Summer Fun
By Katherine Younger
There's nothing
like the dog days of summer—hot days, humid
nights, and endless possibilities of summer fun.
To keep the good times rolling, dive into some
light-hearted diversions that the whole family
can enjoy in the Queen City. From exploring rain
forests to rafting down a lazy river under
Carolina blue skies, there are enough things to
do to last the whole summer long.
At
Discovery Place (301 N. Tryon St.,
704-372-6261), one of the nation's premier
hands-on science museums, you can peer through
the tree tops and dive into the depths of the
sea; pet a horseshoe crab and watch a rat play
basketball; explore outer space and delve into
the earth for rich minerals—all under one roof!
Permanent exhibits at Discovery Place include a
KidsPlace that specializes in activities for
children under the age of six, an aquarium that
features aquatic animals from around the world,
a tropical rain forest, and the IMAX Dome
Theatre, a giant-screen theater that surrounds
you with larger-than-life images and amazing
sound.
Head to Carolinas
Aviation Museum (4108 Airport Dr., 704-359-8442)
and see up close what it's like to sit in the
cockpit of powerful flying machines as you
explore the aviation history of North and South
Carolina. The museum takes a look at the past
century of flight, from exhibits featuring the
wood and wires of the first airplanes to daring
X-planes that tear down the wall of sound.
Guests to the museum will also see all types of
aircraft, including the award-winning Piedmont
Airlines' DC-3, a Grumman OV-1D Mohawk,
helicopters, and more. The thousands of
artifacts and countless important historical
documents on display provide guests with an
insider's view of the world of planes.
Take the whole
family to Zuma Fun Center (10400 Cadillac St.,
704-552-7888) where you can spend the day
splashin' and crashin' in bumper boats, flying
around a racetrack in a go-kart, and sending
baseballs flying in batting cages. There's also
miniature golf, a state-of-the-art video arcade,
and attractions designed especially for younger
children, including a train ride. After a day of
fast-paced fun, chill out in the café, where you
can refuel on pizza, wings, and snacks.
At Ray's Splash
Planet (215 N. Sycamore St., 704-432-4729), a
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation facility,
you can splash, squirt, super-soak, and slide
through a day of water fun anytime of the year.
At this indoor water park you'll find a variety
of fun-filled aquatic features, including a
beach-like entry to the pool, an interactive
water playground, a winding, two-story tube
slide, a 250-foot lazy river, super-soaker
squirters, fountains, and geysers, water
basketball goals, tumble buckets, and lap
training lanes. The 29,000-square-foot facility
also appeals to land lovers with its
weight-training room, aerobics room, and
cardiovascular deck. A concession area located
next to the children's party room serves
refreshments, and a multipurpose room ideal for
classes and corporate functions faces the water
park area with a soaring wall of glass.
If
you have a yearning for adventure, take in the
fun on land, air, and water at Paramount's
Carowinds (I-77 and Carowinds Blvd.,
1-800-888-4386). For starters you can “get
inverted” on the BORG Assimilator, Paramount's
Carowinds' tallest roller coaster and
24-passenger ride that boasts the most
inversions of any coaster in the Southeast. Kids
of all ages will enjoy Nickelodeon Central, the
largest Nickelodeon area in any theme park in
the world. Based on popular Nickelodeon
characters and shows, this part of the park
allows guests to fly, twirl, swirl, laugh,
scream, and experience the best that being a kid
has to offer.
And for a wet and
wild time, head to Boomerang Bay, Carowinds'
newly renovated, Australian-themed water park.
Inspired by Australia's breathtaking Gold Coast,
the 16-acre water playground creates a new world
of exotic exploration that features three new
attractions: Kookaburra Bay, Platypus Plunge,
and the Walkabout Pub. The water park also
encompasses more than 25 water activities,
including more than a dozen water slides, a
tropical lagoon complete with a waterfall, a
1,000-foot lazy river, a massive wave pool, and
two family play areas.
Just
south of Belmont, NC, on the banks of Lake
Wylie, lies a small slice of paradise known as
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden (6500 South New
Hope Rd., 704-825-4490).
The garden
features over 8,000 different types of plants
and 13 water features on 110 acres of developed
gardens as well as a 13,500-square-foot visitor
pavilion that includes a gift shop, meeting
rooms, classrooms, and a grand special events
area. Many of the gardens are in full bloom in
the middle of the summer, so bring a picnic
lunch and your sunscreen and enjoy an afternoon
among some of the most beautiful flora around.
If you're looking
for an adventure this summer, head to Chimney
Rock Park (Hwy. 64/74A, Chimney Rock,
1-800-277-9611) to see the breathtaking views of
Lake Lure and the Blue Ridge Mountains while
rappelling down the side of the mountain. Both
beginners and experienced rapellers alike can
enjoy fully accredited, professionally guided
climbing and rappelling trips led by Fox
Mountain Guides. Clinics are just $35 for a
two-hour group lesson and are offered in two
daily time slots, from 9-11am and again from
3-5pm. For more experienced climbers, private
half-day and full-day climbing sessions are also
available with advance registration. If you're
not ready for the real thing, the park also has
a 32-foot artificial climbing tower.
Spend a leisurely
summer day biking around Lake Norman at the
105-acre Jetton Park (19000 Jetton Rd.,
Cornelius, 704-896-9808). You can rent bikes for
$4 an hour or $10 a day or rent a bike “buggy,”
a four-wheeled, peddle-controlled vehicle that
seats two adults and two children, for $10 an
hour. Bikes and buggies are available to rent on
the weekends from 11am to 7pm. After your ride,
have lunch at picnic tables overlooking the
lake, check out the children’s playground, play
a game of tennis, or relax on the park’s sandy
beach.
It won't be long
before the school bell's ringing again and
cooler weather will be nipping at your nose, but
for now there's nothing but sunny skies, lazy
days, and fun to be had. So get out there and
enjoy the Queen City in the good ol' summertime!
