20 Best Summer Programs In Charlotte, NC (2022 Updated)

Let's be honest, there are good things and bad things to this school. While the department the major I have is very small and thus more personal with you, especially with advising, the bigger departments like business are very impersonal with you, and hold rather strict barrings on until you complete the, to be honest, useless general education the college forces on you, though that is the case anywhere in America. It is almost arrogant in how they dismiss the ideas and opinions of the students in favor of their own. They are also known for their excessive penny pinching. With the prices on campus being outrageous, they also hold strict rulings for housing and parking, giving you hefty bills if you mess up on even the slightest infraction. Overall, the grand and upcoming productions they are doing with the school, such as the football field and new dorms and buildings, do not help the general student population much. Now, with this said, there are good things to this place. For one, in smaller departments, you get a generally more personal and kinder attention to you and your college career. With my department at least, as long as you show the ability, they help you get the classes you want and need. Also, at least on campus, school spirit runs deep with the green and gold. There are more than enough events to bolster this said school patriotism, and can eventually come to rival other schools. Also, while some professors have a tendency to stuff beliefs down the student's throats, others can be thought inspiring, and can be interesting and even fun to go to classes sometimes. However, the lousy administration still lingers over these benefits, and hampers the overall quality of the school. If they fixed that problem, they would be a good school. However, with that said problem, I can only recommend it, as a current student, as a mediocre to slightly above average at best school to prospective students. To them, I would look at your options and see if you want to come here. I do not regret the choice of coming to this school, but I cannot ignore its blatant and crippling flaws.Drunk Farmer

If you have a lot of money, or you're a research student or engineer, you probably won't have a problem with this school. The school looks very nice on the outside, but as a student, I hated it. The dorms were god awful. Their elevators did not work on the first day of move in. At one point they did not have enough rooms in the highrises for the students, and had to house students in the commons rooms and blackout the windows. The Cafeteria food was always questionable. Cold and pretty unimaginative. Facilities and services always closed down early. There was hardly anything open on the weekends. Not to mention there is barely any means of going anywhere outside of campus if you don't have a car. Speaking of cars, parking services is ridiculous and incompetent. They wrote me up even when I had my parking tag right on the windshield, positioned properly where it was supposed to be, and another time I got a ticket after the semester had ended! This school just looks for ways to nickel and dime students. They're department chairs and coordinators are a bunch of fools who can't manage their jobs. And when they make mistakes, you are the one who will probably end up paying for it.Eric Williams

I went to UNCC back in the mid to late 90s. All I can say is if I had a time machine, I'd love to go back. I met several life-long friends that I continue to hang out with to this day. It's amazing how much the campus has changed over the years. The last time I was there (for the first football game) I almost got lost. I received a fine arts degree and have made a career out of digital printing and design. According to other reviews, people still like to go home on the weekends. That was also the case when I attended, but for the brave that stay around the school during the weekend, more power to you. That's where the fun is really at. Also, I'm hearing that students aren't attending the football games and the ones that are, tend to leave early. All I have to say to that is, just be glad you have a football team. We were so sports deprived back in the day, we would go to all the basketball and baseball games. Good times!Chad Milburn

*This review is in regards to their summer intern housing program* Queens must be the most incompetent organization I have ever dealt with. Of a group of five friends, they managed to "mistransfer" two of our contact information into their database – they messed up 40% of our applications! (Oh, and they they "misassigned" a third to the wrong room). While I wasn't too upset to learn that I lost my spot, even contacting them about my refund proved difficult since they don't answer their phone during business hours. If you're going to apply for summer intern housing at Queens, make sure to put in a few applications elsewhere.Alex Hoffman

The nursing program is bad. Less than half of the students that start at Queens for nursing end up graduating. Most people fail out of the program. You need at least a 77 to pass your classes and they will not help you if you’re 0.1 away from passing. If you fail a class, you can only retake it once and you will be delayed a semester because you can only take that one class. If you fail two classes, you’re out. It’s a very expensive school and not worth your time. They have a HESI exam that counts 10% of your grade and it’s really hard and you can’t study for it. They don’t prepare you for it either.Kirsten “Meghan” Lim

