Last week U.S. News and World Report ranked Charlotte #15 on its annual Best Places to Live list. This came as no surprise for those of us lucky enough to call Charlotte home. We relocated here almost 30 years ago and never left. Charlotte has a small town quality with big city amenities. For those that like to watch sports you have the NFC Champion Carolina Panthers, the NBA Charlotte Hornets, the AAA baseball Charlotte Knights, the Charlotte Hounds Men’s Lacrosse, the Charlotte Eagles Soccer, NASCAR, and other exciting sporting events. Many of those teams have venues uptown, which is a great place to go for any occasion.

If playing sports is your thing, the opportunities are endless. There are many wonderful public and private golf courses in the area and golf can be played year-round here. Tennis is a big sport as well, with a variety of tennis leagues and public courts available. For kids there are parks, ball fields, and neighborhood pools are very common. Charlotte is not just a sports town, cultural opportunities abound. Exploring the Bechtler Musem of Modern Art, the Mint Musem, the Levine Museum of the New South is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. Dance, theater, opera, symphony, Charlotte has it all. After you’ve been to the Panthers, attended a play, explored a museum, walked in the park, top off the day with a wonderful meal at one of Charlotte’s many fine restaurants. Or maybe hit one of the local brewers. Charlotte has it all,once you are here, you won’t want to leave.