Quintessential Charlotte NC in 2 hours?

September 18, 2010 9:49 AM

How should I spend a few hours on Monday afternoon in downtown Charlotte, NC?

I have a job interview this coming Monday in downtown Charlotte, NC which ends at 12:30. My flight departs a little after 4:00. I'd like to take a leisurely lunch and maybe stroll around. Ideally, I'd like to hit a "quintessential Charlotte" location to take a meal or check out.

I will NOT have a car and was planning on taking a cab back to the airport, but I'm not adverse to a short cab ride if it will be worthwhile.

Sort of covered previously here and here, but the answers there don't help me that much given the limited time and lack-of-car I'll have on Monday.

posted by QuantumMeruit to travel & transportation around Charlotte, NC (7 answers total)

I'm going to admit that I haven't spent a massive amount of time in the confusingly-named middle of Charlotte, but I've always found it pretty hollowed out and not the most pleasant strolling territory: there are a few nice Victorian residential districts in the immediate penumbra, but it's mainly offices and hotels and museums and condos and stadiums. You could always take the bus to NoDa instead.

(Give yourself decent lead time to get to the airport. Charlotte traffic isn't as horrific as Atlanta, but it's temperamental.)
posted by holgate at 10:29 AM on September 18, 2010

Go to the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art.
posted by Daily Alice at 12:07 PM on September 18, 2010

Yes, the Bechtler. Or, if you're game, the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
posted by Sweetie Darling at 1:06 PM on September 18, 2010

If the interview goes well, the Levine Museum of the New South is a great place to see where the city has come from and where it's headed. And if you see an "orange concession trailer", lunch from the Grateful Grower's Harvest Moon Grille is as good or better than anything you'll find at a sit-down restaurant.
posted by phrits at 8:37 AM on September 19, 2010

If you don't make it to NoDa, Amalie's has opened downtown. Great place for a snack after strolling around just looking at Charlotte. I recommend the salted caramel brownie.


posted by JaneL at 6:49 AM on September 20, 2010

Hmmm... My link didn't show up - let's try again:

http://www.ameliesfrenchbakery.com
posted by JaneL at 6:50 AM on September 20, 2010

Thanks so much for the suggestions. I checked out the Levine Museum of the New South and had the permanent exhibit pretty much to myself for the 2 hours I spent there. It was a short walk from my center city interview, and provided a thought-provoking and fairly relaxing cool-down period after the morning's stress.
posted by QuantumMeruit at 7:16 AM on September 23, 2010