Within 50 miles of Charlotte, NC
 

What to do? Where to go? What to see? Any great local (non franchise) restaurants?
All suggestions welcome.
Thanks

Try the Charlotte.com site for lots of info on the area. Blumenthal/Belk theaters are excellent, Mint Museum of Art and Design, NASCAR, restaurants-our favorite Manzetti's Bar and Grill...also, McIntosh's on South Blvd.
Check out Charlotte Observer/E&T Entertainment Things To Do. Good Luck...it's a terrific place to live....especially Lake Norman!!!!!!!!!

I agree with em. Try Charlotte first. There's more to see and do there than you might expect, especially if you're a patron of the arts. Do you already live there, or do you plan to visit?

Great Smoky Mountains N.P., Blue Ridge Parkway, Grandfather Mountain, Chimney Rock Park.

100 miles away from Charlotte is the BMW Museum, near the airport and on the interstate next to the BMW factory. They have a web page.

If you like airplanes, there is a museum next to Charlotte airport.

Restaurants-Patou (authentic French bistro, excellent),Harper's restaurants, Magnolia Grill, and Upstream (all owned by same group--GOOD food, in ascending order of "style"),Guytano's (GOOD Italian), Mama Ricotta's (good inexpensive Italian), Latorre's (Spanish),Lavecchia's (seafood).Pike's Soda Shop for breakfast or lunch. Original Pancake House for breakfast (a franchise but really good). Oh, and for lunch during the week go to the House of Prayer for All People on Graham St.(across from the stadium) for a real experience in old fashioned southern cooking.
To DO--frescoes in the Bank of America building by Ben Long. "Do" South End and its many shops--Pike's and Pancake House are here. Latta Plantation--a restored 18th century Catawba River plantation house and grounds. Sea Grove for visiting all the potteries you can imagine--an hour and a half drive and an all day trip. If you have kids, Carowinds amusement park. On the first weekends there is an antique market at Metrolina. Shop at South Park and Phillips Place. Dean and Deluca at Phillips. Look at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center for offerings that may be on--an absolutely beautiful venue in the European tradition. Go to a Panthers game if it is in town. Museum of the New South downtown. In the new Hearst tower visit a wonderful gallery--WDO.