|
The Mothers
Club conducted its first survey of club members' favorite local places
in 2001. In 2005, some edits were made: deleting businesses no longer
in existence and adding a few new places. The information presented
in this survey is based on individual opinions from club members.
The Mothers Club itself does not endorse any specific place (web links
are provided solely for informational purposes). Responses to the
questions are listed in random order.
Our favorite local.....
What is your favorite local
park and why?
Chapel Hill Community Center Park
(120 South Estes Drive, Chapel Hill)
Great equipment, soft surface underneath, bathrooms open year-round,
always people there to talk to
It has so much to offer; more than just a playground.
Mostly because there are always other people there. The rose
garden adds an extra dimension, as does the hill.
When it's cold outside you can go to the parent-tot time (Sept-May,
Mon-Fri from 10-12) in the Community Center gym and let the kids
run off some energy!
I love the equipment but hate the pesticides they use on the
roses which makes the whole area smell.
Homestead Park (100 Northern Park Drive off Homestead
Road, Chapel Hill)
In summer, lots of trees around, so it is not too hot
It has a great play area, with a jungle gym, double slide, and
swing set. There are also soccer and baseball fields, paths, a
pond, and picnic tables in the shade. But the bathrooms close
from October to May.
Umstead Park (Umstead Road between Airport Road & Estes
Drive Ext.)
It has so many different things to do--climbing structures,
sand, water. Not great for keeping several kids contained (for
that, Oakwood Park is good because it's fenced in).
Umstead Park for the oldest kid, because the bridge, stream,
and path through the woods are a nice break from the wildness
of the playground. However, this is also my least favorite park
for toddlers, because of the stream and its much-too-easy accessibility
from the play areas
I prefer Umstead Park for my preschooler, since the playground
equipment is lower to the ground, and its less crowded than the
Community Center Park.
Wilson Park (Williams Street, off
North Greensboro Street, Carrboro)
New equipment, not as crowded as some other parks
North Forest Hills Park (Collums Road, Chapel Hill)
No swings, but good climbing equipment.
Carrboro Town Commons Play Area (West Main Street next
to Town Hall, Carrboro)
It has a fence so you don't have to watch so very closely. On
the downside, there is one part of the climbing equipment that
a toddler could walk right off, so then you do have to watch...
Oakwood Park (Intersection of Oakwood Drive and Berkley
Road, Chapel Hill)
Fenced in, plenty of swings, has shade in the summer
Anderson Park (Highway 54 west of Carrboro)
For the ducks and new play equipment
For additional information on local parks see:
Chapel Hill Parks
& Recreation Department
Carrboro Recreation
& Parks Department
Best place to see shows
for preschoolers and older kids?
What is the best local kid restaurant?
- Elmo's Diner (Carr Mill Mall, 200 North Greensboro
Street, Carrboro)
- Breadmen's (324 West Rosemary Street, Chapel
Hill)
- Alfredo's Pizza Villa (University Mall, Chapel
Hill)
- Foster's Market (750 Airport Road, Chapel Hill)
- Pizza Hut (109 South Estes Drive, Chapel Hill;
370 South Churton Street, Hillsborough) lunch buffet
- Souper! Salad (202 West NC Highway 54, Durham;
across from Homestead Market shopping center). It's always loud,
so OK for kids to be noisy; and there are lots of fairly nutritious
food choices (and kids under 5--I think it's 5--eat free, plus
it's pretty cheap for everyone else anyway...around $5/person).
It's nothing glamorous, but it's not a bad outing.
- Boston Market (Eastgate Shopping Center, Chapel
Hill; 3029 Auto Drive, Durham) because it's quick, but still has
nutritious options.
- Chick-Fil-A (University Mall, Chapel Hill,
Southpoint Mall, Durham, et al.) for the same reasons: it's quick,
but still has nutritious options.
- Owens 501 Diner (1500 N Fordham Blvd., Chapel
Hill) is our favorite. Great food and service. Paper and crayons
for the kids.
- Jim's Famous BBQ (115 South Elliott Road,
Chapel Hill) is also good.
