Plan a Staycation: DOWNTOWN

Last weekend we had our own mini-staycation.  It was great to do things around our own city and then be able to come home to our house instead of a hotel.  Even better was that there was no long drive or expensive flight, no packing, no meltdowns, and no bad airport food involved.  I encourage all of you to try it...plan a day to just hang out in a different part of the city than you usually would.  Go out to eat somewhere new or find a cool place for a picnic, whatever your budget allows.  Spend the day seeing our city in a new light and enjoying it like a tourist would.  May sound cheesy but I swear you will really appreciate the city we live in even more.  Each week I will feature an area of town and some things in which your family can do and see.

• DOWNTOWN

Charlotte is finally starting to see some life downtown when the work week is over.  Find a place to park and just get out and walk around.  You may catch a magic show or live music on the sidewalk.

• Where to park:
• Discovery Place parking garage
• Public pay lots
• Or, take the light rail and avoid the hassles of driving
• Where to eat:
• Newk's on 101 N. Tryon
• Panera on 8152 S. Tryon
• Villa Fransesca on 321 N. Caldwell St.
• Fuel Pizza on 500 S. College St
• Pinky's Westside Grill 1600 W. Morehead (not within walking distance)
• Burger Co. 1500 W. Morehead (not within walking distance)
• Nix Burger and Brew on 201 N. Tryon
• Chickadee's Cafe on 1617 Elizabeth Ave (not in walking distance)
• Basil Thai on 210 N. Church St.

There are plenty of options for eating from fast food to a nice restaurant depending what mood you, and your children, are in!

• What to see and do:
• The Firebird sculpture in front of the Bechtler Museum on 420 S. Tryon St. (free)
• The Green at 400 S. Tryon St. (free)
• Imagnion 300 E. 7th St. (free)
• Public library on 310 N. Tryon St.
• EpiCentre on 210 E. Trade St.
• Panther's Stadium
• Discovery Place (admission costs)
• Blumenthal (for list of performances click, here)
• Mint Museum (uptown)
• Bechtler Museum
• Imaginon
• Nascar Hall of Fame