North Carolina's Biggest City Is Home to the Largest Human-made Whitewater River (2024)

If you regularly travel the East Coast, there’s a good chance you’ve had a layover or two in Charlotte. To understand the vibrance and dynamic nature of North Carolina’s most populous city, though, you’ll need to make your way out of the airport terminals and into the neighborhoods that comprise the bustling metropolis and surrounding areas.

“Charlotte has many different cultures, and their influence can be seen and experienced throughout the city,” explains Andres Kaifer, the executive chef and owner of Customshop. From its robust culinary scene —it regularly boasts James Beard Award nominees — to its art galleries, esteemed museums, and appreciation of green spaces and public parks, the Queen City repeatedly proves its role as a financial center is just part of its larger narrative. Yes, Bank of America’s headquarters are located in Uptown Charlotte, but the city is also the home of NASCAR, the Carolina Panthers, and the Charlotte Hornets. As Ashley Creft, co-founder of Charlotte Black-Owned (@cltblackowned), shares, Charlotte is “very diverse, and there are lots of opportunities to connect with locally-owned and BIPOC-owned businesses in the city,” many of which you’ll discover below.

Scroll on to read Travel + Leisure’s guide to Charlotte, North Carolina.

Best Hotels

The Ritz Carlton, Charlotte

The Ritz Carlton, Charlotte comes recommended by Kaifer, who credits its “easy accessibility to the light rail” and newly renovated wellness amenities as top reasons to book a stay. With a pool, steam room, hot tub, and sauna, the Uptown hotel’s spa is the perfect place to relax after a travel day —or before a big night out in Charlotte.

The Ivey's Hotel

Another Uptown favorite, The Ivey’s Hotel has 47 rooms decorated to give off a “Parisian-style elegance with modern luxury” vibe. In its past life, the building functioned as The Ivey's Department Store (which opened in 1924). Today, it offers guests a range of comfortable rooms and amenities, including a 1,500-square-foot fitness center, the cozy Library Lounge, and a daily complimentary wine social.

The Ballantyne, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Charlotte

As the name suggests, The Ballantyne, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Charlotte is located in the upscale Ballantyne neighborhood, 20 minutes south of Uptown. Ideal for travelers who want to be away from the city center (or closer to The Amp Ballantyne), it’s the type of hotel where you’re more than happy to spend time relaxing on the property — there’s even an outdoor pool, indoor pool, and spa.

Grand Bohemian Hotel Charlotte, Autograph Collection

“For mainstream hotel folks, I think the Grand Bohemian has the most character,” says
Corri Smith, owner of Black Wednesday. She shares that its “stellar location in Uptown” is also a plus, but the inside of the property is unexpectedly artistic and bohemian, a contrast from the more buttoned-up look of the neighborhood.

Best Things to Do

Raft the largest human-made whitewater river in the world.

If everyone in your party is eight years old and above, you can book a guided whitewater rafting experience at the U.S. National Whitewater Center. “The Whitewater Center is incredibly unique and special… [and] it has a wild amount of activities and events,” says Smith —and that includes things to do on dry land.“My favorite things are the Thursday night live music shows (River Jam) as well as free outdoor yoga.” According to Kaifer, there’s also the option to “enjoy a nice hike through one of their many trails.”

Explore Charlotte’s art scene.

“Art has become a more honored part of our culture,” says Smith, who recommends checking out a number of local Charlotte artists, including Grace Stott, Kathryn Godwin, Saloan Dunlap, Davita Galloway, and Matt Moore (take a look at their Instagrams or websites to see where their work is on display). Alternatively, travelers can add several of the city’s art museums and galleries to their list;  The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts and Culture, and the Mint Museum are some of the most popular. “Goodyear Arts is a modern art gallery with a residency program that supports under-the-radar artists,” adds Smith.

Sip on some local brews at any one of Charlotte’s numerous breweries.

Like many major U.S. cities, Charlotte has an ever-growing craft beer scene; in fact, the Queen City has more than four dozen breweries to choose from. Once you’ve chosen your designated driver —or booked with City Brew Tours, Trolley Pub Charlotte, or Brew Ha-Ha Tours — visit some of the breweries that catch your eye. Don't know where to start? Stop by Sycamore Brewing, The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, Birdsong Brewing Co., Divine Barrel Brewing, and Resident Culture Brewing.

Cheer on Charlotte’s professional sports teams.

When it comes to athletics, Charlotte does it big. Depending on the exact time of year (and how far ahead you’re planning your trip), you might be able to catch a Charlotte Knights baseball game at Truist Field, watch the Carolina Panthers or Charlotte FC play at the Bank of America Stadium, or see the Charlotte Hornets at the Spectrum Center.

Best Restaurants

Restaurant Constance

To narrow down Charlotte’s restaurants to just a handful is tough, but a few specific ones stood out to the Charlotteans we spoke with. Restaurant Constance was one of the first picks from Kaifer: “Chef Sam Diminich does an incredible job of featuring ingredients from local farms and making unique, delicious, and honest food,” he explains.

Jimmy Pearls

Creft has Jimmy Pearls, the only Charlotte restaurant to receive a nomination in the 2024 James Beard Awards, on her list. Chefs Daryl Cooper and Oscar Johnson are the masterminds behind Jimmy Peals, which is described as an “ode to Virginia soul.” Expect menu items like crispy chicken gizzards, fish sandwiches, and fried shrimp —all made, according to the restaurant, to honor “Virginia’s rich history of Black food.”

Uptown Yolk

Not all meals need to be fancy affairs, especially if you’re in the mood for something casual (but equally tasty). For a “delicious” breakfast, Creft suggests Uptown Yolk. It has all of the classics — scrambled eggs, omelets, and pancakes —as well as some “Yolk Way” favorites, like shrimp and grits with smoked gouda and jerk shrimp and the Belgian waffle with chicken wings.

