Being a Charlotte native, I knew this place as a child for planetarium shows, the awesome touch tank, and the electric silver ball that made your hair stand up when you grabbed it. About ten years ago they did some renovations and took away some of the really cool stuff, but the museum itself is still awesome and educational for kids and adults alike.
The Imax dome theatre is a really cool movie - watching experience. The giant rainforest is still there, and there are some really neat aquarium displays on the first floor. (My favorite one being the nautilus tank).
The second floor has some cool tangible exhibits that teach the science behind concepts like motion, surface area and pressure, and momentum.
I myself enjoy the rotating exhibits- recently there was a Van Gogh alive exhibit that I unfortunately didn't get to see, and I hope they will bring it back sometime in the future. All around a great science and nature museum thst has something for everyone!