This is a hidden treasure! We encourage everyone to see this slice of history. Being from Detroit,…read moreMichigan it was especially exciting to see Thomas Edison's Dynamo! To imagine Thomas Edison being in Dallas thinking of inventions. Inventing the dynamo! To imagine life in the mill days. To imagine life in the olden days! The art exhibits were fun too! I wish I remember our volunteer's name , he made the experience vivid and we learned a lot! Truly exciting! Great exhibition!

This place is an amazing accidental find for us. Tucked in the back streets of Dallas NC this…read moremuseum offers a peek into the history of Gaston County told by local volunteers. Once you get a quick run down of the history of the historical building you begin a self guided tour that was 4 year old approved. Not all exhibits are fully geared at children either. It is well blended to allow children to be stimulated while adults are able to take in the rich history. We lost track of the time and ended up spending 3 hours & still didn't see everything!! We will go back another time for sure!! There is no charge but donations should be made. I gave 5 bucks b.c it was what I had on hand & we bought some stuff at the gift shop. It's an awesome little gem and a great way to spend the day for any age group. If you haven't been check it out!! Lamar gave us our historical over view and made sure we had a fantastic afternoon. I always appreciate a friendly staff.

Fabulous kid friendly museum! We like visiting and checking…read moreout the new exhibits and the permanent ones are wonderful. Hot tip is to park on the roof and walk in upstairs where you can pay and get your parking validated.

To the Discovery Place Management Team,…read more I am writing to formally express our deep disappointment regarding the experience our second-grade team had during our field trip on April 28. While we chose Discovery Place for its reputation as an educational leader, the lack of professional communication and logistical support we received was unacceptable. Our primary concerns include: Total Lack of Communication: Leading up to our visit, we reached out multiple times via phone and email seeking guidance and logistics. We received no response until after our trip was already completed. For an educator planning a trip for over 80 children, this silence is incredibly stressful and unprofessional. Inadequate Logistics and Materials: For the price paid per student, we expected a baseline level of organization. We were not provided with maps, a detailed itinerary, room numbers, or specific class times. We spent a significant portion of our day navigating blindly rather than focusing on the educational exhibits. Safety and Departure Issues: Most concerning was the lack of staff assistance during our departure. Because no direction was provided regarding exits, we were forced to lead 83 second graders out onto a busy city block to walk to our waiting buses. This created an entirely avoidable safety risk that could have been mitigated had a staff member simply directed us to a proper exit or bus loading zone. As a result of this experience, we will not be recommending Discovery Place to our coworkers or other schools in our district. We expected a partnership in education, but instead, we felt ignored and unsupported. We hope you take this feedback seriously to ensure that future student groups do not face the same disorganized and potentially unsafe conditions. Sincerely, Nicole Roberts

I love it here. I am a very science-y girl, I love anything to do with science and medicine. So, of…read morecourse, I started coming here a few years ago. The planetarium shows are gorgeous, my particular favorite was one about monarch butterfly migration. The Aquarium and reptile section is so cool, you get to see these massive tortoises and an alligator named Lucy, pet sting rays, fish of all kinds, etc. You can also explore the human body section and the physics section, where you can play on a special pulley system on a physics playground. There is also a section with insects where you can take a closer look at different types of preserved butterflies. And, every three years or so, they hold a butterfly exhibit where you can watch the butterflies flutter about. They'll even give you some sugar water on your finger, and butterflies will come flocking to you and even land on you! I had the privilege of being present for it last year and butterflies landed on me left and right, I absolutely felt like Snow White! All in all, the Catawba Science Center is a family friendly learning environment that is perfect for field trips of all kinds. You won't regret visiting!

The Catawba Science Center is located next to the Hickory Art Museum in the SALT complex so I…read morestopped here too. It was about $15 to visit the museum. I had reciprocity but didn't think to ask about it and they didn't ask like is done at the other museums. The Science Center was on the small side and a lot of the exhibits were out of order. The exhibits they had seemed geared more to younger children. So there wasn't a lot there. I never found my way to the aquarium as that is apparently in another building and that was not mentioned. The planetarium show wasn't starting until 2pm so that was disappointing. I will go back with my reciprocity to see the building I missed.

We went awhile back to see Charlotte and were sorely disappointed. Hearing of her death today…read morereminded me I had forgotten to write a review. This location is privately run and not for educational purposes. More like going to a friends house to see their pets. Please consider going to an aquarium run by scientists for educational purposes.

