Sarah & Jacob
Things To Do
Huntersville
The Original New York Bagels Authentic NY deli – great for breakfast or lunch. Cafe 100 ✨ The cutest little home-converted-to-restaurant spot with the best quiche around, according to Jacob. Birkdale Village An open-air mall with shops, restaurants, and weekly events. Primal Brewery Check out some local craft beers without having to go into the city. Carolina Raptor Center An educational and recreational center that features a 3/4-mile trail and 30+ birds at the reserve. Discovery Place Kids Children's museum close to the venue and hotels. Spare Time Bowling lanes, arcade, laser tag, and 4 escape rooms. Frankie's Fun Park Go-karting, mini-golf, bumper cars, bowling, laser tag & arcade games.
Plaza Midwood (Our Favorite Neighborhood)
✨ Thirsty Beaver ✨ Charlotte's national treasure. Any description won't give this place justice – you have to see it for yourself. Thomas Street ✨ One of our favorite places to hang out to grab a drink and eat. The Whitman's Club with fried okra is a favorite. ✨ Two Buck Saloon ✨ Cheap beer and a good time, that's all there is to it. You can't go wrong with a bucket of Busch Light + a pizza. La Autentica ✨ Our favorite Mexican restaurant in town. Common Market ✨ Bodega, beer cave + deli in one. Grab a beer to go or stay for a drink – or five. Jackalope Jacks Our go-to place to play shuffleboard. Two Scoops Ever-changing menu of unique flavors. Jacob swears by the Cookie Monster. Moo & Brew ✨ A large menu of burgers and drinks. You *have* to try their Large Marge (you'll get a free souvenir cup with it!) Moxie Mercantile A cute little shop to get jewelry, candles, or other souvenirs. Pinhouse 72 self-serve beer, wine, cider, & seltzer taps, duckpin bowling alley + live music.
NoDa
Jack Beagles ✨ Our favorite spot in NoDa with great live music most weekends. Optimist Hall An indoor food hall with other shops. Visit The Dumpling Lady for one of Charlotte's favorite restaurants. Jeni's Ice Cream ✨ Be sure to try the Gooey Butter Cake flavor – GBC is one of our favorite desserts that Jacob's Grandma Mary makes. NoDa 101 A karaoke bar that we only recommend if it's reaaaally late at night. Abari A bar with classic arcade games. MacTabby Cat Cafe Grab some coffee with cats that are ready to be adopted. NoDa Company Store ✨ A great outdoor space with wine and beer. The Blind Pig A bar with an upstairs area filled with arcade games. Free Will Craft & Vine 60 self-serve taps of craft beer and wine + multi-sport simulator – golf, hockey, and football.
Montford
Angry Ales ✨ They had us at $4 32 oz. beers on Thursdays (and trivia, lots of trivia). Moosehead ✨ Known for their wings, this was one of our staples when we moved to Charlotte. Jeff's Bucket Shop An underground karaoke spot that you should only go to after 11pm. 10 Park Lanes Bowling alley sports bar with large beer and food menus. Brazwells Pub An upscale sport bar with plenty of outdoor seating. Selwyn Avenue Pub Michael Jordan is said to stop by here quite a bit. Viva Chicken A fast-casual Peruvian rotisserie chicken spot.
South End
Rail Trail The trail runs the whole length of South End and is a great way to explore the neighborhood. www.charlotterailtrail.org Hawkers ✨ This was one of our favorite places to eat in Tampa, and they have a location in Charlotte. Common Market ✨ Bodega, beer cave + deli all in one. Pins Mechanical, Slingshot + Queen Park Social All are fun bars with a range of games to play. Pins + QPS are a little more upscale. All American Pub Make sure to try their "DrunkenD" – adult frozen Hi-C. Bitty & Beau's Coffee ✨ A new coffee shop in town that employes those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Krispy Kreme Have you ever seen a donut vending machine? Midnight Diner ✨ Sarah claims this has the best breakfast in town. Puttery Adult indoor mini-golf brought to you by Rory McIlroy. Skiptown Bar and dog park combo. Paper Skyscraper ✨ A unique gift shop and a great place to grab a souvenir.
