Andrew Jackson State Park is a small park with limited activities, yet it is still a nice and worthwhile visit. There is a small but informative museum on the history of Andrew Jackson, the park's namesake. A small one-room school house is also present along with a statue and several marker stones. There are several day-use shelters available for rent as well. They were busy and being used the weekend we were there with large gatherings. In the museum is a small store with a few souvenirs but no supplies. There is also a nice playground in a shaded grove that the kids enjoyed. There is a campground with 24 sites. The sites are small and relatively close together yet you still felt there was some privacy. We stayed in sites 21 and 23 and unfortunately it rained hard all night one evening and those sites are the low spots so we had rivers running thru the sites. The bathrooms were typical state park bathrooms but were relatively clean and close. The sites are small and I wouldn't advise a rig bigger than 30ft for most sites. The campground loop is very short and somewhat tight. Our 30 foot bumper pull was easy to get through but there is limited site parking for other than your tow vehicle. Water pressure was adequate if not a little low. There is a small lake very close to the campground that is very clear and very shallow. Swimming is NOT allowed, but you can kayak or rent pedal and flatbottom boats. There is also a nature trail that circles the lake but it was "closed" while we were there. You can actually walk about 90% of the trail, but there is a wetland area with a boardwalk and the boardwalk is falling apart which is what is closed. The campground is in the flight path for Charlotte airport so there are continual jets flying overhead and the park is also close to a highway so you hear traffic and emergency vehicle frequently. Cell service is acceptable with us having at least 2 bars of signal almost everywhere.

“Perfect spot for a quick getaway from Concord! This park features a scenic and manageable 1-mile loop that’s great for a short walk or light hike. We visited on a Saturday afternoon, and it was pretty quiet — peaceful and not crowded at all. The trail winds through beautiful natural surroundings, though some sections were a bit muddy, so sturdy shoes are a good idea. Overall, a lovely place for a relaxing outdoor escape!”

Just an overnight stay. Very peaceful and quiet. Nice hiking trails. Our camping spot looked out over the lake.

We did RV camping here and loved this small and quiet park and campground. It has a small loop with a few campsites right on the water. All campsites are in a wooded area. Dump station for RVs is also present. There is a museum to explore with lots of history, garden, outdoor theater, and hiking trails. The playground is located in a shaded area with lake views with shelters and restroom nearby. There is also boat/kayak/catamaran rentals available. Lived how close it is from Charlotte

This place is fun, went on March 15th for Andrew’s birthday celebration and it was super fun with all the costumed people and historical reenactments. Might be a little boring if those guys aren’t there though.

Pretty park, with a beautiful walkway around the pond. Older park, in need of updates but the restrooms were clean & the sites were pretty good. Only negative is the traffic noise - took away from the sounds of nature & true camping experience for me. I feel the pricing should reflect this and be reduced for this park. But we did feel safe and enjoyed all the walking/hiking areas and all the firefly's lightening up the night skies ☺️

Despite being located quite a distance from the city, this park offers a wonderful escape with its diverse amenities. The impressive amphitheater clearly hosts various events, adding a cultural dimension to the park experience. For fitness enthusiasts, the well-maintained running track provides a great space for exercise. Families with young children will appreciate the dedicated areas that make it an ideal place for kids to play and explore. Overall, the park's features make it a worthwhile destination, even if it requires a bit of a drive.

Everything was awesome. The light show was amazing, and I loved how music was perfectly synchronized with lights. They played a movie and you're able to take pictures with Santa at the christmas village. The only thing we disliked was the long wait before entering due to the large number of vehicles in line. Got there around 6:30 pm and went in about 8:30 pm (maybe the express lane would be a better option). Overall, it was a great experience for all our family members.

Must see the Christmas lights. They are amazing. If you or anyone else in your party possible can get over stimulated, be aware that it is a lot and possibly bring things to help someone cope with over simulation because you can't just stop on the track or exit at any time you'd like. I suggest polarized glasses (even at night, it's a lot of lights), fidget toys, and headphones or earplugs.

I absolutely loved this experience and enjoyed every moment of it. We arrived early, around 5:30, and there was already a two-way line forming. They opened right on time at 6:00, and at first, I thought it seemed pretty simple. But as we drove in, the details became more and more impressive. They let you know which radio station to sync with, and the music really added to the atmosphere. It was amazing! Knowing they partnered with Food Lion made it even more worthwhile, and I felt like what I paid was completely worth it. After the drive, you get to visit a village with fun activities, prizes for everyone in the family, and even snow! It was such a well-rounded experience. I 100% recommend it and truly appreciate everything Food Lion does for the community.

We did the Christmas light thing. Was really good. The line outside wasn't too bad, maybe 30 mins, inside took more than an hour to drive though. So many lights.

The Christmas light show was fun! We were there about 3 hours, there's parts you drive through, the Christmas Village you walk through, food and drinks, visits with Santa. It was a great experience!

We were visiting from Wylie Texas. They had the most awesome Christmas light display that I had ever seen. Not only that but the fact that you were driving on the track to look at it!

Came to see the lights tonight. There is no one directing traffic at the entrance. Poor signage and don’t bother purchasing tickets in advance because they put you in a long line with those paying cash. Once you get inside the lights are very far few in between. The amount of money they are making they can aleast have cones that separate the slower traffic from the faster. Complete shit show. 10/10 do not recommend wasting your money.

Very beautiful park. Lots of things to see. The trails are really nice to walk on. They are very scenic. It is getting warm so you will see lots of people walking and enjoying the area. Must come and walk around to get your fitness in. 🚶

Went to Festival In The Park at Freedom Park. I'll start off with parking is a nightmare. We were fortunate to find a spot about 1/4 mile from one of the entrances. Basically ignore the no parking signs and park on the street. According to a couple of police officers we spoke to they don't tow during festivals. Anyway, other than that it's a great festival. Tents set up along the path around the lake. Plenty of food choices along the route. Artists of all different styles set up tents. Sculptures, paintings, photographs etc. 3D art as well. Plenty of hand crafted jewelry, home goods, candles and clothing. There was a carnival area for kids with rides and such. They had music set up on the stage in the lake all day. All in all a nice way to spend an afternoon outdoors. Will go again next year.

Freedom Park is so beautiful in the summer. I have put hammocks in the trees here, picnicked, gone walking/running, and it’s a beautiful place for pictures and parties as well. I put all my Harry Potter books and a ton of classics in the free library here and I hope someone can read them!

Freedom Park is one of my favorite spots in the city! The fountain and lake feature are absolutely beautiful, with plenty of ducks and a scenic trail surrounded by lush trees. There’s a great mix of shaded areas and open spaces for sun, making it perfect for a walk or a picnic. The park is also full of seasonal blooms, like cherry blossoms, which add to its charm throughout the year. It’s well-maintained, and while the restrooms aren’t amazing (it’s a park, after all), they were fairly clean—definitely not the worst I’ve seen. Overall, it’s a gorgeous and relaxing place to spend time outdoors!

Good for a family outing… very big play area for kids and beach volleyball is good in this park. Train is unique attraction here

I go here every weekend with my small dog. Plenty of paths to walk. Visit the Memorial Flag and walk around it to the small fountain and 9-11 Memorial. Bathrooms are accessible. The butterfly garden has bees or butterflys depends on the season and cute Pink Puff tree. Some small blooming bushes. Seating on benches, covered pavilions to rest and soothing views into ponds and nature.

Superb Sunset View ! Clean park ! Ample space for everyone. Mesmerizing view in the evening.

We went March 23 ‘25. It was the 2nd week they were open for the season. Before noon lines went quickly, after noon it was awful. We ended up calling it quits after waiting over an hr for the kiddie balloon ride. We enjoyed our visit for the most part. My kids got to ride probably 5 rides each. We also stayed at the Carowinds campground and really thought the campground was lovely. The staff was accommodating and super friendly. The cabin was lovely. Came with everything we needed for our stay and plenty of towels for our family of 5. The shuttle bus drivers that took us from the campground to the park were awesome. We will come back soon possibly get season passes. Just the lines were awful after noon-ish. We understand but for little kids it’s hard to explain the long waits in the kiddie area/

The park was clean. Go as soon as they open and/or get a Fastpass because it gets really busy by 1pm and wait times can be ridiculous. My only other complaint is that the funnel cake place near Starbucks is a cluster. They don't have a good menu displayed and don't know how to direct people to make a line. If you don't know what toppings they offer, they get sassy with you. The kitchen takes up 3/4 of the building, only giving a small area for people to order, pay, and wait.

