We all know Charlotte is an awesome city with tons of great things to do with friends and family. When you have guests in from out of town, you’ll most likely hit all the mainstream tourist attractions, including taking them to one of our great museums or to a high profile sporting event like a Panthers or Hornets game. But did you know there are few more uncommon activities that will truly show your guests how fun it is to live in our city? Here’s our list of underrated things to do when you have guests in town.
1. Charcuterie and Flatbreads at Craft Growler Shop & Tasting Room.
Charlotte has tons of great restaurants and breweries, but Craft Growler Shop and Tasting Room in Southend is a hidden little spot with awesome beer, and a great patio.
A relaxed, parlor-style atmosphere creates a cozy spot to enjoy good conversation and amazing food and beverages. Serving a small menu of flatbread and charcuterie, Craft has the best cheese and meat boards complimented by fruit, nuts, olives and more. This is a great place to catch-up with visitors and show them the more intimate side of being out and about in the QC.
2. Pictures at The Green in front of some of the most iconic Charlotte statues.
The Green is a 1.5-acre park in Uptown Charlotte that has some of the funkiest sculptures, signs, and art that you will find in Charlotte.
A park dedicated to great literary figures, this is a fun place to walk through with guests looking for great Charlotte photo ops. This iconic sign that tells visitors how far Charlotte is from many other cities is a favorite spot to take a picture that can also serve as a keepsake from their trip!
3. Take a horse-drawn carriage ride throughout Uptown.
Charlotte Center City Carriage Tours offer horsedrawn carriage rides through Uptown on a daily basis.
If you happen to take your guest Uptown for dinner or for sightseeing, these carriage rides are a great way to see the city skyline and learn a little more about the history of Charlotte. If you happen to be Uptown on a Sunday, you're horse may be showing his Panther's Pride which is also a fun sight to see!
4. Sit at the counter and share a milkshake at Pike's Old Fashioned Soda Shop.
Pikes Old Fashioned Soda Shop is an awesome spot in Charlotte that is modeled to look like a traditional 1950's shop.
Pike's is known for their amazing dessert menu which includes custom-made milkshakes, malts, and floats. In 2001, Pike's mad its debut on the big screen when a scene from the movie Shallow Hal filmed there. Bring your guest in for a sweet treat and then go home and watch the movie for a low-key evening in.
5. Take a walk through Freedom Park enjoying the scenery and people watching.
Freedom Park is one of Charlotte's favorite parks and is a beautiful place to stroll and chat with friends.
Offering a walking path around a little duck pond, tons of benches to sit and observe, and lots of biking and walking trails, Freedom Park is the perfect activity for the house guest who wants to get a little exercise and enjoy some great scenery. Freedom Park is also a great place to people watch as its normally packed with locals enjoying their daily jog or walk.
6. Ride the light rail Uptown.
If you're taking your guest Uptown for a night out, instead of driving, why not ride the light rail?
As one of Charlotte's most popular forms of public transportation, the light rail is a great way to show your guest how a lot of people travel to and from work each day or into the city for some fun.
7. Catch a show at a small music venue like the Visualite Theatre.
The Visualite Theatre is an awesome little music venue in Elizabeth that has some of the best local music shows around.
If your guest is a music lover and enjoys small venues, this is the perfect place to take them to enjoy a unique show. Featuring bands that are not necessarily mainstream, this place will introduce you to new artists and new styles and be an awesome time.
8. Take them on a shopping spree to South Park Mall.
If your guest likes to shop, you must take them to our city's most famous shopping mecca — South Park Mall.
South Park is the largest mall in the Carolinas and has some of the most exclusive high-end brands. In addition to any store you could desire to shop in, South Park also has some great restaurants and dining, so plan a day and enjoy a dinner date after shopping the mall with your out-of-town guest.
9. Sing and dance like crazy at Howl at the Moon Piano Bar in the Epicenter.
Howl at the Moon is the perfect place to take your guest if you want to get a little rowdy!
A popular bar in Charlotte's Uptown Epicenter, Howl at the Moon features two dueling piano players playing popular and old school songs all night at the request of the crowd. You can tip the piano man to play your favorite song, and he may even call you on stage to help him sing. The crowd doesn't really get going until after ten p.m., so this is the perfect place to take a night owl who wants to experience some good fun on the town.
10. Mexican and margaritas at Three Amigos on Central Avenue.
If your guest likes Mexican food, hands down you must take them to Three Amigos.
A small, hole-in-the-wall restaurant, Three Amigos serves some of the most amazing and authentic Mexican dishes you will find in the QC. From their Carne Asada Tacos to their Fried Plantains, this place will impress your guest and leave them craving it when they head home. Not to mention the margaritas are awesome too, so plan a fun dinner date out to Three Amigos for amazing food and a great time.
Where’s your favorite place to take an out-of-towner? Let us know in the comments.
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