The Learning Experience - Ballantyne

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.

With the NASCAR craze in full bloom in Charlotte, car racing is hugely popular no matter what size the car may be. Nowhere is that more obvious than at The Pit Indoor Kart Racing. Get behind the wheel and get a rush of what the big cars feel like on this amazingly realistic track. The cars even resemble your favorite vehicles from NASCAR, so rev it up and go to the Pit for a roaring good time.

The Charlotte Checkers belong to the Midwestern Division of the Western Conference of the American Hockey League. The sports team is the AHL affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League. Their home games are played at the Time Warner Cable Arena.