MSN-CNL online degree program was an extraordinary graduate nursing program. The professors were top rate, requiring excellence at all times and were superb at instructing through an online platform supported by faculty specifically assigned to assist the full time working professional. I highly recommend this program and welcome any questions you may have when considering Queens for your advanced nursing degree. Email my name at google.Darci Kelso

I've been here multiple times with my children. It is definitely geared more to an older child. We really like it here but compared to other science museums I've been to I just don't feel like it has enough. It's always really clean though and the staff are always helpful. We came to see the Apollo exhibit while it was here. That's a tiny aquarium. Lots of physics/simple machines for kids to test. Learn about the body. Indoor rainforest. Visited on
Weekend

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
Yes

Price for adult entry
$21–30Satira Labib

A great fun way to spend the afternoon with kids in Charlotte. The staff are friendly and willing to answer kid's questions. There are lots of hands-on interactive exhibits that allow children to learn and had fun at the same time. My 10 year old loved trying everything out and would ask questions after trying one of the hands-on experiences…she learned a lot. They also have staff led demonstrations with things like liquid nitrogen that she found absolutely facilitating. Highly recommend if you are in the Charlotte area with children.Brian

What a wonderful place for families to play and learn. Three stories with plenty of animals, games and interactive activities for kids of all ages. Plenty of things to do and see. We had a great time specially on a rainy day and spent hours there. They also have the Dome Imax theater next door with the largest screen around and unique movie watching experience. Make sure to get your tickets online to save some money. You can do it day of as well, so no need for planning. Go by yourself, with your kids or friends and have fun!Igor Vieira

This school subjected me, and countless other black students, to verbal and sometimes physical racial attacks. I would never recommend this school for black children, children of color, nor families interested in the best education for their children. The administration across all three schools made it clear that my black experience (and those of other black students) was nowhere near their priorities in terms of bettering campus. And through my sisters, years later attending, things have not improved.Mark Aghatise

My father was Dells parents supervisor and he watched all the kids grow up and played sports against us. They are a true blessing and love the Integrity they bestow. If you get a chance to partake in this blessed school then join in on strong academics and development and see your child grow into wonderful people like the Currys🙏Tina Zirkle

As a proud alum I can say this is an excellent school that is always striving to make improvements across all facets of the education experience!Jason Blackwood

This college has made a terrible impression. They got me admitted as a transfer student, and I have been preparing for the Fall session online, but to appear in person, and I just found out I missed the registration deadlines because student advising never got back to me. I took the new student orientation and the professor, just skimmed through all the info. There wasn't time for questions, and she cut it short by 30 minutes. It didn't even explain how to register online. I had been in communication and prepared for this session but didn't understand how to register so all the classes I had 'added to my schedule' weren't actually registered, and no one followed up with my questions. I thought I was registered, and even as I try to register now after the fact, it still says I need student advising which no one ever got back to be except for an email to say I already had everything set up. I am torn about this. Now I have to wait another session to get started?! NO! I will take my education somewhere where I can actually get assistance. This is such an emotional drag.Gabrielle Flores

Giving 3 stars for nostalgia. Ive been going here since I was 5. I took my niece a couple years ago and she had a great time. Unfortunately I went yesterday 7/12/22, and it was heartbreaking to see one of my favorite childhood places becing so run down and neglected. There were no butterflies, the front tanks were mostly empty, and several educational toys had been broken. Not to mention the smell of mildew in every corner. I tried to have a nice time but I couldn't help but feel sad. I do hold out hope though as I've tead some news articles that say there's to be a renovation project soon to be underway. I truly hope so. I want discovery place nature to be as fun and magical again as it was when I was a child. It made me so excited to learn about animals and nature. I am cautiously optimistic about the renovation project, and willbe first in line once it's complete. Visited on
Weekday

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
No

Price for adult entry
$6–10Marr Chaney

I came here as a kid like 20-25 years ago and thought I’d bring my toddler now that he is old enough to enjoy. I was very disappointed. Very run down, poorly kept, many exhibits were closed. It needs updating and a deep cleaning. some of the animals exhibits are small or missing animals so not a lot to look at. The staff was friendly, it just seems like they need some funding to freshen this place up. I’d avoid going during the summer because several labs/rooms were shut down due to summer camps which probably doesn’t help my perspective. Visited on
Weekday

