I love a trip uptown with children. The children I’ve taught have mostly lived in Charlotte and certainly gone to school in the city. And still our arrival (or even driving by on the Brookshire!) into the city of skyscrapers and crowded buildings elicits excitement.

We’ve had all kinds of trips uptown. Most often it’s a trip to the Mint Museum or ImaginOn. We used to make a yearly trek to see the Singing Bears in Founders Hall in December (now they are in Kannapolis!) and have made lots of other urban treks over the years.

And a few times we have done a walk to look at sculpture. Below is an easy flow through some of the uptown statues and large scale 3-D art. ImaginOn is almost always our starting place, because it allows for an easy gathering and drop off space. However, we also like to ride the city bus into town. The Sculpture Walk below starts at ImaginOn and ends at Romare Bearden.

START: ImaginOn

Sculpture: Writer’s Desk

WALK .17 mi (~3-4 minutes) to 200 N. College Street

Sculpture: Queen Charlotte Statue

WALK .14 mi (~3 min) to Independence Square

Sculpture: The Four & Grand Disco

WALK .16 mi (~3 min) to Carillon Building

Sculpture: Cascade

WALK 0.03 mi (~1 min, same block)

Sculpture: Zygos

WALK 0.25 mi (~5 min) to Wells Fargo Plaza Fountain

Sculpture: Children’s Fountain

WALK 0.11 mi (~2 min) to The Green

Sculptures: Fountain of Big Spitting Fish & Life Is an Open Book

WALK 0.05 mi (~1 min, next door) to Bechtler Museum

Sculpture: Firebird

WALK 0.17 mi (~3-4 min) to Romare Bearden Park

Sculpture Spiral Odyssey

TOTAL: ~1.1 miles Estimated time at kid's pace with stops: 2-2.5 hours

Notes:

Bathrooms are easily available at ImaginOn, The Carrilon Building, The Green and Romare Bearden.

Here is the scavenger hunt I made with all the statues. Kids love carrying this around on our quest and marking them off. Feel free to print this if useful. PDF version here.

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Sometimes I do whole or small group projects in sensory lab, where basins or trays are shared and there must be collaboration to follow the recipes. For this set of four experiences, though, each child will make their own. Also this set of four projects are based on recipes, but some sensory lab experiences are not! In those cases the literacy component may be more focused on book connections and reflections as described below.

The lab is divided into several parts: preparation, circle, making, playing, clean up and reflection. The playing part is crucial and the star of the show. Children need ample time to direct their own experiences and freedom to experience the sensory textures in their own ways. Depending on the group or over time, I may share boundaries around what play works. (It works to play with the sensory material in your own area or It works to get your own body messy.) Mostly I can just gently share these along the way if needed. The play is the main activity! I guide the making part especially if the recipe results are tricky. However when it comes to the play, children purely direct this experience and play as long as they want (or as long as possible).

A final note is that it is really important to give enough time for setup and clean up. The more I can set up ahead of time, the better. These experiences can get very messy! As long as I have given plenty of time for clean up, I look forward to sensory lab day! Having an older child/youth or parent help can really make things flow well with young children. If you continue with lab over time, children themselves can learn how to help with setup and clean up if given clear and simple modeling.

Sensory Lab Flow

• Preparation (See below)

• Circle Time (See below)

• Lab (Children make and play.)

• Clean up

• Reflection (See below)

• Extra time for clean up without children, if possible!

Preparation

Ahead of Time

• Gather all ingredients, tools, measuring spoons and cups and bowls, trays or basins*

• Print individual student copies

• Make or print a larger chart (Optional; I printed the charts in this resources on large paper and then laminated it.)

• Check recipe for any early prep needed, like soaking chia seeds!

*For these recipes you will need individual trays or bowls for each participant, other tools can be shared.

Right before

• Set the workspace: I like to set individual trays and bowls out for each person or small group. I set out individual or group ingredients for measuring. I also set clean up materials nearby!

Circle Time (literacy based)

(Read Alouds, Recipe as Text, Environmental Print, Oral Language, Reflective Writing, Transcribed Charts)

I usually gather the children for circle time to start our sensory lab. After doing this a few times everyone knows the rhythm. I often start with a picture book. Listed below are connector book ideas for each recipe. If a story plus the following recipe activity is going to be too long for a particular group, I will save the story for another time of day. I like to preload the language from books sometimes, but it works just as well to read after the lab experience.

When we are ready to move on to the recipe, depending on the age group and needs of the day, I might start with just the big chart recipe (younger) or go ahead and pass out the small copies (older). We read over the recipe together. As we read the ingredients, we look at the real ingredients that are ready for our lab. If they have a package like the corn starch box, we read some words on the packages, too (environmental print).

After reading aloud the recipe to the group, we stop to talk about vocabulary or questions they have. Next depending on the age group we often do a choral reading. Then I ask everyone to read to themselves or with a partner. I let them know they can ask me or a friend if they come to a word they cannot figure out.

I go over getting started and clean up rhythms, particularly if we haven’t had many activities like this one. If everything is set up and kids can get started right away, I let them know that. If they need to wait for a particular ingriedient to be shared, I let them know this too. I also remind of their responsibilities for clean up. Which items they need to wash and where. Where to put supplies. How they can clean or tidy their area.

Reflection (literacy based)

Idea 1

Often when each person is done with the lab portion, they clean up their area and themselves and return to their daybook to add reflections in the form of illustrations, questions or notes. Other days we might do this reflection together at the end of day circle. If it is later children may like seeing photos of the sensory lab as they write. If the reflection is going to be the following day, I may even print a photo or two for each child to glue in their daybook and add a reflection. For the youngest children, I may take their dictation and write for them. Illustrations are always welcome.

