The Middleton's Take Carowinds - Spring 2022

Spending time with my family is always the best and enjoying a trip to Carowinds was the perfect idea to end the kid's spring break - they were totally surprised. For over 45 years, Carowinds has been right at the heart of where the Carolinas come together. Located off I-77 (Exit 90) at the NC/SC border, offers a full day of fun for everyone. Kids love to let loose at Camp Snoopy. Thrill-seekers flock to our astounding collection of world-class rides, including the new Copperhead Strike, the Carolinas’ first double-launch coaster. During the Summer months, you’re able to splash, slide, and chill at Carolina Harbor Waterpark is included with admission. 

Lodging 

This year, we opted to stay on-site at the SpringHill Suites Charlotte and it was the best decision ever. We were within walking distance of the park and we could easily drive over as well. This made it easy for members of our group to take a car back to the hotel while the remainder of us stayed at the park. 

We opted for 2-rooms with double beds and a trundle bed in each room. The rooms are laid out with families in mind. The shower/tub combo is separated from the restroom allowing showers to continue without interruption! Each room can sleep 6-7 people comfortably. They even offer a complementarity breakfast #MomWin

State Line Celebration

All-new for 2022, Carowinds introduced the State Line Celebration and it was a hit. There was live music and when you purchase a tasting card you had the opportunity to try Carolina cuisine from both North and South Carolina. The tasting sizes were filling and I was pleased with every selection. I really hope they bring this back next year!

Park 

Friendly Tip: Purchase all of your items needed for a successful visit ahead of time. You can typically find discounts online. (i.e. souvenir cups, Fun Pix, food passes, etc.)

Splitting the park into two visits proved to be great for us. We head straight for Camp Snoopy to allow the younger kids to ride before heading to the bigger rides. They were able to ride as many times as they wanted without a long wait. They really enjoyed the Flying Ace Balloon Race and Woodstock Express! We were able to take a quick break to eat and allow them to ride for a while longer before they tired out. 

The younger kids went back to the hotel with my mom (she’s always a lifesaver while traveling) and the rest of us headed back to the park for round 2. Maneuvering without the littles was a breeze and we were able to enjoy rides that I have never ridden in all of my visits past! Afterburn, Intimidator, and the Hurler were some of our favorites, we can’t wait to go back and ride again. There were a few rides that will be opening later this year and I can’t wait to go back and ride.

Downloading their mobile app was extremely helpful in navigating the park. I was able to find rides that I didn’t know were there and see projected wait times. 

Friendly Tip: When traveling as a large family coordinate outfits for easy finding. If possible, have 2-3 children per adult.

If you’re planning a trip to the Carolinas, I highly recommend taking a visit to Carowinds. The ticket pricing is the best I’ve seen for what you get to enjoy at the park. In the summer, you really are getting the most bang for your buck by being able to visit both parks. Be sure to follow Carowinds on social media and visit their website for frequent updates. 

Carolina Harbor (waterpark) opens on May 27, 2022, for the season! 

Parents Night Out with Holiday Inn Express & Suites Charlotte - South End

This post is sponsored by IHG Hotels and Resorts, all opinions are my own.

As busy working parents, my husband and I enjoy any time we can take to get away and just be adults! This time we had plenty to celebrate! We ventured not far from home to Charlotte, NC to celebrate our 1 year wedding anniversary! We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Charlotte - South End. This hotel was everything we were looking for and more in a quiet weekend getaway!

The hotel is located in the South End of Charlotte, NC nestled in an up-and-coming area filled with new builds. There are a lot of bars and restaurants within a 5-mile radius - plenty for all to enjoy. The Bank of America Stadium is only a mile away and the Spectrum Center is within two miles - great for all of the sports fans.

There are several things that win me over when it comes to great lodging. Location, amenities, and comfort! The Holiday Inn Express & Suites hit the mark for all of them. In a central location not far from the heart of the city you can get anywhere. The hotel sits on the corner and can be easily seen if you’re new to town. With balcony rooms and outdoor patios, you can enjoy a nice view and local brew from the market located in the lobby. Their fitness center is perfect to maintain your fitness routine with the basic needs to feel the burn. The spacious rooms are perfect for unwinding and the beds are so comfortable - no need for an alarm because your body will want to sleep in. Complimentary Express Start® was ready when we were! There were so many breakfast items to choose from - even for the picky eaters like myself.

I honestly have no complaints! Checking in was a breeze, I was able to do so, via their online system a day ahead and was sent an email confirmation when our room was ready. The view outside of our room was amazing! I enjoyed waking up to the city streets! For my foodie friends, Charlotte, NC is your playground! We can’t wait to come back and visit other local restaurants and we will be staying here again. We enjoyed a quick bite at STIR Charlotte! The food was delicious and not far from the hotel - located in 5 minutes. The restaurant has an open kitchen bar concept. They specialize in craft cocktails. 

*Important Note: This hotel still has safety measures in place to keep you and your family safe against COVID-19 by mask-wearing, protective shields at check-in and high contact areas, and being wiped frequently. 

As summer travel creeps upon us, consider booking with IHG Hotels and Resorts with 100s of locations in tourist locations providing accommodations for every need! 

Family Trip to Dollywood Theme Park

I’m in heaven, and I’m taking you guys with me. I am truly a big kid at heart and I love going to amusement parks! My kids haven’t always been big on rides but I’m hoping that they will love it as much as I do! 

This is my family’s first visit to Dollywood and hopefully not the last! Dollywood is known as one of the best family-centered parks and I had to check it out for myself. We have children ranging from age 2-18 and wanted to make sure that Dollywood was living up to its hype! We visited during Dollywood’s Harvest Festival and it was a hit. The park is beautifully decorated and well maintained. There was so much to see and do - you won’t have a dull moment. 

