Charlotte Weekend

North Carolina’s largest city is a blend of southern hospitality and cosmopolitan style, featuring chic shopping, renowned museums and a rich cultural arts repertoire. Visit Charlotte’s Mint Museum of Modern Art for exquisite fine and contemporary collections and Mint Museum of Craft and Design for a look into Charlotte’s craft traditions. Be sure to check out Discovery Place, a premier hands-on science museum with 300 exhibits and a live rainforest.

Other Charlotte attractions include the 1.5-acre nature and art park, The Green, the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, the NASCAR Hall of Fame and the Charlotte Bobcats basketball arena.  

The Omni Charlotte Hotel is approximately seven miles from the Charlotte International Airport and is connected via glass-enclosed skyway to several business, cultural, and entertainment districts, such as the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, Overstreet Mall, Founders Hall, and the corporate headquarters of Bank of America and Wachovia Bank. The hotel is a few blocks from the Charlotte Convention Center.This hotel features seven restaurants, 30 specialty shops on the lobby level, a fitness center plus access to two nearby health clubs, business and meeting facilities, and seasonal rooftop swimming pool and sundeck. Hotel services include the Omni Kids Program, professional concierge staff, dry cleaning/laundry services, shoeshine, express check-in/out, shuttle and car service to local Charlotte destinations, and self-parking in the garage.Dining options at this hotel include Illume-Mediterranean Bistro and Lounge, which features Mediterranean-influenced cuisine. The Lobby Court Lounge serves cocktails and appetizers accompanied by live music. Lobby restaurants include Starbucks, Einstein's Bagel Shop, and a salad shop. Room service is also available around the clock.The Omni offers 365 rooms and suites, all with city views. Get Fit Guest Rooms, featuring a portable treadmill, Get Fit Kit, and healthy snacks, are available upon request. Rooms feature cable TV (VCR available upon request), complimentary USA Today newspapers, fully-stocked refreshment centers, hairdryers, coffee and tea, irons and ironing boards, bathrobes, satin hangers, radio alarm clocks, desks, wireless Internet access, and two dual-line phones.

The Mint Museum of Craft & Design is located in a historic downtown building that was recently renovated to celebrate the rich legacy of Charlotte's craft tradition. The permanent collection holds a wide range of items made from ceramic, jewelry, glass, fibers, metal, and wood. Their special glass commissions alone make it worth the visit! For those who enjoy an interactive experience, the museum offers many workshops, lectures, artist demonstrations, and travel guides to enhance the trip. Also, it is located within the heart of the business district and nearby many shopping centers and restaurants. Make sure to also take a look at the Mint Museum of Art, full of fine and contemporary art.

Adults: $6; Seniors: $5; Students: $3; Children: Free

What better way to explore the historical facets of the city than by traveling across it in one of the oldest and most-loved modes of transport? Charlotte Trolley Inc. takes you around the area in vintage streetcars ensuring a pleasurable learning experience. Choose from tours best suited to you; you can even arrange to have a private party on one of them! After a tour on this mobile museum, stop at the gift shop and pick up a memoir or two. Check the website for details.

From 1836 to around 1861 this Federal-style building served as the first branch of the United States Mint. During the Depression it was saved from demolition through a community effort and became North Carolina's first art museum. Now it is one of the major collections of American, European, African, and Asian artwork, along with ceramics, photography, maps and contemporary art. There are daily tours, lectures, art classes, and festivals that invite the public to come and enjoy the exhibitions. With such an extensive collection of over 72,000 items and a building rich in history, this museum is a must-see for any art lover! Also be sure to check out the Mint Museum of Craft & Design, located in nearby Uptown.

Adults: $6; Seniors: $5; Students: $3; Children: Free

In addition to being the oldest park in Charlotte, this 24-acre parcel in the heart of Charlotte's Elizabeth neighborhood serves your every recreational need. For athletes, Independence Park has a batting cage, two basketball courts, two tennis courts, a volleyball court, and three hiking trails. Families make good use of the sheltered picnic area and the playground. If romance is in the air, stroll by the relecting pool or through the rose garden. A number of shelters, including the rose garden's gazebo, are available for private events. See website for reservation information.

Presided over by executive chef Jason Pound, Aquavina is the place to go in Charlotte for fresh seafood. Some of the more unusual dining options include skate wing and wahoo. You can also enjoy meat and vegetable entrees, ensuring that there's something for everyone. The restaurant features an award-winning wine bar, which offers over 40 wines by the glass, a good selection of beers, martinis and scotch, and cigars.

Concord Mills Shopping Center holds its own against local historical landmarks and NASCAR stadiums, establishing itself as one of the biggest tourist draws in the area. There are hundreds of stores to choose from, and at first glance the possibilities can seem rather daunting- but with a list of businesses including everything from movie theaters to pretzel kiosks, there is sure to be something to please everyone in the family. Be sure to check out the website for new events, bargains, and programs.

NoDa's Gallery Crawl is a neighborhood-wide celebration of fun and creativity. Galleries open their doors to the public, providing food, wine, and entertainment. Artists stand by, ready to engage their patrons. Other neighborhood businesses are into the swing of things as well, staying open extra late on Crawl nights, and putting on special events of their own. From theatres like the Neighborhood Theatre, bookstores like RealEyes, boutiques like Sunshine Daydreams, to bars like the Dog Bar, restaurants like Boudreaux's, and clubs like The Evening Muse, everything in NoDa is hopping during the Gallery Crawl.

Boudreaux's serves all your Cajun favorites in East North Carolina. Boiled Crawfish, or the Shrimp Praline and the Chicken Pecan are on the menu and could be in your stomach if you do come to 501 East 36th Street. Vegetarians too can get their fill of the jambalaya. Drinks include Hurricanes, Bayou Bombs and Cajun Marys; ready to swing at the Mardi Gras?

This 18-hole golf course at the Ballantyne Resort Hotel is geared towards everyone in the family. There are a variety of different activities available, including indoor practice areas and video rooms, full-time instructors, and putting greens. It tends to be pretty pricey, but is a good choice if you want a wide range of services instead of just a basic game of golf. Rates and availability change frequently, so be sure to call ahead and check!

Zebra's hefty wine menu might be the first thing to catch the eye of a new patron. Those intimidated by the list of several hundred bottles available might be relieved, however, to find that the dinner menu offers nightly pairings of entrees and wine. This forethought might just be another indication of the fact that Zebra is owned by its award-winning executive chef, Jim Alexander. For those more adventurous, the regular menu offers the chance to make your own culinary matchings. This restaurant is truly a delight for oenophiles and food lovers alike.

That social occasion is drawing near and you don't know what to wear—it is time for a visit to After Hours Formalwear. Make your way to the Charlotte outlet of this international chain. A wide range of formals are up for grabs. Whether it is a wedding, a funeral, your prom night or graduation—there is something for every occasion. Vests, shoes and much more are also available. Go ahead and find that tuxedo you always wanted.