Charlotte, North Carolina is such a charming place, especially for toddlers. As a matter of fact, you will most likely be surprised by the many fun and exciting things that you can do with your toddler while you are there.
The good news is that Charlotte does not often become extremely cold the entire year, which means even the outdoor toddler activities Charlotte NC are easy for you and your entire family to do. It is a great place for anyone whether you are a tourist or visitor here or a local in search of new kid-friendly and safe activities for toddlers.
Best Places to Stay in Charlotte if You Have Toddlers
If you are a visitor or tourist in Charlotte and you are bringing your toddler with you, then it is highly advisable to stay in certain places to make your trip less stressful and more enjoyable. In that case, you may want to check out the following Charlotte places:
- Uptown – If you have toddlers or kids, you should consider staying in the Uptown. You can find it at the heart of Charlotte and is a great place to stay because it provides quick access (either by foot or a short ride) to a lot of top attractions, including museums, theaters, cinemas, and restaurants.
In addition, Uptown is famous for its attractive green spots and art centers that can make your trip with kids more exciting.
- South Park – Aside from being a shopping mall, South Park is also one of Charlotte’s upscale residential areas, which provides easy access to amazing shops and restaurants. If you and your family love to spend time indoors and you are searching for indoor toddler activities, then South Park is a fantastic place for you.
- South End – This area in Charlotte is famous for its numerous creative streets, culture, and businesses. You and your toddler will definitely be surprised by each corner’s creative local shops, urban designs, and restaurants. It is a great place to stay if you want your toddler to be more in touch with arts and culture.
Best Toddler Activities and Fun Things to Do in Charlotte NC
To keep your toddler entertained while in Charlotte NC, here are the fun and exciting activities that are right for them:
Marvel in the beauty of the Schiele Museum
Many kids have this inclination for natural history, which is the reason why the Shiele Museum is the perfect place to visit with your toddler in Charlotte. You will be impressed with the rich and entertaining exhibits in the museum. It contains a lot of things, including a marvelous planetarium and spectacular dinosaur skeletons.
Apart from their permanent exhibitions, they also feature a lot of entertaining and interesting temporary exhibits. All in all, it is a place you and your kids should visit to increase both your knowledge about the world. It can also give your toddler pure entertainment for several hours.
Enjoy the Discovery Place
The Discovery Place can be described as a leading non-profit hub, which main focus is on science education and exploration. It provides such a service with the help of its four distinctive museum experiences, namely the following:
- Discovery Place Nature
- Discovery Place Science
- Discovery Place Kids – Rockingham
- Discovery Place Kids – Huntersville
It is a famous place, serving over seven hundred fifty thousand visitors annually through its museum, community outreach initiatives, and interactive educational programming. If your toddler shows interest in science as well as exploration and discovery, then visiting the Discovery Place in Charlotte should be on top of your itinerary.
Through this place, your toddler will love and embrace science even more. This non-profit hub also aims to build opportunities and hope as well as solve problems and create positive change for the whole world.
Bask in the beauty of Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden should also be part of your itinerary if you are in Charlotte NC with your toddler. It houses a 380-acre beautiful ground complete with various garden exhibits that you and your kids can explore, including the Dry Piedmont Prairie, Orchid Conservatory, and the Canal Garden.
You can also find a garden here that’s specifically designed for children. This is the Lost Hollow: The Kimbrell Garden, which you can explore with your toddler. You will love the old forest that features an amphitheater here, as well as the sunken pond, manicured gardens, and play spaces, among many others.
Experience an adventure at Carolina Raptor Center
Carolina Raptor Center has a concept that started in 1975. From then on, the rehabilitation has admitted numerous birds and released them. It would be a great idea to bring your toddler with you and enjoy an adventure at the Raptor Trail.
Here, you will get to enjoy a three-fourth mile journey covering facts regarding more than twenty bird species. If you have a pre-kinder toddler, visiting the Carolina Raptor Center is also the best way to help them meet raptors, giving them an unforgettable adventure in Charlotte.
It is also important not to miss out on the story time at the Tiny Talon Tales program in the center.
Explore the Hall Family Farm
This farm is also a favorite among the visitors of Charlotte, especially those who decide to bring their toddlers or kids with them. Aside from basking in the attractive surroundings and the farm’s essence, the Hall Family Farm also provides plenty of events and activities specifically designed and crafted for every season.
It is highly recommended to visit this place with your toddler during the spring and family. During the spring, you will witness the farm featuring a lot of activities, like a musical hayride, slushies, and strawberry picking.
Once the fall season comes, you will also witness life on the farm through activities, like pumpkin picking, bonfire, and corn maze. What’s even better about the Hall Family Farm is that it does not have any admission fees. Note, though, that certain activities, such as the corn maze, come at a small price (often around $10 or less).
Take a street art walk at the North Davidson (NoDa)
If you and your toddler love art and beautiful sceneries, then visit and explore the North Davidson (NoDa). Locals describe this place as playful and artsy as it is famous for being the main part of cheer and entertainment. In this place, you will enjoy bright and entertaining scenes, local artwork, and colorful murals.
You will also be in love with the quirky local coffee bars and live music venues. It is highly advisable to enjoy eating your three meals every day when visiting this place as it is full of amazing restaurants with meals and snacks you will surely enjoy.
Spend time in the Carowinds
Carowinds is another place in Charlotte NC that will entertain your toddler. It is a huge amusement park that gives its visitors over sixty rides. Admission here gives you access to the Carolina Harbor, the biggest water park in North Carolina.
Following its renovation and expansion in 2018, Camp Snoopy, Carowinds’ kid-friendly spot, currently provides a dozen rides for toddlers and young kids. It also houses a climbing area that is around 8,000 square feet.
If you also have teens, then you can rest assured that the Carowinds houses attractions for the teenage and adult crowd. One of these is the Fury 325, the longest steel roller coaster in America. With attractions for all ages, the Carowinds can definitely give your entire family a delightful experience.
Visit the Concord Mills
Another of the best toddler activities Charlotte NC that you ought to try is to visit the Concord Mills. Here, you will get the chance to visit the SEA LIFE Aquarium, which gives actually gives free access to kids two years and below. Your toddler will definitely enjoy the interactive touch pool, the Ocean Tunnel, and the Sea Turtle Rescue Center.
This aquarium is also large enough that it can keep kids engaged for several hours while still preventing them from getting too exhausted once they have finished touring every exhibit. Aside from the SEA Life Aquarium, Concord Mills also houses the LEGO store, which you and your child should not miss.
It is also a great idea to visit the Bass Pro Shop, which houses amazingly big fish featured prominently in the entire store. In addition, you and your child will enjoy this place during the holidays as it has free Santa visits.
Conclusion
Mentioned in this article are just a few of the many toddler activities Charlotte NC that you and your family should try. There are still a lot more, so feel free to explore this amazing place in North Carolina and store plenty of unforgettable experiences with your family and toddler in your memory bank.