The largest city in the Piedmont, Charlotte was named for George III's wife, Queen Charlotte. Bursting with Southern charm, Charlotte is one of the most progressive and modern cities in the region. Skyscrapers here thrive alongside the local art scene, making this city an exciting, modern metropolis.
The main attraction of the downtown area is the modern Discovery Place, providing a fun and educational experience for kids. Here, the whole family can enjoy the hands-on science museum, aquarium, indoor rainforest, IMAX theatre and planetarium. Nearby, the awesome Independence Square boasts four huge statues in each corner. This is the downtown’s busiest thoroughfare, bursting with restaurants, bars, galleries and shops all within easing walking distance of one another.
One of the most popular museums is the Mint Museum of Art, which is the oldest in North Carolina and displays an impressive collection of European, African and American art, the renowned Delhom Collection of porcelain and pottery, and a variety of historic costumes and gold coins. The first branch of the US Mint is a beautiful building now forming part of the museum.
Charlotte has almost 14,000 hectares of parks, with the most enthralling being the Wing Haven Gardens and Bird Sanctuary, founded in 1927. Here, you’ll find a variety of different gardens drawing in a vast array of bird species. Charlotte is also the biggest retail centre in the Carolinas. Many bargains can be found in the numerous malls and shopping centres; while outlying suburbs and villages offer unique specialties.
Charlotte is surrounded by parks, nature preserves and scenic landscapes that are all easily reached by car. Just 20kms northeast of the city centre, historic Latta Plantation is the area’s last plantation open to the public. Here, you can ramble along beautiful nature trails, see historic buildings housing various exhibits, and be awed at the popular Carolina Raptor Center, a sanctuary for birds of prey. Just 15kms away,
Paramount's Carowinds is an amusement and water park boasting six rollercoasters, a Ferris wheel, live shows and water rafting.
Charlotte is a regional hub for road traffic, with I-77 coming in from Columbia, South Carolina, and then continuing north to Virginia, intersecting with I-40 on the way. Amtrak rail service offers daily trains to Charlotte from Washington, DC, Atlanta, and destinations beyond; there's also a daily service from Raleigh and Durham. Charlotte-Douglas International Airport is west of the city off I-85.
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