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1. Find your Fortune! Pan for Gold at Reed’s Gold Mine, the site of the first documented gold find in the United States located in Midland, NC. For times of operation and tickets click here!
2. Satisfy your need for Speed! Take the whole family for a high speed adventure at
Lowe’s Motor Speedway!
3. Take a hike! Visit scenic Crowder’s Mountain, the highest point in Gaston County! Walk the mountains many trails and enjoy the best of beautiful landscape that North Carolina has to offer.
 4. Enjoy the sounds of nature! Spend time enjoying life’s natural wonders at
The Land of the Waterfalls in Brevard, NC.
5. Take life for a loop! There’s fun for the whole family at Carowinds Amusement Park. For tickets click here!
6. Go on a Safari! Pet and feed over 750 exotic animals at the Lazy 5 Ranch, an exotic drive through park located in Mooresville. To make reservations click here!
7. Take a walk on the wild side! Lions, Tigers, Bears… Oh my! Spend a day at the NC State Zoological Park in Asheboro, NC. Log on to www.nczoo.org for times and group rates.
8. Have a Wild West adventure! Get All Aboard at the Tweetsie Railroad, North Carolina’s original family theme park! Enjoy live shows, great food, and more old-fashioned family fun!
9. Expand your mind! Take the whole family and learn something new at Discovery Place located in Uptown Charlotte! For information on the latest exhibit and to reserve tickets check out www.discoveryplace.org!
 10. Spend a day on the lake! Enjoy boating, hiking and lying on the 520 miles of shoreline at the Lake Norman State Park!
11. Take a trip that’s out of this world! Take the kids to outer space at Space Kidets in Matthews, NC. Be sure to check out their Family Fun Night every Thursday from 5-7pm!
12. Capture the moment! Admire local artists’ pieces or make your own art in the darkroom at 
The Light Factory.
13. Ride the rapids! Have an adventure at the brand US National Whitewater
Center located only 10 minutes from downtown Charlotte! Also enjoy mountain biking,
running trails, and a ropes course. For directions click here!
14. Make a splash! Take the kids to Ray’s Splash Planet, Mecklenburg County’s
own indoor water park and fitness center.
 15. Get Lifted! For the ultimate adventure ride in a hot air balloon hundreds of feet in the air with Balloons Over Charlotte!
16. Appreciate the arts! Your family can experience culture at its finest at the Mint Museum of Art. To view the current collections and exhibits visit www.themintmuseums.org
17. Let the kids enjoy the mall for once! Let your kids be kids at the Looney Tunes Play Land at Northlake Mall. For directions click here!
18. Get moving! Take your family to the NC Transportation Museum and discover the people and machines that have moved North Carolina!
19. Be on the cutting edge of fun! Have an adventure that’s cool year-round at the Extreme Ice Center, the official practice facility for the Charlotte Checkers! Learn to skate, play hockey, throw a birthday party for your kid, and much more!
20. Go back in history! Explore the Charlotte Museum of History and enjoy 3 centuries of historic artifacts, living history interpretations, and informational exhibits!
 21. Giddy Up! Ride horseback at the Carolina Riding Academy!
22. Get Polished Have a girls night out and visit Polished Nail Bar and Spa, a unique and trendy bar where you can sip on a martini and get a French manicure at the same time!
23. Jazz it up! Enjoy nightly live jazz music combined with great cuisine at the Jazz Café in Charlotte! 
24. be dramatic! Let your kids experience the arts at the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte. This unique theatre also offers over 200 enrichment classes and summer camp programs!
25. Take flight! Escape your busy urban lifestyle and appreciate our feathered friends at the Wing Haven Gardens and Bird Sanctuary.
 26. Discover Mother Nature! Admire the student’s gardens at the UNCC botanical garden including the Van Landingham Glen Garden, the Susie Harwood Garden, and the McMillan Greenhouse that features a two story simulated rain forest!
27. be electric! Learn about electricity hands-on at the Energy Explorium at Lake Norman. Have fun with the interactive exhibits and games that are sure to excite kids about the world of atomic power generation.
28. Spread Your Wings! Show your family that learning can be fun by observing birds of prey in their natural habitat at the Charlotte Raptor Center. Also, check out the summer camp programs that they offer.
29. Bring History to Life! Step back into the olden days at the Historic Latta Plantation, a circa 1800 cotton plantation and living history farm located in Huntersville, NC!
30. See the city from another point of view! Experience a ride on the famous Charlotte Trolley and visit their museum featuring the last surviving trolley since 1938 in Charlotte.
31. Learn about your roots! Visit the Levine Museum of the New South, a comprehensive collection of post-Civil War Southern history.
