Charlotte

About Charlotte

Charlotte is North Carolina's largest city and one of the country's major banking centers, with a glassy skyline known locally as Uptown. Named for Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III, it grew from a crossroads trading town into a sprawling metropolis of tree-lined neighborhoods. Motorsports run deep in the region, and the city's growth has brought a busy calendar of sports, breweries and restaurants.

In Uptown, the NASCAR Hall of Fame celebrates stock car racing with simulators and historic cars. The Levine Center for the Arts groups several museums and a performing arts hall, and Romare Bearden Park looks out on Truist Field, home of the Charlotte Knights baseball team. Discovery Place Science keeps children busy, while the Mint Museum's original Randolph Road building sits among the stately homes of Eastover. South End has become a lively district of breweries and apartments along the Rail Trail, a walking and cycling path beside the light rail line.

The neighborhoods tend to be the highlight of a longer visit. NoDa is known for murals and live music, while Plaza Midwood and Camp North End mix restaurants with converted industrial spaces. Freedom Park is a favorite local green space. West of town, the U.S. National Whitewater Center offers rafting, climbing and trails. Spring and fall are most comfortable.