Charlotte, NC, is the perfect vacation city. From its nuanced history and its varied and booming food culture, to its nearby recreation opportunities, you'll never run out of things to do—whether you've come with just your partner or the entire family.
Fun Things to Do in Charlotte
Food Tours
With its colorful food culture, Charlotte has some of the top eateries around. Take a food tour through town with one of several guided services like Feast Food Tours or Charlotte NC Tours.
Food Trucks
Charlotte is home to a host of beloved food trucks. Check out some favorites like The TIN Kitchen, Street Spice, New Wrap Order, or Papi Queso.
Sports
Choose from a host of the best sports from local players to major league stadiums. For the latter, catch some football with the Carolina Panthers, basketball with the Charlotte Hornets, or a host of collegiate sports with the Charlotte Hounds.
Things to Do with Kids
Family-Friendly
Check out quick activities like freshly churned ice cream from one of many local spots, like La Michoacana, Mr. K's Soft Ice Cream, or Elizabeth Creamery.
Looking for something active? Try exploring one of Charlotte's many urban parks, many of which are home to fountains where playing in the water is encouraged.
If you're in Charlotte for Thanksgiving, you don't want to miss the Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade, featuring dancers, choirs, and marching bands. Not around in November? Don't fret; this is just one of many parades throughout the year that brings color and excitement to the streets of Charlotte.
For a mix of history and fun, head just outside the city to pan for gold at one of the nation's firs gold mines, the Reed Gold Mine.
For Teens
For something exciting for the whole family, check out Carowinds Amusement Park. It's home to both classic coasters, as well as the world's tallest and fastest giga-coaster, the Fury 325.
Weather acting up? Take a venture somewhere inside, like Ray's Splash Planet indoor water park, featuring a wash of fun-filled attractions for kids of every age.
For Toddlers
At any of the city's theme parks, there are a number of attractions for the kiddos, including at the Carowinds Park and Carolina Harbor water park.
Charlotte is also home to more than one amazing children’s theatre troupe, and any one of them is bound to put on an exciting show.
If the kids are into science, there are tons of ways to satisfy that itch as well. Check out Discovery Place Science, with hands-on experiments, the largest IMAX Dome Theatre in the Carolinas, a planetarium, and exhibits in nature and technology.
Things to Do for Adults in Charlotte, NC
Breweries and Distilleries
The Charlotte region boasts 40-plus local breweries, with every variety you can imagine, to fit right in with the booming brewery culture. Pick a few individually, or hop on a catered brewery tour with an organizer like Trolley Pub or Charlotte Brews Cruise.
Into events? Make sure to stop by during one of several beer festivals held throughout the year, including North Carolina Brewers and Music Festival, and Queen City Brewers Festival.
Don't forget about Charlotte's colorful distillery scene. Check out a number of favorite local spots like Doc Porter's Distillery, Muddy River Distillery, Great Wagon Road Distilling. To top it all off, pop into one of many Prohibition-style speakeasies scattered through town, like Dot Dot Dot or Room 1812.
Something Else: Cideries and Entertainment Houses
In a city with such a booming beer scene, its no surprise that cideries have popped up with equal fervor. The city is home to a few top cideries, many using fresh pressed North Carolina apples, like Red Clay Ciderworks, Windy Hill Orchard & Cider Mill, and GoodRoad CiderWorks.
If you're around during good weather, dress up for Cocktails in the Courtyard, a weekday evening event at The Duke Mansion that features a lovely view amid a century-old estate.
To get a taste of everything in one spot, head down to LoSo, where you can experience nightlife (more on this later), breweries, cideries, distilleries, and an entertainment house.
Free and Cheap Things to Do
Museums
Charlotte is home to a wash of art and history museums, and most of them are either inexpensive entry or have certain times that are open to the public for cheap, or even free.
For history, stop by the Levine Museum of the New South, the Charlotte Museum of History, or the Wells Fargo History Museum. The Billy Graham Library provides a look into Billy Graham's dynamic journey.
For arts and culture, you don't want to miss the exhibits at the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts, or the Mint Museum Uptown and Randolph, both of which are home to some truly inspiring pieces. The Light Factory is an art museum not to be missed, which features rotating exhibits from both emerging and established artists.
Entertainment
For a fun outdoor experience, plan for some time at B-Cycle where you can design your own bike crawl through the cities campuses, various neighborhoods, as well as some iconic nature spots along the Rail Trail.
For a fun arcade game night that puts you on memory lane to Friday nights back in the day, check out Abari Game Bar for some absolute classics. Or, sign up for a wine and art night, with select glasses of wine and adult coloring books to a relaxing mid-week evening.
For shopping that doesn't break the bank, stop by the hundreds of outlet stores at Charlotte Premium Outlets or the budget-friendly Concord Mills. While you're out and about, be sure to snap a photo with the Firebird statue on the plaza at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
The opportunities are endless in Charlotte, even on a dime.
Things to Do in Downtown Charlotte
While any portion of the city has its unique entertainment, you don't want to miss downtown either. Start by downloading the Arts & Science Council's Public Art Walking Tour. Charlotte is a colorful city with frescoes and other public art that you don't want to simply walk by.
