Enjoy a budget-friendly trip to Charlotte with our list of the best 10 free or cheap things to do in the Queen City. Cliffside town origins date back to 1899 when Raleigh Rutherford Haynes, a textile industrialist decided to build a town near Second Broad River. Don't skip Paper Skyscraper in the Dilworth neighborhood. [319] The NBA quickly granted Charlotte an expansion franchise following the departure of the Hornets and the new franchise, the Charlotte Bobcats, began to play in 2004. It is a major hub for American Airlines, having historically been a hub for its predecessors US Airways and Piedmont Airlines. ", "Group petitions Norfolk Southern to change policy to get Lynx Red Line project back on track", "Charlotte Gateway Station makes progress; development underway surrounding project", Bibliography of the history of Charlotte, North Carolina, Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education, North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls and Lady Golden Bulls, cities with populations exceeding 100,000, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Charlotte,_North_Carolina&oldid=1162596801, 1755 establishments in the Thirteen Colonies, Cities in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, North Carolina populated places on the Catawba River, Pages with non-numeric formatnum arguments, Articles with dead external links from June 2016, Articles with dead external links from June 2023, Articles with permanently dead external links, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Pages using multiple image with auto scaled images, Pages using infobox settlement with possible motto list, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2020, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2013, Pages using Sister project links with hidden wikidata, Pages using Sister project links with default search, Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia, Articles with WorldCat Entities identifiers, Articles with MusicBrainz area identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0, Source 1: NOAA (relative humidity and sun 19611990), 28201-28237, 28240-28247, 28250, 28253-28256, 28258, 28260-28262, 28265-28266, 28269-28275, 28277-28278, 28280-28290, 28296-28297, 28299, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fire Education Center and Museum. Oct 13, 2016 When you're deciding where to take your next vacation, be sure to add Charlotte, North Carolina, to the list for consideration. Travel These 10 Best Aquariums Are Worth A Visit In North Carolina By Lauren Feather Published Apr 26, 2022 North Carolina is home to some of the greatest aquariums on the planet - and these are some of the state's very best worthy of your attention. The Foundation Performing Arts & Conference Center or Spindale Recreation Center hosts musicians and arts performances visitors can watch. Set in the southeast of the state, the pretty port city can be found on the banks of the Cape Fear River . We recommend that you plan your visit during the fall or spring. There's also a handful of distilleries, such as Great Wagon Road and Doc Porters, for whiskey, gin and vodka enthusiasts. Visit the Girl Tribe flagship store for cheeky shirts, accessories, home goods, and more, all with an emphasis on female empowerment. [453] Some Chester residents spoke out against the program on February 26, 2013. By 1759 half the Catawba tribe had died from smallpox, which was endemic among European colonists because the Catawba had not acquired immunity to the new disease. Charlotte, North Carolina Holiday Guide: Visit Charlotte - Visit The USA Once youve had your fill of cultural attractions, Charlotte offers plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors and catch professional sports. After a meal, visitors can tour the Ellenboro Train Depot Museum which exhibits old trains' parts and historical artifacts of the past or visit a local amusement park. [322] The name change became official on May 20, 2014. [125] There is an average of 3.5 inches (8.9cm) of snow, mainly in January and February and rarely December or March, with more frequent ice storms and sleet mixed in with rain; seasonal snowfall has historically ranged from trace amounts in 201112 to 22.6in (57cm) in 195960. However, in recent years, Charlotte has swung heavily to the Democrats. Oh, if you are a fossil hound (and only if you are a fossil hound!! The best parks in Charlotte include Freedom Park, First Ward Park, and Park Road Park. [11], Between 2004 and 2014, Charlotte was ranked as the country's fastest-growing metro area, with 888,000 new residents. And for those of you that have kids, be sure to check out the schedule at the Ovens Auditorium (on the grounds of the famous Bojangles Coliseum). A mix of the charming, modern, and tried and true. While Charlotte has a moderate climate, it still gets hot and sticky during the summer. [245][246] Several projects are transforming the Midtown Charlotte/Elizabeth area. Can't-miss spots to dine, drink, and feast. The city is also home to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, the Charlotte Ballet, Children's Theatre of Charlotte, Mint Museum, Harvey B. Gantt Center, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, the Billy Graham Library, Levine Museum of the New South, Charlotte Museum of History, Carowinds amusement park, and the U.S. National Whitewater Center. Shutterstock shark at the North Carolina Aquarium, Pine Knoll Shores The skyline of Charlotte, NC from the Hawthorne Lane bridge on Wednesday, April 20, 2022. . It began in 1978 and since then has become one of Charlotte's largest cultural events. Posted in If you're looking to make South End your home base, look for an Aloft hotel coming in 2022. it's time for the Yiasou Greek Festival", "41st Yiasou Greek Festival kicks off in Charlotte", "Night one of Taste of Charlotte draws