Charlotte.
The Queen City.
Nestled in the Piedmont plateau region between the Atlantic Coastal plain and the Appalachian Mountains, Charlotte is the most populous city in the state of North Carolina. A 2017 consensus posted its population at approximately 900 thousand; making it is the 17th Most Populous city in all of America. A hustling metropolitan paradise, this city has more laurels to its name still. Between 2004 and 2014, this urban haven was ranked as the country's fastest-growing city.
Moreover, it also tops the charts for 50 largest U.S. cities as the millennial hub in 2018. A pinnacle of success and the zenith of civilization in its time, the city has a lot to offer for those who come looking.King George III still ruled the Colonies when European settlers discovered this town back in 1768. Amazed by its beauty and sensing its potential to be the epicenter of trade and commerce, they named this newfound hamlet after the King's wife – Queen Charlotte – and subsequently gave the surrounding county the name Mecklenburg in honour of her majesty's birthplace in Germany.
Whether it’s a sense of adventure you seek, a way to quench your wanderlust,or the overall razzle-dazzle of this inspiring place; Charlotte has something in store for everyone. This city really knows how to play up its best assets and will guarantee you a delightful time here. Tourists can discover nature like never before, feel the power of this city’s history, tap into local traditions, dine on some exquisite cuisines, have a flavour of the myriads of cultures present here,and most importantly- share some quality time with your family.
Top Things to Do in Charlotte
Charlotte is teeming with family-friendly activities, that range from the educational spectrum, to the classic splash and play. With so many opportunities, it's no wonder that Charlotte has been a coveted tourist hotspot for children.Charlotte is teeming with family-friendly activities, that range from the educational spectrum, to the classic splash and play.
With so many opportunities, it's no wonder that Charlotte has been a coveted tourist hotspot for children.
1. Discovery Place
“We wonder. Do you?”
A layered and poignant (albeit meta!) question; this forms the tagline of one of Charlotte’s most frequented tourist destinations. Located in the middle of Uptown, Discovery is a rousing place; home to science, technology, and innovation. It is an interactive museum, riddled with all sorts of exciting exhibits making it as popular with adults as it is with kids.However, the objective of this museum is equal parts fun and equal parts education.
Inspiring curiosity in children of all ages, Discovery Place wishes to promote STEM:science, technology, engineering, and math.In order to do so, it has a plethora of hands-on exhibits and other outreach programs.Some of the dozens of attractions present here are a ginormous IMAX movie theatre equipped with immersive surround sound, an extensive aquarium portion of the museum, an actual man-made rain forest that open to walk through (and see the diversity of the ecosystem there), and even an Escape Room with a clue hunt based on general knowledge questions.
And that’s no tall! Discovery Place also very frequently holds live informational workshops by National Geographic and other such agencies. Learning has never been so much fun!
PRICE:
- Children: $14
- Adults: $17
Timings
Admissions open from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Monday to Saturday)
2. Spraygrounds
Up next on our list of adventure rides is a visit to Spraygrounds- a conglomeration of 6 of the best water parks in all of Charlotte. Brought to you by the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department, these Spraygrounds offer you and your family an opportunity to escape from sizzling summer heat and cool off in a refreshing manner. If you' re not familiar with the concept of Spraygrounds, they are miniature water park of sorts, with jets that shoot water out of the ground.
This is a fan-favourite among children, who like to run, splash, and play around under these fountains.The sprayground at Veterans Park, situated on the East of Uptown in the Elizabeth neighborhood is the most famous among the 6. Having the largest ground space, it is the spot you should head to first. It has a canopy that shades the entire playground, keeping the sun from sapping all the energy from your children. Complete with padded flooring and miniature water slides, this sprayground will certainly rejuvenate you this summer.
Some of the other Spraygrounds you can also visit are Cordelia Park, First Ward Park, Latta Park, Nevin Park, and West Charlotte Recreation Park. The best part about these, however, is the fact that these are completely free and open to the public. Negligent on the wallet and heavy on the fun, visit these Spraygrounds and spray a little excitement back into your lives!
PRICE
No ticket prices. Free for all.
