Charlotte Travel Guide

At the Actor’s Theatre in Charlotte, guests of Charlotte hotels who enjoy contemporary theater productions will not be disappointed. This provocative theater group is the area’s only company dedicated to presenting visitors of Charlotte hotels with plays intended for mature audiences. The goal is to give audiences from Charlotte hotels an experience that is entertaining, relevant and thought-provoking.

The theatre was formed in 1989 with just one full-time employee and one part-time employee. Soon after, guests from Charlotte hotels began enjoying performances in a 70-seat studio at Charlotte’s Spirit Square. After several years of success entertaining visitors of Charlotte hotels, the company moved into Spirit Square’s 195-seat theater. The company remained at that location until its new Charlotte home was completed, which now includes a 200-seat main stage theater and the company’s offices.

The Actor’s Theatre regularly produces shows for guests of Charlotte hotels, which are written by contemporary playwrights from across the country. In order to keep costs low for visitors from Charlotte hotels, the company employs local professional actors and set designers. During the 2009-2010 season, the company will also present guests of Charlotte hotels with an expanded repertoire to include works from Broadway, Off Broadway, and Regional Theater.

In addition to offering interesting plays and musicals to guests of Charlotte hotels, the Actor’s Theatre has several other amenities and programs. During performances, visitors from Charlotte hotels can choose from a selection of wine, beer, sodas and snacks at the concession stand. For those kids from Charlotte hotels who are interested in learning more about acting, the theatre also offers kid-friendly acting classes.

Find out more about the Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte by visiting the front desk of the Embassy Suites Charlotte/Concord Hotel.

Guests of Charlotte hotels looking for a thrilling way to burn some energy will find the perfect option at Charlotte’s Laser Quest. This state-of-the-art laser tag facility is conveniently located near Charlotte hotels and offers an inexpensive way to spend a day during your trip. This fast-paced game can be enjoyed by visitors from Charlotte hotels who are anywhere between the ages of 5 and 85 years old.

Visitors from Charlotte hotels will find lots of places to hide in the facility’s multi-level arena, which is equipped with such special effects as lighting, fog and exciting music. Guests of Charlotte hotels can play the game as individuals or on teams; but the goal is always the same—tag your opponents’ sensors and score as many points as possible!

During a game, approximately 30 visitors from Charlotte hotels will be in the arena at one time, with each game lasting about a half an hour. This time frame provides guests of Charlotte hotels with a game briefing, laser-tag mission, and scorecards. Once inside, it’s every man for himself, as players shoot laser beams at each other. But don’t worry, even when guests from Charlotte hotels get hit, you’ll only be down for five seconds before you’re right back in the game.

In addition to simply stopping by to play a few games, guests of Charlotte hotels may also want to take advantage of Laser Quest’s birthday, group, and corporate packages. Birthday kids from Charlotte hotels will receive two games and the party room for their friends. There are also various packages available, including the option to rent the entire arena, which may interest groups at Charlotte hotels. Finally, Laser Quest is a great alternative for companies looking for a unique place to hold team-building events.

For more information on this safe and fun activity, guests of Charlotte hotels should contact the front desk of the Embassy Suites Charlotte/Concord Hotel.

Few attractions located near Charlotte hotels offer the heart pumping, high-octane thrills of the Richard Petty’s Driving Experience! At Lowe’s Motor Speedway track in Concord, guests staying in Charlotte hotels, have the chance to try their hand at real NASCAR racing. This unique opportunity lets visitors from Charlotte hotels literally take the wheel—provided they meet certain requirements!

For visitors from Charlotte hotels who want to experience the thrill of the race but aren’t quite ready to put the pedal to the metal, Richard Petty offers the Ride-Along Experience. At this level, visitors from Charlotte hotels ride shotgun in a NASCAR style stock car while a professional driver takes them for a spin around the track. The Ride-Along package is an inexpensive way for guests of Charlotte hotels to experience the thrill of the ride for guests as young as 14-years-old.

For guests of Charlotte hotels who can drive a stick shift and want to know just how fast 165 mph feels, one of Richard Petty’s various levels of hands-on driving experiences is a must. These packages let guests of Charlotte hotels take control of the car and drive several laps around the track. The number of laps varies anywhere from 8 to 30 laps. Visitors from Charlotte hotels who select driving packages will go through a safety and instruction training for in-car and on-track elements.

The Richard Petty Driving Experience also offers guests of Charlotte hotels a Safe Driving school program geared to teach young drivers safety skills and confidence to protect themselves in emergency situations. These programs are held on location and in controlled environments, with highly trained driving instructors in every exercise.

Whether you have the need for speed or want a “crash course” in driving safety, the Richard Petty Driving Experience has something to offer every guest of Charlotte hotels! For more information and reservations, contact your concierge at the Embassy Suites Charlotte-Concord Hotel.

At the Embassy Suites Charlotte-Concord Golf Resort & Spa, guests of Charlotte hotels can spend some time pampering themselves in the Spa Botanica, conveniently located onsite. The spa’s goal is to provide guests of Charlotte hotels with an unparalleled experience by using warmth, relaxation, and personalized attention.

