Trillium Trail and Other Experiences at the WNC Nature Center

Our day started with a stop at the Dancing Bear Toy store to spend a $30 groupon offer. There was a Calico Cat promotion going on. Our daughter wasn't into the face painting, though it looked like a lot of fun (we didn't want to force the experience). We bought some large Melissa and Doug Take-Along Jumbo Crayon Set and some Geo Beads made by Plan Toys. Then we drove to the WNC Nature Center (which provides parents with strollers awesome parking on Level A). We spent 4 hours on a sensory adventure at the WNC Nature Center. My 2+ year old enjoyed sliding down the otter slide, pointing out the grey tree frogs camouflaged on their tree branches, listening to the bubbling water by the turtle pond and the birds chirping on the Trillium Nature Trail (which we explored with our youngest in the double stroller despite the stairs!), the smooth, dry scales of the white rat snake (which she touched thanks to the caretaker who allowed children to touch the snake if they wanted to- under close supervision of course) and the couple of mountain lions who rubbed heads as we walked on past toward the Nature Trail. The cost, because we're local residents, was $6 per adult. Our children (2 and under) did not require paid admission (read: free). For $12 we had a terrific time exploring. I loved watching the snapper turtle swim, the mountain lion pace, the grey wolves sleep, the bantam rooster crow, the great horned owl peer from his house, the black bears lounge in the sun, the rush of the river at the bottom most part of the Nature Trail, the toad burrow, the weasel sleep in his cozy bed, the deer grazing and the otters play. Later that night, during dinner when we asked our daughter what she enjoyed the most at the Nature Center she said the snakes, the turtles and the otter. My husband's favorite part of the experience was watching a couple with two children react to our daughter counting the deer (four) in English, German, Spanish and French. He said that they watched in apparent awe of our daughter's lexicon. He was so proud. After spending time at the Nature Center, we bought milkshakes at the local Sonic, drove to Amazing Savings on Sweeten Creek Road for a little grocery shopping and finally drove home. What an amazing family-time Saturday we had bonding and experiencing some of the best features (wildlife, vegetation) Western North Carolina has to offer!