It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting R Gregg Cherry Historical Marker in Gastonia, NC gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Gastonia, NC is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“Always Best Care has been a lifesaver for our family. We have worked with them”
“Thank you for the care you gave to my dad. He did not have any”
“Always Best Care provided excellent care when I was discharged from Atrium after surgery- the”
“Lisa and her team at Always Best Care have been a great partner and resource”
“Amazing staff and services. Much appreciated.”
“I used this nursing service for my cousin Pat who had cancer. I can not”
“I love being able to work with this company, the owners are great people and”
“Services were geared according to need. We were looking at rehab and they were willing”
“I love working for this company.”
“Chuck and his personnel are truly the best. They helped us with mom and always”
“Always Best Care has been a lifesaver for our family. We have worked with them twice, both in emergency situations and they have treated us as if we were their only clients. Within an hour of our first call, we had paperwork completed and a caregiver on the way – and that was a holiday weekend. When the second emergency occurred, we knew exactly who to contact. We truly appreciate everything that Lisa, Melissa and the entire team have done for our family.”
“Thank you for the care you gave to my dad. He did not have any family living close to him. My sister and I were relived to know he was well taken care of. The caregivers truly care about your loved ones.”
“Always Best Care provided excellent care when I was discharged from Atrium after surgery- the office staff and caregivers were professional and caring- would definitely recommend if you need care at home-”
“Lisa and her team at Always Best Care have been a great partner and resource in providing services to our patients!”
“Amazing staff and services. Much appreciated.”
“I used this nursing service for my cousin Pat who had cancer. I can not express the level of care and compassion that was shown for her. The nurses felt like family! Especially Alicia. You treated my cousin as if she was your family and I can't thank you enough for that. You not only took care of her but us also. I would recommend this service 100%! We only used them for 1 month as my cousin passed quickly. I d not have a single negative remark. Thank you Chuck! Your nurses are amazing.”
“I love being able to work with this company, the owners are great people and support me daily! We have many calls to work on performance and continue to grow and learn!”
“Services were geared according to need. We were looking at rehab and they were willing to see what was needed. Very flexible and focused needs of patient All caregivers were on time We had a great experience”
“I love working for this company.”
“Chuck and his personnel are truly the best. They helped us with mom and always focused on the care and not a much of processes and forms. I would highly recommend them to all.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting George Poston Park in Gastonia, NC with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Webb Custom Kitchen or visit The Schiele Museum of Natural History Planetarium, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Gastonia, NC, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Gastonia, NC understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Gastonia, NC 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
The final week of the 2025 NCHSAA high school football season has arrived, and teams in Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties are getting in formation ahead of anticipated playoff runs.With that said, it’s time to survey where area squads may land in their respective playoff brackets.Following the move to eight classifications, the state playoffs will have a new look this fall. Classes 1A-7A will feature a 48-team bracket, with the top 16 seeds receiving a first-round bye. As for Class 8A, 24 of its 32 programs will earn...
The final week of the 2025 NCHSAA high school football season has arrived, and teams in Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties are getting in formation ahead of anticipated playoff runs.
With that said, it’s time to survey where area squads may land in their respective playoff brackets.
Following the move to eight classifications, the state playoffs will have a new look this fall. Classes 1A-7A will feature a 48-team bracket, with the top 16 seeds receiving a first-round bye. As for Class 8A, 24 of its 32 programs will earn a postseason bid, with the top eight teams receiving a pass through the first round.
Unlike previous seasons where conference finish aided the seeding process, the NCHSAA is solely utilizing its RPI system to build playoff brackets. After establishing each classification’s respective participants, the NCHSAA will split the state into East and West regions based on each school’s respective longitude.
Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!Playoff brackets will be released Sunday, Nov. 2, with the state playoffs kicking off Friday, Nov. 7. Regional finals will be contested on Friday, Dec. 5, with state title games being played Dec. 11-13.
Here’s where they stand heading into Week 11, in addition to what’s on tap for each of them on Friday night.
