Check Out an Experience at These Local Libraries

by Emily Eagle

How many days until the kids go back to school? Not that we’re counting. The bottom line is summer isn’t over yet, and if you’re crawling to the finish line like I am, here are a few ideas to keep the kids busy without impacting the budget. Three words: Local library passes. In my 5 years as a stay-at-home mom, I’ve explored the libraries of the area extensively. If it’s free, it’s for me, and I’d like to also share it with you! 

The Forsyth County Public Library system has a total of 13 Kaleideum passes available for checkout. The number of guests it covers is incredibly generous –  The last time we went, the limit was 4 adults and 6 children. The passes are first come, first served, so you can’t reserve a pass in advance but you can see which branches have passes available, as well as due dates at https://forsyth.nccardinal.org/eg/opac/record/10375773?locg=235;copy_depth=1;expand=summaryplus#summaryplus. Our library of choice is the Walkertown branch, which also has passes to the Reynolda House available. This is a gorgeous option for older kids, or those of you braver than me. (The one time I took my 5-year-old I was terrified she would escape and smash an antique, or try to jump in the pool, or just generally tear the place down).

The Thomasville Public Library is one of our favorites. They have an amazing children’s section, which is in its own room and absolutely stuffed with toys and activities. Honestly, you could easily pass an afternoon in the children’s section alone. But the reason I’m including it in this list is because of the zoo passes Davidson County Public Library offers to library members. You can reserve two passes at a time, and you can do this every 6 months. The one tricky thing is that when you reserve the passes, you do have to commit to what date you want to go to the zoo. This can be a little nerve-wracking but I will say that we’ve used these passes more than once and have never had to cancel due to weather. Also available at Davidson County Public Library branches are Winston-Salem Dash baseball tickets, through the end of the 2024 baseball season. To get zoo and/or baseball passes, call or stop by your local branch.

High Point Library’s Borrow an Experience program is the most comprehensive in the area. They offer so many passes to area attractions that they actually break it down by season. Year-round  options include High Point City Lake Park, the Nido & Mariana Qubein Children’s Museum, Kaleideum, and the Miriam P. Brenner Children’s Museum. They also offer a zoo pass but, like Thomasville, you do have to commit to what day you want to go. New timeslots open Monday mornings, so if you want to Borrow a particular Experience I would check the website then. Signups can be found at https://www.highpointnc.gov/1022/Childrens-Programs.

The final offering I want to share with you is the NC State Park pass. This includes benefits for state parks throughout North Carolina, but what caught our attention was the Hanging Rock access, including both swimming and boating! These passes are available at Walnut Cove, King, or Danbury Library. There’s one pass available for checkout at each of the three branches of the Stokes County Public Library system. You can check the status of a pass here: https://northwestern.nccardinal.org/eg/opac/record/14373103?locg=271;detail_record_view=1;query=state%20park%20pass 

The best part is that all of this is free with your library card. I hope this list helps you find some new adventures.

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