It is so nice to be in the Charlotte Metro area on long week-ends if you are a boating fan. The Charlotte area has lots of lakes and rivers which allow for just about all kinds of boating fans. The White Water rafting center, where the Olympic trials were recently held, is here too. You may like the feel of rushing through the rapids but don’t need the long meandering sections between. If this is the case then the White Water Center is for you. It is a great facility and you can kayak, canoe or raft. It does get crowded on week-ends so be sure to make reservations.

If motor boating is what you are into then there are lakes too. The most popular are Lake Norman, Lake Wylie, Badin Lake, High Rock Lake, Lake Tillery, which all have public and private access for boat enthusiasts. You can water ski, tube and wake board. Be mindful of those fishing as this is extremely popular as well.

There was some concern that the high gas prices would quell the boat activity in the area, but news reports from earlier this evening suggest that the boaters were still out on the water, soaking up the sun and having some fun.

I prefer the less crowded lakes, such as Badin or High Rock. Water levels were really down last year due to the drought, but the recent rains have really improved conditions. I was fortunate enough to be at the lake over the week-end for a family function and looking out on the water and riding on the lake is one of the most relaxing enjoyable events. I felt refreshed after my day. If you are ever stressed and have the opportunity to go out on one boating in Charlotte, do it.

Lynn

I had two different clients in Charlotte this week Looking at Davidson and Concord and Harrisburg real estate and I was really worried about the race crowds. But I worked my timing so I would be around the speedway during the races. I was really cool, just a few people in the parking lots, we didn’t have to set thru any lites. My last clients couldn’t believe all the campers and people that were there. We came from Concord, NC on Hwy 29 and turned left onto Morehead Rd, all the while the cars were zooming past us at the speedway. Actually the Lowes Motor speedway is in Concord, but everything around the speedway is located in Harrisburg. This was done back several years ago as a favor to Bruton Smith to get better utilities and police protection around the track. I guess the crowds might of been down a little this year due to high gas prices, but there were sure plenty of campers and camping going on all week long.
Hope you will decide to visit us and check out the speedway for yourself soon. Gary

The schools around the Charlotte Metro area will be getting out for summer soon. My own children are in high school which means we have graduation ceremonies to attend. This is always an exciting time of year. Vacations are being planned as well as lives. Charlotte Mecklenburg schools and most of the surrounding counties last day of school will be Tues. June 10th. The roars will be heard throughout town as kids finish up the last day and get home and begin to celebrate the long days of playing with friends.

For those graduating it is so much more. It is finishing up a major part of your life and embarking on a totally new journey. There are always a few friends that will remain dear to you, but many of those you saw on a daily basis for years will no longer be a part of your life. Instead, new friends will enter the picture.

College plans and orientations will be the new focal point of life. Luckily Charlotte has many great colleges and universities close by. There is no field of study that you can’t find close to Charlotte. Central Piedmont Community College is ranked very highly nationwide and all the counties close by have very good community colleges as well.

UNCC - University of NC at Charlotte is rapidly expanding and the school of Architecture there planned the most beautiful buildings. I am constantly amazed at how big and renowned the school has become. Of course those that keep up with college basketball know that Elite 8 basketball member - Davidson is just up I 77 about 10 miles. Wingate is to the southeast of Charlotte in Union County. Johnson and Wales, JC SMith University and the Art Institute are all close to downtown. There are many many ad well.

If you are looking for a place with educational opportunities then come to the Charlotte Metro area. I bet you can find what you are looking for.

LL

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I am a resident of Charlotte, NC. Every year we have two excitng events that I love to attend. The Southern Christmas show and the Southern Spring Show are so much fun! The Christmas Show has everything you could ever imagine pertaining to Christmas. Decorated Christmas trees, models ornaments, pictures, crafts, and toys are just a few. The Spring Show has everything to do with Spring and tips to decorate your house for Spring including flowers and crafts to get started. There are venders sitting in booths at both events describing their products in detail. You walk away with so much information and excitement for new ideas. There are also places to eat at different stops . I especially like the mini donuts that are freshly made while you watch. The smell is unbelievably delicious! If you want an outing of fun with family and friends come try Charlotte’s Southern Christmas and Southern Spring Shows.