Idea 2

Sometimes during the lab I will have a chart paper or pen and paper and write down reflections I hear from the group along with the person’s name. “This is drippy!” “It’s expanding, getting so so big!!” These may be charts that we read and discuss instead of writing additional reflections. Other times I will type these up later and people glue them into their daybooks. Either way we can circle back to these chart words as yet another literacy discussion, following a similar format as above. Read aloud, read together, read independently (if appropriate), answer the question, “what do you notice?” Writing down or typing children’s words in this way shows that their words and ideas are valuable. It also models what reflections can look like in writing.

The Labs

Chia Slime

Recipe (Free Printable Here)

Ingredients

½ cup soaked chia seeds

Up to 1 cup corn starch

Instructions

1. Add soaked chia seeds to bowl.

2. Add corn starch a little at a time until desired consistency is reached.

3. Store in refrigerator when not using.

4. Play!

Books

• A Seed Is Sleepy – Dianna Hutts Aston (2007)

• Seeds – Ken Robbins (2005)

• Miss Maple’s Seeds – Eliza Wheeler (2013)

Notes

This is a new favorite of mine, and the recipe worked great! Kids love slime, but I really am not a fan of the chemical products involved, the plastic from those products and just a feeling of waste. This recipe feels much better and you can even take the leftover slime and plant it! Here are some fun pics!

Oobleck

Recipe (Free Printable Here)

Ingredients

1 cup cornstarch

½ cup water

Instructions

1. Add cornstarch to tray.

2. Slowly add water, mixing until honey-like consistency.

3. Play!

Books

• Bartholomew and the Oobleck – Dr. Seuss (1949)

• Mud – Mary Lyn Ray (1996)

• Libby Loves Science: States of Matter – Kimberly Derting & Shelli R. Johannes (2024)

Notes:

This is an all time favorite that I have been sharing for years. It works in the individual format or in shared. We’ve even made big tubs full for kids to walk in! You can add coloring, but it tends to get on clothes, and I prefer to skip the coloring. The Dr. Seuess book from which the name of the substance comes, is long, super long. The book Mud from Mary Lyn Ray provides a lot of great texture vocabulary.

Cloud Dough

Recipe (Free Printable Here)

Ingredients

1 cup flour

1/8 cup melted coconut oil

Food coloring (optional)

Instructions

1. Add flour to bowl

2. Make a crater for oil.

3. Add oil.

4. Mix and knead.

5. Add food color.

6. Mix and knead.

7. Play!

Books

• Little Cloud – Eric Carle (1996)

• It Looked Like Spilt Milk – Charles G. Shaw (1947)

• The Cloud Book – Tomie dePaola (1975)

Notes:

We enjoyed this one, but it was a process in patience. You really had to work the dough good and long for it to come together. It did work though!

Fluffy Foam

Recipe (Free Printable Here)

Ingredients

1 tablespoon dish soap

1/8 cup water

Instructions

1. Mix dish soap and water in bowl.

2. Use hand mixer or whisk to beat vigorously for a few minutes.

3. Play!

Books

• A Pocket for Corduroy – Don Freeman (1978)

• Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale – Mo Willems (2004)

• Mrs. Wishy-Washy – Joy Cowley (1980)

Notes

Well this is really pretty simple, but a lot of fun! We used Dawn dish soap, because I know it is the best kind for giant bubble solution, but it would be good to experience with other kinds. Using the electric mixer gives great results, but I would like to try it with rotary hand mixers for a different take.

More on sensory play coming up!

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A mess for the sake of sensory experience is usually fine by me, and also sensory play, often, is so much easier to clean up outdoors. I am fortunate to have worked for most of my career in places that prioritize children’s free movement from indoors to outdoor spaces making outdoor sensory tables always accessible.

It is also possible for any of the activities below to happen indoors with a little care for setup and cleanup. If you have hard floors that makes things much easier. Just give plenty of floor space to the table area and use less water or material in the table. If needed you could create a boundary on the number of children as well. When I needed to offer these kinds of experiences indoors, sometimes due to weather or due to the setting, I taught kids how to help with clean up and had more boundaries on the exuberance of play! If you have carpeted floors, a shower curtain, tarp or plastic tablecloth under the table can work! Sometimes it might work to have the sensory table just outside the egress door even if other outdoors play cannot be available. I did this in my kindergarten for years with my assistant or myself positioned to see the 2-4 children at the sensory table.

As for the water table furniture itself, I have used everything from a dishpan or flat rubbermaid storage box to classroom style sensory tables, plastic outdoor tables to the now wonderful Outlast Sensory Table from Community Playthings. While our Outlast table is incredible, you can have just as inpired play in a dollar store dishtub!

So what to put in the table!? Water is a great start. You can add so many things from there. So here we go! I’ll start with the simplest ideas and go from there.

Tools

funnels, mixers, droppers, pails, cups, bowls, syphons, strainers, tongs, brushes

Shells, Animals, Gems, Boats

It really doesn’t take much to inspire or renew water play.

Mermaids

I collected the mermaids at the bottom from eBay that are like the ones I had as a chid. Eventually I found these newer versions to add to our mix. Once the mermaids even had their own water slide.

Colored Water

You can color the water with washable paint or food coloring.

Floating blocks

Most foam blocks work.

Washing

Just adding suds is a great start. Sometimes we add suds and hand mixers. Other days we add scrub brushes and some of the outdoor plastic animals that could always use a good wash. We’ve added rocks to wash had a tricycle line up for the trike wash. And our favorite baby doll washing. This works really well with our favorite anatomically correct plastic baby dolls.

Packing peanuts

I do not often come by the dissolving packing peanuts, but I usually test one from any packing I receive just to be sure! They make for great sensory play.

Coconut Hull Block

This is also known as coconut coir. It’s super satisfiying for kids to water and feel the substrate expand as water is added. When play is done, it can be used in the garden!

Oobleck

Equal parts cornstarch and water. We never follow a recipe, we just see what happens trying not to err on the too much water side.

Dirt

Two, as simple as that. You can try soil, clay, whatever is in your area.

