24 Hours in Cincinnati

To split up our road trip from Michigan back to Charlotte we decided to spend a day in Cincinnati! Although we were just there for a quick visit we drank some delicious beers and visited some cool spots that I would definitely recommend!

Listermann Brewing: By far the best brewery we visited in Cincy. Their beer was absolutely incredible! We tried a wide variety of their brews and enjoyed each of them. Listermann has a small patio that is dog friendly and chill vibes overall.

Cappy’s Bottle Shop: We were lucky enough to pop into Cappy’s just down the street from Listermann and found some amazing beers! I would definitely recommend grabbing some to-go options while in Cincy.

Highgrain Brewing: We had a fantastic experience at Highgrain. Their beers were delicious and we had an incredible lunch as well! Their sour beers were my personal favorite and I loved my fried green tomato BLT. Highgrain has three different patio seating options and dogs are welcome outside. Their staff was incredibly nice as well, this is a must visit in Cincy!

MadTree Brewing: MadTree is absolutely massive. They have a huge indoor space and large outdoor patio in an old railroad production facility that is quite unique. They have a large tap list and Catch-a-Fire Pizza onsite as well with yummy wood-fired pizzas that we enjoyed.

Rhineghist Brewing: We had of course intended to visit Rhineghist, the biggest brewery in the city and the second largest in the state. It was one of the main reasons we picked Cincy to stop in. However, we’re personally not doing indoor seating due to COVID (it’s an airborne disease for anyone who is not clear on that) and they closed their outdoor seating on the covered rooftop due to rain. I was pretty disappointed that they weren’t offering any outdoor seating options during a pandemic, but hey maybe next time.

Northern Row Brewing: After our disappointment at Rhineghist we walked around the corner to Northern Row, a brewery and distillery. We had average Hazy IPAs but a delicious pretzel! They had a little bit of everything and overall it was a good experience.

Have you been to Cincy? What are your favorite spots? Let me know in the comments!

Hocking Hills, Ohio

Hocking Hills is a gorgeous area of Ohio with awesome hiking options and a quaint town to explore. It is a perfect weekend escape to relax in the forest and get away from the hustle and bustle of your daily life.

The park is nestled in the southeast corner of Ohio, near the West Virginia border. It is 6 hours from Charlotte, North Carolina, my home base. It is also just one hour southeast of Columbus, so if you are looking for a longer adventure you could visit the city as well. Check out my Columbus recommendations here!

I would definitely recommend renting a cabin for your time in Hocking Hills. There is nothing better than a day of hiking followed by a nice relaxing campfire! We stayed at an Airbnb in the forest and thoroughly enjoyed it. Get $35 off your first Airbnb stay using my link here!

Hocking Hills State Park

Hiking Hocking Hills

Hocking Hills State Park offers a lot of different hiking options depending on what you want to see and how far you want to go. We did a 7.5 mile loop trail to Old Man Cave, Whispering Cave, Cedar Falls, and Rose Lake that I would definitely recommend.

When we visited it was quite crowded at Old Man Cave and Cedar Falls because those are two areas that you can park near and just do a short hike to see. Outside of those popular spots we saw very few people along the trail which was really nice.

There are a few waterfalls in the park but expect them to be quite dry if you are visiting in the summer months. It looks like in the spring after the snow melts they are flowing at their full potential.

The first half of the hike varied in difficulty. It was mostly flat but there were areas that were quite rocky making it a little harder to traverse. After Cedar Falls, which is essentially the halfway point, there is a quick suspension bridge and then the ridge trail that leads you back to the parking lot is flat and easy along top of the cliff faces.

We really enjoyed the change of scenery throughout the hike. There were waterfalls, caves, rivers, cliffs, gorges, boulders, forests, and lakes all in the 7.5 miles we hiked.

Rose Lake

Hocking Hills Area things to do:

Brewery 33

The local brewery has a wide variety of beers on tap for you to enjoy in their beer garden or tap room. We enjoyed their light and refreshing beers after hiking in the sun all morning. The Fruity Tooty Gose was my personal favorite!

Brewery 33 doesn’t have any food besides some pretzels and snacks, but you can get food delivered from local restaurants. They are dog and kid friendly.

Wine Slushie at Hocking Hills Winery

Hocking Hills Winery

The local winery has a fantastic outdoor space surrounded by nature that was super nice to relax on.

Their wines were all tasty and you can sample 8 of them for just $10. I would also highly recommend the wine slushie option, especially if you’re visiting during the heat of summer!

The winery also has charcuterie boards to help you refuel after your hike or you can get a meal delivered from a local restaurant. The winery is dog and kid friendly.

Jackie O’s Brewery

Depending on where you are staying, Jackie O’s is around 30-45 minutes from the park and absolutely worth visiting. They are one of the top breweries in the country and definitely the best in Ohio. Their Stouts, Porters, and Wild Ales in particular are incredible and I would highly recommend checking them out!

They have a brewpub and a taproom in Athens, Ohio. Depending on where you are visiting Hocking Hills from, you potentially might drive through Athens given that it is one of the major cities nearby, so definitely check it out!

Brewery 33

Have you been to Hocking hills? What was your favorite part?! Let me know in the comments!

The Best Weekend Trips from Charlotte

Whether you are looking for a beach, mountain, or city getaway, there are some really great options within driving distance of Charlotte! These trips range from an hour and 45 minutes drive to four hours for a further escape:

Sierra Nevada Brewing

Asheville, NC

Asheville is a brewery mecca nestled in the mountains well worth visiting.

Start your day at Taco Billy for fantastic breakfast tacos!

Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway for stunning views.

Don’t miss Burial Beer Co. and Dssolvr, two of the best breweries in North Carolina! Hang out in the outdoor space at Sierra Nevada Brewing and be sure to order the pimento beer cheese.

Check out my full Asheville guide here!

Time from central Charlotte: 2 hours

Rainbow Row Charleston

Charleston, SC

Charleston is a beautiful beach town with a plethora of history, restaurants, bars, and breweries.

Hit the beach! There are several options depending on what vibe you are looking for—Folly Beach, Sullivan’s Island, and Isle of Palms.

Be sure to grab beers at Westbrook Brewing and Edmund’s Oast Brewing! Get a cheese plate at Wine and Company and tacos and a frozen screwdriver at Taco Boy.

Check out my full Charleston guide here!

Time from central Charlotte: 3 hours

Forsyth Park Savannah

Savannah, GA

Savannah is beautiful historic city oozing historic charm.

Two Tides Brewing is an absolute must visit, they make incredible beers in an adorable converted house.

Grab lunch at Bull Street Taco in between wandering the historic squares!

Check out my full Savannah guide here!

Time from central Charlotte: 3 hours 45 minutes

Monday Night Brewing

Atlanta, GA

Atlanta is a huge city with a ton of places to explore and things to do.

Monday Night Brewing is the best brewery in the city in my opinion and they have two locations to check out! The Porter Beer Bar is another great option to grab beers at in the Little 5 Points neighborhood.

The Center for Civil and Human Rights is an amazing museum that is a must visit.

Check out my full Atlanta guide here!

Time from central Charlotte: 4 hours

Pretentious Beer Co

Knoxville, TN

Knoxville has a booming downtown district and plenty of charm to keep you entertained.

Start your day at OliBea, a great little brunch spot with delicious food.

Get outside at Ijams Nature Center for hiking and family friendly options.

Check out Abridged Beer Company and Pretentious Beer Co. for fantastic beers!

Check out my full Knoxville guide here!

Time from central Charlotte: 4 hours

Second Street Mural in Wilmington

Wilmington, NC

Wilmington is a relaxed beach town with several distinct areas to explore.

Start your day at Bespoke Coffee, a cute coffee shop right downtown.

Hit the beach! Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach are both great options.

Explore the breweries and don’t miss New Anthem Beer Project and Wilmington Brewing Company.

Check out my full Wilmington guide here!

