Spread over 150,000-square-feet and featuring hands-on exhibits, video interactives and authentic artifacts, the NASCAR Hall of Fame is a must-see for race fans. There’s a 12-minute movie in the High Octane Theater that outlines the history of the sport; the Hall of Honor, interactive areas in the Race Week hall, which takes visitors behind-the-scenes of a NASCAR team, and the Heritage Speedway where you can see over 200 artifacts telling the NASCAR story.

The museum is wheelchair accessible. Courtesy wheelchairs are available at the Customer Services desk in the main lobby on a first-come, first-served basis (photo ID required).

The iRacing Simulator attraction, which gives guests the feeling of racing behind the wheel, is equipped with a wheelchair-accessible unit. Drivers can qualify, race around the track and shift the gas and gears with the steering wheel-accommodated pedals.

Most of the videos/clips featured throughout the NASCAR Hall of Fame are captioned.

Assisted listening devices are available for use in the High Octane Theater.

Sign language interpreters are available with at least two weeks’ advance notice, subject to availability. Contactor call 704-654-4400 to make arrangements.

Parking: Accessible spaces are located on levels P3 and P4 of the adjacent public parking garage, accessible via Brevard St. Entry is via the side entrance of Buffalo Wild Wing, next to the garage.

Public Transportation: Bus #10 to Caldwell St and 3^rdSt (1-minute walk) or LYNX Blue Line to 3^rd/Convention Center Station (4-minute walk).

 Find out more here.

Top Tip: Don’t miss out on Glory Road. Use the assisted call button, located at the Alternate Banking Experience to signal a Guest Service Representative and experience track banking for yourself.

The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art is a little piece of Switzerland in North Carolina. Designed by Swiss architect Mario Botta, the museum houses the art collection of the Bechtler (pronounced Beck-ler) family of Switzerland. The collection, which was gifted to the city of Charlotte by Andreas Bechtler comprises mid-20^thcentury modern art in various media, including pieces by Alberto Giacometti, Joan Miro, Jean Tinguely and Barbara Hepworth.    

The museum is wheelchair accessible. Wheelchairs are available from the admissions desk on a first-come, first-served basis.

The restrooms on the lobby level are accessible. An accessible drinking fountain is located nearby.

Parking: Discounted parking available at the Levine Center for the Arts parking garage at 550 South Tryon Street, below the Duke Energy Center. Visitors must bring their tickets to the museum admission desk for validation.

Public Transportation: Bus #16 and #19 to Tryon St and 2^ndSt (1-minute walk) or LYNX Blue Line to3^rd/Convention Center (7-minute walk).

Find out more here.

Top Tip: Enjoy a short intro to the museum with a free 30-minute docent-led tour at noon on the third Thursday of each month.

The mission of the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture is to present, preserve and celebrate excellence in the art, history, and culture of African-Americans and those of African descent. The Center is located in an eye-catching, 46,500-square-foot building that is designed as a modern interpretation of the biblical Jacob’s Ladder while its exterior utilizes patterns inspired by quilt designs from the Underground Railroad ear and woven textile patterns from West Africa.

The center is wheelchair accessible. Wheelchairs are available for use.

Email or call the center at 704-547-3700 if you have any questions or queries about accessibility.

Parking: Parking at the Levine Center for the Arts parking garage at 550 South Tryon Street below the Duke Energy Center.

Public Transportation: Bus #16 and #19 to Tyron St and Stonewall St (1-minute walk) or #5 to Stonewall St and College St (2-minute walk). LYNX Blue Line to Stonewall St (5-minute walk).

Find out more here.

Top Tip: Receive discounted parking by bringing your ticket to the museum admission desk for validation.

There’s no better way to celebrate the line demarcating the North and South Carolina border than with a…theme park! Well, it made sense to someone back in the early 1970s and Carowinds has been entertaining Carolinans since 1973. From small beginnings, Carowinds has grown into 398-acre park and features thrill rides, live entertainment, authentic Carolina cuisine. Come early to beat the crowds and enjoy some roller coastin’ fun.

Wheelchairs and ECVs are available to rent at the Rental Center just inside the front gate (valid ID required).

The park has a Boarding Pass Program that allows anyone with mobility restrictions to access rides at specified times via the exit ramp in order to avoid waiting in regular lines. Download the Guest Assistance Guide to find out more.

Service animals are not permitted in water attractions, wet decks, wading pools or lazy rivers. A relief area is located near the North Gate entrance behind the park kennel.

Parking: Paid on-site parking.

Find out more here.

Top Tip: No outside foods or beverages are allowed in the park, so plan accordingly. If you have special dietary needs, email the Food and Beverage Office.