Wait time
No wait

Reservation recommended
Not sure

Price for adult entry
$6–10Emily

Sadly we were very disappointed! We brought my daughter here for her birthday and after paying $24 we were there for only 15 mins. That’s how long it took to complete because everything was closed. The nature walk was closed due to rain and there were no butterflies at the exhibit. It was really disappointing to have paid so much and not to be able to do anything. It is super tiny. I think the new building will be cool but this was a waste of money and should have been discounted given so much was closed. Visited on
Weekday

Wait time
No wait

Price for adult entry
$6–10Debbie Smith

This place is amazing for kids! It’s a huge library with very cool decorations and themes. There are sections for each age with activities and games for kids to play and just be occupied. Sometimes they have theater shows, reading time, games and exhibits for you to participate or check out. There’s bathrooms and place to relax and have a snack. And it’s all free! There is free parking in the parking deck but it’s super small. So can be hard to find a spot. Overall it’s a great place to take your kids for sure!!!Tu Gray

Lots of books for kids and teenagers, fun small play area kind outside. This entrance is free unless you want to get some books etc. Lot of science activities for kids like magnets, books along with other play stuff. Definitely recommend going here, if you wanted to go during busy time I would recommend going by train as the station was literally next door.Rakesh Nara

What a wonderful library and places for kids. I was visiting a friend in town, and as she has a newborn and knows how much I love the library, she said we needed to go. It did not disappoint. We went to a storytime and looked around; I recommend that you take kids of all ages here! They even had a YA section upstairs.Karis Krieger

I am posting this as a mom of teenagers that like walk around by themselves. I appreciate the many different areas the park has. I enjoy walking around and seeing all the different plants, artwork, exhibits and landscaping. Whoever takes care of the plants does a wonderful job! And the variety of the various exhibits/artwork is beautiful. There is lots of seating around the park, plenty with shade. Even some rocking chairs scattered around throughout. All of the gift shops have a variety of items, they aren't all the same thing. Makes for an enjoyable experience walking around and seeing a new store to browse through. I do wish that in their app, they would clarify what restaurants/rides are closed. Two restaurants that I tried to go to were closed, although the app and Google Maps showed them as open. And a few rides that I'm excited to try have been closed each time I've visited. All in all, a nice experience, even if you are just at the park for your kids to ride the rides.Justice

We bought passes this year on the payment plan. And we added the all season dining to our gold passes which gets you 2 meals a day with 4 hours in between each meal. If you have been here before then you know the food is kinda expensive so adding the all season dining pass pays for it self after 2 meals. The water park is our favorite part of the park. The lazy river is probably our favorite. The slides are fun. Still haven't had the chance to ride them all yet. The wave pool is my son's favorite. He's always in the deep end. They have new roller coaster rides. I've ridden most of them and my kids have rode them all. They love them. So if you want to plan a fun day out with your family. Go to Carowinds. There's something for everyone. Here's some pictures from the 4th of July. The fireworks were awesome.Jenn Tardogno

Great little park, just wish there were a handful more rides. With the fast pass you can literally ride every ride multiple times. Entered the park at 10am and left at 4pm. It has some amazing rides just not a ton. Very easy to walk the entire park multiple times. They make great use of the space and the design is perfect to reach all of the rides quickly. Their food options are better than any park we have ever been to and we have been to every Florida park and Virginia park. Definitely worth the price of admission. Tip #1: if you’re arriving early (20-30 min before opening)even on a Saturday don’t bother paying for the VIP parking. There is a chic fil a here too. Need more signage for VIP parking and for exits. Three more big rides would make this park a 5 Star rating.Benny Sanchez

Simply one of our favorite places anywhere! We've been taking our daughter (5) to classes at SHBA since she was 18 months old. We did the toddler classes for years and they provided awesome stimulation, art education, and pure fun. This was also a great place for me to meet some other moms and create lasting friendships. Since the studio has moved and expanded, my partner and I have really loved the family and adult pottery classes. You can show up with lots of skills or none at all and have a unique and fun date night. As she grows, our daughter will definitely be trying out some camps and learning more advanced techniques. The owner, Jennifer, is so wonderful and someone my daughter calls a friend! It's a beautiful space and runs like a finely oiled machine. Jennifer and the staff know that making art is about the process. They don't try to control what the kids do and this allows them to flourish exactly as they are–just as it should be. Can't say enough about this place!Rebecca Baird

