Drew and I did travel nursing together for three years, which took us all the way to the East and West coasts of the United States. We wanted an assignment in North or South Carolina from the start, but it was not until our last assignment that we finally landed an assignment in Charlotte, North Carolina. We ended up opting to live there for six months because we loved it so much. It felt like a slice of home but better. It has the same climate and Southern charm as Mississippi but has abundant recreation, incredible restaurants, five professional sports teams, and beautiful mountains and beaches within a few hours' drive. We basically never wanted to leave (besides to visit our family)!

Whitewater Center

The U.S. National Whitewater Center was one of the major highlights of our time in Charlotte. If you enjoy outdoor recreation, this will be your favorite place ever! It is open year-round with many outdoor activity options, such as whitewater rafting, kayaking and stand up paddleboarding, rock climbing, solo climbing (one that you free-climb above water), ropes courses, ziplining, free fall jumps, and mountain biking. They host free yoga sessions almost every day of the week, various races (5k, 10k, marathons) throughout the year, and even pond hockey and ice skating in the winter! They also have a great restaurant on-site and multiple stations for draft beer and other beverages. More information and an event calendar can be found here.

River Jam at Whitewater Center

A different band plays every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night May-September at a family-friendly event called River Jam at The Whitewater Center. It’s usually a bluegrass or funk band that plays while you sit and enjoy the music on a personal blanket or lawn chair. Your dogs are welcome too! It is the coolest environment because while the band is playing, people are ziplining above the crowd and whitewater rafters and kayakers are taking on the rapids along the man-made river that runs right behind you! Entry to the Whitewater Center is free, but the parking fee is currently $8 per vehicle. Plenty of food, beverages, and craft beer are sold at concession stands around the grounds.

Camp North End

Camp North End is a huge entertainment district that holds a lot of history. During the Cold War, it was a factory for missile development. The U.S. Army called this place CAMP, short for Charlotte Area Missile Plant, and this is where the name Camp North End came from! This place takes you back in time with some of its original architecture and factory equipment, while being a huge space today for the community to come together. You can find a variety of entertainment from live music and outdoor family-friendly movie nights, to pickle ball and seasonal outdoor markets. You can also find several restaurants, a brewery, bakery, and more! Parking and entry are both free!

Carrigan Farms Swimming Quarry

This beautiful family-owned farm is 30 minutes outside of Charlotte, in Mooresville, NC. There is a natural swimming quarry on the property that is 25 feet deep and an absolute dream! The water is a natural blue-green color that is gorgeous beneath the natural cliffs. We had so much fun (and had to be brave!) jumping off the high cliffs and rope swinging into the water! I highly recommend this for those who love the water or just want to hang out around the large quarry. Besides the quarry, Carrigan Farms also offers strawberry and apple picking seasonally, as well as a pumpkin patch and haunted trail in October.

The two most important things to know before you go are the farm is CASH ONLY and there is not an ATM on the property. It’s also important to know you should make a reservation online in advance so that your spot is guaranteed upon arrival. A reservation costs $5 per person online, then you will owe the remaining amount upon arrival (cash only). The total cost ranges from $20-35 per person, depending on the day and time of the week. You will get a $5 food/drink voucher in the place of your online reservation. They serve concession stand-like food but better quality!

There are a few rules for safety. Children under 12 years old must wear a life jacket. Life jackets are provided, or you can bring your own. If you are 12 years old or older, you must pass a swim test if you want to swim without a life jacket. Lifeguards are on staff for your safety as well. They allow you to bring single person floats to use in the water! They do not allow outside food or drinks, or pets. Check their calendar and reserve your spot!

Sporting Events

Charlotte is home to multiple major league and minor league sports teams. The city hosts numerous large sporting events, including NASCAR races at Charlotte Motor Speedway, PGA Tour golf events at Quail Hollow, and ACC Football Championship in college football. Charlotte is also home to the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Carolina Panthers

The NFL team, Carolina Panthers, calls Charlotte home! They play at Bank of America Stadium, which is in the heart of downtown. The season is August - December and sometimes January if the team continues to play during the playoffs. Parking is available around the stadium and can be reserved on the ParkWhiz app, or online. You can also find parking around the stadium once you arrive but on a first come first served basis. Parking fees can be expensive for football games; if you have family or friends that are not going to the game, I recommend they drop you off and pick you up. Panthers schedule

