Located both inside and outside the I-485 Beltway, residents of the area enjoy easy access to all that Charlotte has to offer. Whether you're into sports, history, arts or shopping, Charlotte has something for everyone. For sports fans, the city is home to the NFL Carolina Panthers, NBA Charlotte Hornets, WNBA Charlotte Sting, Lowe's Motor Speedway and some of the most beautiful golf courses in the world. For history buffs, there is a walking tour of the Charlotte Museum of History or Historic Fourth Ward where you will find cemeteries and vintage homes from the 17th century. The Mint Museum of Craft & Design and Tryon Center for Visual Arts are popular destinations for art lovers.
Charlotte is also a virtual cornucopia of restaurants and clubs. A visit to Tryon Street or the South End district is a palette-pleasing experience. For those who wish a big night out, the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center offers an excellent selection of Broadway shows. Ballantyne, located nearby, offers a wide variety of fine restaurants.
Charlotte serves as an international gateway to the Carolinas with non-stop/direct service to nine international destinations including Bermuda, Mexico, United Kingdom, Jamaica, Bahamas, Puerto Rico, the Netherlands and Canada. The airport, Charlotte/Douglas International, serves over 160 cities with non-stop service and 500 flights daily. Located just 15 minutes from the Center City, the airport is convenient to a multitude of sights and attractions. Accommodations abound in the Queen City, with over 19,304 rooms citywide. The city is conveniently located just 2 hours from the Great Smoky Mountains and 3 hours to pristine Carolina beaches.
The same qualities that appeal to visitors have made Charlotte one of the Southeast's premier places to live. More than 500,000 people reside within its borders, approximately 1.3 million within the metro area and 6 million within a 100-mile radius. The city is home to 292 of the top Fortune 500 companies and more than 340 foreign firms. Financial experts know Charlotte as the nation's second largest banking center (next to New York City), with more than $362 billion in banking assets. The nation's fifth largest urban region, Charlotte continues to attract more and more people who want to become part of something special.
