If you’re interested in moving to North Carolina, you’ve made a good decision. The city has a beautiful history and numerous exciting sightseeing, educational, and entertainment locations. However, the recent boom in the real estate market, paired with the low cost of living in North Carolina, has caused a significant uptick in migration, and people are flocking to the Tar Heel State.
As a result, homeowners are now selling their secondary residences to cash home buyers Charlotte residents can trust. So, instead of typing “buy my house North Carolina” in your web browser, we strongly suggest you look up Tiffany Property Investment, your local real estate professionals.
About Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, one of North Carolina’s largest cities, nicknamed the Queen City in honor of Charlotte Mecklenburg-Strelitz, draws in numerous tourists, thanks to many natural beauty, history, and entertainment sites. The city currently has more than 2.3 million inhabitants, making it the 17th largest city in North America.
Best Things to Do in Charlotte
Besides being home to the Charlotte Knights and Carolina Panthers, Charlotte offers numerous fun locations, like breweries, state parks, playgrounds, and a very vivid nightlife. Here are some of the most fun things to do in Charlotte:
NASCAR Hall of Fame
If you’re a racing enthusiast, visiting NASCAR’s Hall of Fame while in Charlotte is essential. This 150,000sq ft venue is dedicated to racing fans and includes interactive exhibits such as racing simulators.
NASCAR Hall of Fame really honors the icons of auto racing and has created a lasting tribute to all the drivers, team members, and team owners of the sport.
Carowinds
Carowinds, also known as the “Thrill Capital of the Southeast,” features 13 world-class roller coasters, including the incredibly popular planet Snoopy and Boo Blasters on Boo Hill. Despite having a fantastic Dinosaurs Alive exhibit with 30 life-size animatronic monsters, Carowinds isn’t just for kids; this amusement park offers rides and attractions aimed at all ages.
Discovery Place
If you’re in a mood for something that’s both scientific and visually pleasing, you should visit Discovery Place. It offers a bit of everything for every age group and goes into an exploration of human anatomy, natural phenomena, and several interactive exhibits, and a larger-than-life IMAX dome.
Mint Museum Uptown
The Mint Museum Uptown is a part of Levine Center for the Arts and is filled with wonderful and awe-inspiring collections from American, European, and even contemporary art, crafts, and designs. The exhibits change regularly, so there’s always something of interest for everyone, paired with a pleasant restaurant and an interesting souvenir shop. You can also visit the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art while you’re there. It’s just around the corner.
The Billy Graham Library
This is a very appealing avenue to visitors who take great interest in the life and work of Billy Graham, one of the most famous pastors in the USA. The 40,000sq ft library is entirely dedicated to Graham’s life and legacy, situated on 20 acres of land. You’re free to roam the library and the grounds, but there are also reasonably priced tours, which take around an hour and a half.
Levine Museum of the New South
The Levine Museum showcases the diverse history of the South and its rich contributions to the U.S., which is something that the whole family could find interesting. Exhibits tell a colorful post-Civil War history through sound and sight and even features interactive exhibits, which are always fun for youth.
Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
Blumenthal is a fantastic venue centered on live plays and live music, priding itself on comfortable seating and facilities. However, its main points are acoustics, considering that it specializes in musical performances.
Little Sugar Creek Greenway
Little Sugar Creek Greenway is a fantastic area for those who enjoy long strolls or biking since it consists of 20 miles of paving and trails. Its paths switch back and forth, so you can either reach Uptown Charlotte or stop somewhere along the route for a little break or a small picnic.
Wing Haven Garden and Bird Sanctuary
The Gardens and Bird Sanctuary were created during the late 1920s, with an emphasis on providing nesting sites and food and water for birds and other wildlife. It’s a perfect spot for those who enjoy bird watching, but also for those who want to catch a serene moment or two.
Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts and Culture
This art center was named after Harvey Bernard Gantt, the first Black American student to attend Clemson University and Charlotte’s very first mayor of African descent. As such, this center aims to celebrate the arts and culture of Black Americans and those of African descent.
