It's summer in Charlotte. Kids are beginning to get out of school and the weather is turning warmer. So, it's time to enjoy what Charlotte has to offer. Here are a few things to do in Charlotte NC during the summertime:
Discovery Place (301 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC) - Kids get a real hands-on experience at the Discovery Place. Science is fun and entertaining here. The Explore More labs allow kids to conduct their very own science experiments in a completely safe, informative environment. You can even put yourself and the kids in a movie in the Discovery Place's IMAX Dome Theatre.
Charlotte Nature Museum - Located next to Freedom Park and operating in conjunction with the Discovery Place, visitors can walk amongst the butterflies, see live animals, watch puppet shows and engage in a number of hands-on activities every single day.
US National Whitewater Center (5000 Whitewater Center Parkway, Charlotte, NC) - The Catawba River can be your playground. You can go whitewater rafting, zip line, mountain bike, kayak, paddle board and much more at the US National Whitewater Center. The latest attraction, the Canopy Tour, takes you up amongst the trees, where you zip line from platform to platform high above the ground. The River's Edge Bar and Grill is a great place to have dinner after a day of fun in the sun. Every Thursday during the summer, you can enjoy live music at the Whitewater River Jam concert series.
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden (6500 S New Hope Rd, Belmont, NC) - Named one of the country's 20 Great Gardens by HGTV, the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden offers more than a stroll amongst the flowers. Learn about photography, floral design, local wildlife and more. The Orchid Conservatory showcases orchids and other tropical plants inside its glasshouse, the only one of its kind in the area.
NASCAR Hall of Fame (440 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Charlotte, NC) - Since Charlotte is home base for most of the teams in NASCAR, it's only fitting that the NASCAR Hall of Fame calls Charlotte home as well. Learn about the history of the sport, the pioneers and the legends, enjoy interactive exhibits, view cars from races past and even get a bite to eat at the Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant located on-site.
Carowinds (I77 & 14523 Carowinds Blvd, Charlotte, NC) - Charlotte's premier theme park, Carowinds offers 122 acres of family fun. In addition to the thrilling roller coaster rides, attendees can get soaked in the Boomerang Bay water park, watch live stage shows and eat at any of over 30 restaurants. It's a full day of fun you won't want to miss.
As you can see, there are many things to do in Charlotte NC this summer. These are just a few ideas to keep you busy. If you want more information on what else Charlotte has to offer, feel free to contact me. Have a great summer!
This Monday, May 30, 2011, is Memorial Day, a day set aside each year to remember those men and women who have lost their lives in service of our country. If you're looking for a way to celebrate the occassion, here are a few Memorial Day events happening in Charlotte NC:
Sunday, May 29, 2011
US National Whitewater Center (5000 Whitewater Center Parkway) - Begins at 3pm. This free event features live music from Trampled by Turtles (a combo of bluegrass and folk music), The Apache Relay (indie music sensation) and American Aquarium (Raleigh's own alt-country band with a bit of rock & roll thrown in).
Monday, May 30, 2011
Patriot Festival, Symphony Park at SouthPark (4400 Sharon Rd) - From 9am to 5pm. For just $10 per person ages 6 and older, $5 per military service member (with ID) and free to kids under 6, enjoy live music, military exhibitions, a rib competition and picnic, a 5K run in honor of wounded military members and a special tribute to our troops that ends with an honor salute and playing of Taps.
Forest Lawn Cemetery (4601 Freedom Dr) - At 11am, there will be a salute and tribute to veterans we lost as well as others in attendance.
Huntersville Memorial Day Celebration (Birkdale Village, 8712 Lindholm, Huntersville, NC) - At 6:30pm, the North Mecklenberg High School Junior ROTC Cadets will hold a special flag folding presentation. Additionally, special guest speaker retired USMC Captain Lee Sargent a Vietnam Veteran will be on hand along with Mayor Jill Swain, the Huntersville Police Department's Honor Guard, local boy scouts and American Legion Post 321. This event is free to the public.
