Things to do with kids in Charlotte

Public library · Family

Allegra Westbrooks Regional Library

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library regional branch with storytime, technology tutors, private study areas and reservable rooms.

Mon-Thu 9 AM-8 PM; Fri-Sat 9 AM-5 PM; Sun 1-5 PM

2412 Beatties Ford Road · Beatties Ford Road

Town park · Family

Baucom Park

A 1-acre neighborhood park with a gazebo with picnic tables, small grill, playground, swings, open play field and walking trail.

Dawn to dusk

601 Sadie · Matthews

Drive-in movie theater · Family

Belmont Drive-In

Outdoor drive-in theater showing double features, with sound broadcast on FM radio. Cash only; admission is $25 per carload and outside food and drink are not allowed.

Gates open 6 PM; first movie about 7:30 PM on scheduled nights

314 McAdenville Rd · Belmont

Arena and events center · Family

Cabarrus Arena & Events Center

Concord arena and events center that hosts shows, markets and the Cabarrus County Fair. Upcoming listings include The Geekery Market on November 21 and the Christmas Extravaganza November 27–29, 2026.

4751 NC Highway 49 · Concord

Raptor center · Family

Carolina Raptor Center

Bird-of-prey center whose Raptor Trail is a zoo with more than 30 resident birds and daily educational programs. Adult admission is $16; parking is free.

Daily 10 AM–4 PM

6000 Sample Rd · Huntersville

Motorsports complex · Family

Charlotte Motor Speedway

A 1.5-mile superspeedway with 24-degree banked turns that opened in 1960 and hosts NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600. Van tours of the track leave from the second floor of Smith Tower and are booked through the tour desk.

5555 Concord Pkwy S · Concord

Cooking school · Family

Chef Alyssa's Kitchen

Cooking school with hands-on adult classes for ages 21 and up, monthly adult-and-child and adult-and-teen classes, and kids' drop-off classes. Also hosts private and team-building events.

4001-C Yancey Rd #100 · Lower South End

Children's museum · Family

Discovery Place Kids-Huntersville

Nonprofit children's museum with hands-on exhibits for young children and daily live shows such as puppet shows, science shows and storytime, included with admission.

Tue-Sun 9:30am-4:30pm; closed Mon

105 Gilead Road · Huntersville

Science museum · Family

Discovery Place Science

Nonprofit hands-on science museum with interactive exhibits, an IMAX Dome theatre, live experiments and animal encounters.

Mon-Fri 9am-4pm; Sat-Sun 10am-4:30pm

168 W 6th St · Uptown

Paint-your-own pottery studio · Family

Dish It Out

Walk-in pottery painting studio for all ages that has operated for 25 years. Groups smaller than six do not need a reservation; the studio fee covers paints, glazing and firing.

Sun-Wed 10 AM-6 PM; Thu-Sat 10 AM-8 PM

7828 Rea Rd · Ballantyne

Challenge rooms and laser tag · Family

District 57

Entertainment venue with The Grid, a 30-room challenge arena, and Bordertown tactical laser tag. AllSorts serves homemade pizza and self-pour beer, wine and cider.

1526-B Alleghany St · Ashley Park

Immersive escape room · Family

Doors of Divergence

Narrative puzzle experiences that combine immersive theatre, escape room puzzles and interactive storytelling. Players' choices carry across its Paradox Cycle shows and branch the story.

933 Louise Ave, Unit 103 · Belmont (Sugar Mill)

Escape room · Family

Escape Tactic

Escape room company with seven themed 60-minute games for players ages 10 and up, also hosting team-building events and birthday parties.

130 Southside Dr · LoSo

Neighborhood park and playground · Family

Forest Park Playground

Neighborhood park with a playground, swings, wooded paths, shaded picnic tables and an improved wetland area. There are no restrooms or drinking fountains on site.

421 North Faulkner Way · St. Alban's

Card and game shop with play space · Family

Get Some Game

Card shop carrying Magic, Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh! and Lorcana with a play space that has no table fees. Runs weekly tournaments, learn-to-play nights and open tables during business hours.

Mon-Thu 3-10 PM; Fri 3-11 PM; Sat 3-10 PM; Sun 3-8 PM

1224 Commercial Ave · Belmont

Kids play cafe · Family

Grow Cafe

Play cafe where children have Montessori-inspired open play while parents use a full cafe menu.

Mon-Thu 9am-3pm; Fri-Sat 9am-5pm; Sun 10am-3pm

5342 Docia Crossing Road, Suite B · Mallard Creek

Youth library and theatre · Family

ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center

Youth center run by Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and Children's Theatre of Charlotte, with two theatres, a library for kids 11 and under, a teen-only library and a media production studio.

Mon–Thu 9 AM–8 PM · Fri–Sat 9 AM–5 PM · Sun 1–5 PM

300 E 7th St · Uptown

Public library · Family

Independence Regional Library

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library regional branch with storytime, technology tutors, reservable rooms and computer access.

