Visit Charlotte: Speedway Christmas Lights at the Charlotte Motor Speedway

Last year, we spent part of the holidays in Charlotte, North Carolina, and we went to check out the Speedway Christmas Lights at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.  

It's very similar to the drive-thru light show offered at the stadium locally, but on a bigger scale.  

With over 5 million lights spanning the iconic Charlotte Motor Speedway, it was really neat to drive on the track itself as we watched the lights dance to synchronized music.  

You pay per vehicle and slowly traverse the speedway, passing by hundreds of festive displays and huge Christmas trees.  To view a short Reel of our experience click here.  

There is a part of the speedway where you can park and view the course from above.  It's quite a sight!

It was a nice way to wrap up the holidays!  

Speedway Christmas Lights

Charlotte Motor Speedway
5571 Concord Pkwy S, Concord, NC 28027

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Visit Charlotte: Tiff's Treats

Tiff's Treats is a cookie shop / delivery business that originated in Texas, but has since opened up several locations, including in Charlotte.   

Double Chocolate Salted Caramel

Chocolate Chip

Sugar with Sprinkles

Double Chocolate Chip

Peanut Butter & Jelly

They will warm the cookies up for you, and I highly recommend it!  You'll end up with a soft, gooey, chewy cookie.  

I had the Double Chocolate Salted Caramel, and it was so yummy!  It had just the right amount of saltiness from the salted caramel, and it was so chocolatey!

If you are near a Tiff's Treats, be sure to visit to satisfy your cookie craving!

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Visit Charlotte: Brixx

Disclosure: I immediately contacted the restaurant about our food that I posted below, and management responded "next time you are in for an order let the manager on duty know your name and we will have a card in the office to take care of a couple of items to try and make up for it."

We seem to be having some bad luck with pizza spots lately.  

We ordered take-out pizza from Brixx while in Charlotte.

Brixx Salad

The Brixx Salad had a spring mix of greens with house white balsamic vinaigrette, pistachios, and goat cheese.  

4x4 and Bronx Bomber

We got half 4x4 (4 meats = sausage, pepperoni, prosciutto, and bacon, + 4 cheeses = mozzarella, Parmesan, gouda, and goat), and half Bronx Bomber (spicy sausage, prosciutto, mozzarella, gorgonzla).   The pizza was good, with a nice, crispy, charred crust.  The toppings looked a bit hastily put on, but it was not nearly as bad as the S'mores Dessert Pizza.  

S'mores Dessert Pizza

You can just look at it and tell that it was a complete disaster (feel free to check out the website to see what it really is supposed to look like), and whomever put it together did not put any effort or care that they actually let a pizza leave the restaurant like that.  

I appreciated how management tried to remedy the situation right away, and I hope they addressed the cooks that such a thing is a reflection of the entire Brixx team.

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Visit North Carolina: Zaxby's

Zaxby's is a chicken chain based in Georgia, but with many locations in North Carolina.  They specialize in chicken wings, chicken fingers, and chicken sandwiches.

Fried Pickles

I had the Signature Sandwich and Fried Pickles.  

Signature Sandwich

The sandwich was so good!  A huge chicken fillet was hand-breaded and fried, topped with pickles and Zax sauce.  The chicken was really juicy!  The Fried Pickles were quite addicting!

The Club sandwich had bacon and cheese added.  

Signature Club Sandwich

Wings & Things Meal

Chicken Philly Sandwich

The food from this fast food chain was great, and it did not disappoint.  Definitely check out Zaxby's if you're craving chicken sandwiches!

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Visit Charlotte: Midwood Smokehouse

Several people mentioned we needed to eat barbecue while in North Carolina, so after some research, I decided upon Midwood Smokehouse.  

Skillet Cornbread

The housemade cornbread had a nice spicy kick, and it came with a huge mound of butter!

1930 Cheesesteak

Carolina Pork

I shared the Carolina Pork plate, which came with hush puppies, house pickles, and a side (I chose Barbecue Baked Beans).  The Carolina Pork was reminiscent of Kalua Pork, with a slight vinegary taste.  So smokey, and so good! 

Well-Fed

The Well-Fed plate consists of your choice of 4 proteins.  Pictured is Carolina Chopped Pork, Beef Brisket, 1/2 Rack Pork Ribs, and Chicken Barbecue, with Fries and Mac & Cheese.  Also available is the Jalapeño Cheddar Sausage.  It was a lot of food, and definitely shareable!

Service was excellent, and the food was great.

Highly recommend Midwood Smokehouse for some great Carolina BBQ!

Midwood Smokehouse
1401 Central Ave
Charlotte, NC
704.295.4227

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Visit Charlotte: NASCAR Hall of Fame

Disclosure:  Two of our tickets were sponsored.

Upon researching family-friendly things to do in North Carolina, the NASCAR Hall of Fame was frequently mentioned.  I admit, I am a casual fan having watched NASCAR on TV, and not nearly knowledgable as super fans, but after visiting the NASCAR Hall of Fame, I am very eager to go to my very first NASCAR Race!

Upon entering, you register a Hard Card which helps to personalize your experience, and you can swipe the card at various kiosks throughout the NASCAR Hall of Fame to capture all the fun on a digital scrapbook.  

After registering your card, we headed to the High Octane Theater to learn more about the history of NASCAR.  

After watching the short film, we then walked the Glory Road, where you can get up close and personal with the cars that took part in some of the biggest moments in NASCAR history.  It was so neat to be so close to the cars!

There are numerous interactive displays throughout Glory Road, and what I thought was really cool was how the road is actually inclined to represent what the race car drivers experience in real life.  

There is a 33-degree incline exhibit where visitors can experience just how steep it is, and it is indeed very steep!  I couldn't walk down without holding onto the railing!

We then visited the Hall of Honor.  This impressive room features the NASCAR Hall of Fame honorees, with videos that you can watch and listen to that highlights the honorees and their memorable races.  

There were so many super fun and informative exhibits throughout the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

You could view trophies and suits, learn about aerodynamics, step in a broadcaster's shoes, and watch some of the most exciting race finishes.  

The Pit Crew Challenge was a lot of fun.  You can test your skill in this timed challenge where you jack up a car, change a tire, and fill up on gas. 

The Simulator Racing Experiences are a must-try.  After practicing at the Qualifying station, you can head to the Simulator Racers to get a feel for what the NASCAR drivers experience.  

NASCAR Hall of Fame partnered with Kulture City to ensure that everyone of all needs and abilities can enjoy the attraction.  As a mom of a special needs child, I really appreciated this.  

While at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, the kids even crafted their own race cars!

It doesn't matter if you're a NASCAR super fan, casual fan, or completely new to NASCAR - the NASCAR Hall of Fame is a welcoming attraction in Charlotte that is fun for all ages!

NASCAR Hall of Fame
400 E M.L.K. Jr Blvd

Charlotte, NC 28202

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