Charlotte & Surrounding Area Info
Sports & Entertainment
Home of the Charlotte Hornets and a great venue for concerts and other events.
245 locals recommend
Spectrum Center
333 E Trade StHome of the Charlotte Hornets and a great venue for concerts and other events.
The NASCAR Hall of Fame is an interactive entertainment attraction honoring the history and heritage of NASCAR. The high-tech venue, designed to educate and entertain race fans and non-fans alike, opened May 11, 2010, and includes artifacts, hands-on exhibits, a 278-person state-of-the-art theater, Hall of Honor, Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant, NASCAR Hall of Fame Gear Shop, NASCAR Productions-operated broadcast studio and an attached parking garage on Brevard Street. The 5-acre site also includes a privately developed 19-story office tower and 102,000-square-foot expansion to the Charlotte Convention Center, highlighted by a 40,000-square-foot ballroom. The NASCAR Hall of Fame is owned by the City of Charlotte, licensed by NASCAR and operated by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority.
The goal of the facility is to honor NASCAR icons and create an enduring tribute to the drivers, crew members, team owners and others that have impacted the sport in the past, present and future.
409 locals recommend
NASCAR Hall of Fame
400 E M.L.K. Jr BlvdThe NASCAR Hall of Fame is an interactive entertainment attraction honoring the history and heritage of NASCAR. The high-tech venue, designed to educate and entertain race fans and non-fans alike, opened May 11, 2010, and includes artifacts, hands-on exhibits, a 278-person state-of-the-art theater, Hall of Honor, Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant, NASCAR Hall of Fame Gear Shop, NASCAR Productions-operated broadcast studio and an attached parking garage on Brevard Street. The 5-acre site also includes a privately developed 19-story office tower and 102,000-square-foot expansion to the Charlotte Convention Center, highlighted by a 40,000-square-foot ballroom. The NASCAR Hall of Fame is owned by the City of Charlotte, licensed by NASCAR and operated by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority.
The goal of the facility is to honor NASCAR icons and create an enduring tribute to the drivers, crew members, team owners and others that have impacted the sport in the past, present and future.
Charlotte Motor Speedway was designed and built in 1959 by current chairman and NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee O. Bruton Smith. The late Curtis Turner, one of stock car racing's earliest stars and another Hall of Fame inductee, served as Smith's primary business partner.
Smith, a native of Oakboro, N.C., was an automobile dealer and short-track stock car racing promoter at Concord Motor Speedway and the Charlotte Fairgrounds. Turner, a Virginian who amassed his money in the lumber industry, became one of the first drivers on the NASCAR circuit after the sanctioning body debuted in 1949.
Together, they built their dream of a 1.5-mile superspeedway on the outskirts of the Queen City and, on June 19, 1960, the first World 600 was contested at the new facility.
In 1961, like many superspeedways of the era, the track fell into Chapter 11 reorganization from which it eventually emerged despite lagging ticket sales. After his departure from the speedway in 1962, Smith pursued other business interests in Texas and Illinois. Working within Ford Motor Company's dealership program, Smith became quite successful and began purchasing shares of stock in Charlotte Motor Speedway. By 1975 Smith had again become the majority stockholder in the speedway, regaining control of its day-to-day operations.
He hired H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler as general manager and the two began to implement plans for needed improvements and expansion.
During the ensuing years, Smith and Wheeler demonstrated a commitment to customer satisfaction, building a facility that continuously established new industry standards. Thousands of grandstand seats and luxury suites were built. Food concessions and restroom facilities were added and modernized to increase the comfort of race fans. Smith Tower, a 135,000-square-foot, seven-story facility connected to the speedway's grandstands, was erected and opened in 1988. The building houses the speedway's corporate offices, ticket office, souvenir gift shop, leased office space and The Speedway Club, an exclusive dining and entertainment facility.
In 1984, under the direction of Smith, Charlotte Motor Speedway became the only sports facility in America to offer year-round living accommodations when it built 40 condominiums high above turn one. Twelve additional condominium units were added in 1991.
