Okay…we LOVE the Regional Farmers Market. You can substitute any farmers market for this one, but when we plan an activity to tire our toddlers out, we try to choose one that involves a lot of walking and a lot of exploration. The size of the Regional Farmer’s Market helps check off all the necessary requirements to deliver exhausted, full-bellied and happy toddlers that will nap for at least 2 hours giving you and hubs (or wifey) some peace and quiet.
I’ve included the hours for the Regional Farmers Market below, but we went on a Saturday when it opens at 8am. We were there by 8:15 with two overall-wearing, pig tailed toddlers, ready to explore the wonders of all things yummy. Getting an early start also allowed us to avoid the suffocating heat of the late-morning and afternoon.
I highly recommend leaving the stroller at home, especially if you have an 1:1 adult: toddler ratio. This will force them to walk…a lot. At first, they were a little overwhelmed by the crowd and amount of stuff, but as soon as they saw a bucket full of blueberries, it was game-on.
By the end of our 1 ½ hour trip to the market, they were pros at telling Papa what to buy for them and they had negotiated samples of berries, grapes, peaches and freshly baked bread. They learned the importance of holding hands in crowded places and not to touch and bruise the peaches. When we got home, they helped Mama stock the fridge and learned how to husk corn with Papa. They watched corn go from market to their plates and were happy as could be. 
We had a solid 2 ½ hour nap that afternoon and have been enjoying our farm-to-table finds all weekend. Great activity and great lessons all around, but taking photos proves to be difficult with lack of available hands…I’ve included the only two we were able to take.
Where: Regional Farmers Market 1801 Yorkmont Rd, Charlotte, NC 28217
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 8am-6pm, Sunday 12pm-6pm, Closed Mondays
Tip: Let them walk and interact! And, go early!
