Whether you’re into arts and culture, sports, food or exploring the outdoors, Charlotte, “The Queen City,” is a worthy destination for any visitor. With 21,000 acres packed full of lush parks, trails and greenways, the city offers countless natural adventures, and its professional orchestra, plus theater, ballet and opera companies make it a popular cultural destination too. Round out any trip with top-notch dining, craft beer and high-energy sporting events, and Charlotte is buzzing with something for any type of traveler.
On your trip to Charlotte, make sure to book your stay at Best Western Carowinds. Located only a mile from Carowinds Amusement Park, the property boasts an easy trip to all the family-friendly destinations. Explore more of Charlotte with our recommendations below and relax after a day of adventuring in your king suite with a hot tub. Finally, begin each day of your stay with complimentary breakfast.
A native of Charlotte is called a Charlottean (pronounced “Shar-luh-TEE-in”), the city’s nickname is “The Queen City,” and residents call downtown, “Uptown.”
Charlotte offers impressive culinary options for any taste. From sushi to burgers to both (yes, “burgushi” is a popular pick at The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar in SouthPark) and everything in between, the city offers dozens of international specialties, plus barbecue and other southern fare.
Pizza lovers flock to Plaza Midwood for Pure Pizza, a cozy, welcoming spot located in a historic home for sandwiches, calzones, hearty salads and, of course, pies. Try one of Pure’s specialties, like the T-Rex, which includes bacon, ground beef, sausage and pepperoni, which is popular here, as are the gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options.
For inventive, fresh sushi, look no further than O-Ku for an upscale choice or Yama Asian Fusion for a more low-key vibe. Steak lovers who appreciate a side of nostalgia shouldn’t miss Beef N Bottle Steakhouse on South Boulevard. Don’t let the not-so-updated exterior fool you: this staple, which has served up tender ribeyes and other cuts since 1958, is beloved for its serious service and surf-and-turf fare.
Mac’s Speed Shop, Sweet Lew’s, and Midwood Smokehouse are all popular picks for barbecue and southern staples, like mac and cheese, hush puppies and baked beans. Charlotte’s east side is packed with great Latin American options, and Optimist Hall and The Market at 7th Street are food halls with an array of dishes to choose from.
Ready to wash it all down? With over 50 breweries to choose from, the Queen City is no slouch when it comes to craft beer. Visit the oldest brewery in town, The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, and sip on a Captain Jack Pilsner or seasonal Mecktoberfest on the spacious outdoor biergarten. Stop in for a brew at other favorites like NoDa Brewing Company, Sycamore Brewing, Legion Brewing or Birdsong Brewing Company.
Charlotte is a city proud of its trees, making for lush, green surroundings that would draw for any nature lover. With over 62 miles of greenway trails connecting the city, walking, cycling or jogging routes are easily accessible from many locations. For the garden lover, be sure to check out nearby Belmont’s Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, for 110 acres of blooms, including a children’s garden and orchid conservatory.
Smaller urban gardens also surprise in Charlotte, like the McGill Rose Garden, which doubles as a coffee and wine bar during certain hours, UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens and Wing Haven.
Time for a day drive? Head over to Crowders Mountain State Park and hike the Pinnacle Trail for stunning views of the city.
Step back in time at one of Charlotte’s many museums and historical sites. At the Charlotte Museum of History, learn about over 400 years of the area’s history in seven galleries and see a replica of Mecklenburg County’s oldest-surviving structure, Hezekiah Alexander Homesite.
Art lovers will want to stop in for a look at the Mint Museum in Uptown, with another location on Randolph Road. Other art museums include the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art and Levine Museum, art museum of the new South.
The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, named for Charlotte’s first Black mayor, celebrates Black and African-American life and art, including the work of artist and Charlotte native Romare Bearden.
Looking for performing arts? The Charlotte Symphony, is now celebrating 90 years, offers multiple annual series, including Classical, Pops, movies, free parks concerts and a popular Summer Series. The orchestra also takes things off the mainstage with its buzzy On Tap brewery series.
Charlotte Ballet impresses each season with its Innovative Works programming and annual Nutcracker performances; Opera Carolina offers an array of high-level performances each season; and JazzArts Charlotte gets down at its Jazz Room series, always a local favorite.
Risk-takers take note: From high-octane amusement parks to rock climbing, whitewater rapids, ziplining and more, Charlotte is full of thrills.
Since 1973, Carowinds has been the go-to amusement park for Charlotte-area residents and far-off tourists alike. Voted one of the best roller coasters in the world, the Fury 325 is just the beginning of the fun. With 57 thrill rides, plus family rides, there’s something for every age and thrill level. Carolina Harbor, the largest Water Park in the Carolinas, is also included with each admission price, and special holiday events crop up each year, like SCarowinds during Halloween season, the Great Pumpkin Fest later in fall, and WinterFest.
The U.S. National Whitewater Center, a 1,300-acre outdoor facility on the Catawba River just outside of Charlotte, opened in 2006 and is a feather in the Queen City’s cap. Not only does this whitewater rapids facility serve as training grounds for the U.S. Olympic slalom and kayaking teams, but it’s also a ton of fun for residents and visitors. Ziplining, ropes courses, tandem flatwater kayaking, standup paddle boarding, trail running, yoga classes, and of course, group whitewater rafting, are all draws here. Hosted in April, Tuck Fest is one of the largest outdoor sports and music festivals in the country. From May through September, grab the kids and the dogs and enjoy live music, craft beer and hearty food at the popular River Jam series.
Professional football fans bring Bank of America stadium to life on NFL-season Sundays, cheering on their beloved Carolina Panthers. Lovers of basketball look no further than Spectrum Center, home of the Charlotte Hornets. During home games, the “hive is alive” cheering for their team.
For one week in May, hundreds of people pack in the days early and head over to Quail Hollow Golf Club for the annual Wells Fargo Championship. Charlotte’s spring stop on the PGA tour since 2003, the tournament draws the big names in golf the first weekend in May. Rounding out the professional sports scene, Charlotte just introduced its first professional soccer team in 2021, Charlotte FC.
For affordable and fun night and weekend baseball games, head uptown to BB&T Ballpark to cheer for the Charlotte Knights, the city’s minor league baseball team and AAA-affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.