Top 8 teams
1. Watauga; 2. Northeast Guilford; 3. Ashbrook; 4. Freedom; 5. A.C. Reynolds; 6. Asheboro; 7. Kings Mountain; 8. Charlotte Catholic
Potential first-round byes
Top 8 teams
1. East Lincoln; 2. Jay M. Robinson; 3. South Point; 4. Hickory; 5. Crest; 6. Franklin; 7. Northwest Cabarrus; 8. Forest Hills
Potential first-round byes
In the field
Last four in
Top 8 teams
1. Brevard; 2.Hibriten; 3. Pisgah; 4. Newton-Conover; 5. Maiden; 6. Mount Pleasant; 7. Stuart Cramer; 8. Burns
Potential first-round byes
On the bubble
Top 8 teams
1. Mountain Heritage; 2. Mount Airy; 3. Eastern Randolph; 4. North Stanly; 5. Walkertown; 6. Providence Grove; 7. Lincolnton; 8. Hendersonville
Potential first-round bye
In the field
Top 8 teams
1. Starmount; 2. Murphy; 3. Alleghany; 4. East Wilkes; 5. Corvian Community; 6. Swain County; 7. Bishop McGuinness; 8. South Stanly
In the field
“I hollered and jumped up and down,” he recalled. “I let out a big old yell.”Walker said he checked his ticket just after midnight on Wednesday morning.“I had to wet my face a little bit to make sure I wasn’t dreaming,” he laughed.Walker bought his lucky Quick Pick ticket for Tuesday’s drawing from Kingsway on East Ozark Avenue in Gastonia. The odds of matching all five balls are 1 in 962,598.“I only slept an hour last night,” Walker said. “I’...
“I hollered and jumped up and down,” he recalled. “I let out a big old yell.”
Walker said he checked his ticket just after midnight on Wednesday morning.
“I had to wet my face a little bit to make sure I wasn’t dreaming,” he laughed.
Walker bought his lucky Quick Pick ticket for Tuesday’s drawing from Kingsway on East Ozark Avenue in Gastonia. The odds of matching all five balls are 1 in 962,598.
“I only slept an hour last night,” Walker said. “I’m numb.”
The $1,022,795 jackpot won by Walker became the first Cash 5 jackpot exceeding $1 million since August 2024. He claimed his prize Wednesday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. After required federal and state tax withholdings, he took home $733,856.
“This couldn’t have come at a better time,” Walker said.
He plans to put his winnings in the bank and maybe visit family down in Florida.
Cash 5 is one of six lottery games in North Carolina where players have the option of buying tickets at a retail location or with Online Play through the lottery’s website or the NC Lottery Official Mobile App. Thursday’s jackpot is $110,000.
The N.C. Education Lottery’s Play Smart™ program helps North Carolinians make the most of their lottery play. Visit ncplaysmart.com to learn about all things lottery, from tips on how odds work to how to enter bonus drawings.
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NCEL, you'll have to keep running that Cash 5 jackpot up as you've watered down and overpriced your player market on the other rigged games you promote. Now look in the news where these gambling sports rings are being rounded up and monitored. Shame on those that ruin our society through crooked money chasing at the expense of the general public.
NCEL, now you've gone from stories about jackpot winnings on digital instant games from low $.50 wagers to stories about folks winning the Cash 5 jackpots on " a $1 quickpick" they bought at a convenience store. You promote a PR campaign of PlaySmart but you adjust your stories to lure the unsuspecting public into your rigged games.
Woooooooo Hooooooooo Congratulations to Mr Ray Walker of Gastonia!!!! This is a wonderful blessing and we are so happy for you!! :-)
Halloween is right around the corner and children are picking out costumes. For families looking for candy-filled events this season, here is a look at some trunk-or-treat opportunities for kids and other fall festivals happening in Gaston in coming weeks.Trunk-or-treatOther city-sponsored eventsBessemer City’s Creepy Crawl, which is set to take place from 1-6 p.m. Oct. 26, on West Virginia Avenue. It will include vendors, drinks from Stardust Cellars Meadery, live music from artists World Sauntering Day and Th...
