Charlotte: Self-Guided City Highlights Audio Tour

Charlotte’s self-guided audio tour offers travelers an immersive exploration of the city’s historic highlights. Visitors can discover the stories behind the Old Settlers Cemetery, the original and relocated Mint facilities, and the iconic churches that dot the urban landscape. The tour also ventures into the haunted halls of the Dunhill Hotel, uncovering its paranormal past. With turn-by-turn directions and a duration of approximately two hours, this English-language, GPS-enabled experience allows visitors to discover Charlotte’s rich heritage at their own pace. What secrets might this audio tour unveil about the Queen City’s past?

This experience made our list of the 11 Best City Tours In Charlotte.

Key Points

• This self-guided audio tour allows you to explore Charlotte’s key landmarks and attractions at your own pace using a GPS-enabled app.
• The tour includes visits to the Old Settlers Cemetery with Revolutionary War hero graves, the original and relocated Branch Mint facilities, and notable churches.
• The audio guide provides turn-by-turn directions, highlighting the history and significance of each site, and is available in English.
• The tour duration is approximately 2 hours, and it can be downloaded in advance for a seamless experience.
• The tour is free to download and use, with no entrance fees or transportation provided, offering flexibility for independent travelers.

You can check availability for your dates here:

Overview of the Tour

This self-guided audio tour allows visitors to explore the art and culture of Charlotte, a historically significant city, using a GPS-enabled app that provides offline access.

With turn-by-turn directions, the tour highlights the city’s key landmarks and attractions.

Travelers can visit the Old Settlers Cemetery, which contains the graves of Revolutionary War heroes, and see the original and relocated Branch Mint.

The tour also guides visitors to discover notable churches like St. Peter’s and First Baptist, as well as the haunted Dunhill Hotel.

Spanning approximately 2 hours, the audio guide is available in English, and travelers can enjoy free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.

Highlights of the Tour

The self-guided audio tour features a number of highlights that showcase Charlotte’s art, culture, and history. Visitors can explore the Old Settlers Cemetery, which contains the graves of several Revolutionary War heroes. Plus, the tour takes travelers to see the original and relocated Branch Mint, providing a glimpse into the city’s past. Participants will also discover the architectural wonders of churches like St. Peter’s and First Baptist, as well as the haunted Dunhill Hotel, which adds an element of mystery to the experience.

Highlight	Description
Old Settlers Cemetery	Graves of Revolutionary War heroes
Original Branch Mint	Historic mint facility
Relocated Branch Mint	Relocated mint facility
St. Peter’s Church	Architectural wonder
Dunhill Hotel	Haunted building

Tour Duration and Inclusions

The self-guided city highlights audio tour in Charlotte lasts approximately 2 hours and includes the provided audio guide.

This English-only tour allows you to explore the city at your own pace, following turn-by-turn directions along the set route.

The tour can be downloaded onto your smartphone for offline access, so you won’t need to worry about data or Wi-Fi connectivity during your exploration.

However, it’s worth noting that the tour doesn’t include any tickets or entrance fees to museums or other attractions, nor does it provide transportation.

To make the most of your experience, it’s recommended to download the tour before your visit to Charlotte.

Practical Tour Information

To access the self-guided city highlights audio tour in Charlotte, users simply need to download the corresponding smartphone app. The app provides turn-by-turn directions along the set route, allowing visitors to explore the city at their own pace. It’s recommended to download the tour before arriving in Charlotte, as the audio guide can be accessed offline without requiring data or Wi-Fi connectivity during the tour.

Accessibility	Convenience	Flexibility	Cost
Smartphone app makes tour accessible to all	Turn-by-turn directions prevent getting lost	Explore at your own pace	Free to download and use
Audio guide available in English only	No transportation provided	No time limit	No entrance fees included
Offline access allows tour anytime	Easy to start at Independence Square	Customize itinerary as desired	Cancelation policy allows changes
Suitable for independent travelers	Self-guided experience offers autonomy	Revisit favorite spots at leisure	Excellent value for money

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Additional Tour Details

Duration of the self-guided Charlotte city tour clocks in at around 2 hours, with an included audio guide narrating the experience.