Charlotte Hornets

The NBA basketball team, Charlotte Hornets, play at the Spectrum Center located downtown. The team is beginning to gain notoriety in the NBA as they are led by young star, LaMelo Ball. Until recently, the Hornets were owned by North Carolina native and basketball legend, Michael Jordan. The season is long and lasts from October to April so there’s a good possibility you’ll be able to catch a game! You can reserve parking around the arena on the ParkMobile app or online, or you can pay for parking in an open garage or lot nearby once you arrive on a first come first served basis. Hornets schedule

Charlotte Knights

The Charlotte Knights are a Triple-A minor league baseball affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. The team plays at Truist Field in Uptown Charlotte which was named the “Best Ballpark in Minor League Baseball” by Baseball America. Their season is from April - September and games are played just about any time during the week or weekend. The view of downtown Charlotte from the stadium seats is amazing! Just make sure you sit on the left field side so you can have the best view of the game and downtown skyscrapers! You can reserve parking in the parking garage that is right across the street from Truist Field at this website. There are other parking options in the surrounding area, usually for a fee. You can bring your dog with you for free on select game nights! Knights schedule

Charlotte FC

Charlotte FC are a MLS professional men’s soccer team that also plays at Bank of America Stadium. They are an up-and-coming franchise that just had their inaugural season in 2022. Charlotte FC boasts the second-highest attendance in the MLS – averaging just over 35,000 fans per game so you know the atmosphere is electric! Their season is played March-November so there’s plenty of time to check out a game! The parking situation is the same as for the Panthers football games since they both play at Bank of America Stadium (recommendations above).

Charlotte Independence

The Charlotte Independence are a USL League One professional soccer team that plays at American Legion Memorial Stadium in downtown Charlotte. The soccer team has been playing in Charlotte since the 2015 season. Since Charlotte FC (the MLS team) arrived, the Charlotte Independence dropped down to the third tier in the USL League One. However, their games are just as competitive as ever and are a great way to spend an evening in Charlotte! Their season is played from March - October. Parking is available very close to the stadium for a fee. P.S. The top deck of the parking garage directly behind the stadium has a great view of the city (and the soccer field)!

Charlotte Checkers

The Charlotte Checkers are a minor-league hockey team that is returning to Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte as of 2023! The Checkers (formerly called The Clippers) have played in Charlotte on and off since the 90s. They begin playing the season in October-April. If you have never been to a hockey game before, we highly encourage you to go! Hockey is such a fun sport to watch – it’s fast-paced and the atmosphere at games is always great! Parking is much easier than it is at the other sporting events in town because there is a large parking lot on site!

Parking Apps:

ParkMobile
ParkWhiz
Spot Hero
Prked

Farmers’ Markets

Charlotte is not short on farmers’ markets. There are farmers’ markets all over the city on Saturday mornings, and some occur during the week. We love getting outside and supporting local farmers and artists. Plus, local produce is the best quality! Below is a list of farmers’ markets that I recommend with their location and hours as of 2024. Check online for up-to-date information!

South End Market
2000 South Blvd.
April-December on Saturdays 8am-1pm / January-March on Saturdays 9am-1pm
Plaza Midwood Farmers’ Market
2007 Commonwealth Ave.
April 15th-November on Saturdays 10am-1pm
North End Farmers’ Market
300 Camp Road
April-October on Thursdays 4-8pm
Ballantyne Village Popup Market
14825 Ballantyne Village Way
every third Saturday April-November
Mecklenburg County Market
Oldest Farmers’ Market in NC
1515 Harding Place
Open year round, every day!
Charlotte Regional Farmers’ Market
1801 Yorkmont Road
Open year round Wednesday-Sunday 8am-5pm
Belmont Farmers’ Market (Belmont is a super cute town worth checking out 20 mins. outside of Charlotte)
at Stowe Park in Belmont
April-October on Thursdays 4-7pm

Charlotte Food

Now to our favorite part, THE FOOD! Charlotte is booming with local restaurants that have delicious food! Our all-time favorite is YAFO Kitchen! It is a local Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant that serves amazing quality food at a reasonable price! Listed below are our other favorite local restaurants.

