Lake Waldo's Beach Campground and Swimming Area

While searching for a place to go camping nearby for father's day weekend I stumbled upon this place. I've never been there (has anyone?), but this is what I found:

Location: 6742 Waldo's Beach Road
Fayetteville, N.C. 28306.

Their Website: http://www.lakewaldosbeachcampground.com/

I do have a friend (thanks Christi!) who has been to Lake Waldo, and this is what she said:

"I wanted to tell you to not waste your time or $ at waldos beach. it was expensive - $12 for me and $10 for dylan to get in. they had one pool with 2 kids slides and one big waterslide. then a seperate lazy river (went in a circle and that was it), a very small chidrens area. and they roped off a small swimming area at the lake with a small sand beach. they had an area for older kids in the lake with rope swings and stuff."

Definitely not the best review...has anyone else been there? Sounds like it might be a good place for bigger kids!

Kids Eat FREE!!

So...it's Tuesday...and it made me think of the "kids eat free" deals out there. These are the ones that I know of:

Monday:
Salsarita's
free kid's meal with adult meal purchase
565 Cross Creek Mall # 101
Fayetteville, NC 28303-7245
(910) 860-4500

Shoney's
1 child, 4 and under, may eat from the buffet for free, with an adult buffet purchase.
1945 Cedar Creek Rd, Fayetteville
(910)323-9325

Tuesday:
Beef O'Brady's
free kid's meal, 4-8 pm, with adult meal purchase
229 Hay St, Fayetteville
(910) 423-1222
There is also a location on Camden Rd, but I'm not sure if kid's eat free there?

Joe's Crab Shack
not sure of the details
155 N Mcpherson Church Rd
Fayetteville, NC 28303-4401
(910) 868-8422

Fazoli's
5pm-8pm- 1 child eats for 99 cents with adult purchase
538 N. McPherson Church Rd., Fayetteville
910.860.3636

Lone Star Steakhouse
2 children eat free with adult purchase
1800 Skibo Rd., Fayetteville
910.867.2222

Moe's Southwest Grill
1 free kids meal per adult meal purchase
201 N McPherson Church Rd, Fayetteville
(910)826-6637

Shoney's
1 child, 4 and under, may eat from the buffet for free, with an adult buffet purchase.
1945 Cedar Creek Rd, Fayetteville
(910)323-9325

I heard that kids eat free at the Cross Creek Mall (corner of Morganton and Skibo Rds). Anyone know details for this?

Wednesday:
Shoney's
1 child, 4 and under, may eat from the buffet for free, with an adult buffet purchase.
1945 Cedar Creek Rd, Fayetteville
(910)323-9325

Thursday:
Captain D's
Get 2 free Kid's meals with any adult entree purchase at regular price, dine in only.
4802 Reilly Rd, Ft Bragg
(910)497-1384

Shoney's
1 child, 4 and under, may eat from the buffet for free, with an adult buffet purchase.
1945 Cedar Creek Rd, Fayetteville
(910)323-9325

Friday:
Shoney's
1 child, 4 and under, may eat from the buffet for free, with an adult buffet purchase.
1945 Cedar Creek Rd, Fayetteville
(910)323-9325

Saturday:

Sunday:
Rudino's Pizza's and Grinders
(Thanks Jaklew for suggesting this one!)
kids eat free Sunday nights. I think it's one child per paying adult.
1040 Bragg Blvd, Fayetteville

(910) 423-7900

In my research, I also found this nifty website: http://www.kidseat4free.com/index.php

Does anyone know of anymore? Of course, we'll be at Red Robin tonight...so no freebies for us- except for the balloon! :o)

J. Bayard Clark Park & Nature Center

Thank you jaklew for suggesting this! Jaklew says: "we've gone a couple times to Loblolly Garden Tuesday mornings in Clark Park- they have a toddler/ preschool playtime there where the kids help the gardener and sing songs and play in the garden. the nature center is neat too"

Here's what I could find about the park:

Location:

631 Sherman Dr
Fayetteville, NC 28301-4183

(910) 433-1579‎

I found this review on Insiderpages.com to be helpful.

From the Fayetteville Parks and Recreation website:
The park is dedicated to preserving the environment and educating the public on North Carolina plants and wildlife. The ranger staff maintains three trails and the nature center in this 76-acre facility. Groups can arrange for guided tours of the park. Schools can also schedule a ranger to visit a classroom. Annual events at Clark Park include the nature fair and summer outdoor adventure camps.

Clark Park is the city’s second largest regional park and is considered a gem those who frequent it. It was designed, and remains, a natural woodland area dedicated to preserving the environment and educating the public on North Carolina plants and wildlife. Three trails wind through the park and along the Cape Fear River. The Nature Center showcases both static displays and live reptiles and amphibians. Certified park rangers educate visitors at the center, along the park trails and through school visits. They conduct yearly events at the park such as nature fairs, basic astronomy and animal print tracking.

