There is a city in the United States that combines urban and modern landscapes with the beauty of nature and many sports interacting with nature, skyscrapers with mountains and many attractions. It is Charlotte, the largest city in North Carolina.
The city lives up to its slogan, “Charlotte Has Plenty,” thanks partly to its combination of urban amenities and its emphasis on weaving lots of outdoor beauty between its skyscrapers. With distinctive and diverse neighbourhoods, great shopping and award-winning food and beer, Charlotte can satisfy various leisure goals. In today’s column, I’ll list a few reasons why you should visit Charlotte.
Urban forestry
Charlotte is a leader in urban forestry goals, with the city on track to increase its tree canopy by 50% by 2050. This commitment to the environment extends to the city’s green space initiatives, several of which make for a fun bike ride or walk between breweries and bars.
NASCAR
Even people who have never seen a NASCAR race can appreciate the category’s roots and see how deeply connected they are to Charlotte. The NASCAR Hall of Fame is simply a must-see and so is the historic Charlotte Motor Speedway. Most NASCAR racing teams have also made the city their home, especially around Lake Norman, so the sport’s impact has seeped into the community in many ways.
The NASCAR Hall of Fame showcases the top and most honoured cars from each era of the category. It’s a trip back in time to the good old days in the American heartland, where NASCAR races were the most important event of the year in these parts. Today’s machines and a real race pit are also there to test your skills in changing tyres and fueling the race cars. There is also a large shop selling NASCAR merchandise and a themed café.
NoDa art scene
North Davidson, or NoDa, is the more artistic section of the city, so take time to wander among the galleries, boutiques and performance venues to see the colourful side of the city. It’s worth a stop at Amelie’s French Bakery to sample some of the treats that made it into the Hunger Games franchise, which filmed scenes in and around Charlotte.
Brewery districts
Also, when exploring NoDa, you’ll find several craft breweries, as the neighbourhood has the second highest concentration of breweries in the city. The other is South End, a part that invites you to stroll around on a pleasant walk, both are considered the two coolest neighbourhoods in the city.
Specialised museums
The choice of niche museums in Charlotte includes, in addition to the NASCAR Hall of Fame we’ve already talked about, the Carolina Aviation Museum, which celebrates North Carolina’s point of pride as the site of the first American flight. Kids will love Discovery Place, a collection of three museums in one (Science, Nature and Kids), but adults won’t want to miss the Science on the Rocks attractions.
Distinctive neighbourhoods
As the 16th largest city in the US, nearly one million people call Charlotte home. Despite being the largest city in North Carolina, Charlotte is not the state capital. And though it spans more than 300 square miles, Charlotte’s distinct neighbourhoods grew up around the city centre, first as tram districts that evolved into walkable hubs with thriving independent businesses.
Vegetarian options
In a city as large as Charlotte, virtually every type of cuisine can be found, and vegetarian offerings range from authentic Asian dishes to juice powerhouse Clean Juice, which started in Charlotte and has now grown to more than 90 locations.
Lake Norman
Charlotte’s water playground has nearly a dozen pet-friendly marinas and restaurants. Rent boats or jet skis, or cruise along over 80km of surface aboard a stand up paddle board, kayak or canoe.
Talent in the kitchen
The 7th Street Public Market has been called an innovative gastronomic hub, providing a launching pad for companies like It’s Poppin, a gourmet corn company. Plan to spend a few hours browsing, sipping and dining at more than 40 vendors in the heart of Uptown in this café atmosphere that only this corner of Charlotte can offer.
Urban rafting
Besides plenty of green space throughout the city and nearby Lake Norman, Charlotte has several other ways to enjoy nature. For the adventurous, head to the U.S. National Whitewater Centre to experience its Class II, III and IV rapids, or stay on land to take in the views or bike the park’s five-plus acres of trails. You can also see the park from a zip line.
Family fun
Two guaranteed fun and adventure options are just outside the city: Carowinds and Carolina Raptor Centre. Carowinds has 13 roller coasters, several water ride options, and a separate water park, Carolina Harbor. Or head to the Carolina Raptor Center, a non-profit organisation that focuses on rehabilitating injured raptors and conserving other birds of prey, including hawks and owls.
Shopping in abundance
Charlotte has plenty of shopping centres and even a suspended mall connected by a walkway, making it a great year-round shopping destination. Head to the Waxhaw Historic District. Several options ranging from local farmers markets to two upscale shopping centres – Southpark Mall and Ballantyne Village – make this city a shopping paradise for people of all budgets and interests.
Charlotte International Airport is still an important hub in the United States. If you are connecting, be sure to visit the NASCAR shop and try the famous chocolate dipped apple from the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.