Start the day by learning about the life story and ministry of Evangelist Billy Graham at The Billy Graham Library. The complex, which is situated only miles from where Graham grew up, is designed to show Graham’s journey from farm kid to international preacher. The site offers a self-guided Journey of Faith tour, which takes about 90 minutes to complete and includes multimedia presentations, interactive kiosks, and memorabilia. Visitors can also tour Graham’s childhood home, which was moved from the family farm and restored. There’s also a memorial prayer garden and a restaurant in case you get peckish.

Wheelchairs are available to borrow on a first-come, first-served basis. There are benches and seats located throughout the tour.

Download a large-print restaurant menu here.

Top Tip: The Billy Graham Library is closed on Sundays. 

After feeding your soul, feed your body with a Charlotte food tour. Choose between a visit to the Uptown, NoDa or Historic South End districts and let the eating begin! The tours, which are run by Tour De Food, will take you to a number of local bars and specialty food shops. As well as meeting the chefs or proprietors and having a nibble (described as a “tapas-sized portion”) at each stop, you’ll learn about the area and its history. The tours run between three and four hours.

Let Tour De Food know in advance if you use a wheelchair so they can plan accordingly with the restaurants/shops on the tour.

Top Tip: Public tours run on the weekends, but private tours can be arranged. 

Once you’ve had your fill of food, head over to the Mint Museum Uptown, located in the Levine Center for the Arts. The Mint is the oldest art museum in the state of North Carolina and through the years has acquired one of the largest art collections in the Southeast. It’s especially known for its craft and design collection. The museum also houses Halcyon, Flavors from the Earth, which received a “Best New Restaurant” accolade by the ‘Charlotte Observer.’

Wheelchairs are available to borrow on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Charlotte has a wide range of theaters and performance spaces to choose from, offering everything from Broadway, Ballet, symphony and opera. Ovens Auditorium seats over 2,400 people, meaning you should be able to get a spot at the show of your choice, no matter when you happen to visit! Memorable stars who have strutted their stuff across the stage include Bob Dylan, Elvis, Backstreet Boys, and Alicia Keys.

Ovens Auditorium offers wheelchair seating.

Assistive listening equipment is available free of charge for all amplified performances.

Certain performances are audio described.

Large print programs are available at many performances.

Find out more here.

Top Tip: Book as far in advance as possible to secure one of the 23 designated wheelchair positions.

Head out of the city and start the day with some history at Kings Mountain National Military Park. The park preserves the site of a decisive (if short, it only lasted an hour) battle in the Revolutionary War. Learn all about the events of October 7, 1780, find out all about the Overmountain men and how the events of that day affected the outcome of the war. The park has a Visitor Center, which shows a film outlining the battle, and a 1.5-mile battlefield allowing you to follow in the footsteps of the skirmish.

All facilities in the park are wheelchair accessible. There is a wheelchair available to borrow on a first-come, first-served basis from the Visitor Center.

The Battlefield trail is paved, but it is steep. There are benches located throughout the trail.

Accessible parking is located in front of the Visitor Center.

The Battle for Kings Mountain film can be closed-captioned upon request.

The battle map display is in Braille and museum exhibits have audio descriptions.

Find out more here.

Top Tip: Bring your binoculars. Look out for highflying hawks and vultures.

Continue your journey through history at Cowpens National Battlefield site, about 30 miles from Kings Mountain. This Revolutionary War battle site commemorates the victory of Brigadier General Daniel Morgan over Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton. The park has a Visitor Center, battlefield, trail, a 3.8-mile auto loop road around the perimeter of the battlefield and a picnic area with a covered shelter.

All the major sites in the park are accessible, including restrooms. A wheelchair is available to borrow from the Visitor Center on a first-come, first-served basis.

Accessible parking spaces are located in front of the Visitor Center, picnic area, Scruggs House and each of the battlefield overlooks.

The ‘Cowpens: a Battle Remembered’ movie is closed-captioned and has an assistive listening device available. The fiber-optic map program has an assistive listening device available and an LED text.

An ASL interpreter can be requested from the South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind, Division of Interpreting Services.

Text can be downloaded for the following listening wands found at the Visitor Center: 

Continental Kiosk Wand 
Loyalist Kiosk Wand
Battlefield Overview for Rail Overlooking the Battlefield
Southern Campaign Introduction for Rail Overlooking the Battlefield
Loyalist Wand at Tree
Patriot Wand at Tree.

