AATA2026 · Oct. 14–17 · Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte Fun Guide
A little free time between sessions? Here are our favorite ways to enjoy Charlotte in October. Pick a few and invite other attendees to join you! Start by posting in the Whova conference app.
Conference hotel
Sheraton / Le Méridien Hotel Complex
555 South McDowell Street, Charlotte, NC 28204 · Get directions
Steps From the Hotel
- Marshall Park. Step across the street from the conference hotel for fresh air between sessions. Connect with conference attendees on the Whova app, and grab a coffee outside!
- Mint Museum. Visit the Mint Museum Uptown for contemporary art. It is a 15-minute walk from the hotel.
- Bechtler Museum of Modern Art. Also a 15-minute walk from the hotel, with modern art in a striking brick building.
Uptown Discovery and City Vibe
- Lunch at The Market at 7th Street. A bustling food hall that supports local artisans. Great for a quick counter-service lunch or coffee.
- Levine Center for the Arts. Uptown’s arts campus, where several cultural venues sit side by side along South Tryon Street. It is home to the Mint Museum Uptown, the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, and the Knight Theater for live performances. You can easily visit more than one in an afternoon.
- NASCAR Hall of Fame. Catch the interactive racing exhibits.
- Dinner at Yunta, South End. A high-energy Peruvian-Japanese Nikkei restaurant known for its ceviches, tiraditos, and craft cocktails. Learn more about Yunta
Outdoor Adventure and Fall Festivities
- U.S. National Whitewater Center. Soak up a pleasant October day outside. Go whitewater rafting, ziplining, or hiking among the early fall foliage. Refuel with lunch on-site.
- Freedom Park. Take a relaxing, scenic afternoon walk.
- Olde Mecklenburg Brewery & Biergarten. Enjoy one of Charlotte’s signature outdoor beer gardens and taste local fall brews.
Arts, Murals, and Renaissance Fair
- Ride the Lynx to NoDa. Take the light rail to North Davidson, Charlotte’s arts district, for galleries, murals, boutiques, or dinner.
- Start at the Bloom mural. This iconic mural by artist Osiris Rain is the first stop on an ArtWalks CLT Art Walk. Find it at 3200 N. Davidson St. (at 35th St.), a short stroll from the 36th Street station. Tag @artwalksclt and @osirisrain in your photos! See the walk
- Late-morning bite at Optimist Hall. A restored 1892 textile mill packed with food stalls, from Neapolitan pizza to Asian street food.
- Dinner and live music. Have dinner in NoDa or Plaza Midwood, then catch live music at one of the neighborhood venues. Plaza Midwood is a historic neighborhood just east of Uptown, lined with early 20th-century Craftsman bungalows and Tudor and Colonial Revival homes. Along The Plaza and Central Avenue you will find locally owned restaurants, coffeehouses, breweries, vintage shops, and murals.
- Carolina Renaissance Festival. Travel north of the city for jousting, artisan markets, and live performances. It is a popular annual fall event that runs on select weekends, so check dates and hours before you go.
- One last stroll. Walk the Charlotte Rail Trail, an 11-mile path that runs alongside the Lynx light rail, or stop at a local coffee shop for a seasonal latte before your flight or drive home.
Special thanks to AATA Board Member Cori Costello, Ph.D., LPCS, LCPC, ATR-BC, for sharing her Charlotte go-to’s with us