Welcome to Charlotte: Your All-Inclusive Visitor’s Guide

Approaching 3 million residents, Charlotte, North Carolina and the surrounding area, is a dynamic city that blends Southern charm with modern innovation. As one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S., Charlotte offers a vibrant mix of culture, cuisine, nature, and entertainment that makes it an ideal destination for visitors of all kinds. Charlotte is known for its welcoming spirit. Visitors often remark on the friendliness of locals and the city’s laid-back yet energetic atmosphere. It’s a place where tradition meets progress.

Charlotte, North Carolina, was founded in 1768 and named in honor of Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (anyone watch Bridgerton or Queen Charlotte on Netflix? That’s our queen!), the wife of King George III.

Located at the crossroad of two Native American trading paths, the city quickly became a hub of commerce and community in the Southern Piedmont region. You can see the celebration of these two trading paths at the intersection of Trade Street and Tryon Street in Uptown Charlotte. It’s celebrated with statues at each of the four corners of the intersection. These statues represent the factors that have contributed to our historic growth (Commerce, Industry, Transportation and the fourth, Future). They were designed by sculptor Raymond Kaskey of Wahington D.C.

One of Charlotte’s proudest historical claims is the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, or Meck Dec, said to have been signed on May 20, 1775—more than a year before the national Declaration of Independence. According to local tradition, Mecklenburg County citizens declared their independence from British rule, making Charlotte one of the first places in the American colonies to do so.

While historians debate the authenticity of the document (no original copy has been found), the date is still celebrated in North Carolina and appears on the state flag and seal.

Charlotte played a key role in the Revolutionary War and later became a center for gold mining in the early 1800s, even hosting the first U.S. branch mint. Over time, it evolved into a major banking and business hub, now home to the headquarters of Bank of America and Truist.

Today, Charlotte is known as the Queen City, a nod to its royal namesake, and continues to grow as a vibrant center of culture, commerce, and community. You’ll see her influence throughout the city—from statues and street names to the crown symbol used in Charlotte’s branding.

See the History section below if you’re a history buff and want to explore Charlotte’s historic side. 

While you’re in Charlotte, you’ll notice that our downtown area is called “uptown.” Why?

Historically, people would say they were going “up to town” because they were literally traveling uphill to reach the center of commerce and government. Second, the term uptown was commonly used by locals for decades. In the 1970s, city officials and business leaders decided to officially adopt uptown to promote a more positive and inviting image of the city’s center. Charlotte has embraced uptown as part of its identity. It reflects the city’s forward-thinking and optimistic spirit, and it’s now deeply embedded in local culture, signage, and business names.

So, when you’re in Charlotte, heading to uptown means you’re going to the heart of the city—where history, commerce, and culture converge on a literal and symbolic high point at the corner of Trade and Tryon Streets. We also call uptown Center City because it’s pretty close to the center of Charlotte.

When you arrive at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), we recommend using Uber, Lyft, or a taxi to reach your hotel or the venue. CLT is seven miles from uptown with ample shuttle bus, cab, ride share and hotel shuttle options.

Ridesharing is quick and relatively inexpensive for the seven mile trip to uptown. (Our hotels do not offer airport shuttles.) Counterintuitively, rideshare pickups are on the departures level (upper) and not the lower arrivals level. So, from baggage claim take an escalator or elevator or stairs up. When selecting your ride, you’ll need to specify if you are in zone 1-4.

Destination addresses:

• Hampton Inn Uptown: 530 E MLK, Jr. Blvd.
• Hilton Garden Inn Uptown: 508 E MLK, Jr. Blvd.
• Second Ward Gymnasium (primary venue): 710 E MLK, Jr. Blvd.
• Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center (secondary venue): 800 E MLK, Jr. Blvd.

**Note: There is an inexpensive transit system bus that runs from the airport to the Uptown Transportation Center, but we recommend against it. The Transportation Center is a sketchy place that we recommend you avoid if at all possible.**

The event hotels are adjacent to each other and accessed off of E. MLK Jr. Blvd.