No matter which Memorial Day event in Charlotte NC you choose to attend, make sure to thank any military service member you see for all they do to serve our country. They are real American heroes and should be treated as such. Happy Memorial Day, everyone!
The April 2011 Market Report for Charlotte NC real estate is in. It's important to keep in mind that April 2010 experienced a higher-than-normal boom in Charlotte home sales thanks to the tax incentive program in effect at that time ($8000 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit and $6500 Existing Home Buyer Tax Credit). April 30, 2010 was the last time a home buyer could take advantage of either one of these tax credits, so there was a rush to purchase homes in Charlotte NC and across the country. Even so, the housing numbers for the Charlotte NC real estate market were pretty good.
Inventory levels have gone down an average of 16.5% throughout the Charlotte NC region, indicating that the area may be experiencing a slight rebound. Lower inventory means that supply and demand levels are starting to climb back into a better balance. As of April 2011, Union County's inventory was 19.4% lower than the previous year, with the median sales price at $171,000 (a 10% decrease from April 2010). The south-southeast area of Mecklenburg County saw their inventory decrease by 20.8% while the median sales price for a home in the area increased to $283,328 (a 15.2% increase from the same time last year). The southern area of Mecklenburg County experienced a 22.3% decrease in inventory while the median sales price decreased 8.8% to $255,000.
Another bit of good news for the Charlotte NC real estate market is that the number of foreclosures and short sales on the market have decreased as well. In fact, foreclosure sales were down 28.3% in Union County, 29.5% in the SSE Mecklenburg County and a whopping 43.6% in the southern section of Mecklenburg County. Newer foreclosure and short sale listings continue to come on the market. However, they are beginning to show up at a slower pace than in the past, which is another indicator of a market that is possibly beginning to come around.
It is still a great time to buy or sell your Charlotte NC home. While inventory is lower than last year, there are still plenty of Charlotte homes to choose from that will fit your needs. And springtime continues to be one of the best times of the year to sell your home. Please contact me if you need help buying or selling a Charlotte NC property.
Jump start your weekend in style by attending Alive After Five at Charlotte's Piedmont Town Center (4725 Piedmont Row Dr). This is how Charlotte residents kick off their weekends in style. There will be plenty of free live music, fun and, of course, cocktails for all adults to enjoy. Get together with friends for the Alive After Five Block Party on Friday, May 6th from 5pm to 10pm. The regular Alive After Five season will officially launch the following Wednesday, May 11th from 5pm to 10pm every week.
The featured entertainment at Alive After Five's Block Party will be Party on the Moon. Named the #1 corporate and private party band in America, Party on the Moon plays music ranging from classic rock to current dance, 80s music, disco/funk, Motown, swing and even today's country hits. Their high energy show is sure to get everyone on their feet. So, make sure to strap on your dancing shoes and get your voice ready to sing along.
The featured act for the first official Alive After Five event on Wednesday, May 11th, will be Skate Rink Jukebox, a local Charlotte band that offers music "from Willie to Prince and everything in between". Comprised of musicians Donnie Marshall (on drums), Carey Sims (vocals and guitar), Joe Lindsay (on guitar and vocals) and Rick Blackwell (on bass and vocals), Skate Rink Jukebox tailors their performances to the listeners. They are sure to please.
There will be a free valet service available at the Piedmont Town Center Parking Garage. However, if you and your group don't have a designated driver, you may want to consider using the LYNX Blue Line Light Rail to get to and from the event. Remember that you can have fun, but please act responsibly as well.
Come to Charlotte's Piedmont Town Center to celebrate Alive After Five with their Block Party on Friday, May 6, 2011. Enjoy live entertainment, tasty beverages and fun with friends. Follow them on Twitter or check out their Facebook page to keep up with the latest news.
Are you looking for something fun to entertain yourself and your family with during the winter holiday season? There is plenty to do for anyone of any age. Here are just some of the Christmas events going on in Charlotte NC and the surrounding area.
