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Fantastic Kid-Friendly Activities for Families in Salisbury, NC

4_Fantastic_Kid-Friendly_Activities_for_Families_in_Salisbury_NC_Cloninger Ford
Salisbury, NC, offers families an array of kid-friendly activities that can be enjoyed by everyone. Who wouldn't love to see a comedy or a play at one of the theatres, picnic and feed the ducks at the Dan Nicolas Park Lake, or gaze at the stars at the Margaret C. Woodson Planetarium? There is loads of fun for everyone. 

Experience, Explore, and Create at Horizons Unlimited

Horizons Unlimited provides educational exploration and creativity for the whole family. Here you and the kids can gaze at the stars and explore the universe at the Margaret C. Woodson Planetarium. Stroll through the Rainforest and discover aquatic life between the colorful vegetation in this tropical environment and go on a scenic hike down the boardwalk through a wetland forest. The Native American Artifact Collection showcases North Carolina Indian tools, weaponry, and baskets. At Setzer School, you will see what a typical 19th-century one-room log schoolhouse looked like.

Enjoy Outdoor Recreation at Dan Nicholas Park

The park is a haven for families who enjoy outdoor activities. Pitch a tent in the woods or stay over in one of the cabins. Enjoy paddling on the lake and glide past geese and ducks, take a turn on the colorful carousel, hunt for treasures at the Gem Mine, play mini-golf, and cool off at the Water Plaza. When it's time for a snack, visit the Hurley Train Station for eats and treats or enjoy a family barbecue at one of the covered shelters or picnic tables. At the Nature Center's Barnyard, you can meet the farm animals and go on Wildlife Adventures to get close and personal with a host of indigenous mammals, reptiles, birds, and fish.

Have a Day of Fun and Entertainment Around the Pool

Blue Waters Pool is much more than just a swimming pool. There are two jump boards, a tube slide, a kiddie slide, and loads of other entertainment. Practice your batting skills at the baseball and softball batting facility or play games at the arcade. When you get hungry, The Snack Bar and Grill have delicious hamburgers and hot dogs straight from the grill, and for dessert, there are 24 flavors of shaved ice to choose from at the Sno-Shack. Blue Waters Pool is especially fun over weekends when there is live music on the stage.

Watch a Stage Production at a Theatre

When it comes to the performing arts, there plenty of stage shows at the theatres around town. The Meroney Theatre is the home of The Piedmont Players, a professional theatre company. They bring exceptional musicals and plays to the stage throughout the year. Take the family for a theatrical performance by local actors at the Spoken Space Theatre to enjoy a comedy show or live music. The Lee Street Theatre hosts dance performances, musicals, and classic plays. The productions are by a volunteer community performing arts group and always a pleasure to watch and an unforgettable experience. Bundle the kids into the car, and head out for a day of family fun and excitement. There are many options for fantastic family adventures and loads of fun. Contact Cloninger Ford of Salisbury today for a maintenance appointment. Our factory-trained technicians use advanced equipment and fit genuine Ford parts to ensure that your vehicle performs optimally.
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4 Things to Love About Living in South Salisbury, NC

4 Things to Love About Living in South Salisbury, NC Historic Sights For history buffs, it's a great place to live. The townsfolk have always taken historical preservation seriously. One hundred and twenty-five historic townhouses have been preserved in Salisbury, thanks to their efforts. You'll frequently see these lovely old buildings as you walk around town. The picturesque Old Stone House is the best example. This is the oldest known building in Rowan County, constructed in 1766 with a staggering 3,500 tons of granite. During the civil war, the town was also the site of a prison camp, which has also been preserved. In total, the town has ten National Register Historic Sites. Many Museums There are some terrific museums in town, such as Hall House Museum, which is jam-packed with historical gems. The museum's building itself is a remarkable piece of classical architecture. Rowan Museum is also an excellent place to learn all about the county's history, with guided tours that help bring the stories to life. more Art and Culture There are some really intriguing and unique artistic experiences to be had in this town. The Grievous Gallery is certainly something you won't forget. Here, there's a Break Room where visitors are encouraged to blow off steam and let stress and grief drop away by smashing glassware, dishes, and bottles. Later, you'll see exhibits of modern artwork formed from all the broken glass and pottery. If you'd rather have a more traditional experience of art, Waterworks Visual Arts Center features many exhibitions or paintings, and a sculpture garden to stroll through. Railwalk Studios and Gallery is a collection of studios and a shared gallery. For excellent theater productions, you can catch a play at Lee Street Theater, and for music, the Salisbury Symphony often puts on wonderful performances designed to share and spread their love of music. Pleasant Parks Wherever you choose to live in town, you won't be far from a beautiful park or green area. Dunn's Mountain Park is a scenic, protected 83-acre park just to the south of town. It has hiking trails that reward you with splendid views of the valleys below. There are some perfect picnic spots and friendly park attendants who can teach you about the area's flora and fauna. Dan Nicolas Park is another lovely stretch of greenery, with a nature center, an aquarium, and many animal habitats. There's a large, shimmering lake there, a gem mine to explore, and even a carousel. If you have kids, it's an ideal place for days on end of entertainment. You can even stay at their campground overnight. Wine and Vineyards If you enjoy a glass of good wine in the evenings, you may appreciate the area's wine culture and variety of sprawling vineyards. For a taste of the local produce, you can pay a visit to Cauble Creek Vineyard, which specializes in muscadine wines, as well as cider and grape juice. Enjoy their wines and learn all about the wine-making process. Just be sure to drink in moderation, and of course, remember not to drink and drive. Spend a few days exploring this fine little city. We hope you're persuaded to settle down and stay. And while you're in the area, pay a visit to Cloninger Ford of Salisbury. We're a trusted local dealership that takes pride in the exceptional service we provide to each and every person who walks through our doors.

