Charlotte Really Does Have It All
What’s drawing everyone into the city of Charlotte? Here in the Queen City, you truly get the best of both worlds: a growing city surrounded by beautiful nature. Prepare for lots of new opportunities in the business district and an incredibly affordable cost of living! Don’t forget all the amenities of city life, like dining at trendy new restaurants and breweries, great transportation across the whole city, opportunities to cheer on your favorite team at all kinds of sporting events, and of course the lively music and arts scene. Charlotte offers all of this to its residents, plus the added bonus of the city’s natural beauty. See more about why you’ll love life in Charlotte!
Cost of Living + Quality of Life
In Charlotte, you get the same amenities as the bigger cities, but at a fraction of the cost! You can easily navigate through the thriving business district, the arts and music district, and the rest of this amazing city on the light rail. What makes Charlotte even better than other metropolitan areas is the mix of nature and city life! You no longer have to sacrifice cleanliness and beautiful scenery to live in the city - in Charlotte you can have it all!
When you compare Charlotte to big cities like NYC, you’ll see why so many are leaving the Big Apple and are all headed down to the Queen City! Depending on if you’re looking to rent or buy, you can expect to cut your housing expenses in half when you move from New York to Charlotte! You’ll also save a great deal on other everyday expenses like transportation, taxes, gasoline, eating out and groceries. With all these savings, you can afford to get out and enjoy all the outings and adventures you may have been missing out on before.
Retirement Life
Looking for a great place to call home after retirement? Charlotte has so many retirement communities to choose from and was recently named one of Forbes’ Best Places to Retire!
Whether you’re looking to enjoy a slower paced life in the suburbs, or crave endless ways to stay busy in the heart of the city, there’s a place in Charlotte for you! Between the city’s rich history, the beautiful seasonal weather and natural landscapes, the exciting professional sports scene, the unique dining and entertainment options, and the thriving city life, you’ll never run out of things to keep you busy!
Foodie Central
It’s no surprise to constantly see Charlotte based eateries all over the “Best Of” section in all the top food and beverage magazines and blogs! Whether you’re in the mood for happy hour drinks at the hottest new bar, a gourmet meal on the waterfront, or brunch in the trendiest cafes, you’re sure to satisfy your cravings in the Queen City!
Check out some of Charlotte’s best food tours:
FEAST Food Tours: Enjoy the uniquely distinct cuisine of several Charlotte neighborhoods along this walking tour. Your expert guides will tell you all about each culinary treat you sample!
Taste Carolina Gourmet Food Tours: Explore Uptown Charlotte with one of two excursions, The Spirit of Charlotte or the Local to Charlotte. You’ll learn all about the Queen City’s rich history while sampling chef creations!.
Taste and Glide Segway Tour: If you’re looking to try some of Charlotte’s most popular culinary delights, look no further! On this fun segway tour, you’ll savor Mert’s Heart & Soul and all the best dishes from 7th Street Public Market.
Southern Food Bicycle Tour: Want to burn off some of those calories while eating to your heart’s content? Try this three-hour bike food tour while stopping to devour Charlotte’s best fried chicken and barbecue along the way!
Halcyon Flavors for the Earth: If you’re looking to enjoy some art during your dining experience, this is the tour for you! Enjoy small plate samplings at the Mint Museum Uptown followed by a one-hour guided tour through the museum’s art collections.
Thirsty for an ice cold pint to pair with all this great food? There are over 30 unique breweries in Charlotte, so there’s always a new craft brew on tap!
Check out some of our favorite Queen City breweries here:
Olde Mecklenburg Brewery: The Founder of OMB firmly believes “not everything can be made local, but beer can and should be.” Enjoy your perfectly chilled beer with their German cuisine, burgers, and salads.
NoDa Brewing Company: Established in 2011, NoDa Brewing Co. is the second oldest brewery located on N. Tryon and Davidson. Enjoy taking a tour of the Tap Room and plenty of live music. Their menu features seasonal, specialty and limited-release brews!
Triple C Brewing Company: Triple C has won two bronze medals at the Great American Beer Festival! Located in the South End of Charlotte, this brewery offers several IPAs on tap and is always looking for new ways to give back and support the local community.
Wooden Robot: Operating in a 15-barrel urban farmhouse and using 100% malt and specialty ingredients, Wooden Robot supports local farms in many ways. Enjoy some grub from various food trucks at the South End location, and Billy Jacks delivers to the NoDa location. What’s even better, is that you can bring your pups with you while you enjoy your brew!
Calling All Sports Fans
All you sports enthusiasts will love living in Charlotte as it is home to several major sports teams! Whether you root for our local Charlotte teams or want to see your favorite visiting team while they’re in town, you’ll love catching a game with friends! From Football and Baseball to Soccer and NASCAR, here are are favorite local teams to root for:
Football: Head to the Bank of America Stadium in Uptown to cheer on our Carolina Panthers! Our team has won six division titles and is one of the few teams who actually owns their own stadium!
