Charlotte Travelers Recommend

With three days in Charlotte, you can sample the Queen City’s top sights and experiences—from its rich history and museum offerings to its outdoor activities and live events—and take a day trip elsewhere in North Carolina. Here’s how to make the most of three days in Charlotte.

Day 1: Essential Charlotte

See the highlights of Charlotte on a morning sightseeing tour. Whether by Segway, bike, trolley, or bus, these tours offer an overview of the city’s top attractions. Pass by historic Fourth Ward and central Uptown, home to many of the city’s top cultural institutions.

Spend the afternoon at a museum that reflects your interest. The Levine Center for the Arts houses several museums within, including the Mint Museum Uptown. History buffs have choices among the Levine Museum of the New South, the Charlotte Museum of History, or a tour of local plantation such as Rosedale or Latta. Racing fans won’t want to miss the NASCAR Hall of Fame, while aviation fans have the Carolinas Aviation Museum. Finish things off with tickets to a sports event, race, or music and entertainment show to wrap up your first night.

Day 2: Taste the Outdoors

Spend your morning experiencing the inspiration behind Charlotte's other nickname, “Tree City.” Wander one of the city's outdoor spaces and parks, from the centrally located First Ward Park and The Green to the massive Freedom Park. Nature lovers head to the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, Wing Haven Garden and Bird Sanctuary, and Reedy Creek Nature Center and Preserve. More active visitors tackle water activities at Lake Norman or Lake Wylie, tumbling down rapids at the US National Whitewater Center, or experiencing the thrills of theme park rides at Carowinds.

In the afternoon, reward yourself with a food, beer, or whiskey tour. Sample favorites such as barbecue, shrimp and grits, and fried cornbread at the Seventh Street Public Market or from a food truck. With multiple distilleries and more than 40 breweries, the city offers plenty from which to choose. Or combine food and sightseeing on a dinner cruise on Lake Norman.

Day 3: Head Out of Town

Your choice of day trip out of Charlotte depends on your interests. Nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts enjoy getting lost in the Uwharrie National Forest. Home to some of the oldest mountains in America, the wilderness is filled with trails, scenic overlooks, and Badin Lake. Thrill seekers head out to Boone, which offers bouldering, ziplining, and river tubing in summer and snowboarding and skiing in winter.

Only two hours away, Asheville attracts foodies and history buffs. Go on a tour of Biltmore House, the largest house in America. Art and music lovers will be spoilt for choice, from mainstream to eclectic. This city, known as “Beer City USA,” has a thriving microbrewery and food scene. If wine is more your style, join a guided winery tour around North Carolina, which allows you to leave the driving to someone else.

With world-class museums, a rich history, and myriad green spaces, Charlotte offers plenty of things to do and see, even in 24 hours. Here’s how to make the most of your time in the Queen City if you have just one day.

Morning: City Highlights

Get your bearings on a tour that takes in the top highlights of Charlotte. Step on a Segway or hop on a bike and cruise past historic Fourth Ward, Old Settlers' Cemetery, and central Uptown district, home to the Mint Museum Uptown, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, and NASCAR Hall of Fame. To leave the driving to someone else, opt for an open-top bus, trolley, or golf-cart tour, some of which include comedic commentary or allow for BYOB adult beverages.

Afternoon: Charlotte Outdoors

See why Charlotte is also known as a city of trees. Explore the centrally located Romare Bearden Park or The Green; smell the flowers at the UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens; look for wildlife at McDowell Nature Center and Preserve; or explore Freedom Park, with trails, a lake, demonstrations gardens, and the family-friendly Discovery Place Nature (formerly Charlotte Nature Museum). For a look at the past, take a tour of Historic Rosedale Plantation or Historic Latta Plantation. More active visitors gravitate to the US National Whitewater Center, which offers more than 30 land- and water-based activities.

Night: Live Events for All Tastes

Catch a race at Charlotte Motor Speedway or a ball game at BB&T Ballpark or Spectrum Center. If the arts are more your style, take an art gallery crawl or book tickets for a show at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center or Neighborhood Theatre. Music fans can discover up-and-coming artists in the NoDa neighborhood or see concerts by more established artists at AvidXchange Music Factory (formerly NC Music Factory) and Bojangles' Coliseum. Or join a food tour and sample North Carolina’s vinegar-based barbecue sauce, or opt for a brewery or distillery tour. For a spooky alternative, join a haunted history tour.

With two days in Charlotte, you can visit some of the city’s landmarks, sample local flavors, and enjoy the plentiful outdoor spaces in this city of trees. Here's how to make the most of 48 hours in the Queen City.

Day 1: Landmarks, Culture, and Cuisine

**Morning:**Get your bearings on a city highlights sightseeing tour. For something more active, jump on a Segway or a bike. Or, take a trolley or bus tour around central Charlotte, and pass by cultural attractions in Uptown and historic areas such as the Fourth Ward and Old Settlers’ Cemetery.

**Afternoon:**Devote the afternoon to one of Charlotte's many museums. Art lovers find plenty of options at the Levine Center for the Art. History fans appreciate the Charlotte Museum of History and Levine Museum of the New South. Or, take a tour of Latta Plantation or Historic Rosedale Plantation.

**Night:**Spend the evening sampling the flavors of Charlotte. Get an order of fried pickles, shrimp and grits, or try different barbecue styles. A food tour is an easy way to try a bit of everything. Or take a tour of your favorite tipple—there are several whiskey distilleries and more than 40 breweries.

Day 2: The Great Outdoors and Live Events

**Morning:**Head out to one of Charlotte’s many outdoor spaces and parks, such as First Ward Park and Freedom Park. Get close to birds of prey at the Carolina Raptor Center and hike the trails at Reedy Creek Nature Center. More active visitors can enjoy water activities such as paddleboarding at Lake Norman or tackle the rapids at US National Whitewater Center.

**Afternoon:**For racing fans or those interested in learning more about the sport, a visit to the NASCAR Hall of Fame is a must. Those looking for live action head to the Charlotte Motor Speedway. For more family-friendly fun, spend some time at Carowinds amusement park or Great Wolf Lodge resort.

**Night:**Charlotte is home to a number of pro sports teams, and watching a game is a great way to wrap up your trip. If you prefer shows over sports, choose from Broadway performances, music concerts, and other live shows. For a range of options, head to the EpiCentre Mall.

Charlotte's culinary scene bursts with excitement as the flavors of the South meld with the global influences of one of the region's biggest cities in ever more inventive ways. Here's how to taste the Queen City through iconic dishes and cutting-edge food experiences.

Must-Try Dishes

Southern flavors sit front and center of the food scene in Charlotte. Local specialties include shrimp and grits —a Carolina classic—as well as pimento cheese, a spread often served as an appetizer. Nearby Lexington is the region's barbecue capital, but you don’t need to drive that far to sample slow-smoked pork tossed in a vinegar-based sauce. And in true Southern style, just about anything comes golden-fried in Charlotte, from fried pickles to fried cornbread.

But Charlotte cuisine doesn't rest on its traditional laurels—a recent food revolution introduced plenty of craft breweries and innovative food trucks to the local gastronomic offerings.

Must-Do Experiences

• Meet the culinary artisans and local chefs of Charlotte’s Historic South End during a delicious and informative food walking tour.

• Let someone else do the driving as you explore the Charlotte craft beer scene on a three-brewery craft beer tour.

• Take a day trip to the Biltmore Estate, America’s largest privately owned home, in Asheville, North Carolina, to taste the products of the estate’s winery.

• Test your mettle on an after-dark tour of a prison-turned-craft distillery.