I have not traveled since August. Where can I travel to for a three-day weekend? When you live in Chicago, it is easy to pick a destination from either airport. Because I am a Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Member, I looked for flights out of Midway to Charlotte, North Carolina. I came across an email, “Sheryl, earn a promotional Companion Pass by booking your annual fall trip today.” Of course, I registered.

Hyatt Place Charlotte Downtown

Why Charlotte? Although I have traveled to Raleigh, I have never been to Charlotte. As I looked for flights, I could not find an inexpensive flight leaving Friday night. However, I found a 5:30PM flight on Saturday and a flight leaving early Monday. I used a travel hack I found in the FB Amex Platinum Card Aficionado Group to bring the total cost of my nonstop ticket to $89. Which hotel rewards program should I use? I checked my World of Hyatt account, and I had 8,200 points. I used points (8,000) plus cash ($119) to book a two-night stay.

NASCAR Hall of Fame (NHOF) Reservation

Before Hurricane Delta made landfall, I had planned to visit several places in Charlotte. When I checked the weather a week before my flight, I saw rain and more rain. NASCAR Hall of Fame is a five-minute walk from Hyatt Place Charlotte Downtown. Because of the pandemic, I would need to purchase my ticket to NHOF before I arrived. I chose High Octane Combo 3 ($49) and donated $10 to a program benefiting students. General admission is $25.

Drive to Midway, Rideshare, or Public Transportation

I drove to Midway and parked in the Economy Lot. Uber wanted $31, but I could park in the garage for $30. I still had to get home when I returned from Charlotte. It was more cost-efficient to drive to the airport. Weigh your options before calling a rideshare service. I checked public transportation in Charlotte but quickly reconsidered because my flight arrived late. The flight was quick, and we arrived in Charlotte early. My Uber driver was a special education teacher, and we talked about remote learning. When I arrived at the Hyatt, I thanked her for supporting students. My room was huge, and I had a great view of the city from the 12^th floor. I felt good about my Discoverist status as a World of Hyatt member and settled in for the night.

Complimentary Breakfast, Lunch Included, and Dinner at Fahrenheit

Even though breakfast was grab-and-go, the seating area was open. 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 NHOF, I would dine on a sandwich, chips, and drink for lunch. While I watched 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.

NASCAR Fan

I spent three hours walking, listening, watching, and hanging around 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 4^th. I am so looking forward to attending my first race. Instead of a hot dog, I ordered a barbecue sandwich, potato chips, and Diet Coke. Of course, I cashed in my voucher and purchased my souvenir Christmas ornament and my official NHOF photo in the Gear Shop.

Fahrenheit Charlotte

It stopped raining, and the sun came out. I took a walk downtown. 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. While I waited on my order, I stepped out on the rooftop. The cocktail was refreshing, and the Poutine was delicious. Even though I could not finish the entire dish, the view was worth calling AMEX.

The Three-Day Weekend

If you ever plan a trip to Charlotte, visit the NASCAR Hall of Fame and Fahrenheit Charlotte. Even though I arrived late Saturday, I toured the NHOF, walked around downtown Charlotte, and grabbed a bite to eat at Fahrenheit on Sunday. 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. Although I noticed fewer people wiping down their areas on the plane, I will continue to wipe down high-touch areas around my seat and in my hotel room. My flight landed at Midway at 8:00AM, and I still had time to enjoy the remainder of my three-day weekend.