If you're a history buff, this might be worth a stop. Actually, even if you're not, this might be a…read moregood stop once at least. The grounds are beautiful and very peaceful. We visited on a Tuesday afternoon and hardly anyone else was there, so it was really quiet and relaxing. Most of the grounds have are shaded by trees, so even though it was a hot day (in the high 80s), it was pleasant walking around. What was a disappointment was that we couldn't enter any of the buildings, so the self tour was only to see the exteriors. The exhibits upstairs were interesting, too. One was on political cartoons and the other was on philanthropy; both worth a visit!

Parking is a breeze. It's a lovely structure. There is a flow to this place…read more We arrived about 2PM on a sweltering Friday in August. What a lucky day that for this entire month admission is free, and we were just in time for a guided tour! We viewed the grounds of Hezikiah Alexander's homestead. Our tour guide and group were all terrific. Everyone was eager to learn and respectful of the exhibition and each other. The tour lasted about an hour with great sensory experiences in the garden and it was just the right level of audience interaction. As an African American person, I was appreciative to the mention of the enslaved people who ran this massive house. The kitchen area was really interesting to me, but there were so many spider webs and bugs all around.... I was concerned. The maintenance/cleaning staff should come in there for a quick visit. At the end our tour, the guide rung a gigantic bell and explained the symbolism of the hornet for Charlotte, North Carolina. It was inspiring and quite bad a$$ery. As a British soldier beat a retreat out of town he remarked "this place is just a hornets nest of rebellion!" As an independent colony from the crown, Charlotteans have proudly sported the symbol of the hornet since then. The plight of indigenous people was very lightly addressed with a terrible exhibition of a red dress to bring awareness to missing and murdered indigenous women. They really should seek to create an exhibit more inclusive, relevant and respectful to the original inhabitants of this land. That too is the history of Charlotte.

One of my neighbors is always raving about how incredible the Sullenberger Museum is. The stars…read morealigned one morning and I was able to take the trip to Charlotte Douglas to check out the museum. Admission was $25 so after forking up the money, I was able to start exploring the exhibit. The recommended route begins with checking out the historic hangar, which is the oldest hangar at the airport. There are about 5 older planes in the exhibit, where you can also learn about the history of the airport. Next, you'll walk through the courtyard to check out the planes located there. About 5 larger planes are parked out there. The heat can beat down on you pretty heavy so drink water and admire quick. My favorite part of the whole museum was located in the courtyard, the airport overlook spot. One is able to watch planes land and take off, less than 100 meters away. I could spend hours just here watching the planes. Finally, the last part of the exhibit is place in the biggest hanger. Old and new, the hangar is teeming with planes and helicopters. They also have Flight 1549 located inside the hangar. There's a 10 minute documentary accompanying the plane as well, but be aware, there are a couple of jumpscares. Towards the back of this hangar, there is also a flight simulator where you can attempt to land a smaller plane. After completing the landing, I have further reinforced my delusion that I could land a plane in an emergency landing. All in all, I had a wonderful time checking out this aviation museum. Charlotte has a much bigger aviation industry than I ever realized. It's such a pleasant sight to see how rich with exhibits and history our museum gets to be.

Could it have been better? I think yes, maybe…read more I worked for EAL for 11 years and Donna retired with AA and worked previously with USAir. We were both a bit disappointed with the museum overall simply for the lack of more updated displays. We went on a Saturday afternoon, wasn't crowded at all. The 'highlight' was the Cactus 1549, the USAir A320 'miracle on the Hudson. It was fascinating, a video, some sound and light special effects and very short at about 10 minutes. A rather small 'bleacher' seat viewing area. Fortunately the seats were 'padded'. As former Airline employees we got in for $20 bucks each. After viewing the entire museum, I'm not sure it was worth that much. The have a well stocked and large 'merchandise' sales area. There were many Staff members that were available to answer questions. Shout out to Rick Elias, CEO of Red Ventures and a passenger on the flight. He's responsible for contributing $1.5 Million to change the name from Carolina's Aviation Museum to the Sullenberger Aviation Museum to honor Capt Sullenberger. It will also have a focused STEM program.

Delightful little museum. Verify their hours before heading over since they are limited. Give…read moreyourself an hour to poke around - it is bigger than it looks from the outside. We lucked out and a couple volunteers were there when we stopped in so we got a lot of information about the various exhibits and the history of the museum. An amazing amount of local history in one place. Admission is free. Free parking is available off the side street behind the building.