- Maple View Farm Country Store (6900 Rocky Ridge
Road, Hillsborough) for ice cream
- K&W Cafeteria (201 South Estes Drive, Chapel
Hill, next to University Mall)
- Cici's Pizza (4600 Chapel Hill Blvd., Durham)
What are the best
free, local activities for toddlers?
- Going to the park
- Storytime for toddlers at the Chapel Hill Public
Library (100 Library Drive, Chapel Hill). You have to register
for Baby and Toddler Storytime.
- Storytime at the Orange County Public Library
(300 West Tryon Street, Hillsborough). It is not as crowded as
the Chapel Hill Library's storytime and sometimes they have special
shows for young children like Rags to Riches Theater.
- Parent-tot time every day from 10-12 at the
Chapel Hill Community Center (120 South Estes Drive, Chapel Hill)
from September to May
- Barnes and Noble story time. New Hope Commons
location: Tuesdays at 10 AM and Saturdays at 11 AM ; Southpoint
Mall location: Fridays at 10:30 AM
- Borders Books (1807 Chapel Hill Blvd., Chapel
Hill) story time on Wednesdays at 10 AM
- Mothers Club playgroups!
- Going to the park is #1, going to the library
is #2 (especially if you get the books and take them to the park...)
- Going to Lowe's Kids Workshops
- Going to Home Depot's Kids Workshops
- Michael's at New Hope Commons offers art classes
for children--not free, but inexpensive
- Southpoint Mall in Durham has an indoor playground
next to the Food Court
Where is the best place
to nurse while out running errands?
- Northgate Mall (Durham) has a private family
bathroom off of the food court that is all set up for nursing
and kept clean. You just ask a security person in the food court
to unlock it.
- When I was nursing, if at the mall I'd just
use a dressing room in one of the department stores (it was more
comfortable and cleaner than a bathroom)
- Crabtree Valley Mall (Raleigh) has great lounges,
and Babies 'R' Us (3501 Capital Blvd., Raleigh) has a nursing
room, although it's pretty far.
- Nordstrom's (Southpoint Mall, Durham) has comfortable
lounges in its restrooms that are good for nursing
- Southpoint Mall (Durham) has a great family
bathroom area (across from the food court on the 2nd level), which
has two private nursing rooms, each with its own couch, sink,
and long counter top. Its great! I used it quite a bit.
- In the back seat of my mini-van. :-)
- Wherever you want/need to!
Where are the most
diaper change-friendly bathrooms?
- Northgate Mall (Durham) has a private family
bathroom in the food court area
- Most mall anchor stores have changing tables.
- I like the Chapel Hill Public Library (100
Library Drive, Chapel Hill). They have an extra long counter with
a rail. They also have a toddlers' bathroom near the childrens'
read aloud books
- Barnes and Noble's store at New Hope Commons
in Durham has very nice bathrooms close to the play area.
- Southpoint Mall in Durham has very nice bathrooms
close to the play area, including a family bathroom
Where is the best
public bathroom for toilet training your toddler?
- Chapel Hill Public Library (100 Library Drive,
Chapel Hill) has a toddlers' bathroom near the childrens' read
aloud books
- Chapel Hill Community Center (120 South Estes
Drive, Chapel Hill)
- Southpoint Mall in Durham has a great family
bathroom area (across from the food court on the 2nd level), with
two bathrooms, each with its own adult size toilet and sink, as
well as a child size toilet and sink.
- The best one I have run across is at St. Thomas
More Church (920 Carmichael Street Chapel Hill). They have a bathroom
in their multi-purpose room that has a tiny toilet. It is just
the right size for my daughter to get up on by herself.
- Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh, with the tiny
potty in the family bathroom
- Your Mothers Club Playgroup friends! The only
place you can go where you know it's ok because they are all potty
training too!
- The Little Gym's bathrooms (2501 University
Drive, Durham)
What is your favorite place to play indoors?
- Museum of Life
and Science (433 Murray Avenue, Durham)
- Playspace
(410 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 150, Raleigh)
- Greensboro
Children's Museum (220 North Church Street, Greensboro)
- Chapel Hill Community Center gymnasium (120
South Estes Drive, Chapel Hill) during parent-tot time (Sept-May,
Mon-Fri from 10-12)
- Mothers Club playgroups!
