Author name: achisolm2769

Spend a Day at Carowinds Careen down the tracks of the exhilarating roller coasters at Carowinds. Grab a seat on Fury 325, the tallest and fastest giga coaster in the world, or other thrilling rides like Copperhead Strike and Thunder Striker. Younger kids can meet Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang at Camp Snoopy. Have Some Friendly Competition Challenge your family to lighthearted competition at Frankie’s Fun Park. This entertainment facility is filled with more than 120 arcade games, amusement rides, a two-story laser tag zone and bowling lanes. Cheer on Charlotte’s Sports Teams Snag a seat near the field at Bank of America Stadium in hopes of being handed a scoring football by a Carolina Panthers player or to proudly wave your soccer scarf at a Charlotte FC match. Meet and snap a selfie with Charlotte Hornets mascot, Hugo, during a game at Spectrum Center, where Charlotte transforms into Buzz City. Cheer on the Charlotte Checkers hockey players, and take a photo with polar bear mascot Chubbie, at a game at Bojangles Coliseum. Enjoy Summer Fireworks and Baseball Watch the fireworks light up the sky above Truist Field as you cheer on the Charlotte Knights. Gather your crew, chow down on a mini helmet full of ice cream and don’t miss the chance for kids to run the bases after select Sunday games. Attend a Family-Friendly Show Let imaginations soar as the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte brings fan-favorite childhood stories to life in the McColl Family Theatre at ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center. Rev Up Your Engine Feel the rush of childhood wonder come roaring back at more than 180 miles per hour during a race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Catch one of the two NASCAR Cup Series races, the annual Coca-Cola 600 in May or the Bank of America ROVAL 400 in October. Put the Pedal to the Metal Race in high-speed go karts at The SpeedPark at Concord Mills, Victory Lane Karting, K1 Speed or GoPro Motorplex, some of the same facilities where NASCAR stars from the area got their start. Reach New Heights Jump around at Sky Zone Trampoline Park in Charlotte or Pineville. Or soar to higher heights at iFLY indoor skydiving in Concord. Fun for children and adults, it may be hard to come down from these activities. Spend an Afternoon at the Park Let the kids test their skills on the NFL Play 60 KidZone at Freedom Park, which features an obstacle course, timed 40-yard dash, climbing structure and pep talk station with messages of encouragement from Carolina Panthers players. Or grab a photo with a 1920s steam locomotive, one of Charlotte’s hidden treasures. Make a Splash Dash through the water spouting from the fish fountains at The Green in Uptown’s Second Ward on a warm day. Or beat the heat at Ray’s Splash Planet, Ramsey Creek Park, Lake Norman State Park or another sprayground in Charlotte. Experience Outdoor Adventure Lather up with sunscreen and head to the U.S. National Whitewater Center. Take on the whitewater rapids, climbing walls, zip lines, ropes courses, trails and more. Explore a Beautiful Nature Preserve Pass on the joy of nature to future generations at the 2,100-acre Anne Springs Close Greenway in Fort Mill, S.C. Discover hidden waterfalls, massive lakes and beautiful hardwood forests while hiking or biking its numerous trails. Have Educational Fun at Discovery Place Science Take a field trip to Discovery Place Science, which has been igniting kids’ minds with fascinating science, nature and technology exhibits since 1981. Permanent exhibits include Project Build, where children can act as architects, and World Alive, which highlights the earth’s biodiversity. Dive into Local and U.S. History Explore the 19th-century log cabin homestead of the U.S.’ 11th president, and learn about frontier cooking in the old kitchen, at the President James K. Polk State Historic Site in Pineville. To continue your journey through time, visit The Charlotte Museum of History.

