12 Top Things To Do in Charlotte with Kids

Best Things to Do in Charlotte, NC with Kids

From museums to roller coasters, Charlotte’s got a lot!

We love taking the kids to one of these family-friendly fun spots in Charlotte:

1. Discovery Place Science

We are lucky enough to have an amazing children’s museum here in town. You can read our top 25 favorite things to do there and take a peek inside here!

2. Carowinds

Like to have a thrilling time on roller coasters? You won’t want to miss Carowinds, our local amusement park.

We love to visit during the fall festival. You can read our tips for taking young kids to Carowinds here.

3. The Mint Museum

Explore art with your kids and this family friendly art museum. Don’t miss their Sunday Funday’s with free admission for kids.

I love to take my kids on one-on-one adventures to the museum. You can read more about our visit here.

4. Carolina Raptor Center

Experience hawks, owls, vultures and more all in a natural environment. These amazing winged creatures will fly right over your head during live performances.

Prep ahead before you visit with our best tips for visiting the raptor center with kids here.

5. SeaLife Aquarium Concord

Take a fun day trip with the kids to the amazing Concord Mall to visit Charlotte’s only indoor aquarium. It is just the right size for spending a morning with your young ones.

Take a peek inside with our video from our visit here.

6. Daniel Stowe Botanic Garden

This gorgeous botanic garden has a newly built garden just for kids. Open all four seasons of the year with special events you won’t want to miss.

You can take a peek inside the gardens with our video here.

7. Riverbanks Zoo

Technically, Riverbanks Zoo is in Columbia, SC but it is the closest zoo to uptown Charlotte and one of my very favorite places to take the kids every year.

You can read about my favorite things about visiting Riverbanks and then check out the video from our visit here.

8. Go Golfing at Top Golf

Looking for an activity that is fun for both the adults and kids in your group? Spend an afternoon at TOPGOLF with your kids.

9. Go Bowling at 10 Park Lanes

Introduce your kids to this fun and classic game at the old school bowling lanes near the Park Road Shopping Center. Come for the bowling but be sure to stay for the food. Check out how we spend our New Year’s Eve bowling with kids here.

10. Apple Picking at Sky Top Orchard

Take the kids apple picking at Sky Top Orchard in Flat Rock, NC. It’s a short day trip away from Charlotte with gorgeous mountain views. Be sure to grab some fresh, hot apple cider donuts while you’re there!

11. Optimist Hall

Take the kids to sample some new dishes at Optimist Hall in uptown Charlotte. My girls love this grown-up food court with plenty of kid-friendly food items available at the more than a dozen food stalls.

12. Taste the Treats on the Sonker Trail

Did you know that North Carolina is the home to the original blueberry sonker?? There’s a trail that begins just outside of Charlotte and links together the best locally owned and operated restaurants serving homemade sonkers. Pick a sunny weekend for a lazy drive with plenty of sweet sonker treats.

13. The Best Ice Cream in Charlotte

One summer my girls and I challenged ourselves to finding the best ice cream in Charlotte. Take the taste test with your kids and decide for yourselves which place has the best ice cream in town!

14. Pancakes as Big as Their Heads

Looking for a fun way to start the weekend? Take the kids for pancakes as big as their heads at Metro Diner.