The Five Best Spring Attractions in Charlotte, North Carolina

Winter is not as dire in North Carolina as it is further north, but spring is still a welcome part of the year. When the flowers bloom and nature comes back to life, you can visit several attractions in Charlotte and the surrounding area and enjoy them to the fullest.

Carowinds

Carowinds is an amusement park that opens its doors in March, making it a great way to kick off a Carolina spring. The park sits right along the North and South Carolina border, so you can see two states when you’re at the top of the Fury 325 roller coaster. Other attractions include seven more coasters, swings, pirate ships, a Planet Snoopy area for younger kids, and a water park for the family to have fun together.

The Speedpark at Concord Mills

The Concord Mills shopping mall is open all year round, but the weather should be nice if you want to fully enjoy the go-kart tracks and mini-golf at the Speedpark. It’s only open on weekends, including Friday evenings, but there’s enough to do that you can easily fill an entire day. Aside from racing go-karts and playing 18 holes of mini golf, visitors can also go down a 110-foot slide and try bungee jumping from the Speedpark’s massive tower.

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

The Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden is open every season, but spring is definitely one of the best times to visit. After all, while you can enjoy the fountains, waterways, and pavilions at any time of year, the botanical garden is much more beautiful once all the flowers start to bloom. The facility has a dozen gardens for visitors to enjoy, and they plan to open a dozen more.

Catawba Queen

While you don’t need to wait for spring to enjoy a riverboat cruise on Lake Norman in the vintage vessel the Catawba Queen, it’s easier to enjoy the open upper deck when the weather is warm. The Catawba Queen offers afternoon cruises and a buffet dinner on most weekends, right along with the more modern Lady of the Lake yacht and the old-fashioned Lake Norman Tour Boat.

Charlotte Center City Carriage Tours

Southern Breezes Carriages offers regular weekly tours through the old Fourth Ward part of uptown Charlotte. You can book a horse-drawn carriage for a 20, 40, or 60-minute tour of the oldest parts of the city and enjoy an unforgettable experience. Even if you’ve walked the streets of uptown Charlotte before, it’s hard to compare with a carriage ride. Since the carriage isn’t covered or heated, it’s best to wait for spring to take the tour.

While Charlotte has plenty of indoor attractions to enjoy no matter what time of year it is, some things you just can’t do until spring arrives. Fortunately, it arrives early in Charlotte, which leaves plenty of time to visit theme parks and botanical gardens, race go-karts, explore Lake Norman on a boat, and explore central Charlotte in a carriage.

 

Image by Martin Lewison, Licensed via CC BY 2.0

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