M11 :: Planning to be a Tourist in Charlotte

By tiny twig •  Updated: 03/17/10 •  3 min read

We'll be venturing to areas around Charlotte…but these are some of the attractions we will visit this week.

One of the things I have long wanted to do is visit the Lazy 5 Ranch where you drive your car through an American safari and you can feed the animals from your car.  I think Twig1 will find this fascinating and Twig2 might be slightly terrified.  Regardless, while Husband and his dad are golfing, my mother-in-law and I will be safari-ing with the boys.  :)

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We'll also make our way to the Imaginon, part of the public library system in Charlotte.  It is a free children's library with interactive exhibits and live theater.  Pretty cool–all you have to do is manage the Uptown (that's what we call the city here in Charlotte) driving and parking.  :)

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We will probably also go to the Mecca of Fabrics Mary Jo's Cloth Store.  Mary Jo herself (a sweet and sharp elderly woman) even blogs.  It is truly a destination.  I believe a zillion years ago it used to be a grocery store and Mary Jo filled it up with fabric, notions, and trim.  It's abundantly, almost unbelievably, big…and they have great prices.  There are often tour buses filling the parking lot with women coming down from the mountains to get fabric for their winter projects.  It is also rumored that the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders buy the fabric for their outfits at Mary Jo's.  I wouldn't be surprised Mary Jo is a snappy businesswoman.  My Awesome Olive Shoots even blogged about her Mary Jo's shopping experience.  It's an attraction, people…I'm telling you.

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I also want to eat at Zada Jane's.  I've heard it's really yummy and in a really fun neighborhood.  I can't wait to explore that part of town.  There is also rumored to be a great used bookstore there.  I could lose hours of my life to a good used bookstore.  :)

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If Husband and I have time to escape for a little while, I'll love to go to the Mint Museum.  I've been dying to go since we've moved here…but haven't made the time thus far.  Maybe this will be the week?

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You see, there is a lot to do in the Queen City…and this is only what is feasible to do while my in-laws are in town.  We'll see how much we actually do, and how much will have to wait for another week.  :)

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