On a visit to the Charlotte/Kannapolis/Concord area to visit all of the NASCAR Team…read moreGarages/Headquarters, Hendricks Motorsports was our third stop. We visited the Hendrick campus this past summer, on a Thursday afternoon in July. It was not super busy, but there were a few other groups in the museum and store while we were there. The campus is located in Concord, and there is plenty of private parking just steps away from the front doors of the museum and gift shop. It was easy to figure out we were in the right spot with the ample signage around the property. The museum and gift shop are essentially one and the same - you walk into the lobby of the building, and the museum is mostly around the perimeter of the space, while the gift shop area is in the center. The team garages are located in another building on the property. We had positive interactions with all of the staff, and especially with the woman who works reception at in the building with the team garages (her name escapes me, but she was so wonderful!). The review is further broken down into categories below: Displays/Museums/Historical Items - 4/5 Rating The downright history, and all of the cars to see at Hendrick is unmatched. There is a lot to take in regarding the history and variety. Also, the amount of cars to see is impressive. All or the cars are behind ropes, so you cannot touch them or get very close. As stated above, the museum is located in one large space, so the cars are just what can fit along the perimeter of the room. There are also large displays discussing the history of Hendrick, along with various trophies. Team Store - 5/5 Rating Hendrick has the largest selection of merchandise for any of the racing teams, by far. There is plenty of selection for each current cup series driver, along with a diverse selection for past drivers. There was a clearance rack of items, and they were also running a promotion of a free item if you spent so much in the shop. You got to pick the item from a select area in the shop. The die cast selection left something to be desired. However, there are plenty of knickknack-type items to choose from. Garage Access - 2/5 Rating In terms of garage access, there is not a ton for this team. As stated above, the garage is located in a separate building on the property from the museum and gift shop. But, this access of this area is limited. The viewing area is only one smaller window. They were working on an Xfinity car at the time we were there, and you were asked not to take pictures of the garage area. Overall Access - 5/5 Rating The access here is rather vast when comparing to other teams. You are able to drive around the entire campus, and see a lot while doing so due to the size. Additionally, there is access for fans to the pit practice area. This is a unique aspect of Hendrick that we did not see from other teams. There is also access to the team lobby, specifically the 5 and the 9 who share a building. This is where the garage viewing area is located. It also had multiple trophies on display, historical items and past cars. Extras - 5/5 Rating Being able to see live pit practice for the team is rather insane. This is not happening at all hours the shop and museum are open, but when the crew is conducting practice, fans are invited to view the sessions. We witnessed this on a previous trip to Hendrick, and watched the practice for an extended period. The pit practices are held in the designated area behind the museum and gift shop. There were even bleachers for fans to sit on for the practice. The Hero Cards are also located in the lobby/entrance of the museum, and the selection was good! In the 5 and 9 team buildings is where the public access to the garages are located. There are a few more race cars to see in there, but the highlight of this part of Hendrick is the receptionist for the building. She was so friendly, and let us hold the sword trophy from Jimmie Johnson's last Bristol win. It is right on the desk, so you will not miss it. This was a major highlight for my fiancé! If you can only make one racing team stop while in the area, Hendrick is the place to stop. There is a lot to look at in the museum, as well as one of the most diverse gift shops of all the teams. It is nice to be able to get merchandise from current drivers, as well as retired Hendrick legends. The extras here are top-notch. If you are able to visit during the pit practice, that would make the whole trip worth it. This absolutely is a must-stop for any racing fan while in the area.

Was lucky enough to come here for a speaking engagement with SAE. Hendrick was so hospitable,…read moreoffered private tours of their facility for our group, and some cool interactions with their employees. I've been here before as a NASCAR fan and this just heightened my opinion of the company and their workforce.

I highly recommend!…read more The Harvey B. Gantt Center was an amazing experience this evening. Educators night was perfect evening as an educator to collaborate, connect and enjoy their beautiful exhibits. Mario Moore exhibit was captivating and breathtaking! The food provided was amazing: lemon pepper wing, fried cabbage, mac and cheese, veggie spring rolls and peach cobbler for dessert. Delicious! I enjoyed my time at the Gantt Center and I hope you enjoy their exhibits.

Gantt Center is a small, but impactful museum with wonderful art exhibits from various cultured…read moreartist. What I love most is, the Gantt always have great events! "Jazz Greats", opened Friday night where homage was paid to the best of the best! Walk through and see the iconic collection while Miles Davis is playing, you don't want to miss it!

I highly recommend!…read more Great outing for the family for the children to use the playground area and see the planes. Your airport overlook has always been a staple in Charlotte now they have made this more family, friendly and fun. I hope you and your family and friends have as much fun as we did.

Every city should have an airport overlook. This place is so cool. Lots of parking (apparently you…read morecan park in the crosswalks here), patio benches and picnic tables, a playscape, and lots of space to run around. There is a bit of construction around the area, but that definitely didn't detract from the main event. We saw little if planned landing and taking off. It was fun!

This facility is amazing and the staff are extremely helpful, kind, willing to go out of their way…read moreto help you out! I highly recommend visiting this amazing museum and tribute to the Great Terminator!