With all due respect to a large theme park, if you say you're giving all these great perks to Gold and Platinum Pass holders then you need to hold up your end. We've been Gold & Platinum Pass holders for a few years off/on. Yes, this does give great perks such as early entry into the park, unlimited visits until Labor Day, etc. We got early entry into the park on Sunday, April 26th at 09:37 and made a beeline for Fury 325 which undoubtedly is one of the main attractions of the park. Only to find it closed still. For over a hour we wound up standing, waiting, debating whether to run to 1 of only 2 open rides we found out. Their excuse? "It's a late open and we're still doing test runs". We didn't wind up being let into the line area until close to 11 when the park opened for general admission at 10. What's the point in paying extra for Gold Pass? While I agree and don't want to be on a ride that hasn't been tested for the day... An hour is ridiculous. I've worked retail, I've worked many of other jobs in my many years. If we open at a certain time, you're expected to be there early to get ready to open and be ready for business and customers. Horrible business to get there at opening and then start the test runs, computers, etc. We will be back but I hope this is looked into and fixed.

Had a blast! Fury is a really awesome coaster! Only downfall is they don’t accept cash. Definitely seems to be better to go before in season. Waiting lines weren’t bad at all, 1 hour max. Great experience!

Me and my relatives went here for the first time and it's beautiful. They are at the border around NC and SC. "Where Carolinas meet" Thunder striker was The best. The only downside was that when we were going down for the first time my heart went topsy turvey and I thought I was gonna pass out. Speaking of it, my brother puked 2 times, one time on one of the rides. which was that I think it was the flying cobras which wasn't as bad and we also had a loopty-loop and when we got done we changed my brother's clothes, played some games and won alot of prizes. Which also give a point. We had our sister go on that little kids scooby camp ride. Ofc I was too tall for it. After we went too what we thought was it "last ride" as we went on the bigger Ballon race one. We picked Italy but instead mexico ended up winning. I don't know why but I think it was luck. After, when we were leaving we took another 15 mins for me and my cousin to go on the Thunder striker one more time. I was more happy about it as last time I was really stressed out. Then finally, we left and went to get dinner. 4/5 and 8.5/10 if it was out of 10, disadvantages were, the wait, nausa and uhhh. I don't know. Well, bye

We thought a weekday would be less crowded there, but there were tons of school kids on field trips there, we did may be 3 rides the whole time between 10 and 6 and once they started leaving were able to do more rides within a short time. Richochet was broken by the end of the day, and we couldn't ride it. This park is so similar to California's Great America.

Amazing amusement park, loys of rides and great food..Fury 325 is incredibly tall.. Our visit was lots of fun and I definitely recommend it to anyone visiting NC/SC.

An amazing museum with lots and lots of vehicles. As soon as we entered, we came to a hall full of vehicles with an example of part of the track. We entered a huge cinema hall and saw a film that explains the entire history of this industry, which turns out to be a crazy sport. There are lots and lots of attractive activities, from changing a wheel on a race car to measuring your time. There is a racing simulator where you get into a race car and it was one of the craziest and most fun things I've done. I was able to understand how high the drivers must be, especially at high speed. Highly recommended with children.

This was such a neat place to visit! When you buy tickets you get a card to personalize your experience. Depending on the tickets you buy, the card allows you to try the simulator, try your hand at being part of the pit crew, and activate different screens with information throughout the building. There are multiple floors packed with tons of history! They are still adding more to the building and different little things to interact with. Overall a really cool experience!

This museum is a must for anyone. There is lots of history to learn and amazing facts about a sport that is very popular. So much to learn from each exhibit, amazing memorabilia, and a simulator ride as well. So awesome!! Watching the evolution of this sport was so interesting. If you are a hard core fan, give yourself extra time to go through as you may want to look at all items and listen to the full video playing in the hall of fame.

This is our second time here. There is so much to see and learn. Parking in the garage is expensive but tickets are reasonable. If you have 4 or more in your group it's a better deal to buy the year membership plus it gives you a discount on the parking garage. Well staffed and everyone is friendly and helpful.

It was such a cool experience! They had a special exhibit set up showcasing Hendricks' 40th anniversary on the ground floor, which I was excited for, being my favorite team and driver. If you're in Charlotte and a race fan, this is a "not to miss." I'm looking forward to coming back once Larson is elected into the HOF.

Came for the engines—stayed for the drama, the legends, and the photo ops so good I almost changed my profile pic. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just here for the vibes and vintage jumpsuits, this place delivers. Interactive exhibits? Check. Simulators that made me drive like I forgot my toddler was watching? Double check. And let’s talk gift shop: it’s where I blacked out and woke up with a Dale Jr. mug, a checkered flag scrunchie, and zero regrets. Final lap verdict: 10/10 would draft again.

Very cool place in uptown Charlotte, I checked out the whole museum, got to experience racing, the they go started in Florida, there were student there from school, they were having a good time.

What a delightful little adventure! This small but amazing aquarium takes 45min to 1hr to walk through, it is gorgeously maintained and themed. Once you buy your tickets they're valid all day, the aquarium is inside the Concord Mills mall and is a great treat to have if you're in the area. We loved seeing the several different beautiful starfish and the moon jellyfish.

I am an aquarium enthusiast. My child's school went here for a field trip. This aquarium is located inside Concord Mills Mall. It is small however it has enough attractions to hold a small child's attention. I wouldn't recommend groups larger than 30 to visit as there is not truly enough space to move through it. It is an unguided walk through. However, the representatives are all helpful, professional and occasionally walk through and willing to answer any questions one may have. There is a touch tank stocked with starfish and small shells. Again just enough for a small outing to learn and see tropical and freshwater sea life.

We had a great time at sea life today, it took about 45 minutes to go through the entirety of the aquarium. Lots of cool tanks. It was much larger than I originally expected just based on the fact it’s inside the mall. 10/10 would recommend to families or just as a nice adventure.

I went with my family, It’s clean and quiet But it’s really small , I visited other aquarium, there was big and there was a lot of fish 🐟 not like here So I was surprised when we finished this aquarium in 15 minutes 🙃 It’s not worth the price 👀 P.S: It’s for free to children under 2 y.o

High quality aquarium for children! Had awesome sea life and experiences for my 2 year old son. They have a tunnel for an immersive experience as well as many plaques describing the sea life in the tanks. We had a great experience and were able to go through it in roughly 30 minutes to an hour.

What a beautiful place! Very charming and clean, the employees are very kind, such a variety of fishes and other sea animals like seahorse, eels, gigant crabs, sharks and jellyfishes, my daughter loves it totally, just need a little more interactive activities

1st impression was good. I had a great time with my family. The facility is clean, and the animals look happy and well taken care of.

Bank of America Stadium was pretty cool, and it definitely exceeded my expectations. I think the best word to describe "The Bank" is "corporate", in both good and bad ways. It's a very nice stadium, but it doesn't really have a raucous atmosphere or anything that really sets it apart from other stadiums. It's not a Lambeau, Arrowhead, or even a Cowboys Stadium level of noteworthiness, and thus I don't know if its worth going out of your way for. Now, with that being said, Bank of America Stadium is definitely an above-average stadium, which has a lot going for it. The first is the cleanliness. I've NEVER been to a sports stadium, college or professional, that's as clean as this one was. In addition, the food and drink options were amazing, albeit extremely expensive. Finally, the location of the stadium is one of its strongest attributes. It's very easy to walk to from the multitude of hotels located nearby, and has tons of dining options to choose from when you walk out. All-in-all, Bank of America is an extremely solid, if not absolutely spectacular stadium. Would recommend catching a game here at least once.

