What Is Charlotte All About? An Extensive Guide To North Carolina’s Most Exciting City

Located in North Carolina, the vibrant city of Charlotte has become an increasingly popular destination for young professionals, families, and retirees alike, who all come seeking a vibrant, diverse and exciting home. This fast-growing city is home to numerous attractions, including professional sports teams such as the Charlotte Hornets, soccer, dining and entertainment options, and top-rated museums.

In this guide, we’ll break down all there is to know about life in Charlotte. From its rich history, architectural marvels and outdoor activities, to its amazing cultural attractions, shopping and nightlife, there’s something for everyone to enjoy in this beautiful city. So without further ado, let’s dive in and learn all about Charlotte!

History

Charlotte has a rich history that dates all the way back to 1768 when it was founded as a small trading school. In 1775 it became an official town; in 1780 it was proclaimed the county seat of Mecklenburg County; and in 1799, it became North Carolina’s recognized capital city.

The historic time period between the Revolutionary War and the Civil War was a prosperous one for Charlotte, as characterized by its rapid population growth and increased wealth. The cotton industry flourished and propelled a building boom with beautiful buildings constructed such as the Thomas Polk House, Mint Museum of Art & Science, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church and Biddle Hall (now Charlotte Mecklenburg Government Center).

Unfortunately the Civil War brought disaster to the fledgling city—the Confederate Army burned more than 70 percent of homes, stores and churches in Charlotte. Reconstruction came around 1867 and gradually the city began rebuilding, only to lose much of its growth in the Great Depression of the 1930s.

In recent years, Charlotte has seen great success come with its current re-emergence as a strong financial hub. Financial firms like Bank of America and Raycom Media are based in the city and help to bring jobs and revenues to the area. Similarly, the presence of the TV show The Sopranos brought an arthouse cinema scene while a branch of the renowned music school Belmont University has become a large part of the local culture.

Architecture & Landmarks

Charlotte is a visually stunning city with a history reflected by its architecture. In addition to Thomas Polk House mentioned above you’ll find several other impressive landmarks in the city such as:

• The Levine House – now a local landmark built in 1859 with its distinctive Greek Revival-style architecture;
• Ye Olde Mecklenburg Brewery – offering brewery tours with tastings of its craft beers;
• Independence Square – a historic town square with views of the historic City Hall;
• Old Settler’s Park – established in 1840 with a free public school attended by both white and black students;
• Mint Museum of Art & Science – founded in 1936, it is North Carolina’s first art museum.

Built on a tree-lined, natural setting, Charlotte also has tons of outdoor activities to enjoy including trails, dog parks, and outdoor concerts. And during the winter months, you can even take a ride up to Sugar Mountain Resort for some skiing fun!

Cultural Attractions

If keeping busy and entertained is your thing, then there’s no better place than Charlotte. From fine arts to classical music performances and special entertainment events; from unique shopping experiences to world-class museums that showcase fine art from around the world—there’s so much to do here in Charlotte. And whatever you choose to do, chances are you’ll find yourself surrounded by some of the friendliest locals around!

If you’re looking for fine arts, then head over to Bechtler Museum of Modern Art or The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts + Culture—you’ll find numerous collections highlighting works from both national artists as well as local ones. For classical music fans, The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra puts on regular performances that you won’t want to miss out on.

Sports fans looking to catch the home team live can make their way over to Bank Of America Stadium or Spectrum Center for a game of football or basketball. Or for those looking for some wild entertainment events, then NovelStem Pavilion is an ideal choice for concerts, comedy shows, plays and more!

Shopping

From quaint boutiques tucked away amongst cobblestone streets and high-end stores along tony main roads, Charlotte is a great destination for shoppers who enjoy good old fashioned retail therapy. If you find yourself here during the holiday season, then don’t forget to visit SouthPark Mall (pink or blue tram anyone?) or Blakeney Shopping Center. Each offers some great stores and restaurants that provide plenty of entertainment in itself; whether you’re looking to buy gifts or just spending some time with friends and family, then these shopping centers are definitely worth visiting!

Don’t forget about Kings Drive Thrift Market either—a great place for bargain hunters that offers vintage clothing and antiques at rock bottom prices. Finally, Carolina Place Mall is home to many mid-range stores that feature an array of fashion apparel, jewelry and accessories for those looking for something more affordable yet still stylish.

Nightlife

Of course Charlotte’s nightlife scene is bustling with plenty of things to do! Uptown alone offers sensational bars like Füdbar boasting up-scale cocktails and amazing DJs; Lucky’s Bar offering great beer plus cheap shots; Prohibition requiring no ID; Heist Brewery featuring live music; or have some Southern comfort food style dishes at Open Kitchen. If you’d like something more energetic then Ten Park Lanes or Strike City will keep you going all night long as you play bowling or darts with friends!

For those who’d like something quieter yet still fun then The Bechtler Museum Café or Sky at Rooftop 210 will be right up your alley. If you’d like a less crowded atmosphere then Whiskey Warehouse is an awesome spot to enjoy good beers while catching up with friends. You can also find Charlotte’s vibrating Cuban atmosphere at Jefe’s Taqueria—an ideal place for great food plus lots of tequila!

Finally, why not opt for an amazing brewery hop across Charlotte? GetYourGuide is offering a Charlotte: 3-Hour Brewery Crawl, taking guests around breweries such as Sycamore Brewing Co., Three Spirits Brewery and Heist Brewery amongst others. With experienced guides at each brewery giving you behind-the-scenes tour of each facility plus tastings of delicious craft beers along the way—what better way could there be to explore Charlotte’s vibrant craft beer scene?

So that’s your complete guide to Charlotte—a city full of never-ending attractions and things to do that will keep all types of travellers happy and coming back for more! From its stunning architecture, vibrant local culture and endless opportunities for shopping and entertainment; there’s something special about this North Carolina city that makes it stand out from the rest.