The park brochure is available in braille from the Visitor Center desk.

A large-print text version can be downloaded here.

The Cowpens National Battlefield mobile app has accessible features for low vision visitors. This includes: proximity notices and text and audio description of wayside exhibits on the interpretive walking trail and the loop road.

Find out more here.

Top Tip: Entry to the Cowpens National Battlefield is free.

After all that history and fresh air, not to mention the drive back to Charlotte, you’re bound to be hungry. Eating while you’re watching a movie is all the rage right now – and we’re not talking about sneaking a sandwich into the auditorium. Getting on trend, Charlotte has a few food and flicks venues to choose from. Head over to the Studio Movie Grill at the EpiCentre entertainment hub to enjoy the latest blockbusters or alternate programming and some good grub. There are five auditoriums, a full-service bar and a lounge. As for what’s on the menu? There are starters, salads, entrees and pizzas. There’s also a kid’s menu and over 60 choices at the bar. Find your seat, peruse the menu and press the service button at your seat.

The cinema is wheelchair accessible. Movies have descriptive narrative and closed captioning.

Find out more here.

Top Tip: Get your parking validated. It’s free if you don’t stay longer than four hours.

Finish off the day by checking out another of Charlotte’s great entertainment venues; the Spectrum Center, which is home to the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets. But don’t just focus on what’s on at the arena. The artwork and design of the Center illustrates the sports, industry, and commercial history of the area. If you are a basketball fan, come early and visit the Hornet’s Fan Shop, located on the Track Street side of the arena to stop up on team merch.

The Center is wheelchair accessible. Wheelchair and companion seating (for up to three companions) is available at various locations throughout the Center. Call 800-745-3000 or 1-800-474-4TDD (TDD).

Complimentary assisted listening devices are from Guest Services (ID required).

Anyone requiring interpreting services for concerts should contact Guest Services at 704-688-8120 no later than three weeks after concert ticket sales begin.

Find out more here. 

Charlotte is served by Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

All restrooms are accessible. Family restrooms are located near gates A6, B4, C7, D5, E5, E15 and Arrivals/Baggage area, Zones B and E.

TTY/TDD is available at the Airport Services Counter and Visitor Info Center. 24/7 assistance is available by calling 704-359-4837 from any TTY/DDD.

Service Animal/Pet Relief Areas are located inside the terminal (post-security) on the A/B Connector (near Checkpoint A) and on Concourse D between Coca-Cola 600 Cafe and Original Rum Bar and Grill. Areas are also located outside the terminal (pre-security) at the ends (west and east) on the Arrivals/Baggage Claim level.

Accessible parking is available in all CLT lots. Accessible shuttles run continuously.

Find out more here.

The following companies provide wheelchair accessible transportation:

SuperShuttle– 1 800-258-3826

United Cab Charlotte– 704-777-7776

Public transportation in Charlotte is provided by the Charlotte Area Transit System.

All of CATS fixed route buses and trains are accessible.

Buses are equipped with ramps or lifts, low floors or kneeling capability.

CATS LYNX trains have priority seating near the train entrance as well as level floor boarding from the station platform.  Visit LYNX for information regarding CATS light rail accessibility.

Find out more here. 

Base yourself at the 3-star Embassy Suites by Hilton Charlotte Uptown. Located just a “lap” away from the NASCAR Hall of Fame, this is the perfect base for speed fans. Suites have an open living area, kitchenette, complimentary Wi-Fi and a 42” HDTV. Enjoy a free made-to-order breakfast, drinks and light snacks at the complimentary Evening Reception, as well as other fun features like an on-site Starbucks coffee shop, indoor pool and outdoor terrace.

Mobility accessible rooms feature doors that open automatically from the inside, grab bars in the bathroom, handheld and/or roll-in showers and emergency pull cords bedside the bed and in the bathroom.

Hearing-accessible features include strobe alarms, closed captioning on televisions or closed captioning decoders, digital alarm clock available with strobe light and TTY for guest use, visual alarm, and notification devices for the doorbell or door knock and incoming telephone calls.

The business center, restaurant, exercise facility and swimming pool (hoist) are all accessible.

The hotel offers parking spaces for cars and vans in the self-parking facility. Accessible transportation is available with advance notice.

Find out more here.