My son recently started to show an interest in Art. I signed him up for a Drop Off class at Small Hands Big Art not really knowing how he'd do on his own. I went to pick him up (after having 2 hours of glorious alone time shopping around Waverly!) and I have never seen him so excited to show me all of the amazing things he created. Felicia and Jennifer are AMAZING teachers and since that first day I've signed Quinn up for numerous drop-off classes and a few Family Drop IN classes that I've gotten to enjoy with him! I cannot recommend this place enough!Lindsay Cunningham

WE LOVE Small Hands Big Art! Our daughters absolutely love coming to Small Hands Big Art. We have done everything from summer camps, classes, Friday evening drop off events and birthday parties hosted here. The quality of teachers is amazing and the kids really get a chance to be creative and learn about different art techniques. Ms. Jennifer (owner) is wonderful, shows great care for the children and is always so engaging and present. So happy to have this great neighborhood spot for our children and family to enjoy!Melissa Faulkner

My daughter has been a ballet dancer for 14 years. We have taken classes at 3 prominent studios in Charlotte and Open Door is by far the best! The focus on technique, artistry, and injury prevention is coupled with a culture that promotes kindness, inclusivity, diversity, and pure joy through movement. The staff members care deeply about each dancer and strive to meet them wherever they are in their dance goals. The opportunities to take classes across multiple styles and from an array of choreographers gives them a breadth of knowledge and experience that is hard to come by in the dance world. I’ve taken many adult classes there as well, and you won’t find a warmer, more welcoming, less intimidating space for a beginning adult dancer!Marie Matthews

Our family has been taking dance classes at Open Door Studios for 11 years and we think they are the best! All three of our kids have been embraced for their unique abilities and have found beautiful ways to express themselves. We appreciate a place where individuality is appreciated and no one is excluded. Jacque and her team are kind, caring, knowledgable, helpful, and professional. We have seen this studio grow from a one room studio with a few classes to a thriving three studio center with a wide variety of offerings for everyone. I cannot say enough good things about ODS and encourage any dancers or dancers-to-be to check it out!Sarah Henderson

This is one of the most exceptional dance studios I have ever experienced. Both of my daughters have danced there for many years. One of them landed a national Broadway tour right out of high school and the other has special needs and this studio has welcomed her with open arms. They now offer an inclusive dance experience called Step Together! They are not caught up in the over the top competitive nature that many dance studios are involved in. Their priority is the joy of dance and challenging each individual to explore and experience this art form to the best of their ability! I am so grateful to be a part of the Open Door family!Corrigan Johnston

I tried every coach for adult private lesson (1hr) and most of them are great – Rob, Drew and Tim. Be cautious if you want to choose Bradley Hunt. He started my lesson (and I actually arrived early) 10 minutes late, but finished on time, which means I only got 50 minutes private lesson, instead of 1hr. And during the lesson, he's been distracted from time to time, chatting with other acquaintance who passed by the court, and checked phone very frequently. Compared to other coach, Brad talked a lot more than other coach which means the time spent for practice is shortened. To summarize, if you want to book private lesson, I would highly recommend the coach Rob, which is very experienced and explain the tennis knowledge in a scientific and understandable way. Besides, Drew and Tim are nice people, very attentive in teaching. I also learnt lot from them.Orion Zheng

This is the best spot in Charlotte for adult tennis lessons (I’m sure the kids lessons are great too, but I can’t speak to that). I had never played tennis before taking a lesson here and was extremely nervous going into the beginner class. Aaron makes you you feel very comfortable with his dry humor immediately and genuinely wants you to get better at tennis. I have been doing these clinics on and off for 2 years now, and am about to start playing in my second doubles league. I can truly say that CCT started and has help maintain my passion for this sport! Also, I would recommend buying a CCT hat. They are really cool and there are perks to wearing it to the class.Hannah Cartwright

