I did the Kit & Caboodle tour for my birthday and it went above and beyond expectation. Most…read moreimportantly the animals were very well cared for. They were all healthy, bright eyed, active and well socialized. Their enclosures were spacious, very clean, well maintained, species appropriate and provided enrichment. All encounters were careful to put animal and human safety first. I've worked in vetmed/animal rescue for 30 years so seeing animals well cared for and accustomed to their handlers gave me confidence Darby Farms is a place I can support. Now to the tour itself: Do it. Book it right now. You get SO MUCH for such a reasonable pric. We got two hours of personal interactions, petting and feeding, with over 30 species! Our guide Ryan was incredibly informative and knowledgeable, even taught us hardcore animal nerds some new facts we didn't know. He was skilled at handling even the squirmiest of creatures gently. It's absolutely magical to be able to touch and connect with animals I've only seen from behind glass in zoos. Thank you to Darby Acres for providing this unforgettable experience

Darby Safari went so above and beyond our expectations. We love zoos, but this was so much more…read morethan just staring at a bunch of animals behind bars - instead we had multiple opportunities to get up close, touch and feed the animals. In addition, some free range friends walked along with us humans on the tour and literally wanted to eat out of our hands. Our guides, Maddie and Shane, were fantastic! Extremely knowledgeable about the animals, and excellent at making sure everyone in the fairly sizable tour group had an opportunity to see or feed each animal they introduced. We bought the "Kit and Kaboodle" package which was so incredibly worth it! Some zoos allow you a "personal encounter" with one species, or by holding up an animal and letting you pet it,... but in the encounter room, Maddie and Shane spent an hour or more introducing us to at least 10 animals, all different species, in very interactive ways. We held armadillos, hand wrestled a mongoose, let a tiny monkey jump from shoulder to shoulder between us eating Fruit Loops, fed and high-fived otters, and so much more. I truly can't say enough about how happy we are that we included Darby Safari in our first ever trip to Charlotte!

The museum is small but cute. Best for children 2 - 4 years old. Most of the front desk staff are…read morewelcoming. But the staff in the back must not have children. I'm not sure that they even like children. When my older children were little, I used to bring them and that staff would interact with the kids and parents. Most of this staff just sits on side, ignoring children and adults. There is one lady, Miss Wendy that all of my kids love, but she's not there very much. They had an event this weekend and I am glad that we went in the afternoon. My friend got turned away in the morning only an hour after they opened. She said that staff very rudely told her that she should have gotten there earlier. Her children were heartbroken. They did have some people, mainly teenagers with volunteer name tags who were very nice. My little adored the older gentleman who played with him. They had the upstairs set up really cute with a Winnie-the-Pooh exhibit. But unfortunately, they said that it would only be there for that day. They had friendly teens in that space playing with the kids. Admission is not worth it, but their membership is a good value because it includes other museums.

It's ok. I'll leave it at that. It's a lot smaller than I expected and there really wasn't too much…read moreto do. I think the best age for this museum is under 3. My 4 year old got bored pretty quickly. There also just wasn't a lot to do. There is a dress up area, but it only had a few items, same with the kitchen and pirate ship. I have to agree with another reviewer that the staff wasn't friendly. They were more concerned with everything getting cleaned up. iI's a children's museum - there's supposed to be a level of mess, but when a kid puts a doll at the table and then goes to the kitchen area and you put the doll back, maybe think "was that kid getting food to play feed the doll?"and not assume they were leaving it. Also, parents - there's an overpriced gift/toy section in the front that you can't avoid. Bright side - there's some fun lunch and treat spots close by.

Super fun experience at the pumpkin patch!!! We visited on the Saturday morning before Halloween…read moreand it wasn't too packed at all!! We had fun. There is a big parking lot- but be careful, the driveway to get in is really narrow and only one car fits through at a time. There is no admission fee and it is free to walk around. You also don't need reservations. There is cornhole, picnic tables to sit at, a gift shop with local good slike honey and apples, a coffee truck, a lemonade truck and popcorn for sale. There are pumpkins everywhere of different shapes and sizes available for purchase in addition to gourds and mums. We bought a mum and it was $15. There are plenty of photo opportunities and a garden to walk around in. There is also a lot of space for kids to run around in. For an additional fee, there is a wagon ride you can take that will take you to see farm animals but we didn't do this. All in all, not as many activities in my opinion as some of the other pumpkin patches around town, but I did like how close it is to town compared to some of the other pumpkin patch options and it was super cute! The staff was all really nice too!

Such a nice place with cute farm animals and friendly staff! They also have pumpkin patches in fall…read moreand it's very fun

We went awhile back to see Charlotte and were sorely disappointed. Hearing of her death today…read morereminded me I had forgotten to write a review. This location is privately run and not for educational purposes. More like going to a friends house to see their pets. Please consider going to an aquarium run by scientists for educational purposes.

I want to say this has been one of the highlights of my family trip. When your 16 yo his 17 yo best…read morefriend and wife all agree on this fact it says something. As adults we have this tendency to say "if I knew then what I knew now, I'd have paid more attention in school!" Well here's your chance. This tiny aquarium will impart more knowledge in a short visit than you probably take in most months if you take advantage of it. The interns and owner (a former teacher) are committed to answering questions. The things they are studying and sharing are amazing. If you go in and you want to learn and ask questions this will be an experience you won't forget. Think of the best science teacher you ever had, having an opportunity to show the world what she loves to talk about... and that is what you have here. Do yourself a favor, go, enjoy and learn!!

