Paid attractions for kids in Charlotte

Hours, prices and seasonal dates change often — always check the official website before you go. Info last reviewed November 2026.

• U.S. National Whitewater Center

  Paid

  Charlotte, NC

  Seasonal

  Huge outdoor adventure park on the Catawba River. Warm months: whitewater rafting, ziplines, climbing, ropes courses, Wildwoods family play area and 50+ miles of trails. Winter at Whitewater (mid-Nov to mid-Feb): the Southeast's largest outdoor ice rink (24,000 sq ft), a free illuminated Winter Trail, Highland cows, a Christmas tree lot and night zips.

  Free entry; parking $13/vehicle. All Access Day Pass $79; Wildwoods pass $18; ice skating $25 incl. rentals

  Good to know: The Winter Trail and trails are free with parking.

  Year-roundVisit official site for U.S. National Whitewater Center (opens in a new tab)

• Carowinds

  Paid

  Charlotte / Fort Mill, NC/SC

  Seasonal

  Amusement park straddling the NC/SC state line with Camp Snoopy for little kids, big coasters for teens, and seasonal events. Now open year-round on select dates.

  Year-roundVisit official site for Carowinds (opens in a new tab)

• Carolina Harbor Waterpark (at Carowinds)

  Paid

  Charlotte / Fort Mill, NC/SC

  WaterSeasonal

  Carowinds' outdoor waterpark: thrill slides, a 400,000-gallon wave pool, Boogie Racers and big kids' splash areas. Seasonal (opens late May).

  Included with Carowinds tickets (tickets from about $40)

  Visit official site for Carolina Harbor Waterpark (at Carowinds) (opens in a new tab)

• Great Wolf Lodge Concord

  Paid

  Concord, NC

  WaterRainy day

  Indoor waterpark resort kept at 84°F year-round — slides, wave pool, a giant tipping-bucket treehouse — plus MagiQuest, arcade and ropes course. Day passes available.

  Day passes from about $55 (varies by date)

  Year-roundVisit official site for Great Wolf Lodge Concord (opens in a new tab)

• Ray's Splash Planet

  Paid

  Charlotte, NC

  WaterRainy day

  Mecklenburg County's indoor water park uptown: 3-story Blue Comet slide, lazy river, Saturation Station kids' play structure, beach entry and lap lanes. Open Fri evenings and weekends.

  Low-cost county admission

  Year-roundVisit official site for Ray's Splash Planet (opens in a new tab)

• SEA LIFE Charlotte-Concord Aquarium

  Paid

  Concord, NC

  Rainy dayHomeschool

  Indoor aquarium at Concord Mills with an ocean tunnel, sharks, rays, touch pools and Lego-themed play.

  Year-roundVisit official site for SEA LIFE Charlotte-Concord Aquarium (opens in a new tab)

• Discovery Place Science

  Paid

  Charlotte, NC

  Rainy dayHomeschool

  Uptown hands-on science museum with labs, live demos, an IMAX Dome theatre, a rainforest and aquarium exhibits. Field-trip planner for groups.

  Year-roundVisit official site for Discovery Place Science (opens in a new tab)

• Discovery Place Kids – Huntersville

  Paid

  Huntersville, NC

  Rainy dayHomeschool

  Play-based STEAM museum for toddlers to early elementary: pretend-play town, building zones, water play and live shows.

  Year-roundVisit official site for Discovery Place Kids – Huntersville (opens in a new tab)

• Discovery Place Nature

  Paid

  Charlotte, NC

  Rainy dayHomeschool

  Small nature museum beside Freedom Park with live animals, a butterfly pavilion and kid-height exhibits — great for little ones.

  Year-roundVisit official site for Discovery Place Nature (opens in a new tab)

• NASCAR Hall of Fame

  Paid

  Charlotte, NC

  Rainy dayHomeschool

  Uptown racing museum with race simulators, a pit-crew challenge, historic cars and the 'Glory Road' banked track display.