Another innovation was a $1.7 million, 1,200-fixture permanent lighting system developed by MUSCO Lighting of Oskaloosa, Iowa. The revolutionary lighting process uses mirrors to simulate daylight without glare, shadows or obtrusive light poles.
The lighting system was installed in 1992, allowing Charlotte Motor Speedway to be the first modern superspeedway to host night auto racing.
Ever cognizant of the competitors as well as the spectators, the speedway added a new $1 million, 20,000-square-foot NASCAR Cup Series garage area in 1994.
Other additions and improvements include the development of the speedway's 2,000-plus acres. In addition to the speedway, the property, some of which is leased, includes an industrial park that serves as home to several motorsports-related businesses, a modern landfill facility operated by BFI and a natural wildlife habitat.
In addition to the 1.5-mile quad oval, the Charlotte Motor Speedway complex includes a 2.25-mile road course and a six-tenths-mile karting layout in the speedway's infield; a quarter-mile asphalt oval utilizing part of the speedway's frontstretch and pit road; and a one-fifth-mile oval located outside Turn 3 of the superspeedway.
Two NASCAR Cup Series races, two NASCAR Xfinity Series races and one NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race are among the major events held at the speedway. The Richard Petty Driving Experience and the NASCAR Racing Experience also use the track extensively throughout the year.
Other events on the various tracks include a summer short-track series for Legend Cars and Bandoleros and World Karting Association regional, national and international races.
In May 2000, The Dirt Track at Charlotte, a state-of-the-art, four-tenths-mile clay oval was completed across U.S. 29 from the speedway. The stadium-style facility has nearly 14,000 seats and plays host to Dirt Late Models, Modifieds, Sprint Cars, Monster Trucks and the prestigious World of Outlaws World Finals.
Corporations such as Lowe's Home Improvement, Coca-Cola, Sprint and Nationwide have rented the speedway to film television commercials or to entertain employees and clients with food, music and race car rides.
Motion pictures such as "Days of Thunder," "Speedway," "Stroker Ace" and "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby," and even music videos like Tracy Lawrence's "If the Good Die Young" have been filmed at the speedway. In 2006, Charlotte Motor Speedway became the first motorsports facility to host the world premiere of a major motion picture. More than 30,000 fans along with stars such as Paul Newman, Owen Wilson, Bonnie Hunt and Larry the Cable Guy were on hand for the debut of "CARS," an animated hit from Disney/Pixar. Additional rental dates are reserved for race team testing and automobile manufacturer research.
Charlotte Motor Speedway also annually presents two of the nation's largest car shows and swap meets, the Charlotte AutoFair in April and September. With track rentals and events, the speedway is used more than 300 days per year for all of its attractions, which includes Speedway Christmas - a holiday-themed light show spanning three miles over the speedway's infield, grandstands and concourse which in 2017 attracted a record 120,000 cars from mid-November through Dec. 31.
The track added a new garage area for the NASCAR Xfinity Series, a state-of-the-art media center and additional restrooms and showers for use by those enjoying the action from the speedway's infield. In 2012, the speedway opened first-of-its-kind corporate hospitality in the infield. Six elevated Pit Road Suites, located directly behind pit road, offer fans the best view in motorsports, bringing them closer to the action than ever before.
Charlotte Motor Speedway added the Bellagio of drag strips to its complex with the completion of zMAX Dragway in 2008. The state-of-the-art facility has been praised as the finest drag racing facility in the world by both fans and competitors alike, and opened to a sellout crowd of more than 30,000 for the NHRA Carolina Nationals in September 2008.
Building on the basic philosophy of putting fans first, Charlotte Motor Speedway continues to be the world's leader in entertainment within its unrivaled motorsports complex.
In 2011, the speedway revamped its Fan Zone, a paved, 10-acre area located right outside the speedway's main entrance. During major events, the Fan Zone provides fans with hours of fun, from the Fanatics NASCAR merchandise tents to interactive games and displays and the Play Zone, a kid-friendly area with bounce houses, face painters and a petting zoo.
