YP Getaway: Charlotte, N.C.

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If you want to escape to a place where you can fill your days with outdoor adventures and retire at night to urban comforts--with a healthy dose of Southern charm--consider booking a flight to Charlotte, N.C. After I recently spent a weekend there, here is what I can recommend:
 
Getting There and Getting Around
Charlotte Douglas International Airport is a hub for U.S. Airways, and in 2009 ranked 11th in passenger volume. Since U.S. Airways has the only hub there, it has close to a monopoly on all flights, so they are a little more expensive. But if you have the time to take a connecting flight, or buy your tickets far in advance, the cost will be lower.
 
If you prefer to travel by rail, Amtrak also has a station in the city. I strongly suggest renting a car as there is lots to do in the outlying towns, as well. Within Charlotte, there is a public rail system and bus line.
 
What to Do
Charlotte is the heart of NASCAR country and, even if you know nothing about cars and racing, the need for speed is a little infectious. If you like museums, you can go to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, which has artifacts and interactive exhibits. Or take a half-hour drive to Mooresville, where you can visit the Penske Racing Headquarters on weekdays and go on the fan walk to watch crew workers building and fine-tuning race cars.
 
After all the NASCAR exposure, you’ll probably want to get behind the wheel yourself, so head to The Pit, also in Mooresville, for some indoor kart racing. The karts, which are imported from Europe, are capable of going 40 miles per hour and the 70,000 square foot track is one of the largest in the country.
 
If you’re there on a weekend, it’s still worth the drive out to Mooresville to visit Carolina Beer and Beverage, LLC, on a Saturday. From 12 to 3 p.m., you can get a tour, souvenir glass and five tasting tokens for $5. Drink up and stock up and then drive to Lake Norman State Park, in Statesville, which is a 30-minute drive from Mooresville.
 
Lake Norman, a manmade lake, has 520 miles of shoreline and is 34 miles in length. You can go fishing,  boating, swimming and hiking. The Alder trail is only .8 miles if you want to take a leisurely pace. If you want to take a spin on the lake, you can rent boats at the Saltshaker Marine in Mooresville.
 
From Statesville, it’s a 40-minute drive back to the city. Make a pit stop at your hotel to get ready for dinner, and then head out to the EpiCentre, where many descend for the city's nightlife.
 
The swanky sit-down restaurants in the EpiCentre fill up fast and reservations are a must. Or go right across the street and dine wait-free in the aesthetically sophisticated Aria Tuscan Grill. It offers appetizers such as caramelized gnocchi (with prosciutto di parma, pear, gorgonzola, truffle oil) (for  $11), and roasted butternut squash ravioli with spinach, parmigiano & sage brown butter (for $15). There are also plenty of fast food options at the EpiCentre.
 
For after dinner plans, the EpiCentre is a multi-story open-air entertainment hub thar offers a venue to suit every taste, from country to classy. But remember, this is the South, and it is possible to get into Suite--“Charlotte’s most exclusive night club”--in flip flops (but, ladies, do wear a nice dress). Suite is situated on the top floor of the EpiCentre and you can lounge outside on the Miami-esque rooftop, or dance the night away to booming dance tracks inside.
 
After you’ve recovered the next day, the local young professionals recommend the U.S. National Whitewater Center, where activities include rafting, climbing (guided routes only), flatwater kayaking, Mega Zip, Climb 2 Zip, Eco Trekking and mountain biking. Even though it is an official Olympic training site, amateurs can participate in any of the activities.
 
Or head out of the city again to Davidson, which is about 20 minutes away. The Birkdale Village shopping center is a beautiful mixed-use community with luxury apartments above a number of well-known stores, such as Banana Republic and Victoria Secret, as well as many unique boutique shops. If you go here, I recommend trying T1 Tapas, a restaurant where your table top is an interactive screen you use to order food, listen to music and play games. There are docks at the booths to plug in your iPod, USB drive or camera SD card. (That's right, you can look at all of the photos from the night before at the Suite on a 30-inch HD screen). You’ll be so occupied you might not even notice the food, which is very, very good. Save room for dessert so you can build your own crepe.
 
I ordered so many different things in mine that it looked more like a burrito than a crepe. But it seemed apt, since my Charlotte vacation was equally stuffed with action.
 
Read more from YPNation contributor Vinti Singh, and her review of beautifulpeople.com.
 
(Photo credit: jacreative; C.C. 2.0)