North Carolina attractions

Take a fascinating, underwater journey from the rivers of North Carolina to the depths of the ocean at SEA LIFE® Charlotte-Concord Aquarium. Located inside the Concord Mills Mall, the aquarium features more than 5,000 resident sea creatures. Visitors can learn about marine life through feedings, talks, interactive experiences, and more.

Boasting a massive collection of memorabilia, the Andy Griffith Museum is an ode to the entertainer’s early life as well as his career in film, TV, and music. Learn about the late actor and his hometown and influence on pop culture. Plus, check out props, wardrobes, and other artifacts fromThe Andy Griffith Show andMatlock.

Enjoy a day of thrilling rides and fun at Carowinds, the only amusement park to straddle two states. Sitting across the border in both North and South Carolina, Carowinds features more than 60 rides and attractions, including the largest water park in the region, making it an ideal destination for families and thrill seekers alike.

Located in the heart of Uptown, the Levine Center for the Arts is the premier arts and culture destination in Charlotte. The center comprises three museums and a performing arts center: the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts+Culture, Mint Museum Uptown, and Knight Theater.

Located along the banks of Lake Wylie, the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden allows visitors to reconnect with nature in a beautiful garden setting. Spanning 380 acres (154 hectares), the site is home to more than a dozen gardens and attractions, including a tropical conservatory, annual and perennial displays, fountains, and woodland trails.

Chug along the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad (GSMR) for a scenic train ride through the mountain range shared by the most visited national park in the United States: Great Smoky Mountains National Park. From family-themed specials to romantic luxury upgrades, it’s easy to create your perfect train trip through the North Carolina countryside.

Satisfy your need for speed at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, “America’s Home for Racing.” Located just outside of Charlotte, the speedway is home to some of NASCAR’s biggest races, along with a full schedule of other races and events. The speedway also offers behind-the-scenes tours and racing experiences for fans.

Built in 1815 by Archibald Frew, and located just minutes away from Uptown Charlotte, the Historic Rosedale Plantation is considered one of North Carolina’s finest examples of federal-style architecture. Explore the fully restored house and expansive grounds and gardens, and learn about life on an antebellum plantation.

The McDowell Nature Center is a hub for educational programs and serves as the gateway to 1,132 protected acres of the McDowell Nature Preserve. Touted as the oldest preserve in Mecklenburg County, the open space comprises of mostly-forested terrain that runs along the banks of Lake Wylie and is ripe with miles of hiking trails.

With a mission to inspire a love of plants through educational programming, classes, and botanical displays, the UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens offers year-round splendor. Split between two outdoor gardens and a packed greenhouse the botanical gardens are a perfect spot for a relaxing stroll through the expansive grounds.

Connect with nature at Discovery Place Nature in Charlotte. Located next to Freedom Park, this interactive and educational museum features nature trails, live animals, a butterfly pavilion, hands-on exhibits and activities, and a range of shows and programs, offering a fun and educational day out for the whole family.

A nature-filled respite just a mile from Uptown Charlotte lies the quiet Wing Haven Garden and Bird Sanctuary. Designed and cared for by a married couple with a passion for ornithology, Elizabeth and Edwin O. Clarkson transformed their home and backyard into a lush and always-verdant bird sanctuary.

Set on the grounds of Charlotte/Douglas International Airport (CDI), this may be the only attraction in Charlotte you can visit within a few minutes of retrieving your luggage. Dedicated to the history of aviation in North and South Carolina, the 50-craft collection set in a 40,000-square-foot hangar includes several military and passenger planes.You’ll also find a reproduction of the Wright Brothers original 1903 Wright Flyer, which was flown in nearby Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. You can also explore a detailed exhibit dedicated to airline captain Sully Sullenberger’s miraculous Hudson River landing of US Airways’ Flight 1549; this flight was bound for CDI when it struck a flock of geese.While here, don’t miss an opportunity to climb into the cockpit of a fighter jet or to see the S.56B, one of only two single-engine biplane flying boats in the world.Please note The Carolinas Aviation Museum is currently closed for relocation. The reopening is scheduled for 2022.

With interactive demonstrations and cultural displays, the Oconaluftee Indian Village is a living-history exhibit that takes you back in time to a 1760s town. Follow your guide along a network of trails that pass traditional homes, gardens, and ceremony sites. Then, watch artisans make baskets, sculpt pottery, and build canoes.

At the intersection of Trade and Tryon Streets in Charlotte lies Independence Square, a focal point of the city that features a public art display. Erected in 1995 and completed by American sculptor Raymond Kaskey, the square hosts four, 24-foot-high bronze figures that personify Charlotte’s past and future.

Home to hundreds of vintage motorcycles and cars, the Wheels Through Time Museum takes visitors on a journey through 80 years of American transport history. Aptly located off the popular motorcycle route Blue Ridge Parkway, the rare collection is arranged to replicate a traditional garage for an immersive experience.