  Year-roundVisit official site for NASCAR Hall of Fame (opens in a new tab)

• Sullenberger Aviation Museum

  Paid

  Charlotte, NC

  Rainy dayHomeschool

  Aviation museum at Charlotte Douglas Airport featuring the 'Miracle on the Hudson' plane, hands-on flight exhibits and dozens of aircraft.

  Year-roundVisit official site for Sullenberger Aviation Museum (opens in a new tab)

• Museum of Illusions Charlotte

  Paid

  Charlotte, NC

  Rainy day

  Interactive optical-illusion rooms and photo spots — a crowd-pleaser for tweens and teens on a rainy day.

  Year-roundVisit official site for Museum of Illusions Charlotte (opens in a new tab)

• Schiele Museum of Natural History

  Paid

  Gastonia, NC

  Rainy dayHomeschool

  Natural history museum with dinosaurs, NC wildlife halls, a mineral gallery, planetarium, a Catawba Indian village and an 1700s backcountry farm on a nature trail. Free 2nd Tuesday evenings (4–8 pm).

  Good to know: Free admission the second Tuesday of each month, 4–8 pm.

  Year-roundVisit official site for Schiele Museum of Natural History (opens in a new tab)

• Charlotte Motor Speedway

  Paid

  Concord, NC

  Homeschool

  Iconic NASCAR track offering speedway tours, race weekends, and seasonal family events like Speedway Christmas.

  Year-roundVisit official site for Charlotte Motor Speedway (opens in a new tab)

• Charlotte Knights (Truist Field)

  Paid

  Charlotte, NC

  Seasonal

  Triple-A baseball with skyline views uptown — affordable family night out, with kids' zone and fireworks nights.

  Visit official site for Charlotte Knights (Truist Field) (opens in a new tab)

• Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (Atrium Health Ballpark)

  Paid

  Kannapolis, NC

  Seasonal

  Minor-league baseball in downtown Kannapolis; the ballpark also has Boomer's free splash pad nearby.

  Visit official site for Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (Atrium Health Ballpark) (opens in a new tab)

• iFLY Indoor Skydiving Charlotte

  Paid

  Concord, NC

  Rainy day

  Indoor skydiving wind tunnel near Concord Mills; kids as young as 3 can fly with an instructor.

  Year-roundVisit official site for iFLY Indoor Skydiving Charlotte (opens in a new tab)

• Sports Connection

  Paid

  Charlotte, NC

  Rainy day

  Big family entertainment center in Ballantyne: bowling, laser tag, ropes course, rock climbing, bumper cars and arcade.

  Year-roundVisit official site for Sports Connection (opens in a new tab)

• Sparetime Entertainment

  Paid

  Huntersville & Pineville, NC

  Rainy day

  Bowling, large arcade, escape rooms and restaurant under one roof at two locations.

  Year-roundVisit official site for Sparetime Entertainment (opens in a new tab)

• Urban Air Adventure Park

  Paid

  Mint Hill & Cornelius, NC

  Rainy day

  Trampolines, climbing walls, ropes courses and indoor playgrounds.

  Year-roundVisit official site for Urban Air Adventure Park (opens in a new tab)

• Sky Zone Trampoline Park

  Paid

  Charlotte (Northlake) & Pineville, NC

  Rainy day

  Wall-to-wall trampolines, foam zones, dodgeball and toddler time.

  Year-roundVisit official site for Sky Zone Trampoline Park (opens in a new tab)

• Altitude Trampoline Park Gastonia

  Paid

  Gastonia, NC

  Rainy day

  Trampoline courts, ninja course and foam pits in Gastonia.

  Year-roundVisit official site for Altitude Trampoline Park Gastonia (opens in a new tab)

• Adventure Air Sports Rock Hill

  Paid

  Rock Hill, SC

  Rainy day

  Trampoline park with the area's largest ninja course, foam pits, flying trapeze and dunk zone.

  Year-roundVisit official site for Adventure Air Sports Rock Hill (opens in a new tab)

• Carolina Ninja Academy

  Paid

  Huntersville, NC

  Rainy day

  Indoor ninja/parkour gym with open-play passes and kids' classes.

