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Gastonia, which gets its name from the jurist William J. Gaston, is North Carolina's 13th largest city. It is a fast-growing city and offers plenty of entertainment and activities for residents and visitors. Here are some of the fun activities you can enjoy in Gastonia. Visit the Schiele Museum of Natural History If you enjoy science, this museum should be high on your list. The Schiele Museum is at 1500 E. Garrison Blvd. in Gastonia and is open between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and on Sunday between 1 and 5 p.m. Admission is free for children under three and Schiele Members, $7 for adults, and $6 for children between four and 17 years old. The museum's permanent indoor exhibits include the Hall of North Carolina Natural History, the Hall of North American Habitats, and the Hall of North American Wildlife. The outdoor exhibits are the Nature Trail, the Memorial Wildlife Garden, the Stone Age Heritage Site, the Catawba Indian Village, and the 18th-century Backcountry Farm. The last two are open seasonally, so inquire before visiting. more Visit Rankin Lake Park Rankin Lake is a serene, peaceful park located at 1750 Rankin Lake Rd. in Gastonia. It has a beautiful, 82-acre lake with plenty of waterfowl and piers for fishing. You can rent paddle boats, canoes, and kayaks to enjoy the water, or walk, run, or bike along the park trail if you prefer to stay on land. There are also several picnic areas with covered picnic tables. Don't leave without catching a spectacular sunset. Shop at the Sleepy Poet Antique Mall of Gastonia Visit these shops at 111 W. Main Ave. in Gastonia, at the historic S.H. Kress Five & Dime store in the Art & Antique District. They are open on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Sunday from 12 to 6 p.m. The vendor booths, spread across three floors, offer antiques, collectibles, and more in a range of prices. You will find home-made soaps, candles,  glassware, carpets, furniture, toys, vintage clothes, old record albums, war memorabilia, art, and much more. See a Play at The Little Theater of Gastonia This nonprofit community theater is located at 238 S. Clay St. in Gastonia. They have been producing plays and musicals since 1950, and they offer a variety of shows for the whole family. Visit their website to learn about their current and upcoming productions. Play a Live Escape Game at Xtreme Xcapes In the game, a team of two to 10 people must figure out how to escape from a locked room in 60 minutes or less. The game is kid-friendly, so you can participate with your whole family. Xtreme Xcapes is located at 246 N. New Hope Rd., in the Eastridge Mall in Gastonia, and is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 12 to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Gastonia has so much to offer in terms of fun activities for the whole family. Whether you're visiting for a day or live here year-round, you'll never lack for exciting things to do! Image via Flickr by erh7777 /Under use by CC BY 2.0

Gastonia, North Carolina, is full of delicious pizza joints. You can enjoy a dinner out, take kids to a more casual restaurant, or get takeout. Here are some of the best places for pizza in Gastonia and the surrounding area. Simonetti's Simonetti's is in Belmont, about 15 minutes away from Gastonia. Jerry Simonetti founded it more than 20 years ago. The dishes are based on authentic Italian recipes he learned as a child from his grandmother. Simonetti's uses fresh ingredients, and they offer a wide selection of affordable wines. You can start your meal with a salad, bruschetta, or a bowl of tomato cream soup. Along with traditional options like honey mustard or ranch, you can choose raspberry vinaigrette, warm bacon, or Gorgonzola dressing. The small pizza would be a medium at most other places, and you can also order by the slice. The Philly cheese pizza has roast beef, mushrooms, onions, and green peppers. The Simonetti Supremo is similar, but it comes with pepperoni and sausage instead of roast beef. The veggie pizza includes mushrooms, onions, green peppers, olives, tomatoes, eggplant, and spinach. You can also try the buffalo chicken pizza with buffalo chicken, spicy ranch sauce, Gorgonzola, onions, and bacon. If a companion isn't in the mood for pizza, he or she can try a calzone, a plate of decadent pasta, or a hot or cold sub. The kids' menu is inexpensive, and it contains favorites like cheese pizza and macaroni and cheese. more Brixx Wood Fired Pizza Brixx opened in 1998, and they have more than 30 locations, including one in Gastonia. They bake fresh focaccia bread for sandwiches every day, and there are lots of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. They make their own Mozzarella cheese from scratch, and you can choose from a variety of unique pizzas. The spicy shrimp pizza has Sriracha