Most of my Raleigh and Charlotte friends are married. So single life is not my forte anymore. I like Charlotte, but visit Raleigh occasionally to see basketball games and friends in Chapel Hill.

Either city is nice, but Charlotte has a bigger city feel. Depends on if you like the mountains. If so, choose Charlotte.

Raleigh is closer to some beaches in Wilmington, but just as far to the Outer Banks as Charlotte is to Charleston (3 hours).

Charlotte is changing rapidly, lots of high rise condos going up Uptown. lots of suburb growth near Ballantyne/I-485.

Regarding the Japanese community. I answered someone's (maybe yours) question about that. There seems to be an active Japanese community in charlotte.

I live in the Charlotte area, but I'm almost 34 and married for 8 yrs.
Somebody mentioned Birkdale Village, which is in the town of Huntersville (suburb)where I live, near Lake Norman. It's a fabulous community with housing and shopping. The large majority of the population around Lake Norman is families with stay-at-home-moms or retirees unless you get into the water/lake/boat crowd around Lake Norman.
Search charlotte.com for a recent (in the past year) newspaper article in The Charlotte Observer about young, single people living here. The impression is that people come here for the banking jobs and then don't have a life, acording to the article. It seemed to indicate young professionals would rather live in the Triangle area. I guess it is what you make it for yourself. The city is concerned about continuing to draw in young professionals. I would definitely consider Uptown Charlotte as a place to live. (It's the same as downtown. Both terms are used interchangeably.) The Young Affiliates of the Mint Museum group is popular. There are lots of local papers and magazines which list groups and activities to get involved in.
Pro sports teams (football, basketball, AAA baseball, NASCAR, and AAA hockey) and lots of outdoor type activites are popular, as well as things like art and wine tastings. There is a white water rafting park being built over the next few years that is going to be a big deal.
I moved to Charlotte when I was about 25 and was very happy, although I had to make a concentrated effort to be social and get involved with people.
Based on people I know here and others I've met from the Triangle area, they all seem to be happy in either place, especially people who have relocated. Both places have lots of new development and housing options. Many people have relocated to both areas so everyone is in the same position of wanting to make new friends and build a new life.

rcs, you might like Tokyo better than Raleigh or Charlotte. There are nice people (of all races) everywhere. Have you heard of "when in Rome????"

What is UP with that?

I don't know, but I'm blushing at the rudeness.

rcs, I did not intend to be rude. I am a blunt speaking person. I hate to hear a person come from one country to another and then complain about it not being like their country of origin. It does not matter if it's an American in Spain or a Japanese person in the U.S. The best Japanese communities are in Japan if that is what you need. If you are not happy being with the majority of U.S. citizens, you should not be here. I am not being disrespectful. That is just a fact.

I'm American, and my husband is from Japan. He's been here quite a while and is about as American as he can be. At the same time, it would be pleasant to participate in cultural activities that might exist in our next home city. That's really all my question is about. I do understand what you're saying, otherwise.

Gretchen, thanks for all the advice, I'm looking forward to getting there!

I am 28 and live in Charlotte, I would recommend it over Raleigh. I would second South End/Dilworth or Uptown as places to live- they seem to have the most action. Uptown is a great place to live- my boyfriend rented an apartment there, and we could walk everywhere. They finally put in a grocery store last year, which is nice. Dilworth/Southend has lots of bars/shops/restaurants, and is very close to uptown. There is a trolley that runs from Southend to Uptown, so you don't have to drive. I have been to Raleigh and know people that live there, but it doesn't seem as vibrant or up-and-coming as Charlotte. If you need any other information or want me to send you some apartment guides or the like, email me at [email protected].

No, LeeLane--you ARE rude not blunt. There is no reason to tell someone they may not have contact with their own countrymen while living in the US. You probably are a freedom fry eater also.

Also,(if you move to CLT) check out CHOA.com. Its a social group, not neccessarily singles. You pay a monthly membership fee and can participate in activities such as hiking, camping, wine tastings etc. I have heard it is a good place to meet people when you are new to town.

Charlotte is a great place to live, I moved back here a few years ago. Best areas for young people (I am 27 and single) is Dilworth, Elizabeth, Chantilly, SouthPark, and uptown (if you like the city feel). I agree with Heidiho, the Mint Museum Young Affiliates have great events (wine tastings, happy hours, and a very popular Derby event). Check them out, I think they have a website, you can always google it. Really great place to meet (and network) with young professionals. You can read about them and their events in lots of local mags/papers (Creative Loafing and Rhino Times are great places to find info on happenings in Charlotte in general). I don't know about CHOA, haven't heard great things about that one...but honestly have never gotten involved there, so who knows. Good luck!