Charlotte City Tennis is what tennis has needed in the Queen City for many years. With three locations and several instructors, lessons or clinics are available to fit your schedule and not the other way around. Their online presence along with a neat app makes it easy to schedule, pay for and if needed cancel without having to call and hopefully get in touch with someone. I have been going to Aaron's clinics and he is an absolute pleasure to be around. I have watched him instruct children and he has the right amount of having fun along with discipline so your child will learn tennis and not hate it. I highly recommend Charlotte City Tennis.Bill N

We are long-time clients of the Charlotte Academy of Music–what an amazing place!! The founder, Regina Ziliani, has created such a positive institution! We had the pleasure of watching Regina open the Academy when the demand grew too great to accommodate students in her home, and have had a front-row seats to see it grow and develop into the joyful, rich learning environment that it is. Three of our daughters have been/are currently students of the Academy, and they love the positive learning environment, the joy and dedication of the staff, the multitudinous opportunities for performance, and the gentle encouragement to reach and stretch to new levels. The girls look so forward to their lessons, and continue to accomplish more and more musically each week. The staff are all lovers of music, and it is contagious! I can't say enough great things about Charlotte Academy of Music! I feel very blessed to have found Regina 12 years ago, and expect the Academy to be a part of our lives for many many more years!Leanne Burnett

The Charlotte Academy of Music has it all. Whether you're young or old, beginner or advanced, play an instrument or sing and act, you will find a vibrant and supportive music family here at CAM. The music teachers, staff, and the director are all caring, competent and encouraging. If you're looking for more than music lessons, CAM offers many opportunities to help you grow musically and personally through concert performances, summer camps, community service, music competitions, and the Royal Conservatory of Music examination program. Our children have been taking piano lessons for nine years and counting now and we are so pleased with the support and comprehensive music education they have received from CAM. This is truly a gem of a music school!Rita Mullis

Charlotte Academy of Music is a great place to learn to play any type of musicial instrument. I have taken piano lessons for several years and I can see the difference in my skills from the time I started. As an adult student I enjoy that the lessons are tailored to that of an adult learner. There is never a shortage of performance opportunities and workshops to enhance your creativity and your playing skills. I encourage anyone that is looking for a great environment to learn music to give Charlotte Academy of Music a try!!K

Mission Grit has not only been a wonderful fit for our family, but more than I would expect even from a team sport. I have a son who does not like sports, is not physically active, socially awkward, and at times uncoordinated. I know I wanted him to be exposed to problem solving, physical activity, and be mentally challenged. I knew I didn’t want to just sign him up for something he would not be good at , riding a bench, or disliking the sport. I came across a free class on FaceBook and decided to give Mission Grit a try. I spoke with Paul on the phone before coming in and he was welcoming with all my questions and concerns. We attended the trial class and I knew that day this was exactly what my kids needed! This is everything my 2 kids ages 10 and 11 years old need. I love how each week the course has been well thought out and a planned mission. Not only is each class unique in its own, but it has a purpose. The purpose is often a vital skill that can be applied to real life skills either now or in their future. Paul is very detailed at explaining each activity throughout the course to the kids for their level or how to modify the exercise or skill. I like how not only does he give the kids standards, but he’s alway telling them they can go further in some of the activities if they are ready to challenge themselves. It’s such a great example to teach the kids not to always be the average, but to challenge yourself for more. He’s quick to help the kids overcome fears and struggles as proven by my own child. Theres always a way to complete the skill at each kids individual ability and this makes me feel good knowing he’s truly passionate about his job. Not only do I love the physical activity each week brings, but I feel each week there’s an important message about their class. Weather it's about working as a team and not leaving teammates behind, how to work as a team, and how to problem solve together. This is vital in life and starting them off young working as a team is important. I love all the creative and unique things that Paul comes up with. It seems like his imagination is endless. No course has been repeated and my kids come in not even knowing what to expect. The team building activities each class is also very unique and creative. I highly recommend Mission Grit for your kid. You will not regret it. I have seen huge improvements in my kids not only physically, but they are proud of themselves in the things they had no idea they could accomplish. We have also overcome a lot of fears since coming. You will love Mission Grit and the mission they stand behind and Pauls passionate dedication to his business.Jill Carter

