Palmetto Proving Grounds

• Reply
• Quote
• Rate Up Rate Down

• Reply
• Quote
• Rate Up Rate Down

jbaker8537 said...

Being from Charlotte and knowing the area, I thought I'd post a thread to share the wisdom. It's a litte ways away, but everyone can print this out for September 3rd. Also, anyone who wants to meet up or party a little bit, shoot me a PM, I'll be out and about in the city during the weekend.

Hotels:

1) Omni Hotel- I highly recommend this hotel. It is located on the corner of Trade St. and College St. This is a very nice hotel with reasonable prices. You're looking at around $120 for a suite per night. Within walking distance to the stadium and right across the street from the Epicentre. (This is where all the bars are). www.omnihotels.com/Charlotte

2) Aloft Charlotte- Very upscale hotel, located at the Epicentre. A little more pricey, around $180 per night for a nice room. This hotel is located at the Epicentre, perfect for the partier who tends to go a little over the top and uses all fours to get back to their room. www.aloftcharlotteuptown.com

3) Hilton Garden Inn- Never stayed here, but have had friends say it's a nice hotel for the price. Around $120 per night, located at MLK and S Caldwell. This hotel is right by the NASCAR Hall of Fame and is very reasonable with walking distance to the Stadium and Uptown Cabaret (manly fun). http://hiltongardeninn.hilton.com/en/gi/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=CLTUPGI

4) Hilton Charlotte Center City- Located in the heart of downtown at Trade and Tryon, VERY nice hotel. Stayed once and had incredible service and a spotless room. I would recommend this hotel to anyone willing to spend a little extra for the tastier eye. Rooms run around $140 a night. Walking distance to anything you want to go to. http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/CLTHHHF-Hilton-Charlotte-Center-City-North-Carolina/index.do

5) Holiday Inn Uptown- Located at 6th St and College, this is a decent walk to the stadium, but not Buckhead Saloon for cheap beers. Never stayed, but I believe they've done the Holiday Inn upgrades to the hotel and the newer ones tend to be really nice. Around $120 a night.

Attractions:

1) NASCAR Hall of Fame- Located at S Caldwell and MLK. Awesome place to go if you are a fan of racing. They have race simulators, cool memorabilia, and tons of history. Just a sight to see if you even remotely follow racing. http://www.nascarhall.com/

2) Discovery Place- A great science museum to take kids if you bring them. Located on the northern end of Tryon St in uptown, within walking distance from many hotels. Too many attractions to explain, but check out their website at http://www.discoveryplace.org/.

3) US National Whitewater Center- To get to this attraction you'll have to hit the road for a 15-20 minute ride from uptown, but it is WELL worth it. Built a few years ago, the park is used for kayak training for the Olympics. Grab a group of friends to test your skills at whitewater rafting, or go rock climbing, hiking or mountain biking if that suits your interest. http://usnwc.org/

4) Levine Museum- Located at 7th and College, this museum exhibits the South and how it has changed since the Civil War. (Never been, just quoting the website haha) http://www.museumofthenewsouth.org/

Golf:

I'll only include public courses close to uptown... Which is two. Anyone willing to make a decent drive PM me for outer Charlotte locations.

1) Rennaissance Park Golf Course- Located at Tyvola Rd and Tryon St about 10 minutes south of downtown, this course was built on a landfill and is LONG and challenging. $40-$50 for the round. http://www.charlottepublicgolf.com/renaissance-park.php

2) Revolution Park Golf Course- Last time I played this location it was a 9 hole, which I'm assuming that hasn't changed. $28 for 9. Course has recently been remodeled.

Restaurants:

1) Chima Brazilian Steakhouse- Have an empty stomach for this one. Anyone who hasn't been to a Brazilian steakhouse is in for a treat. Delicious food, mostly meat, a complete "man-meal". Fancy atmosphere for the significant other to enjoy as well. Pricey, but if you visit their website you can register and receive a coupon.

2) Ruth's Chris- Located on S Tryon St, heart of downtown. Delicious food as associated with the name, and well worth the trip.

3) Blue Restaurant Charlotte- Located at 6th and College, this is a great place to go with a group of friends. Great upscale food and atmosphere. Went for New Years last year and was very pleased with my service. http://www.bluerestaurantandbar.com/

4) Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery- Located on the northern end of town on N Tryon St. Very reasonably priced, and their Shrimp & Grits are awesome! In house brews for the beer lovers. rockbottomsouth.com

5) McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant- Great food, but a little pricey. Not your Captain Steve's or Granny Smith seafood restaurant, but I won't turn anyone away. Located on S Tryon near the heart of downtown. http://www.mccormickandschmicks.com/Locations/charlotte-north-carolina/charlotte-north-carolina/tryonst.aspx

6) Epicentre- I won't give details about all the restaurants in the Epicentre, but they are plentiful. Check out Enso for great sushi, Wok Bar for Asian, Libretto's for pizza, Five Guys for burgers, Flemings for steak, and Black Finn for american.