Sorry, LeeLane, I also found your comment rude, but I suspect you don't even know why you are rude -- and it has nothing to do with what's a "fact."

You didn't even think about <i>why</i> RCS might have wanted a Japanese community. Your assumption was that rcs was an immigrant who wanted to avoid being assimilated into what you think is &quot;real&quot; American-ism, and your attitude toward that idea was negative. You can't be &quot;Japanese&quot; and still be American? That thinking put thousands into internment camps in the second world war, to our national shame.

Otherwise: First: if you married an Italian and were living in Italy, you might want to know where some Americans lived, just for the touch of home and sociability. Tell me you don't say &quot;hey&quot; when you're traveling and you hear someone who sounds like they're from your hometown! You can be in Rome and be both Italian and whatever else (French, American, etc.).

Second: What about other possibilities? a. rcs has been to Japan, has friends, wants to keep up language skills; b. rcs has adopted a Japanese child; c. rcs is married to someone Japanese who would like to have contact with whoever might be around from Japan; d. rcs has a passion for Japanese food and/or art and/or music; e. either rcs or spouse works for or with Japanese businessmen and needs to keep bi-cultural skills up to snuff. And so on.

There was no excuse for a try-Tokyo comment.

Wow leelane. Assume much?

rcs, you've been given some great advice. I think I read Gretchen is from the Charlotte area and along with others have steered you in the right direction.

Charlotte has some of the very best public high schools in the country.

Thanks so much for the advice and information on Charlotte. We're definitely going to move there, sometime this summer I hope! I'll go to look around for the first time later this month to get started. I'm thinking southwest Charlotte in the Lake Wylie direction looks pretty nice (from what I've seen on the internet).

An early welcome to Charlotte !! Gretchen has provided some great info. The only item I will dispute is in regards to the school systems. They are (generally speaking) too large, over-crowded and not the best. There is, however, a multitude of schooling options available outside the public school system(s). Because of this, we currently have certain areas trying to break away from the Charlotte-Mecklanburg school system &amp; form their own. I wish them the best of luck. Certainly you won't have to worry about that for a while...

The breakaway districts are living in a dream world--as if they could afford to run their own school systems. With the departure in June of our current superintendent and assistant there will be better control I believe. He was a mistake from the beginning.
To the original poster, if you would like some real estate agent recommendations I would be glad to do so. I have a number of friends in various brokerages that you could interview. The part of charlotte you live in may heavily depend on where your work place is. You will want to factor in traffic.

topping for Sarah

I'm pretty new here, but I was offered a job in Charlotte. I am moving from Ft. Lauderdale. The housing market here is insane. So that would be one benefit. I have been married for 4 years, and have a 3 yr old and 10 mounth. I am 29. I was looking for a nice area not too far away from downtown, but close to good schools, for the future.

Any idea?

If you'll give us an idea as to house size &amp; type, as well as how far away (time wise) I can probably help w/the housing question.

We have good friends at several large real estate brokerages that I could highly recommend to you. You will get the most service quickest by dealing with a realtor who can immediately show you houses in your price range with knowledge of the schools in the areas. There are lots of choices. You might even want to rent for a few months in order to get a feel for the neighborhoods. I would be glad to correspond with you about realtors--I have no vested interest.

This is really a response to CarrieK or other people looking for younger more lively neighborhoods in Charlotte. Check out NODA and Plaza-Midwood, cool shops, great live music bars, plenty of art galleries, NODA usually has street performers on the weekends, and some great (cheaper) places to eat. Uptown and SouthEnd are both great places for younger people to live. For people with families or people looking for quieter neighborhoods I would suggest Dilworth, Elizabeth, or Myers Park. I know after I get a little older that's where I'll be heading, as for right now I have to finish out my 20's.

ttt

Fort Mill SC - just across the border from Charlotte.
You'll save a TON on taxes, my brother lives there, and he has 7 Carolina Panther football players living in just his neighborhood alone...

SanParis, was there a reason for topping this? Just wondering. I haven't seen any others asking about NC except Wanderer.

ttt - for our 23 yr old.