Charlotte, North Carolina is an under-appreciated city (in my opinion) and would make a great weekend trip. Shane and I have been living here for over two years now, and there’s always something to do and someplace new opening up. We happen to love the South End area, so this guide will be predominantly focused on this walkable area, but I’ll include some bonus destinations at the end of this post if you feel like venturing out.
One of our favorite parts of South End is that our Blue Line light rail runs right down the spine of the neighborhood. The light rail makes getting from Point A to Point B easy. The Blue Line also continues on to Uptown and the UNCC campus, so staying in South End connects you to a lot of other places.
DAY ONE IN CHARLOTTE
When you arrive in town, start by heading to Sycamore Brewery. On Friday evenings, they have Food Truck Fridays where you can try food from so many delicious local food trucks. The brewery has a wonderful open field of picnic tables and usually compliment the vibe with live music. On a beautiful day, you’ll see everyone and their dogs outside.
For dinner, head across the street to Indaco. This restaurant is part of a new development called Atherton Mills. There’s some great shopping nearby if you’d like to peruse before or after dinner.
If you still have energy, head to Vin Master for some wine or make your way to Jeni’s Ice Cream for a sweet treat.
DAY TWO in charlotte
Start your morning by visiting Lincoln’s Haberdashery. This restaurant has the most relaxing bodega vibe. It’s part grocery store and part amazing bakery and kitchen. Their pastry selections are always impressive and their lox and cream cheese toast is one of my favorites.
After you eat, you can hop on the Blue Line and visit Uptown. There are museums and parks to pass your time. When you’re ready to eat again, you can stay Uptown and enjoy Tupelo Honey or head back to South End to eat at Capische for a pizza.
Next, you can walk to Pins Mechanical. Recently open, this place is all the rage with several duck pin bowling lanes and more arcade games than you can count. Playing these games are free or very low-cost depending on your game of choice. They also have fun cocktails and a food truck outside. Hoppin’ is another local favorite, which is known for their wall of taps and you can serve yourself and try as many beers as you’d like. If you’d like a more low-key spot, Craft is one of our neighborhood go-tos.
For dinner, you can enjoy Italian food again, but this time at North Italia. If you want something different, I highly suggest Lincoln Street Kitchen, O-Ku for sushi, or Suffolk Punch. If you’d like an after-dinner cocktail, visit Elsewhere.
DAY THREE in charlotte
For breakfast, visit Eight & Sand. This place has some of the most amazing pastry creations I’ve ever seen. They have special flavored cruffins which never cease to amaze me. Their menu is filled with delicious items. I’m partial to their Panko Chicken Sandwich, but Shane gets something new every time we go and is never disappointed.
BONUS charlotte destinations
For some bonus destinations, try visiting some of these other cool places:
– U.S. National Whitewater Center
– NODA neighborhood (the Protagonist, the Chamber, and Cabo Fish Taco make great stops)
– Lake Norman (rent a pontoon boat and enjoy the lake for the day)
CONCLUSION
Charlotte has a heavy brewery scene and it makes weekends here fun and casual. Admittedly, a weekend in Charlotte can include a lot of beer drinking but you can break that up with nature adventures like a visit to Crowders Mountain or taking a walk on the Rail Trail. I also like to walk around after grabbing a cup of coffee at Not Just Coffee or Central Coffee.
I hope you liked this weekend trip itinerary for Charlotte, North Carolina. I’m proud of this city for having so much to do and being such a hub of small businesses.
P.S. Did you like this weekend trip guide to Charlotte but want to also explore more of North Carolina? Check out my guide to Blowing Rock, North Carolina here.