Fall Road-Trip to Charlotte During COVID-19
We used to love airports. There’s just something about watching metal birds take flight that feels like the preamble to an adventure. Everything from the people, to the sounds, even the overpriced food and lines (Sike! we use TSA Pre!) brings us fond memories.
But in the time of pandemic, our relationship with airports has become complicated. The many, ever changing rules and restrictions coupled with our own newfound anxiousness of crowded, enclosed, public spaces soured our taste for flight (for now), but nothing could kill our adventurous spirit. So we traded our wings for rubber to travel without fear down to North Cackalacky.
The plan was simple. Visit a friend in Charlotte, spend a few days in Asheville, and finally hide away from the world in a secluded cabin up in the mountains of Canton. But nothing is ever easy when we decide to travel.
Washington D.C. to Charlotte
Road trips aren’t the most effortless way to travel. On one of our longest journeys – DC to Denver – we experienced the torture of a 48-hour long round-trip. We weren’t interested in repeating the experience, so proximity and travel time were two of the biggest factors in selecting our destination. We opted to stay on the east coast and travel south to visit two North Carolina cities: Charlotte and Asheville. Ahead there awaited more biscuits, butter, and breathtaking scenery than we could have bargained for.
| 1. | Washington D.C. to Charlotte |
| 2. | Charlotte: A Small City With a Lot to See |
| 3. | NoDa: the Perfect Neighborhood for Brunch |
| 4. | Final Verdict |
We used to love airports. There’s just something about watching metal birds take flight that feels like the preamble to an adventure. Everything from the people, to the sounds, even the overpriced food and lines (Sike! we use TSA Pre!) brings us fond memories.
But in the time of pandemic, our relationship with airports has become complicated. The many, ever changing rules and restrictions coupled with our own newfound anxiousness of crowded, enclosed, public spaces soured our taste for flight (for now), but nothing could kill our adventurous spirit. So we traded our wings for rubber to travel without fear down to North Cackalacky.
The plan was simple. Visit a friend in Charlotte, spend a few days in Asheville, and finally hide away from the world in a secluded cabin up in the mountains of Canton. But nothing is ever easy when we decide to travel.
| 1. | Washington D.C. to Charlotte |
| 2. | Charlotte: A Small City With a Lot to See |
| 3. | NoDa: the Perfect Neighborhood for Brunch |
| 4. | Final Verdict |
Washington D.C. to Charlotte
Road trips aren’t the most effortless way to travel. On one of our longest journeys – DC to Denver – we experienced the torture of a 48-hour long round-trip. We weren’t interested in repeating the experience, so proximity and travel time were two of the biggest factors in selecting our destination. We opted to stay on the east coast and travel south to visit two North Carolina cities: Charlotte and Asheville. Ahead there awaited more biscuits, butter, and breathtaking scenery than we could have bargained for.
Charlotte, the largest and most populated city in North Carolina, is only a scenic 6-hour drive south from our home in the nation’s capital. The route is dotted with tiny greasy-spoon diners and (at least a million) Cook-Out fast food chains. We stopped for breakfast at Sunrise Biscuits of Oxford to eat the first of many bacon and sausage stuffed biscuit sandwiches we would have during the week. Anyone familiar with southern cooking isn’t surprised to see a generous amount of butter used in every dish, but Ryan didn’t expect to see the lake of liquid butter on top of his cup of grits. (Although it didn’t stop him from eating every bite.)
Charlotte: A Small City With a Lot to See
A dear friend of ours had moved just outside of the city a few months prior, so when we finally arrived we drove downtown to explore. Charlotte is a much smaller city than our native Washington D.C., but it is large enough to support a bustling nightlife. Parking near the city center was cheap, we only paid $7 for a full 12-hours. Strolling through the picturesque Romare Bearden Park, we took photos throughout its many instagramable corners, and even witnessed a proposal. We weren’t brave enough to dance or socialize with the locals, but we did notice that several night clubs had recently reopened. We even played with a fascinating outdoor exhibit in front of the Discovery Place Science museum that let us whisper secret messages across a full city block.
Although this was our first time in Charlotte, we could tell the city was emptier than usual. Low foot traffic made it easy to maintain social distance and many streets had been closed to traffic for outdoor dining. One restaurant, the Cowbell Burger & Whiskey Bar, piqued our interests and despite the dietary restrictions of our pescatarian friend, we decided to give it a try. The burgers were delicious, and the tequila mules were strong, but we absolutely loved their sweet potato tater tots. Like a lot of the food in this blog, we’re certain they have more butter in them than we wanted to know, but we honestly can’t recommend them enough.
NoDa: The Perfect Neighborhood for Brunch
On our second day in Charlotte, we headed into the trendy NoDa neighborhood for brunch. Even though the area is only a few blocks long (30 minutes walking from end to end) it’s packed full of cute bars and playful street art. We made a reservation at the Haberdish southern kitchen after hearing about their chicken and waffles, but their Happy-Go-Lucky Champagne Punch was the star. We later came back to the neighborhood for dinner at the trendy looking Goodyear restaurant. While the patio and outdoor ambiance really set the scene, the high-priced over cooked burgers and fries served with a seasoned paper shake bag was a definite turn off.
We then ventured twenty minutes outside the city to the U.S. National Whitewater Center. This outdoor center is home to the world’s largest man made whitewater river and offers over 30 different recreational activities, including rock climbing, yoga, zip lines and more. Entrance into the park is free, but we weren’t prepared for anything more than a hike, so we wandered around the facilities while watching rafts and kayaker’s tame the raging 12 million gallon river. Later we worked up a sweat on the woodsy obstacle course, and cooled down with a white blossom rose cider at the PumpHouse Biergarten.
Final Veredict
Sadly, our third and final day in Charlotte was rained out. We ended up staying with our friend in the suburban town of Mathews most of the day and ordered delivery from City Barbeque. The brisket and pulled pork sandwiches were great, but after spending so much time indoors during quarantine we were starting to get anxious. When the rain began to subside we went for a stroll at Freedom Park and downed a few crisp ciders and ice-cold Copper beers at Olde Mecklenburg Brewery.
The slogan for the city’s tourism site read’s “Charlotte’s got a lot,” and it’s no lie. The city definitely had more than we could have seen in three (partially rainy) days, but we continued our Quarantine-time pilgrimage by heading west to the hipster city of Asheville.
