Lazy 5

We had guests over the weekend - two friends from college and their three year-old daughter - which meant we got to be Charlotte tourists! It was another gorgeous Charlotte weekend and we took advantage of the sunshine with a lot of outdoor activities.

One of the most unique and talked about family activities in the Charlotte area is the Lazy 5 Ranch. It's a drive through or ride through animal park, but even that description doesn't fully capture the experience. I've been there twice now and both times I've been amazed by the experience.

The park isn't like a regular zoo - it's more of a forest, combined with a safari, with a touch of the children's zoo - because visitors have the opportunity to see, feed, and pet all the animals. It's safe - the animals are all given shots each year and are so used to people that they're essentially domesticated. Both visits I have ridden on the wagon through the park, which I personally think is the best way to see everything.

Words are failing me, so I think the best thing to do is just show you the pictures.

Luther the rhino - can't pet or feed him!

If it has two legs, hold out your food bucket and they'll peck at the food.

If it has four legs, they'll eat from your hand!

Everyone wants to feed the giraffes and the giraffes know it - they don't eat much, but they like to pose for pictures.

I didn't see the zebras the first time! There were at least ten of them, and they were beautiful!

And this is what it's like to take a car through the park - the animals come right up to you!

The Lazy 5 Ranch is an awesome family attraction just north of Charlotte, and I highly recommend it to any locals or visitors.