I give thanks for my daughter and son. They are truly my treasures. Time together with them is my joy. Last week my daughter and I went to Waxhaw to the farmers market for produce. Always locally grown and really fresh. On to Weddington to pick up two buckets of just picked strawberies. So sweet you can taste the sunshine on them.

Being a Realtor, I had to stop at Cureton to see their model homes, then drive thru Lawson to see what was going on. Horse farms all around us and Carolina blue sky above. It doesn’t get any better than this.

Mothers day we met at my house to cook the bounty. Son brought the wine , roses and hugs, daughters presents in ribbons and bows all were quickly opened. Great food with lots of hugs and laughter. Son chose the music. Yes, we even danced. I am so thankful for this day. Doris Jones

I have lived in Mint Hill, NC for 23 years. This is a beautiful, quaint town and is a great town to raise a family. My three boys and daughter enjoyed the schools and sports activities that Mint Hill has to offer. Mint Hill continues to grow but has a home town, country feeling. It is close to just about everything and you can drive to all surrounding towns within 30 minutes since the development of highway 485. We have a lot of nice shops and places to dine. There are 2 retirement homes and 2 recreational parks. The people are warm and friendly. Everyone new to the area seem to feel very welcome and part of the family. I am proud to call Mint Hill my home town.

This year my grandson played baseball on the Hickory Grove Baptist Church team in Charlotte, NC. This was his first experience in being a part of team sports. He had mixed emotions. He knew it was going to be different than just pitching the ball with his dad and grandad. His nerves soon vanished when he realized the bond he had with the other team members. The baseball fields in Charlotte were very nice. The parents and coaches were outstanding. My grandson soon realized the importance of working as a unit, having a goal and a sense of accomplishment. He always looked forward to practices and became very excited on game day. I have a lot of nice pictures of his team playing ball this season along with great memories. His team did not win the championship but they each received a trophey and made new friends.

Last winter I saw the company, Opera Carolina perform Romeo and Juliet to a full house in Charlotte. I was moved to see so many people enjoying the evening. I especially enjoyed seeing my son’s debut on a Charlotte stage. It was a thrill of a lifetime. The Blumenthal has always been one of my favorite venues. Seeing families all dressed up and together for the evening made me smile. Truly a beautiful theater it has been home to so many artists new and old. After the perfomance my daughter and I waited at the stage door for my son. We saw other proud families waiting for their own stars to come out. This past season Opera Carolina has continued in their tradition of reaching out into the community. Playing at schools, churches and community centers in small towns throughout the Carolinas, the group brings the joy and grandeur of a true opera experience to those not close enough to Charlotte to enjoy our Blumenthal. Thinking about those children made me recall the wonder and awe on my son’s face the first time we took him to a performance when he was little. I wonder how many future stars are in those audiences.

I was born and raised in Charlotte. I am becoming the minority in that regard, but I love Charlotte and have witnessed so many changes over the years. One of the constants has been the cities fascination with and devotion to racing. When I was a younger, I remember people talking about “the races” for week. It was always a big event, but not the nationally televised media circus that it is now. The race track was the Charlotte Motor Speedway then and not the Lowes Motor Speedway but was right there in Harrisburg off Highway 29.

I can remember going to the races with friends as a teenager and it seemed like we drove 50 miles to get “way out there.” Now I have to drive toward Charlotte to get to the track because the city has expanded so much and the track is right in the middle of things. Concord Mills has emerged only a few miles away, which I hear is the biggest tourist attraction in NC. Highway 29 used to be a little 2 lane road and is now 8 lanes around the track. There is a dirt track and a drag strip going in. Last but not least is the NASCAR Hall of Fame Museum that is currently under construction downtown.

Race coverage starts weeks prior to and goes well beyond the actual race. It is referred to as 8 days in May but lasts longer than that. People come from all over the country, taking their vacations, to camp around the track and soak up the “flavor” of the sport. The whole event takes on a carnival type atmosphere and people just love it. It is very hard to have a bad time around the track during race week.

I have stopped going to the track for the races, but still participate in some of the city planned events, of which there are many. There is speed street, where the downtown streets are shut down while vendors, race teams, and bands gather to unite the fans and entertain them, poll night, parties, VIP booth activities, etc.

If you are not from Charlotte I highly recommend that you come visit. It is a great city with lots going on. If you are a race fan then you definitely need to visit during race week which starts next Thurs. The weather has been great, things are blooming and the city is buzzing with activity.

Native race fan