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Two local Mexican-inspired restaurants that have been open for years are no longer open — for now at least.

Cantina 1511, which has been a staple in the area for nearly 20 years, has temporarily closed both its two remaining restaurants in Charlotte and Mooresville, as first reported by Charlotte Business Journal.

“Due to circumstances beyond our control, we regret to announce that Cantina 1511 will not be opening for service today,” a post said on the Charlotte restaurant’s Facebook page on Aug. 7. “Please remember, as tough as they might be, these moments are temporary. We’re already looking forward to greeting you with a warm ‘Hola!’ and serving up your favorite dishes as soon as possible.”

The Cantina 1511 team confirmed to CharlotteFive that the Park Road location has been closed since then, and the Mooresville location closed two days later, on Aug. 9.

Cantina 1511, which originally opened in 2004 on East Blvd., has had several locations in the Charlotte area, including one in uptown and one in Stonecrest, but these two were the last remaining.

A GoFundMe page posted by the restaurant staff on Cantina’s social media pages stated that the doors were closed without notice.

“Every share, every contribution, and every word of encouragement helps to sustain us during this incredibly tough time,” the donation page stated. “Right now, we — the dedicated former employees of Cantina 1511 — need your support more than ever as we face unemployment, financial stress, and the emotional toll of losing our work family so abruptly.”

According to Charlotte Business Journal, this all comes a year after Cantina 1511 tried to sell three of its locations and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, but the sales fell through and case was dismissed.

“The staff, including myself have been incredibly loyal and we really feel abandoned,” Zach Silverstein, a Cantina 1511 employee, told CharlotteFive. “Some of us stuck around out of pure loyalty when we should have been looking out for ourselves.”

Cantina 1511 isn’t the only company that suddenly closed its locations in the area in recent days. Catawba Brewing Co. permanently closed its Charlotte location in the Belmont neighborhood earlier this week, without warning or notice to employees.

At this time, it’s unclear what the Cantina owners’ plans are moving forward.

Location: 4271 Park Rd, Charlotte, NC 28209

Location: 120 Marketplace Ave D, Mooresville, NC 28117

Instagram: @cantina1511

This story was originally published August 17, 2023, 5:00 AM.

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As the leaves change colors and the temperature becomes cooler, many people have the urge to head outdoors. If you find yourself in North Carolina or are thinking of planning a trip, there are a lot of options to get outside and enjoy the state’s natural beauty.

There are a number of national parks within a reasonable drive from Charlotte, North Carolina’s largest city and a major American Airlines hub, which means you can stay in the city or in a hotel closer to your destination.

It’s time to fire up those cameras, pack a bathing suit or binoculars, and get take the hiking boots out of the closet. Here are four awe-inspiring national parks near Charlotte, North Carolina.

1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Among the Charlotte, North Carolina, national parks, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is perhaps the most well-known. Stretching across North Carolina and Tennessee, it is the most visited national park in the country.

Great for hiking, it is also home to a wide variety of trees including Fraser fir, sycamore, maple and elm trees among others. These are best enjoyed during the fall months when their leaves change color from green to hues of red, orange, yellow and beige.

It’s a magnificent sight, and even if you don’t have time to visit, flying into or out of Charlotte can provide a beautiful aerial view of it all. If you are able to visit in person, be sure to go to Clingmans Dome, the highest peak in the park and the third highest point east of the Mississippi River, for epic views that can stretch as far as 100 miles around you.

There is only one hotel in the park, LeConte Lodge, and it’s only accessible by foot via five different trails which range between five and nine miles long. At an elevation of 6,400 feet, this lodge sits atop the third highest peak in the park and is the highest guest lodge of its kind on the entire East Coast. It’s open between mid-March and mid-November each year.

For those not interested in hiking to their lodging, there are several options available just a short drive from the various park entrances.

Best use of points: Knoxville, Tennessee, is not far from the park and provides a variety of hotel options. One of these is the Hyatt Place Knoxville Downtown, located in a historic building convenient to nearby dining and shopping. It is a Category 3 property, meaning that rates range between 9,000 and 15,000 World of Hyatt points per night.

