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8 Family-Friendly Adventures in Charlotte

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Coutesty, Charlotte’s Got Alot:


THINGS TO DO

Family-Friendly Adventures in Charlotte

Per a COVID-19-related Mecklenburg County health directive issued Jan. 12, 2021, please note that some businesses may have modified their hours of operation and changed procedures in order to comply with CDC and Mecklenburg County Health Department guidelines. Please wear a mask, limit any non-essential activities and refrain from gathering with anyone outside of your household.

COVID-19 RESOURCES
Zootastic Park – Photography Courtesy of Visit Mooresville

1. Release Your Wild Side

Get your family together, buy a bucket of feed and get up-close to emus, giraffes, zebras and Watusi cattle – just a few of the animals you can see on a self-guided, drive-through tour at Lazy 5 Ranch in Mooresville. Over in Troutman, Zootastic Park is a walk-around zoo, with a drive-through option as well. Here, you’ll find big cats, kangaroos and primates hanging around.The Schiele Museum of Natural History

2. Learn Something New

Step back into prehistoric times in The Schiele Museum of Natural History‘s Dino Safari exhibit. Learn about what life might have been like for the dinosaurs, or explore five permanent exhibitions taking visitors on a journey through North American wildlife and habitats, the history of the American Indians and a Creepy Nature exhibit on the wonders and oddities of the natural world. The Schiele Museum of Natural History is operating at a reduced capacity as part of their COVID precautionary procedures. Advanced reservations are required and face coverings are required for visitors age 5 and older.

At Discovery Place Science, kids can create music with light beams, build PVC pipe structure or take in a show in the Charlotte Observer IMAX® Dome Theatre and Discovery 3D Theatre. Discovery Place Nature taps the curiosity of little animal lovers with its Butterfly Pavilion, Naturalist Lab and Fort Wild. And in Huntersville, Discovery Place Kids conjures curiosity and activates the imagination through rich play experience with activities geared toward younger children.

Discovery Place museums are operating at a reduced capacity as part of their COVID precautionary procedures. Tickets must be purchased in advance online, and face masks are required for visitors age 2 or older.Romare Bearden Park – Photography by Cody Hughes

3. Explore Public Art

Wander through Uptown with an eye on art with The Art and Science Council’s Public Art Walking Tour. The self-guided tour reveals Charlotte’s rich history and diverse communities through public art. Download the Walking Tour brochure or tune into the Walking Tour podcast. Detour to First Ward Park or Romare Bearden Park, two of the Uptown “pocket parks,” when the kids need to run free.

Get a feel for various neighborhood vibes on one of the self-guided Art Walks CLT tours. Art Walks CLT hones in on murals—from NoDa to Elizabeth, South End to the Gold District—and the artists behind the creations. Add an element of extra fun with the family scavenger hunt through NoDa.
Pit Crew Challenge at the NASCAR Hall of Fame

4. Make a Pit Stop

Celebrating the rich history and heritage of NASCAR, family members of all ages will be able to relive some of racing’s greatest moments at this high-octane facility in the heart of Uptown. Explore more than 50 interactive exhibits, test your speed in a pit crew challenge and relive the race moments that turned NASCAR pioneers into legends.

The NASCAR Hall of Fame is open to guests at reduced capacity and enhanced health and safety measures in place. A few safety precautions include required face masks or coverings for all guests; a complimentary stylus to accommodate no-touch interactions with touch-screen exhibits; and electrostatic/disinfectant sprayers will be used in high-touch areas.Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream – Photography by Kate Magee Photography

5.Walk the Rail Trail

A highlight of this 3.5-mile stretch of walkway from South End to Uptown Charlotteis the brightly colored magic carpet murals painted along the way. Sit and swing on “Edna’s Porch” or leave a message of hope on the “Before I Die … Chalkboard.” Rent an electric scooter to add a little zip to your Rail Trail exploration while enjoying city skyline views. To ride, download one of several apps, including Lime or Bird, to unlock the scooters, scan a QR code and hop on. Anyone under age 16 must wear a helmet. The kids will love stopping for a bite to eat at any of several restaurants in South End, including Jeni’s Splendid Ice CreamsTwo Scoops Creamery, Blaze Pizza or Sabor Latin Street Grill, to

name just a few.Freedom Park – Photography by Cody Hughes

6.Play the Day Away

The Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department has more than 200 parks and facilities on 21,000 acres throughout the county. Take in Carolina blue skies relaxing at Freedom Park located in Dilworth, just a few miles from Uptown on East Boulevard. Enjoy a picnic, then go for a walk or bike ride around the 7-acre lake. Kids can burn off energy on the playground or the NFL Play 60 KidZone. Jump on the Little Sugar Creek Greenway, adjacent to the park, for a creekside walk to Metropolitan in Midtown for lunch or shopping.US National Whitewater Center

7. Conquer Land, Sky and Sea

Home to the largest man-made whitewater river in the world and the world’s first deepwater solo climbing tour, the U.S. National Whitewater Center has activities for the whole family including rafting, kayaking, rock climbing, mountain biking and ziplining. Kids can’t help but burn off energy here. Before you go, check the USNWC’s calendar of events for special events and offers.Carolina Raptor Center – Photography by Patrick Schneider

8. Spread Your Wings

If fast-flying falcons are more your speed, soar over to the Carolina Raptor Centerwhere 97 resident birds call home. Walk the 0.75-mile Raptor Trail to see owls, vultures, hawks, eagles, falcons, corvids, as well as a pair of bald eagles at the Eagle Aviary. Check the website for special tours and events. Add a lakeside nature walk alongMountain Island Lake with a stop at Latta Nature Preserve. The preserve has 16 miles of hiking trails and is adjacent to the Carolina Raptor Center.

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