11 Amazingly Fun Things You Can Do In Charlotte In An Hour Or Less

We all know there are those days where we only have a short amount of time to squeeze in something fun. Or perhaps you're looking to kill some time in between appointments or meetings? If you've ever wondered what fun things you can do in Charlotte under an hour, then do we have the answers for you.

1. Start your day with a Cup of Joe and a delicious pastry from Amelie's.

If you're a coffee lover and you're looking to kill an hour in the morning, head over to an Amelie's French Bakery near you for a delicious cup of coffee and a pastry. Amelie's has an amazing eclectic atmosphere and the space is filled with comfy chairs and couches for guests to lounge in while they enjoy their favorite French treats. Throw a book in your bag and cozy up for an hour of reading and sipping your favorite Cup of Joe. You'll love this so much you're bound to make it a regular activity.

2. Browse Campbell's Greenhouse for some garden inspiration.

After you get your caffeine fix at Amelie's head over to Campbell's Greenhouse in Dilworth. A Charlotte staple, this greenhouse is always full of the most amazing plants, flowers, and shrubs perfect for every season.If you're looking for new inspiration for your home, chat with a Campbell's Greenhouse horticulturist who can help you decide what's the best greenery for your style and situation.

3. Learn something new at a SkillPop class.

If you're more interested in learning something new, check out Charlotte's SkillPop classes. SkillPop is an up and coming (and quickly growing) company that offers classes to the public on everything from hand-lettering, marketing, and social media to home buying, sketching, podcasting, and more.The classes are taught by local professionals who are experts in their field and usually last about an hour or so. Most classes only cost $25, so this is a great way to spend your time while enhancing your skill set. Check out the latest list of Charlotte SkillPop classes.

4. Ride around the city on a Charlotte B-Cycle.

If you're more of an outdoors person, or you're looking for a leisurely way to get to your next appointment then check out Charlotte B-Cycle and rent a bike for an hour to ride around town. You can pick up one of these bikes and any of the Charlotte B-Cycle station, ride to your destination, and then return the bike at the next station you see. This is a great way to enjoy the city and take advantage of a bike if you don't have one.

5. Grab a hot dog for lunch at J.J. Red Hots.

Hungry again? How about lunch at J.J. Red Hots on East Blvd. Charlotte's only primarily hot dog restaurant, J.J. Red Hots serves your hot dog any way you like it. Whether it's chili, cheese and onions or you want to try something a little more unique like a dog topped with queso, bacon, lettuce, and tomato, J.J.'s has the lunch for you. They also have a great rooftop patio, so grab your hot dog and enjoy it on the roof on a sunny Charlotte day.

6. Top off lunch with a cup (or a cone) at Two Scoops Creamery.

After lunch head over to Plaza Midwood for dessert at Two Scoops Creamery. A fun, hip creamery complete with colorful murals on their walls and colorful ice cream to match, this is an awesome place to grab a cone of your favorite ice cream and just enjoy.You'll love the atmosphere and may even want to take some pictures in front of the artwork. For those with a sweet tooth, this is one of the best ways to spend an hour.

7. Make a HUGE impact on a local kid by becoming a Lunch Buddy.

If you're really looking to make an impact in your hour, how about volunteering to become a lunch buddy to a local child? The non-profit organization A Child's Place has an amazing program where volunteers are paired with children from local schools in need of a mentor. The lunch buddy visit's the child's school once a week to have lunch with their buddy, talk, play games, or read. If you enjoy giving back this will be the best hour you've ever spent, and you'll make a new friend too.

8. Check out the activity at Romare Bearden Park.

If you're Uptown and looking to kill time between meetings, talk a walk over to Romare Bearden park and see if there's anything going on. With one of the best views of our city skyline this park always has some eye candy to offer. And many times during the week there might be musicians playing during the day or events happening on the Green that might be worth checking out.

9. Take a plantation tour at Historic Rosedale Plantation.

If you happen to be a history buff who enjoys soaking up all the knowledge you can about our city, then head over to the historic Rosedale Plantation on Tryon St. for a one-hour tour. Drop-ins are welcome and a plantation guide will walk you through the house and the gardens telling you all about its history and those who used to live and work on the plantation.

10. Test your luck in an escape room at Escape Hour Charlotte.

Have you heard of escape rooms? Escape Hour Charlotte is an awesome place to do a quick team building or event with friends. Choose from themed rooms like The Detective's Office, Granny's House and "The Dollhouse," and spend an hour trying to pick-up clues that will help you escape. If you do it in under an hour, you're considered a winner! This is a great thing to try with a group of friends on the weekends or evenings.

11. Pop by one of Historic Southend's monthly gallery crawls.

Finally, if you're just looking for a distraction for an hour in the evenings check out the Southend Gallery crawls on the First Friday of every month. Stroll through open galleries enjoying the art and a glass of wine.You can spend as much or as little time there as you want, but it's a great way to take in some of the best art for sale in Charlotte.

What's your favorite way to spend an hour in the QC? Share with us in the comments.