Charlotte Travelers Recommend

Exploring Charlotte’s two main art museums could consume an entire day, or you could choose to spend only an hour or so in each. The largely American- and European-focused Mint Museum, named for its former status as a branch of the U.S. Mint, is the most popular, while the splashy, high-concept Bechtler Museum of Modern Art is the newest, open only since 2010. Nearby, the nuanced art exhibits at the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts & Culture provide visual and emotional insight into the varied black communities of both Charlotte and the South as a whole. About 8 minutes southwest of Uptown, Dilworth is adjacent to Charlotte’s version of Central Park, the 98-acre Freedom Park. Within the park, you’ll find walking and biking trails, a 7-acre lake, a year-round demonstration garden, and the family-friendly Charlotte Nature Museum. The surrounding neighbourhood of typical Craftsman houses and more lavish mansions is home to some great lunch options.