Whether it’s a patriotic memorial, a towering waterfall, a NASCAR museum or a theater district, you’ll find something distinctive in many downtowns throughout North and South Carolina.
From the buzz of metropolitan city centers to the old-fashioned charm of more modest towns, these districts are often highlights of a visitor’s experience. Downtown is the nucleus of major cultural attractions in some cities; in others, visitors can enjoy walking tours to learn about the architecture, history or cuisines of urban neighborhoods.
When touring the Carolinas, make sure to spend some time downtown in these cities.
Greenville, S.C.
A recent public project has made downtown a greener place in Greenville.
“About five years ago, we took away a street and opened up an area of
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| Greenville’s city center is noted for its green space. Courtesy Greenville CVB |
our downtown that has a 60-foot waterfall, as well as a curved, cantilevered pedestrian bridge,” said Diane Wilson, director of information services for the Greenville Convention and Visitors Bureau. “It’s called the Reedy River Falls Park. The river and waterfall have always been there, but they were covered up by a road. So developing the park has really created a unique environment.”
Visitors also enjoy spending time in the adjacent historic West End District, an area with about 90 shops and restaurants. The West End is also home to the Greenville Drive, a minor league affiliate of the Boston Red Sox that plays at Greenville Municipal Stadium. The stadium is modeled after Boston’s Fenway Park, with the same layout and dimensions.
Columbia, S.C.
Politics, culture and entertainment come together in downtown Columbia, the capital city of South Carolina.
Columbia was in the middle of the fighting during the Civil War, and today’s visitors can still see scars of the battle at the state Capitol building.
“You can take tours of the Capitol and see the stars on the side of the building marking where six gunshots fired by the Union in 1865 struck the capitol,” said Ric Luber, president and CEO of the Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports and Tourism.
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| Visitors enjoy evening dining in Columbia, S.C.’s Vista District. Courtesy Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports and Tourism |
Civil War buffs will enjoy touring the Confederate Relic Room downtown, which has a verity of artifacts from that war, as well as World War I.
There’s also plenty of fun to be had in the city’s twin downtown areas, Main Street and the Vista District. Vista is home to many of the city’s restaurants and bars, as well as interesting stops such as ice cream parlors and cupcake shops.
Charleston, S.C.
Centuries of dramatic history, as well as architecture to match, make downtown Charleston one of the most popular destinations in the South.
“Tourists come for the history,” said Ali Bedard, sales manager at the Charleston Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “You can walk down through all these fabulous shops and restaurants, and on either side of you is the old City Market, where they still sell arts, crafts and local produce.”
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| Interesting architecture makes Charleston a favorite for history buffs. Courtesy Charleston Area CVB |
Many groups visit the Old Slave Mart, the place where most of the slaves in the Southeast were bought and sold before abolition. The site and its museum reopened in 2007 after an extended closure.
Tours throughout the city are also popular with groups. Tour companies offer art tours, history tours, culinary tours, architecture tours and more on foot or by motorcoach. A new speedboat company offers historic tours of the Charleston Harbor from the water.
While downtown, groups can also visit the South Carolina Aquarium, which showcases aquatic animals from all over the state.
www.charlestoncvb.com
Winston-Salem, N.C.
The arts are thriving in downtown Winston-Salem, where painters, performers and traditional craftsmen have all set up shop. A great place to start exploring is the Downtown Arts District.
“This is a cool area where artists are living and working,” said Stephan Dragasic, director of communications for Visit Winston-Salem. “There are a lot of studios and galleries in that area. There’s an artists collective that’s been there since the ’70s.”
Visitors will see works from local artists and others at the Associated Artists Gallery, where more than 600 members from around the region display their work in two major juried shows each year. A similar facility, the Piedmont Craftsmen Gallery, has work from more than 300 traditional crafters in the Piedmont area. Their annual crafts fair features glass, pottery, jewelry and other artwork.
The University of North Carolina School of Arts has taken up residence in the Stevens Center, a 1920s movie theater downtown that has been converted for stage performances. There are also three other performance theaters downtown.
Fayetteville, N.C.
With Fort Bragg located just a few miles away, it’s no wonder that downtown Fayetteville, displays a particular national pride.
“We like to think of our personality as being patriotic,” said John Meroski, CEO of the Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We’re a military community, and there’s no other downtown that reflects that commitment to freedom like we do.”
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| The Airborne Special Operations Museum is a fixture in downtown Fayetteville. Courtesy Fayetteville Area CVB |
That dedication is on display at the Airborne Special Operations Museum downtown, which honors Fort Bragg’s 82nd Airborne unit, as well as similar groups from around the country. Another military museum, the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry Museum, pays tribute to the oldest active militia in the South, which was chartered by George Washington.
Downtown visitors can also tour the Market House, a reconstruction of the former statehouse where North Carolina’s legislators first ratified the U.S. Constitution. Today, the building is a rotary, allowing people to see views of the city center in four different directions.
Charlotte, N.C.
Charlotte may be known as the banking center of the Southeast, but a bevy of new developments opening next year will add to the city’s cultural cachet as well.
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| Locals and tourists come to downtown Charlotte for an outdoor festival.
Courtesy Visit Charlotte |
“2010 is a huge year for Charlotte, because we’re opening a new cultural corridor, as well as a new NASCAR Hall of Fame in Center City,” said Laura Hill, marketing and communications manager for Visit Charlotte. “We’re opening three new museum facilities, and we’re also getting a new performing-arts center.”
The Beckler Museum of Modern Art will bring its European art collection to the United States for the first time when it opens next year. It will be joined by the Mint Museum, which is moving to a new facility downtown, as well as the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts and Culture.
The NASCAR Hall of Fame, which is scheduled to open in 2010, will feature racing simulators, a pit crew experience and other interactive exhibits, as well as a traditional hall of honor.
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