NASCAR Hall of Fame in central Charlotte; (c) Soul Of America
Charlotte General Attractions
Levine Museum of the New South
DESCRIPTION: An interactive museum housing the nation’s most comprehensive interpretation of post-Civil War Southern history. It tells stories of men, women, and children, black and white, rich and poor, long-time residents, and newcomers who have reinvented the South since the Civil War. The award-winning permanent exhibit called “Cotton Fields to Skyscrapers” presents many aspects relevant to African-American history in the South. Covering 8,000 square feet, the exhibit features a case study illustrating the profound changes in the South since the Civil War. Visitors step inside a one-room tenant farmer’s house and run a hand through a pile of seed cotton, play checkers on the front porch of a mill house, and sit in Good Samaritans Hospital Chapel, one of the first African-American hospitals in the South. Or, sit at a lunch counter and hear personal accounts from local sit-in leaders.
ADMISSION: modest fee
DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Fri 11a-5p, Sat 10a-5p, Sun Noon-5p
ADDRESS: 401 South Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC
PARKING: 90 minutes Free parking at Seventh Street Station and all day on weekends
PHONE: 704-333-1887
WEBSITE: http://www.museumofthenewsouth.org
Alive After Five
DESCRIPTION: Every Thursday at the EPICENTRE, Alive After Five kick-starts the weekend with a happy hour and solid entertainment. The weekly celebration provides a destination for friends and workers to unwind, and network while enjoying live music, beverages, and a fun casual atmosphere.
ADMISSION: Free
DAYS & HOURS: Thursdays 5p-until
ADDRESS: 210 East Trade Street, Charlotte, NC
PARKING: garages nearby
WEBSITE: http://www.aliveafterfives.com/the-epicentre
The iconic Bank of America Corporate Center at 871 feet, is the tallest building in Charlotte; credit Jt12081988/Wiki Commons
NASCAR Hall of Fame
DESCRIPTION: Opened in 2010, the 150,000-square-foot venue is an interactive, entertainment attraction honoring the heritage of NASCAR; includes artifacts, interactive exhibits, a 275-person state-of-the-art theater, a broadcast studio, and a Hall of Honor. Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant and Sports Avenue retail outlet complete the offerings. Attached to the Charlotte Convention Center, the average stay at this venue is 4 hours.
ADMISSION: Adults $20, Military and Seniors $20, Kids $13
DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Sat 10a-7p, Sun Noon-6p
ADDRESS: MLK at South Caldwell Blvd, Charlotte, NC
PARKING: garage on-premises
PHONE: 704-654-4400
WEBSITE: http://www.nascarhall.com
McGill Rose Garden
DESCRIPTION: Old-fashioned rose garden featuring 1,000 roses with 230 varieties. Begun in the 1950s on the site of a fuel and ice company, this 1-acre setting has been designated an All-American Rose Selections Public Garden.
DAYS & HOURS: Nov 1-April 30: Tue-Fri 9a-1p; May 1-Oct 31: Tue-Fri 9a-3p, Sun 2p-5p
ADMISSION: Free
ADDRESS: 940 North Davidson Street, Charlotte, NC
PHONE: 704-333-6497
Latta Plantation Park Nature Preserve
DESCRIPTION: Over 1,300 acres of park space to fish, enjoy a horseback ride on wooded trails, picnic, and more. The Interpretive Center is on Mountain Island Lake. It includes a full-service Equestrian Center plus 10 miles of hiking trails.
ADDRESS: 5225 Sample Road, Huntersville, NC
PHONE: 704-875-1391
WEBSITE: http://www.lattaplantation.org
Levine Museum of the New South in Uptown Charlotte; (c) Soul Of America
Lowes Motor Speedway
DESCRIPTION: NASCAR has a long history of great race car drivers with token people of color, such as Wendell Scott and Charlie Scott. Today, things are changing for the better. You can find Bill Lester and others competing at this dream 1.5-mile oval speedway. This incredible venue presents two of the nation’s largest car shows and swap meets each year. Opened in 1960, the facility has been upgraded many times and seating capacity is a staggering 167,000. On NASCAR race days, area hotels are completely booked.
ADDRESS: 5555 Concord Parkway, South
Concord, NC
PARKING: on-premises
PHONE: 800-455-FANS
WEBSITE: http://www.lowesmotorspeedway.com
PNC Music Pavilion
DESCRIPTION: Originally called Blockbuster Pavilion and formerly called Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, this 18,770-seat outdoor venue has good acoustics for Classical, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Rock, Pop, Blues, and R&B concerts. It is an exceptional place to take in a show when the weather is nice.
ADDRESS: 707 Pavilion Blvd, South
Concord, NC
PARKING: on-premises
PHONE: 704-549-5555
WEBSITE: Link