Combining Carolina charm with cosmopolitan flair, Charlotte is filled with many exciting things to do!
Shopping & Entertainment
Shop til you drop at one of Charlotte’s premier shopping destinations. SouthPark Mall features lavish stores and is now home to the first Neiman Marcus in the region. Just down the street from SouthPark Mall, Phillips Place offers a wide variety of elegant gift boutiques, entertainment, and eclectic cuisine. Concord Mills, one of the state’s leading tourist attractions, features more than 200 stores.
If it’s entertainment you’re looking for, the new Epicentre will not disappoint. While new concepts continue to open here (seemingly daily), the Epicentre already touts an upscale movie theater and swanky bowling alley, retail, dining, and nightlife for every persuasion.
Neighborhoods
A great way to soak up the essence of Charlotte is to visit one of its charming neighborhoods.
With its roots in the 1850s, the historic South End has become a nexus for creative expression and a vibrant retail and restaurant district.
Take a walking tour through the Fourth Ward neighborhood and delight in the architecture of homes dating back to the 1800s appropriately called the “Grand Old Ladies.”
If you want to get creative (or surround yourself with creativity), NoDa is the place to do it. Charlotte’s fringe art neighborhood touts independent galleries perfect for perusing, hip restaurants where you can enjoy a bite to eat, and local street musicians that will entertain you. Or visit the Plaza Midwood neighborhood. Formerly a streetcar neighborhood, the area now boasts several one-of-a-kind boutiques and funky shops and several fantastic dining options.
Museums & Other Attractions
Join the half-million people from all over the United States who visit Discovery Place each year. Discovery Place is one of the top hands-on science centers in the nation. The facility features exhibits on anatomy, physics, natural science, machines, and much more. It offers three floors filled with a fascinating array of displays. Discovery Place also houses the Charlotte Observer IMAX® Dome Theater.
Once the location of the first branch of the United States Mint, the Mint Museum of Art is the oldest and most prestigious art museum in the state. It contains over 81,000 square feet of American, European, pre-Colombian, Spanish colonial, as well as some local and regional art.
Or visit the nation’s most comprehensive collection of contemporary studio craft at the Mint Museum of Craft + Design (located in Center City). Collections include ceramics, jewelry, metal, glass, and more.
A must-see for history lovers is the Levine Museum of the New South. This museum houses the nation's most complete interpretation of post-Civil War Southern history with interactive and multi-sensory exhibits.
Be sure to visit the Afro-American Cultural Center (AACC). This museum preserves, promotes, and presents African-American art, history, and culture through comprehensive programs and presentations in the visual arts, performing arts, and through innovative educational programs.
The Billy Graham Library combines iconic memorabilia and multimedia technology to transport visitors into the life of the well-known evangelist. A country kitchen and replica of Graham’s boyhood home complete this experience.
Take in a play or even a Broadway show at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. The center is also home to the North Carolina Dance Theatre and often hosts the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra.
If you love flowers, don’t miss the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. It features 110 acres of themed gardens, a dozen sparkling fountains, a spectacular Visitor Pavilion, a new Orchid Conservatory, and nine distinctly themed gardens.
There is no place more evident of Charlotte’s Southern heritage than in its food. Sample local favorites at one of the many delicious restaurants. While in Charlotte, be sure to try some Carolina BBQ or Southern fried chicken!
An easy print out of Charlotte attractions, prices, locations, and hours of operations can be found here.