The Hampton Inn entrance is from the motor entrance under the two flags. Once you have a magnetic room key, you can use another entrance on the building corner closer to the venues.

The Hilton Garden Inn has entrances off its motor court as well as at the corner of S. Caldwell St.  The hotels share certain amenities, including the Hampton Inn’s pool. The room rate at the Hampton Inn includes breakfast buffet; whereas the Hilton Garden does not include breakfast, but it operates a dining room, including during breakfast hours.

The walk to the Summit venue is about one and a half blocks from the hotels and is occupied by a school and a construction site. The 5-6 minute walk between the hotels and venues is safe, relatively level, and relatively free of traffic.

Ride-share services are obviously easy.

The light rail is the best option for visiting the hip parts of the city including SouthEnd and NoDa (pronouced “no-dah” stands for North Davidson. The center of the area is at N. Davidson St. and 36th St.). Tickets are very affordable. The light rail runs from 5am to 2am.

The Blue Line runs to the south and to the north and northeast and is a convenient way to get to restaurant hotspots of SouthEnd (a few stops to the south), NoDa and Optimist Hall (36^th Street and Optimist Hall stops, respectively). The closest station for the Blue Line is 3^rd St./Convention Center, which is just two blocks northwest of the Hilton Garden Inn. Blue Line fare is $2.20 per ride or $6.60 for a day pass. Ticket kiosks are at all stations.

For many people, Uptown Charlotte can be explored on foot. Many restaurants, museums and cultural attractions are on Tryon St. From the hotels walk four blocks northwest on MLK to S. Tryon. Tryon St. is the main axis of Uptown and extends many blocks to the NE. The highest concentration of restaurants is around N. Tryon and College Streets between 6^th and 8^th Streets.

Charlotte’s bus system is improving but still limited compared to larger cities. The multi-modal hub of trains and buses is the Charlotte Transportation Center at 303 E. Trade St. The Blue Line connects here for suburbs south and northeast of Uptown. The Gold Line connects here to the near west side and near east side.

**Caution that the Transportation Center is a sketchy place. There is an inexpensive transit system bus that runs from the airport to the Uptown Transportation Center, but we recommend against it.**

Uber and Lyft are widely available in Uptown and surrounding areas. Consider renting a car if you plan to explore the city more extensively.

Many people zip around the urban core on cheap rental scooters by Lime, Bird and other operators. They are cheap and easy to come by. You’ll need to download an app and prepay some rides in advance. Be aware that in the Uptown zone, scooters may be operated on streets and not sidewalks. There are also some bikes in circulation, but they are harder to come by than the scooters. If you see one and you’re interested, grab it.

If you’re going to be driving to the Summit, event organizers have arranged for free parking at our venues. Free parking 24/7 is available at the Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center, 800 E MLK Jr. Blvd., which is at S. McDowell cross street. If you need in-and-out access to your car during your stay, this is the place to park.

We have also access to overflow parking in a gated county parking lot immediately across E. MLK, Jr. Blvd from the main entrance to Second Ward Gym.

The access gate is open limited hours:

• Thursday and Friday after 5:00 PM
• Saturday after 6 AM
• Sunday after 6 AM

The exit gate opens as you pull up to it.

If you need a handicap space, there are ample options at the Aquatic Center plus four spaces directly in front of the Second Ward Gym. If you plan to not use your car during your stay, organizers appreciate if you use the overflow lot to free up spaces at the Aquatic Center.

The hotels offer parking in the deck between them, but this will cost you $25 per day. Your map app will show parking at the Second Ward Gymnasium, however this is temporarily closed for an adjacent construction project of a new high school.

In the uptown area, parking is costly and sometimes not easy to find. There is some on-street parking in uptown (very hard to come by and uses meters) and city managed lots use the ParkMobile app. Suggest you set this up in advance.

