North Carolina - Crewfare: Group Travel | Event, Festival and Staff Booking

The Best Hotels to Stay at for Dreamville Festival

Posted on January 13, 2024January 13, 2024 by Mikayla Allen

Dreamville festival is one of the most highly anticipated annual music events in North Carolina, bringing thousands of hip-hop fans together in recent years for an incredible two-day event of live music and culture.

Held in Raleigh and curated by Grammy-award winning rapper J. Cole and his Dreamville Records label, this multi-stage music event draws some of the biggest names in hip hop and R&B. With the likes of City Girls, Ari Lennox, Burna Boy, and of course J. Cole himself gracing the lineup for an entire weekend of performances with your favorite musical artists. If you and your friends are planning to attend your first Dreamville festival this year, finding the perfect hotel accommodations is crucial to maximize your festival weekend getaway. Here’s a guide to the top hotel picks, each with an exclusive festival discount for every type of traveler in your crew:

Maximize Your Stay: Breakaway Charlotte Edition (May 5 and 6)

Posted on March 30, 2023July 27, 2023 by Nathan da Silva

Today we’re talking about Breakaway Music Festival Spring edition in Charlotte, North Carolina from May 5-6.

This is easily one of our favorite touring festivals to go to to see a lineup of popular and emerging artists in hip-hop, electronic dance music (EDM), pop, and rock.

Really, we could follow Breakaway around all year long.

And since Breakaway is soon, we’re chatting about how to make this trip, any trip really, even more memorable.

Festivals – you get to have incredible moments while doing things you wouldn’t get to experience in everyday life with the people who get you on a whole other level. Right?

With that said, let’s get into the 3 easiest ways to make this festival trip the trip of a lifetime for you and your crew.

3 Easy Ways To Pack In More To Your Trip

#1 Book Your Hotel Ahead Of Time And Pay Later

The PERFECT way to take the stress away from booking your hotel is by finding a more secure and flexible way to pay for your hotel stay.

Seriously, it’s 2023. No more having to fork out all your cash in one go.

We offer a secure and smooth way to pay over time and stay with one of our partner hotels. To check out our Crewfare Breakaway partner hotels, go here.

#2 Extend Your Stay

Stay a couple of extra days to explore the city.

Sure the festival is the highlight and why you’re traveling in the first place. But when you’re in a different place, it’s definitely a reason to extend your stay and explore as much as you can.

I mean, there’s the festival and then there’s the behind-the-scenes of your entire stay before and after the festival.

Part of the fun of travel is getting to try the best the city has to offer. For Charlotte, here are the deets on where to eat.

If you like sports, Charlotte is the home of the NASCAR Hall of Fame and is also the site of the Charlotte Motor Speedway. It also is home to the Charlotte Hornets (NBA) and the Carolina Panthers (NFL).

Or if that’s not your thing, check out the NoDa neighborhood, Charlotte’s art and entertainment district. Find out more about what to do in this area here.

#3 Try Doing Something New

Try new food, or learn a new skill (sign up for a local class). This travel habit helps you stay curious and engaged and you’ll be creating meaningful experiences that stay with you for a lifetime.

Looking for suggestions? If sampling craft beer is a new experience, Charlotte is known for its craft beer scene. Learn more here or follow the NoDa craft beer trail here. Or plan an excursion to the world’s premier outdoor center – U.S. National Whitewater Center.

-Crewfare

8 Places To Eat In Charlotte, NC: Breakaway Edition

Posted on March 29, 2023July 27, 2023 by Nathan da Silva

Hi! Hi!

Today we’re looking at the best places to eat in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The places we plan to fuel up at while we’re in town for Breakaway Music Festival (May 5 and 6, 2023).

Breakaway Music Festival is a touring festival, drawing tens of thousands per city with lineups of popular and emerging artists in hip-hop, electronic dance music (EDM), pop, and rock. And breakaway is in Charlotte this Spring.

Are you going?

Anyways, the city is nicknamed QUEEN City because Charlotte is a charmer. And we’re taking where to eat here seriously.

*Access flexible payment options and discounted accommodations when you book through CREWFARE.

Let’s get into it.

In no particular order, here are 8 places to eat while in Charlotte, North Carolina. We cover restaurants, bakeries, and what we’ll be ordering.

Where To Eat In Charlotte, North Carolina

While staying in Charlotte, you’re gonna want to find the best spots to fuel. Charlotte has a fast-growing food scene, with Southern-style food and an abundance of other styles.

300 East

What’s so special: it’s low-key and cozy, the restaurant is in a house turned into a restaurant that’s been around for 30 years.

Order: black bean and chicken tortilla (with or without the chicken) and Matilda Wong cocktail (the restaurant’s signature drink)

Address: 300 East Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28203, United States

Hours: Monday to Friday, 11:00 am to 9:00 pm, and Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 am to 9:00 pm

The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar

What’s so special: A sushi burger bar!? It’s the most genius combination we’ve ever heard of.