Travel and Lodging

We opted to rent an Airbnb for our stay and it worked out perfectly. We stayed in Sevierville, TN which is only about 15-20 minutes from Dollywood. This was great for us since we had such a large group (8 people) and needed the space. It also provided us with the flexibility to cook! There was a lot to do - I highly recommend you stay for at least 3 days especially if this is your first visit. If you’re traveling far, remember to buffer in travel and rest time.

There are a few hotels in the area and even one on-site, Dollywood DreamMore Resort and Spa. So finding a place to stay won’t be too difficult, just remember peak season for a mountain area and avoid it if you can.

McGhee Tyson Airport is the closest to Dollywood, be sure to check flight times, I like to travel in the early mornings but with hotel check-in being later that may make things a little harder.

The Park

OMG, Dollywood was more than I expected. I read a lot of reviews and watched videos before coming so I knew what to expect and it did not disappoint. The park is huge and well maintained. Parking was a breeze, we arrived early and were able to hit the park as soon as it opened. I love that they have height wristbands, this made it really easy to determine which rides the kids would be able to get on without having to deal with the disappointment of being turned around.

By far, Dollywood is the best park I have been to in a long time. I loved that there was something for my whole family to enjoy. We started the day off in the Country Fair section and worked our way around. This was great since we had our 2-year-old with us. He was able to enjoy a few rides and loved it. It also proved helpful for some of our bigger kids to warm up to the larger rides. Then we ventured over to Jukebox Junction, we hated that Lighting Rod wasn’t open but there were still a lot of other rides. We took a quick break to eat before leaving the park. The younger kids had become restless. 

I did rent a stroller and I am so glad I opted to leave our large one home. We were able to return it and pick it back up once we came to the park for round 2. Wildwood Grove and Wilderness Pass were my favorite parts of the park! There was so much to ride that we didn’t get to do it all. On our next visit, I will plan to visit the park in 2 days to really get a chance to enjoy it all.

Overall, my family and I had a blast! I can’t wait to go back. I really want my whole family to come and experience Dollywood. It is such a family-friendly park. I highly recommend wearing tennis shoes because there is a lot of walking. Enjoy - if you have any recommendations of parks we should visit, let me know!

Family Fun Day at Carowinds Amusement Park

Spending quality time with my family is always at the top of my to do list but getting to enjoy a fun activity makes it 10 times sweeter! My husband and I wanted to do something special for the kids before they head back to school next month, and what better way than with a quick trip to Carowinds. Amusement Park. It was perfect for us, Carowinds is less than a 2 hour car ride which was perfect for little passengers. 

We stayed at the Staybridge Suites Charlotte Airport Area and it was a 10 minute drive to Carowinds, which was perfect if you didn’t want to stay in the direct area. I imagine it can get congested. Our hotel was great and perfect for the kids with the option for a full kitchen.

Carowinds is an amusement park located in the Carolinas with over 50 rides for families and kids of all ages. They even have a water park, Carolina Harbor, one of the largest in the Carolinas with a special area for children to enjoy.

We picked a great weekend to go, it was the start of the Grand Carnivale (July 17 - August 1). We saw all of the beautiful decorations and international cuisine from various countries. We didn’t get to enjoy the food as it wasn’t completely set up upon arrival. 

Friendly Tip: Purchase the souvenir bottles and enjoy free refills all day! This came in handy with thirsty kids on an extremely hot day.

Our goal was to tackle the whole park, unfortunately, the heat got the best of us and we just couldn’t do it. We arrived on time and made it through the gate and headed straight for Camp Snoopy. It was important to us that the kids got to enjoy riding first before they hit the water. Their favorite rides of the day were the Woodstock Express and PEANUTS Pirates! I loved them as well! 

We will be keeping an eye out for the Fall and Winter dates to be released so we can come back for a visit. Overall, the kids had a wonderful time. There was so much to do and see! More importantly, we were very impressed with the way Carowinds handled our child with a disability. She was still able to enjoy rides without feeling left out. That truly made the trip worth it.

Exciting News: Effective July 21, 2021 advance reservations are no longer needed!

The next time you’re in the Carolinas be sure to add a Carowinds adventure to your to-do list.

Let's Start Traveling

Within the last two years, I’ve found that urge to travel! I’m over things - I want to begin exploring the world. I can’t remember the last time I’ve really left the state for a real vacation. We had a huge trip planned for Disney World back in April of 2020 and COVID-19 happened so that wasn’t instantly canceled. Before then, we went to Great Wolf Lodge, in North Carolina - so not too far from our home state of South Carolina. My husband and I also ventured to Georgia for our mini honeymoon but that’s not far enough, lol! 

I’ve had the not so fun conversation with my children about providing them with less toys and materialistic things and giving them more experiences. I believe that they will remember a trip much more than they will a doll or new Lego set. And while I’m not saying, I will no longer give gifts, I truly want to give more experiences.

We have a few small trips coming up and I’m excited about them. I can’t wait to share them with you. In the meantime, I would love to know where some of your favorite family vacation spots are on the East Coast!

My Travel Wishlist

I’m a tropical girl! I love the water but I’ve never been to such a beautiful place. So here are some of my dream vacation spots. 

Maldives

Have you seen the pictures??? Omg, the water is so beautiful. Just give me a week in paradise. 

Kaua’i, Hawaii

I’ve heard so many good things about Hawaii that I can’t wait to go. Crystal clear water and sandy beaches are totally my vibe. 

Costa Rica

Need I say more?! 

The world is mine for the taking and yours too!

Happy Traveling!