Guides
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How to do Charlotte well
Evergreen guides plus seasonal resources, updated on a schedule and dated so you know. Written for everyone who lives here or is thinking about it, whatever your budget, family shape or how long you've been in town.
Eat & Drink
59 guides
01
A Charlotte coffee shop crawl, neighborhood by neighborhood
02
A patio hopping route for one Charlotte evening
03
Breweries and nightlife around Charlotte
04
Charlotte’s rooftop bars: when each one is worth going to
05
Charlotte’s international food corridors
06
Charlotte’s pizza guide, by style
07
Cheap eats in Charlotte: eating well under $15
08
Coffee roasters of the Charlotte region
09
Coffee shops, ranked by how long you can sit
10
Date night ideas in Charlotte
11
Eggs, honey and pasture-raised meat: the local producer guide
12
Farm stands and u-pick farms near Charlotte
13
Late-night eats in Charlotte
14
Sunday long lunches and dim sum
15
The 10 best bars in Charlotte
16
The 10 best breakfast spots in Charlotte
17
The 10 best breweries in Charlotte
18
The 10 best brunch spots in Charlotte
19
The 10 best burgers in Charlotte
20
The 10 best coffee shops in Charlotte
21
The 10 best date night restaurants in Charlotte
22
The 10 best ice cream shops in Charlotte
23
The 10 best kid friendly restaurants in Charlotte
24
The 10 best pizza places in Charlotte
25
The 10 best restaurants in Charlotte right now
26
The 10 best sushi restaurants in Charlotte
27
The 10 best tacos in Charlotte
28
The 10 best wings in Charlotte
29
The 5 best bagel shops in Charlotte
30
The 6 best locally owned steakhouses in Charlotte
31
The 6 best vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Charlotte
32
The 7 best ramen shops in Charlotte
33
The 7 best Thai restaurants in Charlotte
34
The 7 best wine bars in Charlotte
35
The 8 best bakeries in Charlotte
36
The 8 best barbecue restaurants in Charlotte
37
The 8 best Italian restaurants in Charlotte
38
The 8 best Korean restaurants in Charlotte
39
The 8 best restaurant patios in Charlotte
40
The 8 best rooftop bars in Charlotte
41
The 8 best seafood restaurants in Charlotte
42
The 8 best Vietnamese restaurants in Charlotte
43
The 9 best cocktail bars in Charlotte
44
The 9 best Indian restaurants in Charlotte
45
The 9 best Mexican restaurants in Charlotte
46
The bakery guide to Charlotte
47
The barbecue guide to the Charlotte metro
48
The brunch and breakfast guide to Charlotte
49
The Charlotte barbecue trail
50
The dessert guide to Charlotte
51
The food truck guide to Charlotte
52
The patio guide to Charlotte
53
The taco guide to east Charlotte
54
Trivia, music bingo and live music in Charlotte
55
Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free in Charlotte
56
Where to eat before a Panthers game
57
Where to eat in Charlotte
58
Where to eat in Uptown on a lunch hour
59
Wine and bottle shops in Charlotte
Things to Do
65 guides
01
A day in Ballantyne
02
A day in Belmont
03
A day in Concord
04
A day in Cornelius and Huntersville
05
A day in Davidson
06
A day in Dilworth and Myers Park
07
A day in Elizabeth
08
A day in Fort Mill
09
A day in Matthews
10
A day in Plaza Midwood
11
A day in SouthPark
12
A day in Uptown Charlotte
13
A guide to Charlotte’s public art and murals
14
A weekend in NoDa
15
A weekend in South End
16
A weekend in Waxhaw and Union County
17
Adult rec sports in Charlotte
18
Birdwatching around Charlotte
19
Charlotte in the rain: what to do when the forecast turns
20
Charlotte on a bike: greenways, lanes, rentals and where it actually works
21
Charlotte with toddlers: where the small ones can actually run
22
Charlotte’s holiday season: Thanksgiving to New Year’s
23
Day trips within an hour of Charlotte
24
Disc golf in the Charlotte area
25
Fall in Charlotte: what to do between now and December
26
Fishing near Charlotte
27
Free things to do in Charlotte
28
Gyms and fitness in Charlotte
29
How Charlotte’s greenway network connects
30
Kayak and paddleboard launches near Charlotte
31
Lake Norman: access points, ramps and beaches
32
Lake Norman: where to eat, swim and tie up a boat
33
Lake Wylie and the southwest shoreline
34
Lake Wylie: the lake Charlotte forgets it has
35
Mountain Island Lake: the quiet one
36
Museums and galleries in Charlotte
37
Parks, trails and greenways
38
Romare Bearden Park and Uptown’s public spaces
39
Spring in Charlotte: pollen, blossoms and the best six weeks of the year
40
Summer in Charlotte with kids: pools, splash pads and cold air
41
Sunrise and sunset spots around Charlotte
42
Swim lessons and pools around Charlotte
43
The 10 best hikes near Charlotte
44
The 10 best parks in Charlotte
45
The 10 best things to do in Charlotte
46
The 10 best things to do in Concord, NC
47
The 7 best public golf courses near Charlotte
48
The Charlotte brewery trail
49
The Charlotte greenway guide
50
The complete guide to Freedom Park
51
The cyclist guide to Charlotte
52
The dog owner guide to Charlotte
53
The golfer guide to Charlotte
54
The photographer guide to Charlotte
55
The rainy day guide to Charlotte
56
The runner guide to Charlotte
57
The teenager guide to Charlotte
58
The U.S. National Whitewater Center, explained
59
The wildlife of Mecklenburg County
60
Things to do in Charlotte this weekend
61
Things to do with kids in Charlotte
62
Where to play pickleball and tennis in Charlotte
63
Where to take visitors in Charlotte
64
