A Day Trip Travel Guide for Davidson, North Carolina

Welcome to what I hope will be the first post in a mini-series about each of Charlotte’s suburbs! Today I’m sharing a little about our day trip up to Davidson, a small town about 25 minutes north of Uptown Charlotte (well, on a good traffic day, of course).

If you ask someone what they know about Davidson, they’ll probably mention one of the following facts: the town borders Lake Norman, has a cute and walkable downtown, is home to Davidson College, and it’s the place where Kindred (and now Milkbread) is located.

Looking to take more day trips? Check out my Essential Charlotte Day Trips Guide

Those are all true – yet those are just some of the reasons why the town of Davidson is the perfect place for a relaxed day trip.

Before jumping into the guide, I just want to mention this: as you head up to the Lake Norman area, the suburbs start to blend into each other. We made an effort to spend the day solely in Davidson, so everything here has a Davidson address. Ready? Let’s go!

DAVIDSON SIGHTS + ATTRACTIONS

Davidson College Campus

Davidson College | 405 N Main St, Davidson, NC 28035

The Davidson College campus is perfect for strolling on a pretty day. The highly selective private liberal arts college’s grounds beckon picnicking and the tree-lined sidewalks encourage wandering. Our visit fell on commencement weekend, and there was a sweet, festive mood in the air. But no matter when you visit, the very best part of this activity is that it’s free!

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Davidson Farmer’s Market

Davidson Farmer's Market | 120 S Main St, Davidson, NC 28036

If at all possible, try to schedule your Davison day trip on a Saturday – because that’s when the Davidson Farmer’s Market is held. Every Saturday from 9 a.m. until noon, farmers, bakers, meat vendors, and more line the street adjacent to Town Hall. Without a cooler in the car we could only justify purchasing a croissant from Festin Bakery (now closed) – but next time we’ll be prepared.

In all honesty, this has been my favorite local farmer’s market so far, and we might end up making the trip semi-regularly. See you there?

DAVIDSON FOOD + DRINK

Milkbread

Milkbread | 624 Jetton St #110, Davidson, NC 28036

If you’re a regular reader, you likely know that I usually plan my travels around my meals. Even though a location of Milkbread is scheduled to open soon in Charlotte’s Plaza Midwood neighborhood (edit: it’s now open!), we knew we had to visit on this day trip.

The all-day cafe is owned by the same duo behind Kindred, and it’s most well-known for the donuts made from – you guessed it – milkbread. We ordered one of each donut to take home, and a crispy chicken biscuit with pimento cheese to enjoy at the restaurant.

The portion was incredibly generous, even split in two it felt like enough food, and the chicken was super juicy inside (if slightly less than crisp on the outside). I’d order it again in a heartbeat, but I’m also looking forward to trying some of their bowls and salads next time.

You’re probably wondering about the donuts – they were good, but didn’t leave me wanting more (we did make sure to eat a bite of one of ours before leaving the restaurant, so we’d know we tried it at its freshest). I think I’d choose an order of their mini cinnies next time.

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Davidson Ice House (now Hot Mess)

Davidson Ice House (now Hot Mess - and now closed) | 416 S Main St, Davidson, NC 28036

I should start by saying that I hesitated a little to put Davidson Ice House in this guide; the service was incredibly friendly, and I love how customizable the menu is. But our meal was really… just okay (update: the restaurant is relaunching as Hot Mess… and appears to have closed once more).

Without an early dinner reservation, we might have eaten somewhere else, but the build-your-own bowl concept seemed like a smart move for a light meal. And sharing a meal was non-negotiable, with dinner in just four hours. Because it was an all-in-one meal, since some of the items weren’t as good (the tomatoes and the grilled chicken), it negatively impacted the entire dish. Next time I’d opt for a different protein.

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Kindred

Kindred | 131 N Main St, Davidson, NC 28036

Kindred is the very reason many come to Davidson (but it shouldn’t be your only one!). I’ve written an entire blog post about our visit; you can find it right here.

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Hop & Vine

Hop & Vine | 605 Jetton St Suite C, Davidson, NC 28036

The primary reason for our visit to Hop & Vine was to escape the 93°F heat, so we were a little surprised to find that there was only outside seating available that day. That’s okay – with shade and a cold local beer, we cooled off quickly.

Hop & Vine is just half a block away from Davidson’s Concerts at the Circles stage, so if you’re planning to check that out, you know where to grab a drink! In any case, it’s also a great spot to buy a souvenir 4-pack from a local brewery.

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The Urban Wine Co.

