SIX18 TRAVEL

Tucked in the Piedmont region's sleepy rolling hills, this bustling metropolis is anything but a quiet Southern belle. Charlotte, North Carolina, explodes with growing businesses, burgeoning sports franchises and an evolving culinary scene. Though the Queen City is known for the Charlotte Motor Speedway and the NASCAR Hall of Fame, it's much more than a haven for those with a need for speed. Uptown Charlotte – be sure not to call it downtown – is crawling with suits and tourists, while art aficionados and culture hounds flood the Plaza Midwood and NoDa (or North Davidson) neighborhoods. Meanwhile, those in search of a pint of local beer won't want to miss South End, home to a handful of the city's top breweries.

This ever-expanding city has a knack for keeping an East Coast pace without stomping on its Southern roots; locals are dedicated to keeping classic Southern charm alive. The blending of these two personalities is engagingly energetic and romantic.