Charlotte
Charlotte is the largest city in North Carolina. The main attraction is Uptown, the city center, with its ingeniously designed high-rise buildings and other extraordinary modern buildings, home to several museums.
| Charlotte | ||
| state | North Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| resident | 731,424 (2010) | |
| height | 229 m | |
| no tourist information on Wikidata: | ||
| location | ||
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The city has an excellent and very varied gastronomic scene and many hotels with very good value for money.
A top destination is Charlotte for extreme athletes, because on the outskirts of the city lies the U.S. National Whitewater Center with the world's largest artificial wildwater railway. Other treasures can be enjoyed in the theme park Carowinds in the world's highest roller coaster.
background
story
Near the present town of Charlotte, the first Europeans - Spanish discoverers - arrived in 1567 and brought the Catawba Indians (Sioux) who lived here with smallpox, on which the indigenous people died en masse because they had no immunity to the new disease. After the British set up the Carolina colony in 1663, the first permanent settlers arrived in the region, namely Ulster Scots of Presbyteria. Even before the American War of Independence, many German emigrants joined them. In 1750 Thomas Spratt's family, whose daughter Susannah Thomas Polk married, founded Mecklenburg County (1762) and Charlotte Town (1768) began to settle the European territory.
The name was given to the German princess Sophie Charlotte, duchess of Mecklenburg (1744-1818), who was 1761 at the age of 17 with the British king Georg III. had been married.
In the American War of Independence (1775-1783), British General Charles Cornwallis took over the city, but was expelled by the citizens; The city got the nickname "Hornissest". One advantage that the city enjoyed from the outset was its convenient location at the intersection of several trade routes. In 1770 the current road grid was built. In 1775, local political leaders signed their own declaration of independence, the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. In 1799, gold was found in the region, leading to the first gold rush in American history a little later. The Charlotte Mint was founded in 1837. North Carolina was the young country's most important gold resource until the gold rush in the Sierra Nevada (1848).
Charlotte experienced a first major economic boom after the Civil War (1861-1865) as a railway hub and the center of cotton processing. The city grew when the US government established the Camp Green military base here in World War I. In the 1970's and 1980's, it gained importance as a location for powerful national banks; After New York City and San Francisco, Charlotte is actually the third largest bank in the country today. On September 22, 1989, the city suffered the most serious damage from Hurricane Hugo, which hit the inhabitants rather unprepared, as hurricanes do not usually penetrate the Carolinas so deeply.
presence
Charlotte is located in several Fortune 500 companies, including the Bank of America, the construction chain Lowe's, the energy company Duke and the food service Compass Group. Most of the jobs are in services, especially in health, banking, education, and American Airlines, whose main hub is located here. Charlotte is neither particularly poor nor particularly rich in American conditions. However, the level of education is high; 43% of the adult population have at least one bachelor degree. Charlotte is located in five universities. As in many major US cities, especially in the south, the share of the population of Europe is relatively low (50%). More than a third of Charlotte's inhabitants are African-Americans, 14% of Latin Americans and 6% are Asian. Charlotte is also a city of migrants: one in six inhabitants is born abroad.
Geography and climate
The city is located in Piedmont, the wooded plateau that flanks the Appalachian to the coastal plain and forms almost half of the land area of North Carolina. To the west, already outside the city, the Catawba River flows. In Charlotte itself there are only small watercourses, of which the Sugar Creek and the Irwin Creek are the most important.
The climate is humid and subtropical with clearly marked four seasons. In July, the average maximum daily temperatures are 31.7°C with peaks of up to 36.1°C, whereas in January they are 10.4°C. The annual number of sunshine hours is 2,821, more than in Lisbon. Rainy days, on the other hand, are as many as in London, which is 110; only September and October are relatively dry. The winters are short and average 4 days of snow.
Neighborhood
After Jacksonville (Florida), Charlotte is the second largest city in the south-east of the USA. Charlotte belongs to the Charlotte metropolitan area (Metrolina, Charlotte Metro), which is one of the most important metropolitan areas in the south-east of the USA, with a population of 2.5 million, after Miami, Atlanta and Tampa.
Charlotte is located in the center of Mecklenburg County, the administrative seat of which is the city. Direct neighboring towns are (clockwise, starting in the north): Mallard Creek, Crab Orchard, Clean Creek, Morning Star, Providence, Pineville, Steele Creek, Berry Hill, Paw Creek, Long Creek
Charlotte falls apart from the rest of the city in 199 neighborhood statistical areas (neighborhood areas), which are roughly classified as City Center (Uptown, Elizabeth, Midtown), North Charlotte, West Charlotte, South Charlotte and West Charlotte.
arrival
By plane
Charlotte owes much of its tourist importance to the fact that it is the hub of American Airlines, which 3 Charlotte Douglas International Airport (IATA: CLT) , which is also the eleventh largest airport in the United States. CLT is served daily from Frankfurt/M., Munich and London Heathrow.
