Charlotte NC:  Thirty Terrific Things To Do!

1. Experience the world's most unique outdoor recreation and environmental learning experience at the U.S. National Whitewater Center. Share over 300 acres of woodlands along the Catawba River with Olympic-caliber athletes, weekend warriors and those looking for high adventure. www.usnwc.org

2. Experience the best of Broadway musicals with the NC Blumenthal Performing Arts Center’s Stanford Broadway Lights Series. Past seasons included such smash hits as Doubt, Sweet Charity and Disney's THE LION KING. http://www.blumenthalcenter.org

3. Charlotte Shout, a celebration of art, culture, and community, incorporating over 200 performances and events throughout the Charlotte region. Shout’s Culinary Arts Experience, a one-of-a-kind culinary extravaganza, touts celebrity chefs such as Wolfgang Puck and interactive cooking demonstrations.
www.charlotteshout.com

4. Experience the nation’s most comprehensive collection of contemporary studio craft at the Mint Museum of Craft + Design, located in Center City. Past exhibits include Observations: A Retrospective Exhibition of Works by Ann Wolff. www.themintmuseums.org

5. Once the location of the first branch of the United States Mint, the Mint Museum of Art is a rich and diverse resource with noted collections of American and pre-Columbian art, American and European ceramics, and contemporary art and photography. www.themintmuseums.org

6. Don’t miss the excitement of the NBA Charlotte Bobcats as they host the league’s brightest stars in the Charlotte Bobcats Arena, now the Timewarner Arena. www.bobcatsbasketball.com

7. For over half a century, Children's Theatre of Charlotte has been opening young minds to the wonders of live theatre, creating what one local critic called "the most technically imaginative and resourceful theatre productions in
the region." www.ctcharlotte.org

8. The NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge has evolved from a novelty to a showcase, a spring ritual of speed and daring resulting in yearly additions to the book of NASCAR lore. Catch the excitement as motorsports history is written at over 180 mph each May. www.lowesmotorspeedway.com

9. ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center. Reflecting an original approach to education, learning and the arts, the 106,000 square-foot facility serves as an unprecedented resource for families, creating a synergy between educational drama experiences and the critical skills of reading unlike any in the country. www.imaginon.org

10. Join the half-million people from all over the United States who visit Discovery Place. Walk through the world’s largest eyeball in Activity: Eyeball Exhibit. Go deep into the heart of a tropical rain forest in Knight Rain Forest. Discovery Place is an ever-changing ever-growing, cutting edge science center. www.discoveryplace.org

11. Fore! 2008 marked the sixth year of the Wachovia Championship. Hosted at Charlotte's Quail Hollow Club, the tournament is recognized by the national and international golf community as one of the top events on the PGA TOUR. www.wachoviachampionship.com

12. The most hair-raising rides, the wettest water park, the most sizzling stage shows, and tons of other cool stuff everyone can enjoy. Carowinds offers guests over 108 acres of ultimate entertainment for the entire family including Boomerang Bay, 16 acres of "Aussome" flowing fun and Nickelodeon Central. Ride, spin, twirl and hug the day away with your favorite characters from Nickelodeon. http://www.carowinds.com/

13. As the chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup heats up, racing action returns to Lowe's Motor Speedway as it hosts the Bank of America 500 in October. The fifth race out of the final ten for the NEXTEL championship, the Bank of America 500 promises high-speed action and excitement. http://www.lowesmotorspeedway.com/

14. Catch the NFL Carolina Panthers as they compete at Bank of America Stadium during the 2009 season. 2008 home games included a battle with the Kansas City Chiefs and away games included Super Bowl champs, New York Giants! www.panthers.com

15. Visit Levine Museum of the New South, an interactive history museum, and experience the nation's most comprehensive interpretation of post- Civil War southern society with Cotton Fields to Skyscrapers, named one of the best exhibitions in the Southeast by the Southeastern Museums Conference Curators' Committee. www.museumofthenewsouth.org

16. Shop ‘til you drop at Concord Mills, one of the state's leading tourist attractions. An amazing themed complex, Concord Mills offers 200 stores, restaurants and entertainment venues including a 24-screen AMC Theatres, Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World and NASCAR SpeedPark. http://www.concordmills.com/

17. Imagine an arts and music festival highlighting emerging local artists, children's area, music stages and fun for the entire family! Art & Soul of South End showcases the Original Block Party, Avenue of the Arts, The Children's Arts Festival and Battle of the Bands. http://www.artandsoulofsouthend.com/