Basketball: Owned by NBA Legend, Michael Jordan, the Charlotte Hornets are the team to beat in the NBA! You can catch a game at the Spectrum Center in Uptown this season.
Baseball: You can get your fill on baseball games at the BB&T Ballpark in Uptown! Show your support for the community and cheer on our minor league team, the Charlotte Knights this season!
Hockey: The Carolina Hurricanes are just a couple hours’ drive from Charlotte, but you can still get your Hockey fix within city limits! Check out our AHL team, the Charlotte Checkers, at one of their home games in Time Warner Cable Arena.
Soccer: Charlotte is gaining its own brand new MLS team in March of 2021! You can also catch USL games at the Mecklenburg County Sportsplex and root for the Charlotte Independence!
NASCAR: Attention racing fans, have you checked out the events schedule at the Charlotte Motor Speedway? When there aren’t races taking place, you can take tours of the Speedway, Dirt Track and Dragway!
Enjoying the Great Outdoors
What truly separates Charlotte from other major U.S. cities is the incredible balance of city life intertwined with the natural beauty of Southern landscapes. Whether you’re constantly looking for new adventures, or would rather enjoy the outdoors peacefully, there are plenty of opportunities for all nature lovers!
If you’re looking for new ways to stay active, you can’t miss the U.S. National Whitewater Center! The center is known for being home to the largest man-made whitewater river in the world and offers the best whitewater rafting, kayaking, and paddleboarding experiences. If water sports aren’t your thing, you might prefer ziplining, rock climbing, mountain biking, or taking a yoga class there! After a long day of outdoor activities, enjoy live music during the River Jam in the Summer, or one of their year-round music festivals!
For a more relaxing way to enjoy the outdoors, visit Lake Noman! It’s the largest man-made lake in the Carolinas and only a 20 minute drive from Uptown. You can still stay active by paddle boarding or kayaking while enjoying the serene scenery. If you're just looking for some R&R, it’s the perfect place to take the boat out, fish for the day, or just soak up some sun.
All you floral lovers, be sure to check out all the beautiful blooms at Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens and UNC Botanical Gardens! Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden offers several breathtaking gardens to stroll through and enjoy the scenery. You can take painting and meditation classes, or simply enjoy the day surrounded by nature. If you’re looking to enjoy all the lively plants on a budget, UNC Charlotte offers free admission to their botanical gardens and greenhouse! For those interested in expanding their botanical knowledge, the university offers classes about identifying various plant species, making art with pressed flowers, and making natural watercolor paints from your favorite plants!
If you’re looking for a great hike, Charlotte has so many hiking trails, campsites and greenways to choose from! Crowders Mountain State Park has 11 different trails to choose from with views of the beautiful meadows and peaceful lake. Whether you’re looking for an easy walk to catch up with friends, or something more adventurous for advanced hikers, you’re sure to find the perfect trail for your hiking style!
Arts + Culture
Looking to add some more art and culture into your life? Enjoy browsing mid-century modern art styles in all 36,500 square feet of the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art. For some more historical art pieces, Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture celebrates all forms of African-American art including music, dance, film, literature, theater and visual arts. For our dramatic arts fans, be sure to look into Blumenthal Performing Arts, where you can enjoy the best shows off broadway, concerts, dance performances, and the beloved Charlotte Jazz Festival! To learn all about North Carolina’s history in the music industry, spend a day at the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame! Here you can view memorabilia from our favorite homegrown musicians including James Taylor, Charlie Daniels, Clay Aiken, Ben Folds, Randy Travis, and Kellie Pickler!
Business Opportunities
What makes Charlotte an even better place to live, is that it’s a great place to work! There are limitless business opportunities, including some top Fortune 1000 Companies, in Charlotte’s thriving business district, Uptown. A few big names include Bank of America, Lowe’s, Nucor, Duke Energy, Sonic Automotive, Brighthouse Financial, and the Coca-Cola Bottling Company. From Finance and Investment, to Construction and Retail, there are endless opportunities for you no matter what field you’re in.
That’s just the beginning - more and more businesses are headed to Charlotte, including another top Fortune 1000 company, Honeywell! North Carolina is quickly becoming a hotspot for corporate headquarters for several reasons. With the lowest corporate income tax rates in the country, businesses based here keep more of their hard earned profits which ensures their continued growth and success. Not only do these businesses love the great financial benefits, but they have the best employees in their field. The workforce here is highly skilled and continually improving from new education techniques. In fact, North Carolina businesses are leading the country with innovative patents. Business owners love working in Charlotte for these amazing savings and innovations, and their employees love the job security and endless opportunities that the city offers!
In Conclusion
It almost sounds too good to be true, but Charlotte really does have it all! With the upbeat city vibes in Uptown, the classic southern charm throughout the city, and endless opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors, there is something for everyone in the Queen City! And with a cost of living that can’t be beat for this amazing quality of life, what’s holding you back? Come see how incredible life in Charlotte is!
