Grand Southern Homes with Wraparound Porches
Just southeast of Charlotte, Monroe is the county seat of neighboring Union County and is home to about 35,000 people. As you drive in from Charlotte, you’ll pass grand Southern homes with wraparound porches, but don’t stop there. This charming downtown deserves a walk- through, too.
Eat: Stone Table
This welcome addition to Monroe’s downtown opened in 2015. The restaurant is centered around local food, and it includes a host of vegan and vegetarian options. Standing breakfast and lunch menus—including an entire section dedicated to toast—draw regulars, but Thursdays through Saturdays, Stone Table’s chef-driven dinners are its pièce de résistance.
Drink: Treehouse Vineyards
There’s never a bad time to visit Treehouse Vineyards. A fire pit warms you in the winter, the wine slushies cool you in summer and, well, fall and spring are just perfect, of course. The winery gets its name from the multiple treehouses on-site. If you book far enough in advance (way in advance), you can reserve Papa’s Dreamhouse, a cozy treehouse for two, overnight.
Do: Stonebridge Golf Club
This stunning golf course opened in 1997, and the greens are just as lovely as ever. Stonebridge offers tee times throughout the day in addition to a clubhouse, practice facilities and a café.