Time from central Charlotte: 4 hours

The Eighth State Brewing

Greenville, SC

Greenville is a charming little town in upstate South Carolina. Their downtown is perfect to wander around and there is hiking nearby as well!

Start your day at Swamp Rabbit Cafe for amazing sandwiches on stecca bread.

Grab beers at The Eighth State Brewing Company and Birds Fly South Ale Project! The Whale is a fantastic beer bar to check out as well.

Check out my full Greenville guide here!

Time from central Charlotte: 1 hour 45 minutes

Views from the Blue Ridge Parkway

blue ridge mountains, nc

Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway along the mountains and explore the small towns of Marion, Banner Elk, Boone, and more. There are cute little towns along along the Parkway in the mountains!

Check out my full guide here!

Time from central Charlotte: dependent on exact destination—Boone is 2 hours for example

Barrel Culture Brewing

The Triangle, NC

Raleigh, Chapel Hill, and Durham make up the triangle area of North Carolina.

Start your day at The Morning Times, a fun cafe with a newspaper theme in downtown Raleigh.

Brewery hop the area and don’t miss Trophy Brewing and Pizza in Raleigh and Barrel Culture Brewing in Durham. State of Beer is a great beer bar as well.

Check out my recommendations for Raleigh and Chapel Hill here!

Time from central Charlotte: 2.5 hours

Another popular weekend getaway option is Gatlinburg, Tennessee! Check out my guide to Gatlinburg here, it was not my favorite destination so I didn’t want to include it as a recommendation on this list, but there is plenty to do and it is nestled right in the mountains!

What are your favorite weekend trips from Charlotte? Let me know in the comments!

The Best Weekend Trips from New Orleans

There are a ton of great places to check out for a couple of days within driving distance of New Orleans. These recommendations range anywhere from an hour drive to six hours for more of an escape!

For my New Orleans Guide, click here!

The North Shore, LA

Covington and Mandeville are the two main towns north of Lake Pontchartrain. I lived in Covington for six months and got to explore all the North Shore offers! Here are my top recommendations:

Visit Abita Brewing for small batch brews from Louisiana’s largest brewery. Also check out Old Rail Brewing Co, a brewery and restaurant with delicious food options. Chafunkta Brewing Company is a small brewery with tasty brews as well!

Opt outside: Explore Fontainebleau State Park—Camp, kayak, hike, or lounge at the lake shore. Bike the Tammany Trace! It spans 31 miles across the North Shore. Float the Bogue Chitto River—there are several companies that have setups for BYOB tubing. Just keep your eyes peeled for gators and snakes!

Barley Oak is a lakefront bar with a small food menu. A fun spot to hang out! The Chimes is a restaurant with a large tap list and delicious spinach and artichoke dip!

Lounge on the outdoor patio at Coffee Rani, which has delicious coffees and a small food menu. Another great spot to start your day is Liz’s Where Y’at Diner, which is a great spot for breakfast!

Time from central New Orleans: 1 hour

Bay St Louis, MS

Lounge at the beach! This is the closest beach getaway from New Orleans.

Grab food and drinks at The Blind Tiger, a fun spot right on the water!

Visit Lazy Magnolia Brewery, it is just north of Bay St Louis in Kiln and has fantastic dark beers!

Time from central New Orleans: 1 hour

Pensacola Beach

Pensacola, FL

Start your day at The Drowsy Poet Coffee Company. The view of the bay is fantastic!

Lounge at the beach—Pensacola has incredibly soft and white sand to relax on!

After the beach head to Pensacola Bay Brewery. They are located right downtown and have great beers!

Check out my full blog here!

Time from central New Orleans: 3 hours

Lafayette, LA

The main reason to go is to visit Parish Brewing in neighboring Broussard, LA. They are one of the top breweries in the country and put out insanely good IPAs.

Another great spot to hang out at is The Wurst Biergarten!

Check out my full blog here!

Time from central New Orleans: 2 hours 15 minutes

Southern Prohibition Brewing

Hattiesburg, MS

Hattiesburg is a small little Southern town. While in the area be sure to check out Laurel, MS as well!

Southern Prohibition Brewing is arguably the best brewery in Mississippi and located right downtown in Hattiesburg.

Hike in De Soto National Forest while in the area!

Time from central New Orleans: 2 hours

Baton Rouge, LA

Go up for an LSU game, concert, or just to hang!

Relax at Tin Roof Brewing. They have a wide array of delicious beers, outdoor seating, and frequent live music.

Check out my other tips here!

Time from central New Orleans: 1 hour 15 minutes

Great Raft Brewing

Shreveport, LA

Shreveport and Bossier are right next to each other and both have plenty of bars and restaurants to keep you entertained.

Great Raft Brewing is the main attraction you want to be sure to check out. They make incredible IPAs and have a really fun atmosphere!

Time from central New Orleans: 5 hours

Natchez, MS

Natchez is a small historic and charming town!

Start your day at Steampunk Espresso Bar, it is cute and they make great coffee!

Check out the Antebellum mansions like Longwood and Stanton Hall.

Hang out on the river! Spend some time lounging by the water (hopefully with a beer in hand).

Check out my full blog here!

Time from central New Orleans: 3 hours

Natchez, MS

Birmingham, AL

I am still surprised by how much I enjoy Birmingham. It is an up and coming city with plenty of things to do!

I highly recommend the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute!

There are several good breweries to check out, such as Trim Tab Brewing, Cahaba Brewing, and Avondale Brewing.

Check out my full blog here!

Time from central New Orleans: 5 hours

Houston, TX

Houston is incredible massive so be sure to plan ahead for your visit!

There are a tonnnn of breweries in the Houston area—my top recommendations are Urban South, Buffalo Bayou, Saint Arnold, SpindleTap, and B-52.

Time from central New Orleans: 5 hours

Ocean Springs/Biloxi/Gulfport, MS

This stretch of Gulf Coast has pretty nice beaches and is conveniently close to New Orleans.

In Ocean Springs The Shed BBQ has live music and a fun atmosphere!

In Gulfport Chandeleur Island Brewing Company is located right in the heart of town with a variety of beers on tap.

Time from central New Orleans: 1.5 hours

The Center for Civil and Human Rights

Atlanta, GA

ATL is another massive city with a ton to see and do, be sure to plan ahead to make the most of your visit.

Monday Night Brewing is one of my favorite breweries in the US and has two locations in ATL!

The Vortex is a touristy restaurant but absolutely delicious! I prefer their location in the Little 5 Points neighborhood. The Porter Beer Bar is right around the block and has a wide variety of beers to choose from.

The Center for Civil and Human Rights allows you to explore the Civil Rights Movement and human rights movements around the world.

Check out my full blog here!

Time from central New Orleans: 6.5 hours

Orange Beach, AL

Gulf Shores and Orange Beach have the nicest beaches on the Gulf Coast aside from the Florida Panhandle, plan to spend most of your time on the sand!

Flora-Bama is a fun bar on the border of Florida and Alabama. It is very country style and can be a wild place so visit during the day if that’s not your scene.

Check out Fairhope Brewing on your way out of town.

Time from central New Orleans: 2 hours

Memphis, TN

Check out the Blues capital of the world! Memphis is more than just Beale Street so be sure to explore!

Wiseacre Brewing has great beers, be sure to check them out while you’re in town!

Check out my other tips here!

Time from central New Orleans: 6 hours

What are your favorite weekend trips from New Orleans? Let me know in the comments!

The Best Breweries I’ve Visited in the United States

I’ve been to over 575 breweries in 30 countries, so when people ask me what my favorite brewery is that is a tough question. This list encompasses my top 20 breweries I’ve visited in the United States. For breweries outside of the US, check out my favorite breweries abroad here!

This list is in no particular order, because that would be impossible for me to rank, they are all so good!

Courtyard Brewery: New Orleans, LA

Juicy IPAs, frequent food pop-ups, a super friendly staff, and amazing guest taps—what more do you need?! After living in New Orleans for almost 5 years I can firmly say that Courtyard is incredible!