The stadium is honestly beautiful—super clean and well maintained. Security staff and the folks handling food and drinks were all really friendly and efficient. It’s kind of amazing to be at an event and see how many people go all-in for Charlotte—blue everywhere! The energy is contagious. Definitely recommended if you want a good time in a great atmosphere.

Life long Panthers fan finally got to see a game last year when we beat the Cardinals just before Christmas great game amazing atmosphere fans are cool as hell

Liked our experience at the Bank of America stadium. Club area was okay with several choices for snacks, treats, and food. Wish there was more of an area to watch the game in the warmth of the club area. Seats area in good shape with cup holders at every seat. Escalators, ramps, and elevators to upper areas. Easy in and easy out. Men's toilettes have you side by side by side and didn't seem as big as other stadiums I've been to so the lines got long it felt like. Krispy Kreme mainly sold out in first quarter.

Great stadium. Charlotte FC games are fun. Wish the panthers were better but the games are still fun! Really expensive food and drinks though and difficult to find affordable parking but very walkable from different parts of Charlotte and the light rail is also accessible. Good selection of food and good atmosphere.

What a great game experience. $ they are so well organized there. We flowed through and had our tickets scanned in less than 5 minutes, and we were in our seats in less than 10. The staff there are incredibly friendly, always have a smile on their face and are ready to help out when you need it. $5.40 for a hot chocolate was a bit hard to swallow! Pun intended!

There nothing like attending the game in person! I have been several games at the Panthers Stadium but by far have really enjoyed the MLS games. The crowds energy is always amazing! The concessions stands are stationed all around the stadium making grabbing drinks and food very convenient. The prices were a bit more than we have experienced at other stadiums but who doesn't enjoy cold craft beer while watching the game.

What an amazing experience I had while traveling! From the moment you arrive, you are greeted and welcomed. You take a guided tour through the story of how Billy Graham devoted his life to ending in the massive library/ book store. Every detail is well thought out and showcases how much he loved GOD and loved people. I would definitely recommend it to anyone in the area even if you only have an hour to visit (like I did).

This is such a beautiful place to visit. The location it self is very pretty, peaceful, and quiet. Both the library and the house have their own charm. We spent over two hours exploring the place, learning about Billy Graham’s live, his work Nd ministry evangelizing, and how he impacted the whole world. Recommend!

Must see in the Charlotte area. I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior while visiting here. Absolutely amazing experience walking through and learning about all that Billy had done as an evangelist. Everybody was so friendly and welcoming. Just what I have needed for a very long time. 🙏God is good ! Billy's childhood home is on the grounds and he and his wife Ruth are also buried there. There is also a cafe and gift store.

Visiting the Billy Graham Library was an incredibly moving and inspiring experience. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with warmth and hospitality. The exhibits are beautifully done—thoughtfully curated, interactive, and filled with powerful messages of faith, hope, and love. Walking through Billy Graham’s life and legacy gave us a deep appreciation for his ministry and the lives he impacted around the world. The grounds are peaceful and pristine, and the Prayer Garden offers a quiet space for reflection. Whether you’re a longtime follower of Billy Graham or just curious about his story, this place is a must-visit. Highly recommend!

A very pleasant experience, be ready to cry yet enjoy this beautiful dedicated space to Mr. Graham and his family. Finally, be ready to be welcomed by the kind volunteers who work there, and who will pray for you if you want them too!

It’s not all about the food and drinks. It’s also about stopping to learn about important people who helped spread love and kindness, salvation and redemption to the world. Billy Graham is one of my favorites because he spoke about Godly things that matter! Jesus and his goodness. This library and memorial to Billy js such a great stop if you ever needed to remember that what you do for the kingdom matters. I hope you #enjoy this little stop for your soul. And please be sure to take a moment and enter the prayer room (which was my favorite). It’s not what God has done. It’s what He is doing and what He will do. Til our next stop 😘… see you soon 🔜

What a great place to visit! I highly recommend it ✨ if you love history and want to know more about Billy Graham, you should visit it. I believe that God will talk to you through his story and your faith will be stronger.

Amazing play museum for kids! I brought my 1.5 year old and she had a great time exploring all the different play areas. I appreciated that they had smocks for the kids to wear when playing with the water station. Great way to spend the day!

We definately enjoyed this place very much. My 8 year old was having trouble finding some things she thoroughly enjoyed at first because there are alot of things geared towards younger kids but she ended up finding plenty. There is a wonderful craft room with plenty of odds and ends to create and craft things from your imagination for taking home. There is a cute workout area with a mini rock climbing wall and pretend exercise equipment, there's a bank, a grocery store, a little farm area, a race car, a boat and plane, think tank areas, and so much more. Your kid could definately spend hours here just trying everything. There are also schedule events that take place that we didn't get to enjoy but sounded cute. There is a main stage that they can dress up and play at but they also hold storyline there, other spots have a puppet show or science creations so make sure to check out their website for that. Tickets are $3 cheaper online and check dates as we seemed to have gone on a super busy day when there were campers there as well. It was a Tuesday and super busy

Lots of activities for 2 to 8 year age group. The place is good to spend around 2 to 3 hours with little ones. I recommend buying tickets online instead of buying at the front desk.

Great variety of hands-on activities for learning and creativity. Buy tickets online to save $2. (There's a QR code just outside the entrance to purchase.)

We used to love going here, but our kids get sick (cold and/or flu) after every single visit. We never see any staff sanitizing anything, either. We won’t be renewing our membership. Parents, make sure to bring your own sanitizing and cleaning products and be extra careful .

Came here on a Saturday after hours for a kids' birthday party. I have never been and didn't really know what to expect. It's basically like a bigger version of a park for kids. They have a big play area, but the stations are more tailored to everyday things. For example, they have a grocery store, a post office, a doctors office, etc...where kids can just play and pretend to be a doctor, a cashier, firemen, etc. They have a water station, which I believe is for sensory play and a state where they do presentations and experiments. Overall, this is a great place for kids 8 and under.

I had my son 1st birthday party here last Sunday evening. We had the worst experience EVER! For the amount of money I was charged, The staff should've been on point but they were not. From the second we walked in there it was issues. First of all I chose the last party time of the day at 3pm. We were told because our party was the last party of the day we should have our party goers come earlier to enjoy the museum so we showed up earlier. The entire 2 hours we waited for our party room to be "set up" I never met the party host (Megan) until about 10 mins before the actual party started, she came up to the party room and told me that we could not use our food warmers to warm up our food, so we had to serve cold food, then she proceeds to tell me that she is only in the room for 45 mins to do activities with the children. She left out the room saying she needed to retrieve something and she never returned to the room. She never asked me about a time or told us when she would be coming back we assumed she would be right back but she never returned. The children never got to do any activities. There was no host to tell us what to do or anything. I tried speaking with a manager Amie but she really did not care and was very nasty I explained to her that I was upset because NOT A SINGLE employee came in to do activities or to even check on the party. By this time people were leaving the party. Amie told me that my host should be here and she would send her in to do the activities. There was no need at that time because the children have left, I asked about a refund because this place did not provide what I paid for. Amie looked at me and said "your not going to get your money back" at that point I was done talking with her and asked for the director information...It GETS WORSE! The Director Lindsey very rude and nasty as well, didn't care and told me I was lying and their staff provided us with a host and activities. She needed to check the cameras to see what happened. Lindsey then in turn gave me the information for the Director of sales Cisco, upon speaking with him he informed me that he had checked the cameras and there was no way the party host did not come back in the party room and we were told by the party host Megan whom I had only seen for less than 10 mins, that she would come back in the room and do the activities with the children. I informed him that we were not told no such thing. She's lying. I gave them time to go look back at there cameras and it's clear they did not look or they trying to cover there own behinds. But by lying and not wanting to help or compensate me for the inconvenience, the non hosting, and for basically calling myself, my husband and everyone who was at my party liars now I have to take this to the next level and take them to court. The dismissive attitudes and the lies form all 3 of them helped me make my decision to take them to court. This situation could've been solved so easily just by apologizing would have made a difference but we never even got that. So I will see them in court. I would not recommend anyone have a birthday party there. It's boring and the staff don't know what they are doing and you'll more than likely be hosting your own party after paying them almost $500 for your party. CAUTION!!!! BEWARE!!!!!! DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!