  Year-roundVisit official site for Carolina Ninja Academy (opens in a new tab)

• Xtreme Play

  Paid

  Concord, NC

  Rainy day

  Indoor inflatable playground with bounce houses, obstacle courses and a toddler area.

  Year-roundVisit official site for Xtreme Play (opens in a new tab)

• Playland Indoor Playground

  Paid

  Monroe, NC

  Rainy day

  Clean, spacious indoor playground with ball pits and climbing structures.

  Year-roundVisit official site for Playland Indoor Playground (opens in a new tab)

• High Five Playhouse

  Paid

  Matthews, NC

  Rainy day

  Indoor playground for kids 10 and under with ball pits, climbing structures and slides.

  Year-roundVisit official site for High Five Playhouse (opens in a new tab)

• Monster Mini Golf

  Paid

  Gastonia, Charlotte & Monroe, NC

  Rainy day

  Glow-in-the-dark indoor mini golf with monster-themed holes.

  Year-roundVisit official site for Monster Mini Golf (opens in a new tab)

• Dave & Buster's

  Paid

  Concord & Pineville, NC

  Rainy day

  Big arcade and restaurant — good for rainy-day treats.

  Year-roundVisit official site for Dave & Buster's (opens in a new tab)

• Stars & Strikes Concord

  Paid

  Concord, NC

  Rainy day

  Bowling, laser tag, arcade and bumper cars.

  Year-roundVisit official site for Stars & Strikes Concord (opens in a new tab)

• Extreme Ice Center

  Paid

  Indian Trail, NC

  Rainy daySeasonal

  Indoor ice rink with public skating sessions year-round.

  Year-roundVisit official site for Extreme Ice Center (opens in a new tab)

• Pineville Ice House

  Paid

  Pineville, NC

  Rainy daySeasonal

  Indoor ice rink with public skate sessions and learn-to-skate classes.

  Year-roundVisit official site for Pineville Ice House (opens in a new tab)

• Children's Theatre of Charlotte

  Paid

  Charlotte, NC

  Rainy dayHomeschool

  Professional theatre for kids at ImaginOn, staging family shows and classes.

  Year-roundVisit official site for Children's Theatre of Charlotte (opens in a new tab)

• Mr. Putty's Fun Park

  Paid

  Fort Mill, SC

  Outdoor fun park with mini golf and family activities.

  Visit official site for Mr. Putty's Fun Park (opens in a new tab)

• SouthTown Wake Park

  Paid

  Rock Hill, SC

  WaterSeasonal

  Cable wakeboarding and inflatable aqua park on man-made lakes — good summer splurge for older kids.

  Visit official site for SouthTown Wake Park (opens in a new tab)

• Canaan Zipline Adventures

  Paid

  Rock Hill area, SC

  Zip from a 70-foot tower more than 900 feet across the Catawba River; night zips offered.

  Visit official site for Canaan Zipline Adventures (opens in a new tab)

• Museum of York County

  Paid

  Rock Hill, SC

  Rainy dayHomeschool

  Natural history museum with an Ice Age Carolinas exhibit, the Settlemyre Planetarium, trails and gardens.

  Year-roundVisit official site for Museum of York County (opens in a new tab)

• Main Street Children's Museum

  Paid

  Rock Hill, SC

  Rainy dayHomeschool

  Pretend-play museum for ages 0–6 with dress-up, farm and kitchen exhibits.

  Year-roundVisit official site for Main Street Children's Museum (opens in a new tab)

• Historic Brattonsville

  Paid

  McConnells (near Rock Hill), SC

  Homeschool

  Living-history plantation site with 30+ historic structures, heritage-breed animals and Revolutionary War history.

  Visit official site for Historic Brattonsville (opens in a new tab)

• Historic Rural Hill

  Paid

  Huntersville, NC

  HomeschoolSeasonal

  265-acre historic Scottish-heritage farm with trails, animals and events, home of the Amazing Maize Maze each fall.

