Places

Place

Hours

Admission

Comments

Carolina Raptor Center

704-875-6521 ext. 110 (Tonya Paul) 

Call for more info or scheduling.


Beatties Ford Rd. to 6000 Sample Rd. (turn at Hopewell Presbyterian Church). It is the 3rd driveway on the left after entering Latta Plantation Park.

Mon - Sat

10 – 5 pm

Sun

Noon – 5 pm

Adults - $7,

seniors $6

students (5 and older) $5

children under 5 are free.

Groups of 15 or more $3.50 per person.

Self-tour nature trail provides interesting information on many kinds of birds of prey which are living there. These birds are unable to survive in the wild due to illness or injury. The Center will do group tours with educational programs if called ahead. Reservations required, recommended as far in advance as possible.

Carolinas Aviation Museum

704-359-8442

4108 Minuteman Way (at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport) (Street renamed from Airport Dr.).


Tue - Sat

10-4 p.m.

Sun

1-5 p.m.

$8 for adults

$5 for children/

seniors age 60 and older.

Schools, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts & other group admission is $4 per child. (Accompanying adults free)

 

All groups of more than 5 children must be prearranged.

Tours of museum/hangar featuring 45 aircraft in various stages of restoration.

 

Aircraft on exhibit include a Piedmont Airlines DC-3 and a U.S. Army OV-1 Mohawk.

 

Call ahead for special events through-out the year.

Carrigan Farms

704-664-1450 (days)

 

1261 Oak Ridge Farm Hwy., Mooresville, NC

(27 miles from Charlotte)

 October tours are open to the general public Sat & Sun 9 - 4

with no reservations needed.

$8 per person

Seasonal group tours include hayrides, greenhouse, vegetable and fruit fields where you can pick your own produce, a petting barn, picnic area and more.

 

They also have a market with honey from their hives, seasonal produce and homemade jams and jellies for sale.

Charlotte Historic Trolley Museum

704-375-0850

2104 South Blvd.

Sat 10-5

Sun 10:30-5:30

$1.30 Adults (each way)

0.65 Seniors & Youth (each way), 5 and under free. Adult all day pass $4

The museum features photographs, exhibits and trolley rides.

Charlotte Museum of History and

Hezekiah Alexander Homesite

 704-568-1774

3500 Shamrock Drive

Mon-Sat

10 - 5 

Sun 1 -5

 

Summer hours

Mon-Sat

 10 - 5 pm  Sun

 1 -  5

Gen. admission: $6 for adults

$5 for students and seniors

$3 for children 6-12

under 6 free. Group rates for 10 or more (groups may schedule tours at 10 am) Sundays are free.

Special events are held throughout the year also.

COUNTY PASSPORT TO HISTORY

 

To participate, you must purchase a booklet for $2 at one of the 10 sites included in the program.

 Children can earn a patch after visiting 5 sites. They must have their passport signed or stamped and answer and complete the activities for that site.

 

The sites are: Carolinas Aviation Museum, Charlotte Museum of History and Hezekiah Alexander Home Site, Charlotte Trolley Museum, Latta Plantation, Mint Hill Doctor's Museum, Museum of the New South, James K. Polk Memorial, Reed Gold Mine, Historic Rosedale, and Schiele Museum. Contact any of these sites for more information on “Passport to History”.

North Carolina Historic Sites


 919-733-7862

 

 

There are 23 sites located all over the state, from the Outer Banks to the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Children's Theater of Charlotte

704-973-2800

Box office: 704-973-2828

300 E. 7th St, inside ImaginOn

Mon – Fri

 10 - 5

 

Professional theater for young people. Classes and productions.

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

704-825-4490

info@dsgb.org

6500 South New Hope Road, Belmont, NC 28012

Sun - Sat

9 - 5 

Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day

$10 for adults

$9 for seniors (60+)

$5 for children 4-12

children under 4 and members free.

The Gardens are comprised of 158,000 square feet of planting beds divided into separate areas, each with a distinctive feel and theme.

