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We are completely new to NC and possibly looking at Charlotte. We are a younger family and love walkable downtowns with energy for both adults and kids but need easy access to Charlotte. Looking for towns like ann arbor MI, royal oak MI, Plymouth MI, Naperville IL, Evanston IL, Elmhurst IL for reference.
I keep hearing chapel hill? Maybe even look at SC towns?
We are completely new to NC and possibly looking at Charlotte. We are a younger family and love walkable downtowns with energy for both adults and kids but need easy access to Charlotte. Looking for towns like ann arbor MI, Naperville IL for reference.
I keep hearing chapel hill?
Chapel Hill is in a different part of the state and hours away from Charlotte. What constitutes easy access?
.......We are a younger family and love walkable downtowns with energy for both adults and kids but need easy access to Charlotte. Looking for towns like ann arbor MI.....
You would enjoy Davidson, whch is a college town, but much smaller than Ann Arbor. Mooresville has a small built-up downtown, but I don't know of anything around Charlotte that is quite like Naperville or Evanston. In general most of the suburbs are really suburbs.
Last edited by goldenage1; 06-07-2021 at 09:49 PM..
Much smaller than ann arbor, evanston, napervillle is fine. Those are almost mini large cities. we just don't want a dead quiet downtown thats asleep at 9pm on a Saturday. We like to do things after our kids go to bed so enjoy some options.
up to 2 hours from charlotte is ok. We also are ok with higher budget needed to be core walkable.
Greenville, SC is often recommended for an interesting core. Greenville, NC is in the eastern part of the state and more than 2 hours from Charlotte. Please check a map before asking about random towns. In addition, you can do a streeet-level walk drive-around with Google maps. That's how I found Naperville is so interesting. Please also tell us your budget, and whether you really want to be in the downtown. For example, Uptown Charlotte is trendy and somewhat walkable, but it may more expensive than you want.
Budget is comfortable at 1mm, plus or minus. Must be walkable to a nice downtown. No suburbia - more for your money further outs. Also we don't like huge city vibes like a downtown Chicago or NY.
What we have learned is most states have only a few towns we really like that have our desired happy balance.
I would recommend Dilworth at your budget. Walk to restaurants, shops, Freedom Park, et... you also aren't far from South End or Uptown. In some cases you could even walk to South End or Uptown depending on where you find a house in one of the metro's most desirable neighborhoods. It provides the walkability and energy you are looking for, proximity to some of the metro's best dining, and is still family friendly. Nothing in Charlotte is going to be "huge city vibes." The entire Charlotte metro area over multiple counties and stretching 80+ miles in each direction is roughly the same population as just Brooklyn. Most of the city of Charlotte itself would be characterized as "suburban" development (single family homes, et.)
Budget is comfortable at 1mm, plus or minus. Must be walkable to a nice downtown......
Then you could consider Asheville, which is two hours from Charlotte if you break a few spped rules.
Your could also look at Myers Park and Eastover, which are older, affluent areas of Charlotte. There is a strip of restaurants and boutiques along Selwyn Avenue, extending into Providence Road. I am not an expert on Charlotte, but I have picked up tips from others on the forum, and know how to use Google maps.
Outside of Charlotte (easy commute into it on an express bus) would be Belmont and Mount Holly. These are not big downtowns, just a few blocks with a mix of little shops - but they appeal to many people, that decide they don't want to live within the congestion of Charlotte or have children attend CMS.
FWIW a house for sale in the 1900 block of Kenilworth Avenue is walkable to stores at the corner of Kenilworth and East Blvd.
Last edited by goldenage1; 06-08-2021 at 08:19 AM..
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