7 Day Trips from Charlotte
Photo Credit: Wikipedia Commons
Charlotte may be the largest city in North Carolina, but within a 200-mile radius of Charlotte there are still countless things to do. Head west for a trip through North Carolina’s wine country and for breathtaking waterfalls, trails and mountains, or go east for beaches, open-air markets and the state capital. If you’ve toured all of the museums, galleries and shops in Charlotte and want to visit someplace new, look in to one of the seven day trips from Charlotte below.
Wilmington, N.C.
Upon first glance, you might recognize the lighthouses, docks and charming buildings in Wilmington from the show “Dawson’s Creek,” as Wilmington served as its filming location. Settled in 1729, historic Wilmington is nestled on the banks of the Cape Fear River and was once the largest cotton exchange in the world. Today, Wilmington has 230 blocks of antebellum homes, beds and breakfasts, antique shops, clothing stores, art galleries, ice cream shops, cafes, bakeries, restaurants, nightclubs, bars and theaters, so there’s something to do during every time of day.
Raleigh, N.C.
Big city and Southern charm meet in Raleigh, the capital of North Carolina, which is divided into several entertainment districts. Visit Cameron Village for designer clothes, pottery-making and seafood restaurants, dance to live music in Glenwood South or see a performance in the Fayetteville Street district. Wander into the Five Points district for trendy boutiques, indulgent bakeries and quirky sidewalk cafes. Celebrate the city’s roots in the Capital District by seeing the State Capitol and Covernor’s Executive Mansion, or head over to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences or North Carolina Museum of History for endless discovery.
Pisgah National Forest
Known as the Land of Waterfalls, Pisgah National Forest is a 510,000-acre national forest in the Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina. Visitors can camp, picnic, swim, fish, hunt, canoe, rock climb, raft, tube, study nature, watch birds and see butterflies in this nature-lover’s delight. Three long-distance recreational trails – the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, Shut-In Trail and Art Loeb Trail – travel through the Pisgah Ranger District, located just south of Asheville, if you’re interested in more than a day trip.
Charleston, S.C.
Though Charleston is a little more than a three-hour drive from Charlotte, early risers will still be able to get in a day trip to the coastal city. Wander through City Market, four open-air buildings with vendors that sell everything from local foods to souvenirs. In March, devour the offerings at the Charleston Wine and Food Festival, and go to the beach afterwards. Before you leave, you must see the brightly colored mid-1700s homes known as Rainbow Row, located between Tradd and Elliot Streets; you’ll definitely want to take a picture to remember them.
Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Myrtle Beach has more than 250 golf courses and of course, miles of beautiful beaches on the Atlantic coast. After the beach, walk over to the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade, home to the Gay Dolphin, a beachwear warehouse; Pier 14, the northernmost point of the boardwalk; rides such as the Sling Shot; and the Fun Plaza, an open-air arcade with Skee-Ball, air hockey, pinball and video games such as Mrs. Pac-Man and Galaga. Or, check out Myrtle Waves, one of the largest water parks on the eastern seaboard, or the Carolina Opry, which features musical, comedy, dance and entertainment shows.
Lake Norman
Located in Cornelius, Davidson and Huntersville, N.C. (just north of Charlotte), Lake Norman is a 34-mile long lake with 520 miles of shoreline. If you tire of fishing, boating, swimming, sunbathing or skiing, you could always taste the offerings of wineries and vineyards in the area, shop at local farmers markets or dine at Davidson’s North Harbor Club, a fine dining waterfront restaurant. Enjoy dinner for two at Cornelius’ Galway Hooker before heading to the Comedy Zone of Lake Norman, or take the family to Jetton Park on Lake Norman, a lakefront park with walking trails, tennis courts, picnic areas and more.
Asheville, N.C.
Ride the wine trail from Charlotte to Asheville, located in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Experience fall foliage in brilliant red, orange, yellow, green and gold on a scenic fall drive, or hike on one of the six trails within 15 minutes of Asheville. Explore downtown Asheville, where you’ll find 30 art galleries, perfectly preserved Art Deco, Beaux Arts and Neoclassical architecture, unique boutiques and delicious restaurants. Of course, a visit to Asheville isn’t complete without touring the 175,000-square feet Biltmore Estate, the largest privately-owned home in the United States and a source of gardens, wineries and restaurants.