Menya Daruma

“Menya [Daruma] is some of the most underrated food in the city, in my opinion,” says Kaifer. “The entire menu is delicious, and they have the best fried chicken sandwich in the city.” If the aforementioned Tori Katsu Sando doesn’t call your name, there’s also the ramen and abura soba (or soup-less ramen) dishes.

Customshop

Travelers who like to pair a nice atmosphere with their meal should make a reservation at Customshop, a “chef-driven restaurant” in Midtown. “They recently changed ownership and though the chef-owner, Andres Kaifer, has created a giant impact and switched some things up (for the better), it remains one of the city's most beloved restaurants,” says Smith. “It's a spot where you can rely on the consistency of a delicious, creative, and special meal... It's [also] cozy and romantic and feels like a break from reality.”

Best Shopping

Travelers with an affinity for high-end designer clothes may already know of Capitol, the legendary luxury boutique founded by Laura Vinroot Poole, as well as its sibling property, Poole Shop. The SouthPark stores are known for their expertly curated inventories —expect to see names such as Saint Laurent, Ulla Johnson, Zimmermann, and Carolina Herrera among the racks.

Along with several large shopping complexes —SouthPark Mall, Atherton Mill and Market, and Phillips Place — Charlotte has a variety of smaller shops, many of which are frequented by Creft and Smith. “I love stopping by 704 Shop to pick up Charlotte paraphernalia and [The] Brown Sugar Collab to shop products by BIPOC women suppliers,” says Creft. To add to your plant collection, head to Oakdale Greenhouses. “The owner, Bill, is a plant expert and is on-call for plant emergencies and education or tips. It's a family-run shop that is super welcoming,” says Smith. She also adds she regularly visits “The Jungle [for] gifts and home decor, Boris and Natasha [for] clothing and accessories, and Paper Skyscraper [for] gifts.”

For a slightly different shopping experience, keep an eye out for pop-ups. “I also do a lot of shopping during pop-up events which are often held at Camp North End or other industrial venues or warehouses,” says Smith. “VTGCLT happens a few times a year and is a cool way to learn about new and fresh vendors and to scoop up unique antiques/pieces.”

Best Time to Visit

“Spring and fall are the prettiest seasons in Charlotte,” says Kaifer, who shares that the weather this time of year is “almost always perfect.” Smith agrees, noting that Charlotte has a “very short spring,” but travelers should aim to visit in April, October, or early November. The shoulder seasons also give way to quite a few festivals and sporting events. In the spring, mark your calendar for the Wells Fargo Championship, Charlotte Wine and Food Week, and the Coca-Cola 600. Autumn festivities include the Charlotte International Arts Festival, Charlotte Craft Beer Week, and the Festival in the Park.

Neighborhoods to Visit

Uptown

If you’re searching for the city center, or the “downtown,” you’ll need to make your way to Uptown Charlotte. Here, you’ll find the central business district, as well as a plethora of museums and sporting areas. The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts and Culture, and the Mint Museum are all located in the neighborhood, as are the Bank of America Stadium, the Spectrum Center, and Truist Field. Uptown Charlotte is also broken down into four wards — within the Second Ward, you’ll find the area that was once known as Brooklyn, which Creft recommends for travelers looking “to learn more about the history of the predominantly Black community that thrived there many years ago.”

NoDa

Smith adds NoDa, short for North Davidson, to her list of must-experience Charlotte neighborhoods. The city’s arts and entertainment district, NoDa has a wide range of sights and activities to keep you busy. Embark on a self-guided street art tour to see the area’s impressive murals, pop in and out of vintage shops, or check the schedules at Neighborhood Theatre or The Evening Muse to see if any live performances strike your fancy.

Plaza Midwood

Both Kaifer and Smith share their affinity for Plaza Midwood. Similarly to the NoDa neighborhood, Kaifer says it has a “great variety of retail and great restaurants, and [it’s] also nice to walk around in.” The pedestrian-friendly area is populated with historic homes, consignment shops, boutiques, breweries, and Veterans Park, where you can explore 19 acres of trails, green space, and more.

Camp North End

Camp North End is technically billed as a “creative hub” versus a full neighborhood, but the 76-acre campus — which once served as Charlotte’s first Ford Motor Company factory — is filled with interesting tenants with stories to tell. “There is a local coffee and [natural] wines shop (Hex), a record store (Hardy Boys Records), a dairy-free ice cream shop (Seemingly Overzealous), a salon (Explicit), artist studios, shops, a charcuterie bar, and more,” says Smith.

How to Get There

Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is one of the busiest airports in the country. An American Airlines hub, it’s also served by seven other major airlines — including Delta, Southwest, JetBlue, and United —and offers flights to 180 destinations around the world. Uber or Lyft are readily available at the airport, but travelers can also opt to use the CATS (Charlotte Area Transit System) Sprinter Service. The bus provides rides (which take anywhere from 25 to 35 minutes) between CLT and Uptown Charlotte, and one-way tickets cost $2.20.

How to Get Around

Charlotte is the largest city in North Carolina, and a car is necessary if you’re going to explore beyond Uptown. Still, there are a few other ways to get around the city center. The LYNX Blue Line light rail line serves 26 stations, and its routes span over 20 miles. One-way, one-day, seven-day, and round-trip tickets can be purchased through the self-service ticket vending machines at the stations or via the CATS-Pass app. If you prefer to tour the city on two wheels, hop on a Charlotte Joy Rides e-bike. A Flash Pass grants you a 30-minute membership for $5, and a $30 Joy Pass gives you bike access for 24 hours.