10 Best Things to do in Charlotte, NC
Also known as the “Queen City” as it was named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg, wife of King George III, the city of Charlotte, NC is a great destination for nature lovers and sport car enthusiasts alike. Thrill seekers have their own share of things to do in Charlotte, NC as do those who desire to invest in their cultural development.
A city who mixes the old with the new, creating a perfect harmony of experiences available for its residents and visitors is prone to grow. Charlotte became a commercial hub as many banks have headquarters in the city but it managed to maintain an acceptable level for its cost of living.
Charlotte is known for many things but we compiled a list for you to try to pinpoint the must see attractions while on your visit. Do keep in mind that these might not fit everyone so it would be best to take your picks. There is something to do in Charlotte, NC for everyone.
U.S. National Whitewater Center
Available for thrill enthusiasts as well as nature lovers who want to enjoy the outdoors, the U.S. National Whitewater Center offers 1,300-acres of outdoor activities for all ages. In the middle of lush forests and amazing natural scenery, you’ll find the largest man-made whitewater river across the globe. You can venture in the rapids to test or perfect your skill at any intensity level you may want. Other water based activities available are kayaking, canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding as well as deep water solo. Visit on St. Patrick’s day and you’ll see the waters dyed green and yes, this happens every year. If you’d rather stay on the ground, you can go hiking, biking, rock climbing or take amazing canopy tours. If you like to feel like you can fly then zip-lining is the activity for you.
Admission: $49 - age 9 and younger | $59 - age 10 and older
NASCAR Hall of Fame
If you come to Charlotte you can’t miss your pit stop at the NASCAR Hall of Fame as NASCAR is what Charlotte is best known for. And it’s not like you need to be a fan of NASCAR in order to enjoy this amazing exhibit. Moms and motorheads will have at least a few things to get excited about while visiting. Within 150,000 square feet of everything related to NASCAR, there are racing simulators, memorabilia, a 1952 Hudson Hornet and today’s latest model. In short, NASCAR from the beginning and throughout the years. Come here to understand how the sport came to be, then grew to become one of the most loved sports events in the country.
Admission: $18 - age 4 to 12 | $25 - adults | $22 - seniors | $18 - military
Discovery Place
Bring your children here so they can discover the world in an interactive, family-friendly manner. Whether it’s science or technology, nature or creativity, Charlotte’s premier children museum will provide labs, rainforests and an IMAX theatre that will spark creativity and imagination in the youngest of visitors. A great way to learn is through fun and games. Be it the human body or space travel, your children will find new interests and hobbies that will help them develop into human beings that believe they can conquer the world around them, and one day they just might do that.
Admission to the museum: $15 - age 2 to 13 | $19 - adults | $17 - seniors
to tour the museum and IMAX theater: $20 - children | $24 - adults | $22 - seniors
Carowinds
It doesn’t matter if you’re a thrill seeking couple or a family with kids, the Paramount Carowinds amusement park will fill your day as the “Thrill Capital of the Southeast”. You can’t go wrong with this exciting roller coaster park even if you might, at one point, puke. It would be so completely worth it. The main destination for any North Carolina resident who wants to enjoy amazing rides as well as the waterpark relaxation available at Boomerang Bay. If you’re feeling really adventurous, go ahead and test your limits on the tallest and fastest Giga Coaster in the U.S., Fury325. At 325 feet and going at speeds up to 95 miles per hour, it would be wise to eat 30 minutes after this ride if you care for your stomach.
Admission: $19.99 - seniors | $39.99 - daily entrance fee on their site | prices vary
Mint Museum Uptown
Being the first art museum to open in North Carolina back in 1936, the Mint Museum is located in a five story facility with 145,000 square feet of amazing art exhibitions. The works of art put on display are American or European so there is a wide variety of inspiration and culture available for the culture enthusiasts who want to discover the beauty of the early 20th century realism or Native American culture through the collection of art present. One of the best things to do in Charlotte, NC where you can see extensive collections of the American Impressionists as well as Modern and Contemporary Art.