Discovery Place and

Charlotte Nature Museum


704-372-6261 ext. 300 or 1-800-935-0553

301 N. Tryon St.

Mon -Fri 9:30-5

Sat

10-5

Sun

Noon-5

Renovation pricing thru 11/22/09 is $7/person regardless of age.

 

When the full museum reopens: $10 adults 14-59 years old

$8 children 2-13 and 60+ seniors.

 

Children under 2 are free. Discounts apply during the school year for groups of 15 or more.

IMAX pass additional.

Teacher’s Guide - Free booklet with detailed information on Home School and non-Home School classes available, fees, hours, directions, etc. available at no charge at reception desks or by mail.

Call to get on the mailing list.


Energy Explorium

704-875-5600 OR 1-800-777-0003

13339 Hagers Ferry Rd. in Huntersvville (on Hwy 73, 30 minutes from Charlotte)

Mon - Fri

9 - 5 

Sat

12 – 5 pm,

Closed Sunday.

Free (need appointment for more than 10 people)

Energy Explorium and Information Center for McGuire Nuclear Station. Hands-on and computerized energy exhibits and 1 mile walking trail plus a picnic area.


ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

704-336-5359

 

Each workshop is 4 hours and is $10 per family.

(Call to confirm prices)

Workshops available on home composting, worm composting, grasscycling (lawn care), toxicity reduction, soil stewardship, horticulture, and natural gardening & habitat at various locations.


For more information or to register call Lorette Hall, 704-336-8393. Groups of 15 or more can have a special class (teacher training) at a sight near you. Also learn what’s recyclable, how to do environmental friendly shopping, etc.


FIRE STATIONS AND FIRE HOUSE

 

704-336-3970  (Fire Education)

704-336-2150, or see the blue pages of the Charlotte phone book

 

Free

Visit your area fire station for a free tour or plan a group visit to downtown’s Fire Station #1 to see the Firefighters slide down poles. Call ahead for group tours and for information on the Fire House tours. The Fire House simulates a fire in a home and children ages 6 and up may go through and practice proper escape methods.

First Presbyterian Church

Downtown Charlotte

 

 

Free

Free concert (The Chamber Music) the first Tuesday of each month at noon, starting in September.

Gaston County Museum

Dallas, NC

 

Free

Cute museum with old carriages, history of textiles, old hotel.

Green Park, The

(Uptown on Tryon)

 

Free lunchtime music concerts on Wednesdays in the summer.

Let the kids take their bathing suits and play in the fish sprinklers. The parking is expensive. If you park at Discovery Place, buy a token for $5 and don’t worry about how long you stay uptown.

McColl Center for Visual Art

(the old burned out church)

 

 

Free parking first 90 min. Kids love to play with the computers, dress up clothes, sit on the trolley.


James K. Polk Memorial Historic Site

704-889-7145

12031 Lancaster Hwy., Old U.S. 521, Pineville

Guided tours Tue - Sat

9 – 5 pm every half hour

 

Closed

Sun & Mon

Free

Birthplace of James K. Polk, 11th U.S. President. Reconstructed log house with 18th century furnishings. Museum with film, exhibits, and displays representing life and times of Polk. Guided tours available. Reservations required for groups of 10 or more.

Kings Mountain National Military Park

864-936-7921

2625 Park Rd., Blacksburg, SC 29702. From Charlotte, NC travel on I- 85 South to NC Exit #2.

Weekdays

9 – 5 pm,

Weekends

9 – 6 pm (Memorial Day through Labor Day).

Closed:

Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Years Day


Free

Kings Mountain National Military Park commemorates a pivotal and significant victory by American Patriots over American Loyalists during the Southern Campaign of the Revolutionary War. Visitor Center: Features an 18-minute film, Kings Mountain: Turning Point in the South and museum exhibit area. Battlefield Trail: One and one-half mile self-guiding loop trail around battlefield site.

