4 Awesome North Carolina Amusement Parks

The next time you have a free weekend that you want to spend with the family, consider heading to one of these four North Carolina amusement parks. They’re some of the best spots in the region.

Carowinds

Location: 14523 Carowinds Blvd, Charlotte, NC

Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Sunday

Price: Starts at $39.99 when purchased online

Carowinds has a more diverse entertainment options than any other amusement park in North Carolina. Some of the top attractions include: thrill rides like Afterburn, Fury 325, and Carolina Cobra; family rides like the Scrambler and Rip Roarin’ Rapids; The Carolina Harbor Water Park; and The Peanuts-themed Planet Snoopy.

No matter how old your kids are, they will find something fun to do at Carowinds.

Wet ‘n Wild Emerald Pointe

Location: 3910 S. Holden Rd., Greensboro, NC

Hours: Typically 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. during summer

Price: General admission starts at $38.99

Wet n’ Wild Emerald Pointe is the place to take your family when you want to cool off during hot summer days. Like Carowinds, it has attractions for every member of the family. The Happy Harbor and Splash Island areas are kid-friendly spots with a maximum water depth of nine inches. That lets the kids have fun without putting them in danger.

There are also plenty of slides for people seeking thrills. Daredevil Drop, true to its name, stands out as one of the most exciting options. It will drop you 76 feet down a water chute before gently catching you on a smooth landing. Other rides and slides include: Raging Rapids tube slide, the Blue Streak body slide, and Tropical Drop body slide.

There’s also a competitive slide, Riptide Racer, where four people race side-by-side to the bottom.

Foggy Mountain Gem Mine

Location: 4416 NC-105, Boone, NC

Hours: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Sunday through Thursday

10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday

Price: Free admission. $30 for two-gallon bucket.

Foggy Mountain Gem Mine doesn’t look like much from the outside, but it’s a whole different experience once you go in. There, you are able to sift through precious stones like emeralds, sapphires, and rubies. You get to keep what you find, but you have to pay for a bucket. Considering how much you end up taking home, it’s a good deal.

Foggy Mountain also provides cutting and polishing services. If you aren’t sure what you have found, you can have a certified gemologist identify your stones. It’s a great way to have fun with the kids while teaching them about stones.

Tweetsie Railroad

Location: 300 Tweetsie Railroad Rd., Blowing Rock, NC

Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Sunday

Price: $28 for children and $44 for those 13 and over

Tweetsie Railroad is known for its Wild West theme, but it offers much more than actors in 10-gallon hats. You can also enjoy thrill and family rides, live shows, and a petting zoo. Of course, the park also features steam locomotives. If you have a child who’s obsessed with trains, you can’t do much better than a trip to Tweetsie Railroad.

No matter what you and your family like to do, there is a fun attraction within driving distance. Expand your horizons by trying something new with your kids.

 

Image via Pixabay

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