 32. Escape to a local tropical paradise! Admire the beautiful Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens located on the banks of Lake Wylie in Belmont, NC and check out their summer concert series.
33. Feel the Music! Check out Opera Carolina, the premiere professional opera company of the Carolinas. For show information and pricing click here!
34. Support the fire fighters! Admire hometown heroes at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Fire Museum and Education Center. Teach your kids fire safety tips and check out fire equipment and memorabilia!
35. Imagine new possibilities! “From the page to the stage” your family can appreciate art and theater through their 5 senses and imagination at IMAGINON.
36. Get Carried Away! Enjoy a romantic carriage ride with the one you love through the Queen City with Southern Breezes Farm and Carriages.
37. Lights, Camera, Action! Take a picnic and watch a movie in Freedom Park at Movies in the Park this summer. For a list of movies click here! (insert link from our web)
38. Remember the good ole’ days! Take a sip out of history at Pike’s Old Fashioned Soda Shop located off of Camden Road in Charlotte. Enjoy a full selection of desserts including splits, shakes, floats, and malts. Also, check out their famous Sunday brunch!
 39. Stop and smell the roses! Enjoy nature’s beauty at the McGill Rose Garden located in the heart of North Davidson Historic Arts District. Expect to see over 1,000 plants and garden art!
40. Experience the oldest park in Charlotte! Check out Independence Park. This park, located at 300 Hawthorne Lane contains big playgrounds with new, lead-free equipment for the kids, and includes a special area for toddlers. For the rest of us, soccer fields, basketball courts, and nearby tennis courts offer the perfect excuse to get out and play. 
41. Brush up on your environmental education! Take the whole family to Reedy Creek Environmental Center. This unique facility features 727-acres of live animals, educational exhibits, and a gift shop! They also offer various adventure camps for kids and activities such as "Yoga in the Preserve" for adults! For directions and hours of operation click here!
42. Spend an evening at the theater! Take in a show at Blumenthal Theater.
43. Experience culture! Explore the African- American Cultural Center, a 33-year old institution that preserves, promotes, and presents African-American art, history and culture through comprehensive programs and presentations in the visual arts, performing arts, and through innovative educational programs.
 44. Get a babysitter! Have a night out on the town and check out a show at
Amos’ Southend, Charlotte’s Premiere live music club. For upcoming shows click here
45. Are you ready for some football? Paint your face black and blue and come out to support Charlotte’s favorite pro football team at Bank of America Stadium!
46. Put your game face on! Spend an afternoon with Charlotte’s favorite hockey team, the Charlotte Checkers!
47. Strike 'em out! Take your family out to a Charlotte Knights ballgame! Enjoy a hot dog while cheering on your local baseball team.
48. Take it to the hoop! Take the family to a game with Charlotte’s favorite basketball team!
49. The Rhythm is going to get you! Be part of a 76 year tradition and enjoy a concert by the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, the largest and most active performing arts organization of the central Carolinas. For tickets visit www.charlottesymphony.org!
 50. Race your family to the finish line! Enjoy full-throttle fun for the whole family at Nascar Speedpark! They feature tracks for all ages, mini golf, arcade and interactive games, and bumper boats!
51. Take time to appreciate natural history! Experience a natural adventure at the Schiele Museum of Natural History located in Gastonia, NC. Come check out the natural wonders of the US coupled with the rich history of our region. 
52. Cool off at the water park! Take the whole family for a splash at Wet-n-Wild Emerald Pointe located in Greensboro, NC. To purchase passes click here!
53. Take excitement by the wheel! Get the thrill of a lifetime and try your hand at racing with the Richard Petty Driving Experience. To book your experience visit www.1800bepetty.com!
54. Experience southern heritage! Get a glimpse of the Old South at the 911 acre
Historic Rosedale Plantation.
.jpg) 55. Explore the Blue Ridge Mountains for a day! Explore Grandfather Mountain, the highest peak in the Blue Ridge Mountain Range and experience breathtaking views from the Mile High Swinging Bridge.
56. Start your engines! Explore the NC Auto Racing Hall of Fame and learn more about the heritage of motorsports in the Carolinas.
57. Head for the ocean! Take a day trip to the Outer Banks and enjoy the undisturbed beauty of the North Carolina shoreline!
58. Explore a 1,108 acre nature preserve! Roam free at the McDowell Nature Center and Preserve, a 1,108 acre area located along the banks of Lake Wylie. This popular spot for outdoor lovers features butterfly gardens, bird-feeding stations, and a gift shop!
59. Find a treasure! Visit the Charlotte Antique and Collectibles Show, a fun-filled outdoor marketplace. With over 500 exhibitors you're sure to find something unique! Regular monthly shows run the first weekend of the month. For more information, click here! 