Mon-Thu 9 AM-8 PM; Fri-Sat 9 AM-5 PM; Sun 1-5 PM

6000 Conference Drive · East Charlotte

Drive-through animal park · Family

Lazy 5 Ranch

Drive-through animal park on a 3½-mile route where visitors can feed animals from their cars, plus a walk-through petting zoo and playground. Cash or NC check only; no pets.

Mon–Sat 9am–5pm; Sun 12–5pm (arrive at least an hour before closing)

15100 Mooresville Rd · Mooresville

Town park · Family

Matthews-Sardis Park

A 2.8-acre park with a gazebo picnic shelter, playground and swings for ages 2-12, paved walking trail and open grassy play area. The gazebo is first come, first served.

Dawn to dusk

9650 Sardis Rd. · Matthews

Car and racing museum · Family

Memory Lane Museum

Classic car and NASCAR museum with more than 100 vehicles, from early Model Ts and Model As to race cars, plus pedal cars, antique toys, motorcycles and racing memorabilia. Group visits on other days are available by advance appointment.

Thu–Fri 10 AM–4:30 PM

769 River Hwy · Mooresville

Laser tag arena · Family

Mission Laser Charlotte

Laser tag venue with a 7,000-square-foot arena and game modes including team, free-for-all and zombies. Also has an arcade and offers birthday and group packages.

10403 Park Rd · Park Road (South Charlotte)

Mini golf and driving range · Family

Mooresville Golf Range & Mini Golf

Lighted facility with an 18-hole mini golf course, a driving range, a four-hole par 3 course and a golf pro shop.

Daily 10am-7pm, weather permitting

174 West Plaza Drive · Mooresville

Public library · Family

Myers Park Library

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library branch on Queens Road with storytime, technology tutoring, research help and outdoor seating.

Mon-Thu 9 AM-8 PM; Fri-Sat 9 AM-5 PM; closed Sun

1361 Queens Road · Myers Park

Museum · Family

NASCAR Hall of Fame

Museum of NASCAR history with exhibits including Glory Road and the Hall of Honor. It stays open during renovations expected to finish in summer 2027, using a temporary entrance off S Caldwell St.

Wed–Mon 10 AM–5 PM · Closed Tue

400 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd · Uptown

Bowling alley · Family

New Victory Lanes

Family-operated bowling center with an arcade, billiards, the Wobbly Butt Tap Room and the 18-hole Wobbly Putt outdoor mini golf course.

Mon-Wed 3pm-10pm; Thu-Fri 3pm-11pm; Sat 12pm-11pm; Sun 12pm-9pm

125 Morlake Dr · Mooresville

Racing museum · Family

North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame

Museum, art gallery and visitor center in Lakeside Park showing stock cars, drag racers and memorabilia from North Carolina racing and NASCAR history.

Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 10am–5pm; Sat 10am–3pm; closed Wed and Sun

119 Knob Hill Rd · Mooresville

Indoor play cafe · Family

Playhouse Play Cafe

Indoor play cafe with a play structure and imaginative playrooms for young children, plus bakery items and complimentary coffee and wifi for parents. Reservations are recommended.

Open play Wed and Fri 9am-1pm; weekends vary with party bookings

3463 U.S. 21 · Fort Mill

Public library · Family

Plaza Midwood Library

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library branch with storytime and branch events, computer access, free Wi-Fi and technology tutors.

Mon-Thu 9 AM-8 PM; Fri-Sat 9 AM-5 PM; closed Sun

1623 Central Avenue · Plaza Midwood

Bowling and games venue · Family

Queen Park Social

Bowling lanes, arcade games and a restaurant and bar; guests must be 21 and up after 8pm Thursday through Saturday.

Sun 11am-10pm; Mon-Thu 4pm-12am; Fri 4pm-1am; Sat 11am-1am

4125 Yancey Road · LoSo

Indoor water park · Family

Ray's Splash Planet

Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation indoor water park on the Irwin Creek Academic Center campus, with a three-story slide and lazy river, plus swim lessons and birthday parties.

Fri 4pm-8pm; Sat 10am-6pm; Sun 1pm-6pm; closed Mon-Thu (special holiday hours posted)

215 N. Sycamore St. · Uptown

State historic site · Family

Reed Gold Mine State Historic Site

State historic site at the first documented gold find in the United States. Admission is free; guided mine tours ($5 adults) and gold panning ($5) cost extra.

Tue-Sat 9 AM-5 PM; closed Sun-Mon

9621 Reed Mine Rd. · Midland (Cabarrus County)

Town park · Family

Rice Park

A 9.5-acre park with a playground for ages 5-12, swings including an all-abilities swing, covered picnic tables and a 0.2-mile gravel walking loop.

Dawn to dusk

2540 Rice Road · Matthews

Aquarium · Family

SEA LIFE Charlotte-Concord Aquarium

Indoor aquarium inside Concord Mills mall at Entrance 7, behind the Speed Park, with a touch pool. Tickets are sold online.