Uptown Charlotte
Corner Pub ✨ Many meals and beers have been consumed here. French Quarter ✨ Another favorite to meet up with our friends. The Market at 7th Street A non-profit food hall that promotes local and regional farmers, food artisans, and entrepreneurs. Fahrenheit + Merchant and Trade Higher-end rooftop bars, but supposedly some of the best views in the city. Small Bar ✨ Exactly that. A small bar with a huge patio. Funny Bus A comedy city tour ranging from PG-13 to R. VBGB ✨ Indoor/outdoor beer garden with sand volleyball courts. Rhino Market ✨ Neighborhood market and deli. Stay and have a beer or five. Carolina History & Haunts Ghost tours going over Charlotte's history dating before the Civil War. Roxbury Nightclub A retro-themed club featuring 80s + 90s music. MUSEUMS Nascar Hall of Fame Bechtler Museum of Modern Art Mint Museum Uptown (Art + Design) The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts & Culture Discovery Place Science Levine Museum of the New South (History)
Breweries
A handful of new breweries have opened since we made this list, so here's a continuously updated link with all of them in the area: www.charlotte.axios.com/31429/breweries-in-charlotte/ PLAZA MIDWOOD Birdsong Brewing Company ✨ Catawba Brewing Company Devil's Logic ✨ Legion Brewing Pilot Brewing Co. Resident Culture Brewing Company ✨ NODA Divine Barrel Brewing Fonta Flora Brewery Free Range Brewing Heist Brewery NoDa Brewing Company Protagonist Clubhouse Salud Cerveceria SOUTHEND Brewers at 4001 Yancy ✨ Lenny Boy Brewing Co. Lower Left Brewing Olde Mecklenberg Brewery Protagonist Southside Suffolk Punch Brewing ✨ Sugar Creek Sycamore Brewing Triple C Brewing Wooden Robot Brewery UPTOWN CHARLOTTE D9 Brewing Company ✨ OTHER AREAS Armored Cow Brewing Co. Blue Blaze Brewing Edge City Brewery Middle James Brewing Petty Thieves Brewing Co. Town Brewing ✨ Vaulted Oak Brewing
Golf Activities
COURSES (All have been recommended by Jacob) The Tradition Charlotte, NC – 15 min. from the venue Skybrook Huntersville, NC – 20 min. from the venue Rocky River Concord, NC – 20 min. from the venue Verdict Ridge Denver, NC – 25 min. from the venue On the west side of Lake Norman. Eagle Chase Marshville, NC – 40 min. from the venue This is Jacob's favorite course. DRIVING RANGES Leatherman Golf Learning Center Charlotte, NC – 20 min. from the venue Features two-story hitting stations. Top Golf Charlotte, NC – 20 min. from the venue Look for the "Drivers Way" location. ADULT MINI GOLF Puttery South End – 20 min. from the venue Brought to you by Rory McIlroy. Stroke Plaza Midwood – 20 min. from the venue
Whitewater Center ✨
With more than 30 recreational activities, the Whitewater Center is a no-brainer for a fun day outside. The center is made up of over 1,300 acres of protected land, 50 miles of trails, and access to the Catawba River and Long Creek. Pro Tip: It's recommended to start with a dry activity like rock climbing, zip-lining, or a ropes course before doing a water-involved activity like whitewater rafting or deep water solo. Price: $64 adult day pass gets you access to all land and water activities, however you can walk around and enjoy the property and hiking trails for free (and $6 parking).
Crowders Mountain State Park
Take Crowder’s Trail for a more moderate climb. Go with Rocktop Trail for a more strenuous hike and views along the way. If you want a shorter climb to the summit, hit up Backside Trail. It’s steep but it’ll get you to the top quicker. Trails are accessible from 8 am to 8 pm in June. They are always less crowded earlier in the day.
