Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Charlotte's SouthPark neighborhood is in the south-central area of the city and is named after the SouthPark Mall, the largest shopping mall in North Carolina. SouthPark Mall features stores including Prada and Nordstrom, along with restaurants and a movie theater. The SouthPark area is primarily a residential district, but there are several quality hotels nearby.
The Charlotte Marriott SouthPark is a 10-minute walk from SouthPark Mall. The six-story hotel is decorated with modern furnishings, fluted columns and green marble floors, which Frommer's describes as "tasteful" and "luxurious." Frommer's rates the hotel's 192 guest rooms as "some of the best in town," and several boast four-poster beds. Leisure facilities include an outdoor swimming pool, whirlpool and fitness center, and the 18-hole golf course at Ballantyne Country Club is just five miles away. The on-site restaurant, The Grill, serves steak and seafood and features live pianists Thursdays through Saturdays in the summer.
The Doubletree is the only all-suite hotel in the SouthPark area. The hotel is situated on attractively landscaped grounds a few steps from both the SouthPark Mall and Symphony Park,which hosts the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra's summer concert series, along with various outdoor festivals . All 208 suites measure between 700 and 1000 square feet, and have fully-equipped kitchens. The hotel's fitness center is open 24 hours a day, and the outdoor swimming pool is open in the summer months. Complimentary cookies are offered at check-in, and guests can dine at the on-site Market Cafe, which serves American cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Guests can also order room service or have drinks and snacks at the Banker's Club Lounge.
Five miles north of SouthPark, in the Uptown district, the 10-story Dunhill Hotel has been in business since 1929, and offers what Frommer's describes as "European-style comfort and charm." The hotel is within walking distance of both the Discovery Place Science Museum and the Time Warner Cable Arena sports and entertainment venue. The Dunhill's 60 guest rooms are individually decorated and feature modern conveniences such as iPod docking stations and refrigerators stocked with complimentary refreshments, and some feature four-poster beds and marble bathrooms. Public areas feature artwork by local artists and a pianist entertains guests in the lobby area. The hotel can arrange access to a nearby health club, and provides a complimentary shuttle around the uptown area. The elegant on-site restaurant, Monticello, serves Southern classics and international dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Room service is also available, and guests can have drinks and light meals in the lounge bar.