The airport is 15 minutes west of downtown Charlotte. If you need public transport, take bus no. 5 of the Charlotte Area Transit System. It runs seven days a week so tightly clocked that you don't even need a timetable. Tickets cost $2.20 (stand: 29 February 2019). As always in American buses, keep cash ready for every person on board, because the driver has no change for safety reasons. Alternatively, you can take a Uber, taxi or a commercial shuttle. If you stay at one of the many Airporthotels, you can reach this area free of charge with the hotel's own shuttle.
Directly opposite the terminal, on the ground floor of a large car park, are the offices of 2 car rental companies. To book a car for pick-up at the airport is usually a little more expensive in the USA than to pick up the car at a city-center branch, but it provides a lot of comfort.
by train
Charlotte has an Amtrak station: the 3 Charlotte Station (1914 N Tryon St), which includes a large parking lot, is located 2.5 km northeast of the town center. The buses of line 11 connect both points. Trains of the following lines stop here:
- Carolinian (Charlotte - Raleigh - Richmond - Washington, D.C. - Philadelphia - New York City)
- Piedmont (Charlotte - Raleigh)
- Crescent (New Orleans - Birmingham - Atlanta - Charlotte - Washington, D.C. - Philadelphia - New York City)
By bus
The 4Trailways/Greyhound bus station is 601 W Trade St and is located 1 km northwest of the center.
On the street
The center of Charlotte is 5 km south of the junction of the I-77 and I-88 motorways.
mobility
Charlotte is a rather autodependent city overall. Public transport is not very well developed and the conditions for pedestrians and cyclists are not favorable because of the long distances and lack of bike paths. However, there are some parts of the city that differ positively from this assessment. You can easily get around in Uptown (where most of the sights are concentrated anyway) and the South End on foot or by public transport. The southern neighborhood of Dilworth is also pedestrian-friendly thanks to its many trees and short shopping and dining paths.
The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) operates more than 70 lines in Charlotte. In addition to bus lines, the network also includes two tram lines (Lynx): A blue and a gold. The trip costs $2.20 (students $1.10; Status: 29 February 2019). Keep money at the entrance. The driver cannot issue a change.
If you are traveling by car in Charlotte, you have to be prepared for the fact that parking in Uptown is a little difficult and may be expensive. An early view of the Parcopedia can prevent unpleasant surprises. In general, the best way to walk in the town is to visit the capital, which is only 3 km away.
sights
structures
Ascent Uptown
museum
Bank of America Corporate Center
Duke Energy Center
Hearst Tower
The Vues
Fifth Third Center
Calvary Church
- 1 Bank of America Corporate Center, 100 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC, United States. This bank building is the highest in the city, with 265.5 m and 60 floors respectively. For comparison: the highest building in Germany, the Commerzbank Tower in Frankfurt/Main, takes it only on 259 m and 58 floors respectively. The tower was designed by the Argentine architect César Pelli and completed in 1992. It is remarkable that the glacier appears to be a crown-like peak, and its glasses are illuminated at night by headlights that illuminate the crown from the inside.
museums
Museum of Modern Art
Mint Museum Uptown
NASCAR Hall of Fame
- 2 NASCAR Hall of Fame, 400 E M.L.K. Jr Blvd. A must-see for fans of American motor sports (Stock Car Auto Racing) is this museum, which is also of architectural interest, which is dedicated to the half-gods and legends that the motor sports association NASCAR, whose headquarters are in Daytona Beach, has created.
- 3 Discovery Place Science, 301 N Tryon St. MINT-oriented beginners' and game museum for families with children.
- 4 Carolinas Aviation Museum, 4672 1st Flight Dr. Located on the outskirts of the airport, this magnificent and rather large museum of the history of American aviation. Private parking
- 5 Levine Museum of the New South, 200 E 7th St. First class museum on the history of the Piedmont, focusing on the period after the American Civil War. Parking is available for a fee next door.
- 6 Mint Museum Uptown, 500 S Tryon S. The largest art museum in the city. Mostly American works, along with some European works. Also architecturally remarkable. There is a car park next door for a fee.
