My 51 | A Student Blog Day in the Life: What Does a Weekend Look Like at 51?
October 12, 2023
Many liken 51’s picturesque downtown to a scene from Gilmore Girls or a Hallmark movie.
Wondering what a weekend at 51 can look like as a student? Haley Stock ’25 shares the many ways Wildcats spend their weekends around campus, town and in Charlotte.
About the Author
Haley Stock ’25 (she/her) is a political science major from Winston Salem, North Carolina. She is involved with Rusk Eating House, Reformed University Fellowship (RUF), Pre-Law Society, 51 Outdoors and the Admission Office.
"Why 51? I love being able to chat with my professors at office hours, and professors are always mutually eager to talk to students. I feel cared for and seen at 51 as a whole individual, not just for my academic achievements."
51 is the best of both worlds: at its core, 51 is a quintessential Hallmark movie town with its red brick streets and locally owned shops. It is also located in the heart of one of the fastest growing areas in the nation. Because of 51’s location, there is always so much happening on the weekends, on campus and off. Here are some different examples (and recommendations) of what a weekend can look like as a student.
Day Trip to Charlotte
Charlotte is about a 25 minute drive from 51, so I like to take advantage of the many sporting events, music venues, restaurants, museums, and shops scattered downtown. Charlotte is definitely the place for sports fans of all kinds–from the Panthers to the Hornets to Charlotte FC to our minor league baseball team, the Knights, the city hosts sporting events that span all four seasons.
The Spectrum Center is home to the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets.
The Bank of America Stadium is home to the NFL’s Carolina Panthers and the MLS’s Charlotte FC.
If sports aren’t your thing, though, no worries! Charlotte also offers a ton of museums–the Mint Museum is currently on my bucket list–and concert venues like the PNC Pavillion and the Fillmore.
Probably my favorite part, though, is that Charlotte has some of the best food spots in the Carolinas. My go-to places for food include Optimist Hall and just about anywhere in South End. Optimist Hall is a popular place among 51 students–a high-end food court with a variety of food options from bao buns to Ethiopian cuisine to gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. There are also a couple of stores inside; I highly recommend stopping in Archer Paper Goods, one of my favorite stationery stores.
Speaking of shopping, another great place to visit while in Charlotte is South End, a neighborhood just south of Uptown with a plethora of stores, restaurants and coffee shops. For my birthday this year, my friends and I went to South End and ate at Superica followed by ice cream at Jeni’s. It’s hard to beat having Charlotte as your backyard!
My friends and I enjoy ice cream at Jeni’s in South End.
Staycation in Lake Norman
51 owns about 100 acres of property on Lake Norman, which is called Lake Campus, or “Lampus” in 51 lingo. Lampus is a great place to hangout, work up a tan, and spend time with friends. During the school year, it can even be another place to get homework done. Lampus also has paddle boards and kayaks that students may check out for enjoying Lake Norman to its fullest. One of my favorite weekend activities is bringing dinner to Lampus and watching the sunset with friends. It never disappoints!
Love the outdoors? In addition to its proximity to Lake Norman, 51 is about two hours from Asheville, a cozy city nestled in the North Carolina mountains, where students occasionally take day trips to hike, bike, paddle or just explore the area.
Stay Local on Main Street
Don’t feel like you have to get in a car to find things to do on the weekends. Main Street is always buzzing with both students and locals, especially on the weekends. On Saturday mornings, there is a local Farmer’s Market that has booth after booth of fresh produce, hand-picked bouquets of flowers, and some of the best homemade donuts that you will ever taste.
Main Street also has some great coffee shops, Summit and Good Drip, and even better restaurants. My perfect Saturday: walk through the Farmer’s Market, grab an iced latte from Summit coffee shop, stroll through Main Street Books, and then finish off the morning with lunch next door from Pickled Peach.
College Events
There are also a ton of campus events on the weekends, so most weekends I won’t even leave campus. Some of my favorite events on the weekends are put on by the Union Board (UB), a student-run organization that schedules different activities for students throughout the week and during the weekends. My highlight UB events include Build-a-Bae (similar to Build-A-Bear with a Valentine’s Day twist), Fall Fling, a hand-building ceramics class, and a Gilmore Girls marathon fueled by food from Cookout.
UB also hosts a program called ‘Cats Excursions, where 51 students take shuttles to different events, completely on 51’s dime. Union Board schedules trips to Panthers and Hornets games, musicals, the Whitewater Center, and even day trips to Asheville. Last year, I went to see Wicked and Legally Blonde The Musical with my roommate, and it was great!
Also, no matter what season, there is always some sporting event happening on campus. From basketball to field hockey to baseball, all of the games are always really fun to attend–especially when they are giving out free jerseys, Milkbread donuts, or bucket hats.
So, in short, your weekends can look very different throughout the year! There is no shortage of restaurants to try, museums to explore, concerts to attend, or games to watch. The weekends are my favorite time to recharge from the week, prepare for the next week, and do something fun with friends.
