In uptown Charlotte at 300 E. Seventh St. you will find Imaginon. Admission is free and parking is free for the first 90 minutes of your visit. Imaginon is home to the Children's Theatre of Charlotte and Spanglers Children's Library. There are many activities to keep the kids busy in the library such as; a coloring table, computers with games, a doll house, and of course a ton of children's books! There are numerous story times throughout the week as well. Imaginon has ongoing exhibitions, as well as exhibitions that come and go every couple of months. The calendar of events at Imaginon is always full of special events and things to do.
Also located uptown at 220 North Tryon St. is the Mint Museum of Craft and Design. The museum is free every Tuesday from 10AM-2PM. On the second Tuesday of each month from 10:30AM-11:30am children 18 months to 4 years (with an adult) are invited to participate in a free interactive program. The theme changes each month so there is always something new to see and do.
The Charlotte area is saturated with many great parks and recreation facilities. Admission is free to most of these parks with the exception of Jetton and McDowell parks. Freedom Park, North Mecklenburg Park, and Latta Plantation Nature Preserve are parks that are sites to a number of annual events. Many of these area parks also have great playgrounds and nature trails.
If your child has a love of books, most Charlotte-Mecklenburg Libraries (as well as the counties outside of Charlotte) host weekly story times as well as other library events such as summer reading programs, and other seasonal programs. Area Barnes and Nobles and Borders books also host story times.
Just north of Charlotte is the Duke Power Energy Explorium. Activities for children at the Energy Explorium interactive games about electricity and how to conserve it. There is also a mile long nature trail. Admission and parking are free year round.
The Children's Art Project, located north of Charlotte in Cornelius,occasionally has free events with their mobile art program called HubCaps. HubCaps events scheduled at different venues in the community such as parks, annual events etc. throughout the year. Children can experiment with different art materials and create various projects to take home.
There are some of the great places in the Charlotte area to take preschoolers on a limited budget. Go out and have a fun time!