If you prefer to drive to Charlotte, the trip takes between two and three hours. Once there, you’ll find a variety of hotels, including a JW Marriott and the Grand Bohemian Charlotte, Autograph Collection.

» Learn more: Guide to the World of Hyatt award chart

2. Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway is America’s longest linear national park and runs from North Carolina up through Virginia. Along the parkway are many notable landmarks, like Linville Gorge, the deepest gorge east of the Grand Canyon, and Mount Mitchell, the highest mountain peak on the East Coast.

There’s also Whitewater Falls, the highest waterfall east of the Rockies, and New River, which is considered to be the oldest river in North America.

Best use of points: The Blue Ridge Parkway runs right by Asheville, and there are many hotels where guests can use points during their visit. Marriott Bonvoy fans, especially, have quite a few options, including the Grand Bohemian Hotel Asheville, Autograph Collection in Biltmore Village or the AC Hotel Asheville Downtown, popular for its rooftop bar.

Marriott Bonvoy has recently switched to a dynamic pricing model, which means a redemption night can vary in cost depending on the night. Plan ahead to ensure you have enough points, or use one of the free night certificates that come with a Marriott Bonvoy credit card.

» Learn more: The best ways to rack up Marriott Bonvoy points

3. Appalachian National Scenic Trail

As the longest hiking-only footpath in the world, this trail is a great spot for hiking, biking and strolling through nature. Approximately 2,200 miles long, the trail actually runs from Maine all the way through Georgia, but visitors to Charlotte enjoy close proximity to this famous natural spot. It takes just over two hours to reach the trail by car from Charlotte.

Once there, the Max Patch trail (consisting of two easier, short loops at either 1.4 or 2.4 miles long) is a great option for day trips. If you’re staying longer, consider doing both before heading into Asheville to explore the city’s many breweries and art galleries.

Best use of points: Since the trail runs right past Asheville, there are several options in the mountain city where travelers can earn or redeem points. These include The Foundry, a Curio Collection by Hilton property (part of the Hilton Honors program) and the Kimpton Hotel Arras, part of IHG One Rewards.

Both programs use a dynamic pricing model, which means the number of points needed for a redemption night can change depending on the date.

» Learn more: Benefits of the Hilton Honors loyalty program

4. Cape Hatteras National Seashore

The farthest of the state’s most famous national parks from Charlotte is Cape Hatteras National Seashore on the Atlantic Ocean. Known for its pristine Outer Banks beaches, this is a great spot for a longer vacation rather than a day trip from Charlotte (the drive can take as long as six hours).

Visitors can spend their time camping, fishing, swimming, biking and even off-roading on certain stretches of beach. There is also a wide variety of animal life ranging from various birds to sea turtles that make it a family-friendly destination. The Outer Banks has plentiful history, too, with colorful characters like Blackbeard (an 18th-century pirate) who visited the area and numerous lighthouses worth exploring to understand the seafaring past of this region.

Best use of points: IHG One Rewards members can take advantage of the Holiday Inn Express Nags Head Oceanfront, which has four acres of private beach access. IHG has a dynamic pricing system, which means the number of points required varies by night.

» Learn more: Your complete guide to earning IHG Rewards points

National parks in NC recapped

No matter where you go in North Carolina, there is plentiful natural beauty from the mountains to the sea. The national parks near Charlotte, North Carolina, are all within several hours’ drive from the city, making them great for a day trip or overnight exploration.

Depending on where you want to visit in North Carolina, there are numerous airports you can fly to or from to match your budget. If you’re keen on using miles to get there, American Airlines has a hub at the Charlotte airport. Plus, it offers a helpful mileage map that allows you to put in your departure city and see a map of where you can go using your miles.

As an added bonus, you can earn and redeem points at your favorite hotel brands along the way, which can make that family vacation more affordable than ever.

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023, including those best for:

It might be a while before it starts to feel like fall, but the first sign of the new season is finally here. Apple picking has begun.

