Health + Fitness

Indoor Swim Lessons Around Charlotte

Updated March 2023 Aqua-Tots Founded in Arizona in 1991, this swim franchise offers group lessons for babies as young as 4 months old (with a parent) up to age 12. Instruction is available for children with special needs, and classes are…

Charlotte’s Best Indoor Playgrounds

Updated March 2023 MULTI-ACTIVITY FREE PLAY Sports Connection 11611 Ardrey Kell Rd. 704-583-1444 Pricing: Varies by activity Enjoy bounce houses, laser tag, bowling, arcade games, bumper cars, a ropes course, virtual reality, and more at this Ballantyne mega center. The…

A Family-Friendly Guide to Fall

Here’s a guide to fall activities for parents and children—heck, grandparents and grandchildren, too—that comes close to what you might have encountered in 2019, the last time we could bob for apples without the embarrassment of having failed to take…

A DIGITAL DETOX

Because children’s brains are malleable, they can learn and retain new skills, like foreign languages, more rapidly than we can as adults. But bad habits tend to stick, too. In other words, a child who learns to love screens in…

Spontaneous Summer Fun

Summer may already be in full swing, but that doesn't mean it’s too late to plan some family fun. We’ve got a roundup of outdoor adventures and weekend getaways you can still add to your calendar. *See approximate driving time from Charlotte listed…

15 Kid-Friendly Summer Excursions Under $15

GET OUTSIDE Quest 6345 Sample Road, Huntersville, NC 28078 Located at Latta Nature Preserve, Quest’s brand new 13,000-square foot facility offers endless opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts. Walk the Carolina Raptor Trail, hike alongside a naturalist, create a nature craft, kayak,…

WEEKENDER: North Carolina’s Brunswick Islands

North Carolina’s Brunswick Islands encompass five barrier islands—Sunset Beach, Ocean Isle Beach, Holden Beach, Oak Island, and Bald Head Island—along the southernmost stretch of North Carolina’s coast. It’s roughly three-and-a-half hours from Charlotte; from Ocean Isle Beach, you’re about halfway…

WEEKENDER: Primland

Primland Resort is a two and a half hour drive from Charlotte and puts you in the heart of southern Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. The last 20 minutes take you through some winding mountain roads (pack dramamine if the kiddos…

A Charlottean's Guide to Winter Outings

Whether you want to head outdoors into the crisp temperatures or prefer to stay cozy indoors, there are plenty of winter activities around Charlotte that will make both camps happy. Read on for our favorites. Ice Skate at the U.S.…