Laser Quest 5323-A East Independence Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28212, 704-567-6707, Laser Quest is live action laser tag at its best. Enter the multi-level arena where fog, music and special effects combine to provide an incredible combination of tag and hide & seek. For family and group events, birthday parties or on your own, Laser Quest is interactive intense fun for ages 7-77.

Paramount's Carowinds Water and Theme Park 14523 Carowinds Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28273, 704-588-2600, 800-888-4386, The premiere 105 acre water and theme park in the Carolina's, this park features over 100 state-of-the-art rides, shows, and movie-themed experiences for all ages, as well as a Zoom Zone children's area, a Nickelodeon WaterWorks water park, and a year round campground. more... 

Ray's Splash Planet 215 North Sycamore Street, Charlotte, NC 28202, 704-432-4729, A one-of-a-kind water park that offers fun for the whole family and features numerous theme areas including a giant three story slide plus features an onsite fitness center with an aerobic and dance room and a cardiovascular theater. 

Victory Lane Indoor Karting Center 2330 Tipton Drive, Suite 100, Charlotte, NC 28206, 704-373-9740, The only indoor facility for go-cart competitions, riding, and races in Charlotte, this center features two indoor race tracks with the average speed around the tracks being 28 miles per hour. 

Brem House Artisans Gallery (circa 1902-1903) 211 East Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28215, 704-375-7800, Designed by Charlest Christian Hook, one of the first resident architects in Charlotte, this Colonial Revival style house is significant for its historical and architectural features and now houses a fine art gallery. 

Historic Dowd House (circa 1879) 2216 Monument Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28208, 704-398-2260, Open on the third Sunday of each month, this beautiful historic home was built for Confederate Captain James C. Dowd and later became the headquarters of Camp Greene, a U.S. Army Military Base, in 1917. Tours are available by reservation. 

Historic Rosedale Plantation (circa 1815) 3427 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28206, 704-335-0325, Once part of a 911 acre plantation, this magnificent manor house is one of the best examples of Federalist architecture in North Carolina and is a National Register Landmark. The house has been beautifully restored to its original character with three of the rooms featuring the French wallpaper that was used when the house was built. The house is also surrounded by eight acres of beautiful gardens and grounds. more... 

Afro-American Cultural Center 401 North Myers Street, Charlotte, NC 28202, 704-374-1565, This cultural center is dedicated to preserving the rich artistic heritage of African-American culture and offers hands-on activities, exhibitions, workshops, and performances. A 200-seat theatre is on site, as well as an amphitheater, a visual arts gallery, and a conference room. more... 

Carolinas Aviation Museum 4108 Airport Drive, Charlotte, NC 28208, Located at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, 704-359-8442

Charlotte Museum of History 3500 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte, NC 28215, 704-568-1774, Located in the revolutionary home of Hezekiah Alexander, which is the oldest existing home in Mecklenburg County, this museum houses many artifacts and documents that relate to American and local history. The house itself is a museum piece and is decorated throughout with historically correct period items. more... 

Charlotte Nature Museum 1658 Sterling Road, Charlotte, NC 28209, Adjacent to Freedom Park, 704-372-6261, A child-oriented nature museum that features numerous hands-on exhibits that relate to natural history, as well as a live animal room, a puppet theatre, and a scenic nature trail. 

Hayes George Gallery 225 East Worthington Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28203, 704-332-3278, Hayes George Gallery specializes in contemporary abstract and realistic works of fine art and sculpture. Nationally and internationally recognized artists with established careers are represented. The gallery will be open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hayes George Gallery is also available by appointment.  more... 

Levine Museum of the New South 200 East Seventh Street, Charlotte, NC 28202, Downtown Cultural District, 704-333-1887, The only regional history museum in Charlotte, as well as in the country, that focuses on the New South period, this interactive museum takes at look at the history and culture of the South as it has evolved from the immediate post-Civil War era until the present day. People of all ages will find the hands-on history exhibits both educational and entertaining. more... 