Here are eight orchards within two hours of Charlotte where you can pick-your-own apples. This is not a ranking.

Windy Hill Orchard & Cider Mill

About an hour from Charlotte, Windy Hill is a destination for apple picking. After you fill your basket, reward yourself with a well-earned flight of hard cider and apple donuts.

Apple Hill Orchard

This orchard includes a cider mill, a country store, educational tours, group tours and a bakery. Stock up on cider and sweets (including apple cider donuts) before you leave.

Photo: Emma Way/Axios

Blueberry Thrill Farm

U-pick season dates have yet to be determined for the fall but check their Facebook and Instagram for updates.

Millstone Creek Orchards

On Saturdays, a $19.95 ticket gets you access to the orchard, a bag of U-pick apples, apple and cider tastings, a hayride and a four-ounce apple cider slushie.

Sky Top Orchard

Sky Top is a gorgeous mountain-top orchard where you can pick apples, bring a picnic, meet farm animals and relax with your friends and family. They have apple cider donuts and tons of apple-related goods you can purchase and take home — like apple butter, jams, fudge and cider.

Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard

Make a day of apple picking, hayrides, a corn maze and more — all with beautiful mountain views. You can find a full breakdown of all the varieties (and possible uses) here.

The Orchard at Altapass

They have an entire trail map for you to use if you want to bring a little more adventure to your day of apple picking with more than 20 varieties of apples. There is also live music and other events.

Carrigan Farms

In September, each hayride includes a trip to the apple orchard where everyone gets to pick a half-peck bag of apples. Reservations are required and cost $15 per person. Apple picking season at Carrigan Farms is short so visit early for the best picking conditions.

Editor’s note: This guide was updated as of Aug. 16, 2023 with the new season’s dates/times.

As wildfires raged on Maui Aug. 8, Jessie Haynes in Charlotte received a family group text from her cousin, a longtime resident of the Hawaiian island.

“I love you,” Fred Seemann said. “We don’t know if we’ll be OK. We’re fleeing the fires, and there are not many safe places to go.”

At least 110 people have been confirmed dead in the fires, The Associated Press reported late Wednesday.

Flames spared Seemann’s condo in the city of Kīhei on Maui’s southwest shore. Yet his fiancee, Melissa Lazarte, her mom, three sisters and two brothers live in the fire-ravaged city of Lahaina in northwest Maui and lost everything, Haynes told The Charlotte Observer on Wednesday.

“Completely devastated,” Haynes said, referring to images of Lahaina on video that her cousin and the Lazartes sent her. “Nothing but ashes, the entire community of Lahaina.”

Haynes taught music at Smithfield Elementary School in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools for 10 years before joining Catawba Ridge High School in Fort Mill this school year as choral director.

The Lazartes have lived on Maui for five or six generations, Haynes said. Her cousin is from Tampa Bay, Florida, fell in love with Maui years ago and decided to stay. He operates an e-bike rental business, Maui Bike Rentals.

The family managed to evacuate, but they witnessed “apocalyptic conditions” that included residents and tourists leaping from flame-engulfed hotels and businesses and seeking safety in the ocean, Haynes said on a GoFundMe she established for the Lazartes.

By Thursday, she raised $12,000 for the family on the site.

Haynes said she previously visited her cousin and the Lazartes in Maui.

“You’ll never meet a more loving and tight-knit family,” she said. “They’ve lived in their home since 2011 as a multi-generational family and are now completely uprooted and left void of everything.”

The youngest member is 6-year-old Kaiden, who has said how sad he is that his home is gone, she said.

Six family members are now crammed into her cousin’s 750-square-foot, two-bedroom condo, she said.

Being 4,600 miles away, Haynes figured the best way to help was through GoFundMe. Mauians like the Lazartes most immediately need toiletries, which financial donations raised on her site would help provide, among other needs, she said.

“I know we can come together and rally for the Lazarte family!” Haynes posted on the site. “Let’s AMAZE them with generosity and help them in every way we can.”

This story was originally published August 17, 2023, 12:42 PM.