Was a wonderful experience feeding animals and getting to see them up close. Altogether it was about 2 hours touring the entire facility. Most animals walks up pretty close to you. As long as you follow the instructions you should be good. There was no waiting time. There’s like a small food area at the starting of the tour if you wanna have food. The rest rooms are pretty clean.

Cash or check only ✔️ Great experience! Perfect weather and plenty of space to move around. I'm so glad we took the wagon ride so the driver could feed and enjoy the animals as well. The wagon ride lasted about 45 minutes today. May take longer if there are more people on the trail. We loved the giraffes 🦒 the best. There's a nice open playground for the kids. A place right next to the playground for purchasing Blue Bell ice cream, cheeseburgers, corn dogs, Mac and cheese, and pizza. There are drink machines that take cash or cards. There are indoor plumbing bathrooms near the playground and a few porta johns in other areas. There is a small store for souvenirs as well. They have ice cream and drinks in there too. Great experience, and I would go back. 😀

Wonderful time and experience. The staff was very friendly and extremely helpful and knowledgeable. We chose the wagon tour and soo glad we did. Our guide shared all kinds of interesting facts about the animals and was very pleasant. The entire experience took close to 3 hours including the walk thru area. It was amazing being up close and personal with all of the animals. Highly recommend for a wonderful day trip.

Honestly this was the best drive thru safari we have ever been too! You’re able to feed the animals with buckets while you drive your car through it and they also have wagon rides. This is highly recommend if you want to go out and see the animals and take the kids! Definitely 5 stars!!

Lazy 5 Ranch is a family favorite of ours. This place is so fun! The animals are taken care of well, and they're friendly. I recommend taking a truck and sitting in the back to really get the whole experience. Being outside with the animals is a different feel, but STAY IN THE TRUCK BED!

Always a fun experience! I've been a customer since 2015 and is one of my top places to bring out of state guests! The experience was above amazing this round and to have the giraffes lick my bfs hair was the highlight and true laughter of the year. Will be returning! Thank you to the staff who care for these animals and guests! There are many days I drove through on some sad days but you can never leave without a smile or laugh. Thank you for doing more than your job asks of you and providing natural therapy amongst many others!!

Great experience with the kids. The staff are great, really well run facility. Drive thru animal park, your car will get dirty so be prepared! Ice cream and lemonade at the stand by the park. Feed the goats afterwards.

The racing is top notch - definitely the best go carts we’ve seen. The reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is that several other activities were limited by staffing, but the real kicker is that the laser maze has apparently been broken long term but is still listed on the website. Also, the Peanut track for younger kids under 8 is a bit short and the bumper cars too crowded. The blacklight mini golf had great decor/theme, but lots of rips in the carpet and several broken clubs. We came on Black Friday to do the unlimited special from 10-4 as a birthday present for our teen and a friend, and he had an absolute blast. Great for teens or adults - would 10 out of 10 for the go carts, the real attraction. The rest was ok - would be cautious about bringing kiddos under 8, but would absolutely recommend for teens and adults. Only other feedback is that I wish they more elevated observation space around the track and a full service snack bar, but I’m sure those upgrades would require substantial capital contributions that may or may not be justified. Overall I would highly recommend for the go cart racing as there’s not a lot of great places with full speed carts like this. This NOT your “amusement park style” carts - these go! Would also consider booking the place for adults or a corporate event just to do the racing. Thanks to the staff for doing a good job on what was a pretty busy day for the place!

Went for a team building event to throw axes. The facility is very large, getting in may be a challenge for someone not more able bodied. Lots of stairs everywhere. Once we finally got to the right place the young man Gavin taught us how to throw and use the games. He was such a great host. The games were very fun and we all learned something new. Thanks for the hospitality Gavin!!!!

Super fun destination for family fun! We came for the kart racing and did not disappoint. Adult men had more fun then the kids LOL! Lots of safety precautions in place.

This place is an absolute blast! Mainly for us it was the carts! All the other arcade and games were fun but the carts take the cake for sure. We came here to celebrate a birthday of my son. These carts are not slow and not for people scared to race. Must wear helmets and watch a safety video. They did let us race fairly rough which was fun. Definitely will be going back! They do have packages to be able to include everything or if you just want carts you can do that as well.

Went to a party here and overall it was nice but it could definitely use some renovations to the lighting, paint, and overall cleanliness.

I'm giving five stars because Adrian went above and beyond in helping me on the racetrack. I was there on a date and it was one of the coldest nights we've had. My hands were beginning to freeze as I was going around the track. I asked if they had any gloves and Adrian personally gave me his gloves to use. He even offered me a warmer, lined pair of gloves for our second race. He is an asset to this establishment. Blake and Adrian both were professional and helpful to us. We enjoyed our time there.

This was my first time coming here. This is where my son wanted to go for his birthday!! He had a blast doing about everything there. Even an escape room. This is one birthday we will not forget!! The employees were also helpful and friendly. We definitely will be back.

Awesome lake over 52 mi.² and 515 linear miles of shoreline. Clear water, sandy beach, islands, lovely scenery and beautiful houses.

Nice lake, really love going South to Florida and getting stuck in traffic and losing 3 hours drive time passing it. Get the roads fixed, it's only been f'd up for 5 years.

It truly is our own Inland Sea. Grew up on the shores of LKN and now spend just about every weekend March through September on the lake. Absolutely the best sunsets around.

Place is absolutely beautiful. Great place to hang out. Been here a lot, so it’s definitely worth it. Other than the water getting dirty at times, it’s a great destination to hang out. Weather sometimes gets on your nerves, but that with everything that goes on. Definitely coming back here for my next visit.

Great family place. Kayaking, biking, hiking, or swimming, or camping you name it. You can do it all at Lake Norman. You can visit the educational center to learn all about the Lake and how far it extends throughout the state. Walk through the trails, and dip your feet in the water.

Beautiful lake with tons to do. We went kayaking in the sunrise and sunset. Enjoyed both experiencea. Then we went out on a baot with the whole family. You can stop on islands or the state park and a have a wonderful day out in the nature.

Beautiful hike! My husband and I took the Lake Shore Trail to the 2.5 mile point and then cut to the short trail (it was hot and we didn't have enough water) The trail is natural and in a few spots not really well marked. Roots and rocks make it important to watch your step. We saw lots of spiders, a black snake and squirrels, but its the trees that really make it! The canopy gets really thick and the path shaded. We can't wait to go back!

Awesome park. It has pedal boats. The view is spetacular. I love taking pictures there. The walk around the lake is good exercise. There is so much we haven't seen. Love

~Disc Golf Review~ A serene and whimsical place…a lovely walk and felt like a grand little adventure. Around every corner were unique little things and creatures. Absolutely loved it Cons -have to look at the map closely to navigate a few spots -some holes were pretty dang tough! -bit of construction going on -parts that need upkeep

I love taking the kids to this park! The trail is nice and open, free of obstacles, and clean! The playground is shaded and upkept nicely.

Folks, we are lucky to have a place like this so close. A very nice 1.5 mile paved walking track, with a beautiful continuous view of the lake and all of the things of nature that come with it. You can watch the eagles fly, the ducks playing on top of the water. You can see fish swimming and an occasional harmless banded water snake. Even deer are present at the park sometimes. This is a pet friendly park, and they have stations that supply bags to pick up poop that comes from your pet (please pick up after your dog). A nice playground for the kids, that includes a zip-line, just a great place to spend some relaxing time.

Beautiful lake and walk around it has so many views and things to do. We just walked around the park for the exercise and beauty. They have fishing areas, rental boats on weekends in the fall, pavilions, disc golf, bathrooms, grills at pavilions and horseshoe pits. I am not the biggest fan of Gastonia but this is a gem in the rough.