- 7 Hezekiah Alexander House, 3500 Shamrock Dr. Built in 1774 and located fifteen minutes east of Uptown, this apartment house is the oldest preserved building in the city. It is now a museum.
activities
Belk Theater
View from the public gallery in the BB&T Ballpark
Rafting at the U.S. National Whitewater Center
Fury 325 (Carowinds)
- 1 Opera Carolina (Blumenthal Performing Arts Center), 130 North Tryon St. . The Charlotte opera group does not have a stage of its own, but rather plays in the very large Belk Theater (2,118 seats) of the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. If you are coming by car, you have to find out in advance which car park you want to park your car in. Price: from $54.
- 2 BB&T Ballpark, 324 S Mint St. The 10,200-seat baseball stadium of Charlotte, whose home team are the Charlotte Knights.
- 3 U.S. National Whitewater Center, 5000 Whitewater Center Parkway (just 25 minutes north-west of Uptown, just before the Catawba River). Extreme sports amusement park: Whitewater rafting, canoeing, kayaking, mountain biking, climbing, Ziplines and more for brave. The artificial wild waterway is the largest of its kind in the world.
- 4 Carovds, 300 Carovds Boulevard. A 160-hectare amusement park is a quarter of an hour southwest of Uptown, which opened in 1973 and was intended to realize Charlotter's dream of Earl Patterson Hall to bring North Carolina and South Carolina together in a Disneyland comparable attraction. The park is therefore directly on the border of both states. Carowinds offer its visitors, among other things, roller-coaster rides and other superlative rides. A main attraction is the Fury 325 steel roller, currently the highest (99 meters) gigacoster with conventional chain lift in the world. Passengers are accelerated to a maximum speed of 153 km/h at the start of the 3:25-minute journey.
purchase
The top quality supermarket chains in Charlotte are Harris Teeter, Publix and Food Lion. There are also a number of Aldi branches and three of Trader Joe's. Ecological and health conscious people who are not afraid of high prices also find a Whole Foods Market in the south of the city.
- 1 Southpark Mall, 4400 Sharon Rd. The biggest shopping mall in the city is just 25 minutes south of Uptown. The usual chains. Anchor Stores are the department stores Macy's, Nordstrom, Marcus Neiman, Dillard's and Belk, as well as the sports store Dick's. Relatively attractive Food Court.
- 2 Barnes & Noble, 4020 Sharon Road. The largest bookstore in the city is located on the edge of the Southpark Mall. Establishment of the only American bookstore chain that Amazon still offers. shop café.
kitchen
favorable
- 1Zeitouni Mediterranean Grill, 3419 Toringdon Way (20 minutes southwest of Uptown). Excellent Lebanese cuisine (Shish Kabob, Shawarma, Gyros, Falafel) with good value for money. Main dishes (prepared plates) $11-14, as Street Food $6.
- 2 Pho real, 440 E McCollough Dr (just 20 minutes north-east of Uptown). Located on the outskirts of the campus of the University of North Carolina, this Vietnamese restaurant offers good value for money.
means
- 3 Lang Van, 3019 Shamrock Dr (about a quarter of an hour east of Uptown). The best ethnic restaurant in Charlotte is the Vietnamese restaurant. Main dishes $8-22.
- 4 Midwood Smokehouse, 1401 Central Ave (1.5 km east of Uptown). The best place to get to know the authentic American grill cuisine, which is largely unknown in the German-speaking area. establishment of a regional mini-chain. Smoked wings, sandwiches, and above all classic BBQ dishes such as Carolina Pork, Beef Brisket, Saint Louis Style Pork Ribs, smoked salmon, chicken and more. Main dishes $10-34 depending on the portion size.
- 5 The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar, 4310 Sharon Rd (just 20 minutes south of Uptown). Located on the edge of the Mall Southpark, this exceptional restaurant is perfect for those who cannot choose between sushi and hamburgers. There are even Bento Boxes, which contain combinations of miniature burgers and sushi. Medium price level. establishment of a regional mini-chain.
- 6 Living Kitchen, 2000 South Blvd (2 km southwest of Uptown). Excellent vegetarian/vegan restaurant offering breakfast, lunch and dinner, all made of pure vegetable, organic ingredients. Pad Thai, Curry, Pasta, Pizza, Quesadilla, Burritos. main course around $13.
- 7 Nana's Soul Food Restaurant, 2908 Oak Lake Blvd (15 minutes west of Uptown). The best address in the city if it is to be classic African-American wellbeing. Nothing for vegetarians or people who seek to avoid high calories. Main dishes $12 or $18 depending on the portion size.
