How is Charlotte like?
 

I am gonna be spending a whole month in Charlotte for work purposes and I was wondering if any of you could give any ideas on how Charlotte is like, what to do, what to see, any places near to go for the weekend.

That is gonna be for the month of April. Any ideas on how the weather will be like?

Any ideas will be highly appreciated :)

It's a nice city, in that, um, Southern USA way. People are friendly and the weather will be pretty mild (about like BCN weather that time of year).

They have a good amusement park (Carowinds) and it seems like I remember a lot of bird stuff: museums, sanctuaries, preserves, etc. There's also a racetrack and NASCAR is of course big there.

For food, there's steak and BBQ that are both good, as well as plenty of other stuff.

Oh, and you won't be missing any nightlife. ;)

Airport - very nice, not too big but has many non-stop flights, can park and check in and go to the gate in only a few minutes. ^

City - boring

Court system (federal) - 4th Circus :D , I mean, 4th Circuit :td:

Bankers Town, dead after 5pm...unless there is a basketball/football game...
 

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I lived there for 3 years. Charlotte is one of those places that people describe as " a great place to raise a family". That is code for "dull if you're single". There is nightlife. There are galleries and restaurants and theatre. I thoroughly enjoyed concerts at the Neighborhood Theatre. There are other places, large and small, to see good live music. Try Ri Ra irish pub downtown. Walk the 4th Ward to enjoy the restored older homes and gardens. Take a cappacino or glass of wine at either of the Dean & deluccas on a Friday night. Basketball will still be played in April. No football. there is minor league baseball in Fort Mill. The ocean is a few hours away: Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Wilmington. Do you golf? Do you fish? April is a beautiful month in the Carolinas. When I was just a winter refugee visiting my parents in the south, I could sit outdoors after dinner in April and just enjoy the fact that I could.

I could go on, but maybe you could tell us what you like to do at home.

Wow, HobokenFlyer, guess you haven't been to the Blumenthal, or to the Double Door for performing arts, or to Arpa for tapas or RiRa for good beer specials....

These probably aren't everyone's favorites, but there's indeed much to do after hours or on weekends.

Nothing against it personally...it's a nice city...but it's not New York....

My attitude about Charlotte was well formed. A friend from college moved their in 1995. I visited. It was boring then...10 years later I was coming back for a trade show...same feeling, just had a stadium downtown....

The next time I had to come back 6 months later, a friend I had met through my industry was going to hook me up withah friend of hers to show me around...see the city...show the hidden Charlotte (she didn't like what I thought of the city, even though she still liked me...) I said c'mon, besides the sports stuff, it's basically the NASCAR track, etc, etc, etc...

Well, the friend pick me up in her pickup truck and showed me the city...some nice neighborhoods, took me to a park, we walked around a bit...very nice park...went in the car and then she took me to the NASCAR track....and then after that it was "that's really it".....

So, even a local confirmed what I already thought!!! :) She did show me her house; I don't think it was an invitation for "fun"; but I wasn't interested anyway....

Charlotte is a nice place, but I am a NY snob....sorry....

- HF

I don't think anyone here was under the impression that Charlotte could be confused with NYC. You must hate travelling, since it takes you anywhere but New York!

I'm pretty sure the OP mentioned visiting Charlotte for a month. He probably didn't have a choice between Charlotte & NYC.

I'm sorry you were bored. Some people can have a good time anywhere because they bring the fun with them. You need better friends in Charlotte.

JUANMA, PM me if you'd like any more useful information.

Don't sugar coat it - tell us how you really feel. :)

While you are there be sure to visit Bridge's BBQ in Shelby, about 40 mi w of Charlotte on US 74.

There is a great flea market north of town on the weekends- forget the name, though.

Thank you all for your reports,

I had heard already that it is not an exciting city but of course it never ocurred to me to compare it to NYC.

I guess I will have to dedicate my weekends to go somewhere else while I´m there. I´ve read the coast is really nice but isn´t Charlotte a bit far away? How is Myrtle Beach? How to get there? By the way, I have no driving license, so I cannot rent a car :mad:

That place is Shelby, can I get there by bus maybe and just spend the day.

Thank you all again :)

My man, you are in a world of hurt. Public transportation in Charlotte will be less than acceptable. Public transport to the surrounding areas will be spotty, at best. I don't think you'll be going much of anywhere. For weekends, you'll want to take a cab to the airport. There are places you can fly to quickly and use hotel shuttles and cabs. If you want city life - Atlanta. If you want a taste of resort life - Myrtle Beach (crowded and downscale family oriented) or Hilton Head (upscale and expensive). If you want (recent) history - Savannah or Charleston. For a unique experience - DC.

Best suggestion I can make - get a girlfirend the first weekend, one who drives a nice car.

If you'd mentioned not driving in your OP, I might have told you Charlotte's no NYC. :D

I second BamaVol's reaction. Since you'll be there for a month, I think it's worth getting a driver's license. And learning to drive, if necessary.

I love traveling and I take what I can get from every place I visit. On that same trip in 1995, I continued on to Greenville, SC where I had another friend...I LIKED Greenville. It was a cool town (not really a city); I had more fun in Greenville than Charlotte; heck I have had better times in Savannah than Charlotte...

I am sure people live there for good reasons; it's beautiful place in many respects...but as a business traveler, it's not one of my "top" destinations (going back in May) and it's not like I go, "Ooooh, going to Charlotte have to make sure I finagle an extra day for all that stuff that's there!!!".

If I want to see a NASCAR race, yes; if I am a coaster enthusiast and want to check out Carowinds, yes...I just don't like cities that seems to roll up the sidewalks downtown after business hours....I like lively downtowns...I not a huge fan of Houston, but it's hard to ignore the 4th largest city; Charlotte is Bank of America/Wachovia/BB&T town....bankers are NOT known to be the wild and crazies in the world....

- HF