How To Spend Three Days in Charlotte, North Carolina

Charlotte is one of the 25 largest cities in the US and is the largest city in North Carolina. It’s nicknamed the Queen City, is home to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, and is the pimento cheese capital of the world! Charlotte is colorful, charming, and filled with history and character. 

One of my best friends has lived in Charlotte for over eight years. Last year I finally made the trip down to visit! I’m not sure what took me so long to finally explore Charlotte, but I was beyond impressed with the city. From the incredible food scene to the stunning green parks and open spaces, to the fun rooftop bars, and the exciting surrounding areas, Charlotte is definitely a place worth visiting. It’s easy to see why so many people are re-locating there and why it’s such a growing city.

Hopefully, you found this post because you are looking to visit Charlotte and you’re curious to know what it has to offer. In this post, I’m going to outline how to spend three fun-filled days exploring this beautiful city, including great places to eat, fun murals to see, and awesome places to visit. 

Also, if you’re wanting to do a little road trip, an incredibly easy place to visit along with Charlotte is Charleston, South Carolina. If you want to kill two birds with one stone, check out my blog post on a perfect weekend in Charleston. Okay, let’s get started!

Day One in Charlotte

Spend your first day in Charlotte right in the heart of the city! Experience the colorful murals and the incredible food. Stroll the famous Rail Trail, which will be your walking path right through the city. Even though Charlotte is a major city, it’s exceptionally clean and not uncomfortably busy or, suffocating the way some cities are. Here, you’ll be able to relax and really take in the surroundings.

Lunch at Suffolk Punch

Start the afternoon out the right way with a great lunch at Suffolk Punch. Located in Southside Park, Suffolk Punch is a highly rated brewery, with a spacious, yet cozy outdoor area. Upon walking in, there’s a counter where you can order your food and drinks. Their beer list is extensive and has a little something for everyone. 

Find yourself a table outside (or inside) and a friendly staff member will bring you your food. I opted for the fried chicken sandwich, a must when down south, and it was out of this world. Everything about Suffolk Punch is outstanding- from the ambiance to the food, to the beer selection, you can’t go wrong! Also, right behind the brewery, is the rail trail, where you’ll be heading next.

Stroll the Rail Trail

Charlotte’s Rail Trail is a vibrant public trail that winds right through the heart of the city. After eating, you can hop right on the Rail Trail and walk off lunch while getting some beautiful views of the city. The first mural you’ll encounter is the “magic carpet mural” which is very unique and located right on the trail.

Walk the Rail Trail right into South End, an eclectic, fun area worth exploring. Now it’s time for dessert!

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams

Jeni’s is a very popular ice cream chain that is totally worth the hype. Upon walking in, the air is intoxicating with the scent of waffle cones. And your eyes will become overwhelmed with the number of flavors you have to choose from. Which is why we decided to go with an ice cream flight. That’s right, they offer ice cream flights! If you’re with a friend I would absolutely recommend this option so you both can sample a little bit of everything. You can obviously do this even if you’re alone, but it is a bit much for one person.

Mural Hop

Right behind Jeni’s is one of the most popular murals in Charlotte- the “Confetti Hearts Mural,” which is located on a cute, quiet alley. Charlotte is filled with tons of beautiful, creative murals. A really fun activity, which will also allow you to see and experience the city, is to walk (or drive) around to different murals. Sometimes you’ll just stumble upon them without even looking. And sometimes those are the most special. These were three of my favorites I photographed while visiting. Photo #1: “Peace Sign Mural” Photo #2: “Confetti Hearts Mural” Photo #3: “Good Vibes Mural”

Have A Glass of Wine at Barcelona

After walking around and enjoying the incredible art this city has to offer, it’s time to rest your feet and enjoy a glass of wine! Barcelona is a super cozy, eclectic bar and restaurant. They have a great wine list and menu, which includes charcuterie & cheese, yummy tapas, salads, and larger plates perfect for sharing. This would have also been a wonderful place to have dinner but we already had other plans, and I wouldn’t have changed them for anything. Next, we headed to one of the best rooftop bars in Charlotte.

Dinner at Fahrenheit Charlotte

Fahrenheit Charlotte is a trendy rooftop bar and restaurant in the downtown area. Located on the 21st floor of Hyatt Place, you’ll have magical panoramic views of the city and one of the best places to see the sunset. All while enjoying amazing cocktails and delicious new American dishes. Reservations are not required but are highly recommended. We lucked out with one of the last spots at the bar where the view of the city couldn’t have been more perfect. We enjoyed the wedge salad, meatballs with crostini, fried rice, and crab cakes.

Day Two in Charlotte

After a fun-filled day right in the heart of Charlotte, spend your second day experiencing and enjoying the outskirts. Located just about half an hour outside of the city is a beautiful town called Davidson, which is located right on Lake Norman. This is a wonderful area to explore for a day and a perfect day trip from Charlotte.

Lunch at North Harbor Club

Start the day off with a beautiful drive to North Harbor Club for lunch. Located on Lake Norman you’ll have a beautiful view of the water while eating on their fantastic waterfront patio. North Harbor Club is a regatta-themed New American fine dining restaurant. Their lunch menu has plenty of small plates great for sharing, salads, and entrees. They also have a great wine list and fun cocktails. After enjoying lunch, be sure to stroll the area a bit. There’s so much to see here!

