Charlotte, North Carolina, is the largest city in the state. Known as the “Queen City,” Charlotte is home to professional football, NASCAR racing and activities for the whole family. Charlotte has an amusement park for all ages, shopping and museums to explore. The city is located at the southern border of North Carolina in the Piedmont region of the state. Visitors come from around the world to the city.
Instructions
1. Contact the Charlotte Visitor Center for a Visitors Guide (see Resources). Book accommodations in advance, as Charlotte is a popular multi-day destination.
2. Plan your route to Charlotte. If you are driving, Charlotte can be reached by Interstates 85 and 77. If you plan to fly, the Charlotte/Douglas International Airport is a convenient flight directly from most major airports. Amtrak has a station in downtown Charlotte as well.
3. See sports while visiting Charlotte. The Carolina Panthers Bank of America stadium offers public tours on Wednesdays at 10 a.m. for a small admission fee. For groups larger than 10 people, tours must be booked in advance (see Resources). For NASCAR fans, Lowe’s Motor Speedway is a must-see in Charlotte. The speedway offers the “Feel The Thrill Tour” on most non-event days (see Resources).
4. Play outside while visiting Charlotte. Paramounts Carowinds is an amusement park that includes “Nickelodeon Central” for young children, water rides and roller coasters, and “Boomerang Bay,” a large water park. Plan to spend a full day at Carowinds. Charlotte is also home to the U.S. National Whitewater Center, the largest man-made whitewater river in the world. This family-friendly facility provides active outdoor play, including rafting, kayaking, mountain biking and hiking and a ropes course.
5. Visit museums in Charlotte. Charlotte offers the Uptown Museum Pass for visitors. This pass includes admission to Discovery Place, the Levine Museum of the New South and the Mint Museum. The pass provides discounts at other Charlotte museums and destinations as well. See Resources for information on purchase the pass.
6. Shop while you visit Charlotte. Just outside Charlotte in Concord, NC, visit the Concord Mills mall. Concord Mills has over 200 shops and outlet stores, plus an outdoor NASCAR SpeedPark. The Village at SouthPark offers upscale shopping at stores like Neiman Marcus and Kate Spade. Uptown Charlotte offers boutique shopping as well.
7. Dine at Charlotte’s unique restaurants while visiting. The McNinch House Restaurant in uptown Charlotte is located in a historic Victorian home and offers a seven-course meal to patrons. Zebra Restaurant and Bar, located in the South Park area, offers French cuisine and is a three diamond restaurant. Reservations are recommended for dinner at most Charlotte restaurants.
