5 places in North Carolina to go when spring arrives
By Brian Miller
With a little luck, spring will arrive in North Carolina and all this COVID mess will be behind us. When and if that happens, we can get outside again and not worry about being masked up but even if COVID still lingers, there are places we can go.
North Carolina is a beautiful scenic state with a lot to offer the casual or most picky traveler. In some cases, you can visit the beaches in less than two hours and the mountains in less than three. Few states offer mountainous regions and warm-weather beaches but that is North Carolina.
A southern state with all the charm of the south and sophistication of the north, North Carolina is home to some of the best NCAA basketball you can find. It is home to NASCAR and the elite Army Special Forces at Fort Bragg while the Marines call Jacksonville home.
There is a lot to do in North Carolina that does not include beaches and mountain tops. The Raleigh-Durham areas are rich with state history and museums and some really good shopping. Located a short hour from the I95 corridor off I40, Raleigh and Durham can provide a reprieve from the road grind of travel with stellar southern cooking and hospitality.
The best parts of N.C., however, are away from the state capital and we can look at five places that are worth a day trip or a week if you have it to spend.
Charlotte, North Carolina has a little something for everyone.
Charlotte is N.C.’s largest city and is a lot of fun. The city itself is a beautiful museum of downtown architecture. The downtown streets are teeming with visitors and there are tours that will take you through the history of Charlotte from the Wells Fargo Museum to the Billy Graham museum and tours.
Up for some comedy? There is a tour bus stand-up comedy show that is a two-hour laugh track around the city of Charlotte that takes you to various historical sites. There is even a Feast Food Tour you can go on.
From BBQ to southern fried chicken and more, the food itself is an incredible journey from the traditional to the modern fusions that have become popular.
Nightlife in Charlotte is not only safe but there is a lot to do. Hangout at the EpiCenter, a three-story nightlife spot that is home to several bars and nightclubs as well as a rooftop bar and a Dale Earnhardt, Jr. club, Whisky River.
Charlotte is a perfect city for a weekend ‘hop’ where you can start at one end or the other and work your way back. From karaoke bars to late-night bowling alley’s and everything in between, you can relax and enjoy a bit of everything.
Of course, you can also take in live music, comedy shows, and theater performances as well making Charlotte a great one-stop entertainment venue. It is also home to the NASCAR Hall of Fame.