Restaurants:

YAFO Kitchen- Middle Eastern/Mediterranean fast casual dining
Haberdish- upscale/modern Southern fare (DELICIOUS weekend brunch!)
Midwood Smokehouse- most popular BBQ restaurant in town
Noble Smoke- BBQ
Mac’s Speed Shop- BBQ Sports Bar (multiple TVs for watching sports)
Seoul Food Meat Company- Korean BBQ cuisine with karaoke rooms!
Mama Ricotta’s- family-owned Italian restaurant
Brewers at 4001 Yancey- Great atmosphere with endless drink and food options
Ace No. 3 Burger- our favorite burger of all-time!!! Fast casual dining
Harriet’s Hamburgers
Bang Bang Burgers- top rated burgers in the city
Cantina 1511- Mexican
Bakersfield- Mexican
RuRu’s Tacos + Tequila- Mexican
Paco’s Tacos and Tequila- Mexican
Sabor Latin Street Grill- fast casual Mexican
Haymaker- American/Southern food
Laurel Market- family-owned market with breakfast & lunch sandwiches, coffee, tea, and grab-n-go food items
Rhino Market & Deli- sandwiches, salads, soups, and breakfast/brunch too! (I loved their soup!)
The Common Market- a deli that’s like an old school convenient store; serves breakfast and lunch and has a great selection of beer and wine
Inizio Pizza Napoletana- amazing wood-fired pizzas!
Flower Child- a wide variety of healthy dishes located in the heart of the city
Hawkers Asian Street Food- very good!
Futo Buta- Ramen and other Asian dishes located in the heart of uptown
Kid Cashew- Mediterranean, tapas/small plates (great cocktails with happy hour specials and “Pick Two” lunch special for $10.95 Mon.-Fri.)
Co-Op Frose & Eatery- over 50 rotating frose flavors and gourmet sandwiches
800 Degrees Wood Fired Kitchen- pizzas, salads, sandwiches, and great cocktails
Merchant and Trade- rooftop bar and restaurant on the 19th floor with panoramic views of the city
Fahrenheit Charlotte- rooftop bar and restaurant on the 21st floor with panoramic views of the city; reservations recommended (be sure to look at reservation policy so you do not get charged if you decide not to go)
Optimist Food Hall- food court style with multiple restaurants, a coffee shop, bakery, brewery, & more

Breakfast/Brunch:

Reigning Doughnuts- my favorite donut place in Charlotte! made fresh right after you order!
Your Mom’s Donuts- square donuts sold out of a small drive-thru building; check out nearby Freedom Park!
Milkbread- swanky walk-up restaurant with outdoor seating that serves donuts, coffee, and tea for breakfast and chicken sandwiches, bowls, and salads for lunch; also serves natural wines and beer
Easy Like Sunday- great brunch! Usually busy on Saturday mornings but we never had a long wait
Haberdish- An upscale Southern meal! DELICIOUS brunch on Saturdays and Sundays (get there early or make a reservation for a fee, and order the cinnamon roll!- pictured above) Also serves lunch and dinner
Zada Jane’s Corner Café- organic and local ingredients are served at this popular breakfast place
Café Monte- French bakery and brunch restaurant (crepes, beignets, and savory dishes)
Kid Cashew- brunch is served on Saturdays (starting at 11am) and Sundays (10am)
Haymaker- Saturday and Sunday brunch beginning at 10am; American/Southern dishes with farm fresh ingredients
Laurel Market- family-owned market with breakfast & lunch sandwiches, coffee, tea, and grab-n-go food items
Rhino Market & Deli- sandwiches, salads, soups, and breakfast/brunch too!
The Common Market- a deli that’s like an old school convenient store; serves breakfast and lunch and has a great selection of beer and wine
Green Brothers Juice and Smoothie Co- love this local place for a healthy breakfast!

Bakeries/Ice Cream Shops:

Amelie’s French Bakery & Café- our favorite bakery in Charlotte! It is a must go if you love desserts! (I love the chocolate petit cake and cookie dough macaron)
Jeni’s Ice Cream- if you have not had Jeni’s ice cream before, I highly recommend you go there! Every flavor is worth trying!
Villani’s Bakery- Italian bakery like you might find in New York! Everything is made from scratch and looks delicious! We LOVED the chocolate peanut butter ganache cake- oh my, it was to die for!
Café Monte- French bakery and restaurant with macarons, croissants, eclairs, and more! Also serves full breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Manolo’s Bakery- Latin bakery that is famous for tres leches cakes and various pastries
Morelia Ice Cream Paletas- personalize a popsicle with as little or as many toppings as you want!
Pop Bar- gelato, yogurt, or sorbet popsicles that you can customize with toppings

Breweries & Wine Bars:

