Recently, my best friend moved to Charlotte, NC for work. Charlotte is about a two-and-a-half hour ride from Raleigh so I try to visit when I can! The city is FILLED with hot restaurants, fun history, hip bars. No, but really Charlotte is known for their fantastic restaurant scene. It is also home to the NASCAR Hall of Fame and Carowinds.
Every time we go, I have such a great time. Whether it’s getting food, catching sporting events, or just exploring uptown. Charlotte is the biggest (and my favorite) city in North Carolina.
Make sure to check out the Four Corner Statues at Independence Square in the heart of uptown. The four bronze statues represent Charlotte’s history. They are Transportation, The Future, Commerce, and Industry.
If you take a walking tour of the city, you’ll come across tons of great street art and graffiti. As well as, the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art… a fun evening excursion!
For lunch, we ate at Vapianos, a popular Euro-chic restaurant that serves pasta, pizza, and more!
Vapianos is a super popular food chain in Europe that has crossed over to America! Charlotte, NC is one out of only three locations in the U.S. that you can try their menu. So, I was super excited to eat here!
Vapianos is set up cafeteria-style. The chefs make the food right in front of you and it’s a lot of fun to watch! You can choose from TONS of yummy options (but of course I got pasta… #ilovecarbs…).
The restaurant itself had a great atmosphere! There was plenty of funky seating and mood lighting. It’s definitely a unique dining experience.
Nicki lives right next to Romare Park, a 5.4-acre public park located right on the edge of uptown. I think it’s so cool to see green and trees next to towering skyscrapers.
It was such a beautiful day and there were tons of people enjoying the park! Some people were playing frisbee, walking their dogs, or reading by the fountains. This public park also often hosts fitness & cultural arts programs, as well as live music events.
Oh, and there are tons of great photo-ops.
[ctt template=”3″ link=”F7nDq” via=”no” ]Looking for your next adventure? Try Charlotte, NC! [/ctt]
The BB&T Ballpark sits right next to the park and there are games almost every night!
The Charlotte Knights are Charlotte’s home baseball team. However, Charlotte is really known for their football team: The Carolina Panthers! We got to root for them in the Superbowl 2 years ago ?
The Charlotte Hornets are also fun to watch on the court!
Ink and Ivy was wonderful for dinner! The interior is distinctively decorated (you’ll see what I mean) and creates a chic vibe. As we were eating, deer antlers hung over our table and drawing of bees buzzed along the wall.
At night, Ink and Ivy transform into the coolest bar in the city.
If you’re looking for a fun time, the EpiCentre is the place to be. The EpiCentre is sort of like an outdoor mall but filled with restaurants, bars, and clubs.
After dinner, we took one last stroll through the park and got to see children playing in the fountains, as well as street performers.
My best friend loves living in the city! There’s always something to do and she’s surrounded by people. Plus, her apartment complex is great! We were able to get a beautiful view of Charlotte from her patio.
I cannot wait to visit again and see more of the Queen City.
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I love Charlotte! North Carolina is one of the most beautiful states. My husband went to school at Duke and we enjoy the area so much!
This looks like such a fun trip! I’ve been to NC before, but I need to add some of these to my list!
Hey, that’s my town! I love living here. Next time you’re around, let me show you around the south side.
OMG! This looks like it was such a fun trip, and Vapiano’s sounds amazing!
This looks like a fun place to visit! I love great restaurants and a good bar scene! I’ll have to keep that in mind! 🙂
I still can’t get over the Butterfly Highway. Bookmarking if I ever find myself in Charlotte 🙂
-Austen
http://www.keepcalmandchiffon.com/blog/8/30/amazon-fashion-sunglasses
Such fun! I have only been to Charlotte once, but I need to go back again
– xo, Azanique | http://www.lotsofsass.com
Hey girl,
You really have some great pictures! Sounds like you had a reallly amazing getaway. I’ve never been but definitely one of the places on my bucket list.
So happy you love our city! I live right outside Charlotte and I’m sad about how many places I haven’t been! But #goniners! Went to one of our games last semester against NC State at BB&T!
I’ve been to the OBX in NC but never to Charlotte! It looks like such a fun place to explore and spend the weekend.
That restaurant sounds like it was a great time. I’m glad you had fun on your little getaway!
Charlotte is one of my all-time favorite cities! That restaurant looked like a neat place!
Oh, it looks beautiful! Vapianos sounds like a place I need to visit someday!
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
Oh fun! I’ve driven through Charlotte way more than I’ve actually *stayed* in Charlotte, but I spent a long weekend there last year for the Charlotte Oktoberfest 🙂 There are so many great places to eat and go out in the Queen City!
http://www.therestlesswild.com
I haven’t ever been to Charlotte but I have heard a lot of positive things about the city. Roamer Park looks so cute!
I’ve never been to Charlotte, but I’ve heard so many great things about the city! I definitely want to visit in the future!
xo
Sami
The Classic Brunette
I’ve never been to Charlotte, but really want too! We may just have to go for the food!
I’ve only been to Charlotte once (even though it is so close to Raleigh) but I loved it! My favorite place I ate at was Amelie’s in NoDa; if you like coffee and pastries it’s a must!
Charlotte looks like such an amazing place! I LOVE good food, so it sounds like a dream to me!
NC is my favorite state I have traveled to so far! I loved it and all the different aspects – from Asheville to the wild horses and lighthouses on the coast. So much fun!
You know, living right up road in Richmond, VA, you’d think we would’ve explored NC a little more. Charlotte looks fantastic! We’ll have to add it to our weekend getaway list, stat! Thanks for sharing 🙂
– Meagan
http://www.tworestlesshomebodies.com
What a fun little girls trip! I’m glad you were able to visit your friend and have fun!
xo, Lily
Beauty With Lily
Looks like a ton of fun — never been to Charlotte!
It sounds like you had SUCH an amazing time, I’m so incredibly jealous! Charlotte is definitely on my list and this just makes me want to go more!
Wow! I need to plan to visit Charlotte soon. It looks like a beautiful city.
xo,
Stephanie
Diary of a Debutante
http://www.thediaryofadebutante.com
Looks like a great place to visit! Flights out of my local airport almost always require a change of planes in Charlotte, so maybe I’ll lengthen my layover and do a little exploring!
This looks like such a fun trip! My boyfriends parents might be moving out there so I’m hoping to get to visit soon!
It’s looks like you had an amazing weekend! I’ve never been to NC but would love to go one day! That pasta looks amazing!
We have family that lives on Seabrook Island. We always go to Charlotte when we visit them.
Looks like so much fun! I am loving the flowers everywhere!
Looks like such a fun area! I need to visit!
-Nicholle
http://www.nichollesophia.com
Looks like such a fun area! I need to visit, I know a lot of people in that area!
-Nicholle
http://www.nichollesophia.com
I want to visit Charlotte soon! A friend of mine lives there and she LOVES it!
Kristen | http://www.sophisticatedgal.com
I have a nephew that lives in Charlotte and I keep meaning to go there to visit. It looks like such a nice place with lots to do… now I can’t wait to go.
Wow! Looks like a super fun city to visit- and move to! Loved all the recommendations and we’ll have to stop the next time we’re driving through the area:)
I love North Carolina, but haven’t spent a lot of time in Charlotte. I really need to make a trip there just to explore Charlotte sometime!
What a fun weekend getaway! I will need to make my way there sometime.