Brilliant, wide open park with a giant lake surrounded completely by a paved shoreline walkway. Numerous benches, a long bridge and several nice fishing piers are featured. Great place to walk your dog and picnicking spots abound. One whole side of the park is flanked by a sprawling swamp where access is wisely forbidden and well posted. Would be extremely peaceful were it not for the loud gunfire emanating from the firing range across the swamp.

Took our puppy there for a walk and some socialization. Great clean environment and the other patrons were also friendly and respectful. The wildlife is somewhat sparse but is fun to see and watch... Turtles, geese, and occasionally a bald eagle.

My son loved the train ride. They only take coins and cash so be prepared. He also mentioned that it seems like a long ride, which was 3 laps so he was very satisfied with the length. There is a nice playground and other attractions as well including an outdoor swimming pool.

Always have such a Great time at the Shelby Merry-Go-Round Festival they have here each year! You can't beat 1 price for unlimited rides and free entertainment! LOVE IT!!! 💖

Beautiful park! Great stop on our day road trip! No picnic area by the main playground so we went around the corner by the ball fields where there is a pavilion and smaller play area to have lunch. The city webpage about the park should update the hours of summer operations for the train and carousel. There are 2 separate pages for hours of operation info so we took a chance hoping we’d get lucky and they would be running. So weekends only for now. There are bathrooms in both areas.

One of the best public parks I have ever visited. This park was a staple during my childhood and I have enjoyed the changes and things that have remained the same for my own child to enjoy. The carousel is beautiful and fun, and everyone loves to take a ride or two on the train. The park is clean and well kept, and the Sun shades are a nice touch on hot and sunny days.

Great park to bring your littles. Only thing I don't like is the teenagers hanging around in the little kid swings and such taking all the fun stuff to do away from littles. The teenagers around here clearly don't have good parents or just don't care about anything but themselves. Make sure to watch your children! .. but the train ride is fun

Really nice community park. Clean, well kept up. Great placebto spend some time with the family

Surprisingly nice now, the kids love to be able to get on the train and merry-go-round! First park I've seen in a while with a safe roundabout so bonus!!!!!

Newly revamped space exhibit. Really pushing the online membership rather than staff and volunteers setting people up via the cash register gift shop. Be ready to QR Code sign up online. Great benefits as a member of both ASTC and SERM programs!

Fun science center for all ages. Lots of interactive and interesting exhibits. Staff was extremely helpful and knowledgeable. There’s always a staff member in each exhibit to answer questions and spark curiosity. Nice outdoor area for eating lunch and admission includes entrance to the art museum across the way. I highly recommend if your kids are truly into science. Will definitely be back for more.

We love going here, there's really something for everyone, even babies and young toddlers! Science experiment activities, Building activities, an art museum, and an aquarium. We haven't been to a planetarium yet because the last time we went it was under some sort of construction. The aquarium is okay, it's probably more fun for little kids but maybe not as exciting for older kids that want to see some bigger aquatic life. Lots of hands on fun and a close drive to downtown hickory. Also, it's right next door to the library.

The wife and I took our son there today earlier and he loved it. I think the aquarium was the highlight for him. He loves looking at the fish and trying to touch them. They had a decent size sting ray and some nursing sharks that you could touch. They had there butterfly exhibit open today which was pretty cool. Our son enjoyed watching them fly around and landing on the flowers. Just about all the exhibits we're open today and they were having a few shows in the planetarium. They weren't that busy when we got there and we got there about twelve thirty. Good place for elementary age children plenty of hands on activities to do. Our son played with everyone of them. I give them my two thumbs up.

My 12 yr old and I visited yesterday and had a blast! We saw the butterfly habitat, touched stingrays, enjoyed the tornado chamber, loved Seymor (giant tortoise) and the electric eel was awesome. Thanks for letting us watch the eel eat - it was electrifying! The summer laser show was wonderful! A fantastic place for kids and adults alike. And not expensive.

I used to love this place. It was the one attraction around my house growing up. It made for a nice Friday trip after school. But after taking my little sister here today I don't think I'll be coming back. Most of the exhibits haven't been updated in at least a decade and many of the buttons and knobs don't function correctly. The newer building that houses the aquarium seems to have forgotten that maybe they should get more fish. There are some nice sized pools with only a few or almost no creatures in them. All of the displays use old tech that takes away from the experience. One of the monitors even displayed the computer files rather than whatever it was supposed to show. The one "newish" tech I saw was a fake xray machine that used a Microsoft connect camera. I understand that the foundation in charge needs money but they can't expect people to fund anything if they don't at least present any plans to update. The whole experience was like walking through dying childhood memories.

Great freshwater and saltwater tanks for kids to check out. The planetarium is also pretty cool. Great place to take elementary kiddos for an afternoon.

Great Carolina Caring Employee Night at the Crawdads baseball game! The stadium is very family friendly. And the fireworks were great!

Home of the Hickory Crawdads Minor League Baseball team! Fun place for baseball and other activities venued in this facility! ⚾🧢

Been there to see the Crawdads play numerous times. Always a great and fun place. This time, we saw Lauren Daigle in concert. Great experience even though we had a small rain delay. Loved it.

It's been years since we've been here for a game and I was pleasantly surprised about how clean it was. The game was exciting, the food was tasty, and the atmosphere invigorating. I definitely want to come back again. Great way to introduce kids to baseball games without the huge crowds of MLB game.

Fun time out at the old ball game. First time at a minor league ballpark. I've been to two major league stadiums and this was just like that but on a much, much smaller scale. Home to the Hickory Crawdads, a Texas Rangers affiliate, L P Frans Stadium offers a lot of bang for the buck. Ample parking, excellent concessions, loads of entertainment both by the players on the field and by their crew off of it. It's an affordable place to take the whole family. Easy to get to located on the north side of Hickory and while there say hi to Conrad the Crawdad for me.

Love spending time with my son at Crawdads games. This place is beautiful. The Crawdads are a wonderful value for wholesome family entertainment. It's about time to update some things around the park though. Maybe some new and interesting gimmicks would also help.

Local paper had insert providing free parking, free entry ticket, and dollar popcorn. What a deal! We had to go to the ball game! We were surprised more people weren't there. Lots of support staff, who were really helpful. Concessions were pricey, but the staff were friendly. The game was great and we plan on going again real soon. Good family fun. Breaks with contests for the kids. I highly recommend what the Fluff, Organic Cotton candy. Kim served me and let me have a try at making a cone. I was back for seconds! Delicious!

Great tour and very friendly atmosphere. The tour is just long enough to keep you interested and engaged. Tasting is a lot of fun as well. Best coffee flavored moonshine I have ever tasted!

This is by far my new favorite place to drink and eat! George is lovely and tended to our drinking needs perfectly!! We ordered food from Cinder Bistro and OH MY GOSH was it DELICIOUS. The summer salad I had was so fresh and delightful. The burger my husband had was amazing and the Outlaw cocktail (unsure if that's the correct name) was a wonderful surprise! I highly recommend anything George recommends. You cannot go wrong with anything from there or Cinder Bistro.

Great visit and tour at Copper Barrel yesterday. Amazing building with lots of great history and very informative tour. Gift shop has tons to offer and George and his staff are amazing. Honestly, the best Moonshine anywhere! #shinetogether

This was an unexpected stop, that turned out to be a memorable time! From the moment we stepped inside Copper Barrel Distillery our senses were lit with the atmosphere that our host Victoria so graciously shared with us. From the history of Moonshine via “Uncle Buck” and George, the owners, to the tour of the distillery; the head, tail and heart. No beat was skipped here! The moonshine taste samples were amazing and smooth, all natural with sustainability in mind. You must try their adult slushies, very unique! We left with several bottles of Moonshine and cannot wait to return! You must go here!

Amazing place to go and learn local history. Anna was very informative and a wonderful tour guide. The samples at the end of the tour tasted great. My favorite was the mud slide.

The best adventures are ones that are not planned. We were driving through town and spotted the Copper Barrel. George was great and accommodated our little family even though we didn't have tour reservations. Learned a lot about moonshine and the history of Wilkes County. Highly recommend making it your distillery tour stop!

