As North Carolina’s largest city, Charlotte has much to offer in art,
history, and culture. Come spend three days in the Queen City and
discover a great sampling of museums, music, famous people, and
flowering plants!
Recommendations for Places to Eat and Places to Stay in Charlotte, NC, are offered at the bottom of the page.
3-Day Itinerary (Brief)
Day 1
Discover what life was life in 18th Century Charlotte, then spend an
evening in the city’s funky NoDa arts and entertainment district.
Day 2
Explore a series of fascinating museums in the Uptown area and enjoy
endless nightlife opportunities in the big city’s center.
Day 3
Find out how a president and a preacher both trace their beginnings to
Charlotte, then explore botanical wonders in Belmont.
With so much to see and do in the area, we recommend the following
3-day itinerary. Enjoy your visit by mixing and matching events to
your particular interest. Be sure to check days and hours of operation
for each venue.
3 day Itinerary (Detailed)
Day 1
After touring the area in
1791, Washington described 18th century Charlottetown as a ‘trifling
place’. He wouldn’t recognize the thriving city of today, but he might
recognize the Revolutionary era Hezekiah Alexander Home,
which now sits on the site of the Charlotte Museum of History.
Here, you’ll find three centuries worth of historical artifacts from the
area, as well as living history interpretations and exhibits that tell the
story of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County from the early settlers to
the present day.
Now that you’ve seen 18th century Charlotte, move forward in time
one century to the Historic Rosedale Plantation. Built in 1815,
the home is one of the finest examples of Federal Period architecture
in North Carolina, and is noted for its faux grained woodwork and the
original French wallpaper that survives in three rooms. Guided tours
are available Thursday through Sunday.
From here, it’s time to get back to the present day by exploring NoDa,
Charlotte’s popular arts district. The name is a shortening of “North
Davidson”, the street that makes up the heart of this bustling
community. Stroll through the galleries and enjoy the art, then enjoy
Cajun and Low Country fare at Boudreaux’s Louisiana Kitchen.
Afterwards, enjoy a glass of wine at Dolce or bring your four-legged
friend out with you to the Dog Bar. If you enjoy live music, NoDa has
two of the city’s best venues in The Evening Muse and The
Neighborhood Theatre. If you’re lucky enough to come on the 1st or
3rd Friday of the month, you’ll have a great time as the entire NoDa
community participates in one of its Gallery Crawls.
Day Two
Today, we’re going museum-hopping, and there’s no better place to
start than the Mint Museum of Art, which became North Carolina’s
first art museum when it opened to the public in 1936. The building
actually served as the first branch of the United State Mint, coining $5
million in gold between 1836 and the outbreak of the Civil War. Today,
the museum hosts a rich and diverse collection of art, ceramics,
photography and much more.
Now, come Uptown and stop in for a casual lunch at Harry & Jean’s,
then walk over to Discovery Place, where you can explore dinosaurs,
rain forests, oceans and more in one of the country’s top interactive
museums. While you’re here, be sure to take in a movie at the IMAX
Dome Theatre for a truly amazing experience.
Also Uptown is the Levine Museum of the New South, which delves
into the history of the Charlotte region since the end of the Civil War,
from cotton fields to skyscrapers. Visitors can explore the major
reinventions of Charlotte in the past 150 years, which resulted in
critical turning points in industry, city planning, and civil rights.
Finally, stop in at the Mint Museum of Craft + Design, an extension
of the Mint Museum that digs deep into North Carolina’s long and rich
craft tradition and then explores its modern manifestations in furniture
design, ceramics, glass and other media.
When it’s time to wind down, you’re in the right place! Uptown
Charlotte literally has dozens of bars and restaurants to choose from
for your evening activities, from laid-back wine bars to intense dance
clubs to authentic Irish pubs. With a little planning, you’ll be able to
catch a performance at the Blumenthal Center for the Performing
Arts, or perhaps a big-name concert or professional sporting event at
the Time-Warner Cable Arena.
Day Three
He’s been a pastor to millions, and an adviser to several presidents.
Now, Billy Graham’s legacy is preserved for future generations at the
Billy Graham Library on the southwest side of Charlotte. The $27
million facility is designed to resemble a dairy barn and chronicles the
life of “America’s Pastor”, from his boyhood days in rural North
Carolina to preaching in the world’s largest stadiums and arenas.
Then, head to Pineville for a visit to the birthplace of the 11th US
President, James K. Polk. Located on a portion of the land that was
once part of the 150-acre Polk family farm, the site includes a
reconstructed log cabin with furnishings of the time period, a visitor’s
center with exhibits on the life of President Polk, and a picnic area.
Now, head south on I-85 into Gaston County and stop off in downtown
Belmont for lunch at Cherubs Café. Not only can you get homemade
soups, salads, sandwiches and desserts here, but the restaurant itself
is run by the Holy Angels nonprofit corporation, providing vocational
training and meaningful employment options for people with mental
retardation.
After lunch, head south from Belmont on NC Highway 279 to the
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, named one of America’s “20 Great
Gardens” in HGTV’s popular book Flower Gardening. The Garden
features 100 acres of themed plant life, including the brand new
Orchid Conservatory, which is the only glass house in the Carolinas
dedicated to the display of orchids and tropical plants.
Finally, finish up your visit back in Charlotte with an authentic Italian
meal at Dolce Ristorante Italiano in the Dilworth neighborhood.
Dolce began as a gelato shop owned by Italian immigrants and has
grown into a popular place for locals and visitors to get a real taste of
the old country. Be sure and say “Ciao” to Luisa, the restaurant’s
owner, and don’t forget to end your meal with the house made gelato,
still a specialty here.
Where to eat:
Boudreaux’s Louisiana Kitchen (Charlotte) – dinner
Harry & Jean’s (Charlotte) – lunch, dinner
Cherub’s Café (Belmont) – lunch
Dolce Ristorante Italiano (Charlotte) – lunch, dinner
Where to stay:
The Charlotte Ritz-Carlton
The Ballantyne Hotel and Lodge
Renaissance Charlotte Suites
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