6 Must-Do Day Trips from Charlotte

Apr 7, 2016

Rafting, Whitewater, Challenge, Action, Team, Teamwork Everyone needs a break sometimes, whether it’s escaping your job, kids, or the monotony of routine. Fortunately, if you live in the Charlotte area, there are tons of options for a great day trip. So, pack up your Honda and head out to one of these lovely little getaways.

U.S. National Whitewater Center

You don’t have to travel far to get to the U.S. National Whitewater Center, as it’s just a 15-minute jaunt outside the city limits. However, you can spend an entire day here hiking, climbing, rafting, and zip-lining. Throughout the year, this facility also hosts Olympic qualifying events as well as live music. If you go over the weekend, make sure to reserve a raft or other watercraft. Prices for activities start at $49 for kids and $59 for adults.

High Point

The “Home Furnishing Capital of the World” may sound lame to some, but it’s a trip worth discussing at the very least. Just an 80-mile drive north of Charlotte, High Point has several art galleries, over 50 furniture stores, and a theater. You can also walk around the campus of High Point University, which is one of the prettiest colleges in the state. For kids, there’s also a 10-acre corn maze, as well as a ziplining facility.

Greensboro

As the third-largest city in North Carolina, Greensboro offers some spectacular activities that smaller towns just don’t have. One such example is the International Civil Rights Center and Museum. This museum sits on the very spot where four African-American college students staged one of the first sit-ins of the Civil Rights Movement. There are also tons of great bars, restaurants, and other entertainment venues, making it the perfect trip for all ages. Getting to Greensboro is only a 180-mile round trip.

Grandfather Mountain State Park

If you want total seclusion from the modern world, Grandfather Mountain State Park is the obvious choice. Sitting at nearly 6,000 feet, Grandfather Mountain is also the highest point of the Blue Ridge Mountains, offering spectacular 360-degree views year-round. Other activities include hiking, fishing, boating, swimming, and camping. A picnic is also a solid choice while you gaze in amazement at the surrounding landscape.

Hit the Vineyards

Within an hour-and-a-half drive of Charlotte, you’ll get to enjoy some of the best wineries in the state. While many choose to drive to numerous wineries throughout the day, tour companies also stop in the area, giving you the option to imbibe as many tastings or glasses as you like. Prices, samplings, and food varies from place to place, so make certain you call ahead.

Lexington

Nothing’s better than gorging yourself on some of the finest barbecue in the state, which is found in Lexington, just 60 miles outside Charlotte. Lexington Barbecue is the legendary establishment in the area for ribs, chicken, pork, and beef. If it isn’t enough, visit during October’s Barbecue Festival, where overindulgence isn’t criticized.

Taking a day-trip out of Charlotte is great because you have so many places to choose from within a short drive. Once you’ve decided where to go, the best part is enjoying the experience.

Image via Pixabay