Colonial Village - Charlotte, NC

Development began in Colonial Village during the mid-19th century when a railroad was built to connect Charlottesville to Charlestown, South Carolina. It remained a thriving manufacturing community for more than a century. Businesses began moving out of the area during the 1970s, and the area transitioned into a primarily residential area.

Drive into the downtown area to check out the city’s arts and culture scene. Take your little ones to the Charlotte Nature Museum on Sterling Road to learn from the hands-on exhibits and see live animals. Sports fans enjoy the NASCAR Hall of Fame on East Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard, and history buffs should visit the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts and Culture. For a taste of local culture, check out the All Ale to the Queen Beer Carnival in March or the Q-City BBQ Championship in October.

South Boulevard, which runs directly through Colonial Village and into downtown Charlotte, houses an abundance of fast-food and chain restaurants as well as a handful of locally owned pizza and burger joints. A few Mexican and Thai restaurants add a little variety to the mix, but don’t expect to find a lot of restaurants that serve international cuisine in this area.

Zacks Hamburgers, a family-owned, fast-food restaurant located at the corner of South Boulevard and Scaleybark Road, serves some of the best burgers in the Charlotte area, according to the locals. The old-school dining establishment has a decent-sized menu that features burgers, fries, hot dogs and salads. Try the Zacks Special, a double cheeseburger topped with lettuce, tomato, pickle and mayonnaise, or order the barbecue pork sandwich – regular customers insist that it has the perfect pork-to-barbecue ratio.

Las Americas on South Boulevard serves authentic Colombian cuisine. Locals say the restaurant serves amazing food, but it's the exceptional customer service that keeps them coming back. Try the empanadas, whole red snapper and mondongo – all come highly recommended.

Visit The Steak ‘n’ Hoagie Shop on South Boulevard for lunch. This restaurant specializes in Philadelphia-style cheesesteak sandwiches and grills each one to order. The menu also features an array of hoagies with fresh, thin-sliced meat and made-from-scratch rolls. The hoagies arrive topped with lettuce, tomato, onions and the house olive-oil and wine-vinegar dressing.

Colonial Village has a moderate nightlife scene comprised of a few small neighborhood bars and pubs. For a laid-back evening, area residents visit Greystone Restaurant Tap Room. This American-Greek-style restaurant features a full bar that serves as a neighborhood hangout in the evenings. Triple C Brewing Company on Griffith Street features a pet-friendly outdoor seating area and reasonably priced craft brews. The bar frequently hosts live bands, and adjacent food trucks provide patrons with late-night meals.

The majority of Colonial Village residents rely on personal vehicles for convenient transportation. The area has plenty of free parking available, and South Boulevard connects residents with downtown Charlotte and U.S. Route 74 to the north. Interstate 77, which connects to interstates 485 and 85, sits to the west of the neighborhood, making it easy to navigate the entire Charlotte area.

Residents who don’t drive typically ride the bus or the light rail. The New Bern Station sits just west of Colonial Village on South Tryon Street. The Blue Line runs between the New Bern Station and downtown Charlotte, where residents can transfer to other light rail lines to travel throughout the city. If you prefer the bus, route 12 runs along South Boulevard.

You can’t hail a cab in Colonial Village. However, area cab companies schedule rides via the phone, and Uber serves the area. Alternatively, walking and bike riding both make great modes of transportation for Colonial Village residents. The portion of South Boulevard that runs through Colonial Hills has a designated bike lane that connects with a bike path to the north. Scaleybark Road also features a bike lane, and other major roads remain bike friendly.

Sedgefield Park on Elmhurst Road and E.B. Moore Park on Marsh Road sit in Sedgefield directly north of Colonial Village. Both free neighborhood parks feature playgrounds, tennis courts and picnic shelters with electric grills. Sedgefield Park also has a basketball court and walking trails that are perfect for a short afternoon jog.

Freedom Park on East Boulevard just east of Sedgefield has something for everyone. Sports enthusiasts enjoy the 12 tennis courts, four baseball fields, four soccer fields, basketball court and two volleyball courts. People who love outdoor exercise take advantage of the extensive walking trails and paths, while parents take the little ones to one of the two playgrounds or the NFL Play60 KidZone. Freedom Park also hosts free concerts and outdoor movies at its bandstand in the summer and the annual Festival in the Park in September. This park welcomes dogs, but they must remain on leashes.

The cost of living in Colonial Village averages around 5 percent higher than the average cost of living in Charlotte. Expect to pay around $565 per month to rent a one-bedroom residence, about $3 for a bottle of domestic beer and around $4 for a bottle of imported beer. A one-way bus or light-rail ride costs $2.20. Typical gas prices hover around 2 percent less than the national average.

Stores line South Boulevard in Colonial Village as well as South Tryon Street to the west. Drive north on South Boulevard towards downtown Charlotte to find an array of locally owned shops and boutiques and stores that sell basic necessities.

Petal Boutique is an upscale consignment shop in the neighborhood where you can find a little bit of something for everyone. Petal carries both high and low-end items that you won't find in most places. Stop into this local favorite to browse through women's clothing, accessories and other fashionable items. Be sure to watch for the regular sales it sponsors so you don't miss out on a bargain.

For unusual hand-knotted rugs, visit Couture Knots on Cleveland Avenue. The store showcases exclusive lines that can't be purchased online as well as antique heirloom rugs and also features a service for people who prefer to design their own custom floor covering.

Residents complete large grocery shopping trips at Food Lion on Park Road in Sedgefield, but Colonial Village houses several convenience stores, such as Circle K, where you can the basics between grocery store trips. Lacomercial Mexico on South Boulevard sells Latin-American groceries, and Reid's Fine Foods on Clanton Road specializes in gourmet meats, cheese and wine. Visit Charlotte Regional Farmers Market on Yorkmont Road in Eagle Lake for fresh produce and baked goods. The year-round market operates Tuesdays through Saturdays and opens on Sundays from May through September.