That same year, Charlotte Motor Speedway revolutionized the fan experience by installing the world's largest HDTV along the backstretch of the legendary superspeedway. At an incredible length of 200 feet wide, standing 80 feet tall and weighing 165,000 pounds, the video board covers an expansive 16,000 square feet. Fans seated throughout the frontstretch from Turn 4 to Turn 1 have clear viewing angles of the gigantic board that features 720P high-definition visuals illuminated by more than nine million light emitting diode, or LED, lamps.
Charlotte Motor Speedway ushered in a new chapter of its illustrious history in 2018, when the 2.28-mile, 17-turn ROVAL™ road course oval debuted in the Bank of America ROVAL™ 400. The unique circuit hosted the first road course race in the history of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. Featuring twisting, left-right turns, chicanes on the frontstretch and backstretch and a 45-foot elevation change, the ROVAL™ quickly gained a reputation as one of NASCAR's most challenging tracks. It remains the only road course in NASCAR in which race fans can see every turn from the main grandstands.
Since its inception in 1960, Charlotte Motor Speedway has always put fans first. After 60 years of innovative firsts in entertainment and fan engagement, the speedway known as America's Home for Racing continues to be an iconic trailblazer in sports, entertainment and fan amenities.
176 locals recommend
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway was designed and built in 1959 by current chairman and NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee O. Bruton Smith. The late Curtis Turner, one of stock car racing's earliest stars and another Hall of Fame inductee, served as Smith's primary business partner.
Smith, a native of Oakboro, N.C., was an automobile dealer and short-track stock car racing promoter at Concord Motor Speedway and the Charlotte Fairgrounds. Turner, a Virginian who amassed his money in the lumber industry, became one of the first drivers on the NASCAR circuit after the sanctioning body debuted in 1949.
Together, they built their dream of a 1.5-mile superspeedway on the outskirts of the Queen City and, on June 19, 1960, the first World 600 was contested at the new facility.
In 1961, like many superspeedways of the era, the track fell into Chapter 11 reorganization from which it eventually emerged despite lagging ticket sales. After his departure from the speedway in 1962, Smith pursued other business interests in Texas and Illinois. Working within Ford Motor Company's dealership program, Smith became quite successful and began purchasing shares of stock in Charlotte Motor Speedway. By 1975 Smith had again become the majority stockholder in the speedway, regaining control of its day-to-day operations.
He hired H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler as general manager and the two began to implement plans for needed improvements and expansion.
During the ensuing years, Smith and Wheeler demonstrated a commitment to customer satisfaction, building a facility that continuously established new industry standards. Thousands of grandstand seats and luxury suites were built. Food concessions and restroom facilities were added and modernized to increase the comfort of race fans. Smith Tower, a 135,000-square-foot, seven-story facility connected to the speedway's grandstands, was erected and opened in 1988. The building houses the speedway's corporate offices, ticket office, souvenir gift shop, leased office space and The Speedway Club, an exclusive dining and entertainment facility.
In 1984, under the direction of Smith, Charlotte Motor Speedway became the only sports facility in America to offer year-round living accommodations when it built 40 condominiums high above turn one. Twelve additional condominium units were added in 1991.
Another innovation was a $1.7 million, 1,200-fixture permanent lighting system developed by MUSCO Lighting of Oskaloosa, Iowa. The revolutionary lighting process uses mirrors to simulate daylight without glare, shadows or obtrusive light poles.
The lighting system was installed in 1992, allowing Charlotte Motor Speedway to be the first modern superspeedway to host night auto racing.
Ever cognizant of the competitors as well as the spectators, the speedway added a new $1 million, 20,000-square-foot NASCAR Cup Series garage area in 1994.
Other additions and improvements include the development of the speedway's 2,000-plus acres. In addition to the speedway, the property, some of which is leased, includes an industrial park that serves as home to several motorsports-related businesses, a modern landfill facility operated by BFI and a natural wildlife habitat.
In addition to the 1.5-mile quad oval, the Charlotte Motor Speedway complex includes a 2.25-mile road course and a six-tenths-mile karting layout in the speedway's infield; a quarter-mile asphalt oval utilizing part of the speedway's frontstretch and pit road; and a one-fifth-mile oval located outside Turn 3 of the superspeedway.
