Family-Friendly Adventures in Charlotte
There is no shortage of family-friendly experiences in the Queen City, no matter the age of the kids in tow.
by Rosa Sprinkle Mar 14, 2024
Make it a family day with some of Charlotte’s favorite attractions, with some unexpected stops along the way. Many are stroller and wheelchair accessible as well as sensory-friendly, allowing family members of all ages and abilities to have a good time.
Full-Family Fun
Family friendly doesn’t just mean kids and parents – it means all family members, even grandparents. The following adventures have something to offer every member of the family, regardless of age and ability.
Anne Springs Close Greenway
Area: Fort Mill, S.C.
Discover new ways to get close to nature at the Anne Springs Close Greenway. The Greenway’s 2,100 acres allow explorers of all ages to experience nature in exciting ways. Try a family-friendly hike around Lake Haigler or a patio lunch at the on-site restaurant. Check out the new Forest Playground or hone your technique at the new Mountain Bike Skills Park (opening April 19). For animal lovers of all ages, a stop at the Children’s Farm is a must. Find more events and activities on the Greenway’s web calendar.
Carowinds
Area: South Charlotte
For a high-energy adventure, nothing compares to Carowinds. With smaller rides for young children, larger coasters for taller kids and adults, a water park to cool off at and indoor shows when everyone needs a rest, Carowinds strives to provide comfort and access for all guests.
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
Area: Belmont
Plan a relaxing day at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden taking in the 380 acres of themed gardens, sparkling fountains and the striking Orchid Conservatory. Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden also boasts 3.2 miles of walking trails, including the Persimmon Trail that connects with the Carolina Thread Trail.
NASCAR Hall of Fame
Neighborhood: Uptown
At the NASCAR Hall of Fame, family members of all ages can relive some of racing’s greatest moments and explore more than 50 interactive exhibits. By offering adapted hearing devices, courtesy wheelchairs and accessible racing simulators, the Hall of Fame aims to provide a full experience for all guests.
Families with Littles
Looking for ways to direct the energy of the 10-and-unders of your group? Try these adventures for younger kids and the grown-ups who love them.
Discovery Place
Neighborhood: Uptown, Myers Park, Huntersville
At Discovery Place Science, kids can design and build projects, participate in science labs and watch a show in IMAX® theater, the largest screen in the Carolinas. Discovery Place Kids conjures curiosity and activates the imagination through rich play experiences with activities geared toward younger children. Discovery Place Nature, which is currently closed for renovations, taps the curiosity of little animal lovers with its Butterfly Pavilion, Naturalist Lab and Fort Wild.
Freedom Park
Neighborhood: Dilworth
Go for a walk or bike ride around the seven-acre lake at Freedom Park. Kids will love the small, fenced-in playground on the Princeton Avenue side of the park, along with the larger playground and NFL Play 60 KidZone near the East Boulevard entrance.
Lazy 5 Ranch
Area: Mooresville
Buy a bucket of feed and get eye level with emus, giraffes, zebras and Watusi cattle. These are just a few of the animals that you can see on a self-guided, drive-through tour at Lazy 5 Ranch, home to more than 750 animals from six different continents.
Marion Diehl Park
Neighborhood: Madison Park
Explore the playground and trails at Marion Diehl Park. There’s a sensory-friendly children’s playhouse that is filled with activities both inside and outside of the “Tiny House.” The Braille Trail allows people with visual impairments to walk the paved .25-mile loop without the need for a sighted guide. For more playgrounds, spraygrounds and parks in Charlotte, check out this guide.
Quest at Latta Nature Preserve
Area: Huntersville
Quest Center at Latta Nature Preserve features an interactive exhibit hall, a 6,000-gallon aquarium and native animals for up-close and tactile learning. Nearby, kids can marvel at owls, vultures, hawks, eagles, falcons, corvids and bald eagles at the Carolina Raptor Center.
SEA LIFE Charlotte-Concord Aquarium
Area: Concord
For an underwater adventure, check out SEA LIFE Charlotte-Concord Aquarium at Concord Mills. Kids will love going through the ocean tunnel and adults will appreciate the ease and accessibility for those in wheelchairs and strollers. Check dates and times for Sensory-Friendly Sundays when exhibits are adjusted to reduce sensory triggers.
The Schiele Museum of Natural History & Planetarium
Area: Gastonia
Step back into prehistoric times at The Schiele Museum of Natural History's Dino Safari exhibit. Explore permanent exhibitions that take visitors on a journey through North American wildlife and habitats, then walk down the nature trail to the farm and get lost in the Natural aMAZEment.
Families with Middles
Families with kids 10 and older will love these adventures that engage both the bodies and minds of teens and tweens, allowing them to explore and play with a degree of independence, while still spending time with family.
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Area: Concord
Get a behind-the-scenes look at Charlotte Motor Speedway when you choose from one of the daily tours. The Fast Pass Tour is an hour-long tour from the comfort of your own vehicle. If your kids are budding racing enthusiasts, select the Feel the Thrill Speedway Tour that includes a ride through two infield racetracks and the NASCAR Cup Series garage area.
District 57
Area: West Charlotte
Tweens and teens can have a full day of fun at District 57, an immersive, themed entertainment complex. Battle through BorderTown, the laser tag area, or put together a team and race against the clock in the Grid, a 30-room challenge arena.
Frankie’s Fun Park
Area: Huntersville
At Frankie's Fun Park, kids can spend all day riding amusement park rides, playing laser tag, zipping around the go-kart track and battling friends and siblings in arcade games. Frankie’s also offers a virtual reality attraction where you can battle zombies or defend your turf from futuristic Simurai.
Museum of Illusions
Neighborhood: Uptown
Older kids will get a kick out of the mind-bending installations and images at the Museum of Illusions. Take tons of pictures while touring the museum, then discuss the ways the exhibits played with perspective and perception. Want to visit more of Charlotte’s museums and save while you explore? Pick up an Attractions Pass.
U.S. National Whitewater Center
Area: West Charlotte
Home to the largest human-made whitewater river in the world, the U.S. National Whitewater Center has activities older kids will love, including rafting, kayaking, rock climbing, mountain biking and ziplining. Outside of regularly scheduled activities, USNWC also hosts special events and live music series that families can enjoy together.
Article originally written by Rosa Sprinkle. Updates made by Arielle Patterson in March 2024.