big crowds despite earlier rainy weather", "City's biggest food festival, Taste of Charlotte, sets fall date at new location", "Moo & Brew: Two dudes and a Burger Joint", "Breakaway Music Festival Returns to Charlotte", "Thousands come out for Charlotte Pride Festival in uptown", "Charlotte's largest annual parade is now the gay-themed Charlotte Pride", "34th annual CPI Security Charlotte Turkey Trot held Thursday morning", "6 turkey trot runs in the Charlotte area on Thanksgiving day", "About the Charlotte Zoological Park Initiative | Bringing Animal Conservation & Research to the Carolinas", "Charlotte Zoological Park Initiative ready to move forward News 14", "Sea Life Aquarium opens at Concord Mills", "Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County: A century of service", "The Official website of the Carolina Panthers", "The Official Website of The Charlotte Hornets", "Carolina Panthers Franchise Encyclopedia", "NBA Gives Florida Two Franchises Miami, Orlando: League Also Grants Expansion Teams to Minneapolis and Charlotte for $32.5 Million", "George Shinn says co-owner 'hell-bent' on Charlotte exit", "Charlotte Hornets 30th Anniversary Season", "Michael Jordan Bought the Charlotte Bobcats for $175 Million, Now the Charlotte Hornets Are Worth $1.5 Billion", NBA owners give Bobcats OK to change name to Charlotte Hornets, "Charlotte gets MLS' 30th franchise for record $325 million", "Charlotte officially named 30th Major League Soccer team", "Charlotte FC begins soccer era in the Queen City, drawing nearly 74,500 fans", "Baseball has a storied history in Charlotte, and it's been quite a journey for the Knights", "The Official site of the Charlotte Checkers", "Charlotte Knights Announce 10-Year Deal to Remain White Sox Affiliate", "The Official website of the Charlotte Knights", "Charlotte Independence Soccer Club Homepage", "Charlotte to host 2019 NBA All-Star Game", "Charlotte no stranger to NBA All-Star Spotlight", "As Gamecocks and UNC fight for mayonnaise, Duke's Mayo Bowl found a way to still matter", "ACC Announces 10-Year Extension With Charlotte as Football Championship Game Host Site", "ACC Men's Basketball Tournament set for Charlotte this week", "Play Ball! The best things to do, eat, and see on your next visit to North Carolina's Queen City. The mall features more than 150 stores, including exclusive retailers like Gucci, Saint Laurent, Burberry, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., and staples like Apple. Independence Freeway, which carries U.S. 74 and links downtown with the Matthews area, is undergoing an expansion and widening in the eastern part of the city. [360] Mayor Pro Tem Michael Barnes served as Acting Mayor until April 7, when the City Council selected State Senator Dan Clodfelter, also a Democrat, to serve the remainder of Cannon's term. [161][162] Shalom Park in south Charlotte is the hub of the Jewish community, featuring two synagogues, Temple Israel[163] and Temple Beth El, as well as a community center, the Charlotte Jewish Day School for gradesK5, and the headquarters of the Charlotte Jewish News.[164]. Nicknamed the "Queen City",[41] like its county a few years earlier, Charlotte was named in honor of German princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, who had become the queen consort of Great Britain and Ireland in 1761, seven years before the town's incorporation. The Charlotte School of Law opened its doors in Charlotte in 2006 and was fully accredited by the American Bar Association in 2011. Don't skip the oatmeal crme pie. It sits on 10 acres of land and includes a variety of plant life, from tropical flowers to local plants. Surprisingly, Charlotte has quite the pizza scene too. more. There are few notable expansions in the last 10 years that have help to create Charlotte as a logistics hub. Make the most of your time in the USA with Lonely Planets range of travel guides. No trip is complete without a little retail therapy, and Charlotte's South End neighborhood is a great place to start, where opportunities to shop local abound. Inspired in part by the San Antonio River Walk, and integral to Charlotte's extensive urban park system, it is "a huge milestone" according to Gwen Cook, greenway planner for Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation. 8 Best Small Towns In North Carolina To Visit In Winter Three years later, a jeweler determined it was nearly solid gold, paying the family a paltry $3.50. There are two things that continually sprout across Charlotte that people love to critique: Stick-built apartment complexes and breweries. Listed in order of their rank, they are: Bank of America, Honeywell, Nucor, Lowe's, Duke Energy, Sonic Automotive and Brighthouse Financial. Forty-three fire stations are strategically scattered throughout Charlotte to provide a reasonable response time to emergencies in the city limits. Charlotte is served daily by three Amtrak routes with ten daily trips from a station on North Tryon Street, just outside downtown. Via: Image by JamesDeMers from Pixabay Outside view of a historic tavern in Charlottesville, VA, with green trees Step back in time in downtown Winston-Salem. From Beaufort, you can take a boat to Shackleford Banks and see the wild ponies, also. Some of the popular breweries include Wooden Robot Brewery, The Olde Mecklenburg, and NoDa Brewing. Lake Lure town visitors will have plenty to do at this beautiful outdoor paradise with nature's wonders like mountain cliffs, a tranquil lake, a forest, parks, and a river. The Mint museum was established in 1936, which makes it North Carolinas oldest art museum. Charlotte is a burgeoning city, which means entertainment and cultural attractions are always evolving. Like many small towns, Main Street is the downtown of the town and the center where things happen. [155], The largest Protestant church in Charlotte, by