iFly Charlotte

iFly Charlotte is an indoor skydiving facility in Charlotte's SouthPark neighborhood — a vertical wind tunnel that generates enough airflow to suspend a human body in freefall. It sounds like a novelty but the experience is genuinely remarkable, and it's one of the most memorable activities families can do in Charlotte.

The process: you arrive, watch a safety briefing video, get fitted for gear (jumpsuit, helmet, goggles, earplugs), then receive hands-on instruction from a trained instructor who demonstrates proper body position. Everyone enters the tunnel one at a time. An instructor is in the tunnel with you the entire flight, physically adjusting your body position and making sure you're safe.

The wind is dialed to your specific weight class.

The actual flight is short — two rotations of about 60 seconds each. But those two minutes are intense. The wind noise is loud, the sensation of floating is genuinely disorienting in the best way, and kids almost universally leave wanting to go again. The instructors are skilled at reading first-timers and calibrating the experience.

The minimum age is technically 3, but practically kids under 7 have difficulty maintaining the required body position and get less from the experience. Ages 7-8 and up are the sweet spot. Teens can advance quickly to more dynamic flight maneuvers.

The total visit takes 2-3 hours including training, gear fitting, and waiting between sessions. The actual flying is brief — be sure kids understand this upfront. Walk-in pricing is slightly higher than online; book in advance for weekends.