My wife and I are going to Charlotte for a few days. Any hidden gems to check out? Anything within an hour drive that you would recommend. We are thinking of Charlotte as a possible place to move in the future and would be interested in knowing the best areas to live in and around the city, maybe we can check them out while we are there.

Aha. When is this trip?
Best places are very relative, depending on if you need to get to a specific place for your job. Charlotte has really beautiful neighborhoods, near downtown, and out in the suburbs.
We have two major lake communities--Lake Norman to the north of the city and near the beautiful college town of Davidson. Lake Wylie is to the south (I guess) and is in SC. Towns nearby in SC you might like to look at are Fort Mill and Rock Hill (also a college town with Winthrop University).
There's lots to explore in downtown Charlotte. Good restaurants in many parts of town. SouthPark is a huge hub now for living, office, and shopping.
We have truly wonderful downtown museums. We also have great places that have been on Guy Fieri's Diners Driveins and Dives!! Hope you enjoy!!

Will be there in a few days, doing some last minute planning. Any places to stay away from? What are considered the bad parts of the city or area?

Where will you be staying? The Residence Inns are very nice--there is one right across from Panther Stadium in downtown, and there is one at SouthPark.
I don't know that you would actually go to anywhere considered "bad". I guess north of I277 might not be as desirable. Our downtown is quite safe and nice--even for living areas.

Just not familiar with the area at all, never been. We live outside of D.C. and we live in a high crime County. The D.C. area is very segregated when it comes to money, education, and color. There are areas that are more black, more white, more hispanic, more middle eastern, uneducated, highly educated, low paying jobs, high paying jobs, etc. I have a house that we bought for under $200,000 and I have a friend and brother-in-law that bought the same size house as ours (maybe a bit smaller) but in Northern Virginia for close to $400,000 and $600,000. The one that did the $600,000 just sold his over a year ago for $700,000+. There is just a big difference in where you live and the attitude towards it in this area. One of the reasons we hate it.




Have not booked a hotel yet, but have one in mind that got good ratings on Tripadvisor.

I've lived in Charlotte for many years and I'm originally from NC, so I am quite familiar with the region and state too. Charlotte has grown rapidly in the past 30 years. There are many nice areas in which to live, but it really depends on your price range as it does everywhere. If you are looking for upscale areas, you might want to tour Ballentyne or the Lake Norman Area. If you're looking for a nice energetic middle class community then you might want Matthews or there is some growth going on in Mint Hill. There are many nice areas and you would also want to consider whether you want in Mecklenburg County or one of the adjoining counties.

If you are looking for something to do, you can't go wrong with the 'Christmas Town USA' which is a little former mill village that has been recognized nationally for its awesome Christmas Decorations.
http://www.mcadenville-christmastown.com/

A couple of hours to the west, in Asheville is where the Biltmore is a big time attraction at this time of year too. Additionally, the speedway lights are a big attraction too.
http://www.charlottemotorspeedway.co...way_christmas/

There are lots of nice malls if you are interested in that. Amoung them are SouthPark Mall, Carolina Place Mall, Concord Mills Mall and NorthLake Mall.

There is http://www.blumenthalarts.org/ which houses Belk Theatre and they have fantastic performance. We also have a fabulous theatre at the local Community College. It's won widespread awards and we have a new theatre there too. http://tix.cpcc.edu/

There's a lot to do with the sports teams, race track, etc. too. If you have specific questions about something, I'll be happy to try to answer them.

jedivader I think you'd be happy in the Matthews area and there is a Marriott there. You also might want to check in the Carolina Place area as there are quite a few Mid-range hotels in that area too. If you're coming on weekends or don't mind paying an upscale price, the Ballentyne Resort Hotel is the place you want to stay.

Just my opinion, but I'd rather be more "in" town than in the further suburbs and deal with the traffic to get into town. If you are actually looking at those areas, they are fine, of course.
These are largely shopping areas--they don't exactly represent the historic and more central parts of Charlotte. Carolina Place in particular is a traffic nightmare.
But there are lots of hotel choices in lots of areas. Just another point of view for consideration.