Davidson Wine Co. (now The Urban Wine Co.) | temporarily closed

~~Davidson Wine Co.~~ Now The Urban Wine Co. is just around the corner from Kindred, and we again found ourselves hiding from the sun with a glass of local wine. They may not have a vineyard, but they source grapes from elsewhere to create their very own wines. The staff are super knowledgeable and will let you try before you buy (I grape-ly appreciated that!).

DAVIDSON SHOPPING

Main Street Books

Main Street Books | 126 S Main St, Davidson, NC 28036

Like many (but not all) of these shops, Main Street Books is located right in the heart of Davidson’s downtown. This little bookstore was buzzing with activity during our trip, and it’s easy to see why. In addition to a well-curated selection of tomes, the shop also sells locally-made items and gifts.

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Moxie Mercantile

Moxie Mercantile | Now Closed

I always love popping into the Plaza Midwood location of Moxie Mercantile, so I knew it would be a treat to visit their Davidson location. It’s a bit smaller than the original, but you can expect to find local jewelry and pottery, as well as curated leather goods and apothecary items. [note: the Davidson location has closed]

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Grow

Grow | now closed

Another Charlotte export, Grow, ~~can be found in downtown Davidson~~ (edit: the Davidson location is now closed, but the Camp North End location in Charlotte remains open). This sweet plant shop sells plants (duh), and lots of cute gifts and home items. I am the worst offender when it comes to killing plants, and there are plenty of items on the shelves at Grow that tempt me.

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The Village Store

The Village Store | 110 S Main St, Davidson, NC 28036

The Village Store is a cute shop on Main Street with lots of, well, everything. Home decor, accessories, holiday items, local products, cards… the list goes on. It’s the perfect place to pick up a last-minute host or party gift.

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Davidson Provision Company

Davidson Provision Company | 116 S Main St Suite A, Davidson, NC 28036

Davidson Provision Company is geared toward the outdoor enthusiast, selling technical clothing and gear for your next camping trip or lake outing. Mixed in you’ll also find some locally made products and home goods.

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Davidson Chocolate

Davidson Chocolate | Now Closed

Davidson Chocolate (now closed) was a last-minute addition to our itinerary for the day, and I’m so glad! They make all of their items in-house, so treat yourself to something delicious. And a tip for the budget-conscious: you may luck out and snag an item from their less-than-perfect basket for a discount!

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MINE by Sandy

MINE by Sandy | 605 Jetton St, Davidson, NC 28036

MINE by Sandy carries a range of designer and boutique brands, from Agolde to Golden Goose to Clare V, and there are two locations in Davidson: a small shop on Main Street and a larger store in The Linden building. Although many of the products feel reminiscent of a boutique in a city like, say, Charleston – my minimalist heart found plenty to covet.

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Hearts on Fiber

Hearts on Fiber | 208 S Village Ln A, Davidson, NC 28036

Hearts on Fiber is a darling fiber shop owned by a mother-daughter duo. Knitters, weavers, spinners, and crocheters will all feel at home here. I’m particularly excited to see the results of their Little Stubbies contest this year!

WITH MORE TIME IN DAVIDSON + FINAL THOUGHTS

Food is the primary reason I’m itching to return to Davidson, so with more time I’d definitely recommend enjoying more meals. Next up on my food + drink lists are (in no particular order): Summit Coffee, Il Bosco Ristorante, Mestizo, Masala Mastee, The Pickled Peach, The Soda Shop, and Carrburritos.

Okay, so food isn’t everyone’s jam, I get it (actually, I don’t get it, but oh well). Next on my non-food list of things to do in Davidson is: catching a show by the Davidson Community Players, heading out on Lake Norman, and listening to live music at one of the town’s many events.

As I return to Davidson, I’ll update this post with a mini-review of each – so be sure to check back!

OUTFIT DETAILS

note: this post contains affiliate links

Alyssa stands in front of a column building wearing a black dress and carrying a tan tote — Dress℅ | Sandals [save 20% with code WAYWARD20] | Tote℅ | Sunglasses℅ | Short Necklace | Long Necklace℅ | Chain Earrings | Stud Earrings

A 90°F+ day called for… *checks notes* wool?

Yes, indeed! Merino wool is one of my favorite fabrics for hot days, as it is temperature-regulating and doesn’t hold odor (Don’t believe me? I was once stranded with only a wool dress for six days). Paired with a simple sandal, this outfit was easy-going for padding around town but dressy enough for dinner at Kindred.

Looking for more? You may also be interested in these other regional posts:

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