A Historic North Carolina Town Offers Suburban Vibes With A Charming Downtown And Fun Recreation

A vacation destination that feels like a home away from home is the best kind of destination for many travelers. You get to experience the ideal mix of exploring somewhere new while at the same time feeling at ease amid a sense of familiarity. Pineville, North Carolina, possesses that winning combination. With a blend of suburban tranquility and downtown action, the town provides the perfect setting for a comfortable yet exciting getaway.

Sitting along the North Carolina-South Carolina border, Pineville is only about a 20-minute drive from Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), making it an easy location to travel to as well as making the popular city of Charlotte a convenient add-on to your itinerary. If you're looking to fill out your trip with additional stops, consider adding Lexington, North Carolina, as well. About an hour and a half drive from Pineville, this town is known as the "barbecue capital" because of its Lexington-style barbecue. And if you visit during October, you might catch its famed annual Lexington Barbecue Festival.

Whether you decide to set out on a mini North Carolina road trip or want to stay put in Pineville the whole time, you can't go wrong with your choice. Nestled among the peacefulness of Pineville's suburban neighborhoods, you'll find the town's charming downtown area and a great deal to keep you engaged with all of its family-friendly activities, delicious dining, and fascinating historical sites.

In the heart of downtown Pineville, take the family to Carolina Place mall, where you'll be able to shop from a stacked directory of department stores and boutiques throughout the mall's two levels, as well as try your hand at an escape room. Just on the other side of the highway, you'll find a more active activity for parents and kids alike. At the Sky Zone Trampoline Park, you can jump around to your heart's content in a giant trampoline-filled room, along with a climbing wall and foam pit.

Shopping, eating, and lodging are all off Main Street, but so is the Jack D. Hughes Memorial Park. The small public space opened in the 1960s and has been serving the community ever since with a variety of sports fields. Visit the park to get some steps in on the 1.5-mile walking trail as you take in views of the lush trees. Right down the road is Pineville Lake Park, where you can head out on another trail, this one with gorgeous water views. North Carolina is filled with historically significant towns, including the state's oldest town of Bath, and if you want to learn what puts Pineville into that category, head over to the President James K. Polk State Historic Site. Sitting on the birthplace of the country's 11th president, aka on part of the land owned by his father, this site now features a museum dedicated to the president as well as guided tours around the cabins on the property.

Right outside of Pineville and technically across the border in Fort Mill, South Carolina, is an amusement park packed with fun for the whole family. Carowinds offers thrilling rides, like roller coasters, as well as water rides at its attached Carolina Harbor Waterpark, like wave pools and slides.

Thanks to the countless hotels lining the area, you can stay right in the middle of downtown. Have a hotel brand you normally like to stay at when you travel? You'll most likely find what you're looking for, as many of the fan-favorite hotel groups have options in Pineville. Hampton Inn & Suites, Hilton Garden Inn, Quality Suites, Four Points by Sheraton, and more are all right downtown. This puts you in the perfect spot for when you're venturing to the Jack D. Hughes Memorial Park as well as restaurants, supermarkets, and bars.

For food options, you have popular chains around you, like Olive Garden, Taco Bell, KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot, and Dave & Buster's. If you want to give a local restaurant a try, The Garrison Cocktail Bar & Restaurant is a modern American establishment with a stunning interior and the added bonus of outdoor seating. Also near the downtown area is the family-run Waldhorn Restaurant, which promises its customers authentic German food.

While Raleigh is the North Carolina city known for being home to one of the best beer gardens in America, Pineville also has exciting bar options to check out. You can choose from places like Blue Rocks Bar, a sports bar with billiards and darts, and Pineville Tavern, a local haunt with live music, or you can try a craft beer from Middle James Brewing Company, which started in Pineville and now has three locations throughout North Carolina and South Carolina.