Charlotte is for Jet Setters!!
Written By: Lauren Campe
Reason number 1,876 that I love Charlotte is that it’s for jet setters!
Charlotte is perfectly nestled in between the most beautiful mountains and sandy beaches on the east coast (queue next post). In 3 hours you can be skiing the slopes of Sugar Mountain in the winter, putting your toes in the sand at Sea Pines, Hilton Head in the summer, or exploring the breweries of Asheville in the Fall. Not to mention, we are an easy drive to fabulous places like Charleston, Lake Lure, Amelia Island, and Wilmington.
We have the lakes, beaches, and mountains covered, but Charlotte is also a perfect hub to other major cities and destinations. Long weekend getaway to Phoenix or Napa? Wedding in Vegas? Have a college student in Texas? Europe is calling? No problem, Charlotte has easy direct flights to almost anywhere. Being American Airlines 2nd largest hub in the United States, there are over 9,000 weekly flights.
I recently embarked on 3 overnight trips to Savannah, New York City, and Atlanta. Now, I certainly would recommend spending more than 36 hours in these cities… however life circumstances and schedules made it more challenging. I was just happy to have the adventure! To the point…. an overnight in these cities is very possible because of Charlotte’s accessibility!
Anyone that knows me knows that I am big into an itinerary. If I’m am going somewhere, I want to have reservations at good restaurants and tickets to events! I leave some time for relaxing too, but YOLO, you know? I thought I would highlight a few places I have loved along the way, in my 36 hours in each city. If you live in Charlotte or any other city, I always think it’s helpful to have good recommendations from friends when you travel.
Savannah is a charming historic city, filled with cobblestone streets and beautiful parks. When one of my best friends in Florida asked for a girl’s weekend, it was a no-brainer. It was a quick 4-hour drive… easy on the way down, not so easy on the way back!
Hotel. The Mansion
Restaurants. Cotton & Rye, Common Thread, and Collins Quarter for brunch
Entertainment. Forsyth Park, shopping along the river, and a show at Club One!! (Not pictured)
New York City has always had my heart and is one of my favorite cities in the world. When I received tickets to a Stephen Colbert taping… 2 of my friends from DC hopped on a train and met me there.
I took a 7:30 am flight out of Charlotte, by 9:30 I was staring at One World Trade Center, and by 10:30 I was standing in Times Square!
I made my friends brave the subway so we could do as much as possible!
Hotel Marquis in Time Square
Restaurants Eataly market, SERRA by Birreria for lunch, 230 Fifth Rooftop in the Flatiron district, Aldo Sohm Wine Bar and Bar Centrale (speakeasy) in the theater district, and NoMo Kitchen in Soho for brunch
Entertainment Stephen Colbert taping (request tickets for this show and many others here https://1iota.com/), Moulin Rouge! Broadway show, shopping in Soho
Atlanta was also a recent, quick overnight trip for my cousin’s baby shower. Atlanta is such a bustling city with so much to do. In 4 hours’ time, we have made several other trips down to visit friends and go to the famous Georgia Aquarium.
This time we stayed in the Alpharetta area. Amazing!! I had no idea how vibrant and how much charm this city had to offer. Adorable shops and boutiques for days and too many restaurants to choose from!
Hotel. The Avalon (absolutely fabulous, saw a few celebrities)
Restaurants Anywhere in the Avalon area, Up on the Roof
Well, there you have it! Jet-set away! But, as the saying goes… there is no place like home. It’s fun to get away, but it’s always the calmest, most refreshing feeling when I am home safely in the Queen City. Thank you to the Queen City for allowing me to fulfill my constant travel itch and for always welcoming me back with open arms when I return.