Hotel at a Glance: Wyndham Garden Charlotte Executive Park

This newly renovated Charlotte hotel features a convenient location within walking distance of numerous shops and restaurants. Getting here from the airport is easy, too, thanks to the hotel’s free shuttle service, which runs from 5 a.m. until 2 a.m. daily.

• Stay connected with free WiFi.
• Take a dip in the outdoor pool.
• In-room amenities include a mini fridge, microwave, and flat-screen TV.
• Grab a bite at the MarketPlace, which is open 24 hours a day, or stop by the daily breakfast buffet (additional fee).

Charlotte, North Carolina: Modern Financial Capital with Thriving Art Scene and Southern Cooking

Charlotte is the largest city in North Carolina and it seems to get bigger every year. As one of the country’s major banking centers, it has shiny new skyscrapers popping up all the time. You can recognize the Hearst Tower by the different colors lighting up its facade throughout the year.

While the city has certainly taken a turn toward the modern, relics of the past are still easy to find. Victorian homes with wide front porches line the streets of the historic Fourth Ward, and you can hail a horse and carriage at the corner of Trade and Tyron. The city’s post-Civil War history is on display at the Levine Museum of the New South; check out the award-winning “Cotton Fields to Skyscrapers” installation.

Charlotte’s NoDa neighborhood (that’s short for North Davidson) is home to the city’s Historic Arts District. Eclectic galleries and live music venues line the streets, and you can catch an improv show here almost every night of the week. Nearby, the growing Plaza-Midwood area offers some of the best dining in town, including authentic Southern-style cooking.

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