Wooden Robot- (Drew’s favorite! Two locations: South End and NoDa; South End is the original location and has a coffee bar; NoDa has a different food truck on site almost every day of the week)
Sycamore Brewing- the hottest brewery spot in Charlotte right now; amazing indoor/outdoor atmosphere with excellent food, beer, cocktails, frozen summer drinks, and a coffee bar for all you fellow iced coffee drinkers!
Olde Mecklenburg Brewery- large outdoor space with several picnic tables and fire pits for the cooler weather; special events on occasions and live music every weekend Spring - Fall
Sugar Creek Brewery
Protagonist Beer
Suffolk Punch Brewing
Birdsong Brewing
Legion Brewing
Lenny Boy Brewing- beer and kombucha brewery
Brewers at 4001 Yancey- wide selection of craft beers and ciders on tap and has great food! There is indoor and outdoor seating which makes it a fun atmosphere and Trivia Tuesdays at 7pm!
Lucky Dog Bark & Brew- enjoy a drink while your dog plays with other dogs in a large open space. Also offers dog daycare and boarding
Rosie’s Coffee & Wine Garden- the cutest wine and coffee shop with outdoor seating throughout McGill Garden; wine, beer, tea, coffee, and rotating snack foods and pastries; You are welcome to bring your own picnic food. Open until 11pm on Fri. and Sat. Specials: Monday- $3 mini pours, Tuesday-$5 select glasses, Wednesday- 50% off select bottles, Thursday- $12 flights, Sunday- $5 mimosas
Rosemont Market and Wine Bar
Mere’s Cheese and Wine
Foxcroft Wine Co
Frenchy’s Sip and Shop
Co-Op Frose & Eatery- over 50 rotating frose flavors and gourmet sandwiches

Coffee

Charlotte has some of the best coffee we’ve ever tasted! This city is where Drew’s interest and true love for coffee began! He started drinking coffee in college, but back then he purposely made it “as bitter as possible” haha! Once he discovered the art of coffee, he began to appreciate the true taste and different flavor profiles of coffee. Charlotte’s coffee shops made us both love and appreciate coffee more, and there are plenty within the city! Our favorites are listed below.

Coffee Shops Local to Charlotte:

Not Just Coffee (several locations around town)
Undercurrent Coffee - our favorite coffee shop! (original location on Commonwealth and 2nd location in Optimist Hall)
Night Swim Coffee (several locations around town)
The Giddy Goat Coffee Roasters- The shaded outdoor patio makes this coffee shop a great place to enjoy your cup of coffee, work remotely or read a book. They have indoor seating as well. Their coffee is strong and they even have cold brew on draft! Breakfast burritos and empanadas are a hit!
Stable Hand- great cappuccinos and iced lattes!
Rosie’s Coffee & Wine Garden- the cutest wine and coffee shop with outdoor seating throughout McGill Garden; wine, beer, tea, coffee, and rotating snack foods and pastries; You are welcome to bring your own picnic food. Open until 11pm on Fri. and Sat. Specials: Monday- $3 mini pours, Tuesday-$5 select glasses, Wednesday- 50% off select bottles, Thursday- $12 flights, Sunday- $5 mimosas
Ralph’s Coffee Truck- located outside of Ralph Lauren store; said to be a pop-up coffee truck so I am not sure how long they are planning to be there. My friend and I were able to go, and it was not only cute but had excellent cold brew!
The Hobbyist
Brakeman’s Coffee & Supply
Smelly Cat Coffee House & Roastery (based on the show Friends)
Sumaq Coffee- a Peruvian café with coffee and specialty breakfast and lunch food and desserts
Coffee bar at Wooden Robot Brewery- if you’re like me and like to get iced coffee while your husband gets beer :)

Entertainment:

Rally Pickleball- indoor/outdoor pickle ball courts that you can reserve mornings, afternoons, or nights. Food and drinks are available (including breakfast and coffees!)
Tipsy Pickle- indoor/outdoor pickle ball courts and other games (opening Fall 2024)
Puttery- indoor putt putt course with a speak-easy vibe (the style of the venue reminded me a lot of the board game Clue); has bar and restaurant too
Pins Mechanical- bowling, pinball, arcade, ping pong, patio pong, and more
Visit and tour Billy Graham Library
Hike Crowders Mountain at Crowders Mountain State Park
Apple pick at Windy Hill Orchard & Cider Mill

Charlotte, North Carolina