US National Whitewater Center
The US National Whitewater Center offers more than 30 different activities you can enjoy on water and land. However, since it’s at the world’s largest man-made whitewater river, it provides plenty of water activities, such as kayaking, paddleboarding, and whitewater rafting. Land activities include outdoor adventures such as mountain biking, zip-lining, and rock climbing.
Ray’s Splash Planet
Ray’s Splash Planet is Charlotte’s largest water park, spanning over 29,000sq ft and holding up to 117,000 gallons of water. The park includes slides, inner tube rides, a fitness center, and a dance studio, which is more than enough to keep the family busy and entertained.
BB&T Ballpark
The BB&T Ballpark is the home field of the Charlotte Knights, which offers incredible skyline views, affordable seats, and delicious food. Since it’s in Uptown, it’s easily accessible from any of the Uptown hotels, so make sure to check it out if you’re in NC for vacation.
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Another taste of NASCAR culture is the Charlotte Motor Speedway, this high-speed 16-mile drive connects downtown Charlotte and Concord. Remember that the Motor Speedway is more than just an attraction; it’s an experience. The best course of action is to secure yourself a ticket at least one month before the event you’d be interested in, as die-hard fans are known to camp near the Speedway in anticipation of upcoming events.
Belk Theater
Though a part of Blumenthal Performing Arts Center and its largest avenue, Belk Theater deserves its own mention. It features state-of-the-art equipment, production, and support capabilities for hosting any type of event, from grand operas to rock concerts, and even annual corporate meetings, and lectures.
Best National Parks Near Charlotte
Despite having numerous sightseeing attractions, parks, and museums, Charlotte doesn’t have a national park in its vicinity. Still, here are some national parks that are accessible from Charlotte, NC.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
GSMNP is the most-visited national park in the entire nation, considering it has over 10 million visits each year. Since it straddles the line between Tennessee and North Carolina, it is just a mere three-hour drive for anyone looking for a simple day trip.
Congaree National Park
Congaree National Park is closest to Charlotte, just a two-hour drive, and it’s the most recent park to turn national. Congaree is home to more than 1200 species of moths and nearly 200 species of birds that made it their home.
Shenandoah National Park
Shenandoah has one of the largest concentrations of black bears in the U.S., and despite popular opinion, they rarely hibernate in the winter, but they do sleep a lot. This national park is a bit further, considering that there’s a 4.5 hours drive between Charlotte and Shenandoah National Park.
Famous Sites to See in Charlotte
Besides its numerous museums, markets, and sports locations, Charlotte has other interesting sightseeing and entertainment locations to offer.
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
This botanical wonder spans across 380 acres of meadows, woodlands, and lakefronts in Belmont, North Carolina, about 20 miles away from downtown Charlotte. It also has quite an interesting history, so it’s worth checking it out.
Freedom Park
Freedom Park is a must-stop if you’re passing through or visiting Charlotte. It’s a 98-acre park located between Charlotte’s historic Dilworth and Myers Park neighborhoods, with a seven-acre lake at its heart. You don’t have to travel far, as it’s only three miles away from Charlotte’s downtown area.
7th Street Public Market
The 7th Street Public Market has all the local, home-grown produce to offer, along with locally grown flowers, wines, and sweet and savory delights. The market also houses several businesses, like Pure Pizza, a pizza place that sources its ingredients directly from the public market.
Summary
Charlotte has numerous interesting locations and venues that provide plenty of activities for tourists and city residents. We sincerely hope that our travel guide helped you gain insight into Charlotte’s most interesting sites, and if you’re considering moving here, in light of the current economy, Charlotte has a lower cost of living than the national average, making it an ideal place to live.
If you’re interested in more than sightseeing and have any property sales or other real estate questions, Tiffany Property Investment can help you sell your house for cash, and avoid mortgage paying trouble.