8111 Concord Mills Blvd · Concord

Town park · Family

Smithville Park

Cornelius town park with a playground, a splash pad (LKN Kiwanis Splashville), two baseball/softball fields, a batting cage and a picnic shelter with grill.

Dawn to dusk; lighted facilities to 11 PM

19710 S Ferry St · Cornelius

Public library · Family

South Boulevard Library

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library branch with storytime and branch events, computer access, free Wi-Fi and reservable study rooms.

Mon-Thu 9 AM-8 PM; Fri-Sat 9 AM-5 PM; closed Sun

4429 South Boulevard · South Boulevard

Public library · Family

South County Regional Library

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library regional branch with storytime and branch events, private study areas and outdoor seating.

Mon-Thu 9 AM-8 PM; Fri-Sat 9 AM-5 PM; Sun 1-5 PM

5801 Rea Road · Rea Road (South Charlotte)

Public library · Family

SouthPark Regional Library

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library regional branch with storytime and branch events, private study areas, meeting rooms and outdoor seating.

Mon-Thu 9 AM-8 PM; Fri-Sat 9 AM-5 PM; Sun 1-5 PM

7015 Carnegie Boulevard · SouthPark

Splatter painting studio · Family

Splatter Charlotte

Paint-splatter studio where guests mix colors and throw paint at a canvas, with no experience needed. Finished pieces are delivered once they dry.

715 North Carolina Music Factory Boulevard · AvidXchange Music Factory

Downtown park · Family

Stowe Park

Downtown park on Main Street with a large fountain, two play units, a pavilion, picnic shelter, walking path and restrooms.

24 S Main St · Belmont

Race shop viewing area and team store · Family

Team Penske Race Shop and Fan Store

Team Penske's fan store displays trophies and racing memorabilia, and visitors can view the working NASCAR race shop through windows and from a 432-foot upstairs fan walk. The shop crew breaks for lunch from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM.

Fan store Mon–Fri 10 AM–4 PM

200 Penske Way · Mooresville

Escape room · Family

The Box Escape Room

Escape experience with three 60-minute rooms using real locks and props, with a host monitoring each game.

6604 East W.T. Harris Blvd · East Charlotte

Escape room · Family

The Keepers of Balance

Adventure-style escape rooms, including Quest for the Temple of Light, Defenders of the Sunken Realm and System Overlord, with an outdoor lounge and private events.

125 W. Woodlawn Rd · Woodlawn

Indoor play center · Family

The KiddieCade

Indoor play space where children play at purposeful-play stations while parents relax in a seating area.

Mon-Fri 10am-3pm; Sat 9am-1pm; closed Sun

4841 Shopton Rd, Suite 108 · Steele Creek

Coffee and ice cream shop · Family

The Percantile and Creamery

1920s-themed coffee, ice cream and pastry shop serving espresso drinks, scratch-made ice cream and brownies. A second location, The Nook, is at 363 Church Street N.

Daily 7 AM-8 PM

8635 Concord Mills Blvd · Concord Mills area

Indoor karting and entertainment center · Family

The Pit Indoor Kart Racing

Family entertainment center of about 140,000 square feet with indoor go-kart racing, laser tag, mini-golf, bumper cars, axe throwing, escape rooms, virtual reality and more than 65 arcade games.

346 East Plaza Drive · Mooresville

Outdoor go-kart track · Family

Trackhouse Motorplex

Outdoor karting facility with a 0.7-mile, 11-turn track and arrive-and-drive rental karts, open to the public seven days a week. It also runs kid kart sessions and hosts group and corporate events.

Rental hours vary by day; see the posted track hours calendar

130 Motorplex Dr · Mooresville

Sandwich and ice cream shop · Family

Two Chicks Sandwiches and Scoops

Sandwich and ice cream shop with indoor seating and a covered outdoor patio with fans and games. It takes birthday party reservations.

Mon-Thu 11 AM-7 PM; Fri-Sun 11 AM-8 PM

102 S Main St. · Downtown Belmont

Public library · Family

University City Regional Library

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library regional branch with storytime, technology tutoring, branch events and reservable study rooms.

Mon-Thu 9 AM-8 PM; Fri-Sat 9 AM-5 PM; Sun 1-5 PM

5528 Waters Edge Village Drive · University City

Indoor go-kart track · Family

Victory Lane Karting

Indoor go-kart racing facility that also has Gasoline Alley Bowling and the Pit Road Bar & Grill.

Mon-Thu 11am-10pm; Fri 11am-11pm; Sat 10am-11pm; Sun 10am-7pm

2330 Tipton Dr. Ste. 100 · North End

Town park · Family

Walter Henderson Park

Neighborhood park with a gazebo with grill, playground and a 0.3-mile unpaved walking trail.

Dawn to dusk

20214 Tailwind Lane · Cornelius

Town park · Family

Windsor Park

A 5.24-acre town park with a picnic shelter, large grill, walking trail and open play area. Its playgrounds include swings, slides, climbing structures and a zip line.

Dawn to dusk

10140 Northeast Parkway · Matthews