How to Plan a Summer Vacation in Charlotte, North Carolina
The city of Charlotte, North Carolina, is a mecca for NASCAR racing and the midpoint of Southern culture. Charlotte is an easy city to get to and travel around in and will provide hours of fun for you and your family. Follow these steps to plan a summer vacation in this charming city.
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Instructions
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Plan Your Trip to Charlotte
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Decide how you will get to Charlotte. Plane fare into this beautiful city ranges from about $130 to $250 round trip, depending on where you fly from. Purchase tickets as far in advance as possible for the best fares. Charlotte's location on the eastern seaboard allows for residents living in the east to travel easily and economically by train or bus. Driving may save a few dollars but it will cost you time.
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Arrange for the care of your home while you are gone. Determine who will care for your pets and plants. Make arrangements for the post office to hold your mail or a neighbor to pick it up while you travel. Give someone your emergency numbers should a problem arise in your absence.
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Pack for summer weather. Average summer temperatures in Charlotte range from the upper 60s to the upper 70s. Comfortable clothes are the rule for most activities. Bring a pair of walking shoes for tours and attractions. Most trips to Charlotte do not require formal wear, and you may choose to leave it behind.
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Choose a hotel near your planned activities to save on transportation costs and exhaustion. Hotel prices in Charlotte range from $120 to $200 near the airport and $170 to $260 downtown, where you'll find most of the city's attractions. Build these expenses into your budget, along with transportation and meal costs. Reserve your room early and keep receipts handy.
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Plan how you'll get around in the city. If you stay downtown, most attractions are within walking distance or are a short cab ride away. Charlotte has a bus system and a trolley line, too.
Choose Your Activities
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Indulge your need for speed. For NASCAR enthusiasts, Charlotte is home to the Lowe's Motor Speedway, the NASCAR Auto Racing Hall of Fame (opening 2009), Racin' Connection NASCAR Tours and the Richard Petty Driving Experience.
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Visit the Charlotte Nature Museum, attend a concert at the Charlotte Symphony, wine and dine at the Taste of Charlotte festival (June) and gamble at Harrah's Cherokee Casino and Hotel.
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Take a Charlotte city tour. Choose from a self-guided walking tour, an art-and-science council walk, a walking tour of the historic 4th Ward or a city motor tour.
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Travel 10 minutes from downtown to the U.S. National Whitewater Center, a recreation and environmental education center. Exert yourself with mountain biking, trails for running and hiking, a challenge course, a climbing center and a customized whitewater river for rafting, canoeing and kayaking.
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Go back in time at the Schiele Museum of Natural History, the Charlotte Museum of History and the James K. Polk Memorial State Historic Site. You'll find many other historic sites in and among Charlotte's streets and neighborhoods.
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Tips & Warnings
Bring enough cash for incidentals, but use traveler's checks and credit or debit cards for your purchases. Wear purses and wallets where they won't attract the attention of frisky fingers.
Be prepared for humidity. While the summer temperatures may not be outrageous, the humidity rate is high in the summer. Take bottled water on your daily excursions and rest as needed.