This was unexpected stop, but well worth it. The owners were very nice and personable. The Moonshine was some of the best and realist I've ever had. This will be a Definite stop, every chance I get.

Not enough good things can be said about South Mountains ⛰️. The distance was not far and the paths were clearly marked. They had plenty of places to picnic and relax before hitting the trail. This is truly nature’s path so bring your running shoes, water and a lot of endurance! The whole family will have a wonderful time!

A great hiking experience, with beautiful flowing water, rocks, and nature. The park is well maintained and trails are marked and easy to find. Seeing High Shoals Falls was beautiful, and was worth the hike! Highly recommended, lots of steps!

Very nice state park. I went there hiking 2 miles trail to overlook is hard, nice view in the end..

Great day trip hike from Charlotte that’s about 1.5-2 hours away. I did the shoal falls and elk knob trails. Shoal falls is a simple quick trail with the nice waterfall at the end. Elk knob is a bit longer but with an amazing view at the end, would recommend this state park!!

Peaceful, leg workout, enchanting, & full of adventure! My brother and I did the High Shoals Falls loop trail and added on .4 total to see Big Bear Falls. I truly enjoyed the trail—from its steep stairs to boulder climbing, bridges, and greenery. It’s a moderate to strenuous trail, but even if you don’t make it to the very top, there are so many beautiful (and decently sized) cascades. We hiked in the morning, which worked well because we beat a lot of the swimmers/floaters. Although swimming is technically not allowed, I saw lots of people doing so in a safe manner. The restrooms and picnic areas were very well kept, way to go park rangers!

This is a great place to see a great waterfall. The hike up was easy even though there are several steps and stairs near the falls. I recommend going after a heavy rain like I did. The falls were breathtaking as they roared over the edge.

I had the best time! My family enjoyed this trail, and my children did pretty well all the way to the waterfall, I really recommend this beautiful trail. Only one thing: people please be respectful of nature and the hikers and do not bring your Bluetooth speaker on full blast.

We go to wineries in the upstate and parts of North Carolina. We've been to about 15 so far and this one is the best by far. The view is beautiful, comfortable chairs with firepit, excellent service, and very affordable artisan cheeses to bring home. They also have 3 selections of beer for us non-wine connoisseurs. We will definitely be back.

Wonderful winery with a spectacular view! Claudia and Marilyn were great to talk with and very knowledgeable about their grape varieties and vines. Live music every Saturday, such a fantastic visit!

We thoroughly our visit to Silver Fork Winery on 7/27/24. The music by The Shelby Rae Moore Band was awesome! This winery gets it! I’m speaking about the business side of things. I’ve tried extremely hard to train my palate to enjoy wine but I just can’t get there. Silver Fork Winery offers beer for sale, which makes this business a new place we will bring all of our friends who prefer wine over beer. The attention to service, beautiful mountain setting and live music makes this a new destination for us. Thanks for including us non-wine drinkers in your business plan!

A lovely little winery with a nice mix of reds, whites, and pink (rosé), friendly staff, and a beautiful view. Live music and food trucks are regular occurrences on weekends. You can stroll among the vines, plus they've expanded their restrooms to 3. A great place to visit.

This was the best winery we have ever been to in North Carolina. Kelly was absolutely fantastic!! We talked to her for hours and she made us feel right at home. The owner also came by and introduced herself. She was so sweet as well! The wine was amazing! We will definitely be coming back in august 😊

We were exploring the area and found this gem nestled into the hills of Morganton. Exceptional wine especially the Chardonnay and Cabernet were the favorites of our group. The mountain views act as a beautiful backdrop and the landscape of the vines are gorgeous. Cheers !!!

Wow! Lovely experience. It was my first time doing wine tasting, and let me tell you, I don’t regret it at all 🥰🥰🥰 And the scenery is beautiful.

My wife and I and our dog Squirt did about little hike called "Discover" out to a bridge which crosses over water actually near the entrance way to the park. Fairly well marked and maintained trail geared towards kids - with informative signs along the trail. The bridge is pretty cool. It was a short, easy hike but fun! 👍👍👍👍

Great beach. No rocks. Swim area is short not sure what’s up with the yellow barrier being so close. Can not go to deeper water. I don’t think the boats come near? Poor swimmers in the area? Otherwise a good place to cool down. Restrooms are port a potties. Has outside showers on west side of building

Great visitor center. Well maintained grounds & trails. Will definitely return with our family. Water refill station & facilities available. Variety of trails available, including moderate with a lake view.

Always beautiful. Very nice trails and clean restrooms.

It’a a great place to go swim and just unwind, very much like a beach. Was not too crowded in the area we chose to stay. This is a lake, never expect the water to be very clean or clear. Completely free admission which is also great.

Took a guys trip the first week in April and it did not disappoint! We reserved 3 spots in area 2 so we would have extra space. If you haven't done this before, the paddle over can be rough depending on wind conditions, so be prepared and put anything you don't want wet in dry bags! Definitely recommend!

Spent a long weekend here camping in July. The bathrooms are very clean, the sites are level and roomy. The campground felt safe and everyone was very friendly. Best of all I was able to charge my EV for free at the lake. We had fun hiking the short, flat trails. The ranger told us how to get to NC Highway 105 for some off tossing that led to an amazing view of the Linville Gorge.

Had some crazy fun trying to figure ourselves out and keep our equilibrium in place 😵‍💫😆 some fun things for all ages and the museum was really very interesting. Quite a collection!!! Highly Recommend!

One of the best place to experience gravity anomaly. Price is $30 which is high compared to other places but it does include some other attractions right after cabin like bubble, shadow. Atleast entrance to few other outside activities could have been included to offset price. Gem mining, bull, axe throw are available for additional price. One thing to appreciate is free community pass they have given to ease out people from hurricane.

We were in Boone for the night and my son and I went here. It was an amazing and fun little outing. The tour guy was so funny and did a great job.

Great time. Wonderful staff. The girl at the soda shop is very beautiful and needs to smile more. Tomahawk girl is awesome, too. Everyone was a pleasure

I have been to a few mystery spots and found this one to be quite great. Firstly the mystery room has a few experiments to try out, as well as however much time you would like for enjoying it which I appreciated. The puzzle rooms had some fun interactive features as well. I enjoyed doing the various extra activities- axe throwing, bull rising, gem mining. These were pretty fun and if you get the $50 pass for all the experiences, you can easily spend a couple hours and have some fun easily. The tour guides and staff are so friendly, funny, helpful. Great experience!

Came Saturday 12/14 for all the fun our mystery hill tour guide was amazing . Did the 10:15 tour. Was a little up set that we paid for ax throwing in the package but it was closed. Then got down to the gem mine door was locked and the girl working it was rude when we got ready to leave we stood behind her for 5 mins watching her make a resume on the company computer🤣 best part was the mystery hill tour and the 2 working the reindeer bull upstairs !!!!

This place is amazing! From The beginning to the end, just amazing! The staff was great! The whole process super easy and fun. We had an amazing time. Our family did everything! Took 4 hours to do it all but we done a photo shoot at Finnagens photos, mechanical Bull riding, gem mining, axe throwing, anomaly tour, went through the bubble room , and much more! Even got to sit on the porch and eat ice cream and just enjoy the weather and each other! We had a great time and we definitely will be going back every spring and maybe more! Thank you all for being so amazing !

My daughter and her friend loved this place! There are so many gem mining places in this area but we're glad we stopped here. All of the staff were friendly and helpful. Shout out to Nathan who sat patiently with us and identified any of the gems we had questions about, he was super knowledgeable and told us a lot of details about each one. They also have a small indoor mini golf course.

Went with my 9 yr old and parents, fun for all ages! We did the mini golf, arcade games and the Virtual Reality game. Channing at the VR game was super helpful and made sure we had a great time!! The gem mining had mutliple options to choose from whether you are more interested in gems or fossils. Also nerf battles and VR laser tag were and option. We definitely recommend!!