I want to say this has been one of the highlights of my family trip. When your 16 yo his 17 yo best…read morefriend and wife all agree on this fact it says something. As adults we have this tendency to say "if I knew then what I knew now, I'd have paid more attention in school!" Well here's your chance. This tiny aquarium will impart more knowledge in a short visit than you probably take in most months if you take advantage of it. The interns and owner (a former teacher) are committed to answering questions. The things they are studying and sharing are amazing. If you go in and you want to learn and ask questions this will be an experience you won't forget. Think of the best science teacher you ever had, having an opportunity to show the world what she loves to talk about... and that is what you have here. Do yourself a favor, go, enjoy and learn!!

The Hickory Museum of Art is located at the SALT complex which was once a high school gymnasium…read more Both admission and parking are free and if the lot in front is full there is a huge lot in the back. Hickory Museum of Art just celebrated its 80th Anniversary. The museum is on three levels and they have curvy staircases; regular staircases and an elevator. I used each during my visit as the curvy stairs made me dizzy so I opted for the elevator to the 3rd floor and found the regular stairs. Besides in the big open spaces there is also art to be found in the nooks and crannies of the art portion of the building. There are also hands on areas for children. I really enjoyed the In Memoriam exhibit of Joe LaFone. I do not believe I had seen his work before but I loved the vibrant colors of the work as well as the textures. It grabbed my attention and made me smile. I believe there are permanent and changing exhibits so that means a return trip to see the new artwork and discover another artist new to me.

I'm surprised that I'm getting the FTR on this wonderful museum. While it's not MOMA or the Getty,…read moreit's a great museum in a small town that is an exurb of Charlotte. Five stars because it's in a category all by itself. Y'all need to make the trip up here! The Hickory Museum of Art has a long-term exhibition of Southern contemporary folk art, showcasing the work of self-taught artists from around the region. North Carolina's second oldest museum, Hickory Museum of Art was established in 1944 when visionary founding Director, Paul Whitener, declared, "I am going to make Hickory, North Carolina an art center." Hickory Museum of Art first earned national accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums in 1991. The museum is free to enter though they of course accept donations. When I visited, only the first and third floors were accessible as the second floor is currently having a changeover of exhibitions. You can easily tour the entire place in an hour. Today, the museum's permanent collection includes approximately 1,500 art objects, ranging from Hudson River School paintings, American art pottery, Glass Art, High-Speed Photography, and the work of regional artists. The third floor of "folk art" was interesting and enjoyable though not the type of art that I usually look for. On the first floor, more landscapes and portraits and a few pieces of contemporary art. Definitely more my speed. The museum has free parking and if you've come this far, check out the Ivey Arboretum two blocks away which features 50 different species of trees and plantings plus a few pieces of public sculpture, https://www.yelp.com/biz/ivey-arboretum-at-sally-fox-park-hickory?hrid=7Ncg9GcUykd7nIRM-MopeA. The museum shares the space with the Catawba Science Center. [Review 15882 overall - 3098 in North Carolina - 1386 of 2021.]

My daughter got us tickets. It was beyond amazing…read more The information about his life was surrounded by replicas of his works. There were areas where they brought is life and works to life. There were plenty of places to sit and enjoy. There was plenty of room for everyone to read without standing on top of one another. We spent a full half-hour in the final immersive room lying on a rug propping ourselves on plush pillows. We watched the entire 360 degree show. Hats off to the creators! The entire experience is a history lesson disguised as artwork. If you love history and/or art, you will love this experience! MOST SINCERELY

A nice experience but not worth the cost…read more While visiting one of my besties and her baby, she really wanted to check this Immersive experience of Van Gogh artwork. She's a huge fan, and use to do some kind of work at an art museum in Washington DC, so this place seemed up her alley. She graciously paid $90 for our tickets ($40/adult + taxes and fees), and was sorely disappointed. The old huge warehouse was renovated into a small showcase of Van Gogh art via a few tv monitors and interpreted art sculptures that represent Van Gogh's themes. The main event is the 30 min art instillation that projects on the walls, with strobe lighting and loud music..which is the immersive experience that you're essentially paying for. Of course, there's an overpriced gift shop area..with posters, t-shirts, and art jigsaw puzzles..and a mini bar with over priced snacks items. We were happy to support the culture..but this not truly worth the cost. Thankfully the restrooms were clean (but did not contain any changing tables..and auntie Nneka changed a poopy diaper!!). Also, there was air conditioning and welcoming staff members who were helpful and offered to take our pictures with any of the life sized sculptures. So, its a nice effort..but only if you trying to be supportive of the cause..otherwise..semi hard pass on this one.

