November 3, 2017
On vacation and searching for a picturesque spot to grab a family photo? Or maybe your looking for the ideal location to snap a selfie? Check out this list of 10 Instagrammable spots in Cabarrus County!
Charlotte Motor Speedway
You can’t visit “Where Racing Lives” without stopping by Charlotte Motor Speedway. Race fan or not, an experience at CMS is sure to impress, from daily tours to major NASCAR events. Our pick for the ideal photo-finish? The look on your fellow traveler’s faces when they feel the full-tilt force of the 24-degree banking, or when they get behind the wheel of a real race car during a drive or ride along!
Gem Theatre
A work of art in downtown Kannapolis, the Gem Theatre is one of the oldest single-screen movie theatres in continuous operation today. The picture-perfect neon marquee and art-deco style architecture are just as Instagram worthy as the recently renovated interior. So stop by after sundown for a striking shot, and click a pic inside the theatre before the flick begins.
Local Restaurants
From perfectly plates dishes and beautiful craft cocktails at 44 Mills Kitchen + Tap to plentiful trays of smoked meats and sides at local favorite barbecue joints like Pharr Mill Brewing & BBQ or The Smoke Pit, this destination does not disappoint when it come to culinary eye candy. During the month of March, the towering entries of Cabarrus Burger Madness also make for awesome photo opps.
Reed Gold Mine
During the months of April through October, capture your family panning for gold at the site of America’s first documented discovery of gold. Visiting outside that timeframe? Reed Gold Mine’s underground tunnels remain open to the public, so plan to explore this one-of-a-kind setting during a tour, and take an exclusive image you’ll cherish more than gold.
Dale Earnhardt Plaza
At a towering nine feet, the bronze statute that memorializes NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt is a big part of Kannapolis history. Here, Dale is remembered just how everyone in his hometown knew him – dressed in Wrangler jeans, cowboy boots and a creased, short-sleeve, button-down shirt with sunglasses in the pocket. The best time to take a photograph here is in the afternoon when there are no shadows on his face.
Sea Life Aquarium
Discover over 5,000 creatures and swim away from SEA LIFE Aquarium with a gallery full of good shots. Most Instagrammers opt to post pictures from inside the 180-degree underwater ocean tunnel surrounded by sting rays, sharks and beautiful tropical fish. But if you can’t choose just one shot after visiting 20 display tanks, delight your followers with a carousel post full of cool photos.
Decadent Desserts
What’s more Instagrammable than a decadent dessert? Sugar rush over to My Sister’s Place for a photo of their colorful fudge and a towering ice cream cone, or pose with a freshly-dipped dozen at OMG Donuts. Perfectly frosted cupcakes at The Bakery at Mount Pleasant make for a mouth-watering post that couldn’t be more captivating.
Great Wolf Lodge
Did you know that the city pf Concord is home to an 80,000 square-foot water park? This indoor playground features pools, water slides and massive water fort tree house with a 1,000-gallon tipping bucket. The best part? It’s always heated to a toasty 84 degrees so you can snap that summer family fun photo year-round—no filter necessary.
Downtown Murals
During maintenance work in 2010, a Coca-Cola “ghost sign” was discovered beneath the metal façade at 2 Union Street. Along with Concord Downtown Development Corporation, Mayor Padgett and the City of Concord encouraged its restoration leading to a partnership with the building owner, Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated, and Historic Concord Preservation Trust. Community enthusiasm in the project sparked restoration of seven more including another Coca-Cola wall sign on Barbick Ave. While strolling in Downtown Concord, share this and all of your fun stops on Instagram stories!
Southern Grace Distilleries
Whether you’re framing up a cool shot of the whiskey barrels or posing for your own mugshot, Southern Grace Distilleries in Mt. Pleasant offers some of the most unique photo ops in the area. Located inside a former prison that operated from 1929 to 2011, the distillery is open for tours that include a chance to go behind bars for a tasting inside the old solitary confinement section.
Get Social
Where do you see yourself stopping for a photo? Share this post and tell us where you’re headed next using #ExploreCabarrus on social media!
