• North Carolina has numerous fun family vacation attractions.North Carolina state contour against blurred USA flag image by Stasys Eidiejus from Fotolia.com
  
  North Carolina has five natural science and cultural museums, three major aquariums, a 1,500-acre zoo and a number of historic sites. North Carolina is also very big on agri-tourism, which is tourist activities and locations that are agriculturally based, such as visits to working farms, wineries and public "u-pick" gardens and orchards. With so many attractions, North Carolina is a great place to plan your next fun family vacation.
  
  

North Carolina Zoological Park

• The North Carolina Zoological Park is located in central North Carolina within the Uwharrie Mountains in the town of Asheboro, right off the Zoo Parkway. The zoo, open year-round, has approximately 1,100 animals and 40,000 plants, from two continents, Africa and North America. Exhibits feature alligators, cougars, waterfowl, turtles, amphibians, polar bears, sea lions, puffins, arctic foxes, bald eagle, otters, snakes, frogs, fish and bobcats, just to name a few. There are also wetland and marsh areas that feature water plants, tropical plants and native plants. The park has a number of shops, restaurants and snack bars. The zoo offers shuttle service that runs every 20 minutes from the parking lot to the zoo's entrance.
  
  North Carolina Zoological Park
  4401 Zoo Pkwy
  Asheboro, NC 27203
  336-879-7000
  nczoo.org
  
  

Discovery Place

• Discovery Place is an interactive science and technology kids' museum, located just off North Tryon Street in Charlotte. The museum uses hands-on exhibits, and daily programs to stimulate the sixth sense, and educate children about science. The museum also features IMAX films and 3D "film shorts". Some exhibits include a mechanical launcher, air sculptures, a footwear designing station, stop-motion animation videos station, a 2-D time mural, an optimusic sensor array and an electronic musical instrument. The Discovery Place has daily programs that includes science story time, animal meet 'n' greets, forensic entomologist assisting and other activity stations.
  
  Discovery Place
  301 N. Tryon St.
  Charlotte, NC
  704-372-6261
  discoveryplace.org
  
  

Paramount's Carowinds

• Paramount's Carowinds is a theme park in Charlotte, which features rides, attractions, a water park, games, live shows and shopping. Rides include roller coasters for both young and older children, water rides and rides that accommodate the whole family. Family rides, at Paramount's Carowinds, are rated from one to four in intensity and include: the Action Theatre, Boo Blasters on Boo Hill, the Carolina Skytower, Dodg'ems (bumper cars), The Scrambler and the YoYo. The park also offers visitors accommodations at the Carowinds Camp Wilderness Resort. The parks days and hours of operation are contingent on the time of year, check the park's calendars for dates.
  
  Paramount's Carowinds
  14523 Carowinds Blvd.
  Charlotte, NC 28273
  800-888-4386
  carowinds.com