1. The Hornets Are Back!
It took them 10 years as the Bobcats to return to their roots, but at the start of the 2014-15 season, the
Charlotte Hornets took the court once again. Even though their existence has been up in the air, the locals never stopped supporting them, rocking retro gear throughout the streets of Charlotte on a regular basis.
2. Hot Dogs Here Come With Chili And Slaw
If you’re ordering a hot dog in Charlotte, it’s always best to just take it “all the way.” These three words magically transform your tubed meat on a bread into something much greater, “the Carolina Dog”, topped with chili, slaw, mustard, and onions.
3. It’s Easy To Save A Few Bucks In Charlotte
Despite how awesome this city is, Charlotte is also one of the most affordable places in the country to live. For example, the average home sale price is around $185,000 and the average rent just outside of the city center is around $750 a month. Compared to other cities of this size, that’s quite the bargain. Heck, the average domestic beer during a night on the town is around $2. One thing’s for sure, the Queen City is a great place to get a bang for your buck.
4. This Urban Landscape Is No Concrete Jungle
Another unique attribute that makes Charlotte stand out amongst other American cities is the amount of greenspace it’s been able to foster downtown. Trees are everywhere and the city is constantly planting new ones. In fact, by 2050 the plan is to have over 50 percent of the city under tree cover. That gives a whole new meaning to going green.
5. “Sweet Tea” Is Just “Tea”
While the rest of America seems to have a thing for hot, bitter tea served in tiny cups, where’s the fun in that? If you’re ordering tea in Charlotte expect it to come tall, ice cold, and loaded with sugar.
6. You Probably Won’t Need Your Snow Boots
The average January temperature in January is a slightly cold 40 degrees, meaning snow will be the least of your worries. While the temps can drop below freezing at night occasionally, this drop only happens during the day a couple of times per year. People around Charlotte might freak out if a few flurries fall, but it rarely accumulates into anything worth shoveling.
7. The People Here Are Obsessed With NASCAR
What you’ve heard is true, the people of the South are NASCAR fanatics and Charlotte is no exception. Home to the Charlotte Motor Speedway, which hosts huge evens like the Bank of America 500, it’s hard to live in the Queen City and not at least be a little bit into this sport.
8. It’s Carolina Panthers, Do Or Die
Despite several recent seasons that have ended prematurely, the Queen City just can’t stop loving the hometown football team. Selling out game after game, the Carolina Panthers take the field each Sunday knowing the entire city of Charlotte has got their back.
9. The Fast Food Here Is Ridiculously Delicious
Leave your McDonald’s, KFC, and Arby’s behind, Charlotte has tons of unique regional options that are so much better. Whether you’re getting chicken from Bojangles or a burger from Cookout, this city oddly seems to have higher standards when it comes to the quality and flavor of the cheap food they like to eat on the go.
10. NoDa Is Where The Trendy Meet
Known for being the part of town where new bars, restaurants, and galleries seem to pop up like weeds, NoDa is one area of Charlotte that can’t be missed. It’s in the area where North David Street and 36th meet and it’s the perfect place to go for all of your nighttime entertainment needs.
11. Charlotte BBQ Is The Best In The Country
Barbecue is a huge deal in the entire state of North Carolina, with each area thinking their variety is the finest. There are basically two local variations of this dish you’ll encounter that you should know about.
First, there’s Lexington-style BBQ, recognizable for it’s use of a red sauce with a ketchup base on the pork shoulder of a pig. Then, there’s also Eastern style BBQ, a “whole-hog” style of barbecuing that utilizes a vinegar based sauce with no tomato ingredient. Both are very different, but very delicious in their own way.
12. “The Lynx” Is No Feline
When it comes to public transportation in Charlotte, you’ll constantly hear people mention the Lynx. Depending on where you’re headed, it can be a fast and easy way to get around the city, consisting of a 9-mile light rail line and a 1.5 mile streetcar line. With over 15,000 residents using it to commute every day, Charlotte public transportation must be doing something right.
13. There’s This Thing Here Called Burgushi
It’s basically sushi rolls with burger ingredients…not surprisingly, it’s stunningly delicious. However, it’s one of those dishes you’ll just have to try for yourself to fully grasp. Thankfully the Cowfish has plenty of burgushi to go around.
14. Get Used To Seeing “Sharon”
Not Sharon the person, Sharon the word. It’s everywhere around Charlotte, found on streets like Sharon Road, Sharon Amity, and Sharon Lane. Contrary to what you might think, these streets aren’t named after someone, they’re named after a place. The word “Sharon” refers to a coastal plain in the Middle East that’s mentioned in the Bible, now part of today’s Israel.
15. This City Is Oooooold
One of the coolest things about the Queen City is simply how old it is. First settled in 1755, Charlotte is home to tons of awesome stories that will have history buffs drooling. Just watch out for all the ghosts that have accumulated in region over the years.
16. People Talk A Little Differently Here
Due to its location in the southern region of America, it shouldn’t be too shocking that most locals in Charlotte tend to speak with a Southern drawl. It’s a little different than Southern drawls that you’ve heard before, but it’s still got that same smoothness that’s hard not to love.
17. Everything You’d Ever Want Is Within Driving Distance
One of the biggest perks of living in Charlotte is this city’s awesome location. If you’re willing to drive a few hours, you can be splashing around on a beach, climbing mountains in the wilderness, or visiting one of many other huge nearby cities, all filled with their own unique attractions. Charlotte is one place that gives its residents the best of every world.
18. People In This State Really Care About College Basketball
If you’re new to the Charlotte region, you’ll quickly realize that a bitter rivalry has been brewing in this state for years between famous basketball programs like Duke, University of North Carolina, and NC State. The fans in Charlotte aren’t quite as crazy as the ones you might find in Durham or Chapel Hills, but they’re getting there.
19. OBX Will Get You Your Beach Fix
A 200-mile stretch of barrier islands off of North Carolina’s coastline, the Outer Banks (commonly shortened to OBX) gives the residents of this state access to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Believe it or not, the Outer Banks is also where the Wright Brothers conducted their first flight in 1903.
20. The Locals Get Called Charlotteans
It’s not Charlotters or Charlottites, its Charlotteans. It sounds fancy and the people here love it.
21. Charlotte Is On The Up And Up
When it comes to big cities in America that have a great future outlook, Charlotte leads the pack. Not only does this city regularly get awards for its quality of living, it’s also the third fastest growing city of its size in the country. If you’re looking for a great place to invest in your future, the Queen City is the place you’ve been looking for all along.
Like This Post? You’ll Definitely Love These:
