Known as the Queen City, Charlotte has evolved to be a major U.S City. Your cheap flight to Charlotte will end at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport. This airport is considered to be the major hub for NASCAR racing as Lowe's Motor Speedway is nearby and there are many racing teams based in and around the Charlotte area. You can use the Sprinter Enhanced bus service to get downtown. Some hotels run shuttle services. As always, there are cabs or rental cars.
Getting around is fairly easy and not expensive at all. Take the trolley if you want to learn about the city. The LYNX blue line connects southern Charlotte to the downtown. If you just need to go up and down Tryon Street, the gold rush trolley is actually free to ride. CATS operates buses that go all through Charlotte and the surrounding areas. There are taxis available or you can rent a car. Charlotte is laid out in a grid and is surprisingly easy to navigate. Watch the signs to make sure you're in the right lane. You really are given fair warning in order to make your way.
Many people take a cheap flight to Charlotte to go to the aforementioned Lowe's Motor Speedway but the city has much more to offer than just NASCAR. Just outside the city is Carowinds, an amusement park with fun rides and games. Discovery Place will make science fun. Be sure to visit the Billy Graham Library. Do you like the outdoors? Consider the National Whitewater Center. You can hike, camp, and of course, go whitewater rafting on the Catawba River.
Of course, what's a trip without a little shopping? Whether you want designers like Michael Kors or discount outlets, Charlotte is peppered with boutiques, malls, and outlets. Likewise, there are many different restaurants all throughout Charlotte. Ranging from simple fare like hot dogs at Big City Dogs to fine dining at Andrew Blairs, you would be hard pressed to find something that Charlotte doesn't have. The same goes for nightlife. There are many different types of clubs and bars. Howl at the Moon is a music, dance and piano haven. Go bowling at Strike City, a modern bowling alley featuring more than just bowling. There are also sports bars, little hole-in-the-wall places, and pubs for you to spend your evening's entertainment.