Around Town

9 reasons I’m moving back to Charlotte when I graduate

By Colby Alvino

Updated October 13, 2019 5:53 PM

High clouds float over the Charlotte skyline on Wednesday, April 12, 2017, as warm weather continues in the area. The nice weather is expected to continue through Thursday with Intervals of clouds and sunshine and a forecasted high of 78F. David T. Foster III dtfoster@charlotteobserver.com

Based on conversations with friends, I assume that most college students look to settle down somewhere new post-college, whether it be a town they’ve never experienced or a big city very different from their small-town-lifestyle.

Not me, though. After growing up in Charlotte, I can’t imagine living anywhere else.

So I really hope I can get a job in Charlotte after graduating college. Here are nine reasons why:

(1) The unique neighborhoods.

SouthPark (and its upscale shopping mall) is a lot different than NoDa (a funky arts district). The beauty of living in Charlotte is that you can experience both neighborhoods, as well Plaza Midwood (eclectic, with hip art galleries and restaurants), Dilworth (quaint with small boutiques and restaurants) and South Charlotte (strip malls and country clubs).

(2) I’m not a fast-paced, city-livin’ kind of gal.

Sometimes Uptown can feel like some of the quieter parts of New York City, and it’s the perfect amount of “chaos” for me. You have the commotion of the light rail and the trolley, and it can get a little crazy during lunch, but that’s really it.

(3) It’s clean, and Uptown is green.

On rare occasions you might see more than one candy wrapper on the city’s streets. Emphasis on rare. Uptown, you can find greenery in so many places, from Romare Bearden Park to The Green.

(4) Charlotte is the perfect size.

With a population at just 800,000, you can discover new people every single day without being too overwhelmed. You can also try one of these eight popular meetup groups if you are looking to make new friends.

(5) Proximity to both the mountains and the beach.

I love hiking and I love the beach. So when you find a city in close proximity to the mountains and the beach, you settle down there real fast. My personal favorite hiking trails are at Crowders Mountain (30 minutes away) and Chimney Rock (about two hours away), and I love heading to the beaches at Kiawah Island, about a four hour car ride away.

(6) Professional sports teams (go ‘thers).

Editor’s note: We asked Colby if “‘thers” is really a thing people call the Panthers and she insists that it is. So there’s that.

With Carolina Panthers season in the fall, Charlotte Hornets season in the winter, both Charlotte Knights, Charlotte Independence and Charlotte Hounds seasons in the spring and summer, and the Charlotte Checkers from October through April, there is always a team to go see.

In this photo taken Aug. 28, 2015, Carolina Panthers' Luke Kuechly (59) stretches before a preseason NFL football game against the New England Patriots in Charlotte, N.C. A person familiar with the situation says Luke Kuechly has agreed to a five-year $52 million contract extention with the Panthers, making him the highest-paid middle linebacker in the NFL. The person spoke to The Associated Press on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015, on condition of anonymity because the move hasn't been announced. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone) Bob Leverone AP

(7) Food. Glorious food.

Between the amazing restaurants, diners, coffee shops and bakeries, Charlotte’s got a lot, and it’s got a lot of goodness. Some of my favorites are Amelie’s French Bakery, Not Just Coffee, Central Coffee, Crispy Crêpe, Terrace Cafe, Toscana, Carpe Diem and Mama Ricotta’s, just to name a few. Very few.

(8) Charlotte is a happening place.

Between the constant openings of new breweries, the multitude of beer festivals (that I can’t go to for another year), having the U.S. National Whitewater Center and being the home to a bunch of major sports teams, Charlotte is seeming more and more appealing to younger crowds.

(9) Oh, and we have the best airport.

I have friends from other cities say to me, “Oh, you have the airport with the rocking chairs! That airport is awesome.” The airport not only has rocking chairs, but also a Carolina Beer Company (with beers on tap from North Carolina’s best brewpubs and breweries), Charlotte’s-own Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar, and Beaudevin (a European style wine bar and restaurant). Charlotte-Douglas is also an international airport that is just an easy commute away.

American Airlines airplanes taxi along at Charlotte Douglas International Airport on Wednesday, March 29, 2017. American Airlines has completely renovated its Hub Control Center, formerly known as the ramp control tower. With a more than $5 million investment, the tower now features new facilities, more efficient use of space, employee break and work areas, as well as new restrooms and conference rooms. The Hub Control Center is the nerve center of American's operation in CLT. The facility had not been renovated since American moved into the facility in 1996. David T. Foster III dtfoster@charlotteobserver.com

Photos: David T. Foster III/Charlotte Observer, Colby Alvino, Bob Leverone/The State

This story was originally published May 16, 2017 at 10:01 PM with the headline "9 reasons I’m moving back to Charlotte when I graduate."