One of the things I love about living in Charleston is its proximity to several other amazing southern cities. Charlotte, NC, is a place our family loves to visit. With a population of nearly 850,000, Charlotte is a large city with many neighborhoods to discover. We like to stay at a hotel south of downtown, near Myers Park and the SouthPark Mall. (I might be known to sneak off to the mall by myself in the evening.) I recently planned this three-day itinerary that’s full of fun activities for the whole family.
Day One:
The Billy Graham Library is an inspiring museum that details the life of Billy Graham, along with many events of twentieth-century America. The experience also includes the Graham Family Homeplace (a reconstruction of Billy Graham’s childhood home), beautifully landscaped grounds, an extenisve bookstore, and the Dairy Bar, where you can grab some lunch or an ice cream. Admission is free. My kids were especially impressed by the presidential artifacts in the museum. I appreciated how the museum gave us opportunities to teach the kids about race relations, how technology has changed the way we communicate, and what it looks like to follow God’s lead in your life. I was struck by the humility and faithfulness Rev. Graham has displayed throughout his years.
When it’s time for dinner, Charlotte has a lot to offer! I think Charlotte has one up on Charleston because of its abundance of Italian restaurants. On our most recent trip, we tried Portofino’s on Park Road. They don’t have a kids menu, but will serve a kid’s portion of any of their pasta dishes. We were pleased with the attentive service and generous portions. The cannoli I took away for later was excellent!
Day Two:
Discovery Place Science is an enormous science museum where you can spend an entire day building structures, observing creatures, conducting experiments, and learning through play. The first floor has a fun area for preschoolers, including a great water table.
The second floor is packed with hands-on activities for all ages. There is even a small stage where you can watch live science shows.
The third floor features two areas for producing original creations. One is a makers’ studio with hot glue guns and mixed media supplies. The other is a workshop with tools and various building materials. I recommend arriving at the museum early and starting on the third floor if you want the best pick of materials for your creations.
Discovery Place also has an IMAX theater, gift shop, and lunch café onsite. However, we decided to walk down the street to Brixx Wood Fired Pizza for lunch. Our server was so kind – she even filled my son’s request for broccoli on his pizza!
Within easy walking distance of Discovery Place, you’ll find ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center, a children’s library and theater.
We enjoyed browsing the book collection and exploring some of the kids’ activity spaces.
We love to try new barbeque restaurants when we travel in the South. I chose Midwood Smokehouse on Brandywine Road for this itinerary, and it was a winner. The atmosphere has a stylish, youthful vibe and the menu is both classic and creative.
After dinner, I like to hit the SouthPark Mall while the boys catch a movie or go for a swim in the hotel pool. SouthPark is anchored by Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Macy’s, Dillard’s, and Belk. If you love designer bags, you can shop Louis Vuitton, Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Tori Burch, Coach, and more. This mall also has The Container Store, which is one of my faves!
Day Three:
The NASCAR Hall of Fame is a fascinating place to visit whether you’re a huge fan of the sport or not. Your visit begins with a short film about the history of NASCAR, which has been tightly woven with American history since the races began in the 1940’s. The museum includes a Cars (the movie) exhibit, interactive games, hands-on experiences, galleries of memorabilia, and the Hall of Honor.
In my opinion, the NASCAR Hall of Fame is best suited to older children and adults. Most of the activities are for kids in elementary school and older.
We never leave Charlotte without eating a meal at Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar on East Blvd. We’ve tried their burgers, salads, sandwiches, and milkshakes and keep going back for more! Could someone please open a Bad Daddy’s within a few miles of my house?
The final stop on our three-day itinerary is Freedom Park, where the kids can see a locomotive, surmount a huge playscape, and test their skills on the NFL Play 60 course. (Please note, I took the following pictures during Christmas break 2017, when the East Coast was in the midst of a deep freeze. Winter gear is not normally required to play outside in Charlotte!)
I know Charlotte will continue to be a favorite destination for our family. Next time maybe we’ll stay north of the city, explore that area, and visit Lake Norman.
Happy travels, friends!