And we’ll never be royals… but we can romp around the Queen City.
Uptown Girls (and Boys)
Uptown (not to be called downtown—they’ll know you’re a tourist) is the beating heart of CLT, and it’s chock-full of fun things to do—from theNASCAR Hall of Fame to open-air shopping to museums to acclaimed restaurants and bars. Soak it all up…
For the Fanatics
Sports fans can get their fill year-round in Charlotte, thanks to the Panthers, Charlotte FC, the Hornets and the Knights(P.S. Stick around Truist Field after home games for fireworks!). Game on.
Savor the Asheville flavor during the two remaining weekends of culinary event series Chow Chow (Aug. 4–7, Sept. 8–11) feat. multiple food-focused events—including a handmade tamale workshop and a free Sunday super series. Chow down!
Jam Out
Live music fans are gonna wanna grab tix to a show at legendary music venue The Orange Peel—this summer hosting Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Spoon, Switchfoot and more. Ah, “the way we get by…”
Your ribs’ll be shaking from laughter after attending the Laugh Your Asheville Off Comedy Festival, aka the largest stand-up comedy event in the Southeast, with 40 comics performing at an array of Asheville venues.
Winston-Salem
Brunch is always a good idea. And the perfect day in Winston-Salem starts with brunch at Parisian restaurant The Katharine Brasserie & Bar, located in the The Kimpton Cardinal Hotel (Pro tip: Get the croque-monsieur)—where you should also absolutely lay your head after a day of adventuring. Post-noshing, stroll Winston-Salem’s Downtown Arts District and check out the breweries and ’cue joints on The NCBS Historic Barbecue Trail.
Boone
“Get your awe back” in the “high country”—from breweries and artastic attractions to the Tweetsie Railroad, Blowing Rock (whitewater rafting, wineries, spas!) and, of course, Grandfather Mountain, where you’re gonna wanna hike the highlands. Plus you can’t say you’re an NC’er until you’ve seen NC from the famed Mile High Swinging Bridge (aka America’s highest suspension footbridge—and, yes, it literally swings). Poetry in motion, really.
Durham
Staycation all I ever wanted. … Skip the heavy baggage and gas prices for a summer siesta in the Bull City. Whether you like it dirty or keepin’ it neat, Bar Virgile’s award-winning bar and resto’ll help you get in the spirit and kick it into #vacationmode with a craft cocktail via one of the largest liquor selections in the Triangle. Then keep it jamon at multi-Beard-nominated chef Matt Kelly’s Mateo for tapas that’ll straight transport you to Spain before a nightcap on the rooftop of bougee midcentury-modern boutique hotel The Durham (pro tip: Book the Night Out Package so your nightcap is mere steps from your swank sleep sitch).
Wilmington
Garden Variety
Stop and smell the flowers at the year-round Airlie Gardens, also home to the Airlie Luncheon Garden Party—Wilmington’s premier event during the annual spring NC Azalea Festival.
Flock Here
’Tis the season for seafood, and there’s no better spot to get your fill than Dean Neff and Lydia Clopton’s recently opened Seabird restaurant, which puts a spotlight on local seafood, natch, in addition to creative and seasonal breakfast, lunch and dinner dishes.
Just because we don’t want Raleigh to become Charlotte doesn’t mean we can’t appreciate it for a fun-filled weekend getaway.
The Queen City is ready to roll out the red carpet and give you a royal welcome. Just a quick 2.5-hour drive down I-85, Charlotte awaits as the perf overnight perch or weekend getaway with its bustling big-city vibes, choice cultural and culinary offerings, and thriving nightlife and sports scene (hey, Panthers and NASCAR Hall of Fame!).
From ever-popular Camp North End and NoDa to buzzy South End and Uptown Charlotte (pro tip: do not call it downtown lest you get glares…), the city’s crown jewels (aka hoods) serve up plenty of fun for everyone. The Center City district alone dishes 200-plus restos, with myriad nightlife, retail, arts and culture selects to strike any fancy—not to mention 52 miles of greenway for that en plein air feel.
So whether you’re looking to dance the night away, relish a good ole Southern meal, imbibe on a cocktail (skyline views included!) or peep some local art, Charlotte’s calling—and no matter what throne you perch on, these Queen City picks promise to reign supreme.