Water pump

We sometimes temporarily install a small sump pump to add a continuous flow of water. These are usually around $35 online.

Funnel Stand

Look for upcoming Sensory Shelf posts!

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10. Earthsea (Ursula K. Leguin, 1968-2001)

My dad gave me the first two books in this series when I was around 10 years old. I think it took me a few years to get around to them. Eventually though as a young teenager I read the whole series (well what was out at the time! The last two books came out around the time I moved to Charlotte.) I surely have nostalgia for this series. It led the way for me into fantasy along with Lord of the Rings and the Dragon Bone Chair. It was later I realized The Wizard of Earthsea led the way for many of the writers on this list into the world of wizards and magic schools.

What is special about this series for me, though, came in book 5, Tehanu, which was published in 1990. Tehanu is only the second fantasy book (Thank you for Meg, Madeleine Le’Engle) I remember reading that featured a female protagonist. Tehanu’s story is aching and powerful and I couldn’t leave Leguin off this list for Tehanu’s sake even with Ged and the island of Roke and all that.

9. Supernatural Investigators (BB Alston, 2021-2024)

This was the first book after Harry Potter I read in this genre. My friends, Racquel and Prince, recommended the first book, Amari and the Night Brothers and this book started me on this Magic School train! I was so stoked to see the black female protagonist, Amari, and the storytelling totally holds up. I love the family bonds in this book and seeing how characters develop over time. Book four just came out in this series and there is to be one more book to wrap things up.

8. Onyeka (Tola Okagwu, 2022-2024)

This is a three book series beginning with Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun. This book stood out for being set mostly in Nigeria and because Onyeka, the main character’s, magical powers are connected to her fabulous hair! So fun and mysterious too. This is also a complete trilogy!!

7. The Conjurverse (Dhonielle Clayton, 2022-2025)

I love this series! Maybe it should move up a little in the list, but they are all so good! In the first book, The Marvellers, you meet the protagonist, Ella, a powerful girl from New Orleans. She practices conjure magik, a form of magic discriminated against in some of the magical world. I love the setting in these books and the ties to cultural practices in the South. Three books are out in the series with a fourth due this fall. The cast of characters are diverse, including a simply woven in non binary supporting character. I’m so grateful for another book with a black girl protagonist!

6. Vanya Vallen Adventures (Sangu Mandanna, 2025)

The first book in this series is Vanya and the Wild Hunt. I love Vanya for her quirkiness and her ability to talk to books! Cool magic! She is neurodivergent and British-Indian. Auramere, the magic school she eventually attends, is in South India. The relationship and complexities between Vanya and her mother pulled me right in to the story! I love the library setting in Auramere and the queer couple, Jasper and Roman, who become Vanya’s foster parents when she is away at school.

5. Greenwild (Pari Thomson, 2023-2026)

This three book trilogy from Pari Thomson began in 2023 and the final book came out this year. Our friends Nancy and Huxley, told us about this book, and we love reading with our people! I loved that the magic in this series is tied to the earth and considers contemporary issues in conservation. Also there were some lovely settings described especially in books two and three. I adore the ship community led by a baby wearing captain and a theater troupe. That is really the best part for me! The hotel in book three is also a scientific community and cultural hub. What?! I want to go there. I am not 100% in love with the ending just yet after the first read, but you know what at least she wrote one! Noteably this series weaves in some wonderful queer and gender nonbinary supporting characters.

4. Nic Blake and the Remarkables (Angie Thomas, 2023-2025)

When I saw Angie Thomas (The Hate You Give, 2017 ) had a YA Lit fantasy book, I was on that right away! And Nic Blake was everything I wanted it to be. As expected Angie Thomas doesn’t miss any punches. This story is both magical adventure and hitting up with real history and Black experience. I love that Nic is homeschooled by her dad. I wish that homeschooling had included teaching her magic. Sigh. Still read this one!

3. Circle of Magic (Tamora Pierce, 1997-1999)

After going through all the newer titles on this list I began circling ;) back to older magic school books. I love Tamora Pierce for her Alanna series, but had not read the Circle of Magic. These books did something special and being pre-HP, the author isn’t having to work so hard to get around the tropes. In the original quartet (there are more books beyond this) there is one book for each main character: Sandry, Tris, Daja and Briar. They eventually live in a house with two of their mentors. The story arc is original and the world has a cozy, found-family feel.

2. Nsbidi Scripts (Nnedi Okorafor, 2011-2022)

This is a trilogy including Akata Witch, Akata Warrior and Akata Woman. I adore these books so much and want everyone to read them! You can read my full book review here. The main character, Sunny, learns to wield her magic with her friends and from her mentors in a deconstructed version of school that sings self-directed education! Beyond that Akata Witch has wonderful characters and the magical community feels fresh. Please read it for yourself!

1. The Scholomance (Naomi Novik, 2020-2022)

Here we are at my very favorite magic school book. While not for the youngest readers in many households (the romance gets a little steamy in book 2, but it is very very well done teenage romance. So I will easily let my 11 year old read it when she asks to complete the series anytime now.), this trilogy is also on my top five series ever (Akata Witch is there, too! Hey!) The first book is A Deadly Education and sets up the world of the school. The later books give you more insight into the rest of the world. The school is a character of itself! The protagonist, El, is so sarcastic and salty that I quickly LOVED her. Her mom. Oh my goddess. Basically me. And the end of book 1 is… hahaha! I can’t wait for you to read if you haven’t! The end of the series, though, well that was really really good. My lips are sealed but, Novik is masterful. All those details along the way really mattered. The characters are so good. The romance is the best teen romance arc I remember reading. This is dark academia at its best.

Honorable Mentions:

Wildseed Witch (Marti Dumas, 2022-2024)

An all BIPOC cast! YouTuber witchling! Fun books!

Young Wizards (Diane Duane, 1983-2016)

Classic here! And so many books!

