Charlotte, NC Living – What’s within driving distance?
When looking for a new home, an important aspect to consider is what you will be able to do and access. While it is so exciting to explore your immediate area, in a city like Charlotte, driving is a necessity that can also open doors to many exciting locations in the south that are perfect for your next getaway. Whether you prefer the mountains or the beach, you can rest easy knowing the number of options available within just a few hours of the city limits.
Kick Back and Unwin[e]d
Whether you’re looking for a one-day vacay with your significant other or a unique escape for a few hours with friends the Charlotte area is home to many local wineries. Lucky for us, the North Carolina climate is ideally suited for all sorts of grapes allowing wineries to offer visitors unforgettable experiences without needing to travel cross-country to Napa Valley. Some of our favorite wineries within a 2-hour drive from the Charlotte area include Veronét Vineyards, Elkin Creek Vinyard, Overmountain Vineyards, and Divine Llama Vineyards…to name a few.
Nature for Miles
Every so often, you just want to get away from it all, and few cities make it easier to escape into the great outdoors. North Carolina is home to several state and national parks that offer every kind of getaway you can think of for whatever budget you see fit. Less than an hour away is beautiful Crowders Mountain and state park, a popular hiking destination with two peaks that are also a hot spot for rock climbers. The Blue Ridge Parkway runs through the state from Virginia and ends in Cherokee, giving you plenty of locations to choose from. Uwharrie National Forest is fantastic for both hiking and photography, with dozens of trails that offer various difficulties.
If you’re looking for a little bit of city with your country, Asheville and Blowing Rock could be perfect for you. Both towns are nestled in the mountains themselves and are great locales for the perfect stay-cation. In Asheville, you are sure to find the perfect drink for you at any one of the several breweries, and the food will help fill you up before or after a long day of trails. Blowing Rock is known for its many artisanal shops full of everything from antiques to artwork, and has a calendar full of outdoor activities such as performance art and festivals of all kinds.
Catch Some Waves
If you prefer the coast to the mountains, Charlotte also has easy access to several beautiful locales. Each spot offers its own unique brand of beach life that keeps thousands of tourists visiting from all over the country each year. From secluded waterfronts to sprawling metropolitan areas, there is a location for every kind of beach-goer. Famous beach towns like Wilmington, Outer Banks, and Emerald Isle litter the North Carolina coast, giving you the chance to get away without leaving the state. Several of these are also home to historical and scientific sites to take a look at the past and present of the state both politically and ecologically.
Wilmington offers the opportunity for not only fun in the sun, but history, as it is the home to the USS North Carolina and Cape Fear Museum of History and Science. The city of Outer Banks is part of the greater Outer Banks area, which covers over 200 miles of islands and peninsulas that truly take you away from it all. Another Outer Banks area town, Emerald Isle, is part of the tourist-friendly Crystal Coast and perfect for the whole family. Finally, Wrightsville Beach is perfect for those who want a quieter beach weekend, with a population under 2,500 as of the 2010 census.
Looking for the perfect home base to take on all these new adventures? Hopper Communities has you covered at South End Terraces or Bryant Park Terraces, both located in some of the most vibrant neighborhoods near Uptown Charlotte.
