Top 10 Free Things To Do and Attractions in Gastonia

"Built to honor the veterans of World War II, Freedom Park is an enormous 98-acre green space where children can enjoy running around or playing a wide variety of sports. The park boasts baseball fields and batting cages, 12 tennis courts, soccer fields, basketball and volleyball courts, all of which are heavily utilized on weekends. If you visit during the week there are fewer people and you and your children can enjoy exploring various walking trails and paths, ride bikes and have fun at the two playgrounds."

"Spanning over 98 acres, there is no shortage of things to do within Freedom Park. Probably what is most stunning is the seven-acre lake the park is centered around. Just some of what the park includes are walking trails and paths, 12 tennis courts, a full-court basketball court, a demonstration garden, and an NFL Play 60 KidZone."

"You will find this urban public park right in the heart of Uptown Charlotte, directly opposite the BB&T Ballpark. Romare Bearden Park covers 4.5 acres and offers residents and workers from the surrounding apartment and office blocks a great outdoor area where they can take a walk, have a picnic or just admire the beautiful sculptures. There is a seasonal splash pad where younger visitors can have some water fun while parents relax on a bench."

"Copperhead Island is a boater’s paradise with direct boat launching access to Lake Wylie, 4 boat ramps, fishing piers, and trails, shelters, beach volleyball, horseshoes, and camping for the land-lovers in your crew. The park’s 6 rustic camp sites give you the opportunity to be one with nature for an overnight trip too. View this post on Instagram"

"Get back to nature without leaving Charlotte at Reedy Creek Park and Nature Preserve. The park itself is 146 acres with over 10 miles of hiking trails, but it joins 727-acre Reedy Creek Nature Preserve and Reedy Creek Nature Center. Fish from the fishing pier, bring your pups to the dog park, or enjoy a wide variety of sports facilities: basketball court, two softball fields, soccer field, cricket field, four volleyball courts, an 18-hole disc golf course, and horseshoe pits."

"You must have heard of the famous saying that nature is beautiful. Reedy Creek Nature Center is even more beautiful. Amongst the top things to do in Charlotte is a visit to this center."

"A hidden gem in the heart of Plaza Midwood, Midwood Park has a unique, modern playground good for plenty of entertainment for the kiddos. When the fun of the playground wears off, have them check out the adorable free library and get ahead of those summer reading goals swinging on the playset or lounging in the grass. If the adults start feeling a little left out, you can also find basketball and tennis courts, a community garden, and Midwood Maynia, an annual event the first weekend in May at this neighborhood park."

"Of course, the libraries in the Charlotte area are not really ONE place, but MANY places... but it's important to emphasize how valuable libraries are for family learning and fun. The libraries in our area are wonderful about posting their events to the KidsOutAndAbout calendar so you always can get ideas for free things to do with your kids that celebrate education and imagination."

"You’ll find curbside service at select locations, plus delivery is available via Grubhub. You can also order through the Dunkin’ app to limit person-to-person contact as you go to pick up your order."

"With locations in Charlotte, Matthews and Huntersville, this is the place to go when you are ready to chow down. Metro Diner offers a neighborhood diner vibe with top notch service and a very long list of edible options. Plus they open at 7 a.m., so if the kids have been up and asking for breakfast since the crack of dawn, you have the perfect answer and a place to get a cup of coffee … or five."

"After the Civil War, Charlotte was one of the first places to embrace the New South. This museum, housed fittingly in a modern building, tells the story of the city's—and region's—history, and as you walk through the permanent exhibits, the city grows around you. Try to arrange a visit when there's a rotating exhibit on display; right now, the museum staff is very excited about the launch of "#HOMECLT: People. Places. Promises," an ambitious temporary augmented reality exhibit that delves into Charlotte's diverse neighborhoods."

"While you’re in the area, if you love history, we suggest visiting the Levine Museum of the New South, which follows the history of the South after the Civil War with a focus on Charlotte and the surrounding Carolina Piedmont. If you prefer art, check out the Mint Museum, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Sozo Gallery or Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts and Culture."

"The Levine Museum of the New South is a history museum located in Charlotte showcasing exhibits that focus on life in the North Carolina Piedmont after the American Civil War."

"The Harvey B. Gantt Center celebrates African-American culture through visual art, music, dance, theater, and film. It is located in the heart of Charlotte’s business district, alongside other institutions that form the Levine Center For The Arts. In an area that was once the hub of the black community, this stylish new building exhibits works that explore issues relevant to this particular community."

"The Afro-American Cultural Center was renamed after the first African-American mayor of Charlotte, Harvey Gantt. The museum celebrates the art, history, and culture of African-Americans and people of African descent. You can enjoy the John and Vivian Hewitt Collection of African-American Art."