Buy Souvenirs at Lake Norman Cottage

Right next door to North Harbor Club, you’ll find Lake Norman Cottage. This adorable shop is a great place to purchase awesome bottles of wine and fun souvenirs to bring back home. You can even grab a table out front and do a proper wine tasting or just spend your time strolling through the cottage and enjoying its cozy, homey vibes.

Stroll around Davidson’s Main Street

As I said earlier, Davidson is a great little town located right on the banks of Lake Norman. The town itself is very lovely and quaint. After leaving the Lake Norman Cottage, take a drive to Main Street where you can easily find parking, and then walk around. The town was established in 1837 and you can feel its old-timey charm. There are tons of great restaurants, adorable shops, art galleries, and parks. 

Relax in Jetton Park

After a nice walk through town, head to Jetton Park to spend the rest of the afternoon. Jetton Park is a 104-acre park right on Lake Norman. The waterfront is beautiful and lined with tables for sitting or having a picnic. There are great walking trails and even tennis courts. My favorite part, however, was a nice little sandy beach, perfect for relaxing and sitting in the sun. Even when visiting a city, it’s important to find a little time to spend in nature.

Dinner at Noble Smoke

After a wonderful day spent on the lake, head back into the city for a fantastic dinner. A must-have when visiting a southern city is barbeque, and Noble Smoke does not disappoint. Every day they smoke over 1,200 pounds of premium meat, which slowly transforms into barbecue perfection! I suggest going on the earlier side, as once they run out of something, it’s gone for the night. They offer great platters, individual meats, and comforting sides. This is the kind of place you’ll want to try at least a few different things. I would definitely recommend their brisket, smoked wings, pulled BBQ chicken, and mac n cheese. Also, the heath banana pudding is to die for!

Day Three in Charlotte

Your last day in Charlotte should be a mix of relaxation, good views, and even better food. Charlotte has an incredible food scene and a ton of amazing rooftop bars. I didn’t actually know this until going there and experiencing it for myself. My last day there was very loosely planned but I really enjoyed the little adventure I ended up going on. It was a perfect way to end my time there!

Breakfast at Sunflour Baking Company

Charlotte is made up of a bunch of different little neighborhoods. One that I’d definitely recommend visiting is Dilworth, a quaint area with tons of green spaces,  tree-lined streets, and cute cafes. The energy is very different from Uptown and Southend, but just as special. You’ll also find Sunflour Baking Company in Dilworth, which is a great place to pick up some pastries and sandwiches for breakfast or a late lunch. Just be aware, they do close at 4 pm.

Relax in Freedom Park

Either enjoy your pastries from Sunflour Baking Company at one of their outdoor patio tables or bring them along with you to Freedom Park for a little picnic. Freedom Park is a 98-acre park between Dilworth and Myers Park. It is centered on a stunning 7-acre lake and has beautiful walking paths, playgrounds, and picnic areas. This is a great place to get your steps in for the day, or bring a blanket and spend some time relaxing by the lake.

Have A Drink at Cloud Bar

Located on the rooftop of the Meridien is Cloud Bar by David Burke. Here, you’ll be surrounded by the beauty of Charlotte’s skyline while sipping on signature cocktails and enjoying the trendy yet cozy vibes of this incredible bar/restaurant. The journey up to Cloud Bar was one of my favorite parts. After taking the elevator up, there are two sets of stairs you need to walk up to actually get to the rooftop. And you have beautiful views of the city on the walk up! 

Dinner at Optimist Hall

Optimist Hall may have been one of my favorite places I went to during my Charlotte trip. Originally home to Charlotte’s largest textile mill, Optimist Hall has been transformed into a hip, funky food hall with bar stands, fun events, and indoor/outdoor seating. There are currently over 20 different tenants, meaning you’ll be overwhelmed with the amazing food options that will be displayed before you.

I suggest taking a lap upon arriving and seeing what’s available. There are so many great menus to look at and different kinds of food to eat! No matter what you’re in the mood for, you’ll find something to satisfy your craving. We ended up getting a couple of different things including noodles and dumplings from The Dumpling Lady, a fried chicken sandwich from Boxcar Betty’s, and bao from Bao & Broth. Everything was fantastic!

Take in the Views at Merchant & Trade

After filling up on lots of good food, end the night off right with one more beautiful view of Charlotte. Head to Merchant & Trade, located in Uptown. Perched right on top of Kimpton Tyron Park Hotel, this rooftop bar is the perfect mix of sexy, chic, and sleek. Seeing the city lit up at night is so magical, and you truly can’t beat the view here. The ambiance is fun, the drinks are great, and the service is impeccable. This is the kind of place you may want to make a reservation for ahead of time- we managed to luck out and only had to wait about 15 minutes. But from what I’ve heard, they do tend to fill up quickly.

This concludes our three fun-filled days exploring beautiful Charlotte, North Carolina. I hope this post has given you some wonderful ideas and inspiration for visiting this incredible city. If you have any questions or comments please leave them below, and as always, happy travels!