You know it was a good party when your 10 year old thanks you many, many times throughout the rest of the day for the best party ever! The birthday party for my son was seriously amazing! Paul is phenomenal. He had the kids engaged, eager to participate, and active for the entire party. Every activity and piece of the obstacle course is based on a variety of strategies and core values which he introduced with each activity. The kids tackled individual challenges to add on to the obstacle course, and worked together for a fun "Buddy Bridge" and to carry my son above their heads in a kayak! The party ended cutting the cake with a sword … like, wow! … and I'm sure Paul has many, many more tricks up his sleeve. Start to finish, from the values taught, to the activities … it was awesome! I would highly recommend Mission Grit for classes, camps and parties! We can't wait to go back!Heather Rasowsky

My 5 year old loves MissionGrit. My son has been attending weekly classes for the last two months and looks forward to going every week. He will go every day if that is possible. The sequence of activities Pauls puts together not only challenges kids physically and mentally but also helps to build teamwork and confidence. Paul and his team takes time and observes every kid in the group. When a kid falls behind in the group, the team helps them to do the exercise and move to the next. They spread the message that nothing is impossible and you can work towards your goal.Sambhu Sasidharan

We discovered Sylvan Mathews about six months ago. What a wonderful find. Our grand daughter has been struggling since pre school, where she started speech therapy. Last year she started kindergarten. Her struggle continued and frustration, mixed with emotions began to prevail at home. I knew we needed help. I reached out to her wonderful school and started getting feedback. This prompted me to contact Sylvan. She was tested at both facilities and was found to have a learning disability. Sylvan has gone above and beyond all expectations. The staff has become an integral part of our village for Ali. The tutors are wonderful and she always leaves with a smile. Tony and Chasity have been fantastic! Going over her IEP from school and contacting them a for meeting to collaborate on Ali's progress. You have and our going above and beyond. Many thanks from our family for your knowledge, kindness and support!Michele Elkins

My son has been attending Sylvan to relearn some lost skills in vocabulary, spelling and writing. He has been out of high school for a few years and wants to attend our community college. They have done a great job! My son enjoys working with his teacher Josh and feels like he is learning a lot. The staff have been very easy to work with and are flexible in things they can do to help my son. This place is not just for school age children but is also great for adults that need to relearn skills and get academic support for post secondary education. We look forward to Sylvan being an ongoing support for my son as he progresses with college classes. They even worked with him to help prepare him for his driver's permit test and he passed the test this week!! Great Job!!Kimberly Romberg

My daughter went to Sylvan for math tutoring. She loved working with Josh and never complained about going. She became more confident in her Math 1 class which was a high school credit course she was taking in Middle School. We had some tragedy in our family that caused her to get behind. The team at Sylvan got her back on track and she received the highest math average award in her class! It was worth every penny and it’s great to have Sylvan in our back pocket as she heads into high school anytime she needs extra help!Meredith Galit

My kids have been going to School of Rock nearly 4 years now. There aren't enough wonderful words in the English language to describe the staff, the children, the sense of family & belonging… Every instructor we've worked with at School of Rock has actual performance experience whether around Charlotte or Nationally (and a couple internationally). They all have a deep rooted passion for music and share that passion through their teaching. The children are incredible; from the youngest who are just holding a guitar or drum sticks for the first time to the high schoolers, some of who will be the stars you hear about tomorrow. All of the kids are engaged and play songs by artists they know and like. Simply put, everybody is welcome at The School of Rock. It's hard to say if it's the kids that make friends first or the parents and staff. What's important is when you walk in to the School of Rock, you become family. Just don't ask me to borrow gas money… Just wondering if you were still reading… My personal experience, my daughter, who, like myself, tried to stay in the background most of the time, went from playing drums to performing on bass to picking up a microphone and singing in front of a packed house at The Double Door!! That confidence was nurtured by the staff, the friends, the family that is The School of Rock Charlotte.Phill Shaw

I love everything!! I have 2 very different kids. One jumped right into performance band while the other took lessons to figure it out. All the teachers are amazing at knowing what each kid needs. Not only do they learn music on their chosen instruments but they build confidence too. They also branch out from their chosen instrument to other instruments. It's a very supportive environment with active gig playing teachers teaching the kids. The experience they get is so much more than just playing an instrument. The school is like a family and they quickly embrace your family into theirs. It takes a village and this music village is teaching my kids so much more than I could have imagined or done on my own! It's truly a 'rocking' experience in the best possible way.Kaleb Paugh