Timings
Sprinklers start around 11 a.m. till 6 p.m.
3. ImaginOn: The Joe and Joan Martin Centre
ImaginOn is a one of a kind youth wonderland located in the heart of Charlotte.It began in 1997 as a collaborative venture between Bob Cannon; the former Executive Director of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, and Bruce La Rowe; the Executive Director of Children's Theatre of Charlotte. Together, they conceptualized a new shared facility where they could pool their talents and resources to meet the exceeding demands of both their respective organisations.
They had one simple mission- come up with a novel approach to education that went beyond the normal constraints of either a library or a theatre. Over the years, this nascent idea has had a ripple effect; blossoming into something bigger than itself. It has materialized in the form of The Joe and Joan Martin Centre, and serves as a beacon for bringing people, lives, and stories together under one roof.This centre today boasts myriads of attractions with the top of the line technology, all devoted to giving the youth a holistic understanding of literature, theatre, music, and the Arts.
Here you will find two state of the art theatre spaces, four multi-purpose classrooms, a dedicated library space for teens’ eyes only, a multimedia production studio as well as an interactive play area.Since its premiere back in 2005, ImaginOn has gone on to earn numerous accolades to its name, such as being named the No.
1 Children’s Library in all of America. However, none of them have been as influential as the honour it received in 2012 when it was made the site of filming for the highly popular sitcom The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Bring your children to this exquisite new facility and watch them learn in an exciting, fun-filled manner.
PRICE
Day Pass: $12 – $20 (Depending on exhibit and activity)
Timings
Admissions open from Monday to Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Friday to Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Friday to Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
4. NASCAR Hall of Fame
Up next on the list is something for all the racing lovers out there. The NASCAR Hall of Fame museum brings you all the thrills and chills from the sport! Located at a convenient spot in the middle of Uptown, this museum is unlike any other you have seen. Build as an interactive entertainment attraction for people of all ages, this facility has lots of exhibits and gaming areas all geared towards honouring the history and colourful heritage of NASCAR.When you first enter this high-tech building, you will feel as if you have entered Tony Stark’s world. The advanced technology coupled with the top of the line gadgets and exhibits all lend to its Iron Man-like aura.
The NASCAR Hall of Fame first opened its doors to the people of Charlotte on May 11, 2010. Since then it has grown exponentially every year, fuelled by the magnitude of tourism it attracts. Standing tall and resolute in all its glory, you will find varied artefacts here such as souvenirs from races, meaningful relics,interesting hands-on exhibits, a state-of-the-art theatre that can house up to 280 people, the Hall of Honour which has all the plaques of the inductees, and of course- their iconic Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant. This restaurant has been around since the museum opened and has been serving wings-hungry customers for almost a decade.
In fact, the restaurant has become so popular that it has its own place in Charlotte’s folklore and has even become a part of the NASCAR Hall of Fame museum attractions.Furthermore, the facility also has the NASCAR Gear Shop, a merchandise store,and the NASCAR Productions broadcast studio where you are allowed to see some behind the scenes footage of classic races. So, race on down here and talk a walk through NASCAR’s pantheon of legends!
PRICE
Ticket Prices range from $12 to $25
Timings
Admissions open from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
5. Adventure Landing (Funtasticks)
Adventure Landing, or as it is formerly known as today – ‘Funtasticks’ – is the father of all theme parks. A reputed American franchise, Adventure Landing has many other outlets around the country as well. But none are as exciting and alluring as this one here in Charlotte! Funtasticks is their flagship amusement park, and they have pulled all the stops to make it the most exhilarating experience of your life.Out here, children and adults alike can have an incredible time. Some of the attractions here are Bumper Boats, Rookie Go Karting (for children below 14),Funtastick Go Karting (parents and children can go kart together and even compete), and many other classic arcade games.
Funtasticks also has miniature golf as an activity for parents who want to spend their day relaxing and recharging their batteries. This comes along with facilities such as a day care centre where they can leave their children for a few hours to play. The day care centre comes equipped with ball pits or practice the arts like drawing, painting,and pottery.Along with these attractions, the park is also littered with quaint little cafes and eateries throughout to keep your stomach filled and your mouths watering.With great food, refreshing drinks and a multitude of enticing attractions – this place has all the ingredients for an amazing day!
