CHARLOTTE, NC
AREA ATTRACTIONS

Visitors' Center - From I-77 take exit 9-B and follow I-277 to exit 1-E. After exiting, stay on the off-ramp to Tryon Street and turn left. The Convention & Visitors Bureay is at 330 South Tryon, a little over 3 blocks from Hill Street. Charlotte is a big city; parking, as in most big cities, is at a premium. There are parking garages all over the downtown area; the most convenient for the Visitors' Center is the one on West 1st Street at S. Tryon.
  For more information, phone 1-800-231-4636 (toll free) or visit their website: CharlotteCVB.

Discovery Place - They call this 'Place' a 'family of museums'. They have a constantly changing array of sophisticated exhibit - including many hands-on. They point out that over 500,000 people visit Discovery Place each year. While it wasn't crowded when we visited, there were an unusually large number of children (we suspect several were visiting groups).
  The Discovery Place Planetarium is excellent and the sound system one of the best we've experienced. The show is not only educating but exciting. The many children in attendance obviously enjoyed the show.
  For more information, phone 1-704-372-6261. Their web site is at: DiscoveryPlace.

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Latta Plantation Park - One of the impoundments of the Catawba River creates Mountain Island Lake - just 6 miles north of Charlotte. Operated by Mecklenburg County, the 2,200 acre Latta Plantation Park is a kaleidoscope of attractions. Named for Latta Place, a Federal-style plantation house built around 1800 by James Latta (an affluent area merchant) the buildings are open to visitors.
  Also contained within the park is the 57 acre Carolina Raptor Center. Several species of this fascinating bird of prey can be observed in their natural habitat. (Raptors may also be observed easily at Crowders Mountain State Park near Kings Mountain.) There are areas for viewing the fowl in their natural habitat. This center operates one of the few clinics in the country engaged in the rehabilitation of eagles, hawks, owls and vultures.
  Then there is the 25 acre Equestrian Center which not only offers rides on the extensive network of bridle paths but also a continuous schedule of riding lessons. The center's facilities include show grounds, lighted arenas, boarding and a tack shop. Horseback riding is one of the most popular activities at Latta Plantation Park.
  Mountain Island Lake is a very narrow, ten-mile long, quiet lake ideal for paddling. Latta Plantation also has a canoe launch. If you don't have a canoe of your own you can rent one from the park for $6/hour.
  The park has some nice, but heavily used, hiking trails. The trails are well developed (e.g. bridges over each little creek and steps up and down the steeper slopes) and one of them even has markers strategically placed along the trail describing the science of forest care and identifying some of the trees. None of the trails would be considered difficult.
  Take exit 18 of I-77 and follow Vance Road west to the Mt Holly-Huntersville Road (about 1½ miles). Take a left (toward Mt Holly) and proceed about 1¼ miles to Beatties Ford Road. Turn right, proceed another1½ miles and turn left onto Sample Road. Another mile and you're at the gate. Postal address: Latta Plantation Park: 5225 Sample Road, Huntersville NC 28078. Phones: 1-704-875-1391; 1-704-875-1394.
  For more information:

• about Latta Plantation (historic site)
• about the Equestrian Center: phone 1-704-875-0808
• about Carolina Raptor Center; phone 1-704-875-6521

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