3 Best Sights in Charlotte, North Carolina

With an 8,000-square-foot exhibit, Cotton Fields to Skyscrapers: Charlotte and the Carolina Piedmont in the New South, as a jumping-off point, this museum offers a comprehensive interpretation of post–Civil War Southern history. Interactive exhibits and different "environments"—a tenant farmer's house, an African American hospital, a bustling street scene—bring to life the history of the region. Changing exhibits highlight current events and seek to engage the community in discussing historical events critical to Charlotte. Parking is free in the adjacent Seventh Street Station garage. Bring your parking ticket to the museum for validation.

With five stories and 145,000 square feet of space, this is a must-see for art lovers. Expect rotating special exhibits as well as permanent collections of American and contemporary work, plus craft and design. Be sure not to miss the museum's dramatic atrium, which houses a 60-foot-tall glass curtain that offers views of the surrounding cityscape.

Use your ticket stub for free entrance to the Mint Museum Randolph (good for two days). Admission is free at both Mint Museums on Wednesday 5–9 pm.

This 150,000-square-foot megamuseum has enough going on to intrigue even non-NASCAR fans. A complete visual overload, the racing palace features historic race cars, an enormous theater, and countless rotating exhibits highlighting the achievements of NASCAR's finest. Hands-on activities take visitors behind the scenes to see how the entire industry prepares for race day each week. Practice a pit stop, walk through a full-size NASCAR Sprint Cup hauler, and actually sit behind the wheel in one of eight iRacing simulators.