Hey everyone we are taking a trip to Charlotte the end of the month I will be ther for a NASCAR driving experince at lowes speedway, CANT FRIGGING wait!!!!
But what are some things to do and see there?
We are for sure doing a hendrick motorsports tour !!!!
Next big thing we are going to ride over to the coast anybody have ideas on which way we should go???? We are going to ride over stay all night somewhere and ide back to charlote next day.
Just need some ideas what to do and where !!!!

thanks mike

 

Sounds like you are a Nascar fan, plenty of race shops close by or within a days ride. Do a search on them for locations. I seem to remember when the NC hog rally ended up at the Lowes track, they had a link to all the shops in the area. Ya should be able to find a similar link somewhere. Enjoy!

 

I don't have a lot of time right now to think about it, but wanted to bump your thread, also may try posting in the SE forum, in case any locals go there...

I will say that you're on the western side of the state, so if you're riding here from where you are, you'd pass through the mountains on the way in. If fly-n-ride type situation, then you can still see some mountain roads in a day trip, or get deeper w/ an overnight.

As to getting to the coast, depends on what you want to see. Not sure about the most scenic routes, since I just got back into riding here, but most of the time I lived here I was trying to get the beach ASAP to start the vacation, not taking the scenic routes. I can comment on the destinations a bit though.

Along the border of NC/SC you'll see places like Wilmington/Wrightsville beach just on the NC side of the border, which is a nice little beach town, and has some other beach towns even smaller around it and to its north.

Just on the SC side of the border is Myrtle Beach. Some love it, some hate it, depends on what you're into. Definitely things to do there, some nightlife, restaurants, etc. Recently they've had some a$$hat councilmen trying to ban the bike weeks, subsequently making tougher laws like enforcing helmets (even though SC doesn't have a helmet law) and loud exhaust, eye protection, etc., so while there are plenty of places around MB proper that are still in the general area, be careful of the city limits unless you catch up on their local ordinances (which are being contested), but some avoid the area altogether. Shame, coz I've had a lot of fun there, even off the bike.

Further south, but not really any further from Charlotte than MB (and probably closer than any of the NC beaches) is Charleston, SC. While I can't tell you all about the details of the city, I have been there and thought it was nice. It has a historic downtown area on the water and stuff, so if just looking for a nice/interesting destination to have a look see and come back, might be worth a ride. Not sure best scenic route to get there, but just sharing the option.

The bike nights in the Charlotte area are starting to get going again. Quaker Steak or something like that is a big chain and they have a big facility near Concord Mills off 85 NE of Charlotte, which is near the speedway. Don't know when their bike nights start up, but they used to be Wed nights I think. There's a Harley Dealer there too across the street, and another saloon next to the Harley Dealer. Mac's on South Blvd in Charlotte is in a trendy southend area so has a mix of bikers and young professionals and artsy types, think their bike nights were on Wed also. There's another Mac's north of town near Lake Norman, and there are some other bars actually on the water on the lake which are kinda cool, you can ask around. McKoy's in Charlotte has bike nights on Friday nights, small place but good spot to ck out. There's a place in N Charlotte of Statesville road just into Huntersville called Easy Eddie's which is a bike shop / bar, don't know what kind of events they have planned, but it's a big place.

Well, hope that helps, just off the top of my head, maybe someone else can give more specifics...

 

Charlotte is a pretty long way from the coast. You could take 74 and go through the "low country" or if you're into historical type places, New Bern is supposedly a "nice" place to visit(that's where the Carolina Dealers Association is having the spring rally this year). There is a lot of beautiful country east of the Queen City but you might want to do some more research before you decide. Ride safe...

 

You'll be 400 miles(round trip) from the nearest point of the Atlantic no matter what beach you try to go too. Call ahead and make plans in North Myrtle Beach. Council not quite the ********* there. I recommend a villa(camper) at Apache Campground, home of the longest pier on the east coast. It has a friendly little restaurant to grab a bite if you can't stay overnight. Get a pier pass and ride your bike all the way to the sand dunes.

 

Depends on where you are heading on the coast...I like to take 73 over to Rockingham and catch 74 to Wilmington. Not really sure what there is to see in Charlotte besides NASCAR sites, we usually gas up and leave town. . Salisbury has a transportation museum that is pretty cool. Indian Motocycles are made to the west near Kings Mountain. No matter how fast you want to run...someone will want to go faster around here. Get out of the way. Enjoy your trip.

 

New Bern is nice but ride an extra 20 minutes to Moorehead City or Atlantic beach.. or Wilmington or North Myrtle Beach...The Atlantic coast in this area is Beatiful....Worth the ride if you ask me...I live 40 minutes away and rode there this weekend...Salt air is nice....Or hell rent a bike and ride to the mountains....150 mile or so...

 

From Lowes Motor Speedway its close to 4hrs to get to the coast

Ashville NC and Maggie Valley NC arent to far to take a ride to as well. And if your feeling adventurous you can ride through Cherokee NC to get over to the Dragon @ Deals Gap to travel on a road with 318 turns in 11 miles

 

Thanks for the info !!!

From the map looks like we will head down to wilmington!!! looks like about 200 miles from charlotte!!! nice little ride!!!!

 

Myrtle Beach, SC is only 175 miles from Charlotte. Boone, NC is only 125 miles from Charlotte. I would head west if it were me. Much better riding in the mountains.