Weekend Trips: Charlotte, NC

Of course we would love to dash off abroad at every opportunity, but it's just not always practical... and besides, you might find you have some very good reasons to travel within the good old USA.  Like visiting family! Last weekend I went to Charlotte, NC to see my sister who is six months pregnant.  We got up to all kinds of hijinks, which I'll get to later this week.  But the #1 travel tip I learned from last weekend? Go visit your family! I hadn't seen my sister since she moved from NYC to Charlotte in March, and not to be all mushy here, but family is important, and, especially if you live in a city like I do, six months goes by in the blink of an eye.  Other great things about visiting your pregnant sister in Charlotte:
1. It's less than a 2 hour flight from NYC.
2. Someone actually picks you up at the airport
3. Free place to stay (dog included)
4. Fun activities like apple picking and outlet shopping
5. You don't really have to pack because you can just wear the clothes she can't fit into anymore

Charlotte
Charlotte is a great city, and there are several reasonably priced flight to and from New York daily.  A long weekend would be ideal, but (if you have a day job like me) you can leave after work on Friday, come back on an early flight Monday and still have two full days there without missing work.   Charlotte, believe it or not, is actually the 18th largest city in the US (based on population), and besides it's rich historical past, it has some great restaurants and is home to a number of notable universities.  Apparently the Charlottians were quite plucky during the revolutionary war. The city earned it's nickname "The Hornet's Nest" when residents drove out British commander General Cornwallis (who had occupied the city).  He wrote that Charlotte was "a hornet's nest of rebellion," and the name stuck.  See all the crazy things you learn when you travel?  Even more reason to go visit your family, no matter where they live, you are bound to learn something cool.

If you can't stand your family, go visit a friend instead! The fact is, we never take enough time to travel and see the people who are important to us. Trust me, going across the river to New Jersey or Connecticut is like a outrageous expedition for us Manhattanites.  So the thought of taking an entire weekend and getting on a plane to somewhere where people actually have drivers licenses and supermarkets is like a ridiculous proposition.  But just do it. Go. You will be glad you did.