Witchlings (Claribel Ortega, 2022-2205)

Honestly this will likely bump something (what?!!) from my top ten, I just haven’t finished it yet.

So what’s on your favorite list!? Let me know!

Leave a comment

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In order from the closest (to center city) to the furthest away we have:

Romare Bearden (uptown)

Directions: 300 S Church Street, Charlotte, NC

Parking can be tricky here. However if you go during the week like me, you can usually find street parking for a small fee. There are also parking garages and flat lots all around the park. Another option I frequently use is the city bus or lightrail and then a walk to the park.

Who this is best for: Everyone. Kids under 10 are likely to enjoy the waterfall spray ground and music playground. All ages like the big field for soccer and tag games. This park is lovely and has increasing shade every year as the trees grow up in this newer uptown park. There are big rocks for climbing that older kids will love. Teens love to pop over to one of the restaurants surrounding the park.

Things to Know: We spread a blanket in the shade under the trees just across from the waterfall. Have kids wearing bathing suits. Bring a ball or other yard games, suncreen or hats if needed for your skin. I do take care in accompanying children to the bathrooms, which are close by the waterfall but just around a corner.

The Fish Fountains at The Green (uptown)

Directions: The Green is located at 425 S Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC. The Green Parking Garage is at 435 S Tryon Street and is directly under the park. You can sometimes find street parking. You can definitely access this spot easily with the city bus or light rail.

Who this is best for: Children under 8 years old and the literary minded

Things to Know: This is a small sweet sprayground in uptown Charlotte. Water spouts from the mouths of giant fish. We often have the park to ourselves. The Green itself is small but full of little whimsical secrets, including many literary quotes. Bathrooms are located in the public access building just across from the sprayground There are surrounding coffee shops and restaurants. I often pair this outing with a trip to the Family Art Room at the Mint Museum right across the street. We usually do that first in the morning and then head over to green for lunch and water play! Children under 18 are free in the museum. On Wednesday evenings everyone is free, so you could also flop it with an afternoon sprayground visit, then head to the museum in dry clothes!

All the creeks (around Charlotte)

See my full post here with ALL the details!

Cordelia Pool (NODA)

Directions: 2100 N Davidson Street, Charlotte, NC

Parking here is free and easy.

Who this is best for: Everyone. There is an adjoining free splash pad that works great for the youngest children and boasts some shade sails. The pool has a deep end and a slide making it great for all ages.

Things to Know: There is not a lot of shade at the pool itself, but there are many wonderful shady trees just up the hill in the park. Cordelia Park connects to the Little Sugar Creek Greenway. My oldest loves to bike the greenway then head to the pool. The pool is $2 each person for county residents and $3 for non county residents. It can be crowded, but it’s always a fun vibe!

Latta Park (Dilworth)

Directions: 601 E Park Avenue, Charlotte, NC

Who this is best for: Children under 8 will do best at this small sprayground, however there is an excellent basketball court, a volleyball court and trails that older kids may enjoy.

Things to Know: There are picnic tables and shade. It can get really busy when groups come since the sprayground is small, but it usually all works out! We like this park year round.

Nevin Park and Sprayground (North Charlotte)

Directions: 6000 Statesville Road, Charlotte, NC

Who this is best for: Children under 10.

Things to Know: We like to start at the playgrounds which are in a different area than the sprayground. When everyone is plenty hot from playing, we take a trek on the nature trail to the sprayground. You can, of course, drive there! Sometimes we have one adult drive so that our car is at the sprayground, and then we do not need to walk back. The sprayground is covered! There is also a covered shelter and shady tree area. There are bathrooms both at the playground and the sprayground. This tends to be a less busy park.

The Quarry at Carrigan Farms (Mooresville: 40 minute drive from city center)

Directions: 1213 Oakridge Farm Hwy, Mooresville, NC

For swimming, you are looking for the west entrance, which is the address above. Plenty of parking available

Who this is best for: Older kids, teens, adults, younger children who are confident in the water Life jackets are required for everyone under 12. Even over 12 you have to pass a swim test to not wear one. Still it’s a big body of water and can be overwhelming. There is a shallow entry area that is wonderful for young children. If your group is mixed age this can definitely work!

Things to Know: This is a pricey place, but so worth it for a beautiful, natural swimming spot so close to Charlotte. As mentioned above, people 12 and over can take a swim test to qualify for swimming without a life jacket. There are so many jumping spots and rope swings! The water is deep and cool. There are shady surrounding spots to hang, and depending on the time of day the water may be shaded as well. There is a fishing pond on the property we haven’t made it to yet, but visitors also have access to this. You can bring your own chair and a small float (no huge ones). You need to get reservations ahead of time and pay a deposit online. You pay the remainder of the fee in cash when you get there. More details here.

The Bull Hole (Woodleaf: 1 hour 3 minute drive)

Directions: Officially known as Riverpark at Cooleemee Falls; 645 Erwin Temple Church Road, Woodleaf, NC; Google Maps can lead you astray. Make sure it is taking your to Erwin Temple Church Road. Plenty of parking.

Who this is best for: All ages. There is a big sliding rock that is fun to tube down, open water for swimming, a sandy shore, fish and wildlife to see, shady spots to hang.

Things to Know: There is a small fee for entrance. It is more on the weekends. When I went on a weekday it was $5 for the car. Details are updated on this website. The rocks are slippery in areas! Shoes can help. Water shoes or old tennis shoes work. But my kids usually just feel it out. They have been to so many sliding rocks that they know what’s up. For myself I need every precaution! Inevitably someone does fall. The fish come right up to you in the swimming area. We think it’s fun, but at least one kid did not like that at all! It is a little walk from the parking area down to the shore. We used a wagon. It worked but did take some effort to get it back up to the parking lot after!

