Farmers' Market Held in Southern Village (off of 15-501) across from the Lumina Theater. Directions. (Not held in Winter.) Thursdays, 3:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
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| Click to see the CHillKids list of festivals and other events. |
| Below are highlights from our Year-Round Fun Guide: |
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Patterson's Mill Country Store
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| Poet's Walk
at Ayr Mount 376 St. Mary's Rd; Hillsborough. (919) 732-6886.
Open daily (year-round), 9am-5pm (till 6pm, Mar.-Apr. & Sep.-Oct.; till 7pm, May-Aug.). Lovely one-mile walking trail traverses woodlands and pastures along the banks of the Eno River, with views of the Kirkland family cemetery, the Indian trading path, and a pond that is home to a chorus of frogs. (Dogs allowed, but must be on leash.) The historic home is open to visitors (for a fee) during regular visiting hours.
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| Raven
Rock State Park (further afield) 3009 Raven Rock Road, Lillington, NC 27546. (Located an hour's drive from Research Triangle and 45 minutes from Fayetteville. Directions.) (910) 893-4888. Take a picnic or go camping; hike down the trail to the Cape Fear River. From the website: "Should the humdrum of the work week leave you with the urge to travel and explore, head to Raven Rock State Park. . . . The first feeling you are likely to experience at Raven Rock is one of renewal. Here, the forest reigns as each year the timeless cycle of growth further heals age-old wounds inflicted by man. Nature triumphs as plants compete in the stages of forest succession and the woodlands are restored. High above the Cape Fear River stands Raven Rock, its austere beauty a testament to the forces that have shaped the land. As the river below rushes to join the sea, nature's elements continue to shape the surface of this natural monument. Spend some time at Raven Rock State Park and let nature refresh your spirit." |
| Umstead
State Park 8801 Glenwood Ave. and Highway 70, Raleigh, NC 27612; Harrison Ave., Cary, NC (919) 571-4170. Nearly 5,400 acres of park land offers bridle, hiking, and biking trails, rowboat and canoe rentals, and camping facilities. Call for information and/or reservations. All programs are free. Canoeing on Big Lake - Join a ranger at the Boathouse for a paddle around Big Lake; equipment provided; reservations required. Check website for dates.
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| University
Lake (OWASA) Located two miles west of Chapel Hill next to Jones Ferry Road in Carrboro. (919) 942-8007 University Lake ( operated by the Orange Water & Sewer Authority) is normally be open for recreation from March through mid-November. (Visit website for days/hours.)
Recreation at the lake
includes canoe rentals, boat and electric motor rentals and fishing, plus a free
picnic/sunbathing area. The lake is open between late March and
early November. Lake tours available by calling (919) 968-4421, ext.
267.
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| West Point on the Eno Park |
5101 N. Roxboro Rd. (US Hwy 501 North), Durham. (919) 471-1623 This beautiful park is a great setting for a picnic along the river, and is the home of the wonderful Annual Eno River Festival in early July. The park includes three historic buildings. Be sure to visit the West Point Mill (which you can view in operation, powered by the river, turning wheat into flour, and corn into cornmeal.. You can purchase the flour, cornmeal and grits produced at the Mill!) Also see the McCown-Mangum House at West Point, and the Packhouse & Hugh Mangum Museum of Photography. Open daily, year-round, from 8 a.m. - sundown. From the website: "This 388-acre park is located along a two-mile stretch of the scenic Eno River, six miles north of downtown Durham. You can enjoy a leisurely picnic and stroll around the grounds, or take a hike through the woods on one of the park trails. Feel free to bring your canoe or kayak and experience the beauty of the Eno River."
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| Duke Lemur Center (Home
of the "real" Zoboomafoo) 3705 Erwin Rd., Durham, NC www.duke.edu/web/primate (919) 489-3364 The Duke Lemur Center is the home of more than 300 prosimians; visits by appointment only. The Primate Center has a gift shop called Lemur Landing. From the website: The Duke University Primate Center houses the world's largest collection of endangered primates. The center specializes in "prosimians" -- lemurs and related species that evolved from the primate family tree long before monkeys and apes. Through conservation, education and research, the center is helping us to better understand and protect these remarkable animals." Of interest to Zoboomafoo fans: The Duke Lemur Center also is the home of "Zoboomafoo," the adorable lemur in the Kratt Brother's televised PBS show. The real "Zoboomafoo" is named "Jovian," a young male Coquerel's Sifaka who was born at the Duke Primate Center. (Jovian's mother was born in Madagascar.) The Zoboomafoo production crew came to the Primate Center in September, 1997 and filmed there for a little over 2 months. Part of the set for Animal Junction was built inside Jovian's cage, and that is where they filmed the parts of the show where Chris and Martin are interacting with Zoboomafoo (Jovian). (Martin Kratt received a BS in Zoology from Duke University.)
