A vibrant, 4.6-acre oasis, First Ward Park is an ideal destination for relaxation and recreation in downtown Charlotte.
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Make the most of your weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina, exploring the best of this modern city with eclectic Southern charm.
Brimming with fun things to do, Charlotte is at its best on weekends. The city is a treasure of the American South, featuring a unique blend of Southern roots with financial power and a fast-growing creative and cultural scene. With a population of 920,000, Charlotte, nicknamed “The Queen City,” has all the amenities of a big city with a more approachable (and affordable) small-town vibe.
Visitors explore evolving exhibits and the legacies of racing legends at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
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Whether you’re in the need for speed at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, seeking inspiration with world-class art at the Mint Museum Uptown, or eager to set off on a thrilling whitewater adventure at the U.S. National Whitewater Center, Charlotte has got you covered. Read on for a handy guide to the best ways to spend the weekend in Charlotte, filling your days with the many exciting things this friendly city offers.
Uptown Charlotte, also known as Center City, is where you’ll find the city’s most iconic attractions and landmarks. Arrive on LYNX Blue Line light rail at the Brooklyn Village Station, and you’ll be steps away from many local attractions. Most notably, you’re in close range of Bank of America Stadium, one of the few major U.S. stadiums hosting an NFL team, the Carolina Panthers, and an MLS team, Charlotte FC. AAA Members have access to top savings at major sporting events.
Picturesque statues and waterfalls line the 5.4 acre Romare Bearden Park where visitors can enjoy misting fountains, ample seating and views of the uptown skyline.
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The popular NASCAR Hall of Fame is within close reach and a must-visit for any racing fan. This interactive museum delights visitors with a detailed look into the history of stock car racing, with immersive exhibits and one of the world’s greatest race simulators. For some of the best views of Uptown’s gorgeous skyline, grab an affordable ticket for a Charlotte Knights game at Truist Field, the local-favorite Minor League Baseball team. The stadium feels intimate and fan-friendly, with an excellent selection of local craft beers and other local eats (don’t miss the chicken and waffles sandwich at Flashpoint Grill or the funnel cake fries at Sweet). Across the street, Romare Bearden Park is a charming city park great for a picnic with picturesque city views.
The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts offers visitors rich cultural experiences and exhibitions in an airy, geometric-shaped space.
Weekends are a great time to explore Charlotte's burgeoning art and culture. Get best oriented with the city through one of its Art Walks, which are free self-guided art tours. You’ll meander through historic neighborhoods, routing to art installations, murals, and sculptures that help bring the city to life. Head to Uptown and spend the day on foot as you revel in the city’s phenomenal art museums. Mint Museum Uptown is the city’s renowned art hub featuring contemporary and international works of art housed in a building that is a work of art itself. Across the street, the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art houses more classic masterpieces from 20th-century European and American modernists. Works from Picasso, Miró, Warhol, and many more line the walls of this intimate museum. Around the corner, the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture honors the rich legacy of African-American contributions to American culture through vibrant exhibitions and thought-provoking events. As the sun sets, grab your seat for an evening at the theater at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. The city’s leading performing arts venue presents an impressive year-round roster of shows and events, including Broadway shows, concerts, comedy, and dance.
Visitors scale the ropes course above the world’s largest manmade whitewater river at the U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte.
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Charlotte has quickly earned a reputation as a young, active, and fitness-forward city. Outdoor culture is big here as running and biking paths, park yoga meetups, and hiking paths are among the top things to do on a weekend. Start the morning walking, running, or biking the Little Sugar Creek Greenway. This scenic 19-mile trail weaves through the city, connecting several neighborhoods and green spaces. The best active weekends in Charlotte involve the U.S. National Whitewater Center, the city’s world-class outdoor recreational destination.
This massive outdoor playground is home to the world’s largest manmade whitewater river (with Class II to IV rapids) and outdoor activities year-round. Enjoy rafting, kayaking, ziplining, trail hikes, a ropes course, and many other activities at this popular city hub. Experience a different outdoor thrill at Carowinds, a top-rated theme park that draws roller-coaster fans and families alike.
Thrill-seekers enjoy one of more than 60 world-class rides at Carowinds Amusement Park in Charlotte.
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AAA Members can save big on tickets to the sprawling park with an impressive lineup of 13 roller coasters, most notably Fury 325. Crowds flock to this behemoth giga coaster, which reaches speeds up to 95 mph! Your park ticket also includes admission to Carolina Harbor Waterpark, a 27-acre waterpark with fun for all ages.
Camp North End, a creative space for live music, dining, shopping and art offers visitors a year-round chance to mingle and collaborate with local innovators.
Explore Queen City’s creativity and culture with its many local boutiques and artisan markets. The hunt for handmade goods begins at CLT Find, with two locations in Uptown and Camp North End in NoDa. The market carries goods from over 80 makers, artists, and creatives. Peruse the fine artistry here with an impressive array of hand-poured candles, jewelry, prints, local-themed gifts, and much more.
Once a Ford Model T factory, Camp North End has been repurposed as Charlotte’s ultimate local maker destination. Explore the vendors here, including the hand-drawn paper goods at Good Postage and the curated vintage threads at Thrift Pony. Weekends are high time here as events like Friday Nights at Camp feature a free live music concert, and the Broken Crayon’s Kids Club offers free art workshops for kids.
If you’re in the market for purchasing artwork, McColl Center for Art + Innovation in Uptown is a contemporary art center with open studios. Drop in during gallery hours to meet the artists and learn about their process firsthand. Plaza Midwood is a trendy neighborhood with vintage stores (check out the finds at Stash Pad), indie bookstores like the new Trope Bookshop dedicated exclusively to romance novels, and cafés like The Giddy Goat Coffee Roasters, serving up top-tier breakfast burritos.
No matter what type of weekend adventures you seek in Charlotte, save on your fun with discounted tickets. AAA members can snag reduced admission tickets for popular attractions, opening doors to savings across the city. Or consider a Charlotte Experience Pass.
This money-saving pass offers reduced entry to some of Charlotte’s most beloved spots, including the NASCAR Hall of Fame, the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, the Mint Museum Uptown, and other popular attractions.
