If you're heading to North Carolina's biggest city and thinking of
getting a rental car, Charlotte is an exciting, sprawling destination
that's best explored by driving.
Here are some suggestions on what to see and where to go in your Charlotte
rental car:
Before you get to town, you'll want to decide where to pick up your
rental car. Charlotte has car company offices at Charlotte-Douglas International
Airport, downtown and other parts of the city.
When you're ready to hit the road in your rental car, take a spin around
downtown -- one of the nation's major financial hubs -- and check out
skyscrapers like the towering Bank of America Corporate Center.
Next, if you want to go for a shopping spree in your rental car, Charlotte
has an array of retail options. Among the most upscale destinations
is SouthPark Mall, which has top retailers such as Nordstrom, Louis
Vuitton, Tiffany and Kenneth Cole.
Nearby is Phillips Place, recognized by Style.com as one of the top
luxury shopping centers in the South. For outlet shopping in Charlotte,
take the rental car to Concord Mills, with 200 retailers that draw 15
million visitors each year.
Professional sports are becoming increasingly prominent in Charlotte,
thanks to the NFL's Carolina Panthers and the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats.
And NASCAR is a huge presence at Lowe's Motor Speedway, a short trip
up Interstate 85 in your rental car, where you can take part in the
Richard Petty Driving Experience.
For fun and thrills, take your Charlotte rental car south to Carowinds,
a 105-acre theme and water park with 50 rides and an array of other
attractions.
For visitors eager to explore cultural and educational options in their
rental car, Charlotte is home to the respected Mint Museum of Art, the
Charlotte Museum of History and Discovery Place, a hands-on science
center.
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