Charlotte Nature Museum
The Charlotte Nature Museum displays the various plants and animals of the Piedmont region in a variety of fascinating exhibits. Its "Butterfly Pavilion" contains a huge array of brightly colored butterflies that flutter around plants and sip nectar. The pavilion even has a section where guests can watch butterflies emerge from their chrysalides. In the "Fiber Fun Hall," children and adults learn the origins of clothing fabrics like cotton, wool, and silk. The Charlotte Nature Museum is located at 1658 Sterling Ave. Call the museum at (704) 372-0471 to find out information about its hours and admission fees, or (800) 935-0553 to schedule a group visit.

Charlotte Museum of History and Hezekiah Alexander Homesite
The Charlotte Museum of History, located at 3500 Shamrock Drive E., focuses on the origins of the city and Mecklenburg County, and how different events in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries shaped Charlotte today. Hezekiah Alexander's Revolutionary-era home is located on the museum's grounds. Alexander served as an active religious and political community leader in Mecklenburg County. His 1774 residence, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is the oldest surviving structure in Mecklenburg County. Costumed interpreters lead guests through the house, kitchen, and springhouse at 1:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. Call the museum at (704) 568-1774 for information about its hours and admission fees.

Discovery Place
Discovery Place, located at 301 N. Tryon St., is one of the top hands-on science museums in the nation. Its state-of-the-art Challenger Learning Center allows students to role-play in various astronaut mission scenarios. The missions, which are set in the future, are titled "Voyage to Mars," "Return to the Moon," and "Rendezvous with Comet Halley." In Discovery Place's "Science in Motion," guests see live demonstrations of scientific principles. One such display uses a banana as a hammer to discuss super cold temperatures. Call Discovery Place at (704) 372-6261 for information about its hours and admission fees.

Ericsson Stadium
Ericsson Stadium, located at 800 S. Mint St., is the home of the NFL's Carolina Panthers. The HOK Sports Facilities Group of Kansas City, Mo. designed the 73,250-seat stadium specifically for football. The stadium resembles an impenetrable fortress, with two enormous bronze panthers guarding each of its three entrances. Stadium tours start promptly at 10 a.m. on Wednesdays for the first 25 people that show up. Tours meet in front of the stadium ticket office, between the east and south gates on Mint Street. Call (704) 358-7000 to arrange tours for groups of 10 to 100 people, and to get information about tour fees.

Fourth Ward
The historic Fourth Ward area served as Charlotte's first neighborhood. Its residents included prominent merchants,doctors, and bankers. They built prestigious Victorian homes that still populate the area today. The historic neighborhood is bounded by North Graham, West 10th, North Church, and West 6th streets. Guests can obtain a walking-tour brochure, which highlights 18 historic places of interest, from INFO! Charlotte (located at 330 S. Tryon St.). Residents open up their decorated homes for a Christmas Home Tour, which usually takes place the first week in December.

Historic Latta Plantation
Historic Latta Plantation, once a working cotton plantation, is currently a living history museum. Guests first view anintroductory video, and then use a map to take a self-guided tour of the house, cabin, outbuildings, log barns, gardens, and livestock. Costumed interpreters supplement the experience. Historic Latta Plantation is located at 5225 Sample Road in Huntsville, 12 miles northwest of Charlotte. Admission costs $4 for adults, $3 for students age 12 and older and seniors, and $2 for children ages 6 to 12. Call the Historic Latta Plantation at (704) 875-2312 for information about its hours.

Lake Norman
Lake Norman, just 23 minutes from Charlotte in Cornelius, features 32,510 acres of water and 520 miles of shoreline. Popular year-round activities include golfing, boating, and fishing. When the Charlotte summer gets too hot and humid, riding a boat out to the middle of Lake Norman and diving in is an ideal plan. Visitors enjoy spending a day on the water and then dining in one of its many fine restaurants, or casual dockside establishments. Swimming is allowed only off of private piers and boats.

Levine Museum of the New South
The Levine Museum of the New South touts itself as the most comprehensive interpretation of post-Civil War Southern history. Its exhibits are interactive and multisensory. The museum's centerpiece is its 8000-square-foot "Cotton Fields to Skyscrapers: Charlotte and the Carolina Piedmont in the New South" exhibit, which details the region's past and present. Highlights within the exhibit include: "Remaking the Countryside," a re-created cotton field; "Building a Region of Cities," which allows guests to explore a re-created Main Street and try on clothes at a 1930s Belk Department Store; and "We Shall Overcome," a 1960s lunch counter representing the segregated South. The Levine Museum of the New South is located at 200 E. Seventh St. Call the museum at (704) 333-1887 for information about its hours and admission fees.

Lowe's Motor Speedway
Lowe's Motor Speedway roars with racing activities throughout the year. Every Memorial Day weekend, it hosts the longest Winston Cup race on the NASCAR circuit - the Coca-Cola 600. This event is one of the biggest events in stock car racing. The Lowe's Motor Speedway is located at 5555 U.S. 29. Tickets for the Coca-Cola 600 start at $35. Call Lowe's Motor Speedway at (704) 455-3200 to purchase tickets for its various events.

North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
The North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, located at 130 N. Tryon St., is the premier venue for the performing arts in the Charlotte. The center is home to the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, North Carolina Dance Theatre, Charlotte Repertory Theatre, and Opera Carolina. It also hosts several Broadway musicals throughout the year. "Chicago," "Jesus Christ Superstar," and "The Sound of Music" are just a few musicals that graced its stage. Tickets usually range from $15 to $100. Call the center at (704) 372-1000 to purchase tickets to any of its scheduled performances.

Paramount's Carowinds
Paramount's Carowinds, a 105-acre theme and water park, is one of the most popular family entertainment attractions in the Carolinas. Visitors should take the Carowinds Boulevard exit off of Interstate 77 to get to the attraction, which is located only 15 minutes from Charlotte. It contains over 100 state-of-the-art rides, attractions, and shows. One of its signature rides is Top Gun: The Jet Coaster, which is the park's biggest and fastest coaster. Its Cyber Says: A Virtual Reality Center allows 20 guests at a time to compete in different adventures, while onlookers watch their wacky movements. Call Paramount's Carowinds at (704) 588-2600 for information about its hours and admission fees.

Wing Haven Gardens and Bird Sanctuary
The Wing Haven Gardens and Bird Sanctuary, a unique part of Charlotte since its inception in 1927, comprises formal gardens and wooded areas. Brick walls enclose the 3 acres of gardens, created by Elizabeth and Edwin Clarkson. Its plantings, pools, birdbaths, and recirculating fountains are chosen specifically to attract birds. Visitors to the garden and sanctuary's 248 Ridgewood Ave. address may also tour the Clarkson home. There is no charge to enter the Wing Haven Gardens and Bird Sanctuary, but donations are appreciated. Call the sanctuary at (704) 331-0664 for information about its hours.