Places To Go
The Charlotte Metro Region provides plenty of places to go and things to do.
This region of North Carolina provides easy access for weekend
excursions to the shores of North and South Carolina beaches and day
trips to mountain retreats and resorts. Charlotte and the metro region
also have great destinations for a day of education about our history or
just plain fun!
As a newcomer, you can research Charlotte’s past by visiting the
Charlotte Museum of History, Historic Rosedale and Latta Plantation.
Reed Gold Mine in Cabarrus County will take you back to the golden
days of this region’s beginning. York County preserves the Catawba
Indian traditions at the Catawba Cultural Center. And you can revisit
our presidential history at James K. Polk Memorial and the memorial
to Andrew Jackson.
Charlotte natives and newcomers always marvel at the seasonal
delights of local color at numerous gardens and nature trails. There are
a variety of botanical gardens to visit during all seasons of the year.
Whether it’s football at Bank of America Stadium, race cars at Lowe’s
Motor Speedway or amusement rides at Paramount’s Carowinds, the
Charlotte Metro Region provides plenty of places to go and things to do.
CHARLOTTE
Bank of America Stadium Particularly after their 2004 Super Bowl
debut, the Carolina Panthers’ $165 million
black-and-blue stadium dominates its end
of Uptown and is worth a trip even when
no game’s scheduled. Tours are conducted
each Wednesday and group tours can be
scheduled during the week. 800 S. Mint
St. 704-358-7000 www.panthers.com
Carolina Raptor Center See bald and golden eagles, owls, hawks
and other birds of prey at this center,
located at Latta Plantation Park. 6000
Sample Road, Huntersville. 704-875-
6521. www.carolinaraptorcenter.org
Charlotte Museum of
History/Hezekiah Alexander Homesite Discover how earlier Charlotteans lived
at this complex, which includes the city’s
oldest dwelling, dating back to 1774.
3500 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte. 704-
568-1774. www.charlottemuseum.org
Charlotte Trolley and Trolley Museum
Board the trolley at the Atherton Mill
complex in South End for a ride. 2104
South Blvd., Charlotte. 704-375-0850.
www.charlottetrolley.org
City Tours For a close-up look at your new city, try
a tour. Companies include Around Town,
704-332-3234, www.aroundtownclt.com;
Queen City Tours, 704-566-0104,
www.queencitytours.com
Discovery Place Science and technology take center
stage at this hands-on museum, which
includes a rain forest, collections gallery,
Life Center, Science Circus, the Kelly
Space Voyager Planetarium, the Charlotte
Observer/ OMNIMAX Theatre, the
Challenger Learning Center, an aquarium
and KidsPlace toddler room. 301 N. Tryon
St. 704-372-6261. www.discoveryplace.org
EnergyExplorium
Learn about different forms of energy
with hands-on exhibits at McGuire
Nuclear Station. 13339 Hagers Ferry
Road, Huntersville. 704-875-5600.
www.dukepower.com
Hickory Furniture Mart
The nation’s leading home furnishings
resource. A hundred factory stores, outlets
and galleries offering a thousand lines,
most sold at discount. Hotel, restaurant,
shipping service. 800/462-MART,
www.hickoryfurniture.com.
Historic Rosedale
This home and eight acres were once
the centerpiece of a 911-acre plantation.
3427 N. Tryon St., Charlotte. 704-335-
0325. http://www.historicrosedale.org/
Latta Place
Catch a glimpse of backcountry life at
this circa-1800 home in Latta Plantation
Park. 5225 Sample Rd., Huntersville. 704-
875-2312. www.lattaplantation.org
McDowell Nature Center
Delight kids with the creepy, crawly
insects featured at this education center
and the surrounding 1,108-acre McDowell
Park on Lake Wylie. 15222 York Road,
Charlotte. 704-588-5224.
Nature Museum
Nature Museum is the newly renovated
children’s museum near Freedom Park.