Check out the rest of my New Orleans recommendations here!

Monday Night Brewing: Atlanta, GA

Monday Night was the first brewery I ever visited and I have loved it ever since that June day in 2014. They have evolved so much since that first visit, including their Garage location in ATL and a soon-to-open taproom in Birmingham. They brew a wide variety of beers that are all incredibly delicious!

Check out the rest of my Atlanta recommendations here!

Resident Culture Brewing: Charlotte, NC

Resident Culture’s Hazy IPAs are some of the best in the entire country in my opinion—specifically their Double and Triple IPAs are what really set them apart. Their taproom is a fun and welcoming environment, their staff is incredibly nice, and they truly are a community-based brewery.

Check out my guide to Plaza Midwood, Charlotte here!

Burial Beer: Asheville, NC

Burial has long been revered as one of the best breweries in the Southeast. They are good at making essentially every type of beer but their juicy IPAs and adjunct-loaded Stouts are my favorites! Their taproom can be packed on the weekends so visit on a weekday if possible. They have a small food menu if you’re hungry and great merch to bring home with you.

Check out my guide to Asheville here!

Our Mutual Friend Brewing: Denver, CO

When I visited OMF for the first time I was shocked at how many different IPAs they had available, and I loved it! They now have a much larger variety of beers available and Saisons are more so their specialty. Their atmosphere is extremely welcoming and the vibes are chill. They have a small patio to enjoy your beers on and are located right in heart of the RiNo neighborhood of Denver.

Check out the rest of my Denver recommendations here!

Two Tides Brewing: Savannah, GA

Located in an old renovated house, Two Tides is absolutely adorable. They have separate rooms with different vibes in each room, a balcony, and board games. Their Sours are my favorites but everything I have had from them has been delicious! If you’re visiting in the summer months they also do beer slushies.

Check out my Savannah guide here!

Parish Brewing: Broussard, LA

Parish’s location is small and intimate and located in a small town in Louisiana, but it’s worth venturing to. Their IPAs are absolutely incredible and their specialty releases are some of the best out there. If coffee beers are more of your thing, Reve is always a good choice!

Check out my recommendations for Lafayette here!

Other Half Brewing: Brooklyn, NYC

Another IPA mecca! Other Half cranks out juice bombs that are incredibly delicious. Their fruited sours and pastry stouts are also top notch, so don’t forget to give those a try. Their taproom is small for how popular they are but the intimate atmosphere adds to the experience. Try to visit on a weekday if at all possible as it will usually be standing room only during the weekends (pre-COVID, not sure how that will play out in our new reality). Their team is some of the best in the biz & incredibly nice!

Check out my NYC guide here!

Photo courtesy of Cellarmaker Brewing, I somehow failed to take any photos while visiting

Cellarmaker Brewing: San Francisco, CA

Cellarmaker’s modest taproom pumps out a huge variety of small batch experimental beers. They don’t have flagships like most breweries, they switch things up consistently and are always pushing themselves to try new things. They’ve also got a pizza restaurant with Detroit-style pies and its own distinct tap list!

Check out my San Fran recommendations here!

Modist Brewing: Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis has a ton of great beer, but Modist goes above and beyond. Their taproom has a welcoming environment and it is filled with local artwork and flair. They make unique and creative beers that are packed with flavor and surprise your taste buds with each sip! No matter what style of beer you are in the mood for, Modist does it well, but I recommend their IPAs the most.

Check out my guide to Minneapolis here!

The Eighth State Brewery: Greenville, SC

Eighth State is always doing something funky and I am here for it. Their sours pack a punch, their stouts are luxurious, and they are never afraid to throw something crazy into a beer. Kool Aid? Yes. Carrot Cake? Yes. The list goes on, but don’t worry their beers are delicious and well worth checking out! The taproom also has food from Swamp Rabbit Cafe which is incredible!

Check out my guide to Greenville here!

Vista Brewing: Driftwood, TX

Vista is a Farmhouse-style brewery that has an amazing outdoor space with 21 acres and a beautiful taproom. They brew a wide variety of beers, but their Wild Ales are particularly fantastic. They also have a full farm-to-table food menu that is incredibly delicious, so come hungry! Vista is located outside of Austin in the gorgeous Texas Hill Country.

Check out the rest of my recommendations for the Austin area here!

Crime and Punishment Brewing: Philadelphia, PA

It’s a brewery located in a neighborhood called Brewerytown, they were bound to be successful! Crime and Punishment has a small taproom and a small tap list, but their beers are worth standing up in a corner for. Their taproom also smells incredibly delicious thanks to their Russian-inspired food menu specializing in dumplings.

Check out my guide to Philly here!

Pretentious Barrel House: Columbus, OH

Pretentious Barrel House makes all Sour beers! Not everything is incredibly tart and makes you pucker, they have beers across the spectrum that are each barrel aged to cultivate a different flavor. This unique spot has a fun taproom with a few arcade games and frequent events.

Check out the rest of my Columbus recommendations here!

Speciation Artisan Ales: Grand Rapids, MI

Speciation specializes in Wild Ales using natural yeast and bacteria, making each of their beers uniquely delicious. They also make their own wines, ciders, and hard seltzers, so they have something for everyone! Their new taproom is on Wealthy Street in central Grand Rapids and will be opening soon.

Check out the rest of my Grand Rapids recommendations here!

Jackie O’s Brewery: Athens, OH

Jackie O’s flew under the radar for me for far too long, and I am so glad to have remedied that mistake. They have two taprooms and a restaurant in the college town of Athens, I recommend visiting the brewery and taproom on Campbell Street. Their Stouts are some of the best I have ever had.

Fonta Flora Whippoorwill Farm: Nebo, NC

A brewery on an old dairy farm ten minutes from Lake James State Park with a plethora of outdoor seating, a farm-to-table food truck onsite, and delicious beers. Fonta Flora makes a wide variety of beers but their Wild Ales and Lagers are my personal favorites. They use local ingredients to cultivate distinct flavors and support the community. Visiting their Whippoorwill location is an incredibly relaxing and joyful experience.

Maplewood Brewery and Distillery: Chicago, IL

Maplewood’s taproom has a distinct vibe with their lounge set up that is different from most breweries. It feels almost speakeasy-esque, making your visit even more enjoyable. They specialize in IPAs which I highly recommend. They have their own liquor program as well, so if a craft cocktail is more your style you won’t be disappointed.

Check out my guide to Chicago here!

Fifth Hammer Brewing: Long Island City, NYC

I had never heard of Fifth Hammer before I wandered into their taproom in NYC while hopping around the breweries in the Long Island City neighborhood, but now it is one of my absolute top recommendations. Their beer is incredibly delicious, the vibes are super chill, and it is just all around a great place to hang out. Their fruited Sours in particular were what impressed me the most—they are jam packed with flavor!

Check out my guide to NYC here!

Southern Grist Brewing: Nashville, TN

Southern Grist’s cans of delicious beer stole my heart a long time ago, but visiting their taprooms this year really deepened my love. They do every style of beer well and with flair. Adjunct loaded Stouts, fruit packed Sours, hop loaded IPAs, crisp clean Lagers, you name it. They have two taprooms, the original in East Nashville and their second location on the west side of town, Nations Taproom.

Check out my guide to Nashville here!

What are your favorite breweries in the US you’ve visited?! Let me know in the comments!

The Best Hikes Near Charlotte

There’s nothing better than morning hikes followed by afternoon beers! I live in Charlotte and I’ve put together my favorite hikes that are close to the city—anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours driving distance away.

AllTrails is my favorite website and app to look up hikes and use as a map when on the trail! The distance of the hike always seems to be a bit longer than what AllTrails says though as a heads up!

Views of the Linville Gorge from the summit of Shortoff Mountain

Shortoff Mountain

This is a fantastic hike in the Linville Gorge Wilderness. The trail is 5.7 miles long with 1200 feet of elevation gain and takes about 2 hours and 45 minutes. There are incredible views of Lake James and the gorge throughout. Plus it is only 15 mins to Fonta Flora’s Whippoorwill Farm location, so be sure to swing by for a beer afterwards!

