Travel & Vacation Guide, North Carolina

By Bob Pardue

Charlotte’s skyline can be seen for several miles as you travel on Interstate 77 in the Piedmont area. At night, the city glistens with beautiful skyscrapers and street lights. Since its beginnings, Charlotte has rapidly grown into a center for finance and banking. It is the second largest financial capital in the United States. “Queen City” is Charlotte’s nickname.

As the county seat, Charlotte is located in Mecklenburg County in the Piedmont region of North Carolina and is just above the South Carolina border. Charlotte’s population was estimated at approximately 584,658 in 2003 and is still growing. Nearby cities include Monroe (NC), Concord (NC), Rock Hill (SC), Pineville (NC), Statesville (NC), and Lancaster (SC).

The area attracts folks from all around for business, shopping, dining, recreation, and entertainment. Many people visit Charlotte from South Carolina for work or play. For those who live in the area, Charlotte is only a couple of hours away from the Appalachian Mountains and several hours from the Atlantic coast.

Charlotte, North Carolina Attractions and Events

Charlotte offers activities for all ages. The city’s night life is always moving with live entertainment and music concerts, ball games, restaurants, comedy clubs, movie theaters, and more.

Shoppers can visit one of several malls including the Eastland Mall, South Park Mall and the Carolina Place Mall (Pineville, South Charlotte). The huge Concord Mills Mall in Concord, North Carolina is just a short drive from Charlotte. At Eastland Mall, an indoor ice skating rink has provided many years of enjoyment for families.

Charlotte Festivals

Charlotte is also host to several big festivals and events throughout the year. One is the Festival in the Park, which takes place in Freedom Park. This early fall event has been held in Charlotte since 1964. It is a family-oriented festival where all types of regional works of art and unique crafts are displayed. Entertainment and refreshments are provided.

Charlotte hosts the Great Grapes Wine & Music Festival, where more than 150 North Carolina wines are available for sampling. Live music and gourmet foods are also provided. Each holiday, Charlotte residents and visitors can enjoy a variety of events, from a grand fireworks display on the 4th of July to cheerful holiday parades.

Charlotte Museums

For the history buff, there are many fascinating museums to explore in Charlotte. Discovery Place in downtown Charlotte has always been a favorite for kids with many fun hands-on exhibits, an Omnimax theater, a space station, a rain forest, and more. Other Charlotte museums include the Levine Museum of the New South, the Mint Museum of Art, and the Charlotte Museum of History.

Family Fun in Charlotte

For the active family that’s visiting or those who live in and around Charlotte, there are many parks for biking or hiking on trails, picnics, and family relaxation. One can enjoy fishing, boating, and golfing at Lake Norman. Bird lovers can relax at the Wing Haven Garden and Bird Sanctuary.

Straddling the North and South Carolina border is Paramount’s Carowinds. The amusement park is filled with exciting rides for the young and old, entertainment and cartoon characters that will amaze the kids. Roller coasters, kiddie rides, twisting and twirling rides, wet rides - Carowinds offers something for everyone! During the hot months, the Carowinds water park and ocean-wave pool provide cool relief for thousands of visitors.

Charlotte, North Carolina is a great place to live or visit. Come see why Charlotte is one of America’s choice cities!

Bob Pardue is a professional stock photographer located in the Southeastern US. You can find rights-managed stock images for your publication at http://www.parduephotos.com

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By Martin McAllister

Since the 1960s, Renaissance Fairs have become major annual events in the lives of a large number of Americans. These outdoor festivals generally focus on the re-enactment of life during the English Renaissance, usually imagined within an English town during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Since the original Renaissance Pleasure Faire was held in North Hollywood in 1963, fairs have spread across North America in epic proportions. Some of the most notable fairs include the New York Renaissance Faire (located in Tuxedo, New York), the Renaissance Faire of Southern California and the Carolina Renaissance Festival, which is held in North Carolina every October and November.

The Carolina Renaissance Festival takes place over six weekends and incorporates a 10-stage theatre, a 20-acre circus, an arts and craft fair, a jousting tournament and a feast - all contained within a medieval-theme amusement park. Established in 1994, the Carolina Renaissance Festival actually began on only 6 acres of land. However, now spanning over 20 acres, the park is home to a range of cottages, castles and a variety of medieval games and rides. Visitors to the fair will also find over 100 food stalls, as well as an array of comedy shows and musical features.

As one of North America’s largest Renaissance fairs, the Carolina Renaissance Festival is now one of the country’s most interactive entertainment events; after all, it has over 500 costumed participants and characters commandeering the festival village. Furthermore, the festival is just a 20 minute drive away from Charlotte, the state capital - so you can escape the madness of the fair if it ever becomes too much.

If you’re planning to visit the Carolina Renaissance Festival, spending some quality time in Charlotte is extremely worthwhile. Charlotte is home to a number of museums and cultural attractions, including the Charlotte Museum of History, the Mint Museums and the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte - one of the top youth theatres in the country. What’s more, you can also visit the top tourist attraction in North Carolina, Concord Mills, which features a large range of retail outlets, restaurants and entertainment events. Tourists will find an array of top hotels in Charlotte; so if you’re looking for accommodation in the city when you’re enjoying the delights of the Carolina Renaissance Festival, you won’t be short of options.