PRICE
Amusement Park Day Passes: $24.99 – $32.99
Timings
Admissions open from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
6. Extreme Ice Centre
The Extreme Ice Centre is exactly as its name suggests – an extremely well equipped professional ice tank. Conveniently located just off of US-74, this 87,000 square foot facility is home to two NHL regulation-size ice skating rinks.The centre is completely open to the public, including tourists, and offers a wide variety of different classes and training programmes. Extreme Ice Centre offers its users the option for general public skating.
Here,they will train you in the basics of ice skating such as the posture, the balance,and how to maneuver. This is perhaps their most basic course meant for beginners. If you wish to try your hand at something slightly more skillful, then they also offer ice hockey, figure skating, five-hole sports, broom ball and even hold core Pilates sessions.
Moreover, they are also working towards giving back to their community, and hence also have an initiative called ‘Skates to Scholars’, where they will help fund your education if you show promise in the rink.
All the programmes here are conducted by trained professionals so you and your children are in safe hands. Not only will your children have fun, but they will also pick up a new sport. But beware, this isn’t for the weak. Only the most hardcore people could serve the test of ice!
7. Sea Life Charlotte Aquarium
There are few things in life that excite a child more than a visit to an aquarium.Couple that with the fact that this aquarium is one of the best in the country,and you have a seriously fun day ahead of you!At Sea Life, your children will be spoilt for choice. For starters, they have an interactive touch pool experience wherein they can actually touch and feel their vast collection of creepy (although safe) crabs, lobsters and other crustaceans,along with urchins, sea stars and some of the rarest starfish.
Moreover, you can also get a behind the scenes experience where you can watch how the fish are fed, taken care of, the cleaning of the tanks, and if you are really really lucky –you may even get to witness a birthing take place!This is a one-of-a-kind experience that is sure to ignite your curiosity. You will be able to see creatures you’ve probably never even heard of. Come here, and marvel at some of our planet’s astonishing deep sea creatures.
PRICE
Adult Ticket Price: $4.99
Timings
Admissions open daily at 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Apart from these wonderful attractions, Charlotte also has some smaller tourist hotspots if you wish to visit. If the time permits, do have a look at these as well:
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden is Carolinas’ best garden. Here, families have a chance to take a quiet walk through these rene plantations. Self-reflection is an important character trait, and this place will give you enough food for thought. This garden is actually massive– approximately 380 acres – and is located on the banks of the pictures que Lake Wylie. This means that you have a lot of time and space to be by yourself as a family without any external interruptions. You are surrounded by amazing gardens, scintillating fountains, and a grandiose conservatory dedicated displaying tropical plants and flowers as well. Take a nice walk through nature here and give yourself some intimate personal memories with your friends and family.
Tiger World:Tiger world isn’t just a zoo. Tiger world is a haven for one of the most ferocious creatures on the planet. This facility is staunchly dedicated to the conservation and preservation of endangered species of tiger. Here, you can also undertake an individualized educational tour where you will be taken across the preserve; learning about each animal providing and its habitat. You will see tigers in their natural un-hampered environment and have the opportunity to observe them running, playing, swimming,eating, sleeping, and interacting with their handlers.
Sky Zone: Perhaps the best item on the list for children, Sky Zone is every child’s dream destination! The world's first all-walled trampoline playing court has arrived in Charlotte, and it’s arrived with a bang! Sky Zone has a plethora of thrilling features for children, such as Freestyle Jump, Ultimate Dodge ball, Sky Fit fitness classes and even gives people an option to celebrate their birthday parties here!
So, there you have it! These are some of the most exhilarating and spell-binding things you can do in Charlotte with your children. There is something for everyone here.
Your family will be pampered and mollycoddled with the best of delights, and you will leave this place with two things: A suitcase full of souvenirs, and a head full of memories! Come on down to Charlotte and relish under the urban aura of this great city.And don’t forget- in the Queen City, you are treated like royalty!