Monday:
Go on a play date
Begin your week with a breath of fresh air in Reedy Creek Park. Located 20 minutes from downtown Charlotte, the park offers hiking trails, playgrounds and sporting facilities. Children ages 3-6 get an extra special treat on Mondays when the Owlet Play Date takes over the shelter behind the Nature Center from 10 to 11:15 a.m. The free event offers a hands-on experience in nature, from chasing critters to puddle stomping. At night, the adults get to play at Sir Edmond Halley's Trivia Night. Arrive by 7 p.m. to order 20 oz. pints for just $4.50 and win brewery gift cards, t-shirts and koozies.
Tuesday:
Wine down and laugh out loud
Wine aficionados can treat themselves to a free cheese board with the purchase of a wine flight every Tuesday at the Dilworth Tasting Room. The award-winning wine bar serves a select list of high-quality vino, craft beer, whiskey and bourbon. They claim to have Charlotte’s premier secret garden, so when the weather is good, you’ll find locals hanging out with their favorite varietal in hand. Ready for a good laugh? Make your way to the Comedy Zone Open Mic Night starting at 8 p.m. The 90-minute show takes place most Tuesdays, so check their event calendar for the next laugh fest.
Wednesday:
Enjoy a day of culture and sweet treats
Showcasing art and design from around the world, the Mint Museum offers free admission every Wednesday evening from 5 to 9 p.m. Two locations, Uptown and Randolph, make it easy to access the eclectic art collection. Look out for Mint on the Dot, a 10-minute art chat that takes place at 6 and 6:30 p.m. Finish the evening on a sweet note with half-priced cocktails at Crave Dessert Bar. Be warned: It might be tough to order just one dessert when you have warm double chocolate brownie, drunken tiramisu and red velvet waffles with white chocolate on the menu.
Thursday:
Take an art break and be happy all day
If you're visiting Charlotte the third Thursday of the month and you love art, you’re in luck. The Mint Museum Uptown, the Gantt Center for African American Arts + Culture and the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art offer free, 30-minute guided ArtBreak tours featuring a theme related to the permanent collections or special exhibitions. Afterwards, go local at the Suffolk Punch, a hip brewery and coffee bar with its own beer fermentation lab. “Happy Hour” drinking is illegal in North Carolina, so they created a workaround—every Thursday, the Taproom offers $3 Suffolk Brewing Taps all day long.
Friday:
Retro bowling and Food Truck Friday
Roll into the end of the week with a round of retro-style bowling at 10 Park Lanes. Games are just $6 if you can make it before 5 p.m., and live music starts on Fridays at 10 p.m. If you’re visiting Charlotte in the spring and summer months and you happen to be in town on the second or fourth Friday of the month, you won’t want to miss Matthews Food Truck Friday in Stumptown Park. Order your favorite foodie delights with local craft beer and wine while you sit back and enjoy live music from local bands, inflatables for the kids and fun lawn games for the “bigger kids.”
Notes:
A tip for weekday travel
The metropolitan area of Charlotte is referred to as “Uptown,” not downtown, so try not to get confused when chatting with the locals. Plus, the city is spread out, so plan on doing a lot of driving. You could avoid having to deal with parking and traffic altogether by using a car sharing service like Uber. You’ll earn extra perks at participating Choice Hotels® locations in Charlotte when you spend at least one Sunday through Thursday night. As part of the Your Extras program, you’ll get to choose from Uber trip discounts, Fuel Rewards® savings, bonus points and more.
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