sauce, sun-dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers, mozzarella, and goat cheese. You can also try the sweet Thai chicken pizza for wood-roasted chicken with sweet chili sauce, mozzarella, goat cheese, roasted red peppers, and pistachios with peanut satay sauce. There's even a Mexican pizza with black bean spread, cheddar, mozzarella, chicken, Roma tomatoes, jalapeños, and sour cream. For Sunday brunch, try the ham and egg, Italian sausage omelet, or Brunch Supremo pizzas. The Tuscan white bean and sausage soup with onions, garlic, and tomato makes an excellent appetizer, and the cocktails, like the pineapple jalapeño margarita and the peartree martini, are unique new versions of old favorites. For dessert, try the flourless, gluten-free chocolate truffle torte or a s'mores pizza with a graham cracker crust, chocolate, and marshmallows. Franky T's Pizzeria Franky T's is ideal for a quick lunch or some takeout. They also deliver and sell pizza by the slice. Try the house special with ham, pepperoni, Italian sausage, bacon, ground beef, onions, mushrooms, peppers, and black olives. The Hawaiian comes with pineapple, ham, ricotta, and mozzarella cheese. Next time you're craving some pizza, visit one of these excellent spots. You can try something new or enjoy your favorite toppings. Image via Flickr by Deeped & Amanda Strandh /Under use by CC BY 2.0

The holidays are almost here and the local area has tons to offer! Whether you are looking for quick activities to keep the kids busy or you just want to enjoy some quality time with your whole family, there’s something for you! Take look below to see a variety of events, tours, and some good ole family fun for the Holidays! Fall Family Harvest Festiva l Want to get the family all dressed up in their best farmer costume? The Fall Family Harvest Festival in Statesville, NC is the perfect time to get everyone out to enjoy some music, food, face painting and more. Right before Thanksgiving and the shopping madness, take the family out for a nice time that everyone can enjoy! That isn’t it! They have games, raffles and even a costume contest to so everyone will have a blast. There will also be pictures to capture the moment so you and your loved ones can remember this awesome moment. This wonderful event is happening this Saturday on November 17th. This will be great time for you and your family to remember. more Candlelight Christmas Tour Want to enjoy some holiday lights and decorations? Get ready for a special time at the Historic Latta Plantation! With holiday themed tours throughout the historic house you will begin to feel the spirit of the season. Not to mention the hot cider and fresh cookies fireside, this will be a splendid time for you and the family. The Candlelight Christmas Tour dates are Saturday, December 1 and Saturday, December 8. Each tour begins on the hour at either 6pm, 7pm, or 8pm. Right in the heart of Huntersville, NC this sure to be a nice evening to learn and enjoy the experience of the fine set-up and lights displayed here during this special event. Lighting Up the Lake: Lake Norman Lighted Boat Parade Ready for a spectacle? You’ve seen parades on tv or maybe a local school event. This is something different and even better. The Norman Lighted Boat Parade is the perfect start to Christmas season with a ton of awesomely decorated boats taking sail across the lake! The kids will love it and you will have fun watching this display of lights and creativity!  All the fun starts December 1 st, from 5pm to 8pm, right at Lake Norman! Winter Tubing at Crowders Ridge Are you ready to have some serious fun and help support your community at the same time? The winter tubing at Crowders Ridge invites you to come out and have a blast going down the ridge. They want everyone to kick in and help fund scholarships that go to assisting children that are attending camp next summer and the capital expansion! Be sure to mark your calendar for November 23, 2018 when all the fun begins! 130 Camp Rotary Rd, Gastonia, NC 28052 is where this great event will be held, so bring your family and friends to enjoy a great cause and joyous atmosphere! Charlotte Christmas Village From live entertainment to a fresh market, the Charlotte Christmas Village is a superb time to hang out and enjoy the holiday season with the whole family. It will also be at a brand-new location this year! This year is expected to be bigger and better than before with trivia games, a German bakery, and of course Santa will be making an appearance! This is an event for the whole family to enjoy with tons of different activities going on throughout the day. Charlotte Christmas Village will be open Thanksgiving Day through Christmas Eve, you do not want to miss this! Jump-start your holiday spirit with the family and be sure to check out these incredible local events, you won’t regret it! Image via flickr by ancasta1901 /under use by CC BY 2.0