New to Charlotte? Here are 10 places you have to visit

New to Charlotte? Or wondering whether you’ve had all of your proper newcomer’s experiences, even if you’ve been here five years?

Here are 10 key places to visit and get your bearings when it comes to what this city has to offer:

9508 South Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28273

That’s the address for the first stop on the LYNX Blue Line light rail in south Charlotte. Park your car and get a round-trip pass at the kiosk for $4.40. Find a seat by the window and settle in. You’re about to experience a 19.3-mile tour of Charlotte, passing through neighborhoods like South End, NoDa, Uptown and University City. It should take about 45 minutes to get to the others side, which puts you at UNC Charlotte. Don’t forget your Idiot’s Guide to the Light Rail right here.

The Matheson Bridge

This is my absolute favorite, sweeping view of the city skyline. You’ll find it near 300 Matheson Ave. If you can, park near the corner of Matheson Avenue and North Tryon Street, walk along the bridge’s pedestrian rail and stop in the middle. Take pause.

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Blumenthal Performing Arts Center

130 N. Tryon St.

Charlotte is not New York City, but that doesn’t stop us from getting amazing theatrical productions. This fall, 32 performances of the Broadway hit musical “Hamilton” are coming to the Belk Theater Oct. 10 through Nov. 4. “Phantom of the Opera” came to the stage as well, and “The Lion King is coming this week.

Scene from “The Phantom of the Opera.” Photo by Matthew Murphy

Carowinds

14523 Carowinds Blvd.

Need a different kind of thrilling entertainment, say, for the whole, rambunctious family? Carowinds is worth the splurge for a theme park day. Experience more than 40 rides from roller coasters to drop towers, plus the Carolina Harbor water park. There are plenty of shows too, like “Lunch with the Peanuts Gang.” If you’re an adult trying to figure out how to make the most of the family-filled insanity, here’s a quick guide.

The EpiCentre

210 E. Trade St.

You can’t properly experience Charlotte nightlife without visiting the EpiCentre at least once (and once might feel like more than enough, if you’re ready to move past your college party days). The EpiCentre is a multi-level venue featuring bars like BlackFinn (for mingling), Bubble (for dancing and champagne), Howl at the Moon (for dueling piano music) and SUITE (for a more clubby dance experience); plus eateries like Jason’s Deli (for sandwiches and salads), Vida (for Tex Mex) and Studio Movie Grill (to pair food with a flick).

U.S. National Whitewater Center

5000 Whitewater Center Pkwy.

Away from the hustle and bustle of Uptown nightlife and south Charlotte theme parks, Charlotte has 1,300-acres of land set aside for more than 30 land and water activities that double as an easy escape from the city. This organization is actually a nonprofit with a mission to promote an active lifestyle. Get active with free options like films and concerts, or paid options like races, rock climbing, whitewater rafting, paddle boarding and beyond. Here’s a list of free activities you can partake in just by paying for parking.

Lake Norman

About 20 miles from Uptown is the Charlotte-area expanse of water named after Norman Cocke, former president of Duke Power Company (now Duke Energy). The lake is the largest manmade body of fresh water in North Carolina and has plenty of options for visitors. Consider Cycleboats reservations (for a party on the water) or a beach experience via Ramsey Creek Park— this 46-acre park stretches along the shore with a swimming area, docks, boat-launching area, nature trails and more.

Charlotte Motor Speedway

5555 Concord Pkwy. South

Everyone says you need to go to a NASCAR race at least once. With 1.5 miles of track and 89,000 seats for the audience, this facility is massive. The Coca-Cola 600 race is a big one to keep on the radar, with cars moving at such high speeds (the driver average was 160.655 mph in 2016) you can barely hear words shouted into your ear.

One homegrown restaurant

The Charlotte dining scene has exploded in recent years, though we’re still waiting on a James Beard award to land. There’s a plentitude of homegrown eateries that can’t be missed. Try Charlotte classics like Brooks’ Sandwich House for burgers, Mama Ricotta’s for heaping hot plates of Italian, Alexander Michael’s for black bean burgers and tavern-style grub, and more.

One Charlotte brewery

Charlotte’s brewery scene has blossomed as well, with more than 30 options — and most locations are easily dog-friendly and baby-friendly, if that’s your thing. Some of the newest options include Bold Missy Brewery and Divine Barrel Brewing in NoDa (they also have refreshing Lenny Boy kombucha). Bonus: Try 7 of the craziest ingredients in Charlotte beers, from edible glitter to catnip.

Welcome to CLT.

This story was originally published August 20, 2018 at 1:13 AM.