Charlotte, aka the “Queen City,” has truly captured my heart. Being born and raised in NY, then living in Florida for 7 years, I have to say Charlotte is personally my favorite place to rest my head at night. I won’t deny that NYC is FABULOUS and I miss it on occasion, but you pay a pretty penny to live there. That being said, Charlotte is ranked #14 as one of the best cities to live in the United States! If you’re thinking about moving to Charlotte (like many others), or you’re looking to explore the city, here are a few of my personal favorite spots to check out!
Best Breweries
Okay- Charlotte has 17 breweries with 6 more coming out this year. CRAZY – so to say you have options is an understatement. We will not be running out of beer anytime soon… However, my personal favorites have to be:
Mecklenburg and Sycamore have amazing outdoor spaces – so that’s why I love them as it’s great to hang out with friends and family while enjoying delicious beer outside. Dogs are also welcomed! BUT Sugar Creek Brewing has a gorgeous rustic interior, a small but wonderful patio with some delicious beers as well. Now, if you’re wondering what my beer preferences are to silently judge my character – I enjoy IPA’s, amber ales and wheat beers. I want my beer to have flavor – none of that light beer nonsense.
Best Brunches
This is a tough one as there are SO many places I still need to check out, but from my experience you won’t find a better classic breakfast than at Terrace Café. Oh, they also have red velvet waffles…need I say more? I’m also obsessed with their Egg Benedict selection and home fries. It also helps that they open early unlike so many other breakfast places around town. Head out early if you don’t want to have a long wait!
BUT other honorable mentions are:
- Heist Brewery’s Sunday all you can eat buffet
- Eddie’s Place
- Little Spoon (picture shown above)
- Bistro La Bon
- Vivace (they have a bottomless Mimosa and Bloody Mary bar, people!)
Best Places to Enjoy the Outdoors
I’m an “outdoorsy” person – there’s nothing better than some fresh air and taking in what mother nature has to offer. If you’re into hiking, then you need to check out Crowder’s Mountain. It’s a short 30-minute drive out of Uptown Charlotte, but the views are breathtaking. King’s Mountain is a short distance from Crowder’s. Both have trails ranging from easy to strenuous!
Lake Norman State Park is also beautiful – it has an amazing sandbar, but also has three hiking trails.
There’s also the U.S. National Whitewater Center which holds summer concert series and has a TON of outdoor activities such as whitewater rafting, kayaking, canoeing, rock-climbing, mountain biking and hiking. They also offer season passes so those who plan use these facilities frequently.
Best Places for Fido
Charlotte is a dog-friendly city. You always see people bringing their dogs to breweries, food truck events, parks, and yes- bars. There are some places specifically meant for Fido to run around and make new friends while you enjoy some great drinks.
Enter Dog Bar and Lucky Dog Bark and Brew! I love these places as I have two fur-babies at home and want to make sure they are socializing just like their parents. Occasionally you’ll have that unruly dog, but from my experience owners have been very responsible and quick if there’s ever an issue (which is rare). The U.S. Whitewater Center is also a great place to bring your pup during their summer concert series!
Best Places to Live in Charlotte
With some zillion places to choose from, we are going to highlight our gorgeous NWR Signature Communities that blow others out of the water. Yes, I can be biased, but there’s a reason for it. Each community has its own personality, so there’s certainly a place for everyone! Plus – Google Fiber will be installed at each of our communities! #TotalWin
Let’s start with the Uptown area of Charlotte:
The VUE
The VUE is the tallest residential high-rise in Charlotte’s historic Fourth Ward, within walking distance of major Charlotte commercial and social outlets including the financial district, professional sports arenas, concert venues and BB&T Ballpark.
It boasts fantastic views of the iconic Charlotte skyline! The VUE is comprised of best-in-class studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartment homes with custom finishes. I’m talkin’ floor to ceiling windows showcasing stunning views and a Sky Lounge on the 50th floor that has a Grand Piano in it- it screams luxury. Being a resident at The VUE you will also enjoy a 35,000-sq. ft. pool deck, 4,000 sq. ft. fitness area, 24/7 concierge and doorman services, a pet park, basketball and tennis court and SO much more (seriously)!
Catalyst
Catalyst is located in the heart of Uptown Charlotte, right next to Romare Bearden Park in the Third Ward. The location is priceless. You can literally watch The Knights games and fireworks from your living room or private balcony. With one of their beautifully appointed one or two-bedroom floor plans, you can begin experiencing the beauty, luxury, convenience and simplicity of Uptown living. Catalyst also features floor to ceiling windows with 10 ft. ceilings, granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances. They have a beautiful pool and sun deck that has fireplaces and grills. There’s also the awesome fitness center – this way you can work off the food consumption you had from the onsite Mellow Mushroom and restaurants and bars all within walking distance.