Christmas Town USA - Now through December 26, 2010. The entire town of McAdenville, NC is transformed into Christmas Town. Cost: Free to view the lights (donations accepted to cover costs). Lights are displayed Mondays-Fridays from 5:30pm to 9:30 and every Saturday from 5:30pm to 11pm.
The Polar Express - Now through December 23, 2010. If you don't mind a little bit of a drive, go to Bryson City's Great Smoky Mountain Railroad (226 Everett St) to ride the Polar Express while listening to the classic Christmas story, sipping hot chocolate, enjoying a special treat and meeting Santa Claus himself. Cost: $39 for adults, $26 for kids ages 2-12 and kids under 2 are free on a parent's lap. Ticket prices include Smoky Mountain Trains Museum admission. Daily departure times do vary so please call 800-872-4681 for more info.
Gingerbread Lane - Now through December 26, 2010. Vote for your favorite gingerbread house at the Ballantyne Resort (10000 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy, Charlotte, NC).
Holiday Lights at the Garden - Now through December 31, 2010. Over half a million lights are on display every Tuesday through Sunday from 5pm to 9pm at the Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens (6500 S New Hope Blvd, Belmont, NC). The gardens are closed, however, every Monday, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Cost: $10 for non-member adults, $9 for seniors over 60, $5 for members and non-member kids ages 4-12 and $2.50 for kids of members. Call 704-825-4490 for more info.
Founder's Hall Bearstein Bears - Now through December 31, 2010. Be serenaded by computerized bears at Founder's Hall (100 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC). Cost: FREE. The bears perform every hour from 10am to 2pm and 5pm to 6pm on Monday through Friday and every hour from 8am to 6pm on the weekends.
SnowPark Charlotte - Now through March 21, 2011. Symphony Park (440 Sharon Rd, Charlotte, NC) becomes SnowPark Charlotte each weekend and each school holiday throughout winter with man-made snow. Get your inner tubes and snow sleds out so you can enjoy the fun! Cost: $35 per person at the venue or $30 in advance (purchase tickets online here).
You will definitely have fun at any of these Christmas events in Charlotte, NC. I wish everyone peace, joy and love this holiday season. And, as always, if you need to buy or sell a Charlotte NC home, please feel free to contact me! Happy Holidays!
Buying or selling, allow me to assist you. Voted By My Clients, Published in Charlotte Magazine 2007, 2008, 2009 & 2010 FIVE STAR: Best in Client Satisfaction (SM) www.robinhusney.com
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About Robin:
My focus is on service, from initial contact to after closing. I will work to make sure you are not only satisfied, but delighted with the buying and selling process. I relocated from NY in 1998, so I completely understand the excitement...and stress...of a long-distance move. Allow me to help remove that stress, so you are left with the excitement of being in a new home!
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I specialize in South Charlotte and Union County geographical areas, as well as people relocating from different areas. In the past year, I have helped people move from Florida, New York, New Jersey, California -- even France! -- as well as within North Carolina. Let me help you as well!
Testimonials:
"Robin priced and marketed our house so well, it sold in 16 days. The house we were moving to had many issues after inspection. Robin worked diligently to make sure our interests were guarded and complete the deal. We would recommend Robin to anyone we know!" MK and SK
"We worked with Robin from start to finish during our relocation to Charlotte which was about a year's timeframe. Robin started from step one, understanding what our family was looking for not only in a home, but community and quality of life. Robin was there every step of the way, including our walkthru for final inspection and even pointed out items we missed. She is fabulous - My family and recommend her unconditionally." KB and CB
"My first time home buying experience was made very easy thanks to Robin Husney. Robin guided me every step of the way. Her attention to detail and professionalism kept me focused throughout the entire home buying process. Robin has a heart of gold, her passion for family allows her to relate to her clients. I look forward to working with Robin in the near future. I dare anyone to find a better Broker/Realtor." JH
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