Historic Latta Plantation

704-875-2312; Visitor Center: 704- 875-1391

5225 Sample Road (off Beatties Ford Road) on Mountain Island Lake near Huntersville.

Tue - Sat

 10 - 5

 

Sun

1 -  5

Closed Mondays, Thanksgiving,

Christmas & New Years.


Park hours are 7 am - dark 7 days a week.

 

Special events at the Plantation occur throughout the year such as the fall FolkLife Festival.

$6 adult,

$5 seniors and students.

Groups of 10 or more can receive discounted tours.

Mountain Island Lake Park features wildlife displays, nature preserve, picnic area, canoe/ sailboat launching area, fishing, hiking and horseback trails; guided nature hikes by appointment.


Imaginon

704-416-4600

On the corner of 7th and Brevard.  Entrance faces 7th.

Mon-Thu

9-9

Fri - Sat

9-6

Sun 1-6

No charge to use the Library.

Free parking first 90 min. Kids love to play with the computers, dress up clothes, sit on the trolley.

Lazy 5 Ranch

704-663-5100

15100 Hwy 150 East, Mooresville, NC, I-77 Exit 36

Mon - Sat

9:00 am,

Sun opens 1:00 pm

Closes 1 hour before sunset (no later than 7 p.m.). Must be in park by 5 pm.

$8.50 Adult

$5.50 children (ages 2-11) and seniors (60 and over) to drive your own car through. Under 2 free.

Wagon rides are an additional fee of $5 adults, $3 children and seniors, and under 2 is free.

Cash or checks only; no credit cards.

Group rates for 15 or more: For your own car $5/person. Wagon ride $7.50/person (this includes General Admission fee).

Must make reservations for groups and wagon rides.

These rates apply for children 2 & older.

Children will experience various species of exotic animals in their natural habitat. The tour is a 3 1/2 mile drive by car or wagon. The winding trail takes you through the forest and fields where you will enjoy being only inches away from animals found on continents far away. Feed is provided on the wagon ride. Additional buckets are $3.00 each. Please bring your own drinking water - no fountains provided. Beautiful picnic area and play ground - bring your own grill if you want. Feed exotic animals right from your car. Dress for mess. Some of the exotic animals include giraffes, rhinoceros’, zebras, camels, and llamas. There are reindeer at Christmas and baby animals in the Spring. Other animals include horses, lambs, pigs, endangered species, etc.

Levine Museum of the New South

704-333-1887

200 E. 7th St. (on the corner of 7th St. and N. College)

Mon-Sat

10 - 5

Sun

12 - 5

$6 adults

$5 students (6-18 and college)

Seniors, under 6 and members free

Family-$17.00

Visitors will move through a series of environments that explore the steps in the region's evolution--from cotton farming, to textile manufacturing, to urbanization, to Civil Rights. Each represented a "reinvention" of the previous economy and society. Each helped create present-day Charlotte, Amer-ica's second largest financial center. Other changing exhibits upstairs. Parking at 7th St. Station Deck– first 90 minutes of parking is free.

The Light Factory

704-333-9755

345 N. College St., Suite 211 (Spirit Square)

Mon.– Sat. 9 am – 6 pm, Sun. 1 pm – 6 pm.

Free

The Light Factory specializes in light generated art media (photography, video, film, the Internet) and regularly presents changing solo and group exhibitions by local, regional, national and international artists. Various classes available throughout the year– call or check website for details.

McColl Center for Visual Art

(the old burned out church)

 

 

Has a free reception when the new artists arrive. Interesting to meet young artists in person but some of the art is very strange.

McGill Rose Garden

(on Davidson Street)

Tue - Sat

10 - 4

Free

Beautiful garden.

Metrolina Recycling Center

Paula Hoffman at 704-598-8595

1007 Amble Drive, Charlotte. From I-85. Take the Graham St. exit going south (towards Char-lotte). Travel about 1/4 mile and turn left onto Amble Drive (A-1 Tool is on the left). Follow Amble Drive to dead end. Take the last driveway on the right.