attendance, is Elevation Church, a Southern Baptist church founded by lead pastor Steven Furtick. The main event at the Center is the artificial whitewater rapids channel, which serves as a training center for the U.S. Olympic team. Be the architect of your own trip as you discover the best things to do in the USA through insider tips, suggested itineraries and handy maps. An RV campervan gets you to the heart of the US national parks. The Western North Carolina Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church is also headquartered in Charlotte. However, some of the most unique cities to visit in North Carolina are Asheville, Raleigh, Durham, Wilmington, and Charlotte. [18][19][20][21] Residents are referred to as "Charlotteans". Browse the town's galleries, furniture stores, the local brewery, and more. Special events, such as Green River Revival in March, are particularly fun the water gets dyed green for St Patricks Day festivities! [43], Within decades of Polk's settling, the area grew to become the Town of Charlotte, incorporated in 1768. Cornelius is a great escape from Charlotte and is nestled on Lake Norman. Bank of America's headquarters, along with other regional banking and financial services companies, are located primarily in the Uptown central business district. Charlotte is the 24th largest radio market in the nation, according to Nielsen Audio. What are the best places to eat in Charlotte? The city's first boom came after the Civil War, as Charlotte became a cotton processing center and railroad hub. [221] Approximately 75% of the NASCAR industry's race teams, employees and drivers are based nearby. Thomas Polk (great-uncle of President James K. Polk), who later married Thomas Spratt's daughter, built his house by the intersection of two Native American trading paths between the Yadkin and Catawba rivers. NASCAR fans will want to make a pit stop at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Uptown. [65][66], According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 308.6 square miles (799km2), of which 306.6 square miles (794km2) is land and 2.0 square miles (5.2km2) is water. In 2020, CNN established a Charlotte bureau spearheaded by national correspondent Dianne Gallagher. It's a gorgeous place to enjoy America's pastime. It's an independently owned gift shop filled with unique items including delicious candles, fun books, and hostess gifts she'll actually use. Local leaders came together in 1775 and signed the Mecklenburg Resolves, more popularly known as the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. There are five waste water treatment plants operated by Charlotte Water (previously Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utility Department). There also are activities for children like supervised mountain climbing. Those with little travelers in tow should add a visit to Discovery Place to the itinerary. [311][312][313] The Panthers have been located in Charlotte since the team's creation in 1995, and the current Hornets franchise has been located in Charlotte since its creation in 1988 (with the exception of the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons). [174][175] City leaders have taken big strides toward making Charlotte more pedestrian-friendly, and the Rail Trail is a perfect example. Ellenboro is the pure epitome of a country-life town. The Ballantyne, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Charlotte, Hotels with Complimentary Breakfast in Charlotte, Hotels near Levine Museum of the New South, Hotels near Charlotte Douglas Airport Overlook, Hotels near Concord Regoinal Airport (USA), Motels near Concord Regoinal Airport (USA), Hotels near Johnson & Wales - Charlotte, NC, Hotels near The Art Institute of Charlotte, Hotels near Regency Beauty - Charlotte, NC, Hotels near DeVry University Charlotte, North Carolina. The citys distinct mix of friendly neighborhoods, greenways and urban meeting spaces attracts newcomers year after year, who come looking for something special and leave pleasantly surprised with all there's to see and do. Top 5 Reasons To Visit Charlotte is a vibrant city with one of the most impressive skylines in the southeastern United States. Make sure to catch a Charlotte Knights game. [90][91][92][93], The SouthPark area offers shopping, dining, and multifamily housing. 16 Reasons to Visit North Carolina at Least Once in Your Lifetime [237][240] Others logistics companies that have are large Charlotte presence are Maersk North America with 800 employees, Zenith Global Logisitics with 720 employees, Cargo Transporters with 650 employees,[241] Southeastern Freight Lines Inc. with 517 employees,[242] Distribution Technology with 400 employees, and Transportation Insight LLC with 375 local employees. The Kimpton Tryon Park overlooks scenic Romare Bearden park and is an easy walk to both Charlotte Knights and Carolina Panthers games. North Carolina ranks in the top ten most populated states in the USA and A local's ultimate guide to visiting Charlotte, North Carolina - Insider Professional sports teams help close this gap. The "Southern steakhouse meets church potluck" invites guests to dine in a beautifully restored church. Its a guaranteed good time and family friendly until 8pm, when it turns 21 and over. Will it keep it? What Is Charlotte NC Known For? Founded in 1983, the Big South Conference has 11 member institutions with over 19 different sports and completes in the NCAA's Division I. 2023. [401], Pfeiffer University has a satellite campus in Charlotte. There is no shortage of great day trips from Charlotte. On the lake, visitors also fish, boat, kayak, paddle, and water-ski. [234] A number of Charlotte-based logistics companies have experienced a lot of recent growth. [178][179][180] USAA occupies 90,000 square feet (8,400m2) in The Square which is located in South End to house 500 employees.