Outside of Center City, parking varies. Some restaurants have their own free lots. SouthEnd and NoDa are a nightmare for parking! There is on-street parking (uses the ParkMobile app rather than meters) and some parking decks that charge a fee. In NoDa (a more historical area), there are paid lots and sometimes you can find an on-street spot back in the neighborhood and walk up to N. Davidson street). If you choose to venture out of uptown, just be patient when trying to find a place to park and except to pay.

The Amtrak station serving central Charlotte is located at 1914 N. Tryon St. It is not walkable to anything, but an easy place to pick up a taxi or ride-share.

Charlotte’s streets, parks, and public spaces are alive with color, creativity, and culture. From large-scale murals and interactive sculptures to installations that honor the city’s history and diversity, public art in Charlotte reflects the spirit of its people. Uptown alone features dozens of works that invite reflection, celebration, and connection—including the iconic “Firebird” sculpture (shown left) outside the Bechtler Museum and vibrant murals in the NoDa and SouthEnd neighborhoods. 

• Mint Museum Uptown – International art and design (17 min walk from the venue)

• Bechtler Museum of Modern Art – Nearly 2,000 works in rotating exhibitions (16 min walk from the venue)
• Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts+Culture – Celebrating African-American arts and culture (17 min walk from the venue)
• Discovery Place Science – Interactive science and nature exhibits plus an IMAX theater (25 min walk from the venue)
• NASCAR Hall of Fame – High-tech racing simulators and exhibits (9 min walk from the venue)

Charlotte’s food scene is a flavorful fusion of Southern tradition and global influence. Whether you’re craving classic comfort food, farm-to-table freshness, or international cuisine, the city’s restaurants, food halls, and rooftop lounges offer something for every palate.

As you may know, Charlotte was featured on a recent season of Top Chef. If you want to check out some of the restaurants featured on the show, check out this article. (There is one on the list that is on our list below, Lang Van.)

Close-by Restaurant Clusters

• Seventh Street Market – The Market at 7th Street is a non-profit food hall and retail space (21 min walk from venue)
• South End Food Truck Fridays – Rotating trucks, music, and great energy (11 min rideshare drive from the venue)
• Optimist Hall – Highly recommended! Trendy food hall with tons of local food options. Some stand outs include Papi Queso and The Dumpling Lady. (8 min drive from the venue)
• Monarch Market – Diverse food hall in uptown. Don’t miss CurryGate – standout Indian cuisine! (21 min walk or 7 min drive from the venue)
• General Areas:
  • Camden Road in SouthEnd (Blue Line to Camden Rd stop; 1616 Camden Rd by rideshare)
  • NoDa (AKA North Davidson) (Blue Line to 36th Street stop or 3201 N. Davidson by rideshare)
  • Plaza Midwood/Central Ave (1504 Central Ave by rideshare)

Uptown Farmers Market:

On Saturday morning we invite you to mill around the Uptown Farmers Market. It’s just one block NW of the hotels and open starting at 8 AM. Treat yourself to a coffee and pastry while browsing this very community-based market.

Groceries and Prepared Foods:

• The best and closest option by far is the Whole Foods at 400 E. Brooklyn Village Ave. They have an amazing hot and cold foods bar. It is about a 10-minute walk W/NW of the hotels. Open daily 7 AM – 10 PM. Delivery available.

Vegan, Vegetarian and Natural Food Options:

• Flower Child – 1537 Camden Rd, SouthEnd (Blue Line Camden Rd stop)
• Oh My Soul
  • On the Moo’ve (grab-able) at 601 South Tryon St (Uptown – walkable)
  • Dine-in or takeout at 3046 N. Davidson (NoDa area)
• Kid Cashew – 1608 East Blvd (Dilworth area. Don’t miss the Creamy White Beans!)
• Sanctuary Bistro – 6414 Rea Rd. (suburban south Charlotte. Fine dining.)
• Soul Miner’s Garden – 1801 N. Graham St. (in Camp North End)
• Also see Lang Van below.