18. If you love flowers, you're not going to want to miss this. Named one of the nation's "20 Great Gardens" in HGTV's popular book, Flower Gardening, Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden features 110 acres of themed Gardens, a dozen sparkling fountains, a spectacular Visitor Pavilion and nine distinctly themed gardens. www.dsbg.org

19. Lowe's Motor Speedway, home of NASCAR's only 600-mile race, hosted the Coca-Cola 600 for the 49th year in 2008, a week after the NASCAR NEXTEL All-Star Challenge. http://www.lowesmotorspeedway.com/

20. Enjoy America's favorite pasttime at Knights Stadium. Catch the Charlotte Knights, Chicago White Ox affiliate, compete with the best teams of AAA minor-league baseball. http://www.charlotteknights.com/

21. Nationally-acclaimed conductors Christof Perick and Albert-George Schram lead the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra in its popular Classics and Pops series. The Pops series allows the Charlotte Symphony to play with special guests such as Peter Nero and Wynonna Judd. Recent events included: The Kingston Trio Victor Vanacore, conducting and Audra McDonald, TONY AWARD-WINNING SINGER http://www.charlottesymphony.org/

22. Experience theatre “off the beaten path.” Valued for its edginess, relevance, daring, and artistic polish, Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte presents critically acclaimed works such as The Great American Trailer Park Musical and Hedwig and The Angry Inch. Currently featuring The Little Dog Laughed by Douglas Carter Beane. http://www.actorstheatrecharlotte.org/

23. Don’t miss the cuts, scrapes and power plays of minor league hockey! The ECHL Charlotte Checkers take to the ice each October at the Charlotte Bobcats Arena. http://www.gocheckers.com/

24. Visit the Afro-American Cultural Center (AACC). Through comprehensive programs and presentations in the visual arts, performing arts and through innovative educational programs, the AACC preserves, promotes and presents African-American culture to the nation. “Conversation between Friends” from the Permanent Collection of the Afro-American Cultural Center Montgomery Gallery & Atrium – was recently on view at the AACC. http://www.aacc-charlotte.org/

25. The Lowes Foods Taste of Charlotte food festival draws more than 150,000 people to Center City Charlotte each June to experience a wide array of family activities, live music and fantastic food from the area’s hottest restaurants. Join us June 6 – 8, 2008. http://www.tasteofcharlotte.com/

26. Explore the Charlotte Museum of History and the Hezekiah Alexander home site for a glimpse of living history. Docents, dressed in period attire, guide guests through exhibits chronicling the 18th - 20th centuries. In response to popular demand, the Toy Time exhibit has been extended through July 27, 2008. http://www.charlottemuseum.org/

27. Tired of dinner and a movie? Then try dinner & music in Elizabeth where you can experience fine dining, (from casual to unique), then head over to the Visulite Theatre for great live music or experience Charlotte's oldest live music venue, the Double Door Inn. The Double Door has seen many legendary Blues performers during its storied, 30+ year history. You may even witness a future legend of the stage at the Double Door Inn on any given night. http://www.visulite.com/, http://www.doubledoorinn.com/

28. Step inside Charlotte Observer IMAX® Dome Theatre at Discovery Place. The giant-screen theatre surrounds you with largerthan-life images and amazing sound while providing a new look at the world in which we live. Featured exhibitions include Rockwell's America: Celebrating the Art of Norman Rockwell. http://www.discoveryplace.org/

29. Carolina Raptor Center is dedicated to the conservation of birds of prey through public education and the rehabilitation of injured and orphaned raptors. Tour Carolina Raptor Center’s bird hospital and get a sneak peak at what happens behind the scenes, from patients’ initial exam to strengthening their wings in outdoor flight cages.
http://www.carolinaraptorcenter.org/

30. NoDa, Charlotte’s fringe art neighborhood, hosts a free Gallery Crawl every 1st and 3rd Friday of the month. Browse the area’s swanky galleries, enjoy a bite to eat and relax to smooth music played by local street musicians. Upcoming Gallery Crawl: NoDa, where there is no official beginning or end! Visit the popular watering holes, meander through the fine collection of galleries, shop in the boutiques or bring your pets to the doggie bar (where humans are welcome as well)! http://www.noda.org/

About the author:

Debe Maxwell- HELEN ADAMS REALTY - 704.491.3310 - Debe@DebeMaxwell.com
*Copyright 2008 by Debe Maxwell *Charlotte NC:  Thirty Terrific Things To Do!*