I brought my son to night at the museum at Discovery place, and it was a time! My son absolutely…read moreloves Legos and currently right now the brick masters studio is at the museum. We went through the exhibit and got to see some really incredible displays. We marveled at the displays, wondering how long they took to complete, how many people worked on the display etc. It's just so amazing to see that all the displays were made out of Lego pieces. There were some interactive displays which was nice for the kids since they were unable to touch most of the displays in the exhibit. There's a section where the kids can be master builders and time themselves on how quickly they can complete a miniature display, they ranged from easy, medium and difficult. At the end of the experience there was an entire city made of Legos, with loose lego pieces for the kids to be creative and make their own lego creations. It was a great finish to the experience. This exhibit is every lego master builders dream. It brought me back to my childhood!

What a fun place for learning we hoped this place would be! However, for the price, I left a bit…read moreunderwhelmed. We covered the entire museum and by the time my 7 year old left, she had fun but was unimpressed. The Lego exhibition was phenomenal in comparison to the science exhibits and learnings themselves. As far as the exhibits, so many were not functioning or were not being serviced by an attendant to explain what was being displayed in the creative spaces.

This is a small elegant museum, free to enter. It captures the history and evolution of Charlotte…read moreand North Carolina pretty well. It's a single floor, takes about 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how much time you spend on each topic. Lots of images, maps, explanation of milestone moments for the city and the state that shaped it over centuries. The two key events I remember from visit are Charlotte's role in ending segregation and the city became the a leader in banking world. Highly recommended for anyone visiting Charlotte for the first time.

Magnificent free museum. The front desk check-in lady was incredibly flattering, she thought I was…read moreactually playing in the Charlotte FC game when she asked why I was in town, and me being in town "for the game" was delightfully read by her as me playing in the game, which was an "I wish" moment. Number of people who think I look like a MLS player that are not my mommy: we're up to one now, but men remember every compliment they receive (most don't get that many) so obviously I will remember this forever. The museum has a large footprint in the building for being an overall relatively small museum. There is a lot of empty floor space which is for vibes I guess, or the Southern deep fried ambiance that you need adequate room to maneuver yourself around the wide open walkways when Bojangles is sufficiently well-loved around these parts. The museum is very similar to the STL Gateway Arch Museum, in terms of set up, focus on limited time periods, lewks, and content depth. This free museum is an introduction to a very interesting, historically rich city that gives you a taste of the history (but isn't a dissertation on every little thing) and gets you excited about the future of the city based on some key moments in modernity. While the state government was very particular about which bathroom you used up until it was repealed in 2020, CLT had originally passed local protections that the state got threatened by and made an international spectacle of for years of high profile constitutional litigation and appeals. If you read somewhat fast you can get through the entire museum in under 30 minutes; it is closer in size to the Bechtler rather than the Mint. It is well situated on S. Tryon (the city so far has resisted the obvious name change to Trigon, for all my Teen Titans bros, bro-ettes, and non-binary brxs) to hop, skip, or frogger across the street to the Bechtler and Mint for further museum experiences nearby. They have weird hours and occasional closure days (put actually tell you about it in advance) so be sure to check their webpage to plan ahead for when you can drop in. The gift shoppe is very small but every purchase helps support the free museum so I picked up a shirt for my next volunteer shift at the food bank this week. When you visit here too I am sure you will want to contribute something (voluntarily) to help support the free museum. That is when you know you have a free museum that actually works as intended. A great place to start to realise why Charlotte is one of my favourite American cities, and it could be one of yours too.

An amazing fun place right at the heart of CLT. The place is quite small but has entertainment that…read morecan keep you hooked up for its repeat value. This place is essentially a play of everything that is mirrors, glasses and physics. Our toddler had so much fun running through the maze and we had a fantastic time with the building climbing trick and the vortex tunnel. Street parking on front of this is very minimal and on demand. The public garage parking on the next door is convenient but costly.

It was just ok. I dont know why, but I was expecting more for the price, I guess…read more Everything is pretty much interactive and there were really good and unique illusions for photo ops. My biggest complaint is that everything is dirty. Hundreds of people touching the things one right after another, visible heavy fingerprints, some of the stations had paint chipping and visible caked on dirt that looked as it had never been wiped down. There was not enough hand sanitizer stations and no sanitizing wipes. I feel they should have staff walking around sanitizing down the things that get touched over and over. I dont think I'd ever go back; unless maybe they changed out some of the illusions. Most look as if they have been there the entire time the place has been open.

Came to the Museum for Father's Day since entrance for Dads was free today. Was excellent to see…read morethe Caravaggio special exhibit, so my fee was a bit higher $25. But my college age son got a student rate and my husband was free. Nice perk, they also do this on Mother's Day, in case you didn't know for next year. I didn't take too many photos of the artwork. The special exhibit is quite large and there is a lot to see. There are two floors full of different types of art and sculptures. Really has so much to see here. I love where the Mint is located, too. Across the street is a green space with a few restaurants and a beautiful church that we visited while waiting for the museum to open at 1pm. Sunday. The entrance fee is good for two consecutive days so if you are staying close by, go back and walk through again. Lots to see. There is also a restaurant attached to the building that was very busy. They had live music as well.

It's been 3 years since my last visit so Donna & I went on a Saturday morning to check out the…read moreBaroque art exhibit. It was good with lots of interesting works by various artists. Nice that if you're a Bank of America credit card holder you get $10 off during the first weekend of each month.