Much of the metrolina area is moving to the surburbs though. So, don't forget the Weddington area which is a huge attraction as is Waxhaw which is a formerly small country village, but it has been restored and protected and is a booming area now. I'm not proposing any area but just making you aware of the areas. While I have worked in real estate and still have my license, I no longer work in it. That's a simple disclosure so you realize that I don't have any motives nor am I pushing any particular area. Many people even prefer to go into SC which is only a few miles away and you'll find Rock Hill, Fort Mill and other growing areas.

Thanks for the info. If we ever moved, we'd want to be close to good schools, good communities and homes prices under $250,000.

Are there benifits to living in SC vs. NC?

Is traffic that bad in the Charlotte area? D.C. area trafiic is horrible but luckily we live a few minutes to the Metro train and take that in.

Presently, taxes are somewhat lower in SC and gas prices are lower there, but then there's the commute which is rather crowded if you drive I-77. Many people think it is worth the drive though there has long been a discussion about adding a payroll tax, so there are tradeoffs.

If you are interested in the schools, something you really want to know is that Mecklenburg Schools have some things that have gone on long term that may be disconcerting to you. There are some good schools and some not so good schools, but everyone that I know of is bussed out of their district for at least 3 years. you don't have any choice of the school that your area feeds to. They do get changed occasionally, but never buy a house based on it sitting in what you perceive to be a 'good school' district. Always ask what school it feeds to and what years. Yet that can be changed by the Board of Education. Charlotte was the target of the landmark Supreme Court Decision that created this mess. It costs taxpayers a fortune and in the 40 some years that it's been in effect I don't see much improvement in the situation. JMO. So, look at your options if schools are a big issue for you. There are a number of good and better private schools many of which are religion oriented but some aren't. That's the #1 reason many people move to Union County, or Cabarrus County, Iredell County, Gaston County or South Carolina. Weddington is in Union County as is Indian Trail and Monroe. There are a number of good locations in each county but it depends on where you will be working. The people working in or near SouthPark, Ballentyne area, Matthews, etc. fine Union County the closest and that matters during rush hour as Charlotte does have a big rush hour problem at this time and though work is being done, it never seems to keep pace. If you were working near the University area (which is a really good university) then you might want to look at Cabarrus County. If you were working in the northern part of Mecklenburg you might want to look at Iredell and for the western part would be Gaston County. If you get a map of the region, you'll see how all of that makes sense. One thing I've found that many people like about Union County is that Sun Valley middle school and Sun Valley High School are awarded 'Governor's Schools or Excellence'. They are the type of schools that I think of when I think of schools, but that's just a side note. It may be that you need to live in a different area due to your work. You could though find a nice home in your price range near those schools. One thing I don't think you want to do though is live in the Lake Norman area and work in SouthPark. That would not only be a long commute, but maddening during rush hour. So, that's the sort of thing I always look at when assessing an area.

Thanks for all the detail.

You're welcome.

There are also very nice neighborhoods near the city center. Yes, traffic is bad.
DD just purchased a home in the $270K range that is in quite a good school district in Old Stonehaven/Medearis developments, within a mile of SouthPark. You do not have to move to Waxhaw, Weddington, etc.--unless that appeals to you.
Homes are selling FAST at the moment--there is little time between a listing and a sale. Our son has just sold and bought a house within a week's time in the Sherwood Forest area--near his sister!!
There are areas that are quickly gentrifying--Morningside area--and in some of those,the boat has already sailed--$500,000 houses next to shotgun houses!! But they are very attractive--near Central Avenue.
There are of course areas that are mostly African American, Hispanic, and VERY wealthy. I would stay away from the Eastway corridor to Shamrock.
There are many internet sites to look at homes now. If you are interested in meeting with an agent, I can give you some names.
You will want to live relatively near where your job is--Caroline has outlined some good ideas. We have only one light rail line at the moment that runs from Pineville to uptown along the South Blvd corridor.
Madison Park is another intown neighborhood that is near the light rail line and has homes that may be in your price range. It has been a rapidly gentrifying division for some years now.

