Village Park in Kannapolis is a family favorite with a splash pad, playground, carousel, train rides, and plenty of green space for picnics and events. The park also hosts concerts, movies, and seasonal celebrations like the annual holiday light display.

Kid-friendly before 9pm, Pins Mechanical Co offers duckpin bowling and a variety of retro games. A full drink menu includes quirky kids' mocktail options, and while there is no food served on-site, you can bring your own or have it delivered.

With its food hall filled with kid-friendly bites, roomy communal tables, and shops to explore, Optimist Hall is perfect for a relaxed outing with the whole family.

With plenty of outdoor space, vibrant murals, unique shops, and diverse dining options, Camp North End in Charlotte is a go-to destination for families looking for a mix of play, creativity, and relaxation.

Harper & Skyler’s Toys & Sweets is a family-owned shop located in Park Road Shopping Center in Charlotte, offering a mix of trendy tween accessories, curated toys and specialty candies — with a fun, welcoming vibe and plenty of options for gifts.

Tasty’s One Pot Chicken Chow Mein is a fun, slurpable noodle dinner that feels like takeout night. Everything cooks together for less mess.

Mountain Creek Park features nearly 20 miles of multi-use trails optimized for mountain biking, hiking, and trail running.The park also offers a treehouse-inspired adventure playground, a mountain bike pump track, pickleball courts, a dog park, fishing pier, canoe/kayak launch, and a paved ADA-accessible trail through a quiet lakeside cove.

Vibrant kid-approved pasta salad with couscous, chickpeas, salami, mozzarella, bell peppers, olives, and cherry tomatoes, all tossed in a zesty Italian dressing.

Simple and kid-friendly salad uses fresh summer veggies and rotisserie chicken for a quick shortcut.

A flavorful one-pot pasta gets a nice texture from a trip under the broiler and a toasty breadcrumb topping.

This decadent birthday cake is a labor of love (and requires special equipment), but your kids will never forget it.

Kid-friendly starter drone captures photos and video, and has a control distance of up to 328 feet.

Single-use, air-activated heat packs that stay toasty for up to 10 hours.

This popular wear-with-anything necklace is available in a wide variety of gemstones to match any tween or teen's preferences.