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I am looking to relocate to the Charlotte area and would like to get some "inside" information to better plan my trip. What are some of the better suburbs around Charlotte? Good schools, safe area, etc. I also enjoy several outdoor activities - biking, hiking, kayaking, running and horseback riding - are activities like these available?
Where will you be working? How do you feel in regards to commuting (time wise)?
I would stick with either the southern or northern parts of the city IMO. Those are the "newer" areas & are safe, clean, affordable (for the most part). If you can afford more you might want to look into some of the older established areas of Charlotte like Meyer's Park or Dilworth. You can still find horse stables in the outer lying areas of Charlotte (like down in SC or Union County- not sure about the northern part of the city). Charlotte is only a few hours drive to the mountains so if you want to go hiking or biking you can always take a trip up there. You are close enough that you can make it a day trip if you really want to.
There's a lot of outdoor stuff to do around Charlotte. greenways, parks, a whitewater center, a couple of lakes, some small state parks. I live in Ft Mill, a suburb right next to Charlotte but in SC and like it a lot.
I live right in Uptown Charlotte. But if you are looking for good school districts the 2 best in the whole Metro area are Mooresville, NC (city schools only) or Fort Mill, SC.
Commute into Charlotte from Mooresville would be 45min to 1hr normally and if it rains 1hr plus. Fort Mill commute on average is probably 30min but allow 45 if it rains.
If you stay in Mecklenburg County I personally think that Huntersville is great. And your commute would be about 30 minutes. Huntersville has boomed like crazy. And if you have 2 people in your car, they have HOV lanes coming from the North.
I concur on the Huntersville. Best subdivisions to meet what you are looking for is Wynfield Forest and Cedarfield both of them have greenways for hiking or biking or running also Huntersville Park across from Rosedale is very popular for biking and runners; Huntersville has low crime.
You can horseback ride and Kayak at Latta Plantation within 4 minutes of those neighborhoods. Horseback (http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/Park+and+Rec/Activities/Outdoors/Horseback.htm - broken link)
Is the Matthews area any good? That's where my new job is, and I'm wanting to stay close to work. Here in Mississippi, I had a 5 minute drive to work (and I lived in the burbs just outside the city of Jackson), so I've become accustomed to a quick jaunt back and forth. Saves money on lunch, too.
Matthews is very nice...however your options to get into the city (Uptown) are limited and VERY clogged during rush hour. You are looking at 1hr easy with no rain (PLEASE PLEASE rain) or wrecks, but if you don't work Uptown then that is not an issue.
matthews is a very nice area. If you work and live in matthews your commute will not be bad. Go online to NC School Report Cards and look at schools in that area. There are tons of outdoor activities to do all around the city.....
Near matthews is also mint hill, waxhaw and pineville just to name a few other places you may want to look in to. Good luck!!!!
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What are some of the better suburbs around Charlotte? Good schools, safe area, etc. I also enjoy several outdoor activities - biking, hiking, kayaking, running and horseback riding - are activities like these available?
