Charlotte is a beautiful city, a lot in part due to its distinct change of seasons. There’s no dull monotony of too-long winters or never-ending heat in Charlotte! Queen Charlotte maintains her weather schedule with strict attention to detail, allowing her people to plan activities and wardrobes accordingly! The heat of summer is upon us and because Charlotte is so wonderfully located, cooling off ,in and out of the city, is a easy as (a frozen, peach) pie!
Ocean breezes are just a few hours drive from Charlotte! People all have their favorites, from Isle of Palms and Folly in the Charleston area to the sands of Cherry Grove and Litchfield in Myrtle beach. Charlotte locals can be seen with their OBX stickers swearing allegiance to the Outer Banks, while others have the HH for Hilton Head on their bumpers. Wilmington offers a charming, breezy beach opportunity at its popular Wrightsville and Carolina beaches. Dip your toes in the water, grab a cool drink and play to your heart’s content at one of the plethora of beaches just a very short trip from Charlotte!
Who doesn’t love the amazingly beautiful Carolina Mountains?! Always about ten degrees cooler than the metropolitan areas, the mountains are just a couple hours away. Blowing Rock is a two hour drive and a favorite for families! Ride the train at Tweetsie Railroad, and visit the mysterious winds of the Blowing Rock. Just up the road, past the city of Boone, swimming holes abound for those wanting an alternative to the cement ponds. Hebron Rock Colony is a natural rock formation about 20 minutes away from Boone. Large boulders, small waterfalls and multiple swimming holes can be found there. Trash Can Falls features cascading falls and a few jumps ranging from 15 to 30 feet high. The Falls are off 321, right past the Watauga River Bridge. Snake Pit is in the same vicinity as Trash Can. Snake Pit provides visitors with a large area to swim and multiple flat boulders make it possible to sunbathe. Sliding Rock is literally a sliding rock! Slide down the smooth rock into the crisp, mountain water! Sliding rock is located just north of Brevard. Hooker Falls is in the DuPont State forest and offers a great tubing experience while listening to the peaceful sounds of a waterfall. Lake Lure offers sandy beaches with mountain views! Near Chimney Rock, hiking in the cool of the morning and splashing in the refreshing water in the afternoon is a heavenly way to enjoy summertime!
Stay in the gorgeous green of the Queen City and have some fun to escape the high summer temps! Charlotte is always regionally prepared for her seasons and offers cool summer activities to beat the heat! Parks in Charlotte most appropriately turn on the water during the warm sunny days of summer!
Romare Bearden Park is located in the heart of the city! Open, grass fields offered a casual play area (just recently spotted casually kicking balls on the grass were international soccer players from the 2016 International Champion Cup being played at Bank of America stadium) and a fountain/waterfall area for the kids to splash and play! Quiet gardens and benches are strategically located for peaceful relaxation! Latta Splash Park in Dilworth is located just in sight of the Charlotte skyline! The splash park is directly next to the playground area and makes this park especially convenient for the young families! Green, the Splash Park is Uptown at the popular The Green area. Art, statues and restaurants are all within this metropolitan, three-tiered lawn area! Towering fish fountains supply a steady stream of cold water for a romp in the splash area. Carolina Harbor Water Park at Carowinds offers all sorts of water activities from a six story high water slide to a Myrtle Turtle pre-school beach area!
Tastebuds have their own requisites during the summer! Satisfying that summer palate most likely includes something cool, creamy, bubbly and delicious! Pike’s Old Fashioned Soda Shop in Southend offers custom made milkshakes, malts, New York Style egg creams and old fashioned ice cream sodas! Sit and share a milkshake at the very same counter as Gwyneth Paltrow and Jack Black in in the movie SHALLOW HAL! Go local and fresh at the Elizabeth Creamery. Owned and operated by the lovely Kims, this mom and pop ice cream will have you loving your brain freeze! King of Pops are popsicles for the sophisticated palate! Tracking down the location of this frozen treat is a must for sweating Charlotteans! Yummy flavors range from white chocolate peppermint to peppermint mojito.
Mojito popsicles are delicious, but if you prefer to refresh with drinks in liquid form,Charlotte is home to over two dozen breweries with many more in the planning stages! The Brewery Crawl in South End is the ticket to sampling several breweries in one night! Twelve stops allow you to hop the breweries, including tastings from Triple C Brewery (who welcomes your four-legged friends on the back patio) to The Unknown Brewing company. Olde Mecklenburg Brewery,Charlotte’s very first brewery, opened in 2009! Enjoy the outside Biergarten or dine in at the Brauhaus. Take a tour of the operations and events are always a part of the Olde Meck scene, everything from yoga to the upcoming LOSO BLOCK PARTY includes a frosty, tall one! Food Truck Friday in Charlotte now has more than 14 trucks, including the Sycamore Brewing Company.Grab a bite and wash it down with a cold brew!
Charlotte sizzles with summer cool downs just a short drive away or minutes down the road. Hop on the trolley, jump in the car or walk down the street to enjoy the advantageous centralization of a hopping city surrounded by beach and mountain escapes!
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South Charlotte Newcomers! 