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Hit the lanes at Strike City, the best place for bowling and fun in Charlotte. Strike City is much more than just a bowling alley. There's a great restaurant with all your favorites like burgers, sandwiches and nachos, just to name a few. There's also a sports bar area with several eye-popping flat screen televisions to ensure that you won't miss a minute of the big game. And of course, the state-of-the-art bowling lanes are always in pristine condition and keep track of your score digitally. You won't strike out on a good time when you head to Strike City!

Charlotte's Festival in the Park takes place every September in Freedom Park and offers locals and visitors a chance to celebrate the spirit of the city in a variety of ways. There's live music, great food, and a large selection of arts and crafts created by local artisans that truly capture the spirit of the area. There are also several displays of art from local, regional and even nationally recognized talents. Just be prepared for a long walk into the park, as parking spaces are at a premium and often the only one you'll find is relatively far away - just look at the walk as a chance to enjoy the scenery and bond with fellow festival-goers.

Numerous natural adventures await at the Charlotte Nature Museum . Instead of "don't touch," the phrase of choice at this highly popular family venue is "hands-on"! These inviting surroundings make learning about nature fun, and the museum does an excellent job with various exhibits like the Great Hall that outlines the life cycles of various species. Other popular attractions are the Creature Cavern that spotlight animals indigenous to the Carolinas; the kids will also be fascinated by Insect Alley and Butterfly Pavilion as well as the various fun that awaits outside on the Paw Paw Nature Trail.