A visit to the Nature Center can include a picnic at one of the eight tables on the back deck overlooking the woods and waterfall. The park also has a put-in point on the Cape Fear River for canoes. You must provide your own canoe and equipment.

For those interested in walking, jogging or bicycling, use the main parking lot to start your visit to the Cape Fear River Trail, a four mile paved trail running between the park and the Jordan Soccer Complex. A sign at the corner of the parking lot directs patrons to the trailhead.

Amenities: nature center w/restrooms, walking trails, trailhead for Cape Fear River Trail, primitive camping, canoe put-in on Cape Fear River.

Camping
Camping can also be an added part of your adventure by staying overnight at Clark Park. A semi- primitive campground is available for rent that includes a fi re-ring and outdoor restrooms with a cold shower. There is no electricity. An advance reservation with payment is necessary.

Rates:
Family - $10/day
Groups up to 25 individuals - $25/day
($1 each additional person over 25)

Educational Opportunities
The Rangers at Clark Park offer a variety of Ranger-guided environmental interpretative programs dealing with natural history, flora and wildlife for organized groups. These programs are by reservation only Tuesday-Friday.

Call 433-1579 for more information.

After reading through the info I found, I realized that I have actually been here, when my 3 year old was much younger. It is a beautiful park! We didn't get to take advantage of the nature center b/c it was not open. We'll have to go back now! Has anyone else been here? What did you think? Does anyone else have a favorite park?

PetSmart!

Some people might be laughing that I'm posting this as a "thing to do", but my 3 year old has loved it for as long as I can remember! He calls it the "mini zoo". He loves to look at the fish especially...why, I'm not sure! On Saturdays, The Haven (an animal shelter) brings dogs and cats for adoption. Today there were at least a dozen puppies and kittens. Luckily my son doesn't understand that all the animals are there to be purchased, so we've never had the battle to take one home. I'm sure that day will come. Here's the location and hours info:

2061 Skibo Rd
Fayetteville, NC 28314
910-867-2300
5.94 Miles

Monday-Saturday: 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sunday: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00p.m.

Cumberland County Public Libraries

A friend of mine was complaining today that she hated that there's nothing to do around here with kids...in almost the same sentence she mentioned that she was taking her son to story time at the library in Fayetteville. Of course, I told her about this blog, and tonight, I'm on a mission to find out more about what the libraries provide for our kiddos!!

What I found: the library offers something almost everyday of the week at different locations. Here's their calendar for children's activities:

http://host7.evanced.info/cumberland/evanced/eventcalendar.asp?ag=&et=Children%27s+Program&df=calendar&cn=0&private=0&ln=ALL

I like that they seem to have something for everyone- from preschool to elementary school age!

Here's the locations and hours:

Headquarters Library
300 Maiden Lane Fayetteville, NC 28301 (910) 483-7727	MON-THUR: 9am - 9pm FRI-SAT: 9am - 6pm SUN: 2pm - 6pm
Cliffdale Regional Branch Library
6882 Cliffdale Road Fayetteville, NC 28314 (910) 864-3800	MON-THUR: 9am - 9pm FRI-SAT: 9am - 6pm SUN: 2pm - 6pm
East Regional Branch Library
4809 Clinton Road Fayetteville, NC 28312 (910) 485-2955	MON-WED: 9am - 9pm THUR-FRI: 11am - 6pm SAT: 9am - 6pm SUN: Closed
North Regional Branch Library
855 McArthur Road Fayetteville, NC 28311 (910) 822-1998	MON-THUR: 9am - 9pm FRI-SAT: 9am - 6pm SUN: 2pm - 6pm
Bordeaux Branch Library
3711 Village Drive Fayetteville, NC 28304 (910) 424-4008	MON-TUE: 9am - 9pm WED-SAT: 11am - 6pm SUN: Closed
Hope Mills Branch Library
3411 Golfview Road Hope Mills, NC 28348 (910) 425-8455	MON-WED: 9am - 9pm THUR-SAT: 9am - 6pm SUN: Closed
Spring Lake Branch Library
101 Laketree Blvd Spring Lake, NC 28390 (910) 497-3650	MON-TUE: 9am - 9pm WED-SAT: 11am - 6pm SUN: Closed
Law Library
Cumberland County Courthouse 117 Dick Street, Room 341 Fayetteville, NC 28301 (910) 321-6600

This is pretty cool- there's an online feature: http://www.tumblebooks.com/library/asp/home_tumblebooks.asp

Link to their children's page: http://www.cumberland.lib.nc.us/ccplyouth/kidsindex.htm and teens: http://www.cumberland.lib.nc.us/ccplyouth/teensindex.htm

Here's the storytime schedule: http://host7.evanced.info/cumberland/evanced/eventcalendar.asp?ag=&et=Story+Time&df=calendar&cn=0&private=0&ln=ALL

Are we all feeling lame for saying "there's nothing around here to do with our kids"??!! I know I am :o) I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July! If any of you have any experience with the Library activities, please share!!