There’s simply no debating that Charlotte’s got a lot – it’s even one of our city’s catchphrases! Between the beautiful weather, the ever expanding restaurant scene and culture galore, there’s plenty to do in the Queen City. Here are some of my favorite ways to spend free time in my hometown:
Ride the Rapids
We Charlotteans are beyond fortunate to have the US National Whitewater Center in our midst. From white water rafting, to kayaking, endless walking and bike trails, live concerts and so much more, the Whitewater Center is a local treasure. If you’re not into ropes courses or zip lines, there’s a great restaurant with tons of local beers on tap that overlooks the rapids. I promise you, there’s no better people watching than watching fall out of rafts. Here I am with my cousin a few years ago hanging post-raft with a beer.
Luxury Hotel: Golf & Spa
Switching gears a bit, one of my other favorite places in Charlotte is the Ballantyne Hotel. Stepping into the elegant lobby of the Ballantyne (which always smells like fresh lillies mind you) is like stepping into relaxation mode. The Hotel has a lush golf course, a delicious restaurant and a luxury spa. During the holidays the Hotel hosts an amazing gingerbread house contest and has a lovely holiday tea in the wonderfully festive lobby.
Whether it’s a girls spa day or a romantic getaway, the Ballantyne Hotel is a beautiful place for a Charlotte staycation!
Beer Me
I think by now it’s obvious that my tastes are a little varied. Besides visiting the spa and hitting the rapids, I also really like to drink beer. Responsibly of course. It turns out Charlotte is a great place to have a hankering for beers because our brew scene is simply exploding. A recent article in Fortune said Charlotte is home to 17 local breweries with 20 more on the way! That’s a lot of hops and barley. One could spend an entire weekend hitting up local breweries and exploring their patios, food truck options and of course, sampling beer. If I have to pick, some of my faves are NoDa Brewing, Old Meck and Sycamore.
Charlotte truly has something for everyone, and the city’s activities and culture just continues to grow and grow. It’s an exciting time to live in the Queen City, who knows what will pop up next?! I guess you’ll have to stick around to see!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of #DesignCharlotte. The opinions and text are all mine.
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