Lake Wateree State Park (Winnsoboro, SC: 1 hour 15 min drive from center city)

Directions: 881 State Park Road, Winnesboro, SC

Plenty of parking

Who this is best for: Everyone

Things to Know: This is my favorite summer swimming spot near Charlotte! There is a small entry fee. Usually there is no one at the entrance and it is an an honor system. You can in an envelope or online. There are bathrooms. This is my kind of swimming: shady trees, open lake, no life guards or swim areas. We always park beside the playground and head down to the shore. In the last few years they have even added the cutest bench swings down by the water. There is even some shady water areas in the late afternoon. We set up a picnic table with our items. We bring the paddle board, floats and life jackets for those that need. This is open water swimming, so use your judgement for safety for your family. There can be pesky horseflies around so I come prepared for the inevitable with a stop sting cream. Most people have very little cell service out here! Mind the last few turns on your way in so that you can find your way back out before your map loads again! There is camping here lakeside, but I have never tried it out!

South Mountain 1 hour 23 min drive

Directions: 3001 S Mountain Park, Connelly Springs, NC

Plenty of parking, no fees for daytrip

Who this is best for: Everyone Thinks

Things to Know: Go here!! I cannot believe it took me so long to get to the mountain. It is so close to Charlotte. I go for day trips often. I’ve camped at the Family Campground and backpacked here multiple times. There is a visitors center with bathrooms and maps at the entry. You can stop here again before you leave, connect to the WiFi to let your map load for the drive home! There is the sweetest river flowing right past the parking lot at Jacob’s Fork parking. I recommend starting here. There are more bathrooms and a big wooded picnic area here. The nature trail follows along the river for the perfect walk for the youngest or people who do not really want to hike. There are so many places to stop and explore the river. The hike up to the big waterfall has been closed since Helene with no reopening in sight. Once it reopens that is a magical hike with glorious pools of water to dip in on the way up. Still there are plenty of other trails. Our current favorite for my 11 year old who doesn’t love to hike is Big Bear Falls trail. After the nature trail ends its a short distance ahead and off to the right. It’s a little more adventurous than the nature trail but short. At the top you get to a small little waterfall with sweet pools to dip in and explore. She asks me weekly to go back, she loves is so much. We’ve done family backpacking here as well as overnight backcountry treks. I’ll post more details about those in the future.

Waterfall Junction at Riverbank Zoo (Columbia, SC: 1 hour 36 minute drive from city center)

Directions: 1300 Botanical Parkway, West Columbia, SC

Plenty of parking

Who this is best for: Children under 8 though some older children will still love it and of course the rest of the zoo is for all ages

Things to Know: The water play area here is so cool! There are little waterfalls, it flows down a river path there are miniature pools, but it’s not swimming. There is also a sand area a big field and some playhouses and a treehouse. The price is steep because it’s one price for the water area and the zoo. More details here.

Tube the Green River (Saluda: 1 hour 45 minutes from city center)

Directions: We like Green River Adventures, 5476 Green River Cove Road, Saluda, NC

Who this is best for: ages 5 and up and youngers for adventurous folk

Things to Know: We recently took the longer 4 miles tube journey at Green River Adventures. It took 4 hours, probably because the water level was so low. We had to get over a lot of rocks due to this, but our crew didn’t mind. I love how laid back this place is, while also offering nice amenities like covered areas, bathrooms, changing rooms, picnic tables. They have life jackets, which you can choose to wear or just take with you. We went on a Tuesday and it was not busy at all. I would suggest calling ahead to check water levels if your crew is particular. We took snacks and sunscreen in dry bags and clipped our water bottles on with clips. I also took along my Grayl water filter to refill along the way. More details and reserve spots here.

Robert Lake Park (Montreat: 2 hour drive from city center)

Directions: 317 Texas Road, Montreat, NC

Who this is best for: Children under age 10, but older will enjoy.

Things to Know: This park is so sweet. It’s far away for a park trip, but I have totally done a day trip to get kids to this amazing water. If you pair it with other places around Black Mountain that makes a lot of sense! The river runs right through the park and in this spot is gentle flowing and wide. There are plenty of shady picnic spots around and the kids really like the playground. We have also done the short hiking trails that follow the river as well.

Museum of Life and Science (Durham: 2 hour 9 minute drive from city center)

Directions: 433 West Murray Avenue, Durham, NC

Who this is best for: In summer this is best for younger kids, age 8 and under, who will love the water areas. Older kids enjoy for sure and there is plenty to see and do, but I think late spring or early fall might be better for all that walking unless your goal is to just go primarily to three waterplay areas and maybe hit up other favorites along the way.

Things to Know: This place is huge! Even though I have been many times it wasn’t until the last trip that I realized there is a whole inside part. Ha! Outside there are three waterplay areas: the creek at Hideaway Woods and the Into the Mists and Earth Moves, which are right across from each other. Each of these is wonderful! The creek doesn’t need much explanation except to say that this is one is crafted for children so the entire area is accessible and made for their play. The mists are magical!! It’s like a mix between Avalon and The Shire with all these little nooks and crannies to run around and mist everyone! Right across the way in Earth Moves there are water falls and a sandy water play area that intrigues young children for hours. This area is really big, has plenty of shady seating spots and dry play areas too with things like chiseling! And aside from waterplay the kids love the sailboats exhibit, the treehouses, the butterfly house, the train ride (extra fee), and the dinosaur trek. There is so much more in addition to these. I recommend getting there at opening time and planning to stay for the whole day. We sometimes take an easy dinner that can be left in the car and break that out at the parking lot picnic area before driving home. Bathing suits for sure and a nice dry change of clothes, too. Full details here.

Table Rock State Park (Pickens, SC: 2 hour 14 min drive from city center)

Directions: 158 E Ellison Lane, Pickens, SC

For a daytrip you can skip the visitors center which is across the street from the park entrances. You can enter at either entrance gate (there are two). Both will take you in winding road around to the lake parking area. For weekends you need to arrive early to get parking. On weekdays it’s super easy to park all summer.

