My husband and I are planning a trip to Charlotte for 4 days in early April and are looking for ideas. We're staying uptown, will have a car, and don't need to do anything touristy. We're really coming for the weather, the scenery, and the food.

In Charlotte, we are looking for interesting neighborhoods to walk around -- could be for architecture, funky shopping, parks, or just a great vibe. Favorite things are farmers markets, streets with locally-owned shops and restaurants, public art, local artisans, local brewpubs. Local ice cream.

We plan to drive down to Summerville, SC for the FlowerTown festival -- stumbled across it by accident about 10 years ago and always thought it would be fun to go back. Any great side trips between Charlotte and Charleston?

We also plan a pilgrimage to the Lexington area for BBQ, and welcome any input on places to try, or stops to make along the way. We favor the mom and pop places and dives -- don't need anything fancy. Just good.

Thanks!

In Lexington it is Lexington#1.
You will WANT to go to the Bechtler Art Museum downtown. And then the Mint right next to it. Do not miss the Bechtler--and the restaurant is supposed to be EXCELLENT. You don't have to go to the museum to eat there.
Shop South End. The regional Farmers' Market on Saturday is good--York Road. There is also an old small enclosed Farmers' Market on Saturday near Carolinas Medical Center--can't call the name but will get back. Small, old vendors (50 + years).
At the Trolley Barn there is a new farmer's market--just getting started with crafts, some food, etc.
The Plaza Midwood area has funky restaurants--some have been on Diners Driveins and Dives. And we also have incredibly good fine dining everywhere. The best fried chicken is at the Chicken Coop. Get some to take out and eat it at a park.

Charlotte is a great place to live, but you wouldn't want to visit here. There's not a lot to do. For good southern eating, go to Mertz's. Ask anyone they know where it is.

A good side trip would be Pearl Fryer's in Bishopville.
http://www.pearlfryar.com/

Check out NoDa for a funky, independent neighborhood: http://www.noda.org/. Great beer selections at Revolution Pizza or Growlers Pub.

The Liberty in South End for great beer and good food: http://www.thelibertycharlotte.com/

Only local ice cream I know of is Elizabeth Creamery. Homemade and usually good, but not sure it warrants a special trip: http://www.yelp.com/biz/elizabeth-creamery-charlotte

If the weather is warm enough, have lunch on the patio at Vivace overlooking the new greenway: http://www.vivacecharlotte.com/. Great for dinner too - but be sure to make reservations on weekends.

Gee thanks f64. YOu are right and wrong!! There is better soul food than Mert's, but I'll have to check the name. And actually, going to lunch at the United House of Prayer for All People would satisfy the "soul food" and it is DELICIOUS. Open weekdays in the basement of the church that is near Panther Stadium--on Carson St. I think.
NoDa is a great idea. Eat at the Crepe Cellar there--or have a good fish taco at Cabo Fish Taco.
Went to Matty's Diner yesterday--a real Brooklyn diner right here in River City!! Probably not worth a visitor's visit, but great Sunday breakfast. Across from the NC Music Factory.
For another "southern" cooking experience try The King's Kitchen on Trade and Church. It is a project of a well known restauranteur here, Jim Noble. He trains homeless and others to learn to cook as a part of a ministry. The food is terrific--real pan fried chicken from scratch.

Many thanks. South End, NoDa, and the Liberty sound perfect.

Any ideas for the drive between Charlotte and Charleston?

f64 -- I like to think of it as we'll be living in Charlotte, but just for 4 days. We don't need anything "to do" -- we tend to do the same things we do at home. We walk, we eat, we shop, we look. But if you can arrange a thunderstorm, that alone would be worth the trip. We don't get them at home, and I really miss them.

I will have to say that the road between Charlotte and Charleston is THE most boring in the country. Just get on the road and "do" it, and enjoy the other end.

If you're in Charlotte on the 1st or 3rd Friday of April, go to NoDa for gallery crawl. All the local galleries and shops stay open late and many serve wine and beer. Get there early for dinner, because when the weather is pretty, it gets crowded and the restaurants fill up. Revolution Pizza has a wonderful selection of beers on tap, as does Growlers. Crepe Cellar, Cabo Fish Taco, and Revolution are the best food choices. To be honest, I like cocktails and gallery crawling in NoDa, but I find Plaza Midwood has a better selection of restaurants and bars.

In PlazaMidwood, grab a drink at Common Market or outside at Thomas Street Tavern. Dinner at Dish or the Diamond for southern cooking with a twist. Or, dinner at Soul, Bistro La Bon, or Lulu's- all very good.

You could easily take a cab from uptown to NoDa to PlazaMidwood and back to uptown. It would be no more than 5 miles roundtrip for all of it. That way, you could experience both areas in one evening.

If you explore Southend for the Farmers' Market, the trolley museum, Price's Chicken Coop, or funky shops, hop into Common Market- it isn't quite as cool and funky as the one in Plaza Midwood, but it has a large patio tucked down a little ally and great beer and wine. A good place to enjoy the spring weather.

Charlotte may not be a hot spot for tourism, but it is a great place to live!

As for Lexington Barbecue- definitely go to "Lexington Barbecue", or #1 as Gretchen said... the hushpuppies, barbecue, cole slaw- delicious. Just FYI- it's off Business 85 and they re-did the exit. You actually exit before you see the big white building on the hill on the left if you're coming from Charlotte. From the exit (I wish I remembered the exit number), you turn left, then left again at the light, go back under 85business, and then turn left into Lexington Barbecue parking lot. Your GPS may have spot on directions, but mine always messes it up!

While your on 85 business in Lexington, you may want to head on to High Point to Furniture Land South- if you need furniture, it is the best place in the country!

http://www.noda.org/
http://www.plazamidwood.org/
http://www.elizabethcommunity.com/
These - may help

If you're there for the first week end, consider the Extravanza Antique Show at Metrolina, exit 16A off I77 (Sunset Blvd., north of the city).

The antique show has moved on up the road. They really managed to ruin it completely. It used to be SUPER, and actually, the April market could be good--a spectacular.
Dish I was trying to recall, and is it "John's country Kitchen on Central. Diner quality and fun and good.
We used to love Lulu's on Central==GREAT French bistro cooking but I think the chef split. Might still be good, but I don't hear the "buzz" like when we went often, unfortunately. It was SO SO good--but loud.

Sunday brunch is a fun meal to eat out. The Crepe Kitchen in NoDa opens at 11. Zada Jane's in Plaza Midwood/Central AVenue is also fun. You can eat outside--and that may be preferable for noise and crowd. Crazy crowded mid morning Sunday. Lulu's for brunch is REALLY good, and the menu is fun in how they list their items--"greens, eggs, and ham" is a delicious omelette with collards folded in, for example.

Gretchen, the antique show is still where it always was and the first week end of every month as always. The offshoot to Concord died last fall. I have to agree it's pretty much ruined, but with a spectacular, it might be OK this time.

REALLY. THank you. I just stopped going (as you can see!!) because it had lost SO much--and I don't need anything. Of course, I never did "need" anything, but usually found something. Thanks. I used to have a season pass even!!

Does anyone know if Lexington #1 is open on Sundays?

http://www.ibiblio.org/ch-scene/bbq/bbq.html

gokatgo, it's closed on Sunday.

You can get very passable BBQ in Charlotte at Mac's Speed Shop on South Blvd.