ATTRACTIONS: From museums to amusement parks and everything in-between, we’ve put together lists of places to go on your own, with the family, or with your friends!
Animals
Carolina Raptor Center
6000 Sample Road
Huntersville, NC 28078
704-875-6521
Rehab center for injured, sick, and orphaned raptors with mile-long outdoor nature trail
The North Carolina Zoo
4401 Zoo Parkway
Asheboro, NC 27205
1-800-488-0444
Open year-round!
Sea Life: Charlotte/Concord Aquarium
8111 Concord Mills Boulevard
Concord, NC 28027
855-450-0512
Interactive touchpools, ocean and marine life exhibits, and more!
Amusement Parks
Carowinds
14523 Carowinds Boulevard
Charlotte, NC 28273
(704) 588-2600
Rides, food, shows…all the necessary amusement park offerings!
Arcades/Bowling/Mini-Golf
Frankie’s Fun Park
10621 Bryton Corporate Center Dr
Huntersville, NC 28078
(704) 875-7888
Monster Mini Golf
114 East Sunset Drive
Monroe, NC 28112
704-776-4382
Glow-in-the-dark mini golf, arcade, mini bowling, laser maze
Dave and Busters – Pineville
11049 Carolina Place Parkway
Pineville, NC
(704) 969-1600
Traditional arcade games and food!
Sports Connection – Ballantyne
11611 Ardrey Kell Road, Charlotte, NC 28277
704-585-1444
Bowling, laser tag, arcade games, trampolines, and more!
Beaches/Lakefront
Ebenezer Park Beach
4490 Boatshore Rd
Rock Hill, SC 29732
(803) 366-6620
Lake Norman State Park
159 Inland Sea Dr
Troutman, NC 28166
(704) 528-6350
Ramsey Creek Beach
18441 Nantz Road
Cornelius, NC 28078
(980) 314-1001
South Point Beach Park
175 Boat Launch Road
Belmont, NC
Swim beach, fishing, boating, picnicking
Games
14815 Ballantyne Village Way
Suite F-200
Charlotte, NC 28277
704-323-7095
Live your dream by being on a game show with your friends, family, or coworkers!
Luck Factory
305 McGill Avenue NW
Concord, NC 28027
704-787-9068
Board game library with 1000+ choices and cafe
Go Karts
K1 Speed
800 Derita Road #K
Concord, NC 28027
*indoor go karts
The Speedpark at Concord Mills
8461 Concord Mills Boulevard
Concord, NC 28027
704-527-8464
*indoor go karts, mini golf, video games, fun slide
Trackhouse Motorplex
130 Motorplex Drive
Mooresville, NC 28115
704-696-2926
*outdoor go karts
Victory Lane Indoor Karting
2330 Tipton Drive
Charlotte, NC 28206
704-373-9740
Historic Sites
Reed Gold Mine
9621 Reed Mine Rod
Midland, NC 28107
704-721-4653
Panning for gold! First site in US where gold was found.
Ice Skating
Extreme Ice Center
4705 Indian Trail-Fairview Road
Indian Trail, NC 28079
704-882-1830
Pineville Ice House
400 Towne Centre Boulevard
Pineville, NC 28134
704-889-9000
U.S. National Whitewater Center
5000 Whitewater Center Parkway
Charlotte, NC 28214
704-391-3900
Museums
Charlotte Museum of History
3500 Shamrock Drive
Charlotte, NC 28215
704-568-1774
Discovery Place – Kids
105 Gilead Road
Huntersville, NC 28078
704-327-2189
Interactive kids’ museum specifically for those ages 2-8
Discovery Place – Science
301 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28202
704-372-6261
Science-based fun for the whole family!
Gaston County Museum
131 West Main Street
Dallas, NC 28034
704-922-7681
History of Gaston County and its surrounding area
ImaginOn: The Joe and Joan Martin Center
300 East 7th Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
(704) 416-4600
(Made up of the Children’s Theatre, The Loft for Teens, and the Spangler Library for Children)
Mooresville Museum
132 East Center Ave
Mooresville, NC 28115-2514
704-663-1873
History of Mooresville and its surrounding area
Museum of Illusions
601 South Tryon Street
Charlotte, NC
980-356-4505
Museum of the Waxhaws
8215 Waxhaw Highway
Waxhaw, NC 28173
704-843-1832
History of the Waxhaw Native Americans
North Carolina Music Hall of Fame
600 Dale Earnhardt Boulevard
Kannapolis, NC 28081
704-934-2320
History of inductees which are former and current NC residents
Real African Art Gallery
440 East McCullough Drive, Suite A-111
Charlotte, North Carolina 28262
980-237-7676
“Sip and See” every Friday night. (Friday=Valentine’s Day!) With your admission, you’ll get two glasses of wine to enjoy while you stroll around the gallery.
The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium
1500 East Garrison Boulevard
Gastonia, NC 28054
704-866-6900
Sullenberger Aviation Museum
4108 Millenium Way
Charlotte, NC 28054
704-997-3770
Splash Pads
- Pineville Lake Park: 909 Lakeview Drive, Pineville, NC 28134; 704-889-2400
- Crooked Creek Park:5900 Oakwood, Lane, Indian Trail, NC 28079; 704-821-8114
- Latta Park: 601 East Park Drive, Charlotte, NC
- Romare Bearden Park: 300 South Church Street, Charlotte, NC; 704-432-4280
- Blakeney Shopping Center: 9820 Rea Road, Charlotte, NC 28277; 980-474-1660
- Waverly Charlotte: Providence Road and Ardrey Kell Road, Charlotte, NC 28277; 704-342-9000
- First Ward Park: 301 East 7th Street, Charlotte, NC 28202; 704-336-3854
- Village Park: 700 West C Street, Kannapolis, NC
- Stallings Park: 340 Stallings Road, Stallings, NC
Trampolines/Adventure Parks
Bounce U
9129 Monroe Road Ste 145-150
Charlotte, NC 28270
980-321-7881
Sky Zone – Pineville
10200 Centrum Parkway, Pineville, NC 28134
704-208-4040
Trampoline park with arcade, rock climbing, and more!
Urban Air Adventure Park – Mint Hill
9108 Lawyers Road, Mint Hill, NC 28277
704-992-7883
Climbing walls, trampolines, battle beams, warrior course, and an indoor playground!
Water Parks
INDOOR:
- Great Wolf Lodge: 10175 Weddington Road, Concord, NC 28027; 844-473-9653
- Ray’s Splash Planet: 215 Sycamore Street North, Charlotte, NC 28202; 980-314-4729
OUTDOOR:
- Carolina Harbor:14523 Carowinds Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28273; 704-588-2600 (Located inside Carowinds Amusement Park)
- Lineberger Mini Water Park Pool: 632 East Garrison Boulevard, Gastonia, NC 28054 (Outdoor pool, spray park and mini water park)