Greetings from Charlotte-Mecklenburg County (locals call it Charmeck for short)! We’re very excited to be hosting the 100th Annual ICMA Conference, and are looking forward to showing you some true Southern hospitality during your stay. My name is Amber Snowden, and I am a Public Information Specialist for Mecklenburg County. I serve as a core member on the local conference Host Committee.

Over the next few weeks leading up to the conference, I’ll be writing a series of blog posts that will help prepare you for what to expect when you arrive in Charlotte, along with tips to help you make the most of your time in the Center City and beyond. We hope you’ll step outside your comfort zone and discover why our motto is “Charlotte’s Got A Lot.”

First up, the foremost concern on every traveler’s mind: How do I get from Point A to Point B?

Lucky for you, Charlotte’s Center City is easy to navigate, thanks to the City planners who laid out the blocks in smart patterned grids. However, once you’re in the charming outlying neighborhoods, navigation isn’t as straightforward – take, for instance, the gorgeous (yet puzzling) intersection of Queens, Queens, Providence and Providence. If you intend to explore our diverse neighborhoods (and we certainly hope that you do!), a little pre-planning may be involved. Fortunately, Charlotte has many mass transit options to help you get where you’re going, no matter where in town you may be. So, let’s talk about how you’re going to get around.

Getting to Center City from Charlotte-Douglas International Airport

Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is the main airport serving the Charlotte region. Situated on the west side of town, it’s conveniently located just seven miles from Center City (Uptown). While Charlotte transportation options are many, taxi service is the primary mode of transportation from the airport to downtown Charlotte (drivers charge a flat rate of $25).

A public transportation option is also available: hop on board a CATS (Charlotte Area Transit System) hybrid-electric Sprinter Bus into Uptown. The bus makes stops convenient to conference hotels at the corner of Trade and Tryon Streets as well as the Charlotte Transportation Center. If you are interested in riding the Sprinter bus, and would like assistance in determining the stop nearest to your hotel, please send me an email and I will be glad to assist you!

Passengers can catch a ride on the Sprinter every 20 minutes on weekdays and every 30 minutes on weekends. The cost is $2 each way. Look for the green buses in front of the Zone D baggage claim.

LYNX Light Rail

The LYNX Light Rail, North Carolina’s first rapid-rail system, connects Center City with Historic South End and the neighborhoods of South Charlotte. The 10-mile line operates from 5:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. along 15 stations providing access to prime recreation and the Charlotte Convention Center. Service is available every 10 minutes during weekday rush hour and every 15 minutes during non-peak hours. Weekend service operates every 20 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes during late night hours. The cost of a ride on the light rail is $2 each way.

Gold Rush Trolley

The Gold Rush Trolley is a free service and a great way to connect to Center City Charlotte and the LYNX Blue Line. The Gold Rush Red Line operates every 12 minutes Monday – Friday from 6:40 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., with routes crossing the Uptown area from Central Piedmont Community College (near the Little Sugar Creek Greenway) on the east - to Johnson C. Smith University on the west.

The Gold Rush map is available online to help you plan your route.

Charlotte B-cycle Bikeshare

Charlotte B-cycle is one of the largest urban bike sharing systems in the Southeast. With 200 blue bikes and 24 stations strategically placed throughout Uptown and surrounding neighborhoods from Johnson C. Smith University to Freedom Park (an urban oasis that is well worth the trip), these B-Stations are conveniently located for your travels around town.

After purchasing a 24-hour membership at any Charlotte B-station (a credit/debit card is required), riders can pick up a blue bike at any B-station and drop it off at any other B-station. The B-cycles are specially designed for both you and the city: B-cycles fit people short and tall, thanks to an easy-to-use adjustable seat post. And since everybody has stuff, there’s a roomy basket to stow your things while riding.

A Walkable City

Last, but not least, Charlotte is an easy city to navigate using your own two feet. The Little Sugar Creek Greenway, located just east of Uptown, stretches continuously for nearly 6 miles from 7th Street south to Brandywine Road near the eclectic and historic Park Road Shopping Center with the use of several small overland connectors. The greenway connects amenities at Freedom Park, including the Charlotte Nature Museum, ball fields, tennis courts, and playgrounds, to shopping and restaurants at the Metropolitan shopping center near uptown Charlotte. A space for quiet reflection or a social hot spot, the greenway was built to reflect the diversity that represents Charlotte-Mecklenburg County. Whether you are a walker, jogger, tourist, nature lover, bench sitter or cyclist -- you will delight in this path that connects us all.