Admission: Free - age 4 and under | $6 - age 5 to 17 | $15 - adults | $10 - students/seniors (65+)
Charlotte Motor Speedway
This is the perfect spot after you are walking out of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. With all the stories on display there, of course you’re anxious to get behind the wheel of a race car and those simulators aren’t enough for the thrill you seek. Well, you’re in luck as at Charlotte Motor Speedway you can get behind a Ferrari 488 GTB and test your driving abilities on the same 600-miles of track as the pros. Even if you don’t get behind the wheel, you can still enjoy the thrilling sound of engines speeding down the track and cheer for your favorite during sporting events.
Admission: varies
Levine Museum of the New South
This is the perfect place in Charlotte, NC for history buffs. A museum where you are shown how life was like in Charlotte after the Civil War in the 8,000 square feet “Cotton Fields to Skyscrapers” exhibit. The museum doesn’t shy away from showing the true history of the south, covering everything from the afore-mentioned cotton fields to the painful topic of slavery. With so many history lessons that the south provided as the nation developed, the museum takes us to school in an immersive educational environment. Aside from showing how the city of Charlotte managed to change over the years and at what cost, the museum also offers other temporary exhibits with the same purpose, to educate.
Admission: $6 - age 6 to 18 | $10 - adults | $8 - seniors, students, military and educators
Crowders Mountain State Park
While physical abilities matter when you take a walk in the mountains, the Crowders Mountain State Park offers different trails for various levels of intensity. If you like the mountains and testing your own physical abilities then you should come here. There are trails available for hiking or rock climbing but you have to make sure you bring suitable footwear. You can push yourself for a climb that you aren’t completely confident you can finish because, we promise, the end prize is completely worth it. Covering around 5,120 acres, at the top you’ll have a view of the entire park and you’ll be breathless, but not only from the hike. You can also go fishing or canoeing here and if you want to stay for the weekend make sure to bring a tent as camping is permitted.
Admissions: Free - rock climbing | $5 - an hour for the canoe | $9 - family campsite
Brewery visits
In Charlotte, NC you’ll find an extensive variety of breweries available that offer craft beer. Knowing which one is the best might be a bit problematic as the options are different. What we can suggest is a ride on The Charlotte Brews Cruise as the city’s booming brewery scene can only receive a fair review by brews lovers from Charlotte. For those who drink crafted beer, Charlotte can be something that resembles heaven on that front. The tours will provide you with the best presentation of what Charlotte craft breweries offer as well as the knowledge behind the drinks on tap.
Admission: $49 - person | group tours available with price on demand.
Funny Bus
See and learn about the city in a funny and interesting way. You’ll pass the most exciting locations without overlooking the most important historical buildings while an onboard comedian will tell you all the best stories that Charlotte has to offer while music is playing. Disguised as a tour bus it will give you an experience that will be hard to forget with an overdose of laughter. Do be careful, however, as there are two kinds of tours. The PG-13 version that is also appropriate for children and for the faint of heart, or the R-rated version, which is, let’s say, for those with a colorful sense of humor. You can take your beer on board and the tour lasts around an hour and a half.
Admission: $30 - person
Conclusion
Now grab a pen and paper in order to make your own list. Those living in Charlotte, NC will surely have many other places to add or squeeze into this list because there are so many amazing things to do in this city that no 10 Best of … list can cover it. The Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden or Bank of America Stadium, not to mention Amelie’s French Bakery & Cafe or Stoke. If you want to see even more of the Queen City the best way would be to get in touch with the local real estate agents in Charlotte NC, and move there. Like that you might get a real chance to see all there is to see.
If you visited or are living in the city, let us know in the comments below if we overlooked any major attractions. Like & Share to your friends and family this list for their next trip to Charlotte, NC.