hope mills
Beat the Heat !
Below, I’ve outlined a few family-friendly ways to beat the heat this summer. These places are all great fun!
Fantasy Lake
Fantasy Lake is located on a six-acre man-made lake in Hope Mills and is surrounded by white sand beaches. In addition to lots of room to swim, the facility offers dozens of special activities including:
- Trapeze Swings
- Water Slides - both enclosed slides and slower open slides
- Pedal Boats
- Drop Slides - featuring a free fall at the end
- Jump Tower
- Porch swings in the water
- Water Volleyball
Admission is $14 for adults (11+) and $10 for ages 3-10. Fantasy Lake is open 10 am - 6 pm throughout the season. More information: www.fantasylakewaterpark.com
Smith Lake
Located one mile outside of Ft. Bragg, Smith Lake Recreation Park offers a large lifeguarded beach from 12- 7 pm Thursday through Sunday throughout the summer. The park has volleyball, a playground and floating trampolines in the children’s swimming area.
Managed by Fort Bragg MWR, Smith Lake is open to the public. Admission is $5 for the public $4 for government ID holders and $2 for children 6-16. Mountain bike trails and Paintball Adventure Sports are available on-site for an additional fee. Camping is available for active duty personnel, military retirees and Department of Defense civilians. More information: www.fortbraggmwr.com/smithlake.php
Waldo’s Beach
A third place to beat the heat is Lake Waldo’s Beach in Hope Mills. Lake Waldo’s Beach has water slides, a lazy river, pool and lake swimming, picnic areas, playgrounds, a pet trail, fishing pier, boat ramp, fishing and paddle boat rental.
Open daily Memorial Day through Labor Day. Admission is $12 for ages (11+) and $10 for children under 10. Admission is ½ price Monday through Friday. Camping is also available. http://www.lakewaldosbeachcampground.com/
Splash Pad
The under 10-set love the Splash Pad at Christina Smith park. Admission is free. The Splash Pad features water guns, sprinklers, sprayers and cannons all under colorful arches. A shaded picnic area is just outside the fence and restrooms are nearby. Hours are 3-6 Monday through Friday; 10-6 Saturday and 1-6 on Sunday. http://www.fcpr.us/aquatics.aspx
Movies in Fayetteville
I love to go to the movies. Luckily I have a good friend and two pre-teens who love the movies as much as I do. Once or twice a year – I can even convince my husband to go with me. I’m at one theater or another three or four times a month. Because of the amount of time and money I’ve spent at local movie theaters over the years, I’ve gained much insight into the theaters in the area, and I’ve provided some info on all below.
As a seasoned Hope Mills movie-goer, I am thrilled that the new Millstone Theaters opening ½ mile from my house. I drive by every day, and have watched the progress since they removed the lone house to clear the area last year. Some days it seemed like nothing was going on and other days – it seemed major changes took place. Just yesterday, the water started running in the front entrance and shrubs were being planted.
I’m excited not just for the convenience – but because they will have a nubmer of cool amenities: gourmet concessions, 42″ highback chairs, digital sound in all 14 auditoriums and a loyalty program.
Because this is a Stone Theater, it might also mean some health competition between Stone and Carmike, which will only benefit the movie-goer. Check out the website to learn more, sign up for their e-newsletter, and register to win some free tickets. (I have already registerd) Millstone, located at 3400 Footbridge Lane (directly off Cambden Road), opens October 16.
Carmike Wynnsong 7 by the Holiday Inn Bordeaux is my favorite to catch first-run movies. Its an easy drive for me and rarely will you catch a long for tickets or concessions. Staff is friendly and well trained and the theater is clean and well-kept. I believe a matinee is $6 per person depending on the show. They periodically have concession specials – right now its $1 for popcorn and $1 for soda on Tuesday nights. Not a bad deal. On top of that one of the managers on duty routinely wears a Homer Simpson tie - this never fails to amuse me.
Omni Cinemas 8 was the first place I went to a movie when I moved to Fayetteville back in 1995, it was the Mask. It has stayed one of my favorite places to catch a flick. Why? Value. The Omni is a second-run theater, and because of that, a high-value theater. It is $2 per person prior to 6 pm and $3 per person after 6 pm. And concessions are priced right too. A small popcorn and small soda is $6.00 with free refills on both. (The small is a decent size too.) Kids meals are $3.50. My kids and I have seen many many movies here – the kid flicks that I just can’t see spending full price to go see (like High School Musical 3.) We wait a few weeks and catch it at the Omni. Its just $20 for the three of us for admission and concessions. Its also a great place to see a movie you’re willing to wait a few weeks to see. No matter what anyone tells you, its NEVER the same to wait for video. Go to the theater and see it.
I don’t get to the rest of our theaters often due to logistics, but they do each offer their own advantages you might enjoy.
In my experience MarketFair 15 typically offers a lot of shows geared to folks younger than me - either teens or 20-somethings. They do offer a lot of shows, and I midnight shows. Its not uncommon to find one movie showing in two theaters throughout the day at MarketFair 15.
Carmike 12 is located within walking distance of a great Sushi restaurant, CiCi’s, Dairy Queen, and a Mexian restaurant. Its a great place to go to a dinner and a movie. A quick search of the website showed that depending on the show, Carmike 12 is slighty less expensive than the other Carmike theaters.
Cameo Theater is our 1920’s –era theater in downtown Fayetteville. The Cameo screens art films and first-run films; and I just discovered they offer teacher and student discounts.. The downtown theater is decorated like a large 1920’s era theater – and the upstairs Loge theater is much more intimate with plush and comfy seats. Just going to the Cameo is an experience. Concessions include wine, beer, coffee, tea, fancy treats, and of course popcorn and soda.
That’s all of them. So if you want a latte with your movie, or a want dinner first, or are looking for a great place to take the kids, or are going to the movies on a budget, or are amused by silly ties like I am … all are available at or nearby movie theaters in the Fayetteville area. And , of course, remember that all the first run theaters offer military discounts, so be sure to ask about discounts.
Laser Tag Around Town
Is laser tag your thing? I have tried out two facilities in the community, and while they are both fun, they are different in a few ways.
Fun Fun Fun on Camden Road in Hope Mills offers laser tag, along with an arcade, miniature golf and batting cages. In Laser Tag, each person gets a vest with a unique name (my last one was Vader), and you are competing against everyone else in the game for the high score. During this 6-7 minute game, players shoot each other and try their best not to be shot.
This neon course was big enough for adults to have fun, but not too big for the 8 and under crowd. (Believe me, all the adults were tired at the end of the game.)
After turning in your vest, each player gets a printout showing their score, number of hits on other players, number of hits they took; and the score of everyone in the game. Games are $6 per person. Players have to be 40” tall.
At LazerFX on McPherson Church Road, each “mission” lasts about 20 minutes. Participants are separated into three teams, briefed on how to use the gun and how to play the game, then set loose in 7500 sq. ft. of multi-level play area. In my experience, because of the team strategy involved and the size of the playing area, kids under 8 or so are a little lost in the game. They definitely can play and have fun, but didn’t quite ‘get’ the game.
At the end of play, teams gather around a board to see their individual score and their team score.
Last time I was there, they were in the middle of an upgrade, and according their website, it has been completed. You can also find a great description of how a game works on the site.
Games are $7.99 each, with many packages available. Children have to be 4 to play.