Getting out of town to somewhere new

Blowing Rock and Greenville are great day trips, sure. But there are plenty of hidden gems close to Charlotte, too.

Jul 03, 2024

People pay a lot of attention to trendy spots. They’re new and exciting. But what about tried and true locations — especially ones that don’t attract a lot of buzz? In this brief July 4 week series, The Ledger shares our picks for spots that are largely unheralded but still worthy, in a series we’re calling … Charlotte Under the Radar.

MONDAY: Walking trails
TUESDAY: Things to do with kids
TODAY: Day trips from Charlotte

An impressive model train. Cheese-making. Waterfall hikes. You can find them within a couple hours of Charlotte.

by Tony Mecia

Let’s face it: Charlotte in the summer can be hot and sticky. And if you’ve grown tired of the same ol’, same ol’, why not get out of town for the day? There are plenty of great spots within a couple hours’ drive from Charlotte. The temperatures might be a few degrees cooler, and you might be invigorated by the sense of exploring somewhere new.

You’re probably familiar with some of the most popular getaways: Asheville, Blowing Rock/Boone, Greenville (the one in South Carolina — don’t mix that up!). But you’ve got plenty of strong and less heralded choices, including:

Hendersonville: jaw-dropping model train and more

The model railroad in Hendersonville’s old train depot spans three rooms. (This video doesn’t do it justice.)

Two hours west of Charlotte, Hendersonville’s downtown has plenty of charm, shops and several notable attractions, including a pinball museum and a gem mine boasting North Carolina’s longest indoor sluice. There’s also an “ice cream trail,” but it seems improbable that you would hit more than one on a visit. If you go on a Saturday, you can check out the farmers market and stop in to see the mind-blowing huge model railroad spanning three rooms in the old railroad depot building. Even more mind-blowing, it is free (and run by hardcore hobbyists). If you’re really ambitious, you could press to the west about 30 more minutes and fit in…

Brevard: waterfall hikes, followed by antiquing and art galleries

You could start your trip by heading to DuPont State Recreational Forest and hiking to a waterfall. Then head to Brevard’s downtown to hit some art galleries and shops. I’m not an antiquing kind of guy, but I could spend a bunch of time in Mantiques, a “vintage collectibles emporium” with two stories of sports memorabilia and furniture that one might use to outfit a man cave. You also have a lot of dining options and even a couple of local breweries, too.

Satisfying hike at Stone Mountain (NC), then a you-earned-it wine tasting

Worth the climb: The view from the top of Stone Mountain outside of Elkin, 90 minutes north of Charlotte.

Here's a solid day for you: Pack a picnic lunch. Drive north on I-77 for about an hour and a half, get off in Elkin, and go Stone Mountain State Park (not to be confused with Stone Mountain, Georgia). Park at the Lower Trailhead, then hike up to the peak of Stone Mountain for picturesque views and a chance to give your legs a break (the trail is designated “strenuous,” but it’s easy after you reach the top). Then finish the 4.5-mile loop, passing waterfalls and a restored 19th-century homestead. On the way back, stop by Jones von Drehle Vineyards to taste some of North Carolina’s most drinkable wines. Or you can ditch the hike altogether and take in the winery’s summer concert series at its amphitheater.

West Jefferson, the Wisconsin of the Blue Ridge Mountains

A well-balanced meal of fried cheese curds from the Ashe County Cheese food truck in West Jefferson, two hours north of Charlotte.

Who needs Wisconsin when you can get fresh cheese in West Jefferson, a two-hour drive north of Charlotte? Ashe County Cheese has been there since 1930, and it has a small viewing room for visitors and conveniently posts its cheese-making schedule online. The food truck outside has fried cheese curds, grilled cheese, cheese quesadillas and more (with cheese), and the gift shop across the street has plenty of varieties (and free samples). The downtown has a pleasant collection of art galleries, shops and restaurants, and if you want to squeeze in a hike, check out the Mount Jefferson State Natural Area.

Pretending you live the lake life in Cornelius

If you want something shorter than a 2-hour drive to the mountains, you could do worse than to spend some time in Jetton Park on Lake Norman, which feels like a world away from some parts of Charlotte. You can feel like you’re a part of the lake culture: You’ll see the people on their boats and the multimillion-dollar lake houses nearby, as you walk or bike on flat and paved trails and past a small beach (no swimming!). There are plenty of spots for picnicking as well as playgrounds for the kids. You’ll remember you’re back in civilization when you hit traffic on the way to I-77, where you’ll pass the usual chain restaurants and also northern outposts of Charlotte spots such as Mac’s Speed Shop.

A few more, from Ledger writer Amber Veverka:

Throw together a picnic and jump in the car for these day hikes:

South Mountain State Park. You can be there in about two hours from Charlotte, and hikes range from a very easy streamside stroll (Hemlock Nature Trail) to more strenuous loops with views of waterfalls.
Max Patch. It’s in danger of being loved to death (and that’s why it’s now closed to camping), but nothing beats the hills-are-alive vibe from the top of a mountain bald.
Fall Mountain Trail at Morrow Mountain State Park. Views of a lake, views of a mountain: This 4.1 mile loop trail has them both, and is rated moderate.

What suggestions do you have for under-the-radar day trips from Charlotte? Our community of Ledger members is invited to share suggestions in the comments:

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