Best of the East Coast Collab: Charlotte, North Carolina

Hey y'all and Happy Monday (aren't Mondays so much better in the summertime?). I'm so thrilled to be participating in Savannah's Best of the East Coast linkup today. I typically associate summer with travel as my family and I are usually on the road a lot whether it be to my grandparents in Florida and Alabama, to the beach in Kiawah, or to our lake house in New York. This year, we are traveling to Hawaii (definitely not a road trip though haha) and then to New York. But, if you're on the road this summer and passing through or staying in Charlotte, North Carolina, I have my favorite places here for y'all!

I have lived here in Charlotte for most of my life and I absolutely love it. It is a big city with lots to do but still has plenty of Southern Charm to go with it.

to eat

Not Just Coffee- The cutest little coffee shop that has amazing lattes (with latte art!). Definitely the perfect spot to study or to catch up with a friend!

Amelie's- The best bakery in Charlotte. Their main location is in NoDa but they recently opened an Uptown location as well. They're famous for their Salted Caramel Brownies, which are amazing!

Bad Daddy's- If you're looking for an amazing hamburger, look no further than Bad Daddy's. There's multiple locations across Charlotte from Dilworth to Birkdale to even the airport. As I mentioned, the burgers are amazing but they also have really good fries and milkshakes.

Brixx- A go to spot for thin crust pizzas, salads, pastas, and sandwiches. I love their Barbecue Chicken Pizza!

Smoke- North Carolina is famous for their barbecue so I couldn't leave a barbecue place off of my city guide! Smoke is probably one of my favorite restaurants and has two locations: one in Birkdale (20 minutes north) and one in StoneCrest. The pulled pork sandwich is my go to and all the sides there are amazing!

Del Frisco's- This is my family's go to if we want to go somewhere fancy to celebrate. It's located right near Southpark Mall and is so yummy! I always order the Filet Mignon and my family can never leave without ordering the Lemon Cake.

Dean and Deluca- If you're looking for a fancy version of Panera, head to Dean and Deluca in Phillips Place. The interior is so cute and they have so many options to choose from. They have a patio out front that is perfect for enjoying your meal outside. It is on the pricier side though.

Bakersfield East Blvd- The coolest taco place in Dilworth. They have the best chips and queso and the tacos are pretty good too (coming from someone who isn't big on tacos). Not to mention the interiors are so cool.

Mickey and Mooch- Another one of my favorite restaurants that's on the fancier side. They have really good steak and I always love to order the truffle fries whenever I'm there! They also have really yummy desserts!

Toast (aka The Famous Toastery)- My favorite brunch spot. Seriously, they have the best pancakes ever. They have locations across the city but my favorite is the one in Davidson.

to see/to do

BB&T Stadium- Since this is more of a summer themed linkup, I had to include the baseball stadium. It's always so fun to go to games during the summer not to mention the stadium has gorgeous city views.

Freedom Park- One of the biggest parks in the city that always has something going on in it. It's also a great place to go for a nice walk or run.

Discovery Place- If you're traveling with little kids or just want to explore, be sure to check out Discovery Place in uptown as they always have so many cool exhibits there to explore.

Myers Park- There isn't anything specific to do in Myers Park but it's one of my favorite neighborhoods in Charlotte and I would say it's the perfect spot to walk or drive through to look at all of the giant houses!

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden- The prettiest garden located 30 minutes outside of Charlotte. I went here for the May InfluenceHer Network Meetup and we had such a great time exploring!

Crowder's Mountain- Located under a hour outside of the city, Crowder's Mountain is the perfect spot to go for a weekend hike. The views at the top are so pretty too!

Lake Norman- One of my favorite spots in the Charlotte area and is the perfect way to cool off on a hot summer afternoon as well!

Carowinds- If you're looking for a fun amusement park, look no farther than Carowinds. I honestly haven't been in years as I'm not the biggest fan of rollercoasters but it's super fun for those who do!

to shop

Southpark Mall- My absolute favorite mall that has so many amazing stores and lots of restaurants (including California Pizza Kitchen and Cheesecake Factory). My favorite stores here are Lilly Pulitzer (duh!), Nordstrom, Tory Burch, J. Crew, Kate Spade, and Vineyard Vines. I could seriously spend days just in this mall!

Charlotte Premium Outlets- An outlet mall that has so many amazing stores in it (a J. Crew and Kate Spade among the many!). The March meetup for the InfluenceHer Network was here and it was so much fun!

Phillips Place- Located right down the road from Southpark, Phillips Place is another spot for some retail therapy. It only has a handful of stores but is also home to Dean and Deluca, which makes it worth the trip in my opinion!

Have you ever traveled to Charlotte? Let me know in the comments!

<!-- end InLinkz script —>