The offerings of Dale Earnhardt Inc. are definitely well-kept secrets in Mooresville, NC…read more Visitors can visit the facility: - Monday through Friday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. - Saturday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. From the company's website: "DEI has a retail store and showroom open Monday through Friday (9 - 5) and Saturdays (10 - 4) that are both free of charge for visitors. They are also open some special hours during race time, so be sure to call ahead before visiting. The showroom contains one of a kind items that are a must see for Dale Earnhardt Fans. Some of these items include all 7 championship trophies, some of Dale's old fire suits, some of Dale's old race cars, and much more!" Right now (December 2012), the building is decorated in a vibrant shade of red for the holidays! Also on the DEI campus are the offices of the technology group and The Dale Earnhardt Foundation. Though these are not open to the public to visit, these offices are a wonderful testament to the work still being down around the NASCAR industry. For more information about The Dale Earnhardt Foundation, visit: www.dalearnhardtinc.com/foundation

On a visit to the Charlotte/Kannapolis/Concord area to visit all of the NASCAR Team…read moreGarages/Headquarters, Penske Racing was our fifth stop of day two, and our eighth team overall. We visited Penske this past summer, on a Friday afternoon in July. It is located in Mooresville on its own campus. The garage is situated fairly close to the other racing teams in Mooresville, so you will be able to visit all of them without much travel. It is quite a large facility, and has a dedicated parking lot with lots of space. The entrance for visitors is clearly marked with "Guest Entrance" above the doors. At the time of our visit, there were several other racing fans both in the team store and on the "Fan Walk," but it was not crowded. Penske has two levels. The entrance takes you right into the team store on the first level. Both within and behind the team store is an area with race win trophies and other historical items. The garage is located behind this area, but the viewing for the garage is above, on the second floor "Fan Walk." The review is further broken down into categories below: Displays/Museums/Historical Items - 5/5 Rating There are a plethora of displays, trophies, banners, and other race memorabilia throughout the Penske facility. The race win trophies are located within the team store, and into a hallway-type area in the rear. They are placed around the perimeter, and are out in the open for fans to get close looks and even touch. Additionally, there are die casts and other historical items behind glass to take a look at. Around the "Fan Walk" on the second level, there are banners from team Cup, Indy, and IMSA race wins hung around the perimeter. They are organized chronologically. I personally enjoyed looking at all of the pictures that are incorporated into these banners. Within the actual garage, they have current and legacy cars to see, as well as the original enclosed transporter that the team used in the 1970s, which was recovered and restored after originally being sold by the team. Out of all of the teams we visited, this collection is by far the most curated. Team Store - 4/5 Rating As stated, you will walk right into the team store when you enter the facility. It is a larger store, and there is an overall good amount of merchandise. All of their drivers were represented in the items for sale, including Indy and IMSA. They had more expensive items, as well as smaller items that only cost a few dollars. Some items for sale included t-shirts, magnets, cups, die casts, hats, and sponsor-specific items. Also, there were some items on sale. For die casts, there were both 1:64 and 1:24 sizes of various cars. Overall, the store is larger than most team shops, and there is a decent selection. Garage Access - 5/5 Rating Penske truly gives the most unique and all-inclusive access to their garage and facilities. From the team store, there are stairs/an elevator up to the "Fan Walk," where guests can walk the entire length of their garage from above. There is an area in the rear that is somewhat blocked from view, but you are still able to see 20+ cars that are either displays, physically being worked on, or are used for hauling/haulers. There are even offices, conference rooms, and other facilities in the middle of the garage to take a look at. Even with our visit falling on the Friday of a race weekend, there were still several cars being worked on for us to see. This is one of, if not the best garage access of all of the teams we visited. Overall Access - 4/5 Rating The overall access at Penske is very good. The garage access is at about 90%. Not only that, but just the variety of vehicles and items that guests have access to viewing is impressive. This is only rated 4/5 due to there being parts that are blocked from public view. However, this is above average access when compared to other teams. Extras - 5/5 Rating Something that sets Penske apart, and therefore is an "extra," is that they include their Indy Car and IMSA in all aspects of the facility - from the banners, to the displays, and even in the team store. Since they are the only NASCAR team that has Indy and IMSA teams, they are the only ones who have the ability to offer this extra. Additionally, they had Hero Cards in an organizer by the team store entrance that were free to take. The selection was diverse, especially since they include all drivers from NASCAR, Indy, and IMSA. Penske is a must-visit if you are planning to stop at the NASCAR team garages. The facilities are some of the best we saw, the garage access is top-notch, and you could spend a significant amount of time looking at all of the banners, trophies, and other items. Plus, you will be able to see all of the drivers under the Penske umbrella in the different racing series. We very much enjoyed the visit here, and recommend stopping if you find yourself near Mooresville.

As a NASCAR fan I have been to many of the race shops. Penske has done an excellent job of making…read moreit easy for fans to get a great view of the preparation of NASCAR race cars. They have a catwalk running the length of the facility that allows you to unobstructed view of the cars - not a behind glass view as happens at many other shops. As others have mentioned the staff is helpful and friendly.