Carowinds
Carowinds has over 50 rides at varying thrill levels. Kid-friendly: There are a number of kid- and family-friendly rides, including the Flying Ace Balloon Race and the Kiddy Hawk coaster. The coasters: Carowinds is home to 14 roller coasters, including the world’s top-rated steel coaster, Fury 325. Copperhead Strike is the park’s newest coaster. Cost: Day passes cost $42 (or $35 if you enter after 3pm). You can add a Fast Lane Pass onto a day trip for $65 to spare yourself the time spent standing in line for every ride.
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway features a 1.5 mi quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend, and the Bank of America Roval 400. There are multiple experiences available including driving a NASCAR or Indy-style racecars, speedway tours, "Cars and Coffee," and more!
Pub 49 ✨
About 20 minutes from the venue, Pub 49 has been one of the favorite places we've stumbled upon while living in Charlotte. Our favorite items to order are the Hawaiian chicken pizza, turkey melt, and Busch Lights.
Nellie's Southern Kitchen
For any Jonas Brothers fans, their parents own this restaurant. Obviously, this had to be added to the list of things to do while you're here.
Boone
Boone is a charming and historical mountain town located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina. The home of Appalachian State University, it has a lively student-town spirit while also retaining the ruggedness associated with its past, which is closely linked to the legendary explorer Daniel Boone.
Asheville
Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, Asheville is perhaps best known as the location of George Vanderbilt's Biltmore Estate and the home of major American novelist, Thomas Wolfe. It is a thriving mountain city that features a funky and eclectic downtown, 30-plus art galleries, a large culinary scene, and a thriving live music scene.
Wilmington
Wilmington is a port city in North Carolina. It’s known as a gateway to Cape Fear Coast beaches like Wrightsville, with its strong surf, and Carolina, with its long boardwalk. Part of downtown’s Historic District, the Riverwalk is lined with restaurants, galleries, and shops. It runs along the Cape Fear River, where the Battleship North Carolina is moored. Artifacts on the ship explore WWII naval combat history.
Kitty Hawk
Kitty Hawk is a beach town in North Carolina where the Wright brothers took their first flight. Trails cut through the Kitty Hawk Woods Coastal Reserve, home to otters and turtles. Sandy Run Park has a boardwalk and picnic areas. To the north, Kitty Hawk Pier has views of the Atlantic Ocean. In the nearby town of Kill Devil Hills, the Wright Brothers National Memorial explores aviation history.
Lake Lure
Lake Lure is a must-stop if you decide to visit Asheville. Well known for its role in the hit movie Dirty Dancing, it is a sanctuary for serenity and relaxation. Its unrivaled beauty is just the beginning of what you'll find here. Take a boat tour of the Lake, play on the beach, swim, hike, mountain bike, climb a shear rock face, fish, boat, kayak or just relax.
Chimney Rock State Park
Chimney Rock brings the best of the mountains together in one place. Experience a thrill of accomplishment by hiking the nearly 500-step Outcroppings trail to the 315-foot Chimney Rock, where you'll see amazing 75-mile views of Hickory Nut Gorge, Lake Lure, and the Carolina Piedmont.
Grandfather Mountain State Park
Grandfather Mountain has been an icon in North Carolina’s landscape for generations, offering stunning scenery and unmatched ecological diversity. This state park opens the mountain’s 2,456-acre backcountry to spectacular hiking and backpacking. The park is known for some of the South’s most severe weather and challenging terrain, with trails that have hikers scrambling along cliffs and up ladders. Access to 12 miles of trails and backpack camping sites is generally from the Profile Trailhead on NC 105 or trailheads along the adjacent Blue Ridge Parkway. However, trails can also be reached from the park of the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation (which includes the mile-high swinging bridge and other attractions) and there is a fee for this access.
Biltmore
Biltmore House is known as America's Largest Home® and a National Historic Landmark. But before it became one of North Carolina's most popular tourist destinations, it was simply “home” to the Vanderbilt family. George Vanderbilt visited Asheville, NC, in 1888 and was captivated by the area's natural beauty.