Charlotte

Don't expect to hear many Southern accents in this melting pot of a city, the biggest in the state. Visiting Charlotte is much more of an urban experience than a down-home one, but that's all part of the fun of being in this bustling, forward-focused place. Here, local custom is not to preserve the old, but build new. While controversial, this tradition is responsible for the ultramodern feeling of the city's Uptown and business district. With little doubt, it's also why Charlotte is home to so many brand-new sports complexes, museums, and chic lofts. This lack of dwelling in the past brings people from across the country to start new lives here. Ask around, and you'll be hard-pressed to find a native of this town. Many of Charlotte's most exciting bars, restaurants, and shops were begun by outsiders, a rarity in many Southern cities.