Free

This business has an excellent education department which provides free tours including a film and discussion to educate children on which products are recyclable through the NOW program in Charlotte. Children view trucks unloading and the sorting of recycling materials from a protected area indoors. Tours must be scheduled in advance.

Mint Hill Country Doctor Museum

704-573-0726

4311 Hillside Drive, Mint Hill

Administrative Offices:

Tue - Sat

10 - 2

Open for private tours by appt only.

Adults $2

Seniors & Students $1

5 years & under free.

This turn-of-the-century building houses an extensive collection of medical and pharmaceutical artifacts dating from 1880 to 1930. Schedule special tours for groups at 704-573-0726.

Mint Museum

 704-337-2000

2730 Randolph Road- Art museum; 220 N. Tryon St.- Craft + Design museum (Call for parking instructions)

Tue

10 – 9

 Wed - Sat

10 – 5 pm

Sun

Noon – 5 pm,

$6 Adults

$5 Seniors and College Students

$3 Students 6-17

Children 5 and under and members are free.

Free admission on Tue  5 – 9 pm. Discounts for groups of 10 or more available.

Charlotte’s fine art museum. A purchased ticket is good for admission to both the Mint Museum of Art and the Mint Museum of Craft & Design on the same day (unless otherwise noted). For tours call 704-337-2043 or tours@mintmuseum.org

Museum of York County

803-329-2121

4621 Mt. Gallant Rd., Rock Hill, SC

Mon - Sat

10 – 5

Sun 1- 5 pm

$5.00 adults; $4.00 seniors (60 and over); and $3.00 for students, children under 5 free. Museum members free. Group rates available.

Classes, art, culture, natural history. Permanent exhibitions include the Stans African Halls, one of the nation's most comprehensive exhibitions of African animals in natural habitat dioramas, complemented by African cultural artifacts. Call for a field trip planner.

Museum of the Waxhaws and

The Andrew Jackson Memorial

 704-843-1832

8215 Waxhaw Hwy, Waxhaw, NC. (Hwy. 75 East)

Fri & Sat

10 – 5 pm Sun

2 – 5 pm.

Private/group tours available during weekend by ap-pointment.

Adults $4.00

Children 6-12 $2.00

under 6 FREE

A regional history museum dedicated to the history of the Waxhaws region and the memory of our nation's 7th President, a native of the Waxhaws. The museum has numerous artifacts, a film detailing the area's history, a gift shop & small picnic area. Special events occur throughout the year.

North Carolina Transportation Museum

704-636-2889 or 1-877-NCTMFUN (1-877-628-6386)

411 S. Salisbury Ave., Spencer, NC (approx. 1 hour from Charlotte on I-85N) Exit 79 just beyond Salisbury.

April-Oct:

Mon - Sat

9 - 5pm

Sun

1 - 5pm.

 

Nov - Apr:

Tue - Sat

9 - 5

Sun

1 - 5

Museum - Free; Steam or diesel train rides Adults $6, Children 3-12 & Seniors (60 and older)

$5, 2 and under free. (may receive AAA discount with your AAA card – $.50 off). Discounted rate for groups of 15 or more - reservations required 2 week in advance. Limited parking is available.


 The site of what was once Southern Railway Company's largest steam locomotive servicing facility. It now houses examples of a variety of forms of transportation, including an antique automobile exhibit, and a 120,000 square foot locomotive roundhouse that has recently undergone a major restoration.

Reed Gold Mine

704-721-GOLD (4653)

9621 Reed Mine Road, Midland, NC. From Charlotte, follow Albemarle Road (approx. 40 minutes) to Reed Mine Road. Turn left on Reed Mine Road, go approximately three miles, and the site will be on the right.


Tue - Sat

9 - 5


Must call ahead to schedule group tours.

Guided tours of underground tunnels every hour.

Stamp Mill tours available several times each day.

