Road Trips · 2019 · Enhanced edition

Charlotte: Breweries, Topgolf, Lake Time & Good Food

A relaxed Charlotte-area getaway built around a first Topgolf visit, brewery hopping, barbecue, lake time, games, and several memorable food stops.

Trip at a glance

Date: July 2019
Base: Huntersville, North Carolina
Highlights: Topgolf, local breweries, Midwood Smokehouse, lake time, and Frankie's

The drive and our first Topgolf

We stopped at 7 Dogs Brewpub in Wytheville, where my farmhouse burger and coffee stout were solid. My wife's burger arrived undercooked, but the restaurant corrected it. After checking into the Best Western Plus in Huntersville, our first Topgolf session unexpectedly inspired me to start playing golf.

A Charlotte brewery loop

We sampled several different sides of the local beer scene at Triple C, Olde Mecklenburg, Unknown, Ass Clown, and Primal. Instead of treating each stop as a race, we mixed smaller pours with food and plenty of time between locations.

Midwood Smokehouse supplied ribs and sausage, and Smallcakes handled dessert. Another day paired time at the lake with more breweries and Frankie's mini golf, arcade games, and go-karts.

One last round of food

The trip also brought my first bowl of pho and a stop at Duck Donuts. Those smaller discoveries fit the weekend as well as the headline attractions.

Final thoughts

This was less a checklist vacation than a food-and-beer weekend with room to improvise. Topgolf became the most influential stop because it started an interest that continued long after the trip.

Plan your own trip

Charlotte Food, Beer & Games Guide

Charlotte works well as a flexible long weekend when each neighborhood day has one anchor activity and nearby food or brewery stops.

Start with the right base

Choose lodging by the activities you will actually visit, not only by the lowest nightly rate. Check parking, drive times, cancellation terms, and seasonal demand.

Weekend plan

Before you go

Base near the activities you value; reserve Topgolf or lake rentals; use smaller tasting pours and a designated driver; pair one entertainment complex with one memorable meal.

Keep it balanced

Choose one priority experience, one flexible stop, and enough unscheduled time for meals, weather changes, and discoveries along the way.

Official planning information

Use our trip as a starting point

The original story shows what worked for us and what we would change. Prices, hours, menus, ships, excursion operators, and attraction features may be different now, so verify the details that matter to your group.