For the past few weeks, many have been wondering how the Democratic National Committee could have picked Charlotte, North Carolina, as their convention site. This week the delegates, media,and all the other visitors will see for themselves all that Charlotte has to offer.

Our center city- known as Uptown by the locals, downtown to most visitors, this area sparkles with shiny new office towers, great performing arts venues, many museums( including the Betchler Museum of Modern Art, Mint Museum and Museum of the New South) and restaurants. The Carolina Panthers play uptown in Bank of America staduim. The NBA Bobcats play in Time Warner arena.

Trees- Charlotte has taken great steps to protect the tree canopy. There are many beautiful tree-lined streets in the neighborhoods surrounding center city Charlotte. These neighborhoods, Eastover, Myers Park, Dilworth, First Ward, Wesley Heights, Southend, Elizabeth, and Plaza Midwood feature many great homes built in the early to mid 20th century. There are many great restaurants and coffee shops within walking distance. Another trendy spot near uptown Charlotte is NoDa. This artsy community has fun shops and places to eat, including Cabo Fish Taco that was featured on the Food Network.

Venture south and you will find the area of Charlotte known as Southpark. The biggest landmark in Southpark is the Southpark mall. It may seem crazy to have a mall as the centerpiece, but Southpark is THE place for shopping in Charlotte. Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Belk, Vineyard Vines, Hermes,Lilly Pulitzer, Tiffany &Co, all can be found at Southpark Mall. The mall isn’t the only thing in Southpark, there are many offices and wonderful neighborhoods like Foxcroft, Mountainbrook, and Barclay Downs.

South of Southpark is the Ballantyne area, the towns of Pineville, Matthews, and Mint Hill. Ballantyne is the newest area of south Charlotte. The area is home to the 535 acre Ballantyne Corporate Park, which includes multiple office buildings, a golf course, and the Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge, which is the lodging of choice for the White House staff and the president during his stay here in Charlotte. Like to golf? Live on the course in the Ballantyne Country Club, Providence Country Club, Raintree, Longview or Firethorne neighborhoods. Ballantyne is home to Ardrey Kell High School, the #1 high school in the Charlotte Mecklenburg School system as ranked by Newsweek Magazine.

Want recreation? Aside from the numerous public and privite golf courses and tennis courts, Charlotte boasts many parks and greenways. There are three large lakes nearly, including Lake Norman. A great way to spend an afternoon is at the US National Whitewater Center. You can find all levels of rapids, kayak on the Catawba River, zip-line, hike or do the ropes course.

Charlotte has so many great places to live, things to do, but the best thing about Charlotte is the people! Charlotte offers true Southern hospitality, but also has adopted the many cultures and traditions of all those that have moved here from outside the South. Most of the Charlotte residents aren’t Charlotte natives, but instead of mistrust and dislike, we celebrate our differences and find ways to incorporate them into the New South city of Charlotte.