We love School of Rock Charlotte! My daughter has dreamed of playing the drums and after taking a few lessons over the years at other spots, she found her way at SORC. Her instructor, Patrick, has really helped her turn the corner and she feels more confident in her playing. She especially enjoyed playing in the band and meeting other kids. I love that SORC gives these artists a safe place to express themselves, especially in a time where we all feel so isolated. They can come together and do something pretty wonderful together…play awesome music!April Bowers

We were at a different studio for 10 years before finding Visions Dance Academy. Visions treats my child like family, not just another dancer and another tuition fee. My daughter feels genuinely loved when she walks through the door. Her sister dancers have become family. The teachers and staff have taken the time to get to know my daughter as a person, who she is, what she loves, what she doesn't AND they have made her a better dancer by giving her equal opportunity to be at the top of her dance game. I love that every student at VDA from the youngest to the oldest, is given the same opportunities. We love the heart of family that beats at this studio. We have been at VDA for 6 years and we have found our forever dance home.Amanda Bay

Visions Dance Academy has been so incredible. I have 5yr old and 3yr old daughters that have been taking dance at Visions for a few years and I can not say enough good things about this studio. Owner, Cindy, is always welcoming and helped keep us excited when our oldest first started and was a little scared, now she wants to do every camp and is on the dance team. My girls love Ms. Taylor, Miss Shannon and all of their instructors; everyone is so sweet, energetic and just plain awesome instructors. Plus, dance camps are incredible! I would highly recommend this family-owned dance studio!Mikki Moore

We love being a part of the Visions family! My daughter has taken dance at Visions since she was 3. We’ve found it to be a super fun learning environment, especially for young beginner classes where they make dance exciting for little ones! My daughter is 7 now and has grown so much- from an itty bitty singing on stage to being a part of the youngest competition team. She has learned about hard work, team sportsmanship, and technique in the last 4 years! We highly recommend Visions Dance Academy and love that it is a family run business ❤️Natalie Lodato

This place is absolutely amazing. I spend about 5 days a week here. It’s HUGE! There is a dog park, baseball fields, basketball courts, hiking trails, disc golf courses, 2 huge ponds that you can fish in, a free nature center, huge kiddie playground, wide open fields, picnic tables, volleyball courts and a new, state-of-the-art American Ninja Warrior inspired obstacle course that is decked out in Panthers colors and logos. It has a button that you hit and it starts your timer on a big electronic scoreboard. Sensors in the ground stop your timer when you cross the finish line. There a 40 yard dash section that does the same thing.. it’s really awesome.Troy

We were looking foe a relatively easy hike around the Charlotte area that would include great views of nature and maybe some local history. The Reedy Creek Nature Center was a great place to visit, as the hike was very leisurely and enjoyable. At the Nature Center the crew member was very helpful with suggestions on which trails to take and the distances. The trails are relatively flat with a few roots and rocks, and very easy climbs. Several bridges take you over creek areas and provide great photo opportunities. All trails were clearly marked and easy to follow.Steve Waterman

Can’t believe this hidden gem is only 15 min away from Noda! We have never heard of anyone talk about this place but decided to check it out anyway. It’s out of the center part of the city, so we enjoyed that it wasn’t overcrowded like many parks in Charlotte. Loved that it has multiple trail options and that parking was easy and safe. We chose to hike different trails leading to the Robinson Rock Ruins and loved it. Saw some beautiful scenes along the way. Highly recommend!Rachel Howze

Best children's gym in town! We drive across town to come here every week. The facility is well equipped and always very clean. The shinning stars of this place are without a doubt the ladies working there. They are always happy to see us and know all the kids by name. You can absolutely tell they love their job and the kids. My kid has grown leaps and bounds in just a couple months of attendance here. She is very reserved and cautious with any physical activity, but with the gentle coaching and guidance she's coming out of her shell more and more. She now loves going to "gym" and talks about it for days afterwards (and even sings the songs even in her sleep!). We always feel well supported and know that the staff have the best interest of the kids as priority number one. 10/10 would recommend!Keri Carlisle