4 reasons to love living in salisbury, nc

4 Reasons to Love Living in Salisbury, NC

Salisbury, NC offers the best of both worlds; beautiful parks, lakes, farms, and landscapes sit right alongside vibrant city life. There are plenty of bars, restaurants, shopping, museums, and theatres. Here are our top reasons to love living here. more 1. Outdoor Recreation Rowan County is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, with an abundance of parks, trails, lakes, golf courses, farms, campgrounds, and much more. Eagle Point Nature Preserve is spread over 200 acres and is located on a remote part of High Rock Lake. There are over three miles of hiking trails, and the park is home to animals such as bald eagles, kingfishers, barred owls, great blue herons, white-tailed deer, raccoons, and wild turkeys. On the outskirts of town, Dan Nicholas park offers 425-acres of parkland and a 10-acre lake that is perfect for paddle boating and fishing. In the park, visitors can enjoy the tennis courts, picnic shelters, nature center, the Hurley Family Water Plaza, playgrounds, volleyball, miniature golf, gem mining, a freshwater aquarium, and a miniature train ride. There's also a 70-site family campground that includes an outdoor theater. 2. Fresh Produce Residents and visitors to Salisbury are lucky enough to benefit from the many farms and producers located in the area. There is an abundance of pick-your-own farms, roadside stands, farmer's markets, craft breweries, and wineries. Salisbury Rowan County Farmer's Market is held on Saturdays at Railwalk Pavillion. For a more hands-on experience, visit Eagles Farm to pick your own or buy from their roadside market. Cauble Creek Vineyard specializes in Muscadine wines and is open to the public on Thursdays through to Sundays. Visitors can visit the tasting rooms to sample Cauble Creek's award-winning wines and European styles also. During the month of September, visitors are invited to pick their own grapes. The town's very own nano-brewery, New Sarum Brewing Company, is located at 109 North Lee Street. Sample their beer, grab some food from their food truck, and catch some live music in the onsite taproom. Please remember to drink responsibly and do not drink and drive. 3. Arts and Culture If your idea of a perfect day involves strolling through museums, taking in a gallery, seeing a play, and ending with a cocktail and live music, then Salisbury will not disappoint. Visit Rowan Museum, Waterworks Visual Arts Centre, and the Grevious Gallery, or take the self-guided walking tour for a glimpse into the history of Downtown and the stately homes of the West Square District. If the theatre is more your thing, then Lee Street Theatre or Maroney Theatre may have a show that interests you. Many of the downtown bars feature local musicians playing live throughout the week, and many serve local wines and craft beers to enjoy. 4. Shopping With an emphasis on supporting local businesses, Salisbury is blessed with a wealth of independently run stores, crafters, and antique shops. The Salisbury Emporium is a restored 100-year-old Frick Sawmill Supply building that houses over 80 shops. There are over 15,000 square feet of stores selling books, antiques, pottery, art, furniture, jewelry, homeware, and much more. There are countless reasons to love living in Rowan County. Get out and explore the city to find your own top reasons. Visit Cloninger Ford today to test drive one of our new or used cars.

