Romantic Restaurants, Getaway Places 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."

"This collection includes works by some of the most influential artists of the mid-20th century, with pieces by Miró, Giacometti, Picasso, Calder, Hepworth, Nicholson, Warhol, Tinguely, Ernst, Le Corbusier, and Chillida. The museum also hosts several music events throughout the year, including a monthly jazz night. The Bechtler Museum of Art is the second museum in the country to be designed by Swiss architect Mario Botta."

"The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art is another magnificent and amazing museum, one of the best places to visit in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Museum is a 0.838-acre space museum designed by a Swiss architect, Mario Botta, and set aside for the exhibition of 20th-century art. This is the second building designed by the Swiss architect in the entire country."

"Modern art is some of the most challenging but also some of the most striking. The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art in Charlotte is a sublime place to see amazing modern art. Here, you can see works from artists who aren’t afraid of giving the viewer a lot to ruminate over."

"What is it: Marketed as a sushi burger bar, Cowfish is arguably one of the city’s most unique restaurants—even its name is an enigma. The menu is anything but traditional, including what they call “burgushi,” sushi rolls that are made with a mixture of both sushi and hamburger meat. The combo is strikingly delicious and might just blow your mind but don’t worry, the eatery also serves regular sushi and burgers as well as plenty of other options if you aren’t quite ready to revamp your tastebuds with new flavors."

"Located on Sharon Road, The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar is one of the most famous family-friendly restaurants in Charlotte NCof all time. Waiting for dinner and looking for ways to distract your child?. You can bring them to the counter and be entertained by the huge fish tanks filled with actual live cowfish swimming around."

"The Cowfish is a one-of-a-kind dining experience, thriving on its ability to fuse two niche products seamlessly on the same menu. Certainly unusual, absolutely great!. The first and only "Sushi Burger Bar"!"

"The James K. Polk Historic Site is located just a few miles from Charlotte where it commemorates the life and boyhood of America’s 11th president. It is an interesting site to visit with children who will come away from the site with a better understanding of what daily life was like in the 1800’s. You can join a guided tour of the site to see a reconstructed log house (and separate kitchen), a barn and a carefully tended kitchen garden which have been carefully furnished with common household items dating back to the time when the late president lived on the estate."

"Located just outside of Charlotte, the President Jame K. Polk Historic Site is located on land that was formerly owned by President Polk's parents. The site features a log cabin, plus an authentically furnished barn and kitchen. The site's visitor center shows a film on Polk's life and has exhibits on his family (and his rocky presidency)."

"Another historic site located in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina that you might want to explore is the President James K. Polk Historic Site. This historic site was once owned by the parents of the 11th president of the United States of America, President James K. Polk. Admission into the site is free."

"Tucked into a historic, century-old building that was once an open-air cotton market, the aptly named Cotton Room is a beautiful, speakeasy-style bar with a European vibe and an intimate feel. The wood-paneled, high-ceilinged space oozes history, from the pre-WWII skylight to the original flooring that’s still slightly crooked. The most popular drink here is the house Old Fashioned, made with rye whiskey, orange bitters, and dark brown sugar, then topped with a flamed orange peel."

"Visiting the UNCC Botanical Gardens is a wonderful free activity for just about everyone. Gardening enthusiasts can learn all about the specific plants that thrive in the Charlotte area at the Mellichamp Native Terraces and everyone can admire the remarkable McMillan Greenhouse which protects several themed gardens and an enormous dinosaur skeleton. If you visit at exactly the right time of year (check the website for details) you may be lucky enough to witness the flowering of the world’s largest and most foul-smelling plant, the Titan Arum."

"Give wedding portraits a natural and rustic flair at the UNC-Charlotte Botanical Gardens. Stonework, bridges, fountains and pathways set amid beautiful gardens of distinctive trees and flowers provide innumerable options for photo settings. Romare Bearden Park - Photo by KC Photography Company"

"If plants, flowers and gardens are your forte, you are in for an amazing treat. There are exceptional varieties of horticulture represented at the gardens. Visitors will find a great many rare species, as well."

"Free Range Brewing is small-batch beer done well in Villa Heights. Taste their Cream of the Crop to kick things off, a Carolina cream ale that’s a tasty pour no matter the season. The brewery is a great place for live music and beer-focused events they hold throughout the season, too."

"Find the cozy taproom across the parking lot from Amélie’s in Villa Heights. There are regular live music performances, an occasional market and a menu full of dynamic styles of beer. Location: Villa Heights, 2320 North Davidson St."

"As the business of operating a gallery has evolved, many exhibitors have had to become more creative about where they display art. Enter Advent Coworking in Belmont, just a stone’s throw from Plaza Midwood’s main thoroughfare, Central Avenue. In just its fourth year of existence, Advent has grown to be one of the most popular coworking spaces in the city."

"This collection includes works by some of the most influential artists of the mid-20th century, with pieces by Miró, Giacometti, Picasso, Calder, Hepworth, Nicholson, Warhol, Tinguely, Ernst, Le Corbusier, and Chillida. The museum also hosts several music events throughout the year, including a monthly jazz night. The Bechtler Museum of Art is the second museum in the country to be designed by Swiss architect Mario Botta."

"The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art is another magnificent and amazing museum, one of the best places to visit in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Museum is a 0.838-acre space museum designed by a Swiss architect, Mario Botta, and set aside for the exhibition of 20th-century art. This is the second building designed by the Swiss architect in the entire country."

"Modern art is some of the most challenging but also some of the most striking. The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art in Charlotte is a sublime place to see amazing modern art. Here, you can see works from artists who aren’t afraid of giving the viewer a lot to ruminate over."

"Providing an inviting green space in the heart of Charlotte’s Second Ward, Marshall Park offers beautiful views of the Charlotte skyline. The park is a popular with local office workers who can enjoy a breath of fresh air in the park during their lunchtime. The park encompasses open grassy areas surrounding a pretty lake which is frequented by ducks and other water birds."

"Even though this sweet little park is right there for everyone to see it is more of a hidden gem. Not as many people go here so you will more than likely have it all to yourselves. Bonus: This park has a great skyline view."

"If you can’t decide between a natural and urban setting, combine both. At Marshall Park in Uptown’s Second Ward, a fountain, pond and trees offer a quiet, picturesque corner of the city for your wedding photography."

"Visit The Mayo Bird for the best chicken salad you’ve ever eaten, yummy baked goods, savory soups and a cozy farmhouse-style interior that’s full of overstuffed chairs and wooden tables that remind us of our grandmother’s house. The Mayo Bird’s front porch is lined with comfy rocking chairs if you want to do a little front porch sittin’, and they also have a patio with picnic tables to enjoy a meal outside."

"Neighborhoods: Wesley Heights & DilworthHours: Westside is open Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Closed Saturday-Sunday. Dilworth is open Tuesday-Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m."