As North Carolina’s most populated city, Charlotte also known as “Queens City” is home to many top historic attractions, national teams, and monuments in the United States of America.
The famous NASCAR, NFL team Charlotte Panthers, and NBA team Charlotte Hornets are but a few of the major attractions to see in the city.
A visit to this city is never a waste of money and begs the question “When are you visiting?” Whether you are a student, tourist, or new and old resident, check out these 15 best things to do in Charlotte and add them to your itinerary.
Levine Museum of the New South
Source: Wikipedia/James Willamor | CC BY-SA 3.0 UnportedThe Levine Museum of the New South is an amazing place to visit as it allows travellers to learn about the history of the South and all about slavery and other important historical events.
Formerly known as the traditional museum in the area, it focused on post-Civil War exhibitions showcasing life in the North Carolina Piedmont region.
The museum has shifted focus in recent times by going fully digital with its exhibitions and community programming.
Visitors get to engage using the museum’s free app “KnowCLT” to interact with its digital programs.
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Address: 401 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202, United States
Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts & Culture
Source: Wikimedia/Mark Clifton | CC BY-SA 2.0 GenericCelebrate African-Americans and African visual arts, literature, films, music, dance, and community outreach at the Harvey B Gantt Center.
The centre is dedicated to the first African-American student who attended Clemson University and the first African American Mayor in Charlotte.
There is a 58-piece African-American Art collection by John and Vivian Hewitt with works of 20 artists including some Charlotte local artists as well.
It also features 3-temporary exhibits focused on African-American men through culture and personal views.
There are other activities such as films, workshops, yoga, guided tours and many more.
Address: 551 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202, United States
The Mint Museum
Source: Wikimedia/Bz3rk | CC BY-SA 3.0 UnportedCheck out the Mint Museum in uptown Charlotte which represents the city’s buzzing art scene.
It plays host to several wonderful European and American art collections.
The museum also has contemporary art and designs on display such as the numerous wood and glass artworks, and exhibitions are constantly changed to keep things exciting for guests.
There is an onsite restaurant and a shop to relax and also buy souvenirs before and after a visit.
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Address: 2730 Randolph Rd, Charlotte, NC 28207, United States
U.S. National Whitewater Center
Source: Wikipedia/Howard Morland | Public Domain Mark 1.0To enjoy that water excitement on the trip to Charlotte, pay a visit to the US National Whitewater Center which sits along the Catawba River.
Travellers get to partake in extreme adventures to mild adventures on land or water.
Some of the activities include rafting calmly or through class IV rapids, paddleboarding, and so much more.
For those who would prefer exploring on land, there are other activities such as 100-foot zip-lining through tree-tops, climbing over boulders, rope course challenge, and more.
Address: 5000 Whitewater Center Pkwy, Charlotte, NC 28214, United States
Truist Field
Source: Flickr/Jeffrey Hayes | CC BY 2.0 GenericAs a traveller who is a baseball enthusiast, the Truist Field is the stadium that plays host to the Charlotte Knights.
This top-notch stadium features a proper ballpark layout and it is suitable for friends, families, groups etc to come and experience the Triple-A level International League.
See the minor league team play and also enjoy local delicacies from food vendors around the stadium.
The parking is easy and with premium tickets, the experience is great with terrific skylines when seated in the Home Plate Club or in the suites.
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Address: 324 S Mint St, Charlotte, NC 28202, United States
SouthPark Charlotte
Source: Wikimedia/Bz3rk | CC BY-SA 3.0 UnportedTake a trip to Southpark Charlotte and get a different experience of what the city has to offer.
Enjoy breakfast at the Café Monte French Bakery and Bistro, which offers an award-winning menu with various delicacies such as egg crepes, smoked ham, hot beignets, steak and eggs with a croissant, and so much more.
Explore the Southpark Mall and shop at the prestigious Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Tiffany & Co. etc.
There are also boutiques to shop from and Foxcroft Wine Co. or Corkbuzz can quench your thirst with wine or beer.
This area offers the highest activity both morning and night for travelers to relax and enjoy the city.
NASCAR Hall of Fame
Source: Flickr/David Berkowitz | CC BY 2.0 GenericThe NASCAR Hall of Fame is one of Charlotte’s most prestigious attractions to see in the city. Being home to NASCAR racing, that hall of fame was situated there for a reason.
It is a marvel to behold with many race simulations, a beautiful theatre, and racing artefacts.
The theatre seats over 270 persons, and there is also a Buffalo Wings restaurant and gear shop.
The place was built to immortalize the sport and it is a thrill for travelers.
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Address: 400 E M.L.K. Jr Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28202, United States
Billy Graham Library
Source: Flickr/David Berkowitz | CC BY 2.0 GenericFor visitors and residents who love to read, this next attraction cannot be skipped.