1658 Sterling Road, Charlotte. 704-372-
6261. www.discoveryplace.org
Paramount’s Carowinds
Visitors of all ages will enjoy this amusement
park. 14523 Carowinds Blvd.,
Charlotte. 704-588-2600.
www.carowinds.com
James K. Polk Memorial
This rustic memorial pays tribute to the
nation’s 11th president, born here in 1795.
300 S. Polk Street, Pineville. 704-889-
7145. http://www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/sections/hs/polk/polk.htm
UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens
Take a break from city life at three
green spots: the Van Landingham Glen, a
rhododendron garden; the Susie Harwood
Garden, with year-round displays; and the
McMillan Greenhouse, which includes a
rain forest and orchids. UNC Charlotte, 9201 University Blvd., Charlotte.
704-687-2364. http://gardens.uncc.edu/
Wing Haven
A garden and bird sanctuary in Myers
Park. 248 Ridgewood Ave., Charlotte. 704- 331-0664. www.winghavengardens.com
CABARRUS COUNTY
Backing Up Classics
History hits the road at this car
museum near Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
4545 U.S. 29, Concord. 704-788-9500.
www.backingupclassics.com
Lowe’s Motor Speedway
Visit Charlotte’s superspeedway on a
tour that includes pit road and the garage
area. On days when the track isn’t in use,
you can also ride around the 1.5-mile oval.
5555 Concord Pwky. South, Concord.
704-455-3202. www.lowesmotorspeedway.
com
Reed Gold Mine
Cabarrus County was the site of the
nation’s first authenticated gold find.
9621 Reed Mine Rd., Stanfield. 704-721-
4653. click to visit site
IREDELL COUNTY
N.C. Auto Racing Hall of Fame Winning Winston Cup and Indy cars
park alongside dragsters in this salute to
the history and heroes of auto racing.
119 Knob Hill Rd., Mooresville.
704-663-5331. www.ncarhof.com
Racers’ Shops Mooresville
Nicknamed Race City USA,
Mooresville is home to many NASCAR
racing teams that welcome fans for shop
tours and souvenir shopping. For locations
visit the N.C. Auto Racing Hall of Fame.
UNION COUNTY
Jesse Helms Center
This center honors native son Jesse
Helms, longtime U.S. senator and
nationally known conservative. 3900
U.S. 74 East, Wingate. 704-233-1776.
www.jessehelmscenter.org
Museum of the Alphabet
Learn how man’s alphabets and languages
developed and how Wycliffe Bible
Translators develop written representations
of spoken languages. 6409 Davis Road,
Waxhaw. 704-843-6000.
www.jaars.org/museum/alphabet/index.htm
Museum of the Waxhaws/
Andrew Jackson Memorial
President Andrew Jackson, “Old
Hickory,” grew up nearby. 8215 Waxhaw
Highway (75 East) 704-843-1832.
www.perigee.net/~mwaxhaw
GASTON COUNTY
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
Spread out over 110 acres, these gardens
feature colorful flowers, distinctive
plants, fountains and trails. 6500 South
New Hope Road, Belmont. 704-825-
4490. www.dsbg.org
YORK COUNTY, S.C.
Anne Springs Close Greenway This protected natural area of more than
2,000 acres includes 14 miles of trails, a
nature center and a 35-acre reservoir for
fishing. 1600 U.S. 21 Bypass, Fort Mill.
803-547-1003.
www.leroysprings.com/greenway.html
Catawba Cultural Center
This center on the Catawba Indian
Reservation preserves the culture of the
Catawba Nation with an emphasis on literature
and crafts. 1536 Tom Steven
Road, Rock Hill. 803-328-2427.
www.ccppcrafts.com
Museum of York County
Films, planetarium, art galleries, nature
trail land exhibits including more than 200
mounted African animals. 4621 Mount
Gallant Rd., Rock Hill, S.C.
803-329-2121. http://www.chmuseums.org/ourmuseums/myco/index.htm