U.S. National Whitewater Center
DO
Pins Mechanical Company
“When life gives you balls, play with them.” Can’t argue with that. Located in the heart of South End, this play-meets-potables public house offers plenty of ball action (had to) with the likes of foosball, pinball, duckpin bowling and pingpong—plus a lineup of cocktails, beer and wine that promises to help you keep your head in the game.pinsbar.com
Funny Bus Comedy City Tour
Laughter is the best medicine—and turns out also the best way to see the sights of the Queen City. CLT’s Funny Bus combines a 90-minute informational tour with a BYOB comedy show (PG-13 and R-rated tours available to raunch it up a notch) that’ll have you and your crew giggling at every turn. funnybus.net
U.S. National Whitewater Center
Splish, splash. This water wonderland offers tons o’ wet-n-wild ops on the world’s largest man-made whitewater river—from whitewater rafting to kayaking to stand-up paddleboarding—plus droves of dryland fun like zip lining, free-fall jumps and hiking. And, on March 12, go green with a magical 5K color run through the trails—leprechaun sightings possible.whitewater.org
The Goodyear House
EAT
The Goodyear House
“Built on good times,” NoDa’s The Goodyear House was reimagined from a circa 1900s mill home (which was added onto during the original family’s “good years”) into a cozy resto that maintains that homey feel thanks to its preserved historic aesthetic. But the best throne to perch on is on the twinkly light-covered patio—clearly putting the “good” in Goodyear—complete with its own bar and a menu dishing the likes of smoked cashew mac (vegan!), red devil chicken, and a “goopy” burger. thegoodyearhouse.com
Leah & Louise
This modern juke joint from two-time James Beard-nominated chef Greg Collier and business partner/wife Subrina Collier is sure to get you jazzed for brunch, lunch and dinner fare inspired by the cuisine of Delta cities Memphis, Jackson and Nawlins—think pork neck sliders, smoked confit chicken wings, river chips (aka chicken skins), and blackened catfish. So, in essence, soul food that promises to feed your soul…leahandlouise.com
Haberdish
Authentic interiors beckon—like wooden tabletops and copper lights handcrafted right in the Queen City—at this mill town Southern kitchen and craft cocktail concept that doubles as one of Charlotte’s fave brunch and dinner spots. Go for the Carolina-inspired fare featuring locally sourced ingredients (pro tip: The fried chicken is a must). Stay for the sunny patio—with a side of biscuits, naturally. haberdish.com
DRINK
Cloud Bar by David Burke
Don’t go bacon our hearts… All outings at Cloud Bar rooftop bar and restaurant can and should (pause for emphasis) start with the DB Maple-Glazed Bacon Clothesline—literally three pieces of sweet, crispy bacon served on a mini clothesline with a pickle and lemon wedge. Follow that with a craft cocktail and 360-degree views of Charlotte and you’re sure to be on cloud nine.cloudbarbydb.com
The Suffolk Punch
This brewery meets coffee bar meets culinary cafe and taphouse really packs a punch when it comes to bevs. Swing by in the morn for a cuppa joe brewed fresh from ethically grown and responsibly sourced beans. Or, as the day wanes, go beer-serk with 50-plus brews on tap (both made in-house and procured from in-state breweries) paired perfectly with palatable plates that rotate seasonally. thesuffolkpunch.com
The Royal Tot
Adventure—served by the Tiki glass—awaits at this urban tropical paradise… er, two-story bar dubbed for the “daily tot” rum drink of choice of British Navy sailors. The downstairs Tiki bar and casual upper deck (dubbed The Bird’s Nest) are chill spots to imbibe on fruity cocktails like pina coladas, mai tais and painkillers. Vacation-worthy, indeed. theroyaltot.com
STAY
Omni Charlotte Hotel
Game, set, match—poolside, propped up in front of one of the largest double-sided LED screens in the city at this hip hotelier’s rooftop Coin Bar. Add to that killer cocktails and stellar views of the skyline—plus some post-dips and -sips in-room spa service—and you won’t want to leave your hotel. But we still think you should. omnihotels.com/hotels
Grand Bohemian Hotel Charlotte
Located in the heart of Uptown Charlotte, this art-astic boutique hotel serves up a grand respite fit for royalty, thanks to Argentinian-influenced rooms, eclectic restaurants, a rooftop bar with dreamy views, and its close proximity to some of the Queen City’s hottest destinations. marriott.com
Refuge
Take refuge at this intimate five-room hotel that pays tribute to the Indian American community, which, behind the scenes, “has fueled the growth of [the hotel] industry over the last several decades.” Unconventionally configured rooms with a homey, quaint apartment vibe beckon, while the bar—in collaboration with The Royal Tot—serves up lit libations from Larry Suggs of ETA Group. refugeoncentral.com
Wanna head further south or west? Check out our recent Getaway stories for Miami Beaches and Scottsdale.