Morning Jumpstart your morning with Dim Sum, a large range of small dishes that’s typically enjoyed family style for breakfast or lunch, at Open Rice in Midtown or Ballantyne. While you’re there, order the authentic bubble waffle that’s filled with ice cream and comes with toppings of your choice. Dim sum is served daily, but Saturdays and Sundays offer a push cart service that brings the options right to your table. Next, head over to Asian Market to grab some groceries. This supermarket features handmade bao buns, an expansive assortment of fresh produce, live seafood and an ever-rotating buffet line of Chinese dishes you can order as part of a lunch box with steamed rice. With your belly full and your pantry stocked, it’s time for some self-care. Schedule an appointment with owner and hairstylist Binh at Binh Beauty Salon in Plaza Midwood. Binh only accepts cash so you may need to stop by an ATM beforehand. While you’re at it, grab some tip money and head to Mimosas Nail Bar for a luxury manicure and pedicure. Now that your nails are Instagram-worthy, make your way to ShareTea on Central Avenue for a bubble tea to hold in the perfect shot. Keep it classic and get the fresh milk tea with bubbles or get a customer favorite, the Wintermelon tea with light ice. You can personalize your drink by adding countless topping options, such as boba, pudding, herbal jelly, aloe vera or fresh milk foam, and even adjust the sweetness level and specify the amount of ice in your drink. Noon Hungry again? Grab a bowl of noodle soup or pho, a dish with rice noodles, beef broth and herbs, from Lang Van Vietnamese. Or head over to one of Rai Lay’s locations for Khao Soi, noodles in a spicy and sweet coconut-based broth. Opt for Vegetable Ramen at YUME in South End. If you’re looking for a deal, Red Ginger, a Japanese steakhouse in Uptown, has popular hibachi and bento box lunch specials. Venture to south Charlotte and check out the Niu Rou Mian, a beef noodle soup, at Riceblossom: Sushi & Asian Cuisine. Next, source some local goods to bring home, starting with a cactus or tropical house plant at The Cactus Club in Plaza Midwood. You might even spot Cactus Club around town doing pop-ups from a cool green bus. If you’re still in the shopping mood, head to Society Social and scope out beautiful homewares. If you just need to spruce up what you already own, drop off your furniture at Sara Chen Design for a facelift. Schedule a viewing of local artist Duy Huynh’s paintings at his personal studio, Lark and Key. Purchase one of his whimsical pieces as a keepsake from your day’s adventures. Didn’t make an appointment? For an on-the-fly art experience, check out The Fuse Project by artist Kenny Nguyen. His art installation on Brevard Street, on the Brooklyn Collective building, uses recycled materials. Evening There are countless dinner options to choose from in the Queen City. Go for the Yakiniku (Japanese grilled meat) at Gyu-Kaku in Uptown, sushi at Yamazaru in South End or Japanese food at Musashi in south Charlotte. For authentic, handmade dumplings, the Dumpling Flight at Sun’s Kitchen is a must try. Or check out Botiwalla at Optimist Hall, an Indian street food concept from James Beard-nominated chef Meherwan Irani. From lamb burgers to the chicken tikka roll and skewer, there’s no shortage of delicious Indian food to try. No evening is complete without a nightcap. Try the Yogurt Soju, a drink with Korean distilled alcohol and Yakult yogurt, at Seoul Food Meat Company. Or, sip a craft cocktail at Hawkers Asian Street Food. End the night with some dancing at one of the many places DJ Billy Leng spins. Check out his Instagram for his latest bookings. When your day winds down, you will have a new appreciation for small, Asian-run businesses here in Charlotte. Hopefully these will become favorites in your dining, shopping and leisure repertoire.

Use Charlotte Experience Passes to Save Money Take advantage of Charlotte Experiences Passes to save money and visit some of the city’s most popular attractions and breweries. Choose from either a one-, two- or three-day pass, offering discounted entry to museums, gardens and the Raptor Center, as well as discounts on beer and merchandise at various breweries. Visit a Museum on a Free Day Many of Charlotte’s finest museums offer free days. Wednesday Night Live offers free admission to the Mint Museum Uptown, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art and the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture and often includes live entertainment and programming. Take a Self-Guided Art Tour Use the Art Walks CLT guide to create your own Charlotte Mural Tour in all corners of the city, including Uptown, NoDa and South End. Or spend a day taking selfies in front of Charlotte’s Public Art, like “The Firebird” in front of the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art. Attend a Free Festival Charlotte hosts many festivals and events that are free or low cost. Can’t-miss events include Charlotte SHOUT!, Festival in the Park, Juneteenth Festival of the Carolinas and Charlotte Pride Festival and Parade. Explore Charlotte’s Neighborhoods Make your way around Charlotte via the LYNX Blue Line light rail or Gold Line. Start anywhere along the line and hop off for easy access to some of Charlotte’s most happening neighborhoods.