Lake Norman Fun: Where Kids Can Be Kids

Lake Norman Fun: Where Kids Can Be Kids
With picturesque Lake Norman and the beautiful nearby mountains, the area just north
of Charlotte on Interstate 77 is a great place for adults to relax, but it is also a great
place for kids to just be kids. Visit the area and explore all the great family attractions
that will have your kids begging to come back.
3-Day Itinerary
Day 1
Spend the day out on the lake,
enjoy a miniature golf game,
and then have dinner followed
by a movie or dessert.
Day 2
Visit a nature center where you
can hike, ride horses, watch a
live raptor presentation, canoe
and fish. Then go to the energy
explorium and enjoy interactive
exhibits and a butterfly garden.
Day 3
Dine at one of the area’s most
popular breakfast spots and
then go to the educational and
fun place every kid is sure to love.
With so much to see and do in the area, we recommend the following 3-day itinerary.
Enjoy all the area has to offer by mixing and matching events to your particular interest.
Be sure to check days and hours of operation for each venue.
Day 1
Spend a full day out on the lake soaking up the sun, swimming in the water and taking
in the beautiful scenery. No matter what, being out on the lake is fun for the whole
family. You’ll be sure to have a good time on a rented Jet Ski, pontoon boat, skiff boat,
or deck boat from Kings Point Morningstar Marina. For the day you can pick up some
snacks at their Ship’s Store or you can stop by a local deli beforehand and pick up your
lunch on the way to the marina. We suggest Jersey Mike’s, Prosciutto’s Pizzeria Pub
& Restaurant, or McAlister’s, which are all conveniently located less than five miles
away from the marina.
Afterward, stop by Lake Norman Miniature Golf for some more family fun. With
waterfalls, bridges and more, the course is unique, exciting, and sure to be a
competitive and enjoyable time for all ages. For dinner we suggest going to one of the
many great restaurants in Birkdale Village, such as Baja Soul Taqueria, Bad Daddy’s
Burger Bar, or J.D. Rockers Subs and Salads. After dinner you can stop by Birkdale’s
movie theater, Regal Birkdale Stadium, or have some dessert at Bruster’s Real Ice
Cream or TCBY Frozen Yogurt Shop to finish off your day.
Day 2
Start the day off at the Latta Plantation Nature Center and see native reptiles,
amphibians and other animals on exhibit as well as the birds in the garden area. You
can rent a canoe or borrow a fishing pole to enjoy on Mountain Island Lake or you can
hike on their nature trails. While there you can also go to the Carolina Raptor Center,
which features eagles, falcons, owls, hawks and other birds of prey. You can watch a
live presentation of raptors and see great displays and interactive areas such as Harry
Potter’s Raptors of the Silver Screen. Additionally, you can ride horses at the Latta
Plantation Equestrian Center and explore the horseback riding trail.
Then visit Duke Energy’s Energy Explorium and enjoy the creative, fun and
educational exhibits about the environment, weather, electricity and nuclear energy.
You can also take a virtual tour of the station, watch a movie about how and why Lake
Norman was built, and spend time in the butterfly garden.
Next, have dinner at the popular Killington’s Restaurant & Pub. The menu is designed
for everyone with vegetarian, seafood, sirloin, pasta favorites and kids’ options.
Day 3
Start your day off with breakfast at one of Lake Norman’s
most popular breakfast spots, Café 100. Whether you sit
inside or under the covered patio outside, you’ll be sure to
enjoy an extensive menu comprised of lox bagel platters,
quiches, Greek frittatas, French toast, eggs, pancakes,
waffles, burritos and omelets.
After breakfast, visit Discovery Place KIDS right down the
street. Imagine what your kid can do: be a firefighter, a
chef or an explorer, build a castle, create a masterpiece,
captain a boat, visit a farm, run a grocery store or dig
in an outdoor garden. This place is perfect for a day
of extraordinary and rich play that engages children’s
imagination and inspires learning.
You can follow this itinerary or build your custom itinerary,
just go to www.visitlakenorman.org/trip-builder
For more information:
Visit Lake Norman
www.visitlakenorman.org
(704)-987-3300