Time from central Charlotte: 1 hour 45 minutes

Lake James and the surrounding Appalachian Mountains from Fonta Flora State Trail

Fonta Flora State Trail

This is a lovely trail around Lake James. It was about 4 miles long and mostly shaded. It is a new trail and they are continuing to expand it so you have options to do longer hikes here if you’d like to as well! It is very well marked and a nice loop. There is lake access about halfway through on the right you will see a trail that goes down to the water. Not long after this there is a great viewpoint of the lake and surrounding mountains. This trail is very close to Shortoff Mountain, and both are great choices. This one is much easier than Shortoff, so it just depends on what you’re looking for. Either way swing by Fonta Flora afterwards!

Time from central Charlotte: 1 hour 30 minutes

Views from Mount Morrow overlooking the Uwharrie Forest

Mount Morrow Trail

I did this trail paired with the Loop Trail at the top of the mountain to add a bit more and get some better views. It was around 6.5 miles and 90 flights up, so be prepared for a steep climb at the end! The views are awesome at the top, but there is also a parking lot at the top so be prepared to share your views. I was lucky that the parking lot was closed on our visit due to COVID-19, so it was very quiet and relaxing!

Fall Mountain Trail is in this park as well, which is a 4.1 mile loop in a different area of the park. You start off walking along the Yadkin River which is quite nice and then you get into some moderate elevation. There are not very great views here it is still nice overall.

Time from central Charlotte: 1 hour 15 minutes

Mountain views at South Mountains State Park

South Mountains State Park

This is a really nice park with lots of different trails of various lengths and difficulty. We did the High Shoals Waterfall and H.Q. Loop Trail. This one had a gorgeous waterfall and mountain views and I would highly recommend it! It was quite steep at parts and had a lot of man-made steps near the waterfall, but it was worth it! The trail was a little over 5 miles total.

Time from central Charlotte: 1 hour 20 minutes

Haw Creek Overlook

Mountains to Sea Trail: Folk Art Center to Haw Creek Overlook

The Mountains-to-Sea trail stretches 1175 miles across the state of North Carolina from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Outer Banks. There are a ton of different segments of this trail you can do in various places around the state. This particular section starts at the Folk Art Center near Asheville to the Haw Creek Overlook. It is about 5.5 miles round trip out and back. The overlook is gorgeous! This trail is close to the Blue Ridge Parkway so sometimes you can hear some car noise, but overall it didn’t bother us. This one is super close to Asheville, so be sure to head into the city to grab some beers afterward! If you’re looking to explore the Blue Ridge Parkway and surrounding area more, check out my blog here.

Time from central Charlotte: 2 hours

Stone Mountain State Park

Stone Mountain has both an awesome peak and a great waterfall, something you don’t see too often in North Carolina. AllTrails says this trail is 4.5 miles but it actually ended up being almost 6 miles, as a heads up. I would recommend starting the loop going to the right (the signs towards the peak) first, as the back half of the mountain is a lot of manmade steps that are easier to go down than up. The trail was relatively busy but in no way crowded, just know that you won’t have it all to yourself like some of the others on this list. If you are looking for something shorter/easier the waterfall and one lookout point are both close to the trailhead so you could just go to one or both without doing the full loop.

Time from central Charlotte: 1 hour 30 minutes

Along the river on Mason’s Bend Trail

Mason’s Bend Trail

This is a nice and easy 3.5 mile long trail right along the Catawba River. It is mostly shaded by tree cover as well which is a nice protection from the sun. The entrance to the trail is in a subdivision neighborhood but don’t fret, it is actually incredible peaceful and you’ll quickly forget that you parked next to someone’s house. There is also a launch area where you can get in the river for dogs or yourself to cool off but be cautious of the fast moving water.

Time from central Charlotte: 30 minutes

Hazy views from Crowder’s Mountain

Crowder’s Mountain State Park

Crowder’s is easily the most popular trail in the Charlotte area. There are a few different options to get to the top where you can see the Charlotte skyline and surrounding area. The Pinnacle Trail is the most popular trail and right around 4 miles. The Backside Trail is quicker and less crowded and around 2 miles. Crowder’s in general is usually quite crowded and the trails are quite steep, especially as you get closer to the peak.

Time from central Charlotte: 35 minutes

Lake Norman State Park with Oskar Blues & Sophie

Lake Norman Lakeshore Trail

Lake Norman’s Lakeshore Trail is on the north end of the lake and 5.9 miles long. It takes about two and a half hours to do the full loop. There are several beaches you can stop at along the trail to enjoy the view or cool off in. The trail is pretty crowded during peak times but still relaxing and generally quiet. As a note, I would not recommend Monbo Loop at Lake Norman State Park. It is mainly for cycling and provides very little to look at.

Time from central Charlotte: 50 minutes

Vertical Mile Challenge to Hollow Rock Loop

Rocky Face Mountain Recreational Area is home to the Vertical Mile Challenge, which is not as intimidating as it sounds. The full loop up to Hollow Rock is just under 4 miles and takes a little under 2 hours to complete. If you start the trailhead to the left you will encounter a few switchbacks early on and then two nice viewpoints before walking straight down the mountain face. If you start the trail to the right from the parking lot you will climb straight up the mountain face first. This is also a popular area for bouldering and rock climbing if that peaks your interest.

Time from central Charlotte: 1 hour 10 minutes

Near the lake at Latta Plantation

Latta Plantation Park

Latta is a nice, mostly flat park with a lake. There are lots of trail options here so you can make your hike as short or long as you want. I like the Hill Trail, Cove Trail, Split Rock Trail Loop which is about 5.5 miles long and takes about 2 hours. It has good lake views though there is gravel in some areas that takes away from nature vibes. Conveniently very close to the city!

Time from central Charlotte: 30 minutes

Seven Oaks Preserve Trail

This is an easy but pretty trail along Lake Wylie near Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. AllTrails has it at 4.6 miles but it ended up being closer to 5 miles. It is a well-shaded trail that doesn’t have too much traffic for being so close to Charlotte.

Time from central Charlotte: 30 minutes

McDowell Nature Preserve

This 4 mile loop meanders through McDowell Nature Preserve out to Lake Wylie. It connects multiple trails in the preserve so if you want a shorter distance there are several options as well. This is a relatively flat and easy trail that is pretty heavily trafficked.

Time from central Charlotte: 30 minutes

Fall colors at Lake Haigler

Lake Haigler Loop

This easy trail is part of the Anne Springs Close Greenway. There are a few different trails here with a section near the parking lot with historical markers. This loop from the parking lot around the lake is around 3.5 miles and mostly flat. You need to pay to park so be sure to bring cash with you. The Greenway Gateway is a restaurant on the Greenway you can stop at for a snack or drink!

Time from central Charlotte: 25 minutes

Pump House Biergarden in the Whitewater Center

U.S. National Whitewater Center

The Whitewater Center has several trails of various lengths, most of which are geared towards mountain bikes. I hiked the East Main Loop, which is about 7 miles. There is not too much to see, but there was a variety of landscapes and not too many bikers. It is $6 to park at the center so be sure to bring cash or card. Grab a beer at the Pump House Biergarden in the center afterwards and watch the rafters go by!

Time from central Charlotte: 25 minutes

The well marked Ribbonwalk Nature Preserve

Ribbonwalk Nature Preserve Inner and Outer Loop

It is a little under 4 miles to do every trail in this park in one hike. You can also make it a shorter hike and do one section or one loop, as they all to come together. This trail is nothing too special, but it is super close to the city and nice and quiet.

Time from central Charlotte: 15 minutes

King’s Mountain State Park

I did part of the King’s Mountain National Recreation Trail which overall is more than 15 miles long. There was little signage and little to look at, but it was nice to get out and get onto such a long trail. At the park there is also a really nicely maintained soft path that leads up to a monument that is a one mile loop that you can do with kids/an injury/casually. You are potentially supposed to pay a $3 entrance fee at the park, but somehow I skipped that, so bring some cash with you if you’re going!