5stars!! 2thumbs up👍🏾👍🏾 hands down one of the best birthday venues in Charlotte. The three black young ladies who assisted us are probably the BEST birthday party helpers and kindest people we have ever met. They helped us from the moment we pulled into the parking lot. They did not hesitate to help us in any way from setting up to even helping us break down and clean up. They deserve the best review in Charlotte. I would absolutely recommend this place to anyone looking for their young ones to have a blast and celebrate or just have fun. We will definitely be going back. Our daughter loves it…out family loved it. Thank you Romp n Roll for making our daughters first birthday the best. Go check them out.William Wallace

We LOVE LOVE LOVE this location! Ms. Michelle & Ms. Chalorie are me and my daughters favorite! They always have awesome energy and really care for the children.We’ve been attending for about four months now and don’t see us stopping anytime soon. My daughter has learned so much. I am thankful for romp n roll northwest, especially since my daughter is not a daycare baby.Raquel Bright

It is truly unique these days to be incredibly impressed with the quality and value of a service or product. When I took my son to his first Tae Kwon Do class to observe (free, by the way) I left thinking that the place was special. My son, who typically doesn't get overly excited about things, demanded that we sign up and attend the next available class, which we did and have been there for 4 months. Allen, the owner, is there everyday and greets everyone by name and with a smile. The care he puts into ensuring his students and families get the most out of their experience is evident in all that he does. The best part, at least for me, is the sincere dedication demonstrated by all the teachers, each of whom is a highly accomplished master of TKD. My son's teacher is Master Jason. The patience he has for these kids is incredible. Master Jason can take a class full of kids with a variety of ages (my son is 5), abilities, and focus levels and get them locked in and learning. He is gentle, patient, and the students respond to him in kind. I very rarely write reviews about stuff, usually only if my experience is exceptional. I can't say enough about Achieve Martial Arts in Matthews. We love it there!!Wes Schirra

Achieve Martial Arts is the best in so many ways! They do more than just teach Taekwondo. They help teach each student responsibility, hard work, and dedication. They know how to connect with the kids which makes them want to be there and involved. My family has been coming here for years for Taekwondo classes and also summer camps. The summer camps are amazing and they really put a lot of work and effort into making each week fun and eventful. Mister Allan, Master Justin, and the entire staff are like family and have really made a great and positive impact on our family. I cant say enough good things about them. Thank you and keep up the good work!!Scott Stafford

Our 8 year old daughter has loved Achieve since day one. Their instructors are not only professional, knowledgeable, and talented but are also great role models to the kids showing kindness, respect, and integrity. The environment is a good mix of fun and serious learning. She is treated like a VIP with their after school pick up program. She's picked up with just a few other kids and chauffeured to Achieve where she takes a class M-TH and fun games on Friday. There's a great sense of community there. Our daughter has gained confidence and self discipline since being at Achieve that has helped her in school and with friendships.Julie Kaloz

I have taken Spanish classes at The Language Academy in Plaza Midwood and my son has taken French classes there. We have both attended the lunch time and/or evening conversation hours to practice. We have both found teachers at the Language Academy who were incredibly knowledgeable about the language and culture. I continued with private sessions with a Language Academy tutor as did my son. I have always been pleased with the quality of instruction and with how much I have been able to learn even though I am older and languages are harder to pick up on. You cannot go wrong in choosing the Language Academy to begin or continue your study of language. They are an awesome resource in Charlotte.Becky Tin

I have taken Portuguese 1-3 and am currently in Spanish 8 at the academy. I really enjoy the people who work here and the instructors. I have learned enough portuguese to understand about 60% of what my boyfriend’s parents say (Brazilian portuguese) and am refreshing my Spanish in a safe environment. They are very communicative and respond quickly when I have any questions inside and outside of classes. I really like that they bring music, reading, and presentations into class because those are all great ways to actually learn a language. They’ve all been wonderful to work with, and I like the flexibility to take classes onlineAshley Stinson

I have been using the Language Academy for all of my official document translation needs for nearly a decade. They are my go to for any certified work! They are quick to reply and their turn around time is wonderful! After some time, I began looking into the language programs with the Language Academy and have since taken German courses from beginning all the way to fluency. My daughter has also gone through the Language Academy's Chinese classes. Communication with Craig and Rodrigo is also wonderful! They are helpful and accommodating. I can't imagine anyone having a terrible experience with them!Erika Kunde