For luxury shopping, you don't want to miss the iconic SouthPark Mall, and if you're looking for entertainment, there's the one-stop-shop at the EpiCentre, which is home to themed bars, nightclubs, and restaurants.
Downtown Charlotte is also the best place for skyline views and rooftop bars. Check out Fahrenheit, City Lights Rooftop, Whiskey Warehouse, The Gin Mill, and many more.
Things to Do at Night
Between food and drink and nightlife culture, Charlotte has something for everyone once the sun goes down for the day.
Nightlife
For some great comedy and music clubs, you can't go wrong with any one of the city's nightlife hotspots like The Comedy Zone Charlotte, Club One, Small Bar, The Underground, and the AvidXchange Music Factory.
For memorable clubbing, head over to Uptown to hit popular bars and clubs near Trade and Fifth Streets, like Prohibition, Tilt on Trade, Roxbury Nightclub, and Dandelion Market.
If you're into hidden gems, you don't want to miss Brevard Court. With a cobblestone walkway, it's home to a number of memorable spots, including The Cotton Room, French Quarter Restaurant, and Courtyard Hooligans.
For an usual but unforgettable nighttime spot, stop by the Gantt Museum for Gantt After Dark, which celebrates a unique theme with live music, appetizers, exhibits in painting, photography, and film, as well as conversations with artists.
Food & Drink
For a memorable crawl, piece together your own. Montford Drive is a great place to start, as it is home to bowling, food & drink, and even karaoke. While you're in town, you also don't want to miss the opportunity to try North Carolina's varied barbecue styles, and there's not shortage of kitchens. Try hot-spots like Midwood Smokehouse.
Things to Do in Charlotte, NC, for Couples
Romantic Things to Do in Charlotte, NC
Spend the day exploring Charlotte's own wine country, where you can stop by several vineyards in one stretch, or even cater a wine tasting in a treehouse. On any beautiful afternoon, take a stroll through one of the city's many gardens, like the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, McGill Rose Garden, or UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens.
For a special occasion, book a dinner cruise with Queen's Landing Sightseeing & Dinner Cruises, or hop aboard the Catawba Queen Mississippi Riverboat, or a luxury yacht on Lake Norman for a romantic dinner.
Fun
For fun, unforgettable date nights, consider a gallery crawl in the art districts, or sit for some intimate concerts at the Visulite Theatre, The Evening Muse, or the Neighborhood Theatre.
Got an appetite? Head to the 7th Street Public Market or the Atherton Mill and Market for a variety of quick but delicious eats like gourmet sandwiches, craft beer, artisan pizza, local confections, and fine wines.
Unique Things to Do
Every city has its selection of cool things to do that can only be done in that city. Charlotte is no exception.
Explore Charlotte’s heritage through a tour of the President James K. Polk State Historic Site, or take a guided tour through the regions numerous plantations, with remnants of the nation's Federal period as well as the Revolutionary War.
Auto racing has its roots in Charlotte, and here, you can take tours of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, and even the Charlotte Motor Speedway, where the only 600-mile race is held.
On the other end of the spectrum for horsepower, look into the area's only horse racing event, held annually in April, the Queen's Cup Steeplechase.
For top-notch local designers and boutiques, walk along the vibrant East Boulevard, featuring a variety of contemporary and traditional designers.
Indoor and Outdoor Things to Do
You don't have to be stuck inside all day; most of the activities listed so far are in and around the social aspects of the city, but Charlotte also boasts wonderful events outside, as well as a ton of outdoor recreation.
Events
The city features numerous outdoor music events and festivals from May through September, including open-air concerts, food and drink festivals, and even outdoor theater. No matter when you're in town, there's a festival or even to suit your fancy. For a full calendar of events, visit here.
Recreation
There are a ton of opportunities for water sports, like paddle boarding and kayaking on Lake Normal, Lake Wylie, or Catawba River. There's even room for whitewater rafting at the U.S. National Whitewater Center.
For hiking and walking, check out any one or many of the city's protected wilderness preserves. For a mix of recreation and city exploration, take a walk along the Charlotte Rail Train, which has a number of cafes, bars, artists, galleries, and even impromptu concerts along the way.
From the top of Crowders Mountain State Park, you can get a beautiful 25-mile view of the park itself, as well as the Charlotte skyline.
The city is also home to a number of recognized golf courses, both for recreation, as well as professional championships.
Things to Do in Charlotte on a Rainy Day
Spas and Wellness
What better thing to do on a rainy day than treat yourself to some pampering? There are a number of highly rated spas in the city, as well as wellness centers, for some perfect relaxation.
Entertainment
For a spontaneous evening during stormy weather, head over to one of many trivia nights, or pop into an open mic. The Evening Muse features live music, as well as a chance to show your own skills. Or, head over to Queen City Cinephiles for a showing of themed indie movies.
If you're looking for family fun, outdoor recreation, or an unforgettable food and drink experience, there's plenty to find in Charlotte to fill a weekend, a week, or even a lifetime.