How to Spend a Day in Charlotte or Atlanta
Adventure — or maybe just an outdoor brunch — is out there!
by Julia Pelly
In case you haven’t noticed the yellow fog that’s been slowly descending on our cities, spring is in the air and with it comes the desire to ditch the indoors and spend time out and about — despite seasonal allergies. If you’re on the hunt for activities to fill your perfect spring day, check out the list below for an itinerary you’ll love!
Go for a morning walk
If you’re in Charlotte or Atlanta and looking for a place to take a long walk, you’re in luck. Both cities have hundreds of miles of trails that are easily accessible from all different parts of the city. In Charlotte, check out the trails at Reedy Creek Park for a walk through nature, or if you prefer a more urban landscape, take a stroll down the rail trail in South End. If you’re in Atlanta, Morningside Nature Preserve can’t be beat for a quiet, scenic walk, but if you’re really looking for the best walk in the city, you can’t miss the Eastside Beltline Trail.
Grab brunch
When the weather is warm and sunny, there’s nothing better than a long brunch. In Charlotte, check out 5Church or Upstream for a brunch you’ll remember. In Atlanta, check out Ladybird and Bread & Butterfly — both are perfect spots to gather with a group of friends or have a quiet brunch with your partner.
Head to the park
After brunch, you might be in the mood to relax and enjoy some people-watching. There’s no better place to people watch, and whether you’re in Charlotte or Atlanta, Freedom Park (there’s a Freedom Park in both cities!) will give you a view of people from all *walks* of life enjoying the outdoors. Bring the picnic blanket and relax, toss a frisbee, or simply sit on a bench and enjoy the view — whatever you do, you’ll enjoy spending your spring day at the park.
Scoot or bike around town
Both Atlanta and Charlotte have bike and scooter share programs which make it easy to bike or scoot around town without having to own (or transport) your own. In Charlotte, rent a Lime bike or Bird scooter. In Atlanta, the options seem endless — rent a Jump bike or scooter, Lime scooter, Bird scooter, or Lyft scooter. And the best part about these options is that most of them are available for less than $5/ride, depending on your total time and distance.
After a long day, you’ll probably be ready to open the windows and head to bed early. If not though, check out Creative Loafing in Atlanta or Scoop Charlotte in Charlotte to find out more on what’s happening in the city each evening!