Who this is best for: Everyone

Things to Know: There is a small entry fee at the gate. There is lake swimming, shady tree areas, peddle boats and kayaks for rent and best of all a waterfall a very short hike and further trails that lead to sliding rocks and creek play. We typically set up an area in the shade and start with the lake in the morning before it is so hot. There is a designated swimming area, but usually no life guard. We always rent a peddle boat and take off into the open water as well. There is a little store and bathrooms. In the afternoon heat we head to the mountain woods. There is a small nature center and bathrooms at the trailhead. A very short walk along the trail takes you to the magical waterfall. There is a platform seating and then rocks easy to traverse even for the youngest to get down to the small waterfall and pool. I always get right under the waterfall whose water clears away the cobwebs of the mind! After as much time hear as desired, head forget along the path. We like to go up the trail and take the left side when it eventually branches. This will eventually lead you to a wooden pathway and the favorite sliding rock area is just there. As with all sliding rocks, it’s slippery. Someone always seems to fall. All ages of people slide along. There are rock areas to sit and observe or down below a sandy area and pooling water for young children to explore. We usually hike back from here but you can hike on for more walk! I have done this as a daytrip many times! Also I love camping here.

Enjoy the earth’s water dear friends.

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Creeks are such perfect water play for young children, even nine and ten year olds easily get engrossed in hours of creek play. Definitely some older children, youth and adults will find their own special love for creeks, too. I certainly have. I didn’t fully realize the magical pull of creeks until 2020, when so many options for play, including playgrounds were closed. A silver lining of Covid to me was finding all the wonderful creeks around Charlotte. I spent the rest of that year taking children to the creek. Since then I never miss an opprotunity to put my feet in a creek and to take chidlren to play in every one we can find. Even with all the confusion and pain of that time I had some intensely moving experiences due to the new spaciousness in my time.

Most things in my life connect to books in one way or another and this was no different. I had long loved Circle Round: Raising Chidlren in the Goddess Tradition by Starhawk. I didn’t know much about the author though, and I had no idea that she was actively doing beautiful things in the world. I realized in that time that she is deeply connected to the Reclaiming Magic tradition, hailing primarily from California. I took an online Elements of Magic course relative to her work that focused on earth, air, water, fire and spirit. I also read for the first time The Fifth Sacred Thing, a novel by Starhawk. I had this book on my shelf for at least 12 years, but I was suddenly thunderstruck finally reading it. In the novel, a renewed version of San Francisco is a utopia in the middle of a disutopian world. I love the description of that city so much that even with all the pain in those stories, it’s worth it to have an image of possibility. The water in the fictional city is so intregal to daily life. The human structures and utilities work with the natural pattern of water flow. The creeks are the city. Starhawk’s work deeply influenced my connection to water and especially creeks.

I used to walk to the little bridge in my neighborhood in those long stretched days and sing blessings to the water that has been relegated to behind a few houses in a ditch. I imagined what if this neighborhood and this city was built around the living water courses and what if our urban lives allowed the water to lead the way. Finding all these creeks was more than a logistical mission to find somewhere for a bunch of five to eight year olds to play. It was a spiritual journey for me to connect with the water. Every time I take myself or children to these places I’m singing the blessings of the water, imagining our joy will give the water a little more space to live.

Here’s the creek list!!

Favorite All Around

Four Mile Creek @Four Mile Creek Greenway

Directions: You can park at Squirrel Lake Park (1631 Pleasant Plains Road, Matthews, NC) or at the parking lot behind Matthews Playhouse (100 E McDowell Street, Matthews, NC). The official entrance on this end to Four Mile Creek Greenway is 307 S. Trade Street, Matthews, NC.

If you park at Matthews Playhouse there is a path through the woods there that leads to Four Mile Creek Greenway. Follow this to Fountain Rock! Small children adore this tiny park in the middle of the woods. It boasts a big rock that spouts water. Magic right there. Continue along Four Mile Creek Greenway. You will pass many sweet places to explore the creek. We stop at all. Eventually you will come to a little bridge with the creek just there beside the path and a little sandy riverbed. This is our favorite spot.

If you park at Squirrel Lake Park, follow the trail past the pond into the woods. You’re on the greenway. Very soon you will come from the other direction to the favorite creek spot mentioned above. You can later continue along the greenway to get to Fountain Rock.

Things to Know: There are bathrooms at Squirrel Lake Park. From our favorite spot we leave our shoes and most items beside the creek and often wade way on down to explore. The water is not very deep though creative children find small swimming holes to submerse in. The playground equipment at Squirrel Lake Park is HOT in the summer. I suggest playing there only in the morning or evening in the summer!

Most Accessible

Four Mile Creek @Windsor Park

Directions: 10140 Northeast Parkway, Matthews

It’s easy to miss the turn but there is signage. Parking is easy. This park is strangely peaceful though right behind Costco!

Things to Know: This is such a sweet creek and literally feet beyond the playgrounds and lots of easy parking. There are only portapotties here so plan ahead to meet your needs. On the front half of the park in front of the creek are two traditional playgrounds with a really great zipline, a grassy field and a covered shelter with tables. On the other side of the creek are some hidden natural playground elements spread through the trees.

Sweetest

Stream @Sedgefield Park

Directions: 620 Elmhurst Road, Charlotte, NC

There is no parking lot, just street parking. Even on a busy Saturday, though, it isn’t difficult to find a spot to park.

Things to Know: The creek at this park is in the back and lined by trees. It’s a georgeous place to spread out a blanket, a picnic, chat with friends. This is an ideal spot for youngest children to explore the little stream that is an offshoot of the Little Sugar Creek.

There are several playareas at the park. All the paths in the park together make the shape of a butterfly! There are no bathrooms. Harris Teeter is a near drive for bathroom super needs. There is access from the way back of the park, behind the creek to the Little Sugar Creek Greenway.

Most Secret

Irvin Creek @Idelwild Road Park

Directions: 10512 Idlewild Road, Matthews, NC

There is plenty of parking! There are many spots to access the creek. Follow the many trails and you will eventually find creek access. There are easy access spots off the Irwin Creek Greenway within the park as well as on other trails behind the playground.

Things to Know: There are bathrooms and a fun playground at the park. Overall this is one of our favorite parks in the Charlotte area. Plenty of trees, covered areas, and never busy.

Most Secluded

McAlpine Creek @James Boyce Park

Directions: 300 Boyce Road, Charlotte, NC

Plenty of parking is available. This is a fun one to explore. There are many places to access the creek from the park, which has multipel trails and entryways to McAlpine Creek Greenway. Our favorite spot to date was found off the trail that runs behind the little playground.

Things to Know: I love this park. It’s a nature lover’s space for sure. There is a small playground with swings and a huge field great for soccer, etc, but this park is really about the woods. There are always multiple shelters kids and adults have made of sticks out in the woods to play in just behind the shelter. The trails circle back around to the park making easy hikes for young children. There are bathrooms.

Best Nature Center

Steven’s Creek @Steven’s Creek Nature Preserve

Directions: 15700 Thompson Road, Mint Hill, NC

It’s easy to park at the Nature Center at Steven’s Creek. From there follow the main trail into the woods. You’ll see the creek pretty soon.

Things to Know: The preserve has a sweet trail that is great for young kids. The creek is sometimes more grown up around and harder to access. Other times it’s easy to wade right in. The nature center here is lovely. There is great outdoor seating, a cool aquarium and sensory activities as well as bathrooms. The nature center is free. This makes for a wonderful rainy day creek adventure since you can take shelter inside or outside the nature center as desired.

Best picnic area

Four Seasons Creek @McDowell Nature Preserve

Directions: 15222 York Road, Charlotte, NC

Follow signs to the Nature Center once inside the preserve. You can park here, check out the nature center and hike down to the creek on the Pine Hollow Trail. You’ll know the spot when you cross a little bridge and see the picnic area scooped right off the trail. It’s not quite a mile hike.

Alternately you can keep going past the nature center parking lot and keep driving toward McDowell Pavilion, which you will pass on your left. Follow the road until it ends in a little parking lot, which is the trailhead of the Four Seasons Trail. Follow the path to the right of the parking lot that leads over a little bridge you can see from the parking lot. You’ll quickly see the picnic area described above.

Things to Know: This creek has it all, rocks to climb and jump between, a sandy beach area, a bridge, and plenty of creek landscape easy to supervise from the picnic area. Bathrooms are located back at the nature center or more easily at the McDowell Pavilion. There are plenty more trails and more creek access for those wanting. We almost always see a snake in the deeper and less flowing water area. It’s a good opportunity to talk about respect and responsibility with nature. Depending on the weather trend at the time of your visit there may be more or less water in different areas. I generally encourage kids to play where the water is moving and not where the water is stagnant.

Most Urban Magic

Litter Sugar Creek @Freedom Park

Directions: 1908 East Blvd, Charlotte, NC

We usually park at the “train playground” aka “panthers playground.” This is a huge park with several parking areas. Any one will be easy to get you to the creek. The creek runs right behind the swings at the playground, but we usually like to scoot over to the Little Sugar Creek Greenway that runs right through the park and access the creek on that less crowded, shadier side where the water seems better quality. From the greenway there are several little footpaths running down to the creek.

Things to Know: The water quality of the Little Sugar Creek is disputable. However my kids have fully swam there without ill effects. Still I usually put up a little magic shield and make them shower after. It’s an urban park and our most fully urban creek in Charlotte. There is ongoing work to clean the creek, but it’s a work in progress. Still I feel something special to know this public and free water is right here for everyone. We all have a responsibility to improve the water quality. I do recommend water shoes or waterproof sandles, but my kids have also gone barefoot. Use your own judgement, but if you choose to join us in the water, it might just change your life priorities.

Best Free Play Areas Creekside

Long Creek Tributary @Schiele Museum of Natural History

Directions: 1500 East Garrison Blvd, Gastonia, NC

Plenty of free parking here. Follow the nature trail from the parking lot. It’s a loop and includes many different creek access spots and much more.

Things to Know: There are so many fun places to access the creek! The water seems clear and clean. Along the looped trail there are not only places and even a mini farm animal area to stop for the creek, but also play spaces built just off the path. It can make for a whole day adventure. The first time I went I didn’t realize how deep the water was around the old Gris Mill. I always have my wits about me with the adventurous kids in my crew over the years, but for this one surely keep a close eye on water levels, especially for non swimmers. There are plenty of shallow places for easy creek play as well. The museum itself has bathrooms in the lobby accessible whether or not you are visiting the rest of the museum and all of the outdoor exhibits are free. The Catawba Village is generally only open by reservation thought once we caught the tail end of some kind of event and the kind hosts let our group go check it out. Especially if needed for the weather or if they are hosting a particularly interesting exhibit the indoor museum can be a good place to visit as well. The group rate at my last visit was only $4 per child, so it’s well worth the add on if needed.

Best Dam Creek

Lake Crawford Outflow Stream @Kings Mountain State Park

Directions: 1277 Park Road, Blacksburg, SC

This is a 52 minute drive for Charlotte. That might seem like a long ways to drive for a creek, but my bumper sticker might as well read: “Will Drive for Water Play.” There is plenty of parking in the main lot. You’ll pass Lake Crawford. The playground will be to the far right. That is also where bathrooms are located. We park closer to the building on the left. You should see the dam from the parking lot area. Follow the short trail and staircase down to the creek and dam area.

