Cabarrus County with Kids
Whether you’re traveling with toddlers or teenagers, find your crew’s speed of fun with adventures for kids of all ages in Cabarrus County, North Carolina.
AGES 5 & UNDER
Kids will get an up-close look at over 5,000 creatures and be amazed beneath the waves in the 180-degree Ocean Tunnel at SEA LIFE Aquarium. Interactive zones engage little ones with activities like the touch pool where you can reach in to feel sea stars and urchins. Before leaving the aquarium, kids can even create their own virtual sea creature and watch it come to life on an interactive screen with SEA LIFE’s Doodle Reef exhibit.
All aboard! In Kannapolis, ride the Rotary Express train, take a spin on the double-decker carousel and jump through the splash pad’s water cannons, geysers and jets at Village Park. Then, enjoy first-run movies for a fraction of the cost in a fun setting at the Gem Theatre.
The entire pack will love Great Wolf Lodge, including your smallest pups! The perfectly sized water slides of Whooping Hollow are just right for kids under 52 inches. Splash the day away inside the largest indoor water park in the Carolinas, then go pint-sized bowling at Ten Paw Alley.
AGES 6-11
There’s no shortage of fun to be had at Concord Mills. At North Carolina’s largest outlet and value retail shopping and entertainment center, your kids can operate toy trains at Lionel’s only retail location, race each other at The Speedpark, see the giant fish tank at Bass Pro Shops and more.
Visit the town of Midland to see where 12-year-old Conrad Reed uncovered America’s first documented gold discovery at Reed Gold Mine. Explore exhibits to learn about the history of gold and tour the underground mine tunnels and walking trails. Afterward, try panning for gold to find your very own flake and keep what you find.
Get creative with Family Days at Cabarrus Arts Council. Ideal for pre-school and elementary school ages, these free events offer craft creation stations, an iSpy scanvenger hunt and may also include a performance or movie in the Davis Theatre and activities on the lawn.
AGES 12+
Plan a high-speed adventure through racing country. Go on an exciting tour of Charlotte Motor Speedway and see crews at work inside NASCAR Race Shops. Your gearheads-in-training can even get on track and cross the finish line in a real race car with NASCAR Racing Experience.
Take the adrenaline junkies in your group to experience the thrill of indoor skydiving at iFLY. After training with a certified instructor, step inside the wind tunnel and start soaring. Then, take your experience to the next level and fly around the world with virtual reality.
Around the corner at K1 Speed, kids can burn rubber on a professionally designed, indoor go-kart track. Because these karts are all-electric, K1 Speed offers the perfect atmosphere to hang out. Grab a snack at the Pit Café after taking the checkered flag and snapping a photo atop the podium.
Plan Your Stay
Along with these year-round activities, Cabarrus County offers even more excitement for the entire family. Share these ideas with your loved ones and start planning the perfect family-friendly vacation today. More inspiration for kid-friendly things to do across the destination can be found inside the official Cabarrus County, NC Destination Guide.