Archive for March 25th, 2010

There is No Place Like HOME-Charlotte, NC

March 25th, 2010 categories: Buying your Home, Charlotte Living, Great Neighborhoods

There’s no place like home! Happiness is found in your own backyard! You don’t have to go far to find adventure!

Sure, these are clichés, but when you look around the City of Charlotte, you’ll see that we really don’t have to go far to find fun and adventure! Especially when you do a little sniffing around…

Getting some fresh air and clearing out the lungs in Charlotte is easier than you might think. We can celebrate the flora and the fauna here just as well as they do in the mountains. Enjoying the green ways of our city is more than just walking a trail, each park area is unique and has something to offer. Take the Pineville-Matthews road area where you can find the William R. Davie park. This park is just one of the many amenities that make South Charlotte so desirable. The Davie Dog park is located here, along with a basketball court, four softball fields, a lake, a playground, two soccer fields (one natural turf, one artificial), restrooms and covered area, a volleyball court, and much more are available for our enjoyment. If you’re looking for just a quick in-and-out entrance to the green way so you can run, walk your dog, or ride your bicycle, there are a few parking areas in South Charlotte, too. The lower McAlpine Creek, McMullen Creek, and Four Mile Creek Green ways have spots at: 11817 Johnston Rd., 8135 Pineville-Matthews Rd., and near the Shoppes at Piper Glen. These are all super easy to Google map. However, be aware that parking is not allowed in the lot at the shopping center for park goers. There is a great deal of on-street parking available. (I also suggest parking at the Rea Rd. library and walking to the greenway if needed. Their lot to the far right is never completely full.)

The Queen City has so much to offer its residents that we often forget to take advantage of the things that are right under our noses! Especially the programs and services that our tax dollars are contributing toward (grant money also rounds out the budgets). For instance, did you know that the Parks and Recreation Department sponsors wine tasting trips for retirees and active seniors? On Saturday, March 23^rd, is the N.C. Winery Tour. Active senior adults will visit the Shelton Winery and the Childress Winery. You can purchase your own lunch at the Shelton Vineyards Restaurant, or you are invited to pack your own picnic lunch. The outing is just $49 per person. The transportation takes place aboard a comfortable, luxury motor coach, which departs at 7:00 a.m. and returns at 6:00 p.m. Contact Michelle Hitselberger or call (980) 722-2251 for more information or to sign up.

Now, on the opposite side of the age spectrum, kids can have the chance to boogie-oogie-oogie, through the NCDT REACH program. This dance program is for children ages 8-10, through the North Carolina Dance Theatre. It offers classes in ballet and “world dance forms,” and it includes the necessary dance attire and the kids get tickets to NC Dance Theater performances, free of charge! This is an excellent way to develop an interest in theater and dance in your youngsters. Not only will they learn dance steps, but professional dancers will inspire the children as they learn! Auditions for the fall program are held in August with classes beginning in September. For more information contact April Berry at 704.372.0101 x109 or aberry@ncdance.org.

Don’t forget to take advantage of what you can find in your own backyard! You can save gas, time, and money by enjoying the beautiful green ways of South Charlotte. Plus, check the websites of our local government departments like the Parks and Recreation site. You never know what you’ll find right under your nose!

Authored by Donna Johnston | Discussion: 3 Comments »