Summer is around the corner, but don’t wait to go big on your adventures. May is a great time to visit theme parks in North Carolina. There are smaller crowds, and the scorching heat hasn’t hit yet! Best of all, these three adventure destinations featured below are all an easy drive within two hours.
Tips to Visit a Theme Park as a Family
- Purchase tickets online to save another potentially long wait in line.
- Pack a lunch (be sure to check first to see if outside food is allowed – if not, have a tailgate style picnic lunch).
- Aim to get there as early as possible to make the most of your day.
- Look up the attractions beforehand and plan out ones your family members don’t want to miss (then, start with those in your trip).
- Set realistic expectations for the trip and adventure (this is especially true if you have young children).
Three NC Theme Parks Provide Ultimate Family Fun
Carowinds
This amusement park joins North and South Carolina. In fact, you can even stand on the border inside Carowinds. From thrilling roller coasters to playgrounds for little ones, there is something for all ages and adventure seekers.
There is also a full-size water park at Carowinds – Carolina Harbor Waterpark. New to this year is an adult-only area of Carolina Harbor Waterpark – Carolina Harbor Shore Club. There are attractions and rides for all types of water lovers, including water slides, splash areas and tidal wave bay.
You won’t go hungry at Carowinds. An abundance of food options awaits! Some delicious options include hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken strips, funnel cakes, pizza and so much more.
Location: 14523 Carowinds Boulevard, Charlotte
Season dates: Carowinds is already open for the season, and Carolina Harbor Waterpark opens May 24th.
More information: carowinds.com
Tweetsie Railroad
Family fun awaits all ages and adventure seekers at Tweetsie Railroad. You can expect rides, food, live entertainment, animals and, of course, trains when you visit Tweetsie.
One great thing about this park is its very manageable size and the fact that you can travel around it via train! It’s not huge but is also big enough to hold tons to do. It’s one of those theme parks that is perfect for families with younger kids.
In addition to the rides, dining and live entertainment, there are also fun activities like gold panning, gem mining and arcade games. If you visit, do not miss the Wild West Train Adventure.
Location: 300 Tweetsie Railroad Lane, Blowing Rock
Season dates: Tweetsie Railroad is already open for the season.
More information: tweetsie.com
Wet ‘n Wild Emerald Pointe Water Park
Located right here in the Triad, Wet ‘n Wild is so close, it’s a water park worth visiting multiple times this spring and summer. That’s a great idea since you likely won’t be able to fit everything to do in one day!
There are more than 40 attractions that range in intensity from mild to extreme. No matter your level of thrill seeking, they’ve got you covered.
One great way to spend the day at the water park is to rent one of their cabanas. It’ll give your family a place to rest, rejuvenate, safely store your stuff and even charge your phone!
Location: 3910 South Holden Road, Greensboro
Season dates: Wet ‘n Wild opens Memorial Day weekend.
More information: emeraldpointe.com
Be on the lookout for Part 3 of this Adventure Awaits series in the June issue. I’ll share some downtown Winston-Salem adventures you won’t want to miss this summer.