Discovery Place Science is one of four hands-on museums in three different North Carolinan cities engaging young learners in STEM education (make sure you also visit Discovery Place Nature – see next listing). And when they say young, they mean young. The KidScience exhibition is designed for kids from below a year old to “explore science through the power of play, inquiry, and exploration.” The Thinker Space makerspace lets children learn skills such as woodworking, sewing, and soldering while the Explore More Life lab gives children an understanding and appreciation of biodiversity through exploration and experimentation (if you don’t like rats and cockroaches, keep out!).

Discovery Place Science is wheelchair accessible.

The museum also provides services for visitors who have visual and hearing needs.

For more information about accessibility or to make advanced reservations for services, email or call the Accessibility Coordinator at 704-348-1976. 

Parking: On-site paid parking.

Public Transportation: Bus # 11, #13 and #22 to Tyron St and 6^thSt (1-minute walk). LYNX Light Rail 501 to 7^thSt Station (6-minute walk).

Find out more here.

Top Tip: If you join the Discovery Place Science mailing list, you can save 10% on admission.

Discovery Place Nature is an ideal opportunity to engage with live animals and plant life native to the Carolinas. The museum offers animal feeding and encounters sessions included in the price of admission. If critters aren’t your thing, there are planetarium shows, puppet shows and story times for helping build early literacy skills. Kids will love Fort Wild where they can build forts from rocks and timber or just do what kids do best – run around and make a noise! There’s also the Naturalist Lab, the Creature Cavern, and Butterfly Pavilion.

The museum says it strives to make its exhibits and facilities accessible to all visitors and provides services for visitors who have visual, hearing or mobility needs.

For more information about accessibility or to make advanced reservations for services, email or call the Accessibility Coordinator at 704-348-1976.

Parking: Free on-site parking.

Not many malls can boast an on-site aquarium, but when you are tired of shopping at the Concord Mills Mall, stop in at the SEA LIFE Charlotte-Concord Aquarium (or, alternatively, when you are tired of fish, go shopping!). There are talks and feeding sessions throughout the day, all included in the entry ticket. If you want to learn more about how the aquarium functions, take a short Behind-the-Scenes tour (additional cost) and see a different view of the sea while walking above the 117,000-gallon ocean tank. The aquarium is primarily aimed at children – though it’s good for any age – and has 10 interactive zones to explore.

The facility is wheelchair accessible. Wheelchairs can be rented from Concord Mills Mall.

The aquarium offers the opportunity to get up close and personal with crabs, sea stars and urchins in an Interactive Touchpool Experience.

Service animals are not permitted on the Behind-the-Scenes tour.

Caregivers receive a free ticket.

Parking: Free designated accessible parking is available at the mall. A passenger drop-off/pick-up zone is available by Entrance 7.

Find out more here.

Top Tip: Buy tickets online to save money on the walk-up price.

Head out of Charlotte to nearby Belmont for visit to the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. The garden has over 110 acres in cultivation, including the Four Seasons Garden, the tropical-themed Canal Garden, four Perennial Gardens, the nostalgic Cottage Garden, the fragrant Conifer Garden, and an orchid conservatory. There is also a well-stocked garden store where you can pick up garden essentials and items hand-crafted by local artisans.

The gardens are accessible. Benches are located throughout the grounds.

Parking: On-site accessible parking.

Find out more here.

Top Tip: Bring food with you. Picnics and coolers are permitted all over the property.

You don’t have to be a trainspotter to enjoy the North Carolina Transportation Museum. The 60-acre site, which is located 45 minutes outside of Charlotte, boasts the largest remaining operational roundhouse in North America and numerous structures that represent what was once Southern Railway’s largest steam locomotive repair facility in the southeast. There are also vintage cars and aviation exhibits.

The museum is accessible. Complimentary wheelchairs are available to borrow. Wherever possible, there are wheelchair lifts to facilitate access to attractions. Due to the age of some of the exhibits, there is limited accessibility.

Parking: Free on-site parking.

Find out more here.

Top Tip: The museum runs a shuttle bus between facilities on weekends.

North Carolina has plenty of opportunities for getting out and getting close to nature. If you have time to spare, visit Shenandoah National Park (about four and half hours from Charlotte) or the most-visited national park of all, Great Smoky Mountains National Park (about three hours’ drive from Charlotte). If you are looking for something a little closer, check out Lake Norman State Park. While this might not be as impressive as the bigger national parks, it’s still a great escape from the city. Situated on the largest manmade lake in North Carolina, the park offers swimming, fishing, boating and camping.

The short (0.15 mile) Dragonfly Trail, located close to the visitor center, is completely paved.

There is an accessible fishing pier and two accessible picnic shelters.

If you want to camp, the on-site campsite has one accessible site (number 31).

Parking: On-site parking.

Find out more here.

Top Tip: There are no fees to enter the park.