Two NASCAR Cup Series races, two NASCAR Xfinity Series races and one NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race are among the major events held at the speedway. The Richard Petty Driving Experience and the NASCAR Racing Experience also use the track extensively throughout the year.
Other events on the various tracks include a summer short-track series for Legend Cars and Bandoleros and World Karting Association regional, national and international races.
In May 2000, The Dirt Track at Charlotte, a state-of-the-art, four-tenths-mile clay oval was completed across U.S. 29 from the speedway. The stadium-style facility has nearly 14,000 seats and plays host to Dirt Late Models, Modifieds, Sprint Cars, Monster Trucks and the prestigious World of Outlaws World Finals.
Corporations such as Lowe's Home Improvement, Coca-Cola, Sprint and Nationwide have rented the speedway to film television commercials or to entertain employees and clients with food, music and race car rides.
Motion pictures such as "Days of Thunder," "Speedway," "Stroker Ace" and "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby," and even music videos like Tracy Lawrence's "If the Good Die Young" have been filmed at the speedway. In 2006, Charlotte Motor Speedway became the first motorsports facility to host the world premiere of a major motion picture. More than 30,000 fans along with stars such as Paul Newman, Owen Wilson, Bonnie Hunt and Larry the Cable Guy were on hand for the debut of "CARS," an animated hit from Disney/Pixar. Additional rental dates are reserved for race team testing and automobile manufacturer research.
Charlotte Motor Speedway also annually presents two of the nation's largest car shows and swap meets, the Charlotte AutoFair in April and September. With track rentals and events, the speedway is used more than 300 days per year for all of its attractions, which includes Speedway Christmas - a holiday-themed light show spanning three miles over the speedway's infield, grandstands and concourse which in 2017 attracted a record 120,000 cars from mid-November through Dec. 31.
The track added a new garage area for the NASCAR Xfinity Series, a state-of-the-art media center and additional restrooms and showers for use by those enjoying the action from the speedway's infield. In 2012, the speedway opened first-of-its-kind corporate hospitality in the infield. Six elevated Pit Road Suites, located directly behind pit road, offer fans the best view in motorsports, bringing them closer to the action than ever before.
Charlotte Motor Speedway added the Bellagio of drag strips to its complex with the completion of zMAX Dragway in 2008. The state-of-the-art facility has been praised as the finest drag racing facility in the world by both fans and competitors alike, and opened to a sellout crowd of more than 30,000 for the NHRA Carolina Nationals in September 2008.
Building on the basic philosophy of putting fans first, Charlotte Motor Speedway continues to be the world's leader in entertainment within its unrivaled motorsports complex.
In 2011, the speedway revamped its Fan Zone, a paved, 10-acre area located right outside the speedway's main entrance. During major events, the Fan Zone provides fans with hours of fun, from the Fanatics NASCAR merchandise tents to interactive games and displays and the Play Zone, a kid-friendly area with bounce houses, face painters and a petting zoo.
That same year, Charlotte Motor Speedway revolutionized the fan experience by installing the world's largest HDTV along the backstretch of the legendary superspeedway. At an incredible length of 200 feet wide, standing 80 feet tall and weighing 165,000 pounds, the video board covers an expansive 16,000 square feet. Fans seated throughout the frontstretch from Turn 4 to Turn 1 have clear viewing angles of the gigantic board that features 720P high-definition visuals illuminated by more than nine million light emitting diode, or LED, lamps.
Charlotte Motor Speedway ushered in a new chapter of its illustrious history in 2018, when the 2.28-mile, 17-turn ROVAL™ road course oval debuted in the Bank of America ROVAL™ 400. The unique circuit hosted the first road course race in the history of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. Featuring twisting, left-right turns, chicanes on the frontstretch and backstretch and a 45-foot elevation change, the ROVAL™ quickly gained a reputation as one of NASCAR's most challenging tracks. It remains the only road course in NASCAR in which race fans can see every turn from the main grandstands.
