Support Us Button Widget

Here’s how we hit the rails to Charlotte via Amtrak

We traveled via Amtrak to Charlotte to celebrate the launch of CLTtoday — here’s what we did and why you should get in the loop with CLTtoday.

A photo of a street in Charlotte with cars, light poles and electric towers in the foreground with skyscrapers in the background.

Come with us for a day of fun in the Queen City.

Photo by CLTtoday

Hey, Raleigh. If you haven’t heard yet, our sister newsletter CLTtoday just launched. The City of Oaks will always have our hearts, but it’s fun to visit our NC neighbors. To share the good news, we took a day trip via an easy Amtrak ride to explore the Queen City and meet the City Editors behind CLTtoday.

City Editors Allie + Cat boarded the Carolinian/Piedmont train to Charlotte and had a train-quil time riding the rails through NC. The boarding process was easy, and the train was comfortable and wide open with great views of NC flying past us.

A picture of a train station with the skyline of Charlotte, NC in the background.

We got a peek at Charlotte’s skyline while pulling into the Amtrak station.

Photo by RALtoday

The ride clocked in at just three hours, not too much longer than a car ride and with none of the traffic, gas, and parking woes. We even prepared a newsletter right from our seats with complimentary on-board internet and refreshments.

Now, meet City Editors Jack and Maria. These two are serious CLT experts, and Jack took us through the city to some of his favorite spots that we think you’ll like too.

A plate of quiche and salad, two iced coffees, and a laptop announcing CLTtoday.

We loved the vibes of Not Just Coffee to get some work done and chat with our new coworker.

Photo by RALtoday

We started the day at Not Just Coffee, a hip spot that made a big city like Charlotte feel a bit smaller. We loved the quiche, baked goods, and of course, the house-roasted coffee.

For lunch, we headed over to Suffolk Punch in South End and munched on upscale tacos and flatbreads and sipped quality brews + seltzers with a view of the light rail into Uptown.

Two plates of tacos, one flatbread, and three drinks.

We loved the food — and rustic vibe — at Suffolk Punch.

Photo by RALtoday

Before we headed back to the 919, we ended our day with a sightseeing trip through Uptown, also called Center City — don’t let a local hear you call it downtown — to see Bank of America Stadium, home of the Panthers and Charlotte FC, and Truist Field, home to the minor league Knights.

The City of Oaks will always have our hearts — but we can admit the Queen City has got some cool stuff, too. Subscribe to the CLTtoday newsletter (launching today) and keep up with the happenings in both cities, including local businesses featured on the new season of “Love is Blind,” filmed in Charlotte’s Uptown.

More from RALtoday
The downtown boutique hotel has joined four other destinations in the Raleigh area to be awarded this distinction from MICHELIN Guide experts.
Inspired by “Romeo & Juliet” and Italian films, this new cocktail club at The Exchange comes from the same mind Watts & Ward and Peregrine.
Electric-assist bikes are coming to downtown Raleigh, and they can start and stop just about anywhere. Here’s what you need to know before you hit the road.
Whether you’re a weekend warrior, or the next Tiger Woods, these 18 golf courses around Raleigh are sure to make for a good round.
The store finds vacant retail spaces and signs temporary leases to set up shop leading up to Halloween — but locations can change each year.
Sponsored
To help make your entire process at RDU as smooth as possible, we’ve created a guide that covers everything from gates and parking to details on the airport’s 48 nonstop routes.
Raleigh’s favorite indie rock fest is celebrating 15 years in downtown, and while you need a wristband to see the headliners + many club shows, you can still have plenty of fun without a ticket. Here’s how to enjoy Hopscotch without a wristband.
Dig into delicious and nutritious vegan and vegetarian fare in every corner of Raleigh.
From the floral backdrop to the customized ring — we’re dreaming of having our own viral engagement in Oak City.