Top 10 Day Recommendations in Charlotte, North Carolina

by Krystel from Army Wife 101 http://www.armywife101.com

As a military spouse my family and I have had the privilege of living in some great places. Moving frequently encourages you to immerse yourself in the local culture and fun of your city. We are so eager to make ourselves at home and immerse ourselves in the local culture of not only the community we live in, but surrounding cities and towns as well.

One of the great things about living in the great state of North Carolina is that there are some pretty amazing cities here. Charlotte, North Carolina is one of them that is filled with culture, nightlife, amazing food, great shopping, and family friendly entertainment. Although we are military, my husband is from North Carolina so we have had years of traveling to the Charlotte area to check out various places. Whether I am going to Charlotte for a girls weekend, or a day trip with the family we always have fun. If you live there or plan on visiting the area this Top 10 list is a must have for you.

1. Carowinds:
Carowinds is one of the best theme parks I have been to yet. It is part of the Paramount Group, which means lots of fun interactive rides based on some of your favorite family TV shows. One of the best attractions there is the huge water park which the entire family will love.
Visit https://www.carowinds.com

2. Great Wolf Lodge (Charlotte):
If you are in Charlotte and looking to have fun in the water year round, then you will love the Great Wolf Lodge located there. My family had the pleasure of staying at Great Wolf Lodge and we are itching to go back. You never have to leave the premises as there is a 80,000 sq ft water park that stays at 84 degrees all year long. In addition the entire family can bowl, eat fun treats, and enjoy Northwoods cabin themed suites. This place makes for a great staycation.
Visit http://www.greatwolf.com/concord/waterpark

3. Concord Mills:
For the shoppers, you will indulge at this outlet mall with tons of stores offering huge deals, a large movie theater , one of the best food courts ever and last, but not least, the oversized fish tank at the Bass Pro Shops. My son cannot get enough of that.
Visit http://www.simon.com/mall/concord-mills

4. SAS Cupcakes:
As a self-professed cupcake connoisseur I was in heaven when I had my first cupcake from this place. Amazing doesn’t describe the fresh out the oven taste in these pops of mouth heaven. If you are looking to satisfy your sweet tooth after a long day, this is the place to stop.
Visit http://www.sascupcakes.com

5. Discovery Place:
Again if you’re seeking family entertainment indoors in the Charlotte area spend your day here. My family truly loves interactive exhibits. This not only means hands on but virtual attractions where we can pretend we are actually there. Discovery Place allows you to do that as they have quite a bit of 3D Imax presentations, live shows, and hands-on exhibits.
Visit http://www.discoveryplace.org

6. Sea Life Aquarium:
North Carolina has some great aquariums and one of them is soon to be located right in Charlotte and opens in 2014. I have had the pleasure of visiting a Sea Life Aquarium in another state and one of the reasons I love them so much is that they really make you feel as if you are underwater too. They have an amazing underwater tunnel that gives you the best view of sea life like no other.
Visit http://www.visitsealife.com/charlotte-concord

7. Hendrick Motorsports Complex:
For NASCAR lovers you will definitely need to make a “pitstop” here learn about life on the track. Many have been able to see race car drivers doing warm ups as well as view real race cars and more. It’s a must for race car fans.
Visit http://www.hendrickmotorsports.com/about

8. Carolina Aviation Museum:
I have always been fascinated with how airplanes stay in the air and because North Carolina is home of the first flight thanks to the Wright Brothers, it would only make sense to visit Carolina’s Aviation Museum. One of the popular exhibits currently on display is the “Miracle on The Hudson” plane.
Visit http://www.carolinasaviation.org

9. BBQ King:
We love finding places that have been on TV and then trying the food to give our own rating. On a visit there last year we had a chance to stop at BBQ Kings which has appeared on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. We didn’t get to try everything on the menu, but their chopped/pulled bbq was delicious and their fried chicken juicy and crunchy.
Visit http://barbqking.com

10. Charlotte Nature Museum:
Last but not least Charlotte Nature Museum is one of the places we love the most for one reason...the butterfly exhibit. I remember being hesitant as my husband persuaded me to step into a room with hundreds of butterflies flying freely. Though a bit nervous it truly is one of the most beautiful scenes ever and every family stopping through, or residents of Charlotte, should visit it at least once.
Visit http://www.charlottenaturemuseum.org