Bars & Nightclubs:

(This is my forte, so enjoy)

Epicentre Bars:

1) Suite- An upscale club with an upbeat atmosphere. Lots of club music and lots of ladies. Dress to impress.

2) Whiskey River- Owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr and partners, great place for beers and a mediocre club atmosphere. Only complaint I have is the bathrooms are a pain sometimes, but the mechanical bull provides good scenery while you wait.

3) Black Finn- Great split level chill bar. Sports bar atmosphere and is usually a very popular place. Can get a little crowded, but come to expect a large crowd in Charlotte bars.

4) Kazba- This is an upscale lounge that opens the front so customers can enjoy the center city view. House music and decent priced liquor, most go for bottle service and a booth. I highly recommend for anyone looking to entertain a group in an upscale manner.

5) Mez- This is a movie theatre/bar. I don't think anyone will be going to a movie, but if you do the experience is like none other. Upscale food service and drinks while you watch your flick, and when you're done there is an upscale bar in the upstairs lounge area. Great place, and the VIP section is large.

6) Wild Wing- If you have to ask, you haven't been around long. Same as all others.

7) Mortimer's- This is a similar bar to Black Finn, low key and reasonably priced. Go mid day to get started.

8) Howl at the Moon- A piano bar. It's a great time, there is a cover like most places in the Ep. Located on the 3rd floor of the Epicentre.

Outer Epicentre:

1) Buckhead Saloon- Located at 6th and College, this place rocks. Normally has live cover bands on the weekends, cheap beers, and you can throw peanut shells on the floor! I recommend to anyone who doesn't want to dress up to go to the Epicentre.

2) Fox & Hound- More of a restaurant, but I only go to drink. Sports bar type of place with lots of TV's.

3) Bar Charlotte/ Alley Cat- More of a younger crowd in each, these appeal to the club/bar virgins, but BAR Charlotte is trashy and is semi strip club, so bare as you dare!

4) Dixie's Tavern- HIGHLY recommend to someone looking to hit the bar scene. Located across 7th street from BAR/Alley, this place is a GREAT time.

5) 7th Street bars- If you'd like to venture out of downtown for a more chill atmosphere, venture East on 7th Street and check out Jackaloupe Jacks and Kennedy's. There are other bars around the area and they're all in a line, so you can barhop and walk to check them all out.

6) Morehead Street Tavern- Great tavern atmosphere and very chill. Reasonable prices on drinks.

7) Phil's Tavern- Located on 5th street between Tryon and College, small bar with a good atmosphere. You don't have to dress up to go here.

8) Town Tavern- Hot bartender here, and located in center city at 5th and Tryon. Check out Phil's and this bar together.

9) Uptown Cabaret- Here's your testosteron release fellas. These ladies are HOT and you will have a good time. Pay them $100 and tell them your buddy is getting married... I promise you'll thank me later. Located just outside of downtown on S Tryon. Catch a cab.

10) Men's Club Charlotte- Located just off of I77 on Tyvola, possibly the hottest ladies in Charlotte. Breakfast buffet Saturday night for $10. Check it out.

Any questions you have, shoot me a PM and let me know. Hope this helps and if it gets lost (it is 6 months away), I'll bring it back up as it gets closer. Hopefully JC or someone will pushpin it for a couple of weeks so everyone can print off a copy.

• Reply
• Quote
• Rate Up Rate Down

cockfool said...

Good thoughts. For restaurants I'd add that if you're looking for steak you can't go wrong with Ruth's Chris but Capital Grille is another very good choice. You mention Blue...highly recommend that place. Outstanding. Zinc is another good one. If you don't mind a brief drive...and I'm talking 5 minutes, Mama Ricotta's on Kings Dr. is a great Italian spot that won't break the bank. Then there is the whole South End scene. You can take the train just a few short stops. That whole South Blvd/East Blvd. scene is pretty good. Bars...not my strong suit but you mention Phil's....the female bartenders alone make that a worthwhile destination:)

• Reply
• Quote
• Rate Up Rate Down

GamecockTripp said...

Don't forget to head down Hwy 49 across the lake to Clover and check out a bar called The Water Tank on Main Street. $1.50 Busch Light cans and $2 well liquor all the time. Ask for Donald and tell him Tripp sent you.