It's been close to 2 years since my last visit here and my 4 star review remains the same. New…read morehighlights I've noticed since I have two small kiddos is the various bench seating options which make having a snack easy and the multiple bathroom locations throughout museum. Both of these things make it more enjoyable for kids and adults. It is not crowded during the week. My kids especially liked the Dino exhibit and live animals (snapping turtle, ground hog, owl). I just wish for a city the size of Charlotte (and surrounding area) that the museum was a little bigger. We were done in about 1-1.5hours

Enjoyed my recently visit to Schiele Museum of Natural History. The staff were friendly and…read morehelpful. The displays were creative and well maintained. Particularly enjoyed the dinosaur exhibit with all of the life size dinosaurs exhibits. Parking was easy. My only suggestion would be updating the outdoor area as it seemed quite run down and showing alot of wear, which was totally not the case with the indoor areas

As someone who moved here from the Bay Area and is still finding my favorite outdoor spaces in…read moreCharlotte, I'm always on the lookout for places that offer a little peace and beauty in the middle of a busy day. The McGill Rose Garden absolutely delivered on that. This is truly a beautiful venue--lush flowers everywhere, winding walk paths, and plenty of places to sit quietly and just take it all in. It's the kind of space where you can slow down, clear your head, and quite literally stop and smell the roses. I found it to be a wonderful spot for reflection, a casual stroll, or simply enjoying nature without needing to leave the city. One of the things I especially appreciated is that you can enhance the experience with a visit to the wine bar onsite, Rosie's Wine Garden, where you can grab a coffee, cocktail, or glass of wine and then wander the grounds at your own pace. It adds a relaxed, almost European feel to the whole experience. A quick heads-up: parking can be a bit tricky, as the entrance is off a busy street, so just take your time and be patient when pulling in. Once you're there, though, it's well worth the effort. Bottom line: If you're looking for a small but charming botanical-style garden in Charlotte--a quiet place to reset, reflect, and enjoy the outdoors--this is a lovely little gem. For me, it checked all the boxes and has become a welcome respite in the middle of a busy day.

Talk about a hidden gem! This was a great place to get coffee, wine and/or a snack and hang out for…read morea while. Rosie's Coffee and Wine is adjacent and service there was super friendly and fast. There is indoor seating there, but the gardens have little twists and turns and different areas to sit, too. When we visited it wasn't too busy, so we had our choice of tables. There was a birthday or bachelorette type of party in another part of the garden.

this place is AWESOME!!!!…read more hidden gem. Fun for kids of all ages. I saw so many dads with their kids in there, both having a blast - together!! (* which is rare in this age of iPads and Roblox). The game selection was excellent. All the units are very well taken care of. There's no garbage machines, no nothing broken down. The whole establishment is very clean. They also have a lot of new arcade games from the last few years. So it's clear the owner is putting money and investing into new units. There's a whole slew of pinball games. Again, great selection. They have tons of snacks, food, and a great beer selection. Paragraph 15 bucks for all you can play is a steal. You can go down there and hide from your wife for hours on end. There's no question. I will be returning. Grab your keys, and run, don't walk, down to this place.

Owner is super sweet, good choices of drinks and snacks, major plus with having soft pretzels!…read more Me and my date had a wonderful time there. This is a perfect meeting spot.

I would say this is a must-see if you're going to go to museums here in Charlotte. I love the fact…read morethat it had different types of art to view. It had something for everybody, even had a lighting exhibit, and I'm all about the lighting. We spent a good two hours here. It's in the middle of the city, so you can go to restaurants and shops when you're done or before. It was a $18 entrance fee for me, and they offered a senior discount as well for anyone 65 and older.

Extremely nice museum in Charlotte. They had an exhibit of local art from high school students…read morethat made me question why I made life choices because it was so good...lol. Other art was beautiful as well. You get your money's worth on the visit but not too many old masters art, still good viewing.