SALISBURY — Are you ready for a vacation? With schools closed for the summer, most families think about that great family vacation. Making the decision of where to go is the main battle. Perhaps Rowan Public Library can help with that decision.
You will find a great collection of travel publications, such as Fodor’s, DK Eyewitness Travel Guides and National Geographic Travel. Plus, the Rick Steves travel videos are available that will help you decide on the perfect location.
If you are interested in finding the perfect beach location, Parents Magazine has great information on their website that has done the research for you. From thousands of beaches they compared things such as clean water and low rates. After that, to get the list even shorter, they added lifeguards, low cost attractions, nature activities and the family feel of the place. From the top 10, here are those closest to North Carolina: 1. Hilton Head, S.C.; 3. St. Pete Beach, Fla.; 6. Amelia Island, Ga.; 7. Kitty Hawk; 9. Gulf Shores, Ala.
There are so many things to see and do with your children while they are still young. Parents Magazine suggested these top seven should be included: 1. A natural wonder — The Grand Canyon, Ariz.; Niagara Falls, N.Y., and Canada; Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska; 2. An American monument — Statue of Liberty, N.Y.; Liberty Bell, Philadelphia, Pa.; Lincoln Memorial, Washington, D.C.; 3. A Civil War battlefield — Gettysburg, Pa.; Appomattox, Va.; Vicksburg, Miss. 4. A great American city — New York City, Boston; 5. An unspoiled beach — Cannon Beach, Ore.; Poipu Beach, Hawaii; Ocracoke lifeguard beach, N.C.; 6. Desert landscape — Red Rock Conservation Area, Nev.; Painted Desert, Ariz.; Death Valley, Ca.; 7. A manmade wonder — Mount Rushmore, S.D.; Hoover Dam, Ariz. and Nev.; Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, Ca.
Now it’s your turn. Plan and enjoy that special vacation with your children.
Summer movie series: The library offers movie night every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at RPL headquarters in Salisbury and at South Rowan Regional at 2 p.m. Wednesdays. Movies are free and all ages are welcome. Children should be accompanied by an adult. Free popcorn and lemonade.
At headquarters: this Tuesday, “Around the World in 80 Days” (PG); July 15, “Zathura: A Space Adventure” (PG); July 22, “Timeline” (PG13); July 29, “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” (PG).
At South Regional (China Grove): this Wednesday, “Around the World in 80 Days” (PG); July 16, “Zathura: A Space Adventure” (PG); July 23, “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” (PG); July 30, “Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow” (PG).
Summer reading for children: The library invites children to celebrate science and reading with Fizz, Boom, Read. Reading hours may be tracked now. Prizes for every 5, 10, 15 and 20 hours read with door prizes given at the school-aged programs.
Weekly programs run until July 31. RPL staff will be on hand to entertain the youngest participants and professional performers will help captivate the school-age children. Family programs will again be offered at Cleveland Town Hall and reading hours can be tracked there at the time of the program.
This week’s program is Amazing Teacher Steve Somers, Magical Stories. For a complete schedule of programs, go to the library website, www.rowanpubliclibrary.org or call your closest location: Headquarters, 704-216-8234; South, 704-216-7728; East, 704-216-7842.
Teen summer reading: Teens may participate in Spark a Reaction where they will explore science through programs and reading. Through July 31, all rising sixth-graders to 12th-graders are invited to participate. Programs will be held 3:30-5 p.m. on Tuesdays, Headquarters; Wednesdays, East Branch, Rockwell; Thursdays, South Rowan Regional, China Grove.
This week’s program is Crime Scene Investigation: fingerprints, black lights and more. Every teen who registers receives a booklet for keeping track of the library dollars they earn. Those dollars will be used to enter raffles for prizes provided by the Friends of RPL and other local sponsors. Winners will be announced at the end of the summer Blow Out Blast at South Rowan Regional on July 31, 3:30–5 p.m.
Approaching Star Trek: Headquarters: July 21, 6:30 p.m.; South Regional, July 22, 6:30 p.m. What are we learning about life here on Earth? What are we learning about our universe? Is life “out there” really possible? This workshop will be led by Jack Howard, a physics and astronomy instructor at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College.
His first work in astronomy was variable star research at Kitt Peak National Observatory, and he has a master’s degree in astronomy from James Cook University. For more details visit www.rowanpubliclibrary.org and click on the Events for Adults tab.
Book Bites Club: South Regional (only), July 29, 6:30 p.m., “The Help,” by Kathryn Stockett. Book discussion groups for adults and children meet the last Tuesday of each month. The group is open to the public and anyone is free to join at any time. There is a discussion of the book, as well as light refreshments at each meeting. For more information, please call 704-216-8229.
Displays: Headquarters, doll society; South, fiber items by Rowan Fiber Guild; East, “Winnie the Pooh,” by Kim Davis.
Literacy: Call the Rowan County Literacy Council at 704-216-8266 for more information on teaching or receiving literacy tutoring for English speakers or for those for whom English is a second language.