Upscale Options:

• Aura Rooftop – JW Marriott rooftop lounge with food and pool (15 min walk from the venue)
• Dogwood Southern Table and Bar – Southern cuisine (14 min walk from the venue)
• The Fig Tree – Pricey, but some of the best food and service in Charlotte

Charlotte Institutions:

• Mert’s Heart and Soul – Featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives (20 min walk from the venue)
• Alexander Michael’s – Called “Al Mike’s” it’s as America as you can get. Salads, sandwiches, burgers and vegetarian options served in a historic Fouth Ward home converted to restaturant. (Rideshare or use a scooter to 401 W. 9th Street. If you’re going to eat here, give yourself some extra time to wander around the historic Fourth Ward area. See the History section below for more information on this area.)
• Lang Van – The best Vietnamese food in Charlotte and featured on Top Chef. Don’t miss this! Not sure what to order, just ask the owner Dan Nguyen to make you something – she gets it right every time! (25 min drive from the venue. Carpool recommended due to limited parking.)
• Good Food on Montford – It’s (can you guess…) good food on Montford Dr. (rideshare to 1701 Montford Dr.)
• There really are too many to list here! If none of these are to your tastes, just grab a Charlotte sangha member and we’ll be happy to help you find something in the city.

Despite its urban energy, Charlotte is rich in green spaces. Residents are proud of our tree canopy. The city’s commitment to outdoor living makes it easy to recharge and reconnect with nature. Distance from the venue is noted.

• Marshall Park – An uptown park with walking trails and a pond (5 min walk from the venue)
• Romare Bearden Park – celebrates one of Charlotte’s more famous artists (17 min walk from the venue)
• Freedom Park – offers tennis and pickleball courts, plus extensive walking trails (2.4 miles from venue; approximate 12 min drive)
• Renaissance Park offers a skate park and disc golf park (1536 W Tyvola Rd. 7.7 miles from the venue; approximate 22 min drive)
• U.S. National Whitewater Center – Kayaking, rafting, hiking, and summer concerts (13.2 miles from venue; approximate 25 min drive)
• Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden – Peaceful strolls through lush gardens (192 miles from venue; approximate 45 min drive)

Charlotte has a great music scene and it’s easy to catch local bands or superstars at our many music venues. Don’t forget comedy! Charlotte often hosts well-known stand-up comedians at the Comedy Zone.

We will be organizing an evening of entertainment at the venue on Friday night. A couple of the Charlotte sangha member’s musical ensemble are already revved up for the night.

There will be a drum circle outside on Saturday night (weather permitting).

Neighborhood Theater – 14 min drive from the venue

The Visulite Theater – 7 min drive from the venue

AxidXchange Music Factory – Offers two music venues (The Fillmore and the Amphitheater), restaurants and the Comedy Zone – 12 min drive from the venue

Petra’s – Charlotte best LGBTQ+ bar/venue offers music, drag shows, karaoke and more – 12 min drive from the venue

Charlotte is rich with history. Here are some historically significant places to check out.

Historic Rosedale Plantation – Built in 1815, this Federal-style plantation home offers insight into antebellum life, including the stories of enslaved people who lived and worked there. (15 min drive from the venue)

Charlotte Museum of History – Home to the 1774 Hezekiah Alexander House—the oldest surviving structure in Mecklenburg County—this museum explores colonial life and Charlotte’s early development. (17 min drive from the venue)

Mecklenburg County Courthouse Marker (Meck Dec Site) – While the original Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence document hasn’t survived, a historical marker near the old courthouse commemorates the site where it was reportedly signed in 1775. (20 min walk from the venue)

Mint Museum Randolph – Originally the first branch of the U.S. Mint, this site now houses a diverse art collection and offers a glimpse into Charlotte’s gold rush era. (10 min drive from the venue)

Fourth Ward Historic District – A beautifully preserved neighborhood with Victorian homes, tree-lined streets, and historical markers that reflect Charlotte’s 19th-century residential growth. (10 min walk from the venue)