This is a sponsored post. I received a product or products in order to facilitate my review. As always, all opinions are my own.
I turned 29 a few weeks ago! It’s so hard to believe that this is my last year in my 20’s. Crazy! I knew that I wanted to plan a fun weekend for my birthday and spend some time celebrating with friends and family. When I realized that Brad Paisley was coming to Charlotte, NC two days after my birthday, I knew just where our road trip would lead us. My cousin, Brian, who is also one of my best friends made the road trip to Charlotte with me, and my brother and sister in law met us there Friday afternoon. We had the most perfect weekend and I am excited to share with you the Ultimate Birthday Weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina!
Getting There
2017 Toyota Sienna Limited- Even though I was born and raised in Charlotte, I live about 3.5 hours away now. It makes for the perfect weekend getaway, not too far away and there is so much to do! We made the trip in a 2017 Toyota Sienna Limited and it was the perfect vehicle for our weekend getaway! You can read more about our experience in the Swagger Wagon here.
Stay
The Westin Charlotte– Located at 601 South College Street in Charlotte, the Westin is in the perfect location for a fun weekend getaway. As soon as you enter the hotel, you are greeted with a spa like atmosphere (can I just say how good this place smells? Heavenly!). The decor is not only elegant, but also inviting, and everyone that we encountered at the hotel from the front desk staff to the staff at the Starbucks located in the lobby was not only friendly but so very helpful.
As soon as we entered our room, I was immediately taken by the gorgeous view of uptown Charlotte right outside of our window. After exploring more, I noticed just how comfortable the beds were and how truly relaxing the Westin is. Small touches such as a basket of fresh bite-sized biscuits with a side of the most delicious honey I’ve ever tasted (which is actually from the beehives they have on the roof at the hotel- coolest thing ever!) and a small bottle of lavender oil on the nightstand, truly set the Westin apart from other hotels I have visited. With amenities like a Lynx (light rail) stop right outside of the hotel, an indoor pool, on-site Starbucks, on site dining options, and breathtaking views, the Westin was the PERFECT place to spend my birthday weekend.
Dine.
Maggiano’s Little Italy –Not only was the weekend we were in town my birthday weekend, it was also the weekend before my dad’s birthday and my parents 40th wedding anniversary! Since they live in Charlotte, we knew that we wanted to spend time with them and celebrate together. When we were discussing where to eat, we all came up with the same place to go: Maggiano’s Little Italy. I absolutely LOVE Maggiano’s and since the one that is closest to us is in Charlotte, I always try to visit when I am in town. As always, the food was delicious and the service was amazing! Maggino’s is the perfect place to celebrate any occasion or just to visit for a family dinner!
Fahrenheit Charlotte– For dinner Saturday evening, we decided that we wanted to dine at a restaurant that was not only close to our hotel, but also offered a fine dining experience. Since my brother went to culinary school in Charlotte and is pretty ‘up to date’ on the culinary scene in Charlotte, I asked him for recommendations. He mentioned Fahrenheit and how he had heard amazing things about it. We were not disappointed! A few blocks from the Westin, Fahrenheit is located in Downtown Charlotte. As soon as you walk into the restaurant you are greeted by gorgeous views of the city. Our table was located next to the window and it was right near time for sunset, the view was breathtaking! The view is just part of what makes Fahrenheit amazing, the staff makes you feel welcome as soon as you walk in the door and the food – oh my goodness! A few of us opted for a steak and it was not only cooked to perfection, but also full of flavor. Brian opted for a pepperoni pizza and he said it was amazing! I highly recommend dining at Fahrenheit in Charlotte, you won’t be disappointed!
Play
Strike City Charlotte – A cross between a bowling alley, your favorite bar and an arcade, Strike City is a fun place to celebrate your birthday! While we were there, there was a college football game going on and the place was packed with people watching the game and cheering on their favorite team. You could feel the excitement in the atmosphere (we even ran into a former Panther’s player!). Located in the EpiCenter, Strike City is a great place to go for a girls’ night out or even for a unique date night.
Whiskey River – Located in the EpiCenter, Dale Earnhart Jr.’s Whiskey River is a ‘must do’ for any birthday weekend. Whether you are looking for a fun place to have a delicious meal or want to spend an evening “VIP style”, Whiskey River has it all. With a fun atmosphere, energetic DJ and easy to get to location- Whiskey River will not disappoint! We had so much fun on Friday night that we returned Saturday night! I highly recommend visiting Whiskey River if you are in the Charlotte area.
Wear.
Lane Bryant- By now, you know how much I love Lane Bryant. When it came time to go shopping for clothes for my birthday weekend, I knew just where to head: my local Lane Bryant store in Bristol, TN. I always know that I will receive friendly service when I head into the store and this time was no different. I told the girls at the store (who I consider friends after shopping there so often), that I needed some fun outfits for my weekend away and they had amazing recommendations! Not only was I fashionable the entire weekend, I was also comfortable. If you are planning your ultimate birthday weekend, head over to your local Lane Bryant store first!
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