How to spend 48 hours in Charlotte with LauRen Merola
Your tour guide: LauRen Merola, host of the Maney and LauRen Morning Show on Kiss 95.1
In addition to her on-air work, Merola is the mom of two boys, one on the autism spectrum.
April is Autism Awareness Month, and Merola's itinerary includes sensory-friendly activities that the whole family can enjoy.
Here's Merola's itinerary for a perfect Charlotte weekend while hosting out-of-town friends or family members.
Friday: Harriet's Hamburgers and Hestia
We pick up our two boys, Cash and Jax, from school and head to swim lessons at Charlotte Aquatics.
We chose this swim school because it has a special needs program. We tried a lot of swim schools in the area, and this has been the best fit for our family.
Afterward, we head to Harriet's Hamburgers for dinner with friends and a playdate at The Bowl.
Our favorite is the Happiness Meal: Two plain cheeseburgers and fries for the kids, and a burger and glass of bubbles for mom.
Then, we grab ice cream at Honeysuckle.
Bourbon caramel is where it's at.
Afterwards, we drop the kids off with the nanny and head to Hestia for dinner and a nightcap.
The kaen sushi roll is a must, and the uni spoon is to die for. And, of course, an espresso martini.
Saturday: Therapy riding and a Charlotte FC game
We grab Summit Coffee on the way to therapy riding.
The lavender oat milk latte is my go-to.
We head to class at Mitey Riders Therapy Riding.
This non-profit farm has been helping children with special needs for years. Harry and his staff really care about their riders' comfort and progression.
Cash has been riding there every Saturday morning for three seasons.
While Cash enjoys his hour working on communication, fine motor, and hand-eye coordination skills, I catch up on my work as a board member with the Autism Strong Foundation.
After class, we grab lunch at Ilios Crafted Greek.
The chicken souvla with a Greek salad and hummus is our usual.
Then, it's off to the Charlotte FC game.
Taking Cash to live events was once a pipe dream for our family, but with lots of trial and error, we've figured out what works for him.
We love supporting our Charlotte FC and Carolina Panthers, and we appreciate that they make accommodations for families on the spectrum.
They have sensory bags that you can pick up at any guest services desk that include noise-canceling headphones, fidgets, an identification card that lets staff know that you may need some extra help, and a communications card.
They also provide calming spaces if the excitement becomes too much.
We feel lucky to have them in our corner so that we can share the joy of sports with our boys.
Sunday:
We usually have a quiet morning at home as we recover from a big Saturday, and then we grab take-out for lunch.
My husband, Dallas, and I close out the weekend with a little relaxation.
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