60. Get Fresh Air! Surround yourself in beauty and hike through Chimney Rock Park. While you are there visit the 404 foot waterfall!
61. Just add water! Whether you are a beginner or a pro, ride the rapids of the Nantahala River. For rates click here!
62. Walk a dog! Walk an adoptable dog for the Humane Society.
 63. Give back! Help build houses and build hope by volunteering with the local Charlotte Habitat for Humanity. To get involved visit www.habitatcharlotte.org
64. Save a life! Donate blood your local Red Cross. For more information on how to make a donation, log on to www.redcrosshelps.org
65. Tee off! Take the whole family to the Paradise Valley Short Course, a Par 3 course that is a great for beginners and veteran golfers as well. This course features The Lost Duffer Miniature Golf Course, which meanders through a 19th century mining camp and finishes in an abandoned mine shaft.
66. Explore the largest home in America! Plan a day trip to the Historic Biltmore Estate and Winery in Asheville, NC. You’ll have plenty to see with a winery, gardens, an equestrian center, gift shops, and specialty restaurants all on the grounds of the estate.
67. Improve your Zen! Get rid of stress after work and practice yoga to relax your mind and body. Try Yoga One located on Central Ave in Charlotte!
68. Bounce around! Take the kids to Monkey Joes Indoor Play Land in Pineville, NC. Let the kids jump, slide and play in 12,000 square feet of indoor fun!
 69. Take a cruise! The possibilities are endless at Queen’s Landing in Lake Norman. Take a cruise on The Catawba Queen - a replica Mississippi River boat, play around on a miniature golf course and bumper boats, or enjoy lunch at the lakeside grill.
70. Pump it up! Get fit this year by joining a local gym! Peak Fitness is open 24 hours to allow you to work out when it fits your schedule!
71. Find Time! Let the kids burn off excess energy at the Mallard Creek Recreation Center where they offer “My Time/ Mommy Time”, a program that allows children to interact with other kids their same age under Ad.jpg) ult supervision.
72. Get ‘Reel’! Take the kids and head to one of the nearby lakes for a day of fishing!
73. Bowl a strike! Go beyond just taking your family bowling and visit Northcross Lanes in Huntersville where you can cosmic bowl, play laser tag, sing karaoke, or play in the video arcade!
 74. Get Ready to ROCK! Visit the world's first rock n' roll theme park, Hard Rock Park, in Myrtle Beach, SC! The 55-acre theme park offers over 50 attractions for rockers of all ages including roller coasters, shows, children's play areas, restaurants, cafe's, retail stores, and a live music ampitheather!
75. Create! Show your creative side and design your own pottery at Meg-Art Paint your own Pottery studio.
76. Zap it! Take the whole family to play at Laser Quest, a multi-level arena featuring laser tag with lighting effects, swirling fog and heart-pounding music.
78. Reach new heights! Test your strength at the largest indoor climbing center in Charlotte. Inner Peaks Climbing Center offers 8,000 square feet of sculpted climbing wall reaching 25 ft. high. If that sounds intimidating, they offer training programs for beginners and day camps for the kids.
79. Clown around! Get in touch with your inner child at Chuck E Cheese – always a crowd favorite!
80. Read to your child! Spend quality time with your children by visiting any of our local public libraries and join a reading program today!
81. Score a goal! Go to a Charlotte Eagles soccer game! They also have various soccer camps for the kids.
 82. Find a deal! Browse over 80 brand name stores at the Prime Outlets in Gaffney, SC.
83. Rock and Roll! Remember how much fun you had at the roller rink? Your kids will love it too! Visit Starlight Roller Rink in the University Area.
84. Experience a drive in movie! Watch your favorite new release at the Belmont Drive In, an authentic drive-in that’s been around for 50 years! As an added bonus, see two movies for the price of one!
85. Free Fall! See North Carolina from 10,000 feet in the air! Jump and discover the thrill of skydiving with Carolina Skydiving. www.carolinaskydiving.com
86. See a Larger than life movie! At the IMAX dome theater in Discovery Place, the screen is the largest in the Carolinas standing three stories tall and 80 feet wide.
87. Rock out! See a concert at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater.
88. Wine and Dine! Relax and enjoy beautiful views of the Carolina mountains at
Owl’s Winery and Vineyard. Enjoy their tasting room and take a tour through the vineyard.
89. Hit the Jackpot! Try your luck at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino in the Great Smoky Mountains nestled in the beautiful homeland of the Cherokee Indians.
90. Relax after work! Enjoy live music, food and drink at Center City after Five.
 91. Dance! Tango, Rumba, or learn to swing at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio, the longest running studio in Charlotte. This studio provides lessons designed for all ages and skills and contains one of the largest dance floors in the Carolinas.
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