We were looking for something fun to do in Uptown and found this history and haunts tour. Elizabeth…read morewas our tour guide and did a phenomenal job! She was extremely knowledgeable about the citities history and hauntings. I had no idea how old a lot of the buildings are and how much history is underneath the sky scrapers. We were entertained the entire time and she was loud enough for a group of 20 to hear. I highly suggest this tour as something to do. Especially as we start to near hallows eve.

I have gone on this tours three times now and have enjoyed it more and more each time. Elizabeth is…read moreamazing and you can tell the amount of passion and joy she has in sharing about her city while doing something she loves.

Our tour guide, Tremain was amazing; an unending wealth of knowledge and perspective. It was…read moreeducational and fun. Just a joy!

Very enjoyable. We lucked out into a 2 person ride, got to tour all around Uptown Charlotte, which…read morewe saw a lot more than we could cover on our own. Felt it was worth the money, and worth doing.

I was not aware that this was a bookable event center when I spotted the historic marker, so I did…read morenot manage to see the inside. Instead, I was able to appreciate the exterior of this Civil War era home in Statesville. The marker reads, "Col. Silas Alexander Sharpe. March 5, 1840 to December 9, 1903. Dedicated to the memory of Col. Silas A. Sharpe, a prominent industrialist and political leader in Statesville throughout the second half of the 19th century. He was sworn as the first Mayor of the City of Statesville on March 25, 1867. The home of Col. Silas A. Sharpe remains here as one of the oldest houses in Statesville and has been rightfully placed on the National Register of Historic Places." The Classical Revival home has deep ties to the civic leadership of Statesville as it was the home of the city's first mayor. Construction began in the 1850s but the Civil War delayed progress and it was eventually completed in 1866. The two-story three-bay frame dwelling includes a dramatic two-story portico with clustered columns and a symmetrical facade. The large windows, central hallway plan and deep porch are all classically intended to improve ventilation and comfort in the Southern climate. As I mentioned, I didn't tour the home but perhaps on a future visit to Statesville, I will see about doing that. [Review 588 of 2026 - 4677 in North Carolina - 25769 overall]

We held our son's wedding at The Historic Sharpe House and it was better than I could have ever…read moreimagined. First and foremost they treated us like royalty. Leading up to and booking was simple and Keith Rhyme kept in contact for any potential problems with the changing conditions we live in. Once the day arrived, the house staff took care of the ladies beyond belief with an elegant tea, and handled any of their needs while giving them all the privacy they needed to prepare for the big day. The wedding ceremony went off perfect as Keith also served as wedding director. Then the dinner. The service was incredible, and meal was one of the finest I have had. The best part was it was all very affordable. If you want your family to experience a dream event without spending a kings ransom. I recommend Crown Events at The Historic Sharpe House. #Wedding #ElegantDining #Affordable #BabyShower #Anniversary

This was an awesome experience at Rydables Tour. Isiah our tour guide was the absolute best…read more Knowledgable, Friendly, and all around the best. Stop by when you are in Charlotte for an amazing tour.

Toured the city and laughed the whole time! Our guide John delighted us with information on the…read morecity while we cruised down the streets with the wind in our hair (which was a blessing considering how warm and humid it was outside that day). Everyone we passed smiled at the silly sight and we were able to get oriented to the city which helped us navigate as we ventured out on foot the rest of the days of our trip. Highly recommend. Looking forward to exploring similar tours in other cities.

For fans of The Hunger Games films, this is a must-see!…read more We stopped in on a beautiful spring day. We were given an informative tour by Donavan, who was hilarious and full of knowledge. After the tour, we were free to explore the 78 acres. It's a beautiful place and we had a great time looking at the mill homes and the surrounding terrain. They also offer a military discount which is always appreciated! Great place!

"The Hunger Games filming location - District 12" and an Old Mill town full of history! A must…read morevisit! We were in Hickory for the weekend and we're looking for things to do nearby. I found this place and I saw that "Hunger Games" were filmed there and decided to go check it out. We paid $18 per person to enter and it includes a 30 min tour that explains the history of Henry River Village and talk a bit about the "Hunger Games" filming locations and you can even go inside Katniss' house. After that, you can walk around on your own. You're not allowed inside the other houses or on the porches for your own safety since the houses are very old and abandoned. The history of the place is very interesting to listen to. I recommend you actually participating in the tour. It's quick and interactive and the lady is very passionate and respectful about the place's history. You can also stay there for the night. They renovated one of the houses and you can book it and have the whole village for yourself. You can actually watch the renovation on HBO Max "In with the Old" Season 1 episode 4.

The entrance fee to walk around independently is $5 but there isn't much to see except some…read morebuildings with animals that is like visiting a small farm. The buildings that are meant to appear as being refurbished appropriate to the era when the plantation was functioning are minimal, three small single room buildings. Not worth the price. I did not do the guided tour that was $9 to tour the single plantation home for 45 minutes which seemed like a really long tour for the small plantation house. Might be a good tour for school children but wasn't worthwhile for an adult. Plenty of onsite parking on a quiet weekday visit.

Took a bunch of out of towners who wanted to check out a Civil War era place to Latta Plantation…read more Located in the Latta Nature Reserve in Huntersville, the plantation consists of a visitors' center, plantation house, farm, and other assorted buildings. There are a couple of very friendly animals roaming around the farm area and the people who work there are really nice and informative. A Civil War Infantry demonstration was going on the day we went, that was neat, got to learn about how the Confederate infantry lived and operated. Great place to take the kids or people who like Civil War Era history. Admission is $6 for adults and $5 with student ID.