- Little Gym (2501 University Drive, Durham)
(requires class sign up fee)
- University Mall (201 South Estes Drive, Chapel
Hill)
- Carr Mill Mall (200 North Greensboro Street,
Carrboro). Bring a ball, push toy, or stroller. Run around then
get a pretzel!
- Southpoint Mall, Durham, has a great play area
- Northgate Mall, Durham, riding the Dentzel
carousel
- Carrboro
Century Center (100 North Greensboro Street, Carrboro) sometimes
offers Toddler Extravagance. They have plenty of toys, music and
tents ($2 fee)
- Carrboro
Recreation & Parks Department sometimes offers inexpensive
kids shows
- Sport Art Gymnastics (2200 Homestead Road, Chapel Hill, beside
the railroad tracks) has parent/tot gymnastics. I see lots of Moms club members
there. Parents catch up and the children get exercise! Teacher Nancy is great!
Where is the best
place to get inexpensive baby/children's clothes?
- Garage sales, handsdown! I got several outfits
at the Moms Club sale.
- Twice a year (January and July) there is a
kid's exchange in Raleigh at the State Fairgrounds. They have
a large selection of used kids' clothes.
- Kangaroo Pouch consignment shop (2812 Guess
Road, Durham)
- Baby Bear Resale Shop (3409 University Drive,
Durham)
- Wal-Mart (New Hope Commons, Durham, and 501
Hampton Point, Hillsborough)
- Target (4037 Durham Chapel Hill Blvd., Durham)
- Marshalls (New Hope Commons, Durham)
- TJ Maxx (4600 Durham Chapel Hill Blvd., Durham)
- Old Navy (New Hope Commons, Durham)
- Sears (Northgate and Southpoint malls, Durham)
- Belks (Northgate and Southpoint malls, Durham)
has some great sales
- The Children's Place (Southpoint Mall, Durham)
- Hechts (Northgate and Southpoint malls, Durham)
has excellent sales
- Kid to Kid consignment store (430 Crossroads
Blvd., Cary)
- Carter's Childrenswear outlets (Burlington,
Morrisville, or Smithfield). Best prices I have come across.
- Shoes: Payless Shoe Source (New Hope Commons
shopping center, Northgate and Southpoint malls, Durham)
- Mothers Club playgroups friends and the newsletter
classifieds!
Where is the best
place to shop for really inexpensive clothes for mom?
- PTA Thrift Shop (89 South Elliott Road, Chapel
Hill, and 103 Jones Ferry Road, Carrboro)
- Wal-Mart (New Hope Commons, Durham, and 501
Hampton Point, Hillsborough). Never thought I'd say it, but....!
- Target (4037 Durham Chapel Hill Blvd., Durham)
- Hechts (Northgate and Southpoint malls, Durham)
has excellent sales
- Old Navy (New Hope Commons, Durham)
- Stock Exchange consignment store (431 West
Franklin Street, Chapel Hill), especially when they have their
quarterly clearance sales.
- Look Out Casual Clothes (83 South Elliott Road,
Chapel Hill). They are trendy, name-brand clothes at discount
prices. I always find something great there, even if it is just
a t-shirt or socks.
- Mothers Club playgroups friends and the newsletter
classifieds!
Where is the best local
place for maternity clothes?
- JC Penney (Southpoint Mall, Durham)
- Motherhood Maternity (New Hope Commons and
Northgate Mall, Durham)
- Target (4037 Durham Chapel Hill Blvd., Durham)
- A Pea in the Pod (Crabtree Valley Mall, Raleigh)
High priced but good quality, if you need a nice dress
- Mimi Maternity (Southpoint Mall, Durham) is
more upscale, but the nursing bras are the best (very comfortable
and more stylish than most nursing bras) and worth every penny
- Mothers Club playgroups friends and the newsletter
classifieds!
What's your favorite
toy store?
- Children's Store & Toy Corner (University
Mall, Chapel Hill)
- Ali Cat (Carr Mill Mall, 200 North Greensboro
Street, Carrboro)
- The Play House Toy Store (702 Ninth Street,
Durham)
- Target (4037 Durham Chapel Hill Blvd., Durham)
has good prices on the most popular toys
- Toys R Us (3300 Westgate Drive, Durham)
- Wal-Mart (New Hope Commons, Durham, and 501
Hampton Point, Hillsborough)
- Hungates (University Mall, Chapel Hill)
- Via the web
Where's the best place
to go for a picnic?
- Chapel Hill Community Center Park (120 South
Estes Drive, Chapel Hill)
- Duke
Gardens (parking lot entrance on Anderson Street, Durham).
Bring bread for the ducks and geese
- Homestead Park is nice (100 Northern Park Drive
off Homestead Road, Chapel Hill)
- Umstead Park (Umstead Road between Airport
Road & Estes Drive Ext.)
- West Point on the Eno Park (5101 N Roxboro
Road [US Hwy 501 North], Durham)
- Arboretum, UNC campus (off Raleigh Street,
Chapel Hill)
- Bolin Creek Trail (entrance either near Community
Center Park on South Estes Drive, or Airport Road just north of
Hillsboro Street intersection)
- UNC's campus, by Silent Sam (just off Franklin
Street, Chapel Hill)
- Wilson Park (Williams Street, off North Greensboro
Street, Carrboro)
Where is the best place
for the whole family to go on an outing?
- Duke
Forest (Durham) for a hike.
- Maple View Farm Country Store (6900 Rocky Ridge
Road, Hillsborough) for ice cream
- North Carolina
Zoo (Asheboro)
- Museum of Life
and Science (433 Murray Avenue, Durham)
- Jordan
Lake (Apex)
- Pullen Park (off Western Blvd. by NC State
University, Raleigh) is awesome. It has a carousel, train rides,
paddle boats, playground. It's worth the drive!
- Fearrington Village (US 15-501 North between
Chapel Hill and Pittsboro). Parents get to shop and eat; kids
get to see cows and eat.
- According to my husband--Home Depot. They have
kids' classes there every now and then. One of us stays with our
daughter to build whatever and the other one goes off to buy supplies
for the house. My husband loves it and my daughter is really into
tools now.
- North Carolina
Museum of Art (2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh) on Friday nights
is open late with few visitors. Eat in the restaurant which has
great food and a kids' menu.
- North
Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (11 West Jones Street,
Raleigh). It has an annual Bugfest which is a favorite with kids!
What's your favorite all-day
family activity?
For those of us going
back to work, how to find local full-time day care providers?
-
NC Division of Child Development has a 5-star rating system
for most child care facilities in the state. You can look up by
city. Very good information to start your search.
- Child
Care Services Association (1829 East Franklin Street, Bldg.
1000), has lists of local child care centers and many other useful
resources.
Where's the best
place for kids' haircuts?
- JJ's Kids Cuts (two locations: North Ridge
Shopping Center, 6136 Falls of the Neuse Road, Raleigh, or Maynard
Crossing Shopping Center, 1235 NW Maynard Road, Cary)
- Capelli Hair Studio (401-A West Weaver Street,
Carrboro)
- Eastgate Barber & Style Shop (Eastgate Shopping
Center, Chapel Hill)
- Great Clips for Hair (Chapel Hill North Shopping
Center,1814 Airport Road). $8.00, but the cut depends on the person
you get.
- Fantastic Sam's (202 W NC Highway 54 Durham;
near Fayetteville Road intersection). You get a certificate after
your first.
- Cheri at The Body Cafe (3400 Westgate Drive,
Durham) where I get mine done, would be good--she has kids herself
- Marley's Hair Design (205 West Main Street,
Carrboro). My daughter loves going there. They are very patient
and our hairdresser keeps Sarah entertained by squirting water
in her mouth. She is also allowed to sweep up her hair afterward
with her own little broom and of course, gets a lollipop!
- I do it myself
- How about the bathroom counter? The one time
I actually paid money to have my daughter's hair cut professionally,
I had to go home and even it up myself. Also, I had to look at
her '50s style bangs for a couple of months before they grew out
to a decent length again.
Where is the best
place for mom or dad to get a haircut?