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North Carolina Aquariums (further
afield at the North Carolina beaches in Roanoke Island (near Manteo at
the Outer Banks), Pine Knoll Shores (near Atlantic Beach on the Crystal
Coast), and Fort Fisher (near Wilmington and Kure Beach). See
listings below for addresses and telephone information. The North
Carolina Aquariums are three state-supported public education facilities
(operated by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources)
located along the North Carolina coast. The aquariums feature lots
of fun activities for kids and adults, including animal feeding time,
meet live animals (pet a salamander, touch a living conch, pet a
starfish; dialog with a diver (ask a diver about life under the sea as
the diver swims around with the sharks and fish in the aquarium; explore
the salt marsh, breakfast with the animals, coastal crafts, birthday
parties, and even sleep with the fishes (groups can experience the
Aquariums at night when they schedule a sleepover!) The sea
horse tank is one of our favorites, and the jelly fish are fascinating
to watch, not to mention the resident octopus at the Fort Fisher
Aquarium, and lots more! The N.C. Aquariums also provide a
unique backdrop for parties and special events. 1-800-832-FISH - N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher (Amazing see life right before your eyes! Watch the sea horses and pet the starfish. Interact with scuba divers who answer questions from the audience while swimming around with sharks, fish, skates, and other sea life!) Located on US 421 @ 15 miles south of Wilmington, just beyond Kure Beach. From Southport take the Southport-Fort Fisher Ferry. 900 Loggerhead Road, Kure Beach, NC 28449. (866) 301-3476.
- The N.C. Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
(Closed for renovation & expansion! Look for reopening in
mid-2006, including wonderful features like a sunken pirate's ship with
sea life swimming all around it and much more.) (Located five miles
west of Atlantic Beach off Highway 58 in the Theodore Roosevelt Natural
Area.) P.O. Box 580, 1 Roosevelt Drive, Atlantic Beach, NC
28512-0580. - The N.C. Aquarium on Roanoke Island (Located at 374 Airport Road, off Highway 64 BUsiness on the north end of Roanoke Island near Manteo.) P.O. Box 967, 374 Airport Road, Manteo, NC 27954-0967. (866)332-3475. For all three of the NC Aquarium facilities, the daily hours year-round are 9am to 5pm; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Visit webeVisit website for days/hours of operation. Memmbers of the NC Zoo get free admission at the NC aquariums, and vice versa, so bring your membership card with you when you visit the member facilities for free admission.
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| Western
North Carolina Nature Center (Asheville, NC)
(much further afield) 75 Gashes Creek Rd., Asheville, NC 28805. (Buncombe County). www.wildwnc.org (828) 298-5600 See rare and endangered animals in many different settings at the WNC Nature Center. The educational farm is a home to rare and endangered farm livestock, children can pet lambs and Angora goats in the petting area and watch the goats and cows being milked. Predator habitat includes bobcats, mountain lions, red wolves and gray wolves. Nocturnal hall features wildlife displays with owls, bats and flying squirrels. The WNC Nature Center also has an otter habitat and the main exhibit building houses box turtles, timber rattlesnakes among many other reptiles and amphibians. Also check out the Annual Fall Family Festival featuring games, contests, music, crafters, food and other festivities at the WNC Nature Center in October. Open year round (except major holidays), 7 days a week, 10am - 5pm. (Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day, Martin Luther King day). Before you go, visit the website for updated hours/days of operation. |
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Above are just a few highlights from our
Year-Round Fun Guide; Check out our Year-Round Fun Guide for everything awesome to do with families in Chapel Hill/Durham/NC Triangle, and the NC mountains, beaches and beyond! |
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Saturdays & Sundays
Oct. 2 - Nov. 21, 2021
https://www.carolina.renfestinfo.com/
Morehead Planetarium
Afterschool, Birthday Parties,
Summer Science Camps,
Planetarium
Shows and Events
The Animal Hospital
112 W Main St, Carrboro
* Summer Camps
* Farm Preschool & Kindergarten
* Birthday Parties *
Gemstone Mining
* Meet the Farm Animals
1870 Farm
Spence's Farm
After School, Summer Camps,
Birthday
Parties, lots more!
Foreign Language Resources
and Summer Camps
Immersion Island
ChillKids Monthly Print Magazine
LOST DOG: BUTTONS
Lost in Chapel Hill;
sighted numerous
times
in Durham; Near Hwy 70
Please Call or Text Owner
434-249-4283
If you see her please try to snap a photo!
LOST DOG: Buttons of Chapel Hill
* 70 lb Bernese Mountain Dog "Buttons"
Black with white & brown markings
* Wearing Pink/Black collar with
tags
*Friendly but nervous - please don't chase
*Info available on
pawboost.com
*Seen in Chapel Hill AND Durham
* EVERY
SIGHTING HELPS! Thank you!
Chapel Hill /
Durham / NC Triangle
Restaurants DELIVERY to Your Door
(No Delivery
Fee on First Order)
DoorDash
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