Had a great time, took my 4 and 2 year old. The staff was very friendly and welcoming. We found our gems then spent time identifying them with a staff member. We only did the gem mining. Cool little spot to visit and spend some time..

We had an awesome time here, pricing is very fair and the staff were all nice and helpful. We found some really cool gems and loved that they have someone there to identify them for you and let you know have the potential to be cut for jewelry. The attached fossil museum was a lot of fun and super interesting!

Wow we had a great time here. My kids were able to comb through the big bucket of rocks and each of them got special treasures. They also went through the extensive museum and saw really fantastic specimens of fossils, rocks, etc. The attraction has varying levels of pricing so everyone can participate to some extent. Great place for a few hours of inside fun

We had a fantastic time doing everything. We started with gem mining and got some really cool fossils and gems. Then we played put put. Lastly the dinosaur museum. Highly recommend for kids.

We stopped at Doc's Rocks on the way back from our vacation. Kids had a blast. Very knowledgeable and friendly staff. lots to do , look at and touch. Good prices. The dinosaur museum up stairs was nice and well stocked, and given with a guided tour. I definitely will go back.

A great place for families, especially with younger children! Much more affordable and family friendly than other, larger amusement parks. Parking is FREE, it isn't too terribly busy unless a major holiday, and the staff is always friendly and welcoming. We visit here from Florida once or twice each year and our now 5 year old daughter loves it. No real thrill rides or super fast, looping roller coasters here, just good, old fashioned fun with live shows and delicious fudge and a calm, laid back vibe.

Kids had a great time, it was cold but was still fun, I haven't been to Tweetsie since I was a very young kid so it was enjoyable for me as well, i believe we'll have to go back during the normal Tweetsie so the kids can see it during the traditional Tweetsie as well.

Our family had a wonderful day at Tweetsie! We took our grandson here for his birthday. He is getting ready to turn two, and he had a blast! Great staff and the park was exceptionally clean. I wish we had packed a lunch even though the food was very good.

We took advantage of visiting Tweetsie this year as a family over our Christmas break. The park was not overly crowded and so that enhanced our experience! There was no wait for the train and only a small line at Santa. Staff were super friendly and the park is very clean. I’d recommend this place for a fun family outing.

Tweetsie Railroad is a gem! Brought my kids with my best friend and her grandkids today, and had the most delightful time! It was actually relaxing and I utterly enjoyed it. This place takes you back to simpler times in the best of ways. Loved it! Huge thank you to all the people that work there, they were so genuinely kind. Shout out to this one manager, I believe his name was Mr. Graham; kept running into him all over the park being engaged and conscientious that everything was running to high standard. Today Tweetsie Railroad renewed my faith and hope that there are beautiful places in this world where things are still running right. Even after all the terrible flooding last fall, they came back more beautiful than ever. Praise the Lord! Thanks for a wonderful day!! 😊

Tweetsie Christmas is the absolute best and well worth the cost of tickets! Staff is always so friendly and we enjoyed roasting marshmallows at the fire pits, the Christmas drum ride, blizzard tunnel, the train ride and all the lights. Don't miss out on meeting Santa at the Gingerbread House! ♥️

Moved to NC two years ago and I am not sure why I waited this long to bring my girls. The price is so worth it. I have a 3 and 4 year old and they were able to do so many things and ride so many rides. Bonus points for the best views!

I've been wanting to visit this place for 60+ years. Went with my kids and grandkids. All enjoyed the trip. Beautiful scenery inside. Our guide was very good (Ja). Knowledgeable, humorous. If you are in the area you should make the effort to visit.

Affordable guided tour into a well maintained cavern. We were here in March 2025 and they are mostly recovered from Hurricane Helene. Silas was our guide and was very knowledgeable and shared more information about the cave and rocks than I could ever remember. About 35 minutes in and out.

Super cool place! $13/person for a 40-45 min tour in the cavern is absolutely reasonable. Our guide was great and very informative. The cavern’s structure is just incredible! There’s also fish in there. The gift shop is nice as well—unique items and good prices. Highly recommend!

The guides were very informative and made the tour really fun. The caves are interesting and millions of years old. Definitely worth going!

My husband, friend, and I saw the caverns on the way to Banner Elk and decided to stop and check it out. They have a little gift shop where you purchase tickets first. The items aren’t outrageously priced. The tour took us about 45 minutes. Our tour guide, Annalise, was very friendly and knowledgeable. She gave us a great tour! We were part of a group of about 15. *We gave her a tip because she fix such a good job. 🙂

It's was cool! Had a good time exploring with my family. 😁

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the Linville Caverns. I highly recommend it as a must-see if you're in the area. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and we learned a lot. All staff that we interacted with were very friendly and professional. We weren't rushed through the caverns. Well worth the entry fee. All facilities were clean. I only clicked, not recommending purchasing tickets in advance due to the fact that you can not purchase online. You can, however, purchase for later time in the day and come back. The company keeps multiple groups moving through, so don't be late if you purchase tickets to return at a later time. We arrived at 12 pm and our tour entry time was 12:30 pm and we started on time.

We debated whether is not to visit while in the area since the cost was $22 per person and seems a little pricey, but it was worth every penny. We enjoyed the nature center, which was well laid out and educational along with the animal enclosures. There are 5 - beat, cougar, elk, otter, and bald eagle. With the exception of seeing the bears - we saw every other animal. It was a great experience! The swinging bridge was pretty phenomenal as well. It’s probably not for the faint of heart, but we loved it! The views are nearly 360 degrees over the mountains. Breathtaking views were the norm. We absolutely loved our day there and highly recommend it. You’ll get a perspective on the Blue Ridge Mountains you might not get elsewhere.

Breathtaking views. I believe I paid $22 to get in. Worth every penny. The hiking trails were a lot of fun.

⛰️ Grandfather Mountain is an incredible spot for hiking. The trails are challenging but rewarding, with some of the best views in North Carolina. The scenery is breathtaking, and the mix of rugged terrain and suspension bridges makes for a fun adventure. Definitely a must-visit for anyone who loves the outdoors. 🌲

Beautiful sights, regardless of which trail you take, some are advanced while others are somewhat relaxed and not as strenuous or demanding. They have a cute gift shop to get souvenirs, they also have a bridge where you can get some incredible views as well.

Visiting Grandfather Mountain was an unforgettable experience. The fresh mountain air, stunning views, and peaceful trails made me feel completely recharged. Walking across the Mile High Swinging Bridge was both exciting and breathtaking. I especially loved seeing the wildflowers blooming and watching the animals in their natural habitats. It’s the kind of place that makes you slow down, breathe deeply, and appreciate the beauty of nature.

Pretty views from the bridge, but I didn't realize it would cost $60 for two people until I was at the ticket window. Totally outrageous and I would have skipped it if I knew ahead of time.

Grandfather Mountain is an absolute must-visit! The views from the Mile High Swinging Bridge are breathtaking, offering stunning panoramic scenery. The hiking trails are well-maintained, with options for both casual visitors and experienced hikers. I highly recommend the Grandfather Trail if you’re up for a challenge—it’s steep but totally worth it!

Nice little mountain. Bunny slope was excellent and great for learning. Not a huge variety of runs for beginners but it was good. Looks like they have an excellent kids lesson program. Bus from parking lot to the lodge and nice eating area (fried food grossness so bring food from home!)

We went 2/8 - 2/9. I will say that the negative reviews here seem quite embellished and/or come from folks that are not very experienced in this space (which is ok). There are pros and cons to every destination, I'll offer ours below. Overall - This is a smallish resort that is well run, but can feel the stresses of overcrowding quite easily. We went on a normal weekend with snow melting (temps in 50s) and on a Saturday it was packed and a bit uncomfortable. Staff were excellent, from attendants at rental areas all the way to lift operators and teachers. Pricing - Lift tickets are about normal, a little high for what you get. Ice skating and tubing costs are absurd for what you get. A family of three paying $150 total to scoot down a hill for 90 minutes is nuts. Ice skating for 3 is +$100 total too, for ice that is not well maintained. Our only staff issue of our trip was here, as the ice rink folks started packing up and leaving about 20 minutes before our time was up (you pay $35 for a 90-minute session, then done). Hard to understand why those prices are where they are. Conditions - Our little one needed to learn, so we hit the little bunny slope after missing out on lessons (they apparently fill up right at 8am for the day). It was warm out but the snow was in good shape, the magic carpet and lifts were very well maintained.