Free. Panning for gold is $2.00 per pan (group rate $1.50 for 10 or more, must be prescheduled) – You may pan for gold Apr. 1stst

through Oct 31

Historic site of America’s first documented discover of gold. Visitors tour museum, watch film and tour restored section of an underground shaft for free. You can try your hand at panning for a charge. Picnic area, trails, monuments, and more.

Reedy Creek Nature Center

704-598-8857

2900 Rocky River Road

Park Hours: Sun-up to sun-down.

Nature Center Hours

Mon – Sat

 9 - 5

Sun

 1 - 5

Free

This center has a fitness trail, soccer and basketball field, picnic shelters, lakes and a fishing pier. It also has hands-on exhibits and environmental programs.

 Rosedale Plantation

704-335-0325

Historic Rosedale Plantation is located three miles from the center of uptown Charlotte, North Carolina at 3427 N. Tryon Street between 36th Street and Sugar Creek Road.

Trained docents conduct tours for drop-in visitors Thu - Sun. at 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.

 

Groups of 15 or more should call to make reservations 2 weeks in advance.

Adults $5

4-12 years & seniors $4

3yrs and under free.

Groups of 15 or more $4/person.

Originally part of a 911 acre plantation, Rosedale was built in 1815 by Archibald Frew, a

merchant, postmaster and tax collector. The house was occupied in the 1830s by D. T. Caldwell and his family. Dr. Caldwell, in addition to his medical practice, ran the plantation with the support of approximately 20 slaves.

Rural Hill Farm

Huntersville, NC

Mon - Fri by appointment only

13 and over $6

5-12 $4

4 and under Free

Special Events listed on the website.

Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium


704-866-6900- recorded message, Receptionist 704-866-6908

 1500 E. Garrison Blvd., Gastonia

Mon - Sat

9 - 5

Sun

1 - 5

 

Planetarium shows at 1, 2, & 3 Sat

2 & 3 Sun

 

Shows also at 2 pm Tue - Fri. (June thru mid-August), and 3:30 pm on Tue - Fri, 11, 1, 2 & 3:30 pm on Sat., 2 & 3:30 pm on Sun (Sept 1-May).

Museum - Adults - $7, Students and Seniors - $6, children 3 and under - free.

Open free to all visitors 4-8 pm the second and fourth Tuesday of each month.

 

Planetarium - Adults - $10

Students and Seniors - $9

children 3 and under - free

Planetarium, special hands-on exhibits, collections, and programs interpreting North American habitats and wildlife, American Indian culture, and over 400 years of Piedmont history. Also a living nature trail that takes visitors to a reconstructed Catawba Indian village and an 18th century Backcountry farm.


School Programs: For information about programs offered for school groups, e-mail paulet-tel@cityofgastonia.com and ask for a copy of the Schiele Museum Education Guide (Education at the Schiele Museum: A Guide for Teachers 2003-2004).

Tiger World

 704-279-6363

4400 Cook Rd., Rockwell, NC. I-85 North to Exit 68, make a right, go 4 miles and make another right (see zoo signs).

Scheduled weekday tours by appointment only.

Sat & Sun self guided tours

9 - 5 p.m. No appointment necessary.

Adults $12, Children (ages 2-12) $10, Ages 2 and under free, Group Rate $8

Group and educational tours available. Call for rates.

The zoo features a variety of exotic animals including large cats, primates, bears, reptiles and more. There is also a large petting zoo area and picnic facilities are available.

Wing Haven Gardens and Bird Sanctuary

704-331-0664

248 Ridgewood Ave., Charlotte (off Selwyn Ave. in Myer’s Park)

Tue

3 – 5 

Wed

10 - 12 noon

Sat

10 – 5


Suggested donation of $5 per adult non-member. Call ahead for guided tours for groups.

Garden and bird sanctuary offering tours of the gardens with emphasis on planting for bird

attraction, cover, nesting sites and food. Great children’s programs available. Cardinals (ages 6,7,8) and Chickadees (ages 4-5) get together for an hour of seasonal crafts, walk through the garden, and snacks.