18 ways to spend your weekend days in Charlotte this summer
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Summer is here and the heat is on. It’s that time of year when Charlotteans start scattering to the beach and mountains at noon on Friday. If you happen to be stuck in the city, don’t worry, there is plenty of fun to be had. Here are 18 unique ideas for how to spend your weekend days that don’t include the words NASCAR Hall of Fame, USNWC or Crowder’s Mountain.
(1) Go to Earl’s Grocery, buy a picnic lunch, cruise a B-cycle bike down the greenway to Freedom Park for your picnic. Return bike and stop into The Spoke Easy for a cold beer while you check out their new bikes and think about buying one of your own.
The Spoke Easy on Elizabeth Ave. It’s a bike shop and a bar… Twofer win. via @lzbarrett
A photo posted by Axios Charlotte (@charlotteagenda) on
(2) Get a few friends together and get a room at the Ritz. This gets you access to their roof top pool for the day. Relax in the hot tub and spa. Bonus: If your friend works for Bank of America you can use their employee discount…so I hear.
i’m about to dive in… #swimgood @stgeorgelauer 🙏 A photo posted by Franklin Headen (@headenistic) on
(3) Find a sweet Airbnb in a different hood and don’t use your car all weekend.
(4) Create your own Relish dinner party for 10. Get 5 of your friends to invite a friend no else knows. String lights and drink signature cocktails from Mason jars. Eat delicious food family style. Sit back and enjoy the refreshing alternative to meeting new people that doesn’t include yelling over EDM beats at Suite.
A photo posted by RELISH CAROLINA (@relishcarolina) on
(5) Play doubles tennis. Every Saturday and Sunday morning people gather at Dilworth Elementary for doubles rounds. There’s a standing open invite for all levels, ages, genders. No commitments, just show up — onsies or twosies. The group is incredibly welcoming.
(6) Detox day in South End. Do mani/pedi’s at Polished, lunch at Luna’s followed by a group cooking class with Chef Alyssa.
Just picked up fresh, dandelion greens from the market for our green juice! #athertonmarket #GardenersTable #supportlocal #drinkyourgreens #marketfresh #coldpressed #dandygreens A photo posted by Lunas Living Kitchen (@lunaslivingkitchen) on
(7) Rent a Vespa for the weekend. Cruise the city for a whole new perspective. Visit all the places you don’t go because “parking sucks.”
(8) Hike or run the Latta Plantation Trail in Latta Park where wooded areas open up onto scenic views of Mountain Island Lake.
(9) Grab a paper and coffee from Laurel Market and walk over to the newly opened Duke Mansion gardens to while away the morning.
A photo posted by John A (@eminentdomains) on
(10) Get educated about all that beer you drink on Charlotte Brews Cruise.
(11) Go see show at the Comedy Zone and get inspired to sign up for their beginner stand-up course — 6 Monday night classes where you’ll learn the basics for performing stand-up.
(12) Go thrifting at the Rat’s Nest in NoDa, buy new honky tonk outfit, make up new identity, drink PBRs at Thirsty Beaver under new alias.
#noda A photo posted by Demetri (@dime9d) on
(13) Bike the Backyard Trails for 8.2 miles of unique single-track trails without having to leave the city.
(14) Go cliff jumping at a local quarry. Carrigan Farms (40 mins away) has a couple of public swim times coming up. You can also book your own private party and have the lake all to yourself. Or Tuckertown Reservoir (1 hour away) where these kids seem to be having a blast playing hookie.
Jumped off some cliffs today. Be on the lookout for a video #LiveMajestically A photo posted by Aaron Nail (@pillzbary) on
(15) Watch the planes come in at Charlotte Douglas International Airport and rejoice that you aren’t one of the suckers stuck in a cramped seat with a crying baby behind you. Good viewing spot here.
A photo posted by Sherri Barth (@sherribarth) on
(16) Run or bike through the downtown cemetery for some old Charlotte history and a great view of the skyline. Continue the ride through 4th Ward and stop into Alexander Michael’s to escape the sun and heat and refuel.
(17) Comb Craigslist for a deal on rollerblades. Embrace your inner 90s and roll the South End Rail Trail. Stop for ice cream at Mr. K’s, shop for some new neon at Black Sheep Skate Shop and settle into Common Market South End where they very likely could be having a break-dance contest.
(18) Chuck it all and do a SPA day at the Ballantyne Resort. I’ll see you there.