Some destinations are made for leisurely stretches on white sand or slow sips of wine amid rolling green hills for days on end. In these places, nothing is the agenda. If you only have a few days to spare or can't stand sitting still when you're on vacation, however, Charlotte, invites you to make the most of every minute.
The largest city in North Carolina, Charlotte is packed with outdoor experiences of all types -- from the heart-stopping kind to soul-soothing lazy days. From whipping around racetracks or white-water rafting to meeting rehabilitated birds or going on art walks, Charlotte offers a chance to dabble in it all. With so many outdoor terraces and rooftop bars, you can easily enjoy the night air and atmosphere as well. After all, temperatures here hover in the 70s and 80s from springtime through fall. If you time it right, you just might be able to enjoy a sporting event as well.
Read on to see why Charlotte has endless options to fill your days and then try a few for yourself. With more than 140 domestic nonstop flights each day, you're probably just a few hours from Charlotte no matter where you're sitting.
Whitewater rafting might not be the first thing you think of in a landlocked city, but Charlotte delivers with the 1,300-acre U.S. National Whitewater Center. Designed by Scott Shipley, a three-time Olympian slalom kayaker, and his engineering firm, the center's primary feature is the world's largest artificial whitewater river. Open daily and late into the evening, here you can experience class II-IV rapids with a professional guide.
You might also spot would-be Olympians practicing here as the center is a U.S. Olympic Training site for top athletes in canoe and kayak. In addition to watersports, the complex offers 50 miles of trails, plus ziplines, ice skating, rock climbing and deep water solo-climbing. (Deep water solo is a form of rock climbing where you fall into a deep pool of water instead of wearing traditional climbing protection.)
For the ultimate go-kart adventure morning, noon or night, head to Trackhouse Motorplex, where you can reach speeds of up to 55 mph in a 13-horsepower kart. Built by industry experts, the 0.7-mile, 11-turn racetrack is modeled after the Kartdromo Parma circuit in Italy. Unlike go-karting at amusement parks, this is serious business. All drivers must be at least 16 years old and have a valid driver's license, plus helmets and neck braces must be worn while driving.
Charlotte Motor Speedway offers even more, well, speed, as you can have an actual NASCAR experience. Choose to either drive solo or go on a ride shotgun with an instructor around the 1.5-mile racetrack. There's also a 0.65-mile, 13-turn go-kart track if you prefer that. The speedway hosts daily tours and year-round events, including the Coca-Cola 600 (May 25) and the Bank of America Roval 400 (October 5). If you're planning a weekend visit, come early or stay an extra day, as the facility is closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
At Carowinds amusement park, rides range from rollercoasters with names like Afterburn, Hurler and Intimidator to tamer kids' rides and Carolina Harbor Waterpark. In the summer, grab a mat and head to the Boogie Board Racer, the longest mat-racing water slide in the Southeast.
Charlotte's LYNX Blue Line light rail system makes it easy to get around from Uptown. Running 3.5 miles parallel to it is Charlotte's Rail Trail, a pathway for moving around, whether it be walking, jogging, rollerblading, scootering or biking. The South End portion of the trail is full of public art to admire like large-scale installations such as the "Pepsi Cube" made of approximately 1,000 cans, murals like the Magic Carpet, and sculptures like the Camden wall mosaic frieze.
South End isn't the only spot full of art. In fact, Art Walks CLT offers 28 self-guided ArtWalks and Art Trails to explore more than 350 pieces of public art around the city. ArtWalks generally take about an hour to complete as they're a short walk around a neighborhood. (Art Trails are more spread out and tend to involve wheels, whether that be a bike or a car.)
Being out in nature is an easy way to spend an afternoon or even an entire day. Latta Nature Preserve has 13 miles of hiking and horseback riding trails (plus an additional 3 miles of hiking-only trails) with views of forests, streams and Lake Norman. Horses are not available for rent, but you can bring your own. Paddleboards, kayaks and boats are available to rent, so you can head out to Mountain Island Lake. While on the reserve, check out the Carolina Raptor Center, where they rehabilitate birds of prey such as hawks, falcons, eagles, merlins and vultures.
Depending on the season, the 275-acre Carrigan Farms offers u-pick opportunities for strawberries, apples and pumpkins. Starting in mid-May, swimming is also allowed at its natural quarry; the farm-to-table restaurant offers a swim menu of things like in-season fruits and vegetables, hamburgers and pizza so you can eat while in the water. On select October nights, "Scarrigan Farms" emerges with its haunted trail.
Running through Charlotte, the paved Little Sugar Creek Greenway stretches from the NoDa neighborhood down more than 19 miles to the Catawba River in South Carolina. The route follows the creek through urban areas, but a thick border of trees does surround the trail for most of it. This is a chance to walk through the suburbs of Charlotte, pass more public art pieces and stop at shopping and dining areas.