Mint Museum of Art 2730 Randolph Road, Charlotte, NC 28202, 704-337-2000, North Carolina's first art museum, the Mint Museum of Art was the first branch of the United States Mint. It features many famous American and European paintings making it one of the premiere fine arts museums in the Southeast. The major focus of the collections exhibited by the museum traces American related art, including the art of Native Americans and other cultures, that influenced the shaping of American culture from pre-Colombian times through Colonial times to the present. more... 

Mint Museum of Craft + Design 220 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28207, 704-337-2000, This museum takes a look at the evolution of crafts and how the changing style of the artifacts produced by artisans reflects the various ages in which these objects were created. Unique objects on display include the traditional craft mediums of ceramic, fiber, glass, metal, and wood. more... 

Riverbend Farm 12150 McManus Road, Midland, NC 28107, 704-888-2891, Pumpkin patch farm open in October each year. You can take a wagon ride to the patch to pick your pumpkin and enjoy the playground, picnic areas, farm animals and the store with porches and rocking chairs. Located three miles from the first discovery of gold in the United States in 1799 at Reed Gold Mine. more... 

McDowell Nature Center and Preserve 15222 York Road, Charlotte, NC 28078, 704-588-5224, Serving as the gateway to the 1,108 acre McDowell Nature Preserve, this nature center and preserve has numerous features including live native animals, an outdoor amphitheater, an exhibit hall, educational programs, a habitat garden with butterfly gardens, numerous picnic decks and tables, seven miles of hiking trails, and a 58 site family campground. 

Reedy Creek Nature Preserve 2900 Rocky River Road, Charlotte, NC 28215, 704-598-8857, Reedy Creek Nature Preserve protects over 727 acres of natural, forested habitats and provides ample opportunities for passive recreation and education. The rolling topography of the park and nature preserve includes mixed pine and hardwood forests, open fields, lakes and streams. The historical significance of the area is also well represented with cabin ruins and the remains of the Robinson Rockhouse. There is also a Nature Center inside the Preserve. The center contains a classroom, exhibit hall and gift shop. Visitors can stop and observe nature in action at the bird feeding station, butterfly/bird garden, garden pond, bog garden and outdoor composting area.

University of North Carolina Botanical Gardens 9201 University City Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28223, 704-547-2870, One of the South's largest rhododendron gardens is located at this beautiful botanical garden that features many outdoor and indoor garden facilities including three main garden areas. more... 

Wing Haven Gardens & Bird Sanctuary 248 Ridgewood Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28209, 704-331-0664, A 3-acre garden in the heart of one of Charlotte's most beautiful residential neighborhoods, Wing Haven is a habitat for birds and small urban wildlife. With formal brick paths, lovely vistas, a wooded area, pools and paths, it is home to many species of wild birds. Poems and verses engraved on plaques throughout the garden create a place for rejuvenation and reflection. They offer programs for children and adults that focus on gardening, birding, and a peaceful relationship with nature. more...

Discovery Place 301 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28202, 704-372-6261, 800-935-0553, One of the top hands-on science facilities in the nation, this unique center provides ever-changing and entertaining facilities such as an IMAX Dome Theatre. more... 

Balloons Over Carolina 3709 Sweetgrass Lane, Charlotte, NC 28226, 704-556-RIDE, Enjoy one hour balloon rides over Charlotte seven days a week with this hot air balloon company that also provides private rides, sunset flights, group rates, and gift and flight certificates. more... 

Charlotte Center City Walking Tours 330 South Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 22801, 704-331-2700, Learn about Charlotte's unique and entertainment past during this walking tour that takes you on a historical journey through a gorgeous, revitalized Victorian neighborhood, the historic Fourth Ward District, and Charlotte's Centre City area.  

Charlotte Trolley, The 2104 South Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28203, 704-375-0850, Car #85, a vintage electric streetcar, leaves on the hour and the half hour and operates on the old Southern Railroad main line that connects the Convention Center with neighborhoods on the South End, Dilworth, and Wilmore areas. 

Historic Charlotte 2100 Randolph Road, Charlotte, NC 28207, 704-375-6145, This walking tour takes you into the midst of Charlotte's current "historic renaissance" with tours of neighborhoods that include historic textile factories, churches, and merchant shops that have been beautifully revitalized and now serve as offices, studios, and suites for modern businesses.