Discovery Place Nature (Charlotte Nature Museum)
1658 Sterling Road, Charlotte, North Carolina
Connect with nature at Discovery Place Nature in Charlotte. Located next to Freedom Park, this interactive and educational museum features nature trails, live animals, a butterfly pavilion, hands-on exhibits and activities, and a range of shows and programs, offering a fun and educational day out for the whole family.
Discovery Place Nature spans 13,000 square feet (1,208 square meters), and is divided into several indoor and outdoor areas. Walk among free flying butterflies in the Butterfly Pavilion, or go on a nature hike through a 100-year-old forest grove on the Paw Paw Nature Trail. Observe live animals in Creature Cavern, Insect Alley, and Our Big Backyard. Or build forts or just run free in Fort Wild. Live programming changes daily and includes puppet shows, story time, and animal feedings. The museum also offers special programs for schools and a summer camp.
- Discovery Place Nature is most suitable for kids aged 3 to 7.
- Parents may want to bring a change of clothing for their kids, as they may get dirty from playing outdoors.
- There’s a gift shop on-site offering books, games, and toys.
- Discovery Place Science is accessible to visitors with disabilities, and provides services to guests with visual, hearing, or mobility impairments.
Discovery Place Nature is located about 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) south of Uptown Charlotte. There’s free parking on-site or at Freedom Park. The museum is also close to the Little Sugar Greenway, which leads all the way to Uptown. Local bus no. 6 also stops nearby.
Discovery Place Nature is open Tuesdays through Sundays, with extended hours on Tuesdays, and limited hours on Sundays. Holiday closures include Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. Planetarium shows are held on Tuesday evenings. Visit in the morning and early afternoon to see the butterflies at their most active.
The museum is home to a wide variety of animals, including many species of butterflies, insects such as beetles and cockroaches, box turtles, king snakes, corn snakes, bearded dragons, a juvenile alligator, opossum, rabbits, mice, flying squirrels, hedgehogs, and groundhogs.
Travel Like an Expert with AAA and Trip Canvas
Get Ideas from the Pros
As one of the largest travel agencies in North America, we have a wealth of recommendations to share! Browse our articles and videos for inspiration, or dive right in with preplanned AAA Road Trips, cruises and vacation tours.
Build and Research Your Options
Save and organize every aspect of your trip including cruises, hotels, activities, transportation and more. Book hotels confidently using our AAA Diamond Designations and verified reviews.
Book Everything in One Place
From cruises to day tours, buy all parts of your vacation in one transaction, or work with our nationwide network of AAA Travel Agents to secure the trip of your dreams!