You can’t help but smile when the skyline comes into focus while arriving at CLT. | Photo via @cltairport
Spring break is around the corner, Charlotte. Whether you’re flying to another city or country, we want your time at Charlotte Douglas International Airport to go as smooth as possible. So, we’ve created a guide covering everything from terminals and parking to details for the seventh-busiest airport in the world for passengers — serving more than 58 million travelers in 2024.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport is known for having comfortable rocking chairs along every terminal.
Photo by CLTairport
Nonstop flights
CLT Douglas offers 188 nonstop destinations — 146 domestic flights, plus 42 international destinations.
Here are five nonstop flights to local destinations:
Orlando, FL | American Airlines, Frontier, Southwest, Spirit | Daily | If you happen to be in the Sunshine State, let LALtoday + TBAYtoday be your guides.
New York, NY | American Airlines, Delta, Frontier, Spirit | Daily
Dallas/Fort Worth | American Airlines, Delta, Frontier | Daily | Our friends at DALtoday and FTWtoday can keep you in the know.
Chicago, IL | Frontier, United, American Airlines | Daily
Boston, MA | American Airlines | Daily | Need a local’s perspective? That’s where BOStoday comes in handy.
“The White Lotus” x Verizon Pop-up Activation | 9 a.m.-7 p.m. | Various Verizon stores | Free | Immerse yourself in a “White Lotus” virtual experience and explore a mini pop-up inspired by the show’s resort + discover your hidden aura colors.
T. Rowe Price ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament | Tuesday, March 11-Saturday, March 15 | 2 p.m. | Spectrum Center | $45+ | Cheer on the Carolinas’ best college basketball teams in this week-long tournament.
Mocktails & Mindfulness | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Sip City Market & Bottle Shop | $54 | Craft three mocktails while participating in a guided journaling session.
Wednesday, March 12
Community Read: “Portrait of a Thief” | 5:30-8 p.m. | The Mint Museum Randolph | Cost of purchase | Join the museum and Charlotte Mecklenburg Library to discuss the book + marvel at aerialists and live performances, plus a cash bar.
Yoga for Mental Health | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | HopeWay | Free | Register and attend this 45-minute class crafted to help you feel rejuvenated and centered.
Taste of the Mint: Food for Thought Art Tours | 3:30-5:30 p.m. | Mint Museum Uptown | $60 | Enjoy a specially-designed tasting and wine pairing at Mariposa before an intimate educator-led tour of select works in the museum.
That’s Novel Books Writing Club | 5:30-7 p.m. | That’s Novel Books | Free | Put pen to paper before getting feedback from new friends.
Candlelight: Tribute to Fleetwood Mac | 6:45-8 p.m. | Great Aunt Stella Center | $41+ | There’s something about being surrounded by candles and violins performing “Landslide” that pulls at your heartstrings.
Spartanburg’s charm makes it easy to feel like a local. | Photo by Sam Dean
Looking for a home that blends small-town delights with big-city perks? Enter: Spartanburg, SC, where people come for the adventure and stay for the flavor.
Whether you’re drawn to the scenic trails and foodie adventures or the new minor league baseball stadium and live music, this charming city has something for everyone.
Picture this: all you can eat sushi. Sushi Taku is expected to open next month in the former Lincoln’s Haberdashery space in South End. The menu will feature hand-made nigiri, sashimi, and specialty sushi rolls. (Charlotte Business Journal)
Plan Ahead
Celebrate the grand opening of CO-LAB at UNC Charlotte Center City tomorrow, March 12 at 5:30 p.m. The innovation and entrepreneurship hub by The Belk College of Business Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation will welcome students and young professionals to a collaborative environment to tackle real-world challenges.
Closing
Last call for your hot dog. JJ’s Red Hots is closing up shop in Dilworth. The restaurant opened in 2012 + was featured on Guy Fieri’s “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.” For almost 13 years, the spot served up to 3 million hot dogs featuring 837 original recipes. The last day for a bite is Sunday, March 16.
Closed
Smithfield Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q closed its south Charlotte location after 40+ years in business. The building and land at 5121 Trojan Dr. was sold to Panda Express. The next-nearest location for the Eastern NC barbecue staple is in Rockingham, NC. (The Charlotte Observer)
Travel
Speaking of CLT Douglas... Spirit Airlines is launching new flights out of Charlotte Douglas. The budget airline will offer weekly trips to Baltimore, MD; Detroit, MI; Indianapolis, IN; Los Angeles, CA; Nashville, TN; and Philadelphia, PA starting May 9. The announcement comes just days after Spirit added service from Charlotte to DFW in Dallas, TX. (WCNC)
Transit
Have opinions about Charlotte’s rail lines? Head to Matthews Town Hall tonight at 5:30 — CATS is hosting a public discussion about the potential of a future local sales tax referendum for transit funding. Check the full schedule for all opportunities to have your voice heard. (WCNC)
Festival
Early bird single-day tickets for Lovin’ Life Music Fest go on sale this Friday, March 14 at 10 a.m. Interested? Lock in the best price by signing up for presales by midnight tomorrow. Pro tip: Last year, tickets sold out fast so don’t wait to grab yours. It’s a pretty good deal.
Pets
Is your pet microchipped? Stand for Animals, a nonprofit veterinary clinic, is urging pet owners to check registrations after the closure of Save This Life, a company that stored registration information. At least 30,000 microchips were implanted and registered across Charlotte by the nonprofit. (WBTV)
Sports
The Panthers reached a four-year deal to keep Jaycee Horn. Are other strategic acquisitions on the horizon? Go beyond the roster for the biggest stories on the Carolina Pantherswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Announced
We’re excited to introduce a new way to reach our readers — a limited-time digital display bundle + branded content bundle. Each bundle saves you 20% and includes at least three newsletter placements.
Real Estate
Through March 15, locals can get up to $50,000 in forgivable down payment assistance at Sycamore Trail, located minutes from downtown CLT. Think: move-in ready, two-bedroom townhomes from the low $300s (with out-of-pocket costs under $1,000 and monthly payments around $2,300). This is an income-restricted opportunity — call 980-240-1062 for details.*
Tech
HP Instant Ink smart printers automatically monitor ink levels and send new cartridges directly to your door before you run out. Get a $10 welcome credit.*
Category
Plan ahead
🛍️ Love to shop local
Prepare to “shop till you drop” with gelato or coffee in hand. | Photo via Evolve PR and Marketing
Mark your calendars. Starting April 5, The Bowl at Ballantyne will be the backdrop for a new monthly outdoor market, the Bowl Street Pop-Up Market. On the first Saturday of every month (through November), vendors will set up at the south Charlotte destination for shoppers to find handmade goods, clothing, jewelry, and more.
The monthly market is a collaboration between The Bowl and Shop Local QC, an initiative to make the Queen City a small business destination.
Fun fact: Shop Local QC presented the first Commons Market at Birkdale Village on March 9.
“The market further establishes our commitment to showcasing Charlotte’s talented artisans and local entrepreneurs,” said Cayla Stauffer, marketing and events manager for The Bowl. “We look forward to providing visitors with a unique experience on our green.”
More than a dozen vendors will be set up at The Bowl on Saturday, April 5 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Are you an aspiring vendor? There’s still time to apply for a spot on the green.
The Buy
The Buy
Introducing: Nordstrom Rack best-sellers you wish you bought sooner. Thank us later.
Last September, I took a brief trip to New York with one of my best friends. When I was coming back to CLT, my plane was arriving at sunset and I managed to get a photo of the plane behind ours on the tarmac. The sunset was too pretty to pass up.
