Hidden Valley - Charlotte, NC

Hidden Valley is part of the larger North Charlotte neighborhood, one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city. Dating back to around 1880, the area was a milling community, and several former mill buildings are scattered throughout the area. The last of the mills closed in 1975, and North Charlotte's economy struggled to cope with the loss of its major industry. Today, North Charlotte is considered the city's latest up-and-coming neighborhood.

Once you move to a Hidden Valley apartment, you'll have easy access to all of Charlotte's museums. Be sure to visit the NASCAR Hall of Fame, the Mint Museum, the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, the Charlotte Museum of Natural History, and the Charlotte Nature Museum. To catch a play or musical performance, visit the Blumenthal Perming Arts Center or Opera Carolina. The Carolina Renaissance Festival, held in October/November, is one of the nation's largest renaissance-themed festivals.

As a primarily residential neighborhood, Hidden Valley's restaurants can be difficult to find -- but when you find your favorite hangout, you'll want to visit over and over again. Most residents head toward Sugar Creek Road or toward I-85, where you'll find an assortment of restaurants ranging from sit-down to fast food. There are several places located along North Tryon Street, as well.

A popular immobile taco truck, Taqueria El Tri, sells street tacos that reflect the traditional ones you find in Mexico. Enjoy a chicken taco, or be adventurous and devour a burrito de lengua, or tongue burrito. For some American grub, head over to South 21 Jr. Enjoy classic dishes such as a jumbo cheeseburger or a ribeye steak sandwich.

When it comes to nightlife in Hidden Valley, the bars and clubs of downtown Charlotte are just five miles away. Closer to home, an AMF bowling alley offers fun for the whole family. If you don't want to bow, just sit back and relax while you partake in some great cocktails, including the Watermelon Mist and Electric Berry Lemonade.

Most residents of Hidden Valley travel the neighborhood via their own car. Several major streets and highways surround Hidden Valley, so it's easy to access highways and expressways to reach further parts of the city or state. Most businesses in the area provide no-cost parking spaces for customers.

City buses serve as the most common form of public transportation. While most of the bus stops run along the major highways, many lay within the center of the neighborhood, making it an excellent choice to travel within the neighborhood or to other parts of Charlotte, NC. As a large suburban neighborhood, hailing a cab is uncommon and difficult. However, Uber is available in Charlotte, providing a convenient way to travel, especially if you've been drinking.

Hidden Valley is not a very walkable neighborhood, especially since most of the restaurants, stores, and other establishments lie around the perimeter of the area. This neighborhood offers better biking opportunities, making it easier to get around on two wheels.

Hidden Valley houses two parks. Tom Hunter Park is free and pet-friendly. Have a picnic with your family and watch your children play, or get some exercise as you take your pup for a walk along the walking trails. This park spans 8.36 acres and has a basketball court, walking trails, and a playground.

Elmore RV Park and Campground is the only RV park within Charlotte. It offers a place for you to live if you have your own RV, or it makes a great place to camp in your RV. The cost per night is $32, but there is a three-night minimum. If you stay a week, expect to pay $140, and if you stay longer, it costs $400 per month. The park takes up six acres and has 33 full hook-up sites. Features include free Wi-Fi, 30 and 50 amp hook ups, paved sites, and pull-through sites.

While the cost of most services and goods averages the same as the rest of Charlotte, housing is significantly less in Hidden Valley. As a result, the cost of living in Hidden Valley averages about 11 percent less than the rest of Charlotte and 13 percent less than the national average.

If you want to reach the city center via city bus, expect to pay about $2.20 for a standard local ticket or $6.60 for a one-day, unlimited use pass. The median cost of rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Hidden Valley stands at about $515 a month. When you head down to a local pub, expect to pay about $3 for a pint. Gas prices in Hidden Valley average about nine percent lower than the national average.

While there are no shopping malls in Hidden Valley, most of the area's shops hug highway 49. For wedding needs, Casa Princess provides dresses and accessories. Last Place on Earth is a specialty pet store that sells small animals, birds, and pet supplies.

For groceries, check out Compare Foods. This store carries all the major brands of foods and provides many services, including hot foods, fresh deli, organic foods, fresh seafood, and butcher services. Smaller stores with some groceries, such as the 76 Food Mart, offer a quick opportunity to grab a few items you may have forgotten while grocery shopping.