Charlotte : The Center of Industry and Entertainment in the State of North Carolina

Charlotte is the largest city in the state of North Carolina. It is also noted as the center of industry, technology, economy, and entertainment in the state. Because of this, the city is home to a lot of attractions that help bolster the economy of Charlotte. On this article, we are going to explore ten of the best sightseeing destinations in Charlotte.

1. The Billy Graham Library

To kick off your sightseeing adventure around Charlotte, you could first visit the Billy Graham Library. It is a public library and museum which exhibits the life and ministry of Billy Graham, a Christian evangelist. The library could be found on the grounds of the International headquarters of the Billy Graham Evangelic Association. The main galleries within the library display various presentations, artifacts, pictures, and other multimedia forms that showcase the ministry of Graham. There is a specific gallery in the library that is dedicated entirely to Ruth Bell Graham, the wife of Billy Graham.

2. BB&T Ballpark

The BB&T Ballpark is a baseball stadium that could be found in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is home to the Charlotte Knights, a Triple-A Minor League Baseball team in the International League. It features a two-level club with charming skyline views. It also has a climate-controlled club with a full-service bar for the VIPs. As a matter of fact, there are 975 club seats and 22 luxury suites that are situated at the ballpark. The next time you visit Charlotte, you should go to BB&T Ballpark and watch a game or two.

3. Freedom Park

If you want to relax for a while and savor the wonders of nature while sightseeing in Charlotte, you could try going to the Freedom Park. It is a 98-acre park that is located between the historic Dilworth and Myers Park neighborhoods. When sightseeing around the park, you will be able to see a 7-acre lake, paved trails, a tennis court, a volleyball court, sports fields, and pieces of playground equipment. If you go to the park in the summer, you could also witness films and musical performances being shown in the park pavilion.

4. Discovery Place Science

Discovery Place Science is a museum in the Uptown area of Charlotte, North Carolina that caters to those who are into science and technology. This place brings science concepts to life through its hands-on interactive exhibits, an IMAX Dome Theater, exciting activities and experiments, and other educational programs and opportunities. The IMAX theater, in particular, provides an immersive movie experience for the visitors. Such attraction is not only an excellent sightseeing attraction in Charlotte, it is also a great way to immerse yourself in the different concepts surrounding science and technology.

5. Bank of America Stadium

For football fanatics who are sightseeing in Charlotte, you could visit the Bank of America Stadium. It is the headquarters and the home facility of the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. Opened in 1996 as the Ericsson Stadium, it was renamed to its present name after Bank of America purchased the naming rights in 2004. When sightseeing in this stadium, you could observe that it has features of a classic American stadium including its bowl design and its other features. Its architecture is also something to marvel at.

6. Levine Museum of the New South

The Levine Museum of the New South is another museum which could be found in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is a historical institution which places emphasis on the life in the North Carolina Piedmont after the American Civil War. The museum consists of permanent and temporary exhibits that are related to Southern topics. One of the museum's permanent exhibit is called, "Cotton Fields to Skyscrapers: Charlotte and the Carolina Piedmont in the New South." It displays period exhibits that mirror the history of the region. Here, sightseeing tourists could see a cotton mill, a tenant farmer's house, and an early Belk department store, among others.

7. Carolinas Aviation Museum

For those who are into aviary devices, you could visit the Carolinas Aviation Museum. It is an aviation museum found on the ground of Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Carolinas Aviation Museum is one of the few aviation museums that is located at a major airport hub. It serves as the home of the Airbus A320 which was used on US Airways Flight 1549. Aside from the main museum which contains a selection of aircraft and artifacts, the museum also operates the Dolphin Overton Aviation Library which contains over 9,000 volumes of research archives.

8. Carowinds

Carowinds is an exciting sightseeing destination in Charlotte. It is a 400-acre amusement park located on the border of North Carolina and South Carolina. The rides at Carowinds are loosely based on different themed areas: Celebration Plaza, the Crossroads, Carolina Boardwalk, Carousel Park, County Fair, Thrill Zone, and Camp Snoopy. It also includes the Carolina Harbor water park which features its own set of rides and attractions. WinterFest and Scarowinds are seasonal events which are also featured during Christmas and Halloween, respectively.

9. Spectrum Center

The Spectrum Center is an indoor arena that located at the heart of the city of Charlotte, North Carolina. It is the home of the Charlotte Hornets, the city's team to the National Basketball Association. It could hot up to 20,2000 seats for NBA games and college basketball games. Sightseeing visitors with a knack on the game basketball could visit the center to watch a game or two. Currently operated by the Hornets Sports and Entertainment, this Charlotte-owned sports arena opened in in October 2005.

10. Mint Museum Uptown

The Mint Museum Uptown is a cultural institution in Charlotte that showcases hundreds of collections that feature different arts and design that could be found from around the globe. The museum spreads over five floors. It houses collections of woods, ceramics, glass, and other materials from the Mint Museum of Craft + Design. Additionally, the museum contains several collections featuring Contemporary Art, American Art, and some European Art. If you are into arts, you will surely love the designs found in this museum. The Mint Museum has another branch called the Mint Museum Randolph.

◎ Closing

The city of Charlotte boasts of cultural, natural, and sports attractions which are worth sightseeing. It is worth noting that these attractions should be on top of your list when you plan on sightseeing around Charlotte. You will not only get to know their culture, you will also get to enjoy watching different sports like basketball and baseball.