andib

I'm going to spend a weekend in Charlotte with my 19-year-old daughter. What part of town is best to stay in? I'm hoping to get a hotel via Priceline, which lists a number of areas, including University and Downtown? Any thoughts? suggestions as to good areas for lots of walking (not hiking, urban walking) also appreciated. Also restaurants, anything else fun to do. We'll have about two days.

WannabeinaMontserrat

My first question would be what are you coming for ? As that may change my response. Uptown would be my first choice.

andib

No special purpose. Just a weekend getaway (she goes to school in NC). The names of the areas on Priceline are called Downtown, University, Independence, south Park, Executive Park Charlotte South, Matthews.

Thanks for your help.

Gretchen

I assume you will have a car. You'll enjoy the SouthPark area the most for shopping and eating. You ought to be able to do pretty well on PL. I think any hotel in the SP area will be fine--even a 2.5*. Bid on at least 3* first, of course. Come back/
Oh, go to Restaurant.com and print out some discount resto certificates.

WannabeinaMontserrat

In CLT, the locals refer to it as 'Uptown', I'll skip the boring details but it is the same as 'downtown'. You'll not want to come on race weekend(s) however.

RebeccaSellers

I have to agree with Gretchen. SouthPark is a terrific area with MANY terrific restaurants, and some great shopping!!! IF you will not have a car, there are regular bus runs into uptown from SouthPark (where you will also need to go spend some time)!!!

Brian_in_Charlotte

Downtown first, Southpark second.

WannabeinaMontserrat

Unless you plan to spend your time @ the Mall, I'll agree w/Brian.

shormk2

Def go w/ Uptown (downtown) as first choice; then southpark area... Uptown is very easy to walk around- 4th ward is really pretty. Great restaurants in uptown- depending on your tastes... also, if you have a car, dilworth, plazamidwood, elizabeth- are all easily accessible and provide beautiful walk and more dining choices...

WannabeinaMontserrat

Just an aside, I reside in CLT & avoid the SouthPark area (in general) like the plague. Unless you are an upscale Mall rat, there is little reason to head that way.

Gretchen

A 19 year old that doesn't want to shop!! There are lovely neighborhoods to walk in around SP. I LOVE our uptown and how it is developing. They can drive uptown and take the trolley or walk around, but you can get caught up on it pretty quick. Walking around SouthEnd and Dilworth is fun too. You just have a lot more choices of places to eat, and particularly on a weekend, outside of downtown area. You pay for parking downtown also.
Visit the Mint Museum in Eastover and then walk around that neighborhood.

WannabeinaMontserrat

You don't have to pay to park Uptown...if you know where to park. Stay Uptown & take the trolley to Southend if need be.

Gretchen

I think hotels will charge for parking. Yes, you can drive uptown and park without paying--if you know where. Or park on the periphery and take the free Gold Rush Trolley. Lots of fun. Then take the light rail to South End and walk around. As I said, I LOVE our downtown area, and it is now a "happening" place. But I just think hotels in South Park are more "accessible"--getting in and out, etc.
Anyway, have a GREAT time. Charlotte is fun.
There are cooking classes available on week-ends--Johnson And Wales, and maybe Reid's. If that is of interest let us know and we can look it up for you.
Fun places to eat--Lulu's on Central Avenue for Sunday brunch is simply out of sight--as well as dinner. Fun place and wonderuful food. Reservations needed.
The Penquin nearby for a funky lunch just like a diner in the olden days.
If you are coming on the first weekend of the month Metrolina Expo has an interesting antique show. Walking around Latta Plantation and the Raptor Center just north of town is a wonderful way to spend the day, as well as the Hezekiah Alexander House on the ground of the Museum of History.
We have some really good vietnamese restaurants on South Blvd, as well as sushi--Nikko and Rusan's.

andib

thanks for all the suggestions. I booked before everyone weighed in and opted for south park. While my daughter is hardly averse to malls, she and both prefer to stay in a neighborhood where we can walk and pop into and out of local shops and soak up some atmosphere. Any chance of that in South Park or do we just sleep there and head up/downtown?
Thanks.

shormk2

Unfortunately, Southpark isn't going to have much in the way of "local" culture/shops to pop in and out of... If you're up for a good walk, from Southpark, take barclay downs away from the mall, turn left on Runnymeade, then right on Selwyn... there are several very cute boutiques on Selwyn- have lunch at Selwyn pub or Nolan Kitchen and then walk back... or, for several chains (but not nearly as bad as the mall) walk over to Phillips place... Southpark is going to definitely be more cookie-cutter than some of the other areas of town... that said, uptown doesn't have the retail that several of the other areas have (not during the weekend- tend to cater to business people during the week)... you may want to drive/walk on Selwyn and Providence- there are several cute boutiques (not really in walking distance of each other) and lots of cafes/restaurants... you may be able to park around Queens college and just walk around the area... have fun on your mother/daughter trip and if you're looking for any specific recommendations for a girls lunch/dinner etc please let us know.

Gretchen

You may not have been to SP recently to see some new on street shopping opportunities. Outside the mall are the Shops on the Park, and now a block away is the area where Earthfare is. Phillips Place is nearby also.
You will find plenty to do in SP, and you can take the idea of going up to Selwyn, but that is a small area. And there are a lot better places to eat--I live around the corner. You can just go downtown and walk around easily but there are no more "local" places there either than SP.
Where would you like to eat--kind of resto? Now there we can really help you.
For an interesting part of town you might enjoy NoDa--near downtown in an old part of town. And the shops in South End, you will enjoy those.

shormk2

Actually, Gretchen- I've been to Southpark quite recently and have spent a lot of time there- my office for 2.5 years was above Ruth's Chris (previously, Guytano's) and now I work uptown. I live in Plaza-Midwood and frequent most of the neighboring areas... so, I'm not saying I'm an expert, but I do have a pretty darn good idea of what can be found in the southpark area... no matter, andib, have fun... explore the area and decide for yourself... you'll probably find there is enough to do and enough areas to visit that you'll need more than one trip...

andib

Thanks, all, so much. this is very helpful.
Andi

Brian_in_Charlotte

Southpark is about as un-pedestrian friendly as you can get, surrounded by 6 and 8-lane, very busy roads. Folks don't walk around and pop into local shops - they drive to each one and park in front of it or in a mall deck. While there are some new developments with smaller shops, they are still car-centric and do not have the atmosphere I think andib is looking for.

Selwyn does have some of this, as does the strip of Providence between Laurel and Queens Rd, but I think you'd want to drive to these areas before walking around (you can walk between the 2 past Queens College under the big oak trees).

NoDa is a decent idea, but a bit edgy, and not much there (yet). Don't get lost and stop for directions - some pretty bad neighborhoods surrounding NoDa. Cabo Fish Taco is a fun place for lunch or dinner in that hood.

South End and Dilworth are your best bets for urban hiking and popping into places. www.historicsouthend.com and http://www.dilworthonline.org/. Have fun.

tcreath

I agree with the above; stay in Uptown. Southpark is fine but most of the shops are the same ones you can find in any suburb in just about any major city in the US. I like it just fine if I want to shop at Nordstrom or Crate & Barrel, but for local atmosphere and flavor South Park is not the place to be.

Tracy