Time from central Charlotte: 45 minutes

Recommendations further away from Charlotte:

• Asheville, NC

• Greenville, SC

• Gatlinburg, TN
  
  

Pearson’s Falls near Saluda, NC

Where is your favorite place to hike?! Let me know in the comments!

A Weekend on the North Carolina Coast

Sometimes you find yourself in tiny towns hunting down good beer, which was the case for me last summer on the North Carolina Coast! I was on my way to Emerald Isle and wanted to make an adventure out of it and I ended up at some really cool spots! Check out my route and recommendations:

KINSTON, nc

Your first stop on the way to the coast is Mother Earth Brewing located in downtown Kinston, a small little industrial town. This brewery has won a ton of awards and has a variety of beers on tap. They’ve also got a small outdoor patio to relax on! From Kinston you are headed on to the small town of New Bern.

New bern, nc

New Bern is a cute little town located on the Neuse River. It is the original home to Pepsi, so if you’re into that kind of thing head to the museum! There are two good spots to grab a beer in town that I would recommend:

Brewery 99 is a tiny shack brewery open on Fridays and Saturdays with a small tap list and a rotating cask ale. Snag a bar stool and hang out with the locals!

Beer Army Burger Company is a popular restaurant and brewery in downtown New Bern. Skip the pretzel bites.

From New Bern you are headed across the Croatan National Forest to the coastline!

Morehead city, nc

Morehead City is a more industrial town up the road from New Bern. They were severely impacted by Hurricane Florence and some areas are still rebuilding.

Tight Lines Pub & Brewing recently reopened from hurricane damage, check them out!

atlantic beach, nc

Atlantic Beach is your classic beach town!

Crystal Coast Brewing is located here and has a bright and airy taproom. They have cute North Carolina shaped flight boards and solid IPAs.

beaufort, nc

Beaufort is a cute Southern beach town with an established downtown. You can avoid paying for street parking by just parking on a side street. Skip Front Street Grill.

Fishtowne Brew House is a fun little spot right in the heart of downtown. Their sours are delicious and they have a small area for outdoor seating.

Mill Whistle Brewing is on the grounds of an old mill slightly outside of town. When I visited they had 8 of their own beers and 8 of Crystal Coast’s beers. It is a very small indoor taproom but they’ve got a nice outdoor area as well.

Newport, NC

Shortway Brewing has a nice back beer garden to lounge in and solid beers!

Emerald Isle, NC

I would highly recommend heading over to Emerald Isle for some quality beach time. It is absolutely gorgeous!

The Growler Bar is the best place on the island to grab a beer and kick back with the locals!

If you’re making a full trip of the North Carolina coast, check out my guide to Wilmington here!

The Best Breweries to Drink Outside at in Charlotte

Warm weather is here and so is patio season! Here are the best breweries in Charlotte to enjoy your brewski outdoors at:

Wooden Robot Brewery

Both the South End and NoDa locations for Wooden Robot have great outdoor seating options. At The Chamber in NoDa there is a nice outdoor patio plus there is a rooftop bar! At the original location in South End they have a large patio and garage doors that roll up when the weather allows.

Resident Culture Brewing

Resident Culture is my favorite brewery in Charlotte and you can enjoy their delicious beers on their an expansive outdoor area. You can choose to go for the deck option or the lawn option, depending on availability and whether you’re looking for sun or shade.

Edge City Brewery

Edge City is located in the MoRa neighborhood and has a beautifully designed patio space! They also have massive fans for the warmer days to keep you comfortable.

Petty Thieves Brewing Co.

An eclectic brewery in northwest Charlotte with a great patio! They have a large pergola, a fire pit, and plenty of seating options.

The Suffolk Punch

Ample outdoor options between their patio and the courtyard area. They’ve got an outdoor bar and $3 beers on Thursdays and Sundays!

NoDa Brewing

NoDa has a plethora of outdoor space with fire pits, yard games, and a walk-up bar. Their menu always boasts a variety of beers to choose from for any palate. They’ve got frequent events as well!

Blue Blaze Brewing

All of Blue Blaze is outdoorsy, so it’s no surprise that they’ve got a great outdoor space! Their nature-y outdoor area is along the trees and has fire pits and rustic vibes.

Olde Mecklenburg Brewery

Olde Meck has a huge beer garden with ample seating, fire pits, multiple outdoor bars, and even a playground! Plenty of space to enjoy their traditional German beers!

Devil’s Logic Brewing

Devil’s Logic has a fantastic rooftop patio with views of the Charlotte skyline! It is a great place to hang out on a beautiful day.

Birdsong Brewing

Birdsong has a strong environmental focus as a solar powered brewery and many green practices, so it is no surprise that they value their outdoor space! Choose whether you’re feeling picnic table vibes or relaxing in an Adirondack chair.

Town Brewing

Town has a relaxed outdoor area to enjoy their beers and full food menu. Get the pretzel, you won’t regret it!

Heist Brewery & Barrel Arts

A huge outdoor space that even includes an outdoor stage! Get yourself a Hazy IPA and soak up some Vitamin D. They also have great pizza from their partner Livy’s!

Sycamore Brewing

For many Sycamore is probably the first brewery that comes to mind when thinking about drinking a beer outside—they have a large outdoor beer garden! Expect to find it packed when the weather is nice.

What’s your favorite brewery to drink outside at in charlotte? let me know in the comments!

The Best Bars in New Orleans

New Orleans is full of bars on every corner, but these are my favorite spots in The Big Easy to grab something that is not a beer. If you’re looking for the best beer bars in New Orleans check out my blog post here!

Bacchanal: Live music, bottles of wine, and build-your-own cheese boards! They’ve got a lively backyard-style outdoor seating area that is the place to be. This is one of my favorite spots in the city, don’t miss out!

Superior Seafood: Go during Happy Hour and sit at the bar for two-for-one Frozen drinks, half-off wine bottles, $3 draft beers, and 50 cent oysters daily from 4-6:30pm. Their Frozen French 75s and Frozen Pomegranate Mojitos are my favorites! Located Uptown on Saint Charles Avenue.

Molly’s at the Market: Frozen Irish Coffees reign supreme at this French Quarter dive bar. Go for the large, you won’t regret it.

Delachaise: A fun wine bar with a patio directly on Saint Charles Avenue. They’ve got $5 glass specials, cheese plates, and delicious fries!

The Columns Hotel: Sit on their expansive front porch and enjoy daily Happy Hour from 5-7pm as the streetcar rolls down Saint Charles Avenue.

Superior Grill: The best place in New Orleans for margaritas! From 3:30-6pm every day you can get a large margarita or mixed drink for the price of a small. Don’t forget in New Orleans you can take them to-go as well!

Carousel Bar: Located inside of Hotel Monteleone in the French Quarter, this is actually a bar on a moving carousel! It slowly spins as you sit back and relax in this old-school hotel. Home of the original French 75!

Bar Tonique: Fancy and innovative cocktails on Rampart Street right on the edge of the French Quarter.

The Country Club: Drag brunch and bottomless mimosas in the Bywater neighborhood on Saturdays and Sundays. Make reservations in advance!

The Columns Hotel

Cure: Boogie cocktails at this Freret Street staple. They were the 2018 winner of the James Beard Award for Outstanding Cocktail Program, so you know it’s delicious!

The Sazerac Bar: Located in The Roosevelt Hotel, this old-school bar is home to the New Orleans classic Sazerac cocktail. Visit during the holidays to see their fabulous decorations!

Commanders Palace: Arguably the best restaurant in New Orleans, they offer 25 cent martinis during weekday lunch! Be sure to check the dress code and make a reservation.

Latitude 29: Get your tiki-drink fix at this fun bar in the French Quarter! They also offer “communal drinks” which are basically nicer versions of fishbowls to throw you back to your college days.

