Activities for families in Kings Mountain (Charlotte, Gastonia: transplants, city hall, renting)

[fbfamily111]

My husband just got a job in Kings Mountain, and we're moving over Thanksgiving weekend. My question is what kinds of things/activities are there for 7-9 yr. olds in the area? We homeschool, so they are very concerned about not having any friends. We're looking for sports, arts, or other homeschool groups. In particular, karate, gymnastics, baseball, cheerleading, and soccer, also boy/girl scout groups. Any info on local parks and play area's. We are also looking for a church that has a lot of children at Sundy school. Not really concerned about the denomination, just someplace with a family atmosphere. Any information would be greatly appriciated.

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by fbfamily111

My husband just got a job in Kings Mountain, and we're moving over Thanksgiving weekend. My question is what kinds of things/activities are there for 7-9 yr. olds in the area? We homeschool, so they are very concerned about not having any friends. We're looking for sports, arts, or other homeschool groups. In particular, karate, gymnastics, baseball, cheerleading, and soccer, also boy/girl scout groups. Any info on local parks and play area's. We are also looking for a church that has a lot of children at Sundy school. Not really concerned about the denomination, just someplace with a family atmosphere. Any information would be greatly appriciated.

Welcome to Kings Mountain.

I'll start you off with a few things. I'd suggest that you check with some of your neighbors about the other things.. People here are very friendly.

There is a Christmas parade coming up. & the children's tree will be lit at the library. City of Kings Mountain, North Carolina There are events year round, sponsored by the city. Here's a link for the library. Welcome to MauneyLibrary.org

I don't know if you will be living in the city or outside in the unincorporated area, but if you are within the city limits, go to City Hall to get your utilities connected. Call ahead & ask before you go, because it varies by whether you own or rent.

Your best bet for groceries will be Ingles on Shelby Road. Ingles Markets - Grocery Stores, Supermarkets, Pharmacies

There is a park, Patriot Park, downtown where a lot of events take place during the year.

Check the Y for activities. Kings Mountain Family YMCA (http://www.clevecoymca.org/Branches/KingsMountainFamilyYMCA.aspx - broken link)

There are a lot of churches, but I've never heard of any with an especially large number of children. I'd ask your neighbors about that.

There are a number of banks in town. A new restaurant will be opening, downtown, in January. The building in being rehabbed now. 2 more will be opening downtown in the coming year.

There is an art center The Southern Arts Society (http://www.southernartssociety.org/index.html - broken link) & a community theater. KMLT Home Page

I know that I didn't answer some of your questions & threw in some things that you didn't ask, but I'd rather tell you the truth than make something up just to give you an answer. Oh, & congratulations on the job.

ETA: I forgot, there is a model train exhibit at the Kings Mountain Historical Museum, starting on Novemjber 30th. http://www.kingsmountainmuseum.org/

[sundrop]

Also, you can drive to Rutherfordton and visit Kids Senses, it is a great interactive museum for children!

[southbound_295]

A traveling exhibit of the history of American music, from the Smithsonian, will be in Shelby until Dec 29th. There is a nice mall & a nice museum in Gastonia. There is lots to do all over the area, especially Charlotte, so you won't be at a loss for things to do. However you can keep yourself occupied in Kings Mountain.

There is a trail that will eventually connect to the Carolina Thread Trail. The Kings Mountain battlefield is just down the road in SC & a state park is adjacent to that.

[southbound_295]

Check at the Y about the scout troops. I looked though the weekly paper & found a mention of scouts doing something at the Y. That will be your best source of that information.

[fbfamily111]

Thanks for the info. Yeah, I had planned to check out the Y and Library. My only concern is that I'm on the Gaston side of County Line Rd. I DO NOT want to have to drive all the way into Gastonia to go to the Y/Library, we'd end up never going.
Also Thanks for the Grocery store info, I much prefer Ingles, and had no idea there was one in the area.
Last thing, found out there's no cable/BB where my house is. I'm okay with Sat. for TV, but other then Hughes, is there another option for internet?

*found out the info on the Y and Library, thanks for the links. I must say everyone I've talked to is very helpful and nice. Make's me feel even better about our move.

