The ultimate tourist guide for Charlotte: Bookmark this for when the fam is in town

Vanessa Infanzon
·10 min read

Charlotte’s been my home for several decades, and one thing I’ve never said is, “I’m bored.” There’s too much to do: New restaurants to try, live bands to see and festivals to visit. I often over-schedule myself because I want to fit it all in. My advice: Pace yourself. Pick a few things you know and discover something new.

So whether you’re visiting the Queen City or you’re playing a tourist in your own town, here are a few ideas to help you plan your day:

Alternative fun

Bring home a great story with one of these out-of-the-ordinary activities:

Bikes and electric scooter rentals

Scooters and bikes are available for rent throughout the city.
Scooters and bikes are available for rent throughout the city.

Tour Charlotte on a bike or scooter. Bring your own, or they’re easy to rent with an app and a credit card.

Bowling

Bowl a few frames at Pins Mechanical or another one of Charlotte’s bowling alleys.
Bowl a few frames at Pins Mechanical or another one of Charlotte’s bowling alleys.

Got spare time? Head to one of these bowling alleys to rack up points with the family:

Breweries

Charlotte has a brewery for every neighborhood — and then some.
Charlotte has a brewery for every neighborhood — and then some.

Charlotte’s brewery scene here every year. Each brewery features its own style of beer and special events. Some have outdoor patios, food menus and child-friendly play areas. Check here for an inclusive directory of breweries with detailed information.

This list highlights one brewery from each of Charlotte’s neighborhoods:

Disc Golf

Professional disc golfer Michael Johansen puts on the green of Hole 6 at Hornet’s Nest Park.
Professional disc golfer Michael Johansen puts on the green of Hole 6 at Hornet’s Nest Park.

Head to one of Charlotte’s many disc golf courses to learn a new sport or practice your expert skills on some of the more difficult courses. Charlotte Disc Golf Club and Another Round Disc Golf And Tap Room are resources for course information and equipment.

Escape rooms

Timed Out Escape is one of several escape rooms in the Charlotte area.
Timed Out Escape is one of several escape rooms in the Charlotte area.

Challenge your relationship with your family and friends by participating in an escape room game. Here are five to try:

Festivals

Charlotte’s Latin American Festival is held each September.
Charlotte’s Latin American Festival is held each September.

Charlotte’s themed festivals feature art, beer, culture, food, music and much more. Plan a visit to the city based on one of these festivals:

Greenways

Anne Springs Close Greenway is a short drive outside of Charlotte in Fort Mill, SC.
Anne Springs Close Greenway is a short drive outside of Charlotte in Fort Mill, SC.

Walk, bike or run on miles of greenway systems in Charlotte and surrounding areas. View ponds, lakes and marshes from paved, gravel or boardwalk style paths. Get a glimpse of wildlife – birds, frogs, turtles and deer.

Golf

The Ballantyne includes a golf course and spa.
The Ballantyne includes a golf course and spa.

Charlotte’s public golf courses are easy to access with driving ranges, lessons and pro shops. For a unique golfing experience, try Top Golf.

Museums

Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts + Culture is uptown, along with several other museums.
Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts + Culture is uptown, along with several other museums.

Add an educational component to your visit. Tour these art and history museums with permanent collections and rotating local, regional and international exhibits:

Music

Sean Lennon performed at the Evening Muse in 2011.
Sean Lennon performed at the Evening Muse in 2011.



Charlotte’s large venues bring national and international acts in almost every music genre.

Smaller, more intimate venues offer a variety of local, regional and international acts. Check out the schedules for these options:

Outdoor adventure

Just outside Charlotte, the Rock Hill Outdoor Center includes cycling activities such as the Giordana Velodrome, Rock Hill Supercross BMX track and trails.
Just outside Charlotte, the Rock Hill Outdoor Center includes cycling activities such as the Giordana Velodrome, Rock Hill Supercross BMX track and trails.

Charlotte and the surrounding area have a remarkable amount of options for activities such as camping, hiking, mountain and BMX bike riding and ziplining.

Parks

There are 210 parks on 21,000 acres in Mecklenburg County. Each is distinct with varied activities and characteristics such as athletic fields; basketball, tennis and pickleball courts; beaches; biking and walking paths; campsites; fishing; nature centers; playgrounds; shelters; spraygrounds and water features.

Pack a picnic and spend the day at one of these parks:

Performing arts

Show Boat Dress Rehearsal; June 6th, 2019
Show Boat Dress Rehearsal; June 6th, 2019



Come to Charlotte for community theater and local production companies performing original and traditional pieces. Plan ahead for traveling national acts.

Races

The Charlotte Marathon takes place every November.
The Charlotte Marathon takes place every November.

There’s nothing like training for an event in another city. Charlotte takes pride in its community activities that raise money for charities and nonprofit organizations. Plan your training schedule and vacation to match up with one of these:

Restaurants with outdoor patios

A vacation is only as good as the memories you make (and the Instagram photos you post).

Plan on spending a lot of time outdoors? Here are a few more outdoor patio ideas.

Rooftop bars

Merchant & Trade’s rooftop bar offers an uptown view.
Merchant & Trade’s rooftop bar offers an uptown view.

End the day with cocktails, small plates and views of the city skyline — so many choices for tourists and Charlotteans. Here are a few suggestions:

And if the temperature is a little cool, check out these options with heated patios and rooftops.

Shopping Malls

SouthPark Mall includes high-end stores such as Louis Vuitton and Burberry, along with full-service restaurants.
SouthPark Mall includes high-end stores such as Louis Vuitton and Burberry, along with full-service restaurants.

Forgot something? Or do you like to shop while on vacation? These malls feature a variety of retail options – department stores, national chains and outlet shops.

Sports

The timing of your visit to Charlotte will determine which sports teams you might be able to see in action. Look for home games and special event nights.

  • Carolina Panthers play football at the Bank of America Stadium, 800 S. Mint St., (704) 358-7000

  • Charlotte Checkers play hockey at the Bojangles’ Coliseum, 2700 E. Independence Blvd., (704) 372-3600

  • Charlotte Hornets play basketball at the Spectrum Center, 333 E. Trade St., (704) 688-9000

  • Charlotte Knights play baseball at the BB&T Ballpark, 324 S. Mint St., (704) 274-8300

  • Major League Soccer - coming soon

  • NASCAR, Charlotte Motor Speedway, 5555 Concord Pkwy. S., Concord, (800) 455-3267

Tours

See the city from a bike, bus, segway, trolley or van with a tour leader who can share details about special places in Charlotte. Learn about the city’s history, take a ghost tour or visit the local watering holes.

Water play

Plenty of places to take a dip, drive a boat or scoot down a river:

If there aren’t enough ideas here, read C5’s family friendly list of fun things to do. And if you need even more, try 170 things to do in Charlotte.