Guidebooks are fine, and reviews really help. But to get to really know a town you need to listen to a local – like Sally Garland. She’s the resident “Navigator” at the Renaissance Charlotte SouthPark. The long-time Charlottean regularly takes the pulse of this city and passes along to guests what she finds.
Here are some of Garland’s recommendations for getting the most out of your visit to her city:
Tune in and kick back at Alive After Five: Every Thursday evening beginning at 5 p.m., uptown Charlotte comes alive with music at the EpiCenter. The after parties at EpiCenter are especially popular.
Chow down at Taste of Charlotte: For food festival lovers, this is one of the best. It’s this June in Center City. Live music serenades you from one great eatery to another. Some 150,000 folks are expected for dinner this year. Pull a chair up to the table.
Take in the thrills at Carowinds: Kids climbing the walls of the hotel room? Carowinds Theme Park might be the cure. The really young ones should enjoy Snoopy’s Starlight Spectacular, a nighttime walkthrough light and sound experience.
Sail the Catawba Queen: This meticulously-detailed replica of a Mississippi River paddle wheeler embarks from Queens landing to ply the placid waters of Lake Norman.
Give in to your artistic inclinations: Charlotte sequesters some of the best galleries going. Head to historic South End and peruse photographic exhibits, contemporary abstracts, and traditional Southern creations.
Put the pedal to the metal (vicariously anyway) at Charlotte Motor Speedway: This Memorial Day weekend experience the 52nd running of the Coca-Cola 600 as NASCAR’s best hit the banked ovals, press down hard and keep turning left. You only think you’ve experienced stock car racing from the quiet confines of your living room. To really feel the vibrations of thrown off by these four-wheeled beasts you’ve got to be there. Bring plenty of sunscreen.
Take them out to the ballgame: Charlotte doesn’t have a major league team, but it loves its Triple-A Knights. This baseball the way it was meant to be enjoyed – up-close and personal. Knights’ baseball is affordable. That means you can bring the kids without having to break the bank.
Visit a winery: No misprint. We know this is North Carolina, not Napa. But that doesn’t mean you can’t wring some great wines from the land. This state is home to no less than 100 wineries. Count ‘em. The epicenter of the best vintages is the Yadkin Valley, a place blessed with temperate climate and savvy vintners. Designate a driver and wind your way along the Swan Creek Wine Trail. Stop along the way and sample the works of Laurel Gray, Raffaldini, Shadow Springs and Dobbins Creek.
Getting to Charlotte by air is easy. Charlotte-Douglas International Airport is a major hub for US Airways. CLT is unhassled, loaded with nonstops, and comparatively laid back. You can even sit in a rocking chair between flights and watch the world pass by.
Story by Jerry Chandler
(Image: Willamor Media)
