Hello everyone!
I'm Jeff and I am currently in town looking for a place to live and scoping out areas. I'm from upstate NY and I am interested in south Charlotte. My question is where can I benefit the most in the Charlotte area to ride trails? North or south of the city? My goal is to live close to trails and gave my kids go to good schools. Any info will help thanks!

Basically what Traildog is saying is don't base your area/neighborhood choice on where the trails are, because they are everywhere.  I would add to his comment and say that almost anywhere you live in the area you will have at least three trail systems within 30 minutes or less. I live in the SE area of Charlotte in a town called Matthews, and fortunately we do not have a lot of traffic issues, unless you need to head to the south  (Ballantyne/Pineville) area on I-485.  A lot of folks moving into town like to gravitate to the Huntersville/Cornelius/Mooresville area which is up around Lake Norman, and they end up with really bad traffic issues if they work back down in Charlotte.  Just make sure your realator is honest with you about traffic and congestion for your commute. Welcome to town; My family has been here for 7 generations.

JR wrote on 02/20/14 at 12:04pm:

I'm not trying to be argumentative, just providing a different perspective.

There are very good schools in Mecklenburg.  The Ballantyne area schools are some of the best in the area.  4 and 5 stars according to JRs website.

The 485 traffic is annoying, but relative to other cities, Charlotte traffic is a breeze.  It takes me about 20 minutes to get to work in the morning and about 40 to get home.  20 minutes of traffic really isn't a deal breaker for me.

That said, there are good suburban areas around Charlotte.  Fort Mill is one.  Matthews is another that I have friends in.  I would probably steer away from the University area, which is the north side, but that's just my perception.  I could be wrong.

Ballantyne is 20 mins to the Whitewater Center.  20 mins to Rennaissance.  20 mins to Sherman Branch. 30 mins to Rocky River Trail and 10 mins to Anne Springs.  Plenty of trail options.

Union County just south of town is what my educator wife selected for our family when we moved here 14 years ago. It still ranks very high for its school system and has much lower taxes than Mecklenburg. Union's schools are currently undergoing a re-districting, but the current and potential future districts can be found easily on-line. The Marvin Ridge and Weddington districts are among the best (and closest to Charlotte). These lie just between Ballantine (to the west) and Matthews (east). Uptown commute is 35-40 minutes - add 30%+ for prime rush hour. As others have said, lots of riding available most anywhere in the area.

I'm originally from Kingston, NY; so is my next door neighbor - small world.

Welcome!

Awesome info! We're staying at the great wolf lodge north of Charlotte will be looking into some of the northern area , driving..........thanks!

I live in Huntersville and wil chime in that I love living in this area. I've worked in downtown and I never found it that bad going into town, timing being important too, but traffic can be a bit much sometimes on the way home depending on how far north you are. Traffic is a pain between exits 23-28 coming home at rush hour, but I live halfway between exit 23 and 25, so always took the 23 exit and it wasn't too bad. 

I can't speak to the schools but I can be at North Meck in 10-15 minutes, Whitewater Center in 15-20 minutes, Fisher Farm and Renaissance in 25-30 minutes,  Lake Norman State Park in 35-40, and when the final leg of I485 is done I'll be able to hit Sherman in 25-30.

Pretty big road cycling community in the area also. East of I77 has less traffic, but picking your times or knowing some better routes it's not bad at all to leave from the West side of I77 where I live. 

If you're a foodie or like organic stuff we have some good farmer's markets, grocery stores, specialty stores, and a Whole Foods being built right now. If your're into it plenty of places to get quality craft beer to take home or on tap.

Im in Union County/Waxhaw area, born and raised, and its great. Good ole boys, possum eating contest 3rd saturday of every month, moonshine sippin' licker, and im pretty sure you can marry your Cousin if shes purty. Our Schools go all the way to the 8th grade(and past i think, never made it that far), and you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a Bojangles. C'mon down!  There's plenty of room for yall. 

EAutry wrote on 02/20/14 at 7:29pm:

YESSSS!!!

If you dont want to move to the berbs, I would at least consider Dilworth, Myers Park, Sedgefield, Madison Park area.  Not alot of traffic and you are close to the action. (Ride to BYT and Reni)  You will get less house for your money but Location, Location, Location.   Pockets of good schools throughout this area so you need to do a little research. I love this area of town, so I thought I would throw in my 2 cents.  Good luck.

Shredder wrote on 02/20/14 at 8:18pm:


Seem to be losing that country feel with I-85 construction congestion, Concord Mills, and continued development encroaching... 

(Don't get me wrong, still better than Charlotte, but...)