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Do you want to explore the history of NASCAR? I drove to Midway Airport and parked in the Economy Lot. Uber wanted $31 for a one-way trip, but I could park in the garage for $30 for two days. I still had to get home when I returned from Charlotte.
Although I have traveled to Raleigh, I have never been to Charlotte. I found a 5:30PM flight on Saturday and a flight leaving early Monday. I used a travel hack I saw in the FB Amex Platinum Card Aficionado Group to bring the total cost of my nonstop ticket to $89. To learn more travel tips and tricks, join a FB Group. Which hotel rewards program should I use? I checked my World of Hyatt account; I accumulated 8,200 points. I used points (8,000) plus cash ($119) to book a two-night stay. My room was huge, and I had a view of the city from the 12th floor.
Hyatt Place offers complimentary breakfast. Not only did I grab breakfast for Sunday, but I also picked up items to store in the refrigerator for Monday. Breakfast started at 7:30AM, and my flight was at 7:10AM. Because I purchased the combo package for the NASCAR Hall of Fame (NHOF), I would dine on a sandwich, chips, and drink for lunch. On Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, Guy Fieri featured a duck poutine dish. The Fahrenheit restaurant next to the hotel featured Pork Belly Poutine on its menu. I also wanted to see the view from the rooftop.
I tried to make a reservation and learned Fahrenheit does not take reservations for single diners on Open Table. Yes, I tried to make a reservation for two people, and availability was non-existent. I called the concierge at Amex. Cynthia at Fahrenheit informed the concierge I should arrive around 5:30PM. She would do her best to seat me. I was there at 5:25. I ordered the Song of Despair (cocktail) and Pork Belly Poutine. The cocktail was refreshing, and the Poutine was delicious. The view alone was worth calling Amex.
NHOF is a five-minute walk from Hyatt Place Charlotte Downtown. Because I traveled during the pandemic, I purchased my ticket before I arrived in Charlotte. I chose High Octane Combo 3 ($49) and donated $10 to a program benefiting students. General admission is $27.
I spent three hours exploring the history of NASCAR. I walked, watched, and navigated the simulators. Am I the only person in the world not informed about NASCAR? Because I purchased the High Octane Combo 3, I had access to the audio tours, limitless simulations, lunch, and a $10 voucher for the Gear Shop. I walked until I hit NASCAR overload. The audio device was easy to use, and the simulations were fun. I pretended to announce a race, qualified and participated in a simulated race where I placed 4th. I am so looking forward to attending my first race. Of course, I cashed in my voucher and purchased my souvenir Christmas ornament and my official NHOF photo in the Gear Shop.
My trip to Charlotte was quick, and I only spent $411 for accommodations, a roundtrip flight, Uber, entry to NHOF, and meals. I also earned 1,612 World of Hyatt points. My flight landed at Midway at 8:00AM, and I still had time to enjoy the remainder of my three-day weekend. If you plan a trip to Charlotte, visit NHOF to scratch North Carolina off your 50 States Challenge list.