2025 Ford Maverick

How Ford Pro Power Onboard Changes What You Can Do with a Truck

Most trucks have always had a single outlet tucked somewhere in the cab, good for charging a phone or running a small light. Ford Pro Power Onboard is something entirely different. Built directly into the F-150's architecture, it turns your truck into a functioning mobile generator capable of powering tools, appliances, and job site equipment from the bed or cab without a separate generator in tow. For drivers in Rowan County who work on job sites, head outdoors on weekends, or want a truck that does more than haul, this feature changes the equation. more Three Output Levels for Three Different Needs Ford Pro Power Onboard comes in three configurations, and the right one depends on what you actually need to run. The 2.0 kW system is available on gas-engine F-150 models equipped with the 2.7L EcoBoost V6, the 3.5L EcoBoost V6, or the 5.0L V8. It delivers power through two 120V/20A outlets in the truck bed, enough to run a reciprocating saw, hammer drill, jigsaw, or sander, and the truck's cabin outlets provide 400 watts for smaller devices on the instrument panel and center console regardless of which tier you choose. The 2.4 kW system is standard on F-150s equipped with the 3.5L PowerBoost Full Hybrid V6 and adds the capacity to run a microwave alongside the tools the 2.0 kW handles. What makes this tier stand out is runtime: at its maximum load, the 2.4 kW system runs for up to 85 hours on a full tank of gas, making it a serious asset for extended remote work or multi-day camp trips. The 7.2 kW system is the top tier, available as an option on PowerBoost Hybrid models and the F-150 Platinum Plus. It delivers 7,200 watts through four 120V/20A outlets and one 240V/30A outlet. For reference, a typical portable generator produces around 3,500-4,000 watts. The 7.2 kW system can simultaneously power a plasma cutter, TIG welder, chop saw, air compressor, angle grinder, and work light, and it does so for up to 32 hours at maximum load on a full tank of gas. That is a full working day and then some, without refueling or swapping equipment. What Does This Mean in Practice? Is this feature practical only for contractors? Not at all. The Ford truck power outlet system covers a wide range of situations. On a job site without utility power run yet, a single F-150 with the 7.2 kW system can power an entire framing crew's tool setup. At a campsite, it runs lights, a portable heater, a cooler, and speakers from the same truck that hauled the trailer there. During a tailgate, it powers a television, a blender, and sound equipment. Ford also designed the system to operate while the truck is moving, so devices can charge or run on the way to the job site or trail. The truck can be locked while idling in generator mode, providing overnight security when the system is running unattended. Monitoring is handled through the 12-inch center touchscreen or the FordPass app, both of which display real-time wattage draw and alert you if total load approaches the system's limit. The Ford truck power outlet system manages load automatically, and if a circuit is tripped, it can be reset directly from the truck bed's outlet panel on the 7.2 kW system. Find the Right F-150 Configuration in Salisbury Choosing between the three output tiers comes down to how you use your truck day to day. Drivers in Salisbury, Kannapolis, and Lexington who need basic job site capability or a weekend power source will likely find the 2.0 kW system sufficient. Those running a crew or working in remote locations will benefit from the PowerBoost Hybrid and its 2.4 kW or 7.2 kW output. The team at Cloninger Ford on Jake Alexander Boulevard can walk you through which F-150 configurations include Ford Pro Power Onboard and help you match the right output level to the work you do. It is one of the most practical capabilities on any truck in the segment, and Cloninger Ford has the inventory to put you in the right one. Frequently Asked Questions About Ford Pro Power Onboard What are the output levels for Ford Pro Power Onboard on the F-150? The F-150 offers 2.0 kW, 2.4 kW, and 7.2 kW configurations. The 2.0 kW is available on select gas engines, the 2.4 kW is standard on the PowerBoost Hybrid, and the 7.2 kW is optional on PowerBoost models and standard on the Platinum Plus. How long can the Ford Pro Power Onboard system run on a full tank? At maximum load, the 2.4 kW system runs up to 85 hours and the 7.2 kW system runs up to 32 hours on a full tank of gas. At lighter loads, runtime extends further. What does the Ford truck power outlet system actually power? Depending on the tier, the Ford truck power outlet can run circular saws, drills, compressors, microwaves, welders, televisions, and camping appliances. The 7.2 kW system can run a plasma cutter, TIG welder, chop saw, and air compressor simultaneously. Can I use Ford Pro Power Onboard while driving? Yes. The system operates while the truck is in motion, allowing tools and devices to charge or run on the way to a job site or campground.