  Year-roundVisit official site for Historic Rural Hill (opens in a new tab)

• Latta Place (Historic Latta)

  Paid

  Huntersville, NC

  Homeschool

  1800s living-history farm inside Latta Nature Preserve with heritage animals, a restored home and history camps.

  Year-roundVisit official site for Latta Place (Historic Latta) (opens in a new tab)

• Carolina Raptor Center

  Paid

  Huntersville, NC

  Homeschool

  Walk a wooded trail past eagles, hawks, owls and vultures in Latta Nature Preserve; live bird programs.

  Year-roundVisit official site for Carolina Raptor Center (opens in a new tab)

• Charlotte Museum of History

  Paid

  Charlotte, NC

  HomeschoolRainy day

  Home of the 1774 Hezekiah Alexander rock house, Mecklenburg's oldest home, plus exhibits on Charlotte history.

  Year-roundVisit official site for Charlotte Museum of History (opens in a new tab)

• Mint Museum (Uptown & Randolph)

  Paid

  Charlotte, NC

  Rainy dayHomeschool

  North Carolina's first art museum. Free admission Wednesday evenings 5–9 pm, often with family crafts.

  Good to know: Free Wednesdays 5–9 pm.

  Year-roundVisit official site for Mint Museum (Uptown & Randolph) (opens in a new tab)

• Bechtler Museum of Modern Art

  Paid

  Charlotte, NC

  Rainy dayHomeschool

  Modern art museum uptown; Wednesday Night Live (5–9 pm) adds music and workshops.

  Year-roundVisit official site for Bechtler Museum of Modern Art (opens in a new tab)

• Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture

  Paid

  Charlotte, NC

  Rainy dayHomeschool

  Uptown museum celebrating African-American art and culture with frequent free family programs.

  Year-roundVisit official site for Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture (opens in a new tab)

• Andrew Jackson State Park

  Paid

  Lancaster, SC

  HomeschoolPlaygrounds

  Park at the birthplace of Andrew Jackson with a museum, replica 1700s schoolhouse, playground, trails, fishing and boat rentals.

  Small SC state park entry fee; kids under 5 free

  Year-roundVisit official site for Andrew Jackson State Park (opens in a new tab)

• Museum of the Waxhaws

  Paid

  Waxhaw, NC

  HomeschoolRainy day

  Local history museum on the Waxhaws region and Andrew Jackson's early life.

  Year-roundVisit official site for Museum of the Waxhaws (opens in a new tab)

• Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

  Paid

  Belmont, NC

  HomeschoolSeasonal

  Gorgeous gardens with fountains, a children's garden, and an orchid conservatory; spring blooms and holiday lights.

  Year-roundVisit official site for Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden (opens in a new tab)

• Wing Haven Gardens & Bird Sanctuary

  Paid

  Charlotte, NC

  Homeschool

  Historic Myers Park garden and bird sanctuary with kids' programs.

  Visit official site for Wing Haven Gardens & Bird Sanctuary (opens in a new tab)

• Anne Springs Close Greenway

  Paid

  Fort Mill, SC

  Homeschool

  2,100-acre preserve with hiking, biking, kayaking, horseback riding, farm animals and the Greenway Canteen.

  Day passes or family memberships (from about $12–13/month)

  Year-roundVisit official site for Anne Springs Close Greenway (opens in a new tab)

• Cane Creek Park

  Paid

  Waxhaw, NC

  WaterPlaygrounds

  Union County park with a lake, fishing, campground and trails (entry fee applies).

  Visit official site for Cane Creek Park (opens in a new tab)

• Hall Family Farm

  Free

  Lancaster, SC

  SeasonalHomeschool

  Award-winning family farm (USA TODAY 10Best #9 corn maze 2026). Fall: 7-acre puzzle corn maze, pick-your-own pumpkins, hayrides, goat walk ropes course, gem mine and play areas. Spring: u-pick strawberries. Homeschool days and field trips.

