Moore County Airport Hosting Free Young Eagles Kids Fly Free Event

Heads up parents of kids who love airplanes, a Young Eagles Kids Fly Free event is coming up at the Moore County Airport on May 4.

Children from the ages of 8 to 17 have the opportunity to fly free in privately owned planes, thanks to the program presented by the Experimental Aircraft Association.

The airport says that the program is meant to inspire kids who might be interested in being a pilot someday, or just in aviation in general. It's an incredible STEM learning program that local pilots volunteer their time and experience to help make happen.

"We are pleased to continue to host the Young Eagles event each year at our airport," Moore County Airport Director Rick Cloutier said in a news release. "Each time we host the event we have a record number of junior fliers, and we are thankful for our base customers and area pilots that donate their time to provide these flights for the children of Moore County.

"We are pleased to continue to host the Young Eagles event each year at our airport. Each time we host the event we have a record number of junior fliers, and we are thankful for our base customers and area pilots that donate their time to provide these flights for the children of Moore County."

Most of the flights are about 15-20 minutes at an altitude of 2,500 feet around Carthage, Pinehurst and Southern Pines.

"Introducing the art of flying to a child or teen has been one of the most rewarding experiences I have had as a pilot," said Jim Murray, Young Eagles coordinator for the local EAA Chapter. "We are still actively soliciting local and regional pilots to donate their time to provide these memorable flights during the Young Eagles event. We are grateful to the Moore County Airport for sponsoring the event and providing fuel for the participating aircraft."

If you are planning to attend with your family, the event is scheduled between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm and is open to children ages 8 to 17. On-site registration is easy, and the EAA asks that parents or guardians accompany their children to the event and stay on-site during the flight. They also recommend that children dress appropriately for the weather and wear comfortable shoes. Depending on the weather, the number of children and when they arrive, the wait times for each flight usually are under an hour.

More information can be found here.

Today, we're taking a look at the coolest cat cafes in North Carolina. Are you looking to break out of the run-of-the-mill date night ideas? Is your sweetie a cat lover? Want to elevate that coffee meetup to the next level?

Cat cafes in North Carolina could be just the thing! If you haven't heard of this ultra-cuddly, extra-caffeinated phenomenon, prepare yourself.

I was really curious about the origins of this great idea, so I did some deep diving on the history of feline eateries.

According to catcafesd.com: "Cat cafes originated in Taiwan, with one opening in Taipei in 1998. The cafe became popular with Japanese tourists as well as local visitors, who enjoyed the opportunity to interact with some furry friends. One of the Japanese tourists took the idea back to Japan, and the first Japanese cat cafe opened its doors in Osaka in 2004. They’ve become very popular in Japan, with Tokyo home to at least 39. Japan as a whole has over 150 cat cafes. Because many apartments in Japan forbid pet ownership, the popularity of the cafes has been attributed to a desire to interact with cats to help relieve the stress of a busy urban life.

Many people attribute the growth of cat cafes to tourists. But step outside the areas where tourists visit, and you’ll see lots of Japanese businessmen happily playing with cats as a way to relax and forget about work for a while."

Such a simple idea! Some of the cafes are run by rescue organizations, so they run double-duty as kitty adoption centers. That's a win-win for everyone involved. Be mindful that most of these coffee-fueled catteries strongly encourage making a reservation for the best experience.

We found a bunch of great places in our hunt, but here are six of the coolest cat cafes in North Carolina.

kitten around states: "Kitten Around Cat Lounge is here to provide a safe and cozy (cage-free) environment for our kitties to be loved and socialized while waiting for their purr-fect forever family. We partner with 4 local rescues to not only provide a unique and fun experience for the community, but also for the cats! " Not only do the cats look super cute, but the coffee menu is also tempting as well as the baked goodies, sourced from local bakeries! This is an all ages welcome experience, however a waiver is required which can be found on their website. Reservations are not required to enjoy this Moore County cafe, however they are strongly encouraged.
Contact kitten around for more information:

kittenaroundcatlounge@gmail.com

(910) 722-2292

Vegan eats and beverages, plus adorable adoptable cats are what's on the menu at this Raleigh establishment.  Purr Cup Cafe's mission statement says "

Stop by anytime to enjoy our cafe offerings to-go, or on our patio.

We HIGHLY recommend making a reservation if you want to visit the cats. We cannot guarantee you will get to see the cats if you do not have a reservation.

210 Prospect Avenue Raleigh NC 27603

919.322.4003

https://linktr.ee/purrcupcafe

"

Cat Tales Cat Cafe in Chapel Hill offers a low stress, free roaming environment that lets the kitty kind be themselves and really show off their personalities.
While you are getting to know the felines, Cat Tales offers amazing coffee, beer and wine options to enjoy.

Reservations are strongly encouraged! Make your reservation here.

913 S. Main Street

Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina

919-888-3884

therightmeowllc@gmail.com

The menu at Right Meow definitely has my attention, that's for sure! Boba teas, milk teas, numerous coffee options and luscious looking fruit teas/lemonades are featured along with some seriously cute merchandise!    Be aware that they cafe asks that groups carpool when possible, to save space in the parking area.

145 Vandiver Drive
Lincolnton, NC 28092

(704) 240-9930

Half Cat Lounge, half Coffee Shop! You can stop in for a beverage of your choice and bring your laptop to work, or visit the cats and play (ages 7+ during regular business hours).  Just a heads up, children under age 7 are not permitted for the safety of the cats.  When planning your visit, timing is a consideration.   Generally, the cats are most active early in the day, then tend to nap on and off before becoming lively again in the early evening. We don’t expect them to be continuously active throughout the day, so each visit may offer a unique experience depending on the cats present and the number of guests in the lounge.