Barrel Proof: A low-key bar in the Lower Garden District with over 300 whiskeys! They host pop-ups in their kitchen frequently and have Happy Hour specials from 4-6 daily.

What is your favorite bar in new orleans?! Let me know in the comments:

Your Guide to the NoDa Neighborhood of Charlotte

What does Noda mean?

North Davidson is the main street of the neighborhood, so the abbreviation of that is NoDa! It is in the northern section of the city and one of my favorite neighborhoods! The main area of NoDa is walkable but parking can be a headache so prepare yourself to either pay to park or hunt for a free spot for awhile on the weekends.

NoDa is a very artsy neighborhood with hipster vibes and several murals. The neighborhood has changed a lot over time but has still maintained a lot of its character. Previously it was home to the largest concentration of textile mills in the US and now many of those factories are apartments. The Lynx rail line connects NoDa to Uptown, Southend, and other popular areas of Charlotte now as well.

Adventures and Ales Top Recommendations:

Salud Cerveceria and Salud Beer Shop: Brewery upstairs, beer bar and bottle shop downstairs. Each floor has a distinct atmosphere so be sure to check out both!

Idlewild: A unique cocktail bar with no menu—you tell them the types of things you like and they craft something for you. This is a fantastic spot with great vibes. Reservations recommended.

Fairweather: A cute little bar for cocktails with a small food menu. They are the sister restaurant to Idlewild. Oysters are a large menu focus and they are just $1 on Mondays! Reservations recommended.

Ever Andalo: A delicious Italian restaurant! I highly recommend reservations but you can also throw your name on the list and grab a drink from somewhere nearby.

NoDa Company Store: This bar has a great outdoor patio and delicious sangria to enjoy on it.

The Chamber by Wooden Robot: The NoDa location of the popular Southend brewery. They have more farmhouse-style ales and a rooftop deck.

Divine Barrel Brewing: Another great brewery, they are slightly up the road from the main hustle and bustle of NoDa but still walkable. They host frequent events as well!

Heist Brewery: Delicious brewery food and great beers!

Sabor: Counter-service delicious Latin Street food!

NoDa Brewing: NoDa’s Tryon Street is not walkable from the central NoDa area but definitely worth checking out! They’ve got a large outdoor space and a wide variety of brews.

The OG NoDa

Other ideas:

Protagonist Clubhouse: A nano-brewery with lots of guest taps and sleek vibes.

Haberdish: A popular Southern-style restaurant with a lively atmosphere. Reservations are limited so plan ahead! Do note they offer brunch on weekdays, but not on weekends.

Billy Jack’s Shack: A dive bar with tasty bar food like fried mac nuggs and sliders, with brunch on Saturdays and Sundays.

Cabo Fish Taco: Mexican-style restaurant with solid tacos

Figo36: An Italian restaurant and wine bar. They have a very pretty space and tasty eats.  

The Dog Bar: Exactly as it sounds! A bar where you can bring your dog to run around off-leash. There is an annual membership of $10 and you need to fill out registration forms for your pup, then you can hit the bar while they make new friends!

Reigning Doughnuts: A little doughnut window behind Growler’s with a variety of flavors

Growler's Pourhouse: A beer bar with 14 taps and an accompanying food menu.

Jeni’s Ice Cream: Located next to Wooden Robot, the ever-popular ice cream chain never disappoints

Popbar: Another dessert option, Popbar offers gelato on a stick!

Neighborhood Theater: Local music venue

Goodyear House: A great restaurant with a killer outdoor patio. Reservations recommended.

Bar a Vins: A wine bar with a small snack menu. As a forewarning if you get a bottle they will charge you an additional $10 to drink it onsite even though you are buying it from them.

NoDa Company Store

The Belmont Area

Belmont and Noda are super close together and easily walk or bike-able between the two areas. Be sure to check out these spots in Belmont while you’re exploring NoDa:

The OG NoDa Brewing: NoDa’s original location specializing in sour and barrel aged beers. A smaller, funkier taproom than their newer location on Tryon.

Free Range Brewing: A farmhouse-style brewery with a large event space and chill vibes.

Rhino Market & Deli: A great spot to grab breakfast or lunch with a variety of sandwiches, salads, and soups. They’ve also got beer and coffee.

Amelie’s French Bakery & Cafe: Eventually this ever-popular bakery will be relocating from their original location, but Amelie’s produces some of the best baked goods in North Carolina!

The Hobbyist: A coffee shop, bottle shop, and beer bar combo. Especially nice when the weather is nice and the garage door is open!

Abari: A retro game bar with 9 craft beer taps, cocktails, and spirits.

Optimist Hall: A large food hall with a plethora of options to choose from. Papi Queso and The Dumpling Lady are my favorites!

Fonta Flora’s Charlotte taproom is located in Optimist Hall and definitely worth checking out! They’ve got fantastic wild ales in particular.

Birdsong Brewery: A bit further south but it is still easily walkable from other spots in NoDa! They are solar-powered, make some really tasty beers, and offer free peanuts!

The Chamber by Wooden Robot

What’s your favorite spot in Noda? Let me know in the comments!

Your Guide to South End, Charlotte

South End is Charlotte’s booming activity hub and generally caters to a younger population jammed into apartments throughout the neighborhood. There is a plethora of restaurants, bars, breweries, and shops to entertain and Uptown is just a hop skip and a jump up the road. The Lynx Light Rail also runs through South End conveniently connecting it to other neighborhoods of the Charlotte-metro area.

ADVENTURES AND ALES TOP RECOMMENDATIONS

Resident Culture: The second location of my favorite and the best brewery in Charlotte is in the heart of South End. They partner with El Toro Bruto for delicious food and Mostra Coffee will be coming soon.

Pop The Top: A craft beer bar with 24 taps and a wide selection of cans and bottles. It’s one of my favorite craft beer bars! Check out the full blog here.

Girl Tribe: A fun store with accessories, clothing, and more!

Triple C Brewing: Great beers, indoor and outdoor seating, and frequent food trucks.

Wooden Robot: Self-described as an urban farmhouse brewery, Wooden Robot makes some delicious Sours and Saisons in particular.

Suffolk Punch: A brewery and restaurant with a nice outdoor patio (covered in the winter) and $3 select beers on Thursdays and Sundays!

Lenny Boy Brewing: Homemade beers and kombucha with a small food menu in this fun taproom. A little off the main strip of South End but still easily walkable.

Common Market: Deli, taproom, and market in one!

Explore the Rail Trail: A 3.5 mile trail along the Lynx Light Rail with numerous restaurants, bars and breweries, and shops along it. Generally the Rail Trail is full of people running, walking, biking, and rollerblading!

OTHER IDEAS: Food

Poppy’s Bagels: Fresh-made bagels and schmear!

Bang Bang Burgers: Great burgers on Brioche buns with yummy side options.

Lincoln's Haberdashery: A deli-style restaurant with a market as well. A plethora of soups, salads, and sandwiches to choose from!

Hawkers: Asian street food with outdoor seating and fancy cocktails.

Pepperbox Doughnuts: Upscale doughnut and coffee joint.

Barcelona Wine Bar: Tapas-style menu with a wide variety of wines. They’ve also got a nice patio to enjoy when the weather allows!

Superica: Upscale Tex-Mex menu, also offering brunch!

Fuel Pizza: Solid New York style pizza.

Jeni’s Ice Cream: Expect a line out the door at this location of the popular ice cream chain, but it’s delicious!

Sabor: Counter-service delicious Latin Street food!

Eight + Sand: Casual bakery and cafe with fresh and locally sourced sandwiches, salads, and more!

O-Ku: Fancy sushi! Make a reservation.

Leroy Fox: Southern comfort food and cocktails specializing in fried chicken.

Futa Buta: Ramen house with limited seating so get there early!

Flower Child: Healthy food in a colorful setting with a large outdoor patio.

