Things To Do in Charlotte
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Charlotte Attractions
If you're in Charlotte during April and May, drive north on N.C. 49 to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte campus to see the botanical gardens (tel. 704/547-2364; www.uncc.edu) in full bloom. The gardens are a wonderland of rhododendrons, azaleas, and native Carolina trees, shrubs, wildflowers, and ferns. A tropical-rainforest conservatory in the gardens' McMillan Greenhouse is open Monday to Saturday 10am to 3pm; admission is free. The outdoor garden is open daily during daylight hours.
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Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
Among the perks of having scads of money (beside living longer, eating well, and buying horses at will) is that you can become close buddies with some of your era's biggest artists. That's what billionaire businessman Hans Bechtler did, and so his collection contains not only…Uptown
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NASCAR Hall of Fame
The city's most popular attraction proves that any subject, when approached in a creative and intelligent fashion, can be made interesting. Of course, the place is catnip for NASCAR fans. But even those with no previous interest in the sport (full disclosure: that would be me) will…Uptown - Museum
The Harvey B. Gantt Center of African American Arts and Culture
Since 90 percent of the works at this museum are in touring exhibitions, you never know exactly what you'll see. That being said, recent video art shows have been dazzling, including the early 2014 exhibit focusing on African American men talking about the issues that confront them…Uptown - Museum
The Mint Museum
First things first: the Mint has nothing to do with the U.S. Mint or the process of creating money—though it's obvious that some serious coin went into acquiring this superb collection. Along with a huge number of paintings (from such names as John Singer Sargent and Gilbert Stuart…Around Town - Park/Garden
Wing Haven Gardens & Bird Sanctuary
Since 1927, one of Charlotte's special attractions, created by Elizabeth and Edwin Clarkson, has been a 3-acre enclosed area in the heart of a residential neighborhood. Mrs. Clarkson was known as the city's "bird lady." Some 142 winged species have been sighted in the walled garden,…
Charlotte Nightlife
The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra (tel. 704/972-2003; www.charlottesymphony.org) season runs from September to May; check local newspapers or call for performance dates. Opera Carolina (tel. 704/332-7177; www.operacarolina.org) presents performances from October to April. Classic plays are often performed by Theatre Charlotte, 501 Queens Rd. (tel. 704/376-3777; www.theatrecharlotte.org), usually Thursday to Sunday. The Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, 130 N. Tryon St. (tel. 704/372-1000; www.blumenthalcenter.org), is the newest facility to join the performance venues; it features three theaters for productions ranging from rock concerts to intimate stage events.
If you're in town and want to catch a live professional football game, a limited number of single-game tickets are available. For tickets to see the Carolina Panthers (www.panthers.com), visit the Bank of America Stadium Ticket Office at 800 S. Mint St., southeast side of the stadium Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5:30pm (tel. 704/358-7800); or order through Ticketmaster (tel. 704/522-6500; www.ticketmaster.com). The city also has a pro basketball team, the Charlotte Bobcats (tel. 704/262-2287; www.nba.com/bobcats). The majority holder is Robert Johnson, the Black Entertainment Channel (BET) multimillionaire and the first prominent African-American owner in U.S. sports. The Bobcats' new $265-million uptown arena opened in 2005.