Had our first trip to Mr. Putty's yesterday afternoon for a birthday activity with 7 family…read moremembers. We went explicitly for mini-golf and played one round of it, so this review is limited to that experience. The staff was pleasant and welcoming and the course was entertaining. As mentioned in some other reviews, there are holes where there is a risk that your ball will fall into flowing water but that did not present a problem for our group even though multiple balls fell victim. Overall, we had a great time. The crowd was very bearable and did not interrupt the flow of our game. On an advisory note, the golf course is pretty much open air so dress appropriately if it's a hot/sunny day. I look forward to going back for additional rounds of golf even though there is only one course. I'd also like to try my hand at the axe throwing. After our first visit, I would comfortably recommend.

Awesome spot with plenty to do! We tried out axe throwing and it was fun! AJ was our host and he…read morewas great! He got us drinks when we wanted some and checked in with us just enough to see if we needed anything throughout the hour without hovering us. Thanks again, AJ! We will definitely be back!

I cannot say enough amazing things about Dawn and her team for my son's birthday this year. He's…read morevery into science and all types of experiments, so when we found that Dawn and her team would come to our home to do a science party we were thrilled. They were excellent! Dawn really knows how to engage a group of little kids, brought all the supplies and activities, and cleaned up in the end too. The kids were able to make their own slime, their own "snow", some very cool crystals, etc. They had a total blast and I was able to just relax and watch all the kids have fun. My son still asks about it all the time, so I'm sure we'll have to invite Dawn and her team again in the future.

Held my daughter's 7th birthday party here and all the kids loved it! Dawn customized a party…read morepackage around dragons and the range of kids from age 4-10 all enjoyed themselves. Each kid did a hands on experiment which the result of they got to take home as a party favor. In this case it was dragon snot, dragon food, and dragon medicine. Each experiment was preceded by a short demonstration and explanation of the science behind it, and despite being educational it was fun and kept even the youngest child's attention. Dawn and her assistant handled everything from the entertainment to serving the cake to cleaning up and packing up the party favors. It was easy, fun, and educational. Highly recommended!

My two girls (2 & 4) visited for the first time this morning and had a blast! You have to complete…read morean online waiver before checking in/ purchasing a play pass. You can buy 1 hr for $10 or 2 hrs for $12. Once you check in, you get a sticker indicating the time your pass expires, you have to stick it on your child as well as yourself. Once you are inside the fenced area there's a play structure in the ball pit, a sand pit section, an area for babies (under 2), a sensory area and a foam pit where kids can climb up and jump. There Tables and chairs for adults (and kids) to enjoy drinks and snacks. Adult caffeinated beverages and kids drinks are available for purchase as well as delicious baked goods! The girls loved the freedom of running around and playing with literally everything. Mama enjoyed the peace of mind that they can't get out and the coffee & baked goods! Very easy to get to and tons of parking available in the plaza.

We love Unwind! We've gone several mornings, and the staff is always so friendly. My little guy is…read moreabout to turn 2, and he has started to explore more and more of the areas every time we go. He loves the area for smaller kids with the small ball pit and sensory board. We typically go first thing in the morning, because it definitely gets busier as the morning goes on! It's $11.99/hr, so it's not too bad. Something to keep in the rotation on rainy days or super hot days! You can also get gift cards, which is one of the things we'll be asking for for his birthday. There is a lot for the kids to do, and it is really such a cute place!

We visited Sports Connection on 12/31/24, and it's an amazing place to take kids when they're out…read moreof school! They offer so many activities: * Laser Tag * Bowling * Arcade Games * Jump-N-Play * Esports Gaming Center (Roblox, Minecraft, and more) * Sky Trail Ropes Course * Spin Zone Bumper Cars * Rock Climbing For parents, they also have beer, wine, and concession-style food. The staff, mostly young adults or late teens, were friendly, attentive, and did a great job ensuring everything ran smoothly. There's even a dedicated pickleball area, which adds a unique touch to the facility. This place truly has something for everyone, and my kids and I had a blast. Highly recommend for family fun days or group outings!

Great experience for kids! We did the deal for kids bowl free, you only pay for shoes in the summer…read moreon certain days. They have several bounce houses, which is an extra fee and worth it. They also have an arcade and the games are great.

Usually I dread going to places like this, but Playland was definitely an exception. This place was…read moresparkling clean with great food and drink options from the coffee bar. The staff does a fantastic job of keeping the place looking brand new instead of grimy like many of these other types of places can be. There were two birthday parties going on while we were there, but everything felt very organized. Great place to bring the kiddos to get some energy out!

Love this new play space! We have been to the one in Indian Land and are very happy there is one…read morecloser in Pineville. Space is very clean, safe with one exit that is gate controlled, and has lots of helpful staff. My kids played for a solid two hours that I easily booked the night before for a rainy cold day, and I was able to enjoy a delicious latte and read while they had a blast. We will definitely be coming again!

Absolutely adorable place to take your kids for a play date, birthday party, or to just get some…read moreenergy out. We were invited to a birthday party here and I was so happy with how clean everything was! The kids had a blast while the parents were able to relax and chat. Everything was safe for toddler through young child play. We'll definitely be coming back soon!

Well, sit up. It is a pity that some of the things are broken like the wheel on one of the Dino…read morecars and the air ball machine is broken. I think some of the items could do with a good scrub down, but on the hole, it was clean and pleasant, and I will certainly be back.