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Have you ever wondered who decides when children in North Carolina start class? A 20-year-old North Carolina school calendar law pits public school districts against the second-largest industry in the state - tourism. Now, schools are taking matters into their own hands.

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A few months before Virginia repealed a law that regulates when public schools can open, a report showed it hardly had any significant impact on students or tourism.

An Old Dominion University report in 2019 analyzed Virginia’s “Kings Dominion Law” that prohibited districts from opening until after Labor Day unless they had a waiver. North Carolina has a similar law that long has been unpopular with school districts, but it’s remained on the books amid persistent advocacy from the state’s tourism industry and an unwillingness for the N.C. Senate to bring bills about the matter to the floor.

Virginia lawmakers approved the law to provide an August boost for tourism. It got its name because its strongest backers were leaders of the hotel, recreation and resort industries. It became synonymous with a Richmond-area theme park, the Washington Post reported in 2004.

Opponents of the law argued the law hurt student performance.

“Our analysis reveals that the Kings Dominion law has not significantly impacted school graduation rates, student retention or test scores,” the Old Dominion report stated. “Further, repealing the law would not have a very large negative impact on Virginia’s travel and tourism industry.”

Researchers say the law was not created based on research about student performance or the need for farm labor during the late summer harvest, according to the report.

Data also didn’t support arguments that later school openings negatively impact on-time graduation rates, according to the report.

In March 2019, Virginia’s governor signed bills into law that allowed all districts to open up to two weeks before Labor Day.

If the talking points behind the Virginia law sound familiar, it’s because they’re nearly identical in North Carolina, where a calendar law pits school leaders and what’s in the best interest of public school students against the tourism industry and the billions of dollars it collects annually.

North Carolina’s calendar law, approved in 2004 with the backing of the tourism industry, requires most districts to wait until the Monday closest to Aug. 26 to bring students back and end no later than the Friday closest to June 11.

This school year, 16 districts are defying North Carolina’s law and have already started or are starting early. Lawmakers against more flexibility scold districts who break the law and call them a bad example for students.

There’s a shift happening south of the North Carolina, border, too.

A pair of Charlotte-area school districts in South Carolina — Clover and York — started school last week, joining a statewide trend in bucking the long practice of waiting until the third Monday in August, The Rock Hill Herald reported.

”Going back earlier in Clover allows the district to have a pure 90-90 semester split with the first semester being completed prior to the winter break in December,” Bryan Dillon, the public information officer for the Clover School District told the Charlotte Observer. “The earlier start time also allows the district to offer content recovery options to students in need and enrichment opportunities to others.”

Local districts in South Carolina have the authority to establish annual school calendars for teachers, staff and students. But beginning in the 2007-2008 school year, South Carolina law stipulated the opening date for students must not be before the third Monday in August — except for schools operating on a modified year-round school calendar.

Clover adopted such a calendar this year. And other districts across South Carolina are creating modified school calendars that offer earlier start times and additional breaks throughout the year. For the 2023-24 school year, the majority of districts are on modified year-round calendars and starting early, according to the South Carolina Department of Education.

Districts in Beaufort, Berkeley, Horry, Lancaster and Charleston are among those who are starting Aug. 21 or beyond.

The York calendar has four week-or-longer breaks for students. The weeks of Oct. 9-13 and Feb. 19-23 are new with the modified calendar. Traditional breaks include more than two around Christmas, from Dec. 22 to Jan. 8, and another week in the spring, April 1-5. Students finish May 30.

The Charlotte Observer reached out to multiple states inquiring about school calendar laws.

A spokesman for the California Department of Education says there is no requirement in California Education Code that specifies school year start and end dates.

Mississippi state law grants the authority to local school boards to set the opening/closing dates of the school year, as long as the minimum days of 180 are met.

In Florida, public school boards also are expected to set the opening and closing of schools, “however, the opening date for schools in the district may not be earlier than Aug. 10 of each year,” according to state statute.

Texas, Tennessee and Alabama have laws that outline the number of instructional days districts must hold each year, but none dictate start and end dates.