The services offered to guests of Charlotte hotels include body therapies—such as scrubs and wraps, full-body massages—skin treatments, and various hair and makeup treatments. The spa employs only experienced, licensed professionals who see to it that visitors from Charlotte hotels receive the highest quality services.

The spa offers specialized services to fit the needs of nearly anyone visiting from Charlotte hotels. For massages, guests of Charlotte hotels can choose from hot stone, deep-tissue, Swedish, pre-natal and even sinus-relief massages. Skin-care services include facials, enzyme peels, and waxing. Ladies from Charlotte hotels may be interested in receiving manicures or pedicures, as well as personalized makeup applications. There are also several types of treatments where couples from Charlotte hotels can experience the pampering together.

In addition, Spa Botanica offers a variety of packages from which visitors of Charlotte hotels can choose. For expectant mothers, the Pre-natal Paradise package includes a massage, facial, manicure and pedicure. Guests of Charlotte hotels looking for a shorter stay at the spa can try the Spa Express package. Plus, men visiting Charlotte hotels haven’t been forgotten—the Just for Him package includes a massage, shave, sports pedicure and a haircut.

For guests of Charlotte hotels looking for a truly relaxing way to spend a day on their trip, Spa Botanica is a must. See your concierge at the Embassy Suites Charlotte-Concord Hotel for appointment reservations and more information.

Nothing gets your pulse racing quite like a fast car. So for guests of Charlotte hotels who have the need for speed, the North Carolina Auto Racing Hall of Fame is a great attraction to include during your visit. The Racing Hall of Fame is dedicated to the people and machines who have created some of the most memorable and extraordinary moments in racing history. Visitors from Charlotte hotels will see all types of racing represented here, from drag racing to stock car racing and everything in between.

While guests of Charlotte hotels will enjoy the hall of fame itself, featuring walls lined with bronze plaques for each inductee, there are many more exhibits to see throughout the facility. Visitors from Charlotte hotels should start their tour in the museum, where exhibits are constantly rotated. Here you’ll find approximately 40 vintage race cars, such as a 1965 Ford Galaxy and a rare Flathead V-8 1934 Ford. Guests of Charlotte hotels can also see the “Midnight” Pontiac that Rusty Wallace drove to victory many times.
Next, guests of Charlotte hotels are invited to browse through the art gallery and stop by the Goodyear Mini-Theater. In the art gallery, tourists from Charlotte hotels will find pieces created by top motorsports artists and local artists alike. Race fans from Charlotte hotels will find photography, painting, and much more in the art gallery. Then stop by the Mini-Theater and experience some of the greatest moments from racing history.

Also on premise at the Auto Racing Hall of Fame is a unique gift shop where visitors from Charlotte hotels can score some exciting souvenirs. Along with reprints of photos and paintings from the art gallery, guests of Charlotte hotels will also find shirts and other memorabilia. But especially interesting is authentic racing merchandise. Visitors from Charlotte hotels can take home used racing tires, rims, sheet metal, and even crew shirts from various drivers and teams.

For more information, admission prices, and hours of operations, contact your concierge at the Embassy Suites Charlotte/Concord Resort & Spa.

For visitors of Charlotte hotels who are looking for a way to spend a fun and educational day with the family, Discovery Place is a perfect and inexpensive option. Located in the heart of Charlotte, Discovery Place features Discovery Hall, an IMAX theater, the Charlotte Nature Museum, and Discover Place for children—all under one roof! A whole world of kid-friendly science exhibits awaits guests of Charlotte hotels.

Guests from Charlotte hotels can start their adventure in the Discovery Halls. Here, visitors of Charlotte hotels will find a variety of interactive and educational exhibits. One such exhibit currently available is Shipwreck! Pirates & Treasure. This exhibit takes guests of Charlotte hotels deep beneath the sea to discover mysteries and artifacts from some of the world’s most famous shipwrecks. Especially interesting are the pieces from the SS Republic: the greatest shipwreck treasure of the Civil War era.

Visitors from Charlotte hotels will also find the Kapla “Joy of Building” exhibit in the Discovery Halls. This interactive exhibit allows kids from Charlotte hotels to use their imagination as they “build outside the box,” using uniquely proportioned Kapla blocks.

Afterward, families from Charlotte hotels may want to move on to the IMAX Dome. Known as the world’s most immersive movie experience, the IMAX theater takes guests of Charlotte hotels on amazing journeys. Guests of Charlotte hotels have a chance to view discovery films such as IMAX Under the Sea and Grand Canyon Adventure. In addition, feature films such as Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen also play on the three-story screen.

Finally, be sure to spend some time touring the Charlotte Nature Museum located within Discovery Place. Guests of Charlotte hotels can experience nature by walking among free-flying butterflies, observing live animals and insects, and participating in daily shows and activities. There’s so much for visitors from Charlotte hotels to do at Discovery Place that you just may need more than one day to take it all in!

For tourists and guests of Charlotte hotels, an attraction that has been a local favorite for years is still alive and well. The Children’s Theater of Charlotte allows families from Charlotte hotels to watch musicals and plays acted out by talented children. Visitors to the theater, like guests of Charlotte hotels, can enjoy numerous productions being acted out by kids ranging from the ages of three all the way up to 18.