If you are

Stonehaven and the others though are still in the Meck County school districts. There are a number of areas to stay away from, but if you stay in Meck. there is still the school busing problem unless you decide on a private school. I'm not pushing any area. I'm just giving a realistic overview. Everyone has to analyze their own priorities and needs. There are nice homes in many areas both in and out of Meck, but most people look at the overall picture. I wouldn't want to live in some of the busiest areas as there is a lot of pollution too. So, everything has to be considered and that's my point. I never felt that just having a house for sale was enough reason to buy it. It is one of those decisions you have to live with for a long time and it's good to know the whole picture. Some people (single, etc.) like uptown Charlotte, but I wouldn't live there due to the congestion. Many people with families feel the same way. Kids need good schools and a place they can play or enjoy away from the hustle and bustle of uptown traffic. JMO

I didn't disagree with you--I was trying to add to it. Your picture of the school system may be a little jaundiced, but school is to be considered--as that is something they listed. We don't know how old the child/children are. If in high school, then it is easier.
The real point is that the Charlotte area has many attractive neighborhoods of many levels of price--some nudging right up to one another.
You really ARE pushing a non-Mecklenburg county (which goes all the way up I77) since you say the neighborhoods I have mentioned are still in the county.
There are magnet schools also. I wouldn't live uptown with kids because of play space not pollution or congestion!!
Yes, there are many reasons to choose where you live.
But my other point of mentioning Medearis and Stonehaven is that it might seem out of their price range. When DD was looking we were quite amazed and pleased at the price range available in close in neighborhoods.
We are getting ready to sell our home also--and I also have had my RE license in the past--and have taken real estate pictures all over the county.

Well, I'm not sure on what you based your assertion that I am 'jaundiced', but I suspect that you have a house for sale (or several) that won't move and are trying to pick up a sale. That's okay but the gentleman can make the decision on whether the schools don't matter and he is quite capable of deciding on if he wants to hire you as his agent. So, that's enough of that. I've said nothing that is 'jaundiced'. The length of time one has in an area has a lot to do with their 'insight' too, so since this is a discussion forum I'm simply giving him some overview of both the city and the region. I'm not painting the 'rosy picture' but reality. That's all.

The original question has already more than been answered. He has more than enough information to conduct his 'due diligence' research, so I'll leave it up to him and I'm sure he will make the right decision, whatever it is.

Alright you two, slow it down a bit. :}

My wife is still pregnant, we have just been talking about moving at some point, especially when the baby becomes school age. I have always said I would never pay for private schooling, but around our area it is just about the only choice.

We both have only ever lived in the D.C. area, so it is a daunting task to think about where we'd want to move.

I find the quality of life in the D.C. area to be the pits.

Just to be very clear, I have lived in Charlotte for 50 years. I am NOT an agent, never did sell, but had my license. My home is not in the price range. I probably know 15 or more RE agents personally in different brokerages. The good thing about asking an agent to show areas is that they can pinpoint things quickly--and you don't have to make a permanent commitment immediately. It is just a suggestion of a way to be introduced to a strange city by a knowledgeable person and is done all the time.
I don't think the picture painted of the school system is exactly fair--but the schools are probably the number one area to look at if you have children. There are a number of possibilities, including charter schools, private, public, public magnets.
We have just happened to have had a lot of current experience in looking at houses in their price range with DD returning to Charlotte.

I hope the OP and his family love Charlotte as much as I do, and have since moving here. There is a rich quality of life in Charlotte with a very generous corporate giving community in the businesses which adds up to fine museums and agencies and amenities. I have always felt Charlotte was a big city that feels small and accessible to all.