Are you considering a move to Charlotte, NC? The Queen City was named in honor of Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. She became the Queen of England many years before the city was established. This historical tidbit gives some indication of the allure of North Carolina's largest city. Charlotte draws many tourists each year because it offers numerous museums, parks, free attractions, and restaurants. Tourists can also visit one of Charlotte’s nearby waterfalls and beaches.
If you need ideas for what to do in Charlotte, NC, you've come to the right place. In this article, we here at
Dawson Property Management have listed ten of the top 10 Charlotte NC attractions to check out.
Here are ten of the top attractions in Charlotte, North Carolina
Carolinas Aviation Museum
Located at the
Charlotte Douglas International Airport, this museum teaches people about the importance of aviation in society. Floyd and Lois Wilson founded it in 1992. The aviation museum showcases more than 50 stationary aircraft. Visitors can also view historical and operational planes, such as the Berlin Airlift C-54, B-17, B-24, and B-29.
Overton Aviation Library, an extensive research library, and the Bat Cave Storage and Restoration Facility are also located here. The museum also has various educational programs, activities, and exhibits for students to check out.
Wing Haven Gardens & Bird Sanctuary
Visitors can enjoy taking a walk in the beautiful, well-kept gardens, and viewing birds in the sanctuary. This sanctuary was founded in 1927 by the Clarksons. Eventually, the owners donated this area to the Wing Haven Foundation.
It’s the home to various flowers, shrubs, ornamental trees, pools, sculptures, and fountains. Located inside the garden is a statue of Saint Fiacre, the patron saint of gardeners. You can also find a poem by Japanese pacifist Toyohika Kagawa and a well-preserved 1705 English sundial.
Mint Museum
The Mint Museum is a world-class attraction. It's North Carolina's oldest art museum, and visiting it is one of the best activities in Charlotte NC. It features stunning art collections and unique exhibits at both the Mint Museum Randolph and the Uptown location.
The Randolph location features African and European art. You'll also be able to find ancient American art. There are ceramic and fashion items. Decorative arts of many other varieties are on display as well. On the other hand, the Mint Museum Uptown showcases European, American, and contemporary art. You'll be able to take part in guided tours at both locations. Presentations and special exhibits are ongoing all year.
NASCAR Hall of Fame
Looking for things to do in Uptown Charlotte? The NASCAR Hall of Fame is a big time attraction for car enthusiasts. This attraction in Uptown Charlotte features a large modern venue with interactive exhibits and presentations about cars and races. Visitors can enjoy the rotating displays and innovative graphics.
One of the most famous attractions is the racing simulator, where the thrill of high speed racing can be experienced first-hand. Also, they can view historic cars lined at the Glory Road. Visitors can also catch the behind-the-scenes preparations of a NASCAR race in the interactive area. There are also excellent films that promote the history and heritage of NASCAR in its 278-seat High Octane Theater.
ImagiOn, Charlotte, NC
Looking for free things to do in Charlotte? Kids will enjoy spending a day at ImagiOn, a children's library and theater. This place features a multimedia production studio, kids and teens library, and two state-of-the-art theaters. It also has an interactive exhibit space and four multi-use classrooms.
ImagiOn's library services are
free of charge, but you need to purchase tickets for its shows. You're also required to pre-register for its library programs and children's theater classes.
Discovery Place
If you're looking for stuff to do in Charlotte with the whole family, Discovery Place is an excellent family attraction. It promotes the exploration of the natural world. It’s also one of the top hands-on opportunities for scientific experiences in the country. And it showcases wonderful exhibits and dynamic displays for visitors of all ages.
The Charlotte Nature Museum is operated by Discover Place. You can find the Charlotte Nature Museum near Freedom Park. This museum's visitors can view live animals, butterflies flying freely, and insects up close. A newly-opened addition to Discovery Place is Discovery Place KIDS museum, located in Huntersville. This place provides kids with a rewarding experience that develops their imagination and creativity.
FEAST Food Tour
FEAST Food Tours is owned by Kristi Martin and offers food tours that will take you to some of Charlotte's best restaurants. Visitors can enjoy restaurants from one end of the city to the other, from the South End to NoDa district to Uptown. They can also chat with the chefs responsible for excellent dishes and taste their delicious creations.
The food tours offered also teach the visitors the stories behind
some of Charlotte's best neighborhoods. Visitors can also learn how the restaurants support the local community through buying local ingredients. If you're thinking of experiencing this food tour, make sure to wear your good walking shoes and comfy clothes.
Blumenthal Performing Arts
This place is the home of the Opera Carolina, Community School of the Arts, and Charlotte Ballet and Symphony. To experience Charlotte's performing arts scene, you should visit Blumenthal Performing Arts. There are six theaters under Blumenthal management, including the Belk Theather, Booth Playhouse, and Duke Power. Blumenthal also offers various performing arts classes, courses, and events all year.
Sea Level NC
One of the great Charlotte seafood restaurants, Sea Level has been around for five years and is located in the Hearst Tower. It's the top destination in North Carolina for fresh oysters. It also provides other fresh seafood catches from its coastal fishers and regional farms.
Sea Level visitors can choose from a wide range of Southern fare, including fried catfish and Thai-fried grilled salmon. Or they can also order large platters of Main mussels, Calabash shrimp, and sweet and sour squid meals. Aside from seafood, visitors can also enjoy excellent cocktails and drinks at the restaurant's outdoor patio.
Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
Bechtler is a huge museum that features modern artwork. This Mario Botta-designed museum has a collection of more than 1400 impressive artworks, including the works of Picasso, Miro, Warhol, Leger, and Matisse. Visitors can view the imposing Firebird at the museum's entrance, made from thousands of mirrors.
These are just some of the activities you and your family can enjoy in Charlotte, NC. If you're looking for some of that North Carolina charm but outside of the big city,
check out some of these great attractions in nearby Belmont.
Whether you like exploring nature, visiting museums, or going on food tours, you can do it at Charlotte. If you're considering buying property in the Charlotte area, get in touch with the property management experts at
Dawson Property Management to learn about the property management services we have to offer.
