Carowinds is an amusement park in Charlotte, North Carolina. It’s a fun day whether you love roller coasters or not!
This post contains affiliate links, which means I get a few cents (at no extra cost to you) if you book or buy something via that link. This helps me keep costs down and posts up! All images copyright Teaspoon of Nose.
My conversations leading up to a recent bachelorette weekend:
“What are you doing this weekend?”
“I’m going to a bachelorette weekend!”
“Whoa cool! Where are you going?”
“Carowinds!”
…Blank stare.
Going to an amusement park may not be the most traditional of bachelorette events. But if you get down to it, the point of a bachelorette weekend is to celebrate the bride and do the things she loves to do!
And you know my adrenaline junkie self was pumped about some roller coasters!
So we spent a weekend in Charlotte, NC this spring to celebrate Sage and her upcoming marriage with some girl time and air time.
Carowinds is an amusement park with all the trimmings: roller coasters, arcade games, funnel cakes, and a kiddie section. It’s just outside Charlotte, NC, and technically crosses the border between North & South Carolina. Both states claim it, but it has an NC address, so let’s go with that. I used to go at least once a year with my family or youth group, but I probably haven’t been since high school.
There are rides to suit all adrenaline levels, but since the bride was most into the coasters, we focused there.
The newest ride is also the best: Fury 325. Since it’s right next to the entrance, we headed over there first. Three of us dared to ride it, and it was fantastic!! If you’re into roller coasters, definitely check this one out: it’s the fifth-tallest roller coaster in the world! It starts with an ascent, and from our seats in the front it was definitely a little intimidating to stare down that first fall.
If something called a gigacoaster appeals for you, definitely do this first. By the afternoon, the line was over an hour long.
Another of the best ones was the Intimidator. It’s Dale Earnhardt-themed; this is one of those you know you’re in the south when… moments. The Intimidator is one of those long, up and down but so fast you don’t realize how long it is coasters.
Also, let me be the first to admit I’m one of those screaming and laughing the whole way through people. Not sorry.
If the crazy ones aren’t your speed, there are tons of other options. We rode several more classic rides, like the Cyclone or the Vortex. If you like to play with heights rather than speed, the Drop is pretty great. It has that jack in the box effect where you know it’s going to fall, but you don’t know when, and it still surprises you when it happens!
We spent the day riding all the big ones. I’d forgotten just how much I love roller coasters!! It wasn’t until the end of the day and we rode Afterburn that the nostalgia kicked in, and I realized it was because everything had been renamed! The park used to be owned by Paramount, so all the rides were movie themed. Afterburn used to be Top Gun, but when Cedar Fair bought it, they were all rebranded.
Another feature is an educational dinosaur exhibit full of animatronics. We didn’t really check it out, other than a quick photo in front one!
Carowinds also has a water park, Carolina Harbor, but it doesn’t open until Memorial Day. So we missed that, but from what I remember it’s really fun! Especially if you spend the morning riding coasters and take an afternoon break to cool off in the wave pool.
If you’re planning a visit, here are a few tips to have the best time:
- You can leave the park and eat a packed picnic lunch if you want. We did this, and probably had a better tasting (and certainly less expensive) lunch than anything we could have bought inside!
- If you love fair food, though, this is your jam. They’ve got all the traditional things, as well as Starbucks and several other chains.
- Bring a swimsuit! I can’t tell you how many times I came with my youth group and forgot one, so I couldn’t play in the water park. Even if you don’t think you’ll want to, just bring it. And sunscreen, because cancer.
A full day of rides and sunshine left us happy and exhilarated. There is nothing quite like the joy of roller coasters!!
We had a blast celebrating our girl as she heads into marriage, and we loved Carowinds! Here’s hoping that your marriage is just as exciting as a roller coaster! But possibly less crazy. 😉
Opinions are my own & I didn’t receive compensation for my writing. The links above contain affiliate links, which means I get a few cents (at no extra cost to you) if you book or buy something via that link. This helps me keep costs down & posts up! All images copyright Teaspoon of Nose.
[…] to do, and if you have a specific idea in mind you can always message them for suggestions! At a recent bachelorette weekend, I asked our host a million questions leading up to the weekend and she was full of great […]
Haha I can imagine how people would wonder why you’re doing a park themed bachelorette party but this even seems to be more fun!
I would love to try!
Ash | http://www.theashtreejournal.com
Thanks Ash, it was fantastic!!
What a fun day out!!! I love theme parks and roller coasters! x
What a fun idea for a bachelorette party! I’d totally do something like this! Loved reading about your experience!
What a fun idea for a hen party! Just looking at those photos of the roller coaster is enough to get my adrenalin pumping, some of those looks terrifying!
Oh my goodness I LOVE rollercoasters. This is my dream! I wish we had decent theme parks in NZ (we really don’t!!!)
But at least you have adrenaline junkie paradise in Queenstown!!
Omg, what a fun idea! I’m terrified of roller coasters so I would never want to do this, but I love that it’s different than your typical bachelorette weekend 🙂
I’m sooo afraid of roller coasters, I’m sure I’d never be able to do this, and I’d be super unhappy if I ever had to go, but I think for people who like them this is such a nice alternative idea. 🙂