It’s only about four hours away by car and it offers a bevy of fun and entertaining possibilities. Known alternately as the Queen City (named after Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, a major arts patron and the wife of former British King George III) and the Hornet’s Nest (a title it captured during the Revolutionary War because local resistance fighters would swarm about like “hornets”), Charlotte was once the textile capital of the United States. Today, it’s the second-largest banking center in the country, just behind New York.

In the 21st century that equals a major influx of culture from around the globe, which has aptly re-titled Charlotte as “Little New York.”

With an inner-city district that’s alive with endless residential, retail and cultural opportunities, it’s the perfect place to go for a weekend getaway.

Just ask first lady Michelle Obama, who will return to the city for the Democratic National Convention in November.

“Charlotte is a city marked by its Southern charm, warm hospitality and an ‘up by the bootstraps’ mentality that has propelled the city forward as one of the fastest-growing in the South,” she said at a recent news conference. “Vibrant, diverse and full of opportunity, the Queen City is home to innovative, hardworking folks with big hearts and open minds. And, of course, great barbecue.”

Who could resist that endorsement?

Scott Provancher, president of Charlotte’s Arts & Science Council, says the heart of the city is a place unequaled anywhere else in the country.

“Charlotte recognizes the importance of art, and has invested heavily in what we now call the ‘Cultural Mile,’ a section in uptown on Tryon Street.

“There’s a lot to see and do,” he continues. “And what’s great is the concentration of museums and performance venues, and the ease of access to them from hotels, especially for visitors.”

IF YOU GO

Visit

● Mint Museum Uptown: More than 145,000 square feet and five-stories high, The Mint Museum Uptown opened in October 2010, with two floors of permanent collection galleries and 6,000 square feet of changing exhibits. Acclaimed works such as Dale Chihuly’s “Royal Blue Mint Chandelier” and pieces like “Carolina Shout” by heralded Charlotte native Romare Bearden are cherished mainstays. More than 500 newly acquired pieces demonstrate the Mint’s prowess as an international arts center. www.mintmuseum.org.

● Bechtler Museum of Modern Art: With works by Andy Warhol, Joan Miro, Alexander Calder and a wealth of other notables, this striking terra cotta-tiled structure in the heart of Charlotte’s Center City boasts a collection full of work new to U.S. audiences. The museum opened in January 2010. www.bechtler.org.

● The Levine Center’s Knight Theater: This performing arts venue stages multiple artistic presentations, among the most notable are the NC Dance Theatre and the Carolina Opera. www.blumenthalcenter.org.

● Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture: The Gantt Center opened in fall 2009. Named for Harvey B. Gantt, Charlotte’s first African-American mayor, the facility boasts traveling and permanent exhibitions of fine arts, crafts and historical and cultural displays, along with small-scale theatrical presentations, oratory, concerts and lectures. www.ganttcenter.org.

● Discovery Place: One of the region’s leading science centers, Discovery Place underwent a dramatic $31.6 million renovation completed in summer 2010. Exhibits range from World Alive, where attendees can explore aquatic touch-tanks or look a Moray eel in the eye, to Cool Stuff, where you can lie on a bed of nails and launch objects in the air. www.discoveryplace.org.

Stay

● Ritz-Carlton Charlotte $$$

The Ritz-Carlton Charlotte marks the hotelier’s first foray into the environmentally-sound benchmark for design with its 146-room, 18-story LEED certified property. The hotel opened in October 2009 and continually adds new programs and features. Among the most important eco-friendly features for this sleek structure is the energy-conscious “green” roof with living plants designed to reflect heat and insulate the building. Honey bee hives on the roof provide the key ingredient for their signature honey pecan ice cream. Just more than 12,000 square feet of meeting space includes eight function rooms with a 7,035-square-foot ballroom that offers banquet seating for 480. www.ritzcarlton.com/charlotte

● Hotel Sierra / Hyatt House $$

Hotel Sierra opened in March 2011 and is now transitioning to a Hyatt House. The 17-story, 163-room hotel is compromised of 134 suites, a combo of Studio Suites with full kitchens and 29 one-bedroom guest rooms. It also has 2,200 square feet of flexible meeting space. www.hotel-sierra.com

Dine

● McNinch House Restaurant $$$

No stranger to masterful wine pairings and six-course masterpieces, the McNinch House Restaurant in Charlotte’s historic Fourth Ward is an intimate setting to satisfy the most sophisticated foodies. www.mcninchhouse restaurant.com

● King’s Kitchen $$

Notable area chef Jim Noble’s not-for-profit restaurant includes signatures like Aunt Beaut’s Pan Fried Chicken, King’s meatloaf, Karen’s Pot Roast and more. Among the local favorites are pimento cheese, cornbread and banana pudding. www.kingskitchen.org