- Mitchell's Hair Styling (University Mall, Chapel
Hill; Northgate and Southpoint malls, Durham)
- Mina's Studio (400 South Elliott Road, Chapel
Hill)
- Heather at Eastgate Hair Styling (1800 East
Franklin Street, Chapel Hill)
- Day Spa 255 (255 South Elliott Road, Chapel
Hill)
- Retro Designs Salon (Cole Park Plaza, 11312
US 15-501 North, Chapel Hill). Natalie Heath is my stylist and
I love her.
- DB Sutton & Co. (406 West Franklin Street,
Chapel Hill)
- Moshi Moshi (416 West Franklin Street, Chapel
Hill). Catlin is very good, but schedule your appointment well
in advance since she often gets booked very quickly.
- Capelli Hair Studio (401-A West Weaver Street,
Carrboro)
- Forever Young Spa (Chapel Hill North Shopping
Center, 1836 Airport Road, Chapel Hill)
- The Body Cafe (3400 Westgate Drive, Durham).
For extra they do a head and neck massage-- *sigh* :)
- Marley's Hair Design (205 West Main Street,
Carrboro)
- Laurie at the Beehive (102 East Weaver Street,
Carrboro). Expensive but good
- Eric at Studio R (5504 Chapel Hill Blvd., Durham).
VERY EXPENSIVE but the best.
Additional questions
and answers
Q: What is the going rate for babysitters
(teen, college-age or professional)?
A: teen, $5; college, $7-8; professional, $10-12
Q: Best place to get your child's
photo taken?
A: Wal-Mart (New Hope Commons, Durham, and 501 Hampton Point,
Hillsborough); JC Penney (Southpoint Mall, Durham); Lundie's Photography
Studio (1265 Buck Jones Road, Raleigh); Portrait Innovations (115
Crossroads Blvd., Cary) provides you with multiple poses in different
outfits (that you provide), and also gives you a copy of the photos
on CD-ROM as well as pictures.
Q: Where is the best place to find
"in-a-pinch" one-day or two-day child care?
A: Your playgroup or Mothers Club friends! (Hey! That's what friends
are for!) Advertise in the Mothers Club newsletter if you have
advance notice. Maybe a neighbor?
Q: What is the best garden center
for plants, trees and supplies?
A: Southern States (300 North Greensboro Street, Carrboro); Niche
Gardens (1111 Dawson Road, Chapel Hill); Logan Trading Company
(707 Semart Drive, Raleigh)
Q: What is the best place to get a
pedicure?
A: David Wade Salon (612 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh); Forever Young
Spa (Chapel Hill North Shopping Center, 1836
Airport Road, Chapel Hill)
Q: Where's the best ice cream in town?
A: Maple View Farm Country Store (6900 Rocky Ridge Road, Hillsborough)
Q: Good kids dentists?
A: Charles Mauney (223 Timberhill Place, Chapel Hill); Frederick
Lehmann (100 Europa Drive, Chapel Hill)
Q: Great pediatricians?
A: Carrboro Pediatrics and Internal Medicine (205 Lloyd Street,
Suite 101, Carrboro); Chapel Hill Pediatrics (205 Sage Road, Suite
100, Chapel Hill); M. Morris at Chapel Hill Children's Clinic
(109 Conner Drive, Chapel Hill); Dr. Mark Eisen for alternative
medicine (900 Airport Road, Chapel Hill).
Q: Where do I get information on local
yard sales?
A: Check the Chapel Hill
News Advocate Classifieds. The local church preschool and elementary
school PTA sales usually have great bargains on toys and children's clothes.
Q: What are your favorite seasonal
activities/festivals in the area?
A:
March: Carrboro Kite Flying Day
April: Apple Chill on Franklin Street, Chapel Hill
May: Pick strawberries; Carrboro Day; Artsplosure (Raleigh)
June: Pick blackberries; Hillsborough Hog Day
July: Pick blueberries; Carrboro Fourth of July Festivities
August: Pick blueberries
September: Festifall on Franklin Street, Chapel Hill
October: Mothers Club Birthday Party & Family Picnic;
North Carolina State Fair in Raleigh
November: Carrboro Halloween Carnival; Leaf
piles!
December: Chapel Hill-Carrboro Holiday
Parade; Santa Train at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham
Last Reviewed: January 2005
|
|