Halloween is right around the corner and children are picking out costumes. For families looking for candy-filled events this season, here is a look at some trunk-or-treat opportunities for kids and other fall festivals happening in Gaston in coming weeks.
Bessemer City’s Creepy Crawl, which is set to take place from 1-6 p.m. Oct. 26, on West Virginia Avenue. It will include vendors, drinks from Stardust Cellars Meadery, live music from artists World Sauntering Day and The Raven & The Road, and a ghost tour from 5-6 p.m.
Cherryville’s “Scaryville” will include a costume contest with a $500 cash prize, “ghostly” hayrides, a beer garden and a pumpkin play area for children from 6-10 p.m. Oct. 17. In the city’s downtown.
Halloween Fest, which will take place from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Citizens Resource Center at Dallas Park, 1303 Dallas-Cherryville Hwy. in Dallas. It will include candy, games, a costume contest and activities.
Break out some dancing shoes for Lowell's adult Boo-goe Night, which will include music and dancing. Costumes are encouraged. The event costs $5 to enter.
Some local businesses are also hosting Halloween parties, spooky story times and more. Here is a look at some of those events:
Traust Brewing
Vampyre's Ball 7:30 p.m. Oct. 17, at 128 S. Main St. in Mount Holly.
Daniel Stowe Conservancy
Spookeasy at Farmhouse from 5-8 p.m. Oct. 17.
Cars Coffee: Trunk-or-Treat from 8:30-10 a.m. Oct. 19.
Moonlight Series: Campfire Spooky Stories from 6:30-8 p.m. Oct. 24
Bootanical event from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 19. Children in costume get in free. All events take place at 6500 S. New Hope Road in Belmont.
The Rooster
Shocktober Halloween Bash 6-11:30 p.m. Oct. 31, at 334 W. Main Ave. in Gastonia.
Primal Brewery
Halloween Bash 6-11 p.m. Oct. 31, at 52 Ervin St. in Belmont.
Summit Beer
Halloween Bash from 7-11 p.m. Oct. 31, at 122 S. Main St. in Mount Holly.
Confluence
Halloween Party from 7-11 p.m. Oct. 31, on Center St. in Cramerton.
Kates Skating Rink
Halloween sip & skate from 8-11 p.m. Oct. 31, at 1151 Skating Rink Drive in Gastonia.
Inside: We are sharing 10 fabulous things to do in Gastonia, North Carolina, and giving you all the details on how to have an epic day trip there!Looking for a town to explore on a day trip? Just an hour from the Upstate is Gastonia, NC. We discovered this town is full of things to do. There is a fabulous museum, parks, and some of the best milkshakes in the country according to USA Today. Since Gastonia is so close to the Upstate it makes a great day trip!Things to Do in Gastonia, North CarolinaWe wer...
Inside: We are sharing 10 fabulous things to do in Gastonia, North Carolina, and giving you all the details on how to have an epic day trip there!
Looking for a town to explore on a day trip? Just an hour from the Upstate is Gastonia, NC. We discovered this town is full of things to do. There is a fabulous museum, parks, and some of the best milkshakes in the country according to USA Today. Since Gastonia is so close to the Upstate it makes a great day trip!
We were recently invited to check out the Schiele Museum of Natural History, in Gastonia. This museum was the number one mentioned activity when we polled readers about what we should do on a trip to Gastonia. We enjoyed the museum and had enough time to explore more of the town after leaving the museum.
Knowing how I’m on a continual quest for awesome tacos, Reader Jes suggested we try Viva Tequis. I’m so grateful she did. In fact, I thought about the food from there for days after.
Ok, I’ll be honest. I actually detoured through Gastonia the following weekend on a trip to Charlotte, just to eat there again. If that’s not enough of a reason for you to want to go, let me tell you about the actual food. Viva Tequis offers tacos, tortas, tostadas and more. They serve coke soft drinks, horchata, jamaica and there’s a bar in the back. While there is no children’s menu, the menu items are ala-carte and kid-friendly. You can fill your belly with yummy food for under $10 and that’s another reason to love this place! Fresh ingredients top the food with your choice of sauces from the hot sauce bar. My favorite items from the menu are the carne asada tostada and the carnitas taco, both topped with the hot avocado sauce from the salsa bar.