Camp North End is a leisurely way to spend a few hours. A former missile manufacturing site, it's now a hub for 60 tenants, sprawled across 76 acres. (Think food stalls, shops, and offices, along with people stretched out in hammocks.) It's so large, in fact, that the campus is divided into four districts. Pick up a greeting card at Good Postage or a new book at That's Novel Books. Bring home a unique souvenir from a local artist at Dupp & Swat or Goodyear Arts. Savor Latin American street food like an arepa or pupusa at La Caseta or sample Korean-inspired cuisine at Blasian Asian Way. Satisfy your sweet tooth with dairy, egg and gluten-free treats at Seemingly Overzealous Ice Cream. Grab a drink at Cork & Cap.
Charlotte has long been on the radar for foodies, with critics like Food & Wine and Southern Living giving accolades in recent years. One of the best pairings you can make with your meal is a table outside, something Charlotte readily provides.
Celebrating its 40 anniversary, Cajun Queen has plentiful umbrella-shaded seating on its rooftop deck. As the name implies, the menu dishes up New Orleans specials like crawfish étouffé and seafood gumbo, served while a live band plays jazz seven nights a week. Caswell Station is a casual sports bar; its large patio hosts trivia nights and has TVs for watching games.
Dilworth Tasting Room, a popular wine bar and Mediterranean restaurant, has three locations across Charlotte, but only two have patios: in Dilworth (where it all started) and SouthPark. Head to the original location, where the fairy lights along the fence and the trees make an enchanting space at night. Hello, Sailor has a 1960s vibe indoors; call ahead to nab a patio spot overlooking Lake Norman. As might be expected of a waterfront restaurant, seafood dishes have the spotlight.
With more than 40 local breweries, Charlotte definitely pays homage to the craft. Whether you need to calm your nerves after a heart-pounding activity (see above) or just want to reward yourself for getting your 10,000 steps in that day, the Queen City easily obliges. Beer gardens dot the city map, so you're probably close to one no matter where you are. The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery's original location in the Lower South End neighborhood is open daily and late, featuring live music and an 8-acre beer garden. NoDa Brewing Co. is open Tuesday-Sunday, with free brewery tours offered on Friday and Saturday.
Sycamore Brewery's outdoor taproom in South End sprawls over 21,000 square feet and includes a beer garden, Airstream food truck and café. Another South End spot, Charlotte Beer Garden is full of plants and has an outdoor terrace with a rooftop bar; even if you don't get a spot outside, there's a tree literally growing in the middle of the space for the natural touch.
Charlotte's skyline is a pretty one, so experience it with a visit to a rooftop bar. Head up to the 19 floor of the Kimpton Tryon Park Hotel, where Merchant & Trade uses North Carolina-produced spirits and house-made mixers in its cocktails. The panoramic views of Uptown's Romare Bearden Park and Truist Field are pretty sweet as well. SouthPark's AC Hotel opened Cordial in 2020, offering a winning trio of stellar views, a tapas menu and outdoor fireplaces to keep warm.
Another sophisticated spot is Hestia, a modern Asian restaurant and bar located on the 16 floor of the AC Hotel Ballantyne; the terrace offers 180-degree views of the city. For a more casual rooftop experience (and one closer to the ground), Whiskey Warehouse's second-floor patio is open past midnight on weekends.
If your outdoor activities lean more toward the people-watching side of things, then Charlotte has your ticket for several sporting events in the spring and summer.
The Charlotte Knights play their home games at Truist Field. The skyline view of Uptown Charlotte from the seats behind home plate is major-league quality, even if it is technically a minor-league stadium. (The Knights are the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.) The season runs from late March through mid-September, and each homestand includes Bark in the Ballpark Wednesday (when you can bring your well-behaved, leashed furry friends to the game), fireworks on Friday nights (and some bonus Saturdays too) and Sunday Family Funday, when kids can run around the bases.
Soccer fans have plenty of options with two teams kicking off games in the area. The Charlotte FC season runs from March to October, and the mighty black and blue will be looking to Rep the Crown in the MLS Cup Playoffs for a third straight season. The Carolina Ascent FC are playing their second season in the USL Super League, and the women's team will be battling for playoff spot as the season wraps up in May.
On consecutive weekends, the ACC lacrosse championships will be held at Charlotte's American Legion Memorial Stadium (April 23-27 for the women and May 2-4 for the men). Even if you don't know an attackman from a middie, it's worth a trip to the stadium in the Elizabeth neighborhood to catch this fast-paced sport played at a high level. Winning the ACC might be tougher than winning the national title -- four of the last five men's national champs and three of the last four women's national champs have come from the ACC.
Another type of champion will be crowned as the Quail Hollow Club hosts the PGA Championship May 12-18. This will be the second time the major tournament has been played on the Charlotte course, where the challenging three-hole finish known as the "Green Mile" will test the mettle of the world's best golfers. If you are so inspired to hit the links yourself, the area has a number of top courses to help you get your golf fix.