Travel Log: Charlotte

For any NASCAR fan a trip to Charlotte has to be one of high expections, given the city and its surrounding burgs -- places such as Concord, Moorseville, Huntersville and Welcome -- are home to most NASCAR teams.

Of course, a popular destination is Kannapolis and the city tour centered around the life of Dale Earnhardt. The Dale Trail, operated by the Cabarrus County Convention & Visitors Bureau, celebrates the racing heritage of a NASCAR legend.

The NASCAR Hall of Fame is scheduled to open in 2010, and construction on the facility is ongoing. It's located in uptown Charlotte, which offers two guided tours each Friday. The Center City Walking Tour is free and lasts 90 minutes.

For anyone wanting to broaden their horizons beyond NASCAR, Charlotte has plenty to offer in terms of tours, entertainment, nature, history and culture.

President James K. Polk State Historic Site -- Located on land once owned by his parents in nearby Pineville, this one of 27 North Carolina Historic Sites (the Reed Gold Mine is another) is dedicated to the life and times of the 11th president of the United States. It's a must see for any history buff.
• For more information, click here

88_NC_Fan -- I've lived here all my life and for a NASCAR fan Charlotte is the place to visit. You have JGR, HMS, Wood Brothers, JR Motorsports, CGR ... and more ... soon the NASCAR HoF. Football with the Panthers ... basketball with the Bobcats for the sports fan. Otherwise take a day to walk around downtown Charlotte and enjoy the Overstreet Mall. We have restaurants galore ... from high society to hole-in-the-wall restaurants. Something for everyone.

gmckgirl03 -- I discovered that the club level of Bank of America Stadium is quite nice if you're into NFL.

OldSchool59 -- Charlotte, every time I'm there I stop and talk to my friend Buz McKim and get an update on the NASCAR Hall of Fame progress. Then Randleman for NASCAR Day -- a really great festival where the town closes down its streets and invites fans in for food and fun. There were 40,000 folks there last year. And Asheboro, I always stop in and visit with a friend that I served in the Marine Corps with. Great pizza and Childress wine. There are so many great places in N.C., I could go on and on.

Kit_Kat -- Whisky River and the Sam Bass Gallery. I also like visiting the different shops.

lottolou -- Whisky River of course!

Join the Lowe's Motor Speedway Crew

Thursday: Showers with a high of 74 degrees, low of 59
Friday: Cloudy with a high of 76 degrees, low of 58
Saturday: Partly sunny with a high of 76 degrees, low of 58
Sunday: Cloudy with a high of 80 degrees, low of 56
Complete Forecast

More
• Let NASCAR.COM help book your last-minute travel
• Directions and aerial map of Charlotte, N.C.

Martinsville's slogan is "A City Without Limits." What limitless possibilities lie within those limits, or the surrounding limits of Southern Virginia, or dare I say, across state lines into North Carolina? Share your personal favorites here.