Country Club Heights - Charlotte, NC

A southern epicenter of attention since the Civil War, Charlotte’s zeal stems from a combination of rich southern pride and modernization. Charlotte’s longevity can be traced to its naming after a Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, wife of Britain’s King George III in the mid-18th century.

Housing was rural in eastern Charlotte until the founding of Mecklenburg’s Club, now known as Charlotte Country Club, in 1910. Over 200 acres of land was set aside for the club’s golf course, and just outside of its perimeter brick homes were built. This eventually became the streets of Country Club Heights.

In recent years, the Charlotte Country Club’s popularity has dwindled as Charlotte has become the home of an increasing number of the region’s professional sports clubs, including the Carolina Panthers (football) and the Charlotte Hornets (basketball). However, Country Club Heights retains its cozy splendor just the same.

Tourists might remain complacently city-bound for a tasteful, quality meal around Charlotte, but locals from Country Club Heights know they need not waste the gas.

Letty’s on Shamrock Drive is within walking distance of the community, Letty’s is a well-priced and homey place owned and run by Letty himself. The popular menu item is the fish and chips, but locals also love the salmon and chicken entrées, which accompany elaborate salad options.

Half a mile down the road from Letty’s is the tiny Lang Van Vietnamese. Out-of-towners quickly write off Lang Van for its ordinary outward appearance, but don’t judge a book by its cover - evenings get quite busy, for good reason. Lang Van cooks up authentic foreign cuisine, such as tom nuong vi, (skewered jumbo shrimp) and the steamy vermicelli bowl. Far East restaurant connoisseurs can appreciate the $10 to $15 price range as more than reasonable for the flavorful, authentic food.

With Charlotte not too far away, nighthawks of Country Club Heights can patronize establishments in the downtown area without too much difficulty. Petra’s Piano Bar and Cabaret in the eastern outskirts of Charlotte stands out as a marvelous place to spend the evening. Live deejays and bands play this bar on some nights, while karaoke steals the limelight on others. Lively players on the keys and pedals perform most of the rest of the week, making Petra’s an obvious option for an eventful night out. For those looking to stay local, head over to Blue Restaurant & Bar to grab a beer after work.

The green community of Country Club Heights holds the unbusy streets typical of a tranquil suburb. Slipping out to the more major streets, such as Central Avenue or the nearby U.S. 74, happens effortlessly.

For those who frequent downtown Charlotte, a steady 10 minute commute down Central Avenue leaves you at the heart of the city, right next to the Charlotte Hornets’ Time Warner Cable Arena. Public transportation takes the form of CATS, the Charlotte Area Transit System. CATS Bus 39 reaches downtown from Eastway Drive, the community’s eastern boundary, in about 15 minutes.

The occasional sidewalk on major streets accommodates joggers and bikers. Streets without sidewalks hardly have any through traffic to worry about. The local avenues have streetlights, allowing for daytime’s adventures by foot to continue safely after dusk.

The area is serviced by local cab companies, and Charlotte’s Uber boundaries easily encompass the Country Club Heights area and continue to span out for miles beyond, so it's always easy to arrange for a ride if you don't want to drive or take public transit.

Many arduous golf fanatics from all over the Carolinas pine over the century-old Charlotte Country Club while they’re away from it. USGA championships have even been held at the club in the past decades. Members attend friendly competitions up to six times a year. However, the club earned its U.S. top-10 private club ranking for more reasons than golf. The club also offers a beautiful 68,000 square foot clubhouse, with more than a dozen tennis courts, two squash courts and five swimming pools. Charlotte Country Club’s historic ambiance echoes across its sprawling acres with every passing breeze.

Although much smaller in size, public Shamrock Park One provides another place for the community to enjoy the outdoors. The park consists of a tennis court, a sand volleyball court, picnic tables, and a playground for the kids. Although tucked away deep in the neighborhood, the space is the perfect location to toss a football or walk your dog.

Living in Country Club Heights costs about two percent more than the national average cost of living, and the typical cost to rent a one-bedroom apartment averaging $525 per month. Other costs, however, remain near or below the national average. Expect to pay about $4 for a beer at a local bar, and expect gas prices to hover within one percent of the average national cost.

For the most part, experienced fashionistas of the area drift to the boutiques of downtown Charlotte. However, in the blocks closer to Country Club Heights, other quaint, and often better-priced, stores have doors open wide.

Down the street on Eastway Drive, locals patronize Eastway Crossing, an outlet strip based around a farmers market and Family Dollar store. Windows of over a dozen other shops complement these two anchors, including El Potrero Western Wear, a one-stop choice for tanned cowboy boots.

About a mile toward Charlotte on Central Avenue, Plaza Midwood is home to a line of tiny shops and boutiques. Step into Fifteen Ten Antiques for a selection of brass chandeliers, aged chairs, Victorian end tables and intricate ornaments, all of which adorn all corners of the store, from the floor and onto the walls.