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We are finally moving to Charlotte -- my DH is moving at the end of this month, and I will be travelling with him to get his apartment squared away before I fly home. I have never been to Charlotte, and he's only been for work, so we both know very little. I have 24hrs after we arrive that I need to leave for home again.
SO, What do I do? His apartment will be in southpark, I think. I am planning on driving around to explore -- I will worry about realtors and schools when I come back over Easter break. I'm looking for some things (say, top 5) that will settle my relo-blues/nerves and convince me that Charlotte is a community we will be happy in. (We are coming from New Orleans.)
So, let's see...Where's a great place for lunch? A great shop for housewares/goodies? What's the best grocery store to get groceries for dinner that night? Where's a place that will make me say "wow"?
We are finally moving to Charlotte -- my DH is moving at the end of this month, and I will be travelling with him to get his apartment squared away before I fly home. I have never been to Charlotte, and he's only been for work, so we both know very little. I have 24hrs after we arrive that I need to leave for home again.
SO, What do I do? His apartment will be in southpark, I think. I am planning on driving around to explore -- I will worry about realtors and schools when I come back over Easter break. I'm looking for some things (say, top 5) that will settle my relo-blues/nerves and convince me that Charlotte is a community we will be happy in. (We are coming from New Orleans.)
So, let's see...Where's a great place for lunch? A great shop for housewares/goodies? What's the best grocery store to get groceries for dinner that night? Where's a place that will make me say "wow"?
TIA!
Amy
Amy, glad this is all coming together for you guys Since you will be in the Southpark area you MUST go the the Morrocroft Harris Teeter for your groceries - love that place! It is a beautiful grocery store.
For lunch or dinner head over to Sharon Amity Road near Providence Rd and check out Hotel Charlotte. They actually serve some Louisiana dishes that will help you to feel less homesick After lunch take a right on Providence Rd and head toward uptown to see Myers Park and Dilworth - the two oldest neighborhoods in Charlotte with some grand old estate type homes. At Providence and Queens Rd hang a left to pass by the beautiful Queens College campus. Consult a map and see how easy uptown can be to drive in - ride by the Carolina Panthers stadium the new Bobcats arena, among other places in uptown. Heading away from uptown on Providence Rd (hwy 16) you can drive all the way to the quaint little town of Waxhaw and see many nice neighborhoods and retail areas along the way. The road literally deadends there in the heart of Waxhaw, you can't miss it There are so many other parts of Charlotte to see, but those are the ones in the immediate area where you will be staying that I think are worth a look. Have a great trip!
I would like to suggest that you spend one afternoon at Phillips Place (in Southpark). Have lunch at Dean & Deluca (gourmet grocery & fabulous shop). Then walk amongst the many shops :Restoration Hardware, Smith & Hawkins, BD Jeffries( beautiful gift/antique shop), Bedside Manor, and many more. There are also clothing shops, movie theatre and a day spa here. PF Chang is another favorite for dining here.
Afterwards yopu can easily get to Myers Park/Eastover & Dilworth for a feel of housing options.
a question regarding what i've been reading here...
it seems as though places to shop/eat/visit are more of the chain-store, franchise, mallish variety. is this the predominant theme in charlotte? i mean...are eating dominated by the pf changs, groceries dominated by the big chains and shops dominated by the kind you see expurgated within every mall - no matter where?
aren't there any little stores, farmers markets, boutiques, ethnic restaurants, places to rent and ride a horse, hiking trails, indy bookstores, music clubs, coffehouses, museums or galleries, pick-up games at parks, street vendors, etc etc etc?
it seems as though places to shop/eat/visit are more of the chain-store, franchise, mallish variety. is this the predominant theme in charlotte? i mean...are eating dominated by the pf changs, groceries dominated by the big chains and shops dominated by the kind you see expurgated within every mall - no matter where?
aren't there any little stores, farmers markets, boutiques, ethnic restaurants, places to rent and ride a horse, hiking trails, indy bookstores, music clubs, coffehouses, museums or galleries, pick-up games at parks, street vendors, etc etc etc?
c'mon...gotta be there somewhere people!
I was just relaying one of my favorite places to go-Phillips Place. It is a very charming and attractive walking area with trees and storefronts(not a mall). Most of the stores there are independently owned (Coplans, Bedside Manor,Magic Windows, Montaldos,BD Jeffries,Modern Salon, Bamboo). It just so happen that some of the shops are national shops in a beautiful setting. I love PF Changs food and find tons of wonderful things for the home at Restoration Hardware.
Yes, we have an entire street,Providence Road, in Myers Park that is filled with locally owned shops as well. You have to drive from one to the next as they are spaced blocks apart, so it is not feasible to walk them. Here you will find art galleries, clothing stores, flower shops,gift stores,wine shops, many antique stores and a slew of bars/restaurants that are all locally owned.
The best indy bookstore is at Park Road shopping center-run by a lady that actually reads and reccommends excellent books for many book clubs in town.
For hiking, I go to Latta Park near lake Norman for local flat trails, and to the mountains of NC (Blowing Rock) for more challenging terrain.
We have one of the finest galleries in NC in The Mint Museum of Art and Mint Museum of Craft & Design with noted collections of American art, pre-Columbian art, American and European ceramics, American decorative arts, historic costumes and accessories, African art, Asian art, historic maps, contemporary art and photography Hugh McColl( formerlly the CEO of Bank of America) has established the MC Coll Center for Visual Art, an urban artists community and gallery .
So yes, we have many options for many tastes here in Charlotte. I have only listed a few.
it seems as though places to shop/eat/visit are more of the chain-store, franchise, mallish variety. is this the predominant theme in charlotte? i mean...are eating dominated by the pf changs, groceries dominated by the big chains and shops dominated by the kind you see expurgated within every mall - no matter where?
I have the same questions, anonentity! Crikey, if one has 24 hours and eats even one meal at a chain restaurant, seems like a misguided approach to taking in a city. Unless it's an socio anthro exploration into homogenised consume-valued living.
Though if that's the local culture, maybe one is constrained to find authentic history.
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Since you will be in the Southpark area you MUST go the the Morrocroft Harris Teeter for your groceries - love that place! It is a beautiful grocery store.
Keep them coming!