- 8 The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, 215 Southside Dr., Charlotte (15 minutes southwest of Uptown). A popular bar where you can get a lively impression of how many Americans imagine Bavaria and Bavarian cuisine. Our own beer is brewed according to German recipes. Main dishes $13-16.
- 9 The Mad Greek of Charlotte, 5011 South Blvd (15 minutes southeast of Uptown). The restaurant is of high quality and boasts a unique authentic Greek style. A nice selection of mezze. Street food. Main dishes $12-18. wines.
- 10Abugida Cafe, 3007 Central Ave (about 10 minutes southeast of Uptown). For people who like to eat with their fingers and share a single dish: probably the best Ethiopian restaurant in town. Main dishes $10-18. Direct competition is the slightly more sophisticated Enat Ethiopian Restaurant (4450 The Plaza).
walking
- 11 The Fig Tree Restaurant, 1601 E 7th St. 1 km southeast of Uptown is the most popular upscale restaurant in the city. The chef is also the owner. Ecological cuisine (snails, goose paste, seafood, beef, lamb, wapiti, etc.). Main dishes in the evening $25-45. Wines that are remarkably affordable by American standards.
- Halcyon, Flavors from the Earth, 500 S Tryon St (Uptown). At the Mint Museum's very high-rated restaurant, lunch is much cheaper than dinner. Main dishes in the evening $32-38.
- 12 Dogwood Southern Table and Bar, 4905 Ashley Park Ln (15 minutes south of Uptown). This upscale restaurant offers creative cuisine inspired by regional cuisine. Main dishes in the evening $25-44.
nightlife
accommodation
favorable
- 1Candlewood Suites Charlotte-University, 8812 University East Dr. Very high rated apartment hotel of the IHG chain just 20 minutes north east of uptown. Although each unit has a fully equipped kitchen, the buffet breakfast is included in the price. Price: from $74.
- 2 Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Charlotte University Place, 131 East McCullough Drive. Very good hotel in the Radisson chain 20 minutes north-east of Uptown, in a relatively quiet park. A beautiful indoor pool. Breakfast is included in the price. Price: from $76.
- 3 Comfort Suites University - Research Park, 7735 University City Blvd. Choice quality hotel, 20 minutes north-east of Uptown, in a business district. Spacious rooms with separate living area. All rooms have a refrigerator and microwave. outdoor pool and small gym. Breakfast is included in the price. Price: from $84.
means
- 4 Drury Inn & Suites Charlotte University Place, 415 West W.T. Harris Blvd. chain hotel with excellent value for money, 15 minutes north-east of Uptown, in a business and shopping center. All rooms have a refrigerator and microwave. Many of them can sleep up to 4 people. outdoor pool. Breakfast is included in the price. Price: from $110.
- 5 Wingate by Wyndham Charlotte Airport South/ I-77 Tyvola, 6050 Tyvola Glen Circle. Very popular hotel of the Wyndham chain, about 10 minutes southwest of Uptown. A shuttle service is available free of charge to the airport and the city center. outdoor pool. Breakfast buffet included in the price. Price: from $139.
- 6 Holiday Inn Express & Suites Charlotte NE - University Area, 6020 University Pointe Boulevard. chain hotel with good value for money, 15 minutes north-east of Uptown, on the edge of a business and shopping center. All the rooms have a refrigerator, microwave and cozy coffee machine. Breakfast is included in the price. indoor pool, small gym. Price: from $109.
walking
- 7Residence Inn Charlotte City Center, 220 East Trade Street. If it is more expensive, more spacious and more comfortable: Centrally located apartment hotel of the Marriott chain, housed in an interesting new tower. The units have sleeping facilities for up to 6 people. Breakfast is included in the price. Price: from $283.
- 8 The Ritz-Carlton Charlotte, 201 E Trade St. luxury downtown hotel. indoor pool. Free shuttle service to any address in Uptown. Four restaurants. Spa Price: from $391, more expensive on weekdays than on weekends.
- 9 The Ivey's Hotel, 127 N Tryon St. Among the city's top luxury hotels, the Ivey's is an independent boutique hotel with its poo The rooms are very well equipped and are one of the most interesting. If you don't have the money and just want to take a look, you can take a look at the most elegant wardrobe and visit Sophia's lounge - the ground floor bar - where you can order a glass of beer or coffee for $6. Price: from $265.
- 10 The Westin, 601 S College St. The Westin is listed here only because it is the highest hotel building in the Carolinas, with 89 m and 25 floors respectively is. Opened in 2003 in a remarkable building, the hotel has 700 rooms and suites. indoor pool and large sports studio. Breakfast costs extra. Price: from $322.