From heart-racing roller coasters to child-friendly rides and epic water parks, North Carolina has awesome amusement parks that make the perfect getaway for adults, kids and families. Whether you want to take your adrenaline to the limit or just enjoy a leisurely day outdoors, there’s a park that will fit your needs for the perfect day out.
Carowinds - Charlotte
Although Carowinds has a Charlotte address, it is actually the only amusement park that is technically located in two states – sitting across the border in both North and South Carolina. Here, you’ll find over 50 different rides, including the Fury 325 – the world’s tallest and fastest giga coaster, the Intimidator – one of the tallest, fastest and longest hyper coasters in the world, and the Carolina Skytower – one of the park’s original attractions that features an air-conditioned cabin that travels up a 262-foot tower and offers amazing views of both North and South Carolina. There are also plenty of kid-friendly rides, shows and Carolina Harbor Waterpark that features huge water slides, wave pools and a kids’ area that stretches over three acres.
Frankie's Fun Park - Raleigh
With four locations between North and South Carolina, Frankie’s Fun Park offers plenty of opportunities to have fun with your friends or family. At the North Carolina location in Raleigh, Frankie’s features some very unique rides like the Windstarz, which allows readers to experience what it’s like to go hang gliding, the Dark Ride XD – an interactive movie experience and the Sky Trail – a crazy course of steps and balance beams suspended four stories above the ground. There’s also a go kart track, bumper boats, a fun house, batting cage, laser tag and a mini golf course. So, you will never run out of things to do! If you build up an appetite, there are two great options to choose from for fueling up – Frankie’s Café, a quick spot to grab a pizza, salad, sandwich or burger, or Frankie’s Chill Lounge – a full service bar and restaurant with a state-of-the-art AV system and plenty of comfortable seating to relax and recoup before your next round of rides.
Tweetsie Railroad - Blowing Rock
Tweetsie Railroad in Blowing Rock is anything but your typical amusement park. From the moment you enter the park, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported back to the days of the Wild West, from the Wild West Train Adventure, where you can ride a historic, coal-fired steam engine train (and ward off some bandits!) to the many horses, stage coaches and covered wagons along main street. In the Country Fair section of the park, you’ll find lots of old favorites like the Carousel, Tilt-a-Whirl, Ferris Wheel and Chair Lift, as well as a few thrill rides like the Free Fall and the Tornado. The little ones will want to check out Miner’s Mountain where they can ride the Mouse Mine Train, the Tweetsie Twister or pilot their own jet plane or boat. In addition to the rides, there are lots of live shows to take in like the Can Can Revue and the Clogging Jamboree, a petting zoo to explore and even a chance to go mining for gems and gold!
Wet n' Wild Emerald Pointe - Greensboro
If you’re looking for some warm weather fun, Wet n’ Wild Emerald Pointe in Greensboro has been rated one of the top ten water parks in the country. Stretching across a massive 41 acres, the park features three million gallons of water and over 36 rides and attractions including body slides and tube slides, kiddie slides, wave pools and the Soak Zone – an interactive water play area. For a more leisurely way to spend the afternoon, try taking a raft down the Lazee River or relax in the shallow waters of Leisure Lagoon. Or if you’re more of an adrenaline junkie, be sure to check out the Twin Twisters – a pair of completely enclosed water chutes that will have you twisting and turning in total darkness for over 350 feet before plunging into the pool below. You’ll also find plenty of traditional amusement park concessions to munch on here, from hotdogs and hamburgers to funnel cakes and popcorn. But if you’ve built up an appetite for a real meal, no worries. Some of Greensboro’s best family-friendly restaurants are located close by.
Great Wolf Lodge - Concord
If you’re ready for some water park fun but the weather isn’t cooperating with your plans, head over to Great Wolf Lodge in Concord, where you can enjoy the water park experience 365 days a year! This enclosed indoor water park is full of fun things for the kids to do, plus a few bonus perks for the parents as well! Of course, there are plenty of slides, wave pools and splash zones. But that’s nearly all you’ll find here. There are also several live shows to enjoy, a ropes course, a Magiquest scavenger hunt, bowling alley, miniature golf course, arcade and an XD theater experience. And parents, you’ll love the fitness center, unlimited Wi-Fi and the spa & salon that are also on-site.
