From small neighborhood parks to large wildlife and nature preserves, Charlotte’s got plenty of places for picnics, sports, and enjoying the outdoors all year long.

And with a wild animal park, a bird conservatory, and an ostrich farm all within a short drive of the city, Charlotte might start to feel less like a city and more like a zoo.

Leave the urban jungle behind and spend the day at some of the Queen City’s nature museums or strolling through local natural gardens.

Wake up and smell the roses! Mecklenburg County is home to 210 beautiful parks covering 16,500 acres of parkland.