Order: listen to this – their fusion specialty bento box – it’s a combo meal featuring both burger and sushi including the featured mini-burger of the week, sweet potato fries

Address: 4310 Sharon Rd, Charlotte, NC 28211, United States

Hours: Sunday to Thursday, 11:00 am to 9:30 pm, Friday and Saturday, 11:00 am to 10:00 pm

Fahrenheit

What’s so special: the panoramic views, go for the views!

Order: ahi poke nachos and Fahrenheit house barrel-aged tequila

Address: 222 S Caldwell St 21st Floor, Charlotte, NC 28202, United States

Hours: Sunday to Thursday, 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm, Friday and Saturday, 5:00 pm to 2:00 am, and open from 11:00 am to 2:30 pm on Sundays

The Fig Tree Restaurant

What’s so special: there are actual blooming fig trees outside (4 fig trees), and the restaurant has 5 dining rooms inside their 1913 Craftsman-style bungalow known as the Lucas House

Order: boursin cheese ravioli, and a glass of wine

Address: 1601 E 7th St, Charlotte, NC 28204, United States

Hours: Monday to Friday, 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm, Saturday 5:00 to 10:00 pm, and Sunday 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Haberdish

What’s so special: this place draws in all different kinds of crowds, cocktails include ice spheres with edible flowers

Order: go Southern choices like fried chicken, BBQ ribs, corn bread pudding, or dumplings, pair with a craft cocktail

Address: 3106 N Davidson St, Charlotte, NC 28205, United States

Hours: see the website, hours vary

10 Park Lanes

What’s so special: eat and also play in the state-of-the-art arcade, and bowling alley

Order: wings and a craft beer

Address: 1700 Montford Dr, Charlotte, NC 28209, United States

Hours: see the website, hours vary

Amelie’s French Bakery

What’s so special: voted the best bakery in North Carolina

Order: no-brainer – oreo peanut butter pie

Address: varies, see list of locations here

Hours: varies, see website

Dot Dot Dot

What’s so special: a speakeasy and classic cocktail dining club, membership required (you can get a temporary membership at the door though), and there is a dress code

Order: sweet potato culurgione, and smoked chicken, and pair it with an old fashion

Address: 4237 Park Rd Unit B, Charlotte, NC 28209, United States

Hours: Tuesday to Thursday 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm, and Friday and Saturday 5:00 pm to 1:00 am

-Crewfare

Where To Eat In Raleigh, NC: Dreamville Festival Insider’s Guide

Posted on March 24, 2023July 27, 2023 by Nathan da Silva

How many times is too many times to say how much WE LOVE Southern food?

While we’re in town for Dreamville Festival (April 1-2), we’ll be chowing down on some staples: bbq, battered chicken, biscuits, and quenching our thirst with some sweet tea.

Love, love, love.

Never been to Dreamville Festival or Raleigh?

Dreamville Festival is held every year in Raleigh, North Carolina. It was founded by rapper J. Cole and his record label Dreamville Records. Expect to see both up-and-coming and established rap, hip-hop, and R&B artists.

And Raleigh, North Carolina is known for its Southern cuisine.

So yep today let’s talk about where we’ll be eating. Here are 10 spots to try.

We go into where to find Southern-style food plus popular patisseries and other restaurants (in case you want to eat something other than BBQ).

*Looking to find a place to stay last minute? Check out Crewfare partner hotels for this festival here.

Southern Food

Bojangles’ Famous Chicken ‘n Biscuits

Style: American regional chain of fast food restaurants serving cajun-seasoned fried chicken, buttermilk biscuits, and sweet tea

Order: chicken biscuit with egg and cheese, sweet tea

Hours: 5:30 am – 11:30 pm

Beasley’s Chicken + Honey

Style: Southern comfort food, their specialty is fried chicken, and the space is rustic and casual

Order: fried chicken and waffles sweet tea

Hours: Thursday to Saturday 11:30 pm to 9:00 pm, and Sunday to Monday 11:30 pm to 8:00 pm

Humble Pie

Style: specializing in small, Southern plates

Order: homemade sourdough, Mac-n-cheese, and crispy brussel sprouts

Hours: Wednesday to Saturday 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm

Longleaf Swine

Style: traditional BBQ restaurant cooking over open pits

Order: the brisket, ribs, smoked chicken, and mac n cheese

Hours: Wednesday to Sunday 11:00 am to 10:00 pm or until sold out

Patisserie

Layered Croissanterie

Style: this bakery specializes in croissants and other French pastries

Order: this: magic toast croissant dough slices topped with graham cracker frangipane, coconut, and pecans then baked. Finished with caramel and chocolate shavings

Hours: Wednesday to Sunday 8:00 am to 2:00 pm