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by fbfamily111

Thanks for the info. Yeah, I had planned to check out the Y and Library. My only concern is that I'm on the Gaston side of County Line Rd. I DO NOT want to have to drive all the way into Gastonia to go to the Y/Library, we'd end up never going.
Also Thanks for the Grocery store info, I much prefer Ingles, and had no idea there was one in the area.
Last thing, found out there's no cable/BB where my house is. I'm okay with Sat. for TV, but other then Hughes, is there another option for internet?

*found out the info on the Y and Library, thanks for the links. I must say everyone I've talked to is very helpful and nice. Make's me feel even better about our move.

Not to be nosey, but did you buy or rent?

There are some very nice houses on the Gaston County side of the line, up there, but I always tell people to look on the Cleveland County side (lower taxes, better schools)

The drive into Gastonia is not far at all, & frankly, for now, that's where you'll do most of your shopping (not to be bossy, it's just a fact of life, here.) What you'll do is come down to Piedmont & get on 74 east. Yes, you could go to Bessemer City & then drive to Gastonia from there, but it's an unpleasant drive. Coming down to 74 really is the better way to go. It just seems like the long way. You can either take 74 into Gastonia or switch over to I 85, depending on where you're going.

There is an older, smaller Ingles grocery store in Bessemer City. There is an Ingles supermarket in Dallas, but the biggest one is the Ingles supermarket in Kings Mountain. I can give you more detail on shopping if you want.

I would expect that Time-Warner is in that area. They are like the plague here. AT&T also provides internet. Unfortunately, that's probably your only options. Hughes' price is insane, in my opinion. That's why I asked if you are renting, because Cleveland County has started a project to wire the whole county for fiber optic service, because of the data center they just got on property that they are planning to build a high-tech campus of 5 or 6 high-tech businesses.

I find the people here to be exceptionally nice. It's a good mix of natives & transplants. The transplants who I run into are usually either Midwesterners or people from South Jersey (Philadelphia area of NJ, if you aren't familiar).

There is a problem to sign up directly with the Kings Mountain libary, since you will be in Gaston County. You want to go to the main Gaston County library on Garrison in Gastonia for your "home card". There is something reciprocal, though, so do the library in Gastonia first. Welcome to MauneyLibrary.org

[southbound_295]

Originally Posted by southbound_295

Not to be nosey, but did you buy or rent?

There are some very nice houses on the Gaston County side of the line, up there, but I always tell people to look on the Cleveland County side (lower taxes, better schools)

The drive into Gastonia is not far at all, & frankly, for now, that's where you'll do most of your shopping (not to be bossy, it's just a fact of life, here.) What you'll do is come down to Piedmont & get on 74 east. Yes, you could go to Bessemer City & then drive to Gastonia from there, but it's an unpleasant drive. Coming down to 74 really is the better way to go. It just seems like the long way. You can either take 74 into Gastonia or switch over to I 85, depending on where you're going.

There is an older, smaller Ingles grocery store in Bessemer City. There is an Ingles supermarket in Dallas, but the biggest one is the Ingles supermarket in Kings Mountain. I can give you more detail on shopping if you want.

I would expect that Time-Warner is in that area. They are like the plague here. AT&T also provides internet. Unfortunately, that's probably your only options. Hughes' price is insane, in my opinion. That's why I asked if you are renting, because Cleveland County has started a project to wire the whole county for fiber optic service, because of the data center they just got on property that they are planning to build a high-tech campus of 5 or 6 high-tech businesses.

I find the people here to be exceptionally nice. It's a good mix of natives & transplants. The transplants who I run into are usually either Midwesterners or people from South Jersey (Philadelphia area of NJ, if you aren't familiar).

There is a problem to sign up directly with the Kings Mountain libary, since you will be in Gaston County. You want to go to the main Gaston County library on Garrison in Gastonia for your "home card". There is something reciprocal, though, so do the library in Gastonia first. Welcome to MauneyLibrary.org

I went back & reread the library link. As long as your husband is working in Kings Mountain, or Cleveland County, in general, you can get the Kings Mountain card for free, but all Kings Mountain residents are eligible for the Gaston County card (because of the county overlap, I assume). The library on Garrison is a very nice big building, so do plan to use both. Main Branch, Gaston Library There is a branch in Bessemer City as well.