Viva Tequis Website | 238 West Main Avenue, Gastonia NC 28052
After an early dinner, we headed on to explore the local parks. Gastonia has several parks with stuff to do to keep kids entertained any time of the year.
Gastonia’s first park, Lineberger Park has everything you could ask for in a park. Consisting of 18.5 acres, Lineberger Park is fun for families. You’ll find hiking trails that pass a Vietnam War Memorial, a playground, a mini-train ride, a splash pad, and a public pool.
The pool is open Memorial Day through Labor day and costs only $4 per person for a 2.5-hour session. That’s quite a deal because the park offers not only a pool, but a lazy river, a two-story waterslide, and an additional splash pad from the one in the park.
The splash pad in the park is open from mid-May through mid-September. The train is just $1 per person and has seasonal hours that can be viewed on the city website. The train doesn’t run during the winter months, December through February.
Lineberger Park Website | 632 East Garrison Avenue, Gastonia NC 28054
The splash pad at Lineberger was at capacity on the day we visited, so we went on to explore the next park on our list. Erwin park has a playground, a community pool, and a splash pad. The kids really enjoyed the dump bucket feature and the water cannons. Someone smart designed these water cannons. The kids kept trying to squirt the adults, but the water turns to a trickle when it’s pointed toward the perimeter of the splash pad.
Erwin Park Website | 1000 North Pryor Street, Gastonia NC 28052
After the splash pad, we continued on to the next park on our “Gastonia Park Hop”. To say that I was shocked to see Martha Rivers park as we pulled up would be an understatement. It looks just like the castle design at Greer’s Century park, prior to the redesign. The huge castle playground has ample seating for parents, and a restroom adjacent to the playground. There are also fields for playing soccer and other sports.
Martha Rivers Park Website | 1515 Neal Hawkins Road, Gastonia NC 28056
We left the park at sunset and headed to the ice cream shop that our reader Rachel said to try. Tony’s Ice cream turned out to be a popular place! The fact that an article declaring it the “best place in all of North Carolina to grab a milkshake” was published that week probably lent to the insanity. We waited for nearly an hour with a lobby full of people for a hand-spun milkshake that was huge and sticking out over the cup! Over a century old, Tony’s Ice cream is the place to be seen on a weekend night in Gastonia!
Tony’s Ice Cream Website | 604 East Franklin Boulevard, Gastonia NC 28054
The Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden was recommended by readers, and while it’s not technically in Gastonia, it’s off the same exit as the museum. We got a chacne to visit the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden and check out some truly amazing areas for the kids. During the holidays, they have a holiday light festival that looks awesome and is on our winter activity list!
Rankin Lake Park is a great stop for fans of disc golf! You can enjoy 18 holes of disc golf with the beautiful lake in the background. The park also has a newly redesigned playground that includes a zipline, a walking trail, picnic shelters, and boat rentals. Fishing is allowed at the lake and requires a North Carolina Fishing permit for those age 16 and over, and a fishing fee of $2/$3 per person for non-residents. Boat rentals start at $5 an hour and include the fishing fee for the lake. Swimming is not permitted at the lake.
Rankin Lake Park Website | 1750 Rankin Lake Road, Gastonia NC 28052
A great stop for homeschooling families and lovers of history, this relatively new museum focuses on the contributions of local African Americans to the area. The museum offers educational opportunities for all ages and a virtual tour on its website.
African American Museum of Gastonia Website | Loray Mill – 300 S. Firestone St., Suite P Gastonia, NC 28052
We enjoyed our time in Gastonia, and think you will too! I’m looking forward to the seasonal programs at the Schiele Museum and the Holiday Light Festival at the Botanical Garden.
704-552-8581