The Billy Graham Library is a place where book lovers can immerse themselves in the large collection of books to enhance their knowledge.
The library is over 40,000 square feet and is named after Billy Graham who was a popular pastor in the Northern part of America.
It is located not far from where he grew up and it is free to walk around the library which is filled with knowledge about the pastor, his life, and his path.
There is also a nice restaurant where visitors can cool off.
Address: 4330 Westmont Dr, Charlotte, NC 28217, United States
Spectrum Center
Source: Wikimedia/Matthew D. Britt from Glens Falls, NY, U.S.A. | CC BY 2.0 GenericThe Spectrum Center plays host to so many events and live entertainment such as amateur and professional sporting competitions, and national and international draws such as U2, Taylor Swift, The Rolling Stone, and so much more.
The place is amazing and the NBA All-Star Games in 2019 was played there. Home to the Charlotte Hornets, this 265 million-dollar investment has over 200 restaurants and major attractions, nightlife destinations and reliable public transport options which makes it the city’s crown jewel.
Address: 333 E Trade St, Charlotte, NC 28202, United States
Carowinds
Source: Wikimedia/Coasterman1234 | CC BY-SA 3.0 UnportedFor those traveling with kids, Carowinds is the next best stop to have a fun time with the family.
The place is packed with various activities for kids such as thrill rides, mild rides, miniature drop rides, and so much more.
It is a favorite for North Carolinians but parking, food and drinks will take up the budget a bit. Be sure to come prepared and let the kids keep themselves busy.
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Address: Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
Bank of America Stadium
Source: Wikimedia/HangingCurve | CC BY-SA 4.0 InternationalVisit the headquarters of the National Football League team Carolina Panthers and explore the over 75,000-capacity stadium which is located in uptown Charlotte.
The Bank of America Stadium handles so many events and live entertainment.
It was known as the Ericsson Stadium when it first opened in 1996 since the Swedish company LM Ericsson had the naming rights.
This later changed to Bank of America in 2004 when the financial company which is also based in Charlotte bought the rights at $140 million for a term of 20-25 years.
There are restaurants, reliable parking facilities, and many other amenities.
Address: 800 S Mint St, Charlotte, NC 28202, United States
Freedom Park
Source: Flickr/cheriejoyful | CC BY 2.0 GenericExplore Freedom Park with family and friends and enjoy the outdoors with its natural beauty.
The park seats on 98 acres of land which include so many amazing attractions like lakes, sports courts and fields, paved trails for hiking and biking, and so much more.
It is a kids-friendly park and children will get the best time of their lives roaming around and playing with nature.
There is a playground which boasts two firetrucks with a hose area to see, a steam engine cab, and a tank.
Music concerts are held here as well as movie nights during the 5-day festival in the park every September.
Address: 1908 East Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28203, United States
Discovery Place Science
Source: Wikimedia/Ken Thomas | Public Domain Mark 1.0Charlotte also has the magnificent Discovery Place Science where families can visit to see and experience the beauty of indoor activities.
The place features a science and technology museum with exhibits that are interactive ad immersive for kids to learn about marine biology, life science, motion and force etc.
There is also an IMAX Dome Theatre for special movie nights, a living rainforest with various species to see, an aquarium with living creatures and so on.
The place is wonderful and fun for travellers who would want their kids to have great memories.
Address: 301 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202, United States
Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
Source: Wikimedia/Derek Gleeson | CC BY-SA 3.0 UnportedThe Belk Theater is located in Uptown Charlotte and it is the largest of six theatres under the wings of North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center.
The theatre was first opened in 1992 and has played host to everything from pop, rock, and classical concerts, and many Broadway shows.
It holds a crowd of more than 2,000 spectators, it has wonderful acoustics and many other design features such as the intimate horseshoe auditorium, and fiber-optic lighting for aesthetics for a memorable experience.
Address: 130 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202, United States
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
Source: Wikimedia/Robert Nunnally | CC BY 2.0 GenericAfter touring most of the more active attractions in Charlotte, visit the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden for a more relaxing time to learn and consume knowledge about nature.
Explore these 110 acres of garden which lay on the banks of Lake Wylie with spectacular views all year round.
Some of the major highlights of the garden include the 8,000-square-foot conservatory which focuses on tropical plants and orchids.
It is a 5-storey glass building with its wall covered with blooming orchids. Children are not left out of this journey with a new additional garden area for kids to learn.
Address: 6500 S New Hope Rd, Belmont, NC 28012, United States
Conclusion
Charlotte is a great place to see up close and personal with its many top attractions scattered around the city center.
Whether you are a lover of sports, entertainment, reading, or hiking, it is an ideal place to visit.
There are lots of sights to see and explore which are also family and kids-friendly for everyone to learn and have fun.
Pack your bags and head out today to experience these best things to do in Charlotte.
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