Things to Know: There is a little bridge, plenty of places to spread a blanket, little creek rivulets everywhere and the water running down the small Lake Crawford dam. The kids love fishing here. Well there was a group a few years ago that loved fishing anywhere, but I have memories of their actually catching a good many fish in this spot. There are trails but for our youngest children this spot is plenty. We spend the whole day by the creek. Some children will definitely want to climb the staircase looking dam. Except in rare circumstances that has worked well. Most children who spend lots of free time in nature, know well their own physical limits. It’s usually the adults needing to consider our baggage. Good to know going in if you might need to set boundaries around climbing!

Best Creek to Pair with Rollerskating or Scooters

West Branch Rocky River Creek @Fisher Farm

Directions: 21215 Shearers Road, Davidson, NC

This is out in the middle of nowhere! There is plenty of parking. From the parking lot follow the trail down into the park. We typically take a right once you hit the end of this trail and meet up with the primary park trail. The creek runs parallel to this one. if you walk on this to the right for a short ways and keep your eyes peeled you will see different spots to access the creek. There are even a couple of benches. Most of the trails down are a little steep, but that only made it more fun for most of the kids.

Things to Know: This is a clean and gentle creek. There was a huge rollerskating frenzy a few years ago when I first came to this park and now that has become our “thing” to do at Fisher Farm. It’s easy to transport a bunch of roller skates with a vanful of kids and the trail is mostly pretty flat. The trail is not long at all, the perfect length for roller skating down with kids. There is a big hill from the parking lot!! Watch out roller skaters! I have the funniest memory and ouch thoughts of watching all the kids flying off into the grass to break their falls as they tried to make it down the hill. It doesn’t look that steep from the top, but I promise you it will get your wheels going fast!!

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On a drive back from Grayson Highlands this week my son and I were having a typical kind of talk for us, name your top five favorite book series, favorite characters, favorite stand alone non-series book? Akata Witch (2011) and her sequels by Nnedi Okorafor easily made my list of favorite book series, all inclusive, not only in the juvenile fiction category. So as I thought about my first book talk, I knew I had to start right here.

I heard about AW (Akata Witch) when my friend, Susan, suggested it to me a few years ago. At the time my daughter and I were just getting into our contemporary Magic School sub-genre jag, which eventually included Nik Blake and the Remarkables (Thomas, 2023), The Marvelers (Clayton, 2022), Vanya and the Wild Hunt (Mandanna, 2025), Scholomance (Novik, 2020-2022), Onyeka (Okogwu, 2022) and The Greenwild (Thomson, 2023). Susan said that AW is known as the Nigerian Harry Potter. Well! I was ready for it right then and there.

AW is the first book in the Nsbidi Scripts trilogy, followed by Akata Warrior (2017) and Akata Woman (2022). The protagonist, Sunny, was born in New York City, but now lives in Nigeria, where her parents are from. Her coming of age arc includes, learning about the magical world and her role in it, deepening friendships, and solving mysteries. Sound familiar!? Yes, but get ready for African culture and history, seriously passing the Bechdel Test and a new vision of the Magic School/magican right of passage story.

In our house we are reluctant, if die-hard Harry Potter fans. The stories, the characters and the connection shared around these books is hard to replace. But damn if we don’t try around here, because she who must not be named, is way out of the realm of people we admire.

Let me tell you the Akata Witch books do that work and much more. While the newer Magic School books seem to tread in the footsteps, usually making wonderful additions to the big storied world but not often marching far off the beaten path, AW, well, it’s something different. Okorafor is riding an extra large magical grass cutter through a parallel path occasionally shining a light over to Harry Potter’s trail, nodding the head or maybe making a slightly rude gesture (or maybe that last part is just me). AW is more raw, hardcore (I mean serial killers, yikes!) and gritty than most of than Harry Potter and other Magic School books we have read. Maybe part of that is that this leans way more towards YA than Children’s Lit. But also Okorafor just seems to not be trying so hard to get into Hogwarts. She does enough to be recognizable in the genre, but underneath she is telling compelling stories of contemporary issues using culturally relevant mythology. She manages to both create a fantastical magic world that you really want to get to know and uses that magic to address the real world issues of her characters, for instance Sunny’s struggle with her identity and oppression as an American born Nigerian, albino girl, her relationship with patriarchy as represented by her father and eventually contemporary issues such as confraternity hazing in Nigeria. None of those issues are forced. It’s neatly done; I was left feeling both more knowledgeable and more curious while just being utterly fascinated with the magic and characters.

The idea of Magic School itself is also actually turned inside out in this story. School is broadened to community. In book one it’s primarily the magical city, Leopard Knocks, which includes mentors and trials and a more messy structure to all the learning that Vygotsky would totally cherish. It appeals more to my self directed education heart than to my nostalgia for the schoolhouse. It’s far from all butterflies and rainbows but the trials feel more part of the world than separated into school and out of school time.

The first time I read the AW series I kept thinking about Chimamanda Amidichi’s Ted Talk The Danger of a Single Story and feeling my whole being light up with gratitude for Okorafor’s talented voice bringing rich Nigerian storytelling and fire fantasy fiction to the world. Nic Blake (Nik Blake and The Remarkables, Thomas), for sure sure, Elle (The Marvellers, Clayton), Vanya (Vanya and the Wild Hunt, Mandanna), Onyeka (Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun, Okagwu) and Amari (Amari and the Night Brothers, Alston) certainly do this work and thank you, thank you, thank you for it dear authors. Akata Witch, though, is my personal standout in not only changing the scene early on (2011!) and showing us what an Afrocentric magical rite of passage might look like, but also for being a stellar read.

What did you love about Akata Witch, reader?

Stay tuned for more! Coming soon is a Top Ten Magic School Books post with micro reviews of those noted above and more!

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I am creating a place to connect with you about the things I love to think and talk about. You will find the following kinds of posts here:

• Book Reviews, especially children’s and juvenile literature but more too

• Book Lists

• Ideas on outdoor adventure with kids

• Stories of self-directed education

• Thoughts and practices on dyslexia for/in the wild (intersection of SDE and dyslexia)

• Practices in the teaching of writing

• Maybe a witchy moment or two ;)

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