While the tour is only offered in English, it provides a convenient way for independent travelers to explore the city’s art, culture, and historical landmarks at their own pace.

Notably, the tour doesn’t include tickets or entrance fees to any museums or other attractions along the route, nor does it offer any transportation services.

Participants will need to download the smartphone app and start the tour at Independence Square, following the turn-by-turn directions along the set route.

It’s recommended to download the tour before the visit to ensure a seamless experience.

Revolutionary War Cemetery

Old Settlers Cemetery, the final resting place of several Revolutionary War heroes, is a highlight of the self-guided Charlotte city tour. Visitors can explore the historic gravesite, which features weathered headstones and monuments commemorating the city’s role in the American Revolution.

Notable Burials
Colonel William Polk
Captain James Jack
James Blythe
Lieutenant Robert Patton
Private James Harris

The cemetery offers a glimpse into Charlotte’s past, as guests wander through the tree-lined grounds and reflect on the sacrifices made by these early American patriots. The self-guided audio tour provides context and insights, allowing visitors to fully appreciate the significance of this hallowed ground.

Historic Mint and Churches

The self-guided audio tour also takes visitors to the original and relocated Branch Mint, where they can learn about Charlotte’s role in the nation’s early coinage operations.

Plus, the tour explores several historic churches, including the stately St. Peter’s Episcopal Church and the Gothic Revival-style First Baptist Church, offering insights into the city’s religious heritage.

Established in 1836, the original Branch Mint produced gold coins until the Civil War, and the tour provides an opportunity to see the relocated building that now houses a museum.

The grand St. Peter’s and the impressive First Baptist Church stand as architectural and historical landmarks, showcasing the diverse religious influences that have shaped Charlotte over time.

Haunted Dunhill Hotel

Along With the churches and historic mint, the self-guided audio tour also explores the haunted Dunhill Hotel, a landmark known for its paranormal activity.

This historic hotel, dating back to the 1920s, is said to be home to several ghostly entities, including the spirit of a former manager who died on the premises. Visitors have reported seeing apparitions, hearing unexplained noises, and feeling an eerie presence throughout the building.

The tour provides details on the hotel’s haunted history and encourages listeners to keep an open mind as they explore the property. Whether you’re a believer in the supernatural or simply curious about the city’s haunted hotspots, the Dunhill Hotel is a must-visit during your Charlotte adventure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Take the Tour at My Own Pace?

Yes, the self-guided audio tour can be taken at one’s own pace. The tour is designed to provide flexibility, allowing participants to explore the highlights at their preferred speed and convenience.

Are Audio Tours Available in Other Languages?

The audio tours are typically offered in English, though some providers may offer tours in additional languages. Travelers should check with the tour operator to see if alternate language options are available for their specific tour.

Can I Deviate From the Set Route?

While audio tours often follow a set route, users can typically deviate from the path. However, deviating may cause them to miss key highlights or get lost. It’s best to stick to the route unless the user wants to explore on their own.

Is There an Option to Join a Guided Group Tour?

The self-guided audio tour doesn’t offer a guided group option. Customers must explore the city highlights independently using the app’s turn-by-turn directions and audio commentary. There’s no option to join a guided tour group.

What if I Lose Cellular Coverage During the Tour?

If the user loses cellular coverage during the tour, the GPS-enabled app will still provide offline access to the audio guide and turn-by-turn directions, allowing the self-guided experience to continue uninterrupted without relying on a live internet connection.

Recap

The Charlotte: Self-Guided City Highlights Audio Tour provides an engaging and flexible way to explore the city’s rich history and architecture.

With turn-by-turn directions, travelers can discover landmarks like the Old Settlers Cemetery, historic churches, and the haunted Dunhill Hotel at their own pace.

The GPS-enabled, English-language tour offers a comprehensive 2-hour experience without the need for tickets or transportation, allowing visitors to enjoy Charlotte’s captivating past.

You can check availability for your dates here: