Marshbrooke - Charlotte, NC

Eastern portions of Charlotte began as farmland but underwent residential development during the 1960s as a result of the city's banking-related growth. Houses in neighborhoods such as Marshbrooke were built to cater to middle-income workers looking for a quick and easy commute into uptown via Independence Boulevard. Marshbrooke straddles the line between east Charlotte and south Charlotte and is sometimes considered an outlying part of the city of Matthews.

Three museums are located outside of the boundaries of Marshbrooke, but locals can access them fairly easily. The Charlotte Museum of History in east Charlotte maintains Mecklenburg County's oldest home, the Hezekiah Alexander house. The cities of Mint Hill and Matthews also operate historical museums. For art and theater experiences, residents head uptown to the Mint Museum or Ovens Auditorium. One of the best festivals in the Charlotte area, Matthews Alive, remains a popular attraction during Labor Day weekend.

Marshbrooke's restaurant options are limited to affordable ethnic choices and casual chains such as Jersey Mike's, Chili's and Ruby Tuesday. These establishments line Independence Boulevard, and clusters can be found along Margaret Wallace Road at the intersections of Idlewild and Lawyers roads. Close to home, locals chow down on diverse menus at restaurants such as the Pho Huong Que. Fans of Vietnamese food love the restaurant's classic take on pho. The broth at Pho Huong Que screams complexity. Hints of allspice and various herbs mix with the meat for a sumptuous meal. Plates with huge portions typically cost under $10.

Next door to Pho Huong Que along Independence Boulevard sits another popular Asian restaurant, Fortune Cookie Chinese. Fortune Cookie serves traditional Chinese food from their no-frills restaurant and has become known for its kong pow chicken and fried rice. Locals also appreciate the timely delivery service.

Though Asian-inspired restaurants take up a vast majority of the dining spaces in Marshbrooke, a short drive north along Margaret Wallace Road brings locals to the tasty Italian eatery, Angela's Pizza and Italian Restaurant. Hearty pasta and seafood dishes, friendly, personal service and a family-friendly vibe are all reasons that Angela's appeals to neighborhood locals. Diners rave that the chicken spinach lasagna may be the best in town.

For a quick evening drink, locals have a choice between many chain restaurant bars such as Buffalo Wild Wings and Applebee's. Further south along Independence Boulevard sits the Tilted Kilt Pub and Eatery, which features daily drink specials and kilted waitresses. Locals drive north to uptown to experience upscale nightclubs and bars. For live music, comedy and theatrical performances, Bojangles Coliseum features popular acts year-round.

Most residents of Marshbrooke own a car and use it to get around. To access the 1-485 loop that encircles the city, drivers must either travel 10 miles east to exit 44 or 6 miles south along Independence Boulevard to reach exit 51. Driving through uptown remains the best way to get to I-77 and I-85. Locals encourage visitors to park along residential roads.

Those needing alternative transportation have a number of options. Charlotte Area Transit System provides bus service along Idlewild Road and Independence Boulevard for Marshbrooke residents, and roughly 30 percent of public transit riders have walkable access to these bus stops. From Independence Boulevard, commuters can board a bus to uptown every 30 minutes, Monday through Friday. Locals commuting to work in uptown can use the Independence Boulevard express bus service. Idlewild Road offers limited express route service from 6 to 8 a.m. during the work week. Taxis and Uber also provide rides throughout the Marshbrooke area but typically need to be scheduled in advance.

Bike commuters appreciate the presence of two commuter bike lanes along Margaret Wallace Road and Summerfield Ridge Lane.

Two of Charlotte's largest and most popular parks are located near Marshbrooke. McAlpine Creek Park is to the west along Monroe Road. This 114-acre expanse includes a 3-acre lake complete with a fishing pier, a beautiful gazebo and numerous athletic fields. Dog lovers enjoy taking Fido to McAlpine Creek's off-leash dog park, Ray's Fetching Meadows.

Located east of Marshbrooke, Idlewild Road Park impresses with a 1.5-mile walking trail, a playground and two reservable shelters covering over 120 acres. City-operated parks are free to use, but shelters that require a reservation usually charge a small fee.

Parks all around the city host events and activities throughout the year, such as running races, athletic events and neighborhood-centric festivals. Every Wednesday evening in the summer months, the Romare Bearden Park hosts the Party in the Park music series. In east Charlotte, the Reedy Creek Nature Center is home to the annual Hummingbird Festival that generally draws in thousands of hummingbird enthusiasts every August.

The cost of living in Marshbrooke sits close to 5 percent lower than the city average of Charlotte, and this directly relates to the low cost of housing. Renters benefit from the lower housing costs and pay an average of $708 per month for a one-bedroom apartment.

In terms of transportation, bus riders pay $2.20 for a one-way fare, $6.60 for a day pass and $2.60 for express service. Gas prices average 4 percent less than the national average, while a pint of beer at a local bar costs about $5.

Independence Square, the only shopping center within Marshbrooke's boundaries, houses a Harbor Freight Tools, Super G International Market and a Walmart. Grocery, electronics and apparel stores dot Independence Boulevard and Margaret Wallace Road, but none are considered upscale. Locals purchase their groceries at either the Super G Market or Food Lion along East W.T. Harris Boulevard. A Harris Teeter sits across from the Galleria shopping center south of Marshbrooke and across Independence Boulevard.

Smaller specialty stores can best be found directly outside of Marshbrooke in shopping complexes such as the Galleria. Fontana & Fontana in the Galleria features leather goods and international designs for the modern shopper. Apparel and shoes from name brands such as Cole Haan, Jessica Simpson and Gucci line the shelves at Fontana.

Area residents in the market for flooring options travel to Carefree Carpets along Idlewild Road. The personal service has created a legion of loyal customers. Whether shopping for carpet, hardwood, tile or laminate, Carefree Carpets takes the stress out of the experience. People from all around North and South Carolina travel to the South Park area where SouthPark Mall, Phillips Place and the Village at SouthPark sit. High-end boutiques and name brands such as Orvis, Louis Vuitton and Anthropologie are featured next to upscale restaurants like the Palm steakhouse. For a farmers market experience, locals drive south to Matthews for the Matthews Community Market. Held on Saturday mornings year-round, the market features local produce, meats and homemade goods.