Winter in Charlotte: what to do when the patios close
65
Youth sports in Charlotte
Living Here
79 guides
01
A short history of Uptown
02
Accessible Charlotte
03
Antiquing and thrifting around Charlotte
04
Art classes and creative workshops in Charlotte
05
Birthday party venues in Charlotte
06
Charging an EV in Charlotte
07
Charlotte neighborhoods, explained
08
Charlotte schools guide
09
Charlotte’s mill villages: NoDa, Chadwick and Hoskins
10
Elmwood and Pinewood Cemetery: a walking history
11
Finding a doctor in Charlotte
12
Getting around Charlotte without a car
13
Getting from Charlotte Douglas to anywhere in the metro
14
Having a baby in Charlotte: what to sort out before and after
15
How a Panthers or Charlotte FC match day works
16
How Charlotte Douglas International Airport works
17
How Charlotte property tax and the revaluation cycle work
18
How CMS school assignment and the magnet lottery work
19
How the CATS bus network works
20
How the Charlotte light rail actually works
21
How to get a North Carolina driver’s license and register a car in Charlotte
22
How to get involved in Charlotte local government
23
How to register and vote in Mecklenburg County
24
How trash, recycling and yard waste collection works in Charlotte
25
Lost Charlotte: the landmarks that vanished
26
Meeting and event spaces in Charlotte
27
Moving to Charlotte: what to sort out in your first month
28
Neighborhoods, schools, commutes, utilities and the first ten places to eat
29
Owning a pet in Charlotte: vets, emergencies, parks and where dogs are welcome
30
Retiring in Charlotte: what to know before you move
31
Riding the LYNX Blue Line and Gold Line
32
So you’re moving to Charlotte
33
Starting a business in Charlotte
34
Story times and early literacy in Charlotte
35
The 10 best hair salons in Charlotte
36
The 10 best neighborhoods in Charlotte
37
The 10 best private schools in Charlotte
38
The 10 best thrift and vintage stores in Charlotte
39
The 10 best wedding venues in Charlotte
40
The 6 best bookstores in Charlotte
41
The 7 best daycares and preschools in Charlotte
42
The 8 best chiropractors in Charlotte
43
The 8 best CPAs and accounting firms in Charlotte
44
The 8 best dog groomers in Charlotte
45
The 8 best electricians in Charlotte
46
The 8 best garage door companies in Charlotte
47
The 8 best gyms and fitness studios in Charlotte
48
The 8 best home builders in Charlotte
49
The 8 best landscaping companies in Charlotte
50
The 8 best med spas in Charlotte
51
The 8 best tattoo shops in Charlotte
52
The 8 best veterinarians in Charlotte
53
The 8 best wedding photographers in Charlotte
54
The 9 best auto repair shops in Charlotte
55
The 9 best dentists in Charlotte
56
The 9 best florists in Charlotte
57
The 9 best HVAC and plumbing companies in Charlotte
58
The 9 best moving companies in Charlotte
59
The 9 best nail salons in Charlotte
60
The 9 best painters in Charlotte
61
The 9 best pest control companies in Charlotte
62
The 9 best roofing companies in Charlotte
63
The active aging guide to Charlotte
64
The business traveler guide to Charlotte
65
The grandparent guide to Charlotte
66
The historic churches of Charlotte
67
The historic markers of Charlotte
68
The Historic West End, block by block
69
The library guide for Charlotte
70
The public art and mural guide to Charlotte
71
The toddler parent guide to Charlotte
72
Then and now: what Charlotte’s buildings used to be
73
Vinyl in Charlotte
74
Where to park in Uptown Charlotte
75
Where to stay in Charlotte
76
Where to volunteer in Charlotte
77
Why Charlotte is growing so fast
78
Working remotely in Charlotte
79
Your first week in Charlotte
Seasonal
9 guides
01
Christmas lights and holiday markets
02
Fall in the Charlotte metro
03
Holiday season in Charlotte
04
Speedway weekends at Charlotte Motor Speedway
05
Spring festival season
06
Summer pools and splash pads
07
The annual events calendar
08
The Charlotte sports calendar
09
The free concert and festival town
Resources
9 guides
01
Charlotte Holiday Gift Guide: 40 Local Ideas
02
Charlotte-area school calendars
03
Charlotte, NC wedding guide 2026
04
Emergency and urgent care map
05
Farmers markets by day of the week
06
Kids eat free, by day of the week
07
Moving checklist for the Charlotte metro
08
Summer camps 2026
09
The utility and setup checklist
News
10 stories
01
Peace & Saint opens a cocktail and hookah lounge in Uptown as Ray’s Country Smokehouse closes in Gastonia after 60 years
02
Huntersville neighbors organize against an 18-bay car wash and gas station planned for Statesville Road
03
WTA moving global headquarters to Charlotte, with Finals at Spectrum Center from 2027
04
Harris Teeter plans $253 million for Charlotte-area stores, including Matthews and Huntersville
05
Charlotte-area home sales fell 8.7% in August as the number of homes for sale kept climbing
06
Charlotte’s data center moratorium could run through October 2027, with a public hearing set for October 12
07
Food Lion opens Wednesday in east Charlotte’s former Harris Teeter at Idlewild and Margaret Wallace roads
08
Space Craft will build Mira, 371 apartments and seven storefronts, on an old chemical plant site in Optimist Park
09
Opening this week in Charlotte: a public café at The Pearl, Guard and Grace in South End and The Queen’s Mahjery
10
Daimler Truck Financial Services opens North American headquarters in Ballantyne
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