Apartments for rent in Charlotte, NC

Getting to Know Charlotte, NC

Charlotte is not just the biggest city in North Carolina but also one of the greenest. With 174 miles of pedestrian and bike paths as well as a light rail mass transit system, you don't need to walk as much and can spend a lot of your time surrounded by green. Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), a major hub for American Airlines, serves more than 40 million travelers each year. One of the fastest-growing cities in America, Charlotte welcomes new arrivals from across the country without sacrificing its Southern charm.

Best Charlotte Apartments and Neighborhoods

Looking for the best places to live in Charlotte? The city's neighborhoods have distinctive character, so you can choose the one that fits your lifestyle. Here are a few that stand out:

• Dilworth (East Charlotte): Populated with historic buildings, this charming, long-established neighborhood offers locally owned boutiques and restaurants, parks and a four-mile nature trail.

Charlotte Industry and Jobs Market

A major U.S. financial hub, Charlotte is home to Bank of America's national headquarters and Wells Fargo's East Coast operations. It's also home to some colleges and universities, most notably UNC Charlotte, for those going to college for the first time or going back for higher education.

Fun Things to Do in Charlotte

This Southern city offers an abundance of