The Children’s Theater has been entertaining locals, tourists, and guests of the many Charlotte hotels since 1948. Its performers come from all over the country to take place not only in their productions, but to attend the 8-16 weeks of theatrical school or year-round acting programs.

The Children’s Theater has earned many awards, based not only on the quality of their plays, but also the assistance and well-being they provide to the community. One of these awards is the Community Service award, which is handed out by the community and visitors to the city, much like the guests of Charlotte hotels. Another is the 2008 Medallion award, which is given to the organization with the top-rated staff and performers, and requires a high standard of artistic value.

The Children’s Theater is a must-see for any guests to Charlotte hotels, passers-by, or local residents who want to enjoy a good families night out with the kids.

For many families visiting Charlotte hotels—or at least dad anyway!—there is one golf club that is a must for any golf enthusiast: the Rocky River Golf Club. Rated the number one golf club by guests of Charlotte hotels and locals, Rocky River is not only a challenging new experience for beginner golfers, it’s an exciting course for even the most veteran players.

Bent Grass greens and 419 Tiftway Bermuda fairways make Rocky River a very challenging golf course to visitors from Charlotte hotels—one that appeals to all skill levels of golfer from beginners to scratch. There are four sets of tees allowing play to encompass a full range of opportunities for all who delight in the game. The course is open to visitors from Charlotte hotels, and there is a special golf package available to guests of the Embassy Suites Charlotte hotel.

In addition, Rocky River offers a variety of other amenities to visitors from Charlotte hotels. They include a Bent Grass putting green, a grass practice tee with 30 stations and target greens. The club’s practice facilities are always open during normal golf shop operating hours, so guests staying at Charlotte hotels can develop their golfing skills. Rental clubs in right hand, left hand and ladies are also available if you need clubs. The clubhouse offers cheerful dining facilities—both inside and out—wood lockers and dressing and shower facilities so guests of Charlotte hotels can relax after a long day on the greens.

Ranked in the top 100 golf courses in North Carolina, Rocky River is owned by the City of Concord, North Carolina but now a part of the Embassy Suites Golf Resort and Spa, making it a must-play for visitors at all Charlotte hotels.

For visitors of Charlotte hotels looking for a true thrill—or lots of them!—spend a day at the Carowind’s theme park. Open since 1973, the park has undergone many changes, but still excites all who visit. There are many ways for families from Charlotte hotels with children of any age to spend the day at the park.

For families from Charlotte hotels with younger children, there is plenty to do and see. In Nickelodeon Central, guests of Charlotte hotels can take the little ones on a train ride with Dora the Explorer, glide on airplanes at Tommy’s Take Off, ride the mini hot air balloons at Boot’s Balloon Race, and more. Other attractions appropriate for kids from Charlotte hotels include the Great Barrier Reef wave pool and the Jackaroo Landing water jungle gym.

For teens and adults from Charlotte hotels, the real thrills are found in the many rides throughout Carowinds, including the roller-coasters Nighthawk, Flight Deck, the Hurler, Thunder Road, and the famous Vortex. Plus, visitors from Charlotte hotels always get an adrenaline rush from Drop Zone, a free fall experience like nothing else. Other rides vary from the Rip Roarin’ Rapid water ride to the Abyss, a ride through a pitch-black tunnel on an inner tube slide.

In addition to rides, Carowind’s is a great stop for visitors from Charlotte hotels during the summer. The Boomerang Bay water park is open during the summer months, and guests from Charlotte hotels can spend the day relaxing by the pool or riding down the water slides. Plus, the park has many options for playing games, finding some snacks, and even doing a little souvenir shopping.

Guests from Charlotte hotels will definitely not run out of things to do at Carowind’s theme park. For more information, stop by the concierge desk at the Embassy Suites Concord/Charlotte Golf Resort & Spa.

For visitors to Charlotte hotels, the Carolina Raptor Center is a fun and educational experience for the whole family. The center has been around since the late 1970s and is dedicated to environmental education and the conservation and rehabilitation of birds of prey—or raptors. Guests from Charlotte hotels will enjoy seeing the many species living at the center, including hawks, owls, eagles, falcons and vultures.

Bird watchers from Charlotte hotels can find lots to do during their visit to the Carolina Raptor Center. The center is an outdoor facility where visitors from Charlotte hotels can enjoy on a self-guided tour. The nature trail winds through the grounds where guests from Charlotte hotels can observe the raptors in their aviaries. In addition, the center offers live presentations about the raptors on the weekends.

Visitors from Charlotte hotels can learn a lot about these incredible creatures as they tour the facility. At many of the birds’ aviaries, you can read about their individual stories as to how and why they are living at the center. Guests of Charlotte hotels will learn that some birds were injured or orphaned and are on their way to being healthy with care from the center’s professionals.

On your way out, be sure to stop by the gift shop to take home a memento of your visit. The center is open Tuesdays through Saturdays year-round to visitors from Charlotte hotels, excluding some holidays. For more information, see your concierge at the Embassy Suites Concord/Charlotte.