The Top 5 Reasons to Visit Charlotte, North Carolina Now
WRITTEN BY 5 REASONS TO VISIT® EDITORIAL STAFF
PUBLISHED MAY 2022 • 4 min read
Millions of visitors flock to Charlotte, North Carolina annually for its parks and recreational activities, neighborhood shops and galleries, museums, award-winning restaurants, local breweries, and more. With a family-friendly vibe, and ample greenways as well as a light rail system, the Queen City is easy to navigate and offers a variety of attractions for a short weekend getaway or longer stay.
1. THE SHOPPING
Fashion-forward boutiques make Charlotte a hotbed for haute couture, and exclusive brands like Neiman Marcus, make it a destination for high-end finds. From quirky thrift shops touting vintage gems to malls such as SouthPark anchored by top retailers, Charlotte’s shopping circuit is a style lover’s secret weapon—and a standout in the Southeast.
Shopping in Charlotte is both a sport and a pastime. The luxury department stores, alfresco spaces, shopping malls, specialty retailers and bargain outlets located throughout the area give you a great shot at finding whatever’s on your wish list (and discovering exciting little gems that aren’t). Favorite destinations include Atherton Mill and Market, Phillips Place, and distinct neighborhood boutiques throughout NoDa, Midtown, South End and Uptown districts.
2. THE ART
The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art is a jewel of a museum, only the second in this country designed by the Swiss architect Mario Botta. It is intimate in scale, delightfully arresting in its spaces and vistas and simple and elegant in its materials. The collection presented includes works by the most important and influential artists of the mid 20th century including Miró, Giacometti, Picasso, Calder, Hepworth, Nicholson, Warhol, Tinguely, Ernst, Le Corbusier, Chillida and many others.
The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art in Charlotte, North Carolina
Only a handful of these wonderful artworks have been on public view in the United States. Until now, the collection was privately held by the Bechtler family of Switzerland. Throughout NoDa (the historic arts and entertainment district) and Uptown, Charlotte’s street mural scene is on the rise. With more than 60 murals—artistic beauty, creative vibes and vibrant colors can be found around every corner. Just like the artists who designed them, every mural has a story and some even take on a life of their own.
Just like the artists who designed them, every mural has a story and some even take on a life of their own. Painting events like Talking Walls Mural Festival are bringing local and national artists together. Click here for a public art map.
3. THE COCKTAILS & CUISINE
Widely known as a Charlotte favorite, The Goodyear House is located in the heart of NoDa and frequented for its elevated, farm-to-table comfort food and hand-crafted libations that are both seasonally influenced and well balanced. For your artisanal cocktail fix, we recommend trying the Topsail Turvey—concocted with Deep Eddy’s vodka, peach purée, lemon, mint and crème de cassis.
The Goodyear House in Charlotte, North Carolina
With an array of dynamic flavors, favorite dishes at The Goodyear House include Winner Winner with crispy BBQ poussin, butter beans, miso-mushroom broth, Ella’s chow chow, and cornbread, Smoked Cashew Mac with Chile breadcrumbs, Devilish Toast with smashed egg salad, Calabrian peppers, dill pickle on verdant seedy toast (and optional trout caviar), Sweet Potato with fried sweet potato, celery cream, house-made crispies, garnished with celery leaves and fennel pollen, Roasted Carrots with red zhug, marinated feta, benne seeds, and mint, Spring Potatoes with sour cream and onion, crispy shallots, green garlic, ramp oil, (and optional trout caviar), as well as Marinated Shrimp with mignonette butter, Chile oil, and saltines.
For those craving something sweet, end your experience with Warm Banana Pudding made with fresh bananas, vanilla cream cheese custard, Nilla wafers, and toasted meringue. Hungry yet?
4. THE GARDENS
Since 1927, Wing Haven Garden & Bird Sanctuary has been cultivating the legacy of Southern horticulture, while providing a natural oasis for reflection. Nestled in a quiet residential neighborhood just a few miles from Uptown, Charlotte, the gardens were skillfully designed with beauty and birds in mind.
Wing Haven Garden & Bird Sanctuary in Charlotte, North Carolina
A hidden gem, the UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens were created to serve as a living classroom for biology students and as a horticultural and botanical resource for both the university and Charlotte.
UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens in Charlotte, North Carolina
The UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens hosts three garden sites with sixteen collections, including the rare Titan Arum. Admission to the Greenhouse and Gardens is free, but donations are much appreciated.
5. THE ARCHITECTURE
The Fourth Ward of Charlotte's Uptown was established in the 1800s. The neighborhood in the northwest quadrant of Uptown Charlotte featuring 100-plus-year-old Victorian homes. Wandering through this historic neighborhood, you may feel like you're back in time, with its tree-lined streets, century-old Victorian homes and magazine-worthy courtyard gardens.
Historic Architecture in Charlotte, North Carolina
The Berryhill House, circa 1884, is a fine example of Victorian architecture in the Italianate style. Today, the Fourth Ward is a collection of quaint and charming meets urban contemporary. For a neighborhood guide and walking map, click here.
WHERE TO STAY IN CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA
Experience acclaimed 4-star Southern hospitality at The Ballantyne, A Luxury Collection Hotel, where beautiful guest rooms feature rich decor, plush accents and bedding, lovely spacious marble baths and natural lighting from large picture windows come together for a luxurious escape. With a menu inspired by nature, spa treatments are designed to nurture the mind and body through the use of ritualistic methods and healthy products in a calming environment. The Spa at Ballantyne provides a sensory experience to soothe the senses and enhance wellness.