  No admission; pumpkins ~$0.70/lb, large maze ~$12–13, hayride ~$4.49; strawberries ~$3.99/lb

  Good to know: Fall 2026 season ran Sept 18 – Nov 1; strawberries return spring 2027.

  Visit official site for Hall Family Farm (opens in a new tab)

• Almond Farm

  Paid

  Concord, NC

  Seasonal

  Fall festival with pick-a-pumpkin patch, corn maze, hayride, farm animals, u-pick wildflowers, jump pad and weekend candy drops.

  Fall festival admission about $21.99

  Visit official site for Almond Farm (opens in a new tab)

• Outlaw Acres

  Paid

  Monroe, NC

  Seasonal

  Old West town farm attraction with corn maze, animals, live shows and the Super Mega Slide (fall weekends).

  About $16 (ages 3 and under free)

  Visit official site for Outlaw Acres (opens in a new tab)

• Rural Hill Amazing Maize Maze

  Paid

  Huntersville, NC

  Seasonal

  One of the Southeast's largest corn mazes (5 acres, 2 miles) with hayride, pumpkin patch and night maze in October.

  Visit official site for Rural Hill Amazing Maize Maze (opens in a new tab)

• Cherry Place Farm

  Paid

  Rock Hill, SC

  Seasonal

  Fall festival weekends with a 2-acre corn maze, hayrides, farm animals and pumpkin patch.

  Visit official site for Cherry Place Farm (opens in a new tab)

• Wise Acres Organic Farm

  Paid

  Indian Trail, NC

  SeasonalHomeschool

  Organic farm with spring strawberry picking and fall pumpkin season.

  Visit official site for Wise Acres Organic Farm (opens in a new tab)

• The Hunter Farm

  Paid

  Weddington, NC

  Seasonal

  Family farm with spring u-pick strawberries and fall pumpkins.

  Visit official site for The Hunter Farm (opens in a new tab)

• Bush-N-Vine Farm

  Paid

  York, SC

  Seasonal

  U-pick strawberries and peaches, farm market, ice cream and a fall pumpkin patch.

  Visit official site for Bush-N-Vine Farm (opens in a new tab)

• Springs Farm

  Paid

  Fort Mill, SC

  Seasonal

  Family farm with spring strawberries, summer produce and a fall pumpkin patch.

  Visit official site for Springs Farm (opens in a new tab)

• Windy Hill Orchard & Cidery

  Paid

  York, SC

  Seasonal

  Apple orchard with cider donuts and fall apple season.

  Visit official site for Windy Hill Orchard & Cidery (opens in a new tab)

• Carolina Renaissance Festival

  Paid

  Huntersville, NC

  Seasonal

  Weekend fall festival with jousting, acrobats, artisans and giant turkey legs (Oct–Nov).

  2026: adults $37.99, kids 5–12 $23.99, 4 & under free; free parking

  Visit official site for Carolina Renaissance Festival (opens in a new tab)

• Speedway Christmas

  Paid

  Concord, NC

  Seasonal

  Drive-through holiday light show at Charlotte Motor Speedway with millions of lights and a Christmas village in the infield.

  Good to know: 2026: Nov 20 – Jan 3, nightly 6–10 pm.

  Visit official site for Speedway Christmas (opens in a new tab)

• Holidays at the Garden – Daniel Stowe

  Paid

  Belmont, NC

  Seasonal

  Walk-through holiday light display with Santa visits and a trackless train on select dates.

  Visit official site for Holidays at the Garden – Daniel Stowe (opens in a new tab)

• Whitewater Winter Trail & Ice Skating

  Paid

  Charlotte, NC

  Seasonal

  Winter at Whitewater (mid-Nov to mid-Feb): 24,000 sq ft outdoor ice rink, free illuminated Winter Trail with suspension bridges, Highland cows, tree lot and winter market.

  Ice skating $25 incl. rentals; Winter Trail free; parking $13

  Visit official site for Whitewater Winter Trail & Ice Skating (opens in a new tab)