museumGastonia, North Carolina, has a variety of fun, educational activities for kids and adults. You can learn about nature, check out interesting art, or let your kids learn through hands-on play. Here are some of the best museums to visit in Gastonia and the surrounding area.

The Schiele Museum

Bud Schiele and his wife, Libby Hobbs, founded The Schiele Museum of Natural History in 1961 when they were in their 60s. They had collected and preserved many cultural artifacts and natural specimens. The museum’s exhibits are from North America. You can look at dinosaur skeletons, explore an 18th-century farm, see a Stone Age heritage site, and more. The Creepy Nature gallery teaches people how plants and animals can sometimes be scarier than horror movies.

The James H. Lynn Planetarium and Science Theater has a digital projection system that surrounds viewers with a domed screen for an immersive experience. The planetarium can entertain 152 Read the rest of this entry »

Birds_in_the_parkGastonia, 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.

  1. 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. Read the rest of this entry »

broncoBy popular demand, the classic Ford Bronco off-road SUV is coming back in 2020. At the Detroit Auto Show in 2017, Ford confirmed that it will be available again soon. It should make its debut at the next Detroit Auto Show in January.

Unfortunately, Ford hasn’t released much information about the 2020 Bronco yet. The company has only released some basic information and a teaser photo with the new vehicle under a car cover. A hybrid Bronco and a smaller model are also under development. The temporary name for the smaller version is Baby Bronco. So far, here are some of the things you should expect from the 2020 Ford Bronco.

Outstanding Style

The 2020 Bronco will be based on the 2019 Ford Ranger truck that debuted recently. This midsize SUV will have an angular look and round headlights that contrast well with the rectangular grille. It looks rugged and muscular, and it has a fun retro feel. It’s a lot less curvy than the Ranger, and it has plenty of space. Read the rest of this entry »

pizzaGastonia, 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. Read the rest of this entry »

F-150The new 2019 Ford F-150 is back and better than ever with more features & options to cater to all your needs. This year Ford takes everything that you loved about the 2018 to model and makes some additions that you will enjoy! From the impressive six-engine lineup to the high-strength, military-grade, aluminum-alloy body, the 2019 Ford F-150 is truly built Ford tough. Not to mention the impressive technology features like the FordPass and Ford SYNC®  ensure the F-150 is a step above the competition. Take a closer look at the 2019 Ford F-150 to see why it should be your next truck.

Engine Options & Performance

The Ford F-150 is known for its durable performance and the 2019 F-150 is no exception. It’s getting more difficult than ever for the competition to try and keep up with the F-150 on the performance front. The 2019 F-150 offers a lineup of six engines covering three configurations: a naturally aspirated V6 and V8 gas powerplants with twin-independent variable cam timing, the turbocharged gas EcoBoost® V6, and the Power Stroke® Turbo Diesel V6. Read the rest of this entry »

holiday_seasonThe 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 Festival

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. Read the rest of this entry »

Mustang

The Ford Mustang has a staple in Ford brand since its inception and the 2019 model continues build on its infamous reputation. This year adds some new features and of course a little more power to our top of the line engine. Whether you want a pure performance vehicle or a daily driver, the Mustang is a winner! The 2019 Ford Mustang will be sure not to disappoint with its variety of trim levels and packages available, most notably the new legendary Mustang BULLITT.

Power

The 2019 Ford Mustang offers 3 different engines, two transmissions, and 5 Performance settings – from Normal to Drag Strip! The standard performance to expect Read the rest of this entry »