Uptown 550 *OPENING DECEMBER, 2018*
Uptown 550 will have 421 units, comprised of studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. Look forward to unparalleled amenities and a private rooftop wine bar for its residents. It’s currently expected for occupancy in mid-2018 and will also feature two living options. Tower units will include floor-to-ceiling glass windows, tile floors, coffered ceilings, and gas cooking and heating. Low-rise apartments will have features like rain shower heads, 10-foot ceilings, upgraded kitchens with double upper cabinets and glass barn doors. It’s going to be amazing!
Now, let’s move to Plaza Midwood, a great neighborhood right outside of Uptown that has a ton of culture.
The Village at Commonwealth
The Village At Commonwealth’s tagline is “Where Lifestyle Is An Art Form” and it’s true. This place is GORGEOUS. There’s a selection of historic-inspired walk-ups, contemporary urban flats & spacious row houses- there’s truly a selection for everyone. Commonwealth offers an unsurpassed level of living indulgences. This is a whole new kind of apartment living, featuring all the amenities of an urban location but with so much more space to live and play.
Experience pocket parks, huge courtyards, plazas, and tree-lined streetscapes, all positioned overlooking Veteran’s Park; The Village at Commonwealth was designed to be much less dense than other urban apartment communities, creating an open, park-like setting with tons of green space.
All the modern conveniences you want are there: saltwater pool with tanning shelf, sauna & steam room, indoor Jacuzzi, 3,400 SF fitness facility, resident garden plots, dog parks, outdoor kitchens, billiards, an abundance of parking options, and more. All this, plus incredible finishes like upgraded kitchens with custom cabinet and spacious walk-in showers. It’s insane, people!
Want to live in South Charlotte? No problem, we have a community in the most desirable neighborhood!
Pinehurst On Providence
Pinehurst on Providence has the best of both worlds: a quiet, serene retreat at the end of your day located in the center of all that Charlotte has to offer. Here you’ll find a comfortable neighborhood atmosphere that’s extremely convenient to the energy of Uptown Charlotte and SouthPark. Pinehurst apartments and townhomes put you just only 5 minutes from the heart of SouthPark, full of fashionable shops and eateries.
Living here you’ll experience an upgraded fitness center, private patio or balcony, stainless steel appliances, designer lighting packages, an Olympic size swimming pool and sun deck, a new dog park and soccer field! You will also have the ability to pay rent and submit maintenance requests online 24/7 – it’s wonderful.
Maybe you don’t want to live in Charlotte, but in an awesome suburb- enter Huntersville, NC.
The Apartments at Birkdale Village
The Apartments at Birkdale Village bring an urban village lifestyle to a suburban setting. The luxury apartment homes and townhomes are situated around the shops of the vibrant, active mixed-use community of Birkdale Village. Many units even overlook bustling Main Street.
When you live here, you’ll enjoy rich amenities including elegant clubhouse, sparkling swimming pool, 24-hour fitness center, a greenway with interactive fountains, private Charleston-style gardens, private parking and more. Their one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments and townhomes are available with unique designs for every lifestyle.
You can enjoy all of this in a charming village setting where the area’s most desirable shopping, dining and a 16-screen cinema are only a stroll away. Additionally, Birkdale Village is directly across the street from Birkdale’s Arnold Palmer golf course – named by North Carolina magazine as the best new daily-fee course in the state – and just minutes from Lake Norman. It’s a great spot in the highly sought-after city of Huntersville.
Apartments at Holly Crest
The Apartments at Holly Crest is an apartment village characterized by attention to detail and intentional, custom design centered around four distinct entertainment plazas. This community redefines luxury apartment living offering 35,000 sf of outdoor gathering space and 15,000 of interior amenity spaces.
You won’t want to leave this refuge when coming home from a long day of work — relax in the spa with men’s & women’s saunas, sweat it out in our expansive fitness center or laugh with friends while enjoying some friendly competition on the outdoor gaming lawn. Enjoy golf? Practice your swing (no matter the weather) in the indoor golf simulator and putting green. Love your pup? Pets have their own spa for relaxing after playtime in the 1,800-sf pet park. And, if you have to do some work between play, we provide a fully equipped business center with office suites for private use. All this and MORE—just outside your door! It’s in a great location that’s just 17 miles north of Uptown Charlotte!
Charlotte is amazing – there’s so much the city has to offer. It’s clean, the job market is great and it’s growing exponentially. Make sure to stay connected with us – we’re all over the social scene sharing Charlotte events, new restaurants and things to do in the area! If you’re moving to Charlotte and a bit nervous- have no fear, you’re going to love it here!
