Day Trips (Charlotte, Greensboro, Winston-Salem: live, restaurants, shops)

[ering14]

I was wondering about day trips from Charlotte. Are there any cute towns surronding Charlotte with main streets to walk around and check out shops and restaurants? Thanks

[mullman]

Oh absolutely!

Waxhaw.
Salisbury (I recommend Richards' in town or Darrells' in Rockwell)
Newton.
Albemarle.
If you go to Shelby, eat at Bridges BBQ.
Boone.
Lake Lure.
Asheville.
Mount Airy (Mayberry from Andy Griffith).

NC is packed with small town fun daytrips from CLT.

There are tons more, and I am sure others will weigh in...

[flyingscotsman]

The 1927 inn at lake lure does a nice Sunday brunch for $16.95, love going to Lake lure on a nice day.

[thebalogas]

Originally Posted by flyingscotsman

The 1927 inn at lake lure does a nice Sunday brunch for $16.95, love going to Lake lure on a nice day.

Do you know what's up with the ghost story about this inn?

[cheesehead1]

Another...Blowing Rock, which you could see the same day as Boone.
Closer to Charlotte, but fun to check out are Belmont and Davidson. Have fun!

[Carolina Blue]

There are several places I would recommend, it all depends on your definition of a day trip...

These places are a 20 to 30 minute drive depending on where you live...
Downtown Concord - Very underrated IMO, lots of little shops and resturants, probably much more of an eclectic place than most would expect
website: Concord Downtown Development Corp.

Downtown Salisbury - Surprisingly bustling place. Also has several shops and resturants
website: Downtown Salisbury Inc.

The Triad is a 1 hour to 1 hour and half drive, of course depending on where you live...
Old Salem (Winston-Salem) - Kind of like Williamsburg, VA with a historic district of costumed "villagers" set in the 1700's.
website: Old Salem Museums and Gardens | Home (http://www.oldsalem.org/index.php?id=1 - broken link)

Downtown Winston-Salem (Arts District) - Not much here, but nice places to eat after visiting Old Salem
website: DADA - The Downtown Arts District Association of Winston - Salem

Downtown Greensboro (South Elm/Old Greensborough District) - Another nice place to consider grabing something to eat after a visit to Old Salem
website: Downtown Greensboro, Incorporated

Downtown Greenville, SC - They have a great downtown with tons of little shops and resturants. There's also a nice park called Falls Park
Greenville: Falls Park, Greenville, SC (http://www.fallspark.com/index_content.html - broken link)
Falls Park: Greenville's Downtown (http://www.greenvillesc.gov/development/dtn_map.asp - broken link)

And as mullman said, there's what I call the ultimate day trip from Charlotte, and that's Asheville, NC. They have one of the nicest downtown areas in the Carolinas (along with Charleston, SC). Its about a 2 hour drive. I've been there for just a day several times, but some folks might not consider that a day trip.
Asheville: Explore Asheville, NC | Asheville, NC's Official Tourism Web Site

[mr.bonze]

Blowing Rock and Highlands...Highlands is probably a bit far but can be done.

[marblmom]

Highlands is about 4 hours. 8 hours of driving is too far for me for a day trip! I have done Blowing Rock in a day. Loved Blowing Rock and vicinity. Also Asheville.

[Jake Ryan]

Childress Vineyards

If you're up towwards Lexington, might I suggest the Childress Winery.

[lovesMountains]

Originally Posted by ering14

I was wondering about day trips from Charlotte. Are there any cute towns surronding Charlotte with main streets to walk around and check out shops and restaurants? Thanks

You want to definitely go to Black Mountain

Black Mountain North Carolina: Black Mountain - Swannanoa Chamber of Commerce