Beautiful gallery and amazing collections. We came in on Wednesday evening and discovered that…read moreentry was free. The front desk person was friendly and helpful. She explained the lay out of the gallery and we were on our way. We explored each floor and were met with incredible, thought provoking, pieces. I'm so glad that we found this space and we're able to spend time here.

We just happened to be in Charoltte for Fomo! So all the museums were free. Bechtler was by far my…read morefavoite. Such extensive collections that really dispayed the African American culture. I was very impressed and moved by the paintings on display.

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!

Overall, a great experience for anyone interested in NASCAR history or those who have a deep…read moreconnection to the sport. There is so much to see and do that even a few hours isn't enough time to take in and read through all of the curated NASCAR history, memorabilia, and exhibits. The only downside is the additional cost for parking. While it isn't much, it's still a bit of a bummer considering how much time you'll want to spend exploring the Hall of Fame.

When it comes to NASCAR, I'm what the kids call a "casual". My 1st memories of NASCAR are that of…read moreKeith Olberman and Dan Patrick of Sportscenter fame always telling me how Dick Trickle finished each week. I started to watch it some when I moved to Indiana in the early 2000's. The 1st race I watched all the way through was when Dale Earnhardt died. Other than that, my knowledge comes from Days of Thunder, Cars and Talladega Nights. I say all that to say, I don't know much about NASCAR. The HOF has a bunch of different packages; we just did the General Admission which didn't include a whole lot of the interactive parts like simulators. The HOF has 3 different floors that spirals up a ramp with cars from the various eras. There are tons of displays with cars, trophies, gear, etc. throughout the facility. No sport has trophies as good as NASCAR. See Dover's Monster Mile trophy for reference. I like how they show the cars cut in half to show now vs the other eras so you can see how far the engineering has come. They also have a room with all the plaques and busts of the HOF members. No matter your knowledge base, the NASCAR HOF is fun. If you have kiddos or are a racer yourself, the interactive packages may be worth the investment.

A photography gallery in Uptown, right next to the 7th Street LYNX Station. When I arrived, the…read moreplace was quite desolate. The security guard had me wait in the lobby while he went in to the gallery to turn the lights on. I got the impression that there wasn't a whole lot going on here. It's a good thing that it's free, because 30 minutes of looking at pictures wouldn't have been worth much. And even at 30 minutes, I was still moving pretty slow. When I visited, the exhibit was "Streetwise", a collection of pictures of America's troubled 60's. Capturing images of not just our troubled times, including Boston's "Combat Zone" and close-ups of the Black Panthers, there were also shots of just regular people and places. All in black and white, which gave it a feel of being very like a documentary. Pictures of the pictures are not permitted, but I took that as meaning not taking a picture of the individual pictures. Instead, my wide shot of the gallery doesn't give away the detail but helps you see what you're going to see there. I might come back for the next exhibit, but I think this is a "See it once" kind of thing.

I had never been to The Light Factory and saw there was a very interesting reception called A…read moreShared Elegy. I was so happy I made it out to see what it was all about since I live so close by. Great intimate space, the artist were so insightful and the crowd genuinely appreciated the artist panel and the photography. It was very well curated. Great space, seasoned artists. Well done.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg library district offers a number of very nice regional and special…read morelibrary settings: the South Park Regional, South County Regional, and the library collaboration with the Children's Theatre of Charlotte ... ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center on Seventh Street downtown to name just three. Each has specialties that make them individuals. The ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center collaboration between the library district and the Children's Theatre is a hands down wonder. While some libraries specialize in library things (games and toys) to engage kids and others specialize in library materials (books and puzzles), ImaginOn has it all ... including plays and story times. The library itself is free to enter, multi-story, newish, clean and easy to get to, with available parking that is free for 90 minutes with a stamped ticket. This facility absolutely had everything to stimulate kids of all ages ... probably 2 to 12 being the sweet spot. Do make a point of finding your way here for a visit someday ... you'll be glad you did. Highly recommended.

Great place for children. Lots of books and activities and it's all free…read more Very clean and spacious.

As someone who moved here from the Bay Area and is still finding my favorite outdoor spaces in…read moreCharlotte, I'm always on the lookout for places that offer a little peace and beauty in the middle of a busy day. The McGill Rose Garden absolutely delivered on that. This is truly a beautiful venue--lush flowers everywhere, winding walk paths, and plenty of places to sit quietly and just take it all in. It's the kind of space where you can slow down, clear your head, and quite literally stop and smell the roses. I found it to be a wonderful spot for reflection, a casual stroll, or simply enjoying nature without needing to leave the city. One of the things I especially appreciated is that you can enhance the experience with a visit to the wine bar onsite, Rosie's Wine Garden, where you can grab a coffee, cocktail, or glass of wine and then wander the grounds at your own pace. It adds a relaxed, almost European feel to the whole experience. A quick heads-up: parking can be a bit tricky, as the entrance is off a busy street, so just take your time and be patient when pulling in. Once you're there, though, it's well worth the effort. Bottom line: If you're looking for a small but charming botanical-style garden in Charlotte--a quiet place to reset, reflect, and enjoy the outdoors--this is a lovely little gem. For me, it checked all the boxes and has become a welcome respite in the middle of a busy day.

Love love love. My three favorite things - coffee, wine, and gardens. And they did it well! It's…read moresuch a unique quaint space in the middle of a city. Honestly, I didn't want to leave. It's like a personal garden with scattered benches and paths and tables. There's a ton of shade and a variety of plants to admire. Besides the pesky mosquitoes, I ADORE this place. Great service, a good selection of drinks, and an ambiance for a solo or group traveler to unwind. I definitely recommend this place.