Cultural Trail

Known as the Queen City, Charlotte reigns as the culture capital of North Carolina. The city features cutting-edge and classic art museums, and a variety of venues for music, theater, and dance.

But cultural pursuits in the area do extend beyond Charlotte. The quintessential culture of the Piedmont is experienced in the tiny towns that proudly preserve their past. Dozens of villages have historic areas featuring stately homes, churches and courthouses. Belmont, Dallas and Salisbury are among the towns with significant historic districts. Many tiny towns offer up heritage museums and galleries featuring locally-made arts and crafts.

The Schiele Museum of Natural History in Gastonia and the Catawba Indian Cultural Center in Rock Hill are both excellent places to learn about the Native American times. Also in Rock Hill, visitors can also sit at a re-created Friendship Nine lunch counter which played a key role in the desegregation of the South. The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts and Culture in Charlotte is one of the country’s most comprehensive collections of its kind. Even more history is on display at Charlotte’s Levine Museum, which offers interactive lessons on post-Civil War Southern history.

Pure Carolina is a feast for the senses. Because of the temperate year-round climate, there are several botanical gardens in the region that tickle both sight and smell. The Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden in Belmont is one of the biggest, featuring more than 110 acres of vibrant plants and garden wildlife.

The sound of music resonates here, with bluegrass, gospel and country musicians by the scores. Take in a performance at a concert hall or at local pub. The North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in Kannapolis takes note of the area’s most important and influential artists.