Since its inception in 1960, Charlotte Motor Speedway has always put fans first. After 60 years of innovative firsts in entertainment and fan engagement, the speedway known as America's Home for Racing continues to be an iconic trailblazer in sports, entertainment and fan amenities.
Performing Arts
Blumenthal’s story is one of big dreams and big dreamers. An uptown performing arts center was integral to the effort of Charlotte’s most visionary leaders to remake center city Charlotte into an international financial hub.
Twenty-five years later, their dreams have been realized in our vibrant center city — recognized nationally as a top 10 market for touring Broadway shows — and in a thriving performing arts center that is a national leader.
150 locals recommend
Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
130 N Tryon StBlumenthal’s story is one of big dreams and big dreamers. An uptown performing arts center was integral to the effort of Charlotte’s most visionary leaders to remake center city Charlotte into an international financial hub.
Twenty-five years later, their dreams have been realized in our vibrant center city — recognized nationally as a top 10 market for touring Broadway shows — and in a thriving performing arts center that is a national leader.
Shopping
100 exceptional brands with extraordinary savings of 25% to 65%. For shopping that's always worth the trip.
184 locals recommend
Charlotte Premium Outlets
5404 New Fashion Way100 exceptional brands with extraordinary savings of 25% to 65%. For shopping that's always worth the trip.
SouthPark is an upscale shopping mall in the affluent SouthPark neighborhood in Charlotte, North Carolina. The mall is located approximately five miles south of Uptown Charlotte, at the corner of Sharon and Fairview Roads.
326 locals recommend
SouthPark
4400 Sharon RdSouthPark is an upscale shopping mall in the affluent SouthPark neighborhood in Charlotte, North Carolina. The mall is located approximately five miles south of Uptown Charlotte, at the corner of Sharon and Fairview Roads.
Sightseeing
A great place to visit and walk through the city! Many restaurants and roof top bars.
176 locals recommend
Charlotte center city
A great place to visit and walk through the city! Many restaurants and roof top bars.
Food & Drink
Quaint and cozy restaurant in Uptown Charlotte.
Here at ‘The Dando’ we strive to be a place where people from all walks of life come together, hoist a drink, and make friends in a warm, rustic setting serving up American inspired Tapas paired with some great beer and cocktails.
If you are unable to access our dining room, we will gladly bring a take-out order to you, curbside. Just give us a call.
BRUNCH: Saturday and Sunday, 10am - 3pm
DINNER: Monday through Friday, 3pm - 11pm; Saturday and Sunday, 4pm-11pm
LATE NIGHT: The bar is open until 2am!
47 locals recommend
Dandelion Market
118 W 5th StQuaint and cozy restaurant in Uptown Charlotte.
Here at ‘The Dando’ we strive to be a place where people from all walks of life come together, hoist a drink, and make friends in a warm, rustic setting serving up American inspired Tapas paired with some great beer and cocktails.
If you are unable to access our dining room, we will gladly bring a take-out order to you, curbside. Just give us a call.
BRUNCH: Saturday and Sunday, 10am - 3pm
DINNER: Monday through Friday, 3pm - 11pm; Saturday and Sunday, 4pm-11pm
LATE NIGHT: The bar is open until 2am!
Fahrenheit (Rooftop Bar) is situated above the Skye Charlotte Condos at 222 S. Caldwell Street on the 21st floor. Chef Rocco Whalen's restaurant features amazing, unparalleled views of the Queen City and inventive new American cuisine. The wine list is extensive, the cocktails are creatively crafted, and the draft beers are local. Also, featured on the roof are linear firepits, a social pool, and a seasonal herb garden. Sunday brunch is served weekly from 11am - 3pm.
155 locals recommend
Fahrenheit Charlotte
222 S Caldwell StFahrenheit (Rooftop Bar) is situated above the Skye Charlotte Condos at 222 S. Caldwell Street on the 21st floor. Chef Rocco Whalen's restaurant features amazing, unparalleled views of the Queen City and inventive new American cuisine. The wine list is extensive, the cocktails are creatively crafted, and the draft beers are local. Also, featured on the roof are linear firepits, a social pool, and a seasonal herb garden. Sunday brunch is served weekly from 11am - 3pm.