Pros: Let me first say that the mountain itself and the skiing was great! Our kids loved it as well. Plenty of blues/greens/blacks. We all loved the actual skiing. We do plan on going back because we loved it. The lines were great during the week. Not much of a wait. Tip: purchase your ski card the night before you plan on skiing. ($3 one time fee) You reload the card online for the days you want to ski). This will help you avoid the long line the morning of. Cons: the employees did not seem to want to be there at all. They were agitated at everyone/everything. They were not patient at all.

I recently visited Sugar Mountain Ski Resort and had a mixed experience. Getting equipment and onto the slopes felt extremely unorganized. Most of the staff who spoke English were quite rude, except for those in the gift shop who were friendly and helpful. Service in the food and bar areas was notably slow. On a positive note, the slopes were actually quite good, although the snow machines blasting directly on the lifts were a bit of a nuisance. Overall, while the skiing itself was enjoyable, the service and organization left much to be desired.

It was a pretty mountain and I had fun because I was with family but not an impressive overall experience. The ski resort does NOT make it easy or enjoyable to rent equipment, lift tickets or sign up for ski lessons. The website was difficult to navigate to purchase tickets. Can't sign up online for lessons. Equipment rental was ok but better know what you need or want beforehand. Staff provided only minimum answers and did not go out of their way to provide further information about times or runs, etc. Got to do better Sugar Mountain, step up your game. Bring your technology out of the dark age, hire friendlier people and make life easier. It's hard enough already.

Pricey when everything is added up Visited for the first time day and we really enjoyed ourselves overall It got packed quick Plenty of signs around but would have liked to have the option to purchase snowboarding/ski tickets & lessons online in advance, only tubing you can do that. Enjoyed the bus ride to and from the centre, both drivers were super cool and free parking Beautiful views Mary in the first aid centre treated us first a finger cut and she was very kind and professional Pre registered for skiing equipment but most sizes of what we needed were out and sized up or down Guys at the desks seemed busy and overwhelmed but nice Would love to go back on a not so busy Saturday to fully enjoy all the slopes, shorter lines and even maybe some food.

Sugar can easily be made better than Beech. 1) Security cameras on the boards and skis outside to deter theft. 2) Add option to get lift ticket online and use your phone like a plane boarding pass. Or pick up lift ticket cards at kiosks after purchasing online. Reduce the lines that make people grumpy. 3) sign up and do all paperwork for ski school online which would prevent parents holding the spot in a 3 hour line for other parents. Then get the kids fitted in person the morning of ski school. Parents could be doing other things like spending money in the lodge for 3 hours on these busy weekends, again making them less grumpy. Print out instructions for parents for drop off day (verbal instructions is too much while filling out 3 forms). These 3 things will increase the vibe of Sugar and make it better than Beech, by far. Tubing: Put a couple small heater for kids at the tubing area, and make less dangerous berms between the lanes so legs or knees aren’t twisted. Get your ticket online the day before on busy weekends. We really enjoy cash not being needed, Apple Pay can be used for everything (lockers, equipment rentals, lift tickets, food, etc. Venmo tips for ski instructors and shuttle tips). We appreciate the drop off area, the shuttle busses for parking lots, the amazing kid instructors, reloading lift tickets online, the super long ski runs, covered lift carpet on the bunny slope, consistent grooming, the bakery and coffee are legit! Great beer selection.

This is a late review since we visited in July of 2024 but I’d always wanted to visit and was happy when we had the opportunity. The views are breathtaking! We visited on a weekday and it was BUSY! We were surprised that by the time we finished hiking and riding that the park was so full that park rangers shut it down for the day. We’re so happy we arrived early enough to get all the activities in that we wanted to. Also, the restaurant wait time was almost an hour so we couldn’t eat there but it looked decent.

Mount Mitchell State Park is a must-visit destination for outdoor enthusiasts, offering breathtaking views, unique ecosystems and diverse hiking trails. Located in North Carolina, it's the highest peak east of the Mississippi River, standing at 6,684 feet. *Park Overview* - *Location*: Between Blue Ridge Parkway Mileposts 355 and 356, accessible via Road 128 - *Hours*: Open year-round, 7 am to 9 pm, with no admission fee - *Amenities*: Observation deck, museum, gift shop, concession stand, restrooms, picnic area and campground *Hiking Trails* - *Balsam Nature Trail*: A 0.7-mile moderate loop, perfect for nature lovers and families - *Mount Mitchell Trail*: A 5.6-mile strenuous hike to the summit, with stunning views - *Camp Alice Trail*: A 0.5-mile strenuous hike with scenic views - *Old Mitchell Trail*: A 2-mile moderate hike with historic significance *Things to Keep in Mind* - *Weather*: Cooler temperatures, wind and potential ice require proper preparation - *Elevation*: Thin air may cause breathing difficulties; pace yourself - *Wildlife*: Be aware of black bears, bobcats and other wildlife *Reviews and Ratings* Visitors praise the park's unique ecosystem, scenic views and varied hiking trails. Some reviewers found certain trails challenging due to erosion and steep sections. *Getting There* - *From Asheville*: 29 miles, 50-minute drive via Blue Ridge Parkway - *Parking*: Three parking lots available, including one near the summit For more information and to plan your visit, consider exploring the park's official website or contacting the park directly ¹ ².

One of my favorite state parks. They have an AM radio station you can listen to for park information as you drive through. Fun and informational. The observation tower wasn't all that exciting, but the trails were very nice. The hikes are intense if you aren't used to some elevation, but worth the views. Beautiful drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway to get there, but make sure you plan extra time to get there. They have a restaurant, gift shop, and visitors center.

6,682 feet above sea level! The highest point east of the Mississippi River. Truly a site to behold. The hike from parking is only 300 yards easy peasy. So many sights to see on the Blue Ridge Parkway and learning about Dr. Mitchell, Big Tom and Governor Craig was well worth taking a little time to explore the museum right at the entrance to the trail up

A well-earned state highpoint with beautiful views along the way. I made the drive here as I continued my journey to hike all 50-state highpoints. As usual I started my day early and had the crisp clean air all around me as I got my gear together. Feeling the clouds up at our elevation roll through was an awesome experience. It is otherworldly and makes you feel like you are living out an epic story from a novel. It was a beautiful fall day and I didn't see one person while hiking on the trail to and from the peak. Nothing but the sounds of nature and my fellow companions of animals bustling about in the woods. Much of the trail is exposed to the beautiful vistas surrounding the mountain. You'll certainly work for the summit but is very doable for just about all ranges of hikers.

Mount Mitchell State Park is like stepping into a postcard of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It's got this awesome vibe that makes you feel like you're on top of the world, literally, because it's home to Mount Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi River. If you're into hiking, this place is a must-do. The trails are scenic and well-kept, winding through forests and mountain views that will take your breath away. When you reach the top, the views are insane—you can see for miles and miles of pure mountain goodness. But even if hiking isn't your thing, there's still plenty to love about this park. The drive up is stunning. Overall, Mount Mitchell State Park is a gem of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Whether you're a nature buff, a photography enthusiast, or just looking for a chill place to hang out, this park has got you covered with its stunning views and mountain vibes.

We loved it here. Beautiful views, plenty of moderate to difficult hiking options and a few easy ones too. This is the one place we've been to here in the NC mountains where we felt like we were hiking on a trail in the Pacific Northwest. The smell of pine and spruce in the cool damp air as we walked the short trail near the top was absolute bliss. And the views from the summit were incredible. On a clear cool day, I bet you could see halfway to Charlotte from there. We didn't make it to any of the picnic or camping spots this time, but I bet they would be amazing up here too. It seemed like a lot of stuff (like the restaurant and other park services) were not yet open for the season, but I would imagine they'll be open by the end of this month.