Came to the Museum for Father's Day since entrance for Dads was free today. Was excellent to see…read morethe Caravaggio special exhibit, so my fee was a bit higher $25. But my college age son got a student rate and my husband was free. Nice perk, they also do this on Mother's Day, in case you didn't know for next year. I didn't take too many photos of the artwork. The special exhibit is quite large and there is a lot to see. There are two floors full of different types of art and sculptures. Really has so much to see here. I love where the Mint is located, too. Across the street is a green space with a few restaurants and a beautiful church that we visited while waiting for the museum to open at 1pm. Sunday. The entrance fee is good for two consecutive days so if you are staying close by, go back and walk through again. Lots to see. There is also a restaurant attached to the building that was very busy. They had live music as well.

It's been 3 years since my last visit so Donna & I went on a Saturday morning to check out the…read moreBaroque art exhibit. It was good with lots of interesting works by various artists. Nice that if you're a Bank of America credit card holder you get $10 off during the first weekend of each month.

https://youtu.be/wrIKUIVwv10?si=UT58vvEoSqtm5E76…read more A beautiful place that I'm sure is very calming and relaxing in the daytime. We did a paranormal investigation here - the link is above. We didn't experience a lot of activity other than from a spirit box. We heard some weird noises but didn't see anything out of the ordinary. Someone had dumped their trash at the site before we got there, but there were no signs of anyone else there. We did feel like we were being watched the entire time, though. If you visit at night it is a pretty sketchy looking area. Make sure you go with someone and protect yourself.

Man does this entire area have a glorious and also a very dark past! The quick history I'm…read morerevealing was passed down from my great, great, great, maternal grandmother. In the early 1800's a cotton gin was located at the top of the dam ( picture included) . It utilized Eli Whitney's cotton gin model. Cotton was king of all crops around here for a hundred years or so. With the outbreak of the Civil War, crops of large scale were abandoned. Below the dam with water wheel still in place was constructed an iron ore smelting furnace. It produced metal for confederate arms. After the war it was replaced by a cornmeal gin that used two large limestone stones to grind the corn into corn meal. I actually saw this in operation once as a small boy. After years of abandonment, only skeletal remains are left. Interesting and sad! Great local history!

The Earl Scruggs Center is located in Downtown Shelby in the 1907 built Cleveland County…read moreCourthouse. Free parking is available on the street. The entrance is on the Washington Street side of the building. Make sure to stop at the smaller building outside as that is where you buy your tickets and receive your earbuds. From there you can proceed inside the renovated courthouse and a docent with start the introduction film then explain what order to go through the museum. The Center opened in 2014. I did not know who Earl Scruggs was before my visit. The North Carolina Musicians Mural Trail brought me to Shelby, NC. But he was a well-known banjo player and who had his own style of playing while developing the sounds of bluegrass. Besides Scruggs, the museum tells some of the history of Cleveland County. The Rotunda has the instruments used by the Scruggs family. In These Hills tells Earl Scrugg's story and has some interactive exhibits. There is a board where you can listen to his music and that of other artists. Out of Carolina is the next room and covers the next stage in Scruggs career. The radio history, Shelby Dynasty and textile mills in the area. Turning Road is the last room covers the Civil Rights Movement, textile mills closing, and changing music styles. I recommend a visit to the center if you are near Shelby.

Very interactive and interesting to learn about Earl Scruggs and bluegrass music. I enjoyed it…read morewith my family.

It was a scorching hot North Carolina day in April when we arrived for the afternoon tour at…read moreSouthern Grace Distillery. We had paid in advance and made it just in the nick of time to join our group of about a dozen people. The crowd was a mix of adults and children; personally, I didn't quite understand the presence of kids on a jailhouse and whiskey tour, but the group was ready to dive into the history. The tour kicked off with chilling news of hauntings. Our guide mentioned that the show "Ghost Hunters" had even visited the site, certifying the old jail as haunted--though fortunately by "friendly" spirits. The sensory experience was a bit of a rollercoaster. I generally enjoy the scent of bourbon, and the initial aroma upon entering the distillery is quite pleasant. However, the main room where we spent a significant portion of the tour had a scent that was overwhelming and wholly unpleasant. That said, the content of the tour was good. It provided a well-balanced mix of intriguing historical facts about the prison and the technical side of whiskey making. The kids got restless during the tour and actually started brutally kicking each other in the shins. They each had on shell toed Crocs, so you could hear the crunch of bone and flesh beneath each kick. Their parents let it go on indefinitely. The hour passed quickly and was well worth the $14 adult admission. The tasting at the end is not for the faint of heart. They serve hard liquor, and I do mean HARD. My lips were numbing and my face was next. I had to tap out after the third swig! On the bright side, the gift shop is fantastic. They have the most darling items; we walked away with two tote bags and a delicious pink lemonade drink that will be perfect for sharing with friends this summer. This is a unique, affordable way to spend an hour, provided you can handle the heat and the high proof!

Wow this was a micro craft distillery at its best. Customer service, selection, and knowledge. They…read moretruly deserve being the face of the charlotte area whiskey. 1st entering, you walk into a small area with a gift shop area, bar area, and small separate sitting area on the first floor. The small sitting area also houses their original small still they currently produce their gin in. Pretty cool piece of history. So about the juice...They're really got some good stuff. You can do a curated flight for 10 dollars each pour, you can also do single pours of whatever they have available as well from their core products to the single barrels. I really love what they're doing with the "Story" line where they experiment with different finishes and blends. I'm not a huge rye guy but they are certainly doing it right. That says a lot for me to grab 2 to take home of their rye single barrels..my bartender was so cool and knowledgeable I even grabbed the one he actually picked. Overall 10/10. They're giving the bigger names a definite run for their money. You will not go wrong supporting and drinking local with them. Hands down the best in the charlotte area. They do offer shipping but, you NEED to go in for the full experience and the option to grab distillery exclusive bottles. #Foodierunner approved lol