Midnight Diner: Popular late night diner!

Price’s Chicken Coop: Some say the best fried chicken in Charlotte! Cash only.

The Dunavant: Upscale dining with brunch options and a $25 steak and unlimited fries deal.

SouthBound: Tasty tacos and Mexican street food in a relaxed setting with a nice patio.

Mac’s Speed Shop: BBQ restaurant with outside seating options.

The Waterman: Seafood restaurant with a rooftop bar and cocktails.

OTHER IDEAS: Drink

Pins Mechanical Company: A game bar with duck-pin bowling, free arcade games, free skee-ball, and a full bar. Dog friendly too!

Hoppin’: A self-pour taproom with craft beer, wine, and a nice outdoor space.

Stable Hand: Coffee shop x beer bar x small bites! Chill vibes and a solid tap list.

QC Pour House: The perfect spot to catch a sports game on TV! They’ve got a small food menu and a variety of drinks to choose from.

Charlotte Beer Garden: Boasting the world’s largest draft selection, CBG is new on the scene and super packed. Download the Untappd app before you order.

Rosemont Bar: Adult Capri-Suns and solid drink specials!

Sycamore Brewing: A huge outdoor beer garden with two bars offering wine, beer, seltzer, and cider. Expect a crowd of 20-somethings, families with young children, and a plethora of dogs.

Paddywax Candle Bar: A make-your-own candle spot that is BYOB.

Bulldog Beer and Wine: Dog-friendly dive bar, if you’re lucky you’ll get to meet the two resident bulldogs as well. Frequent live music!

Tyber Creek Pub: Irish pub with a large patio with a full food menu.

Red Clay Ciderworks: Tasty cidery, off the beaten path from other South End establishments but they’ve got solid options to choose from.

HopFly Brewing

THE GOLD DISTRICT:

An up and coming area of South End close to Bank of America Stadium and Uptown Charlotte.

HopFly Brewing: A great brewery with excellent beers, a rooftop patio, and Katsu Kart onsite for food.

Craft: A craft beer bar with 36 taps and a wide variety of bottles. They’ve got a small food menu (go for the cheese board!) and a nice outdoor patio.

Seoul Food Meat Company: Meats, a huge variety of sides, kim bap, wings, and tacos!

Lost and Found: Highly instagrammable and popular bar.

Olde Meck

LoSo:

Lower South End or LoSo is a small hub of several breweries in walking distance of each other. It is just over a mile from the edge of South End. Though you can’t walk the Light Rail Trail all the way to LoSo, there is a sidewalk the whole way if you’re looking to walk/run/bike between the two areas.

Olde Mecklenburg Brewery: Charlotte’s original brewery with German-style beers and a spacious beer garden to frolic in!

Brewers at 4001 Yancey: Sixpoint, Victory, Southern Tier, and Bold Rock all in one! They’ve got a large space and a great food menu!

Sugar Creek Brewing: Belgian-style beers from one of the few Master Cicerones in the world!

Good Road Ciderworks: A spacious cidery and meadery!

Queen Park Social: A game bar with bowling and other activities—great for groups!

Lower Left Brewing: A smaller brewery with outdoor seating, board games, and yummy beers! Slightly removed from the above recommendations but still very close and walkable!

What are your favorite spots in south end?! Let me know in the comments:

Your Guide to Plaza Midwood, Charlotte

Charlotte has several distinctive neighborhood to explore, but Plaza Midwood is one of my favorites! It is full of great breweries, bars, and restaurants with a hipster-esque and local vibe. Plaza Midwood is just north of Uptown Charlotte with Central Avenue serving as the main launching off point. It is a very walkable neighborhood, taking about 25 minutes to get from one end of the neighborhood to the other.

Resident Culture Brewing Co.

Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations

Resident Culture Brewing Company: My favorite brewery in Charlotte! They have delicious beers, a fun atmosphere, and frequent food trucks.

Burial Beer: A fantastic taproom of the Asheville based brewery. They have a rooftop patio and some of the best beer in North Carolina.

Common Market: Deli, beer and wine shop, bar, and market—everything you need! Their breakfast sandwiches are particularly super delicious. It is a popular local hangout with laid-back vibes.

Legion Brewing: Another brewery option in Plaza with a nice patio and great bar snacks.

Workman’s Friend: Irish pub and restaurant with patio-style seating thanks to their garage door.

Whiskey Warehouse: A bar with a rooftop perfect when the weather is nice. On Sundays they’ve got great deals on mimosas and Bloody Marys!

Undercurrent Coffee: A cozy coffee shop with outdoor seating and a small food menu.

Charlotte Collective: Multiple small local vendors in one store.

Midwood Smokehouse: Award-winning BBQ! One of the most popular restaurants in the area.

Moo & Brew

Other Ideas: Food

Yafo Kitchen: Tasty Mediterranean counter-service restaurant, one of my favorite spots to grab food to-go from.

Moo & Brew: Burgers and beers with a nice patio. They’ve also got a Large Marge, a 20oz Bloody Mary that is essentially a meal in a glass.

Two Scoops Creamery: Local ice cream shop with a wide variety of flavors.

Soul Gastrolounge: Plaza’s fancier restaurant, be sure to make reservations! Downstairs they’ve also opened up Sister, an all-day cafe.

Snooze AM Eatery: The ever-popular brunch spot, expect a long wait but super tasty food! Pancake flights, multiple types of Benedicts, and creative twists on classic breakfast foods.

Fuel Pizza: A great spot for late night pizza! Quick, cheap, and tasty.

Zada Jane’s Corner Cafe: A homey spot for breakfast and brunch with a large menu to choose from and an outdoor patio. Eventually the space will also be a tasting room for Cavendish Brewing!

Cilantro Noodle: Vietnamese bowls!

Central Coffee: Your neighborhood coffee shop!

Legion Brewing

Other Ideas: Bars and Breweries

Pilot Brewing: A solid brewery with small-batch brews and a weekly Cask Ale.

Thirsty Beaver: A classic, tiny dive bar.

The Bohemian: A wine bar with cheese plates and sleek vibes.

Thomas Street Tavern: Another classic dive bar with a large outdoor patio and pool and ping-pong tables.

Stroke: A putt-putt and cocktail lounge.

Pour Taproom: A chain bar with pour your own beer and wine by the ounce.

Worth Noting

These two spots are technically in the Belmont neighborhood but they are still very close to Plaza Midwood and worth checking out!

Catawba Brewing: A wide variety of beers in a spacious taproom. They’ve also opened an in-house restaurant called Blue Fork!

White Duck Tacos: Super delicious tacos!

What are your favorite spots in Plaza Midwood?!

The Best Craft Beer Bars

Obviously I love exploring breweries, but craft beer bars are always fun to hang out at as well. I love getting to try hard to find or obscure beers from breweries across the world!

My favorite craft beer bars each offer a little something different, but they all have delicious and unique beers! Check out my top picks globally below:

The Avenue Pub in New Orleans

The Avenue Pub

Located in New Orleans, Louisiana this craft beer haven is open 24/7 365 days of the year! The Avenue has a fantastic tap list at both their main bar downstairs and their balcony bar upstairs.

The balcony is one of the best parts of The Avenue, it is a fantastic place to kick back and watch the streetcars roll by and soak up some Louisiana sunshine. Their location right on Saint Charles Avenue makes it a prime spot to watch parades during Mardi Gras season, but beware of beads flying into your beer!

The Avenue also has a full food menu that is typical bar food. The cheese fries are fantastic, especially after a beer or two. If you’re local to New Orleans their Mug Club is a fun feature to earn discounts on beers and get invited to special events.

Polly and her team do a fantastic job at The Avenue so be sure to show them some love the next time you’re in The Big Easy! Take note that The Avenue is 21 and up only.

Check out all of my New Orleans recommendations here!

Salud Beer Shop in Charlotte

Salud Beer Shop

This Charlotte, North Carolina beer bar and bottle shop opened its doors in 2012 and has been crushing the game ever since. Located in the NoDa neighborhood, they’ve got 16 taps and a plethora of cans and bottles for consumption both on and offsite.

Salud’s owners Jason and Dairelyn Glunt host frequent events such as tap takeovers, porch parties, and special releases in the bottle shop. They’ve also got natural wines, meads, and a food menu featuring Neapolitan-style pizzas.

Salud also won the top spot for Best Beer Bar from USA Today in 2019 and 2020 so don’t just take my word for how great they are! Be sure to check out their brewery upstairs too, Salud Cerveceria.

Liquiderie Bottle Shop in Paris

Liquiderie Bottle Shop

Liquiderie is located in Paris, France. It is a tiny little spot with a just a few bar stools, but it is full of some incredible beers. They’ve got three beers on taps and a slue of cans and bottles for sale to drink in-house or take to-go.

They’ve also got a small food menu for snacks. Liquiderie’s staff is super nice and friendly so don’t be afraid to ask questions or just hang out!

This cute little spot is located right in the heart of the Folic-Mericourt neighborhood.

The rest of my Paris recommendations are located here!

Torst in New York City

Torst Bar

Torst is located on Manhattan Avenue in Brooklyn, NYC. With so many beer bars and breweries in The Big Apple, Torst sets itself apart with its killer tap list and unique environment.

Torst is classier than your average beer bar, with a sleek set-up and intimate atmosphere. They have 21 taps, a large list of can and bottle beer options, natural wines, and cocktails as well.

Torst also has a small food menu with snacks and a few sandwiches. They offer Happy Hour from 4-7pm every weekday.

Beer Street is another one of my favorite NYC craft beer bars with more of a dive bar atmosphere, cheaper prices, and still a fantastic tap list. Check out all of my NYC recommendations here!

The Whale in Greenville

The Whale Craft Beer Collective

The Whale has locations in Asheville, North Carolina and Greenville, South Carolina. Each location has 20 taps and a large can and bottle list to enjoy.

On tap at each spot you will also find Whale Exclusives, which are beers they collaboratively brewed with local breweries for release only at their taprooms.

The Whale is dog-friendly and also offers, wine, mead, sake, and non-alcoholic craft beverages. Be sure to stop by next time you’re in AVL or GVL!

Check out my Asheville recommendations here and my Greenville recommendations here!

The Porter Beer Bar in Atlanta

The Porter Beer Bar

Located in the heart of the Little 5 Points neighborhood of Atlanta, The Porter Beer Bar is a mecca for ATL’s craft beer nerds.

The Porter has been open since 2008, before the craft beer scene in the US really took off.

They have over fifty taps, a large selection of cans and bottles, wine, and cocktails. Be sure to bring your reading glasses with you to this beer bar—the tap list is a novel but it is worth the effort!

The Porter also has a full food menu to keep your appetite at bay while you peruse and enjoy your many drink options.

The rest of my Atlanta recommendations are located here!

The International Beer Bar in Zurich

The International Beer Bar

Located in Zurich, Switzerland, The International is a cozy little spot with indoor and outdoor seating options. They have craft Swiss, European, and global beers available.

Their staff is super friendly and they have truly delicious beers to try. They do tap-takeovers and also have cans and bottles available.

Check out my Zurich guide here!

State of Beer in Raleigh

State of Beer

State of Beer is in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina. It is from the team at Trophy Brewing which has three taprooms as a part of their brewery as well.

State of Beer is a bottle and sandwich shop with 12 taps, a plethora of bottles and cans, small plates, salads, and sandwiches. You can also buy beer to-go here.

They have a nice outdoor patio to enjoy your beer and food on as well, it gets busy when the weather is nice. Check it out next time you’re in the area!

Pop The Top in Charlotte

Pop The Top Craft Beer Shop

Another gem in Charlotte, North Carolina, Pop the Top is located in the South End neighborhood. Ketan and his fantastic team have 24 taps, cans, and bottles for sale to consume on or off premises.

Pop The Top does not have a kitchen so they are dog-friendly and you can bring your own food. They host frequent tap takeovers and you’ll frequently find a bottle share happening as well.

They’ve also got an outdoor patio for those sunny days, board games, and TVs.

Local Option in Chicago

Local Option

Located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, Local Option is—as you might guess—where the locals go!

They have 24 taps, a few of which are usually their own beer they brew as well. The food at Local Option is delicious, so be sure to come hungry and eat up!

Their taproom has some punk-esque vibes but is still welcoming and friendly to everyone.

They partner with AJ Maka Distributors to get some amazing craft beers and meads on tap and in the bar, so be sure to stop by next time you’re in the Chicagoland area!

Check out my Chicago recommendations here!

Monk’s Cafe in Philadelphia

Monk’s Cafe

Monk’s Cafe is in downtown Philly and advertises itself as “The soul of Belgium in the heart of Philadelphia”.

They have 25 beers on tap and a bottle list, both with an emphasis on Belgian beers. The vibes are more pub-like with a full food menu and servers, but I would recommend just sitting at the bar to get the full beer nerd experience.

Monk’s Cafe also has a lot of special events, such as a special tapping of Pliny the Younger from Russian River that happens each year. Check it out next time you’re in Philly!

My guide to Philadelphia is located here!

What’s your favorite craft beer bar? Let me know in the comments!

Hilton Head Island, SC

Hilton Head Island is a gorgeous beach getaway near the border of South Carolina and Georgia. The beaches are long and the sand is soft, making it a great place to hang out on the Atlantic Ocean with friends and family!

In the summer it can get jam packed with tourists from all over, but it is a great spot to visit and soak in some Vitamin D!

Hilton Head Tips:

• Make sure you have cash on you, one of the roads onto the island is a toll road and depending on where you are staying that might be the fastest route!

• Visiting in the off-season (October-March) is a good idea to avoid the crowds and get cheaper rates!

• Traveling with a group? AvantStay has some amazing larger homes for rent! Use my link here to save $250 off your booking!

• It’s less than an hour from Savannah as well so it’s a great spot to stop on a Southeast trip! Check out all of my Savannah recommendations here!

Hilton Head Island Recommendations:

Java Burrito

Java Burrito

A coffee shop and Mexican food joint together! Their food and drinks are incredible, the staff is SO friendly, and the prices are great! I highly recommend visiting Java Burrito—I went multiple times while on the island!

My favorite was their breakfast burritos—you can build your own and choose which ingredients you’d like! If you don’t opt for the queso we can’t be friends.

They also have Happy Hour every day from 4-6pm with $5 cocktails. Unfortunately Java Burrito is closed on Sundays, as a heads up!

Hefeweizen at Hilton Head Brewing Company

Hilton Head Brewing Company

A small brewery right near the airport with solid beers! They have outside seating options and a small snack menu as well.

You can also find their cans locally if you want to grab some for your beach time, hotel room, or to take home with you!

River Dog’s IPA at Skull Creek Boathouse

Skull Creek Boathouse

A chill restaurant with relaxing water views on the inlet. They have a large outdoor patio with a fire pit and heat lamps to keep warm on chillier nights! It is a great place to catch a sunset.

Their menu is quite large and offers a wide variety of food and drinks, including a few local beers on tap. They’ve got everything from sushi to pasta to seafood to sandwiches!

Birds Fly South’s Empress Rising Mole BBA Imperial Stout at The Lodge

The Lodge

A great craft beer bar with local and afar options on tap. They’ve also got bar food, pool, and Happy Hour.

The Lodge is located in The Barmuda Triangle—an area with several bars and restaurants to hop around. As a heads up it can get pretty party-centric on the weekend nights!

Vegan wrap at Delisheeyo

Delisheeyo

A vegan food restaurant that is a great spot for lunch! They have salads, sandwiches, wraps, and smoothies.

As someone who is not vegan I still found the food to be delicious! The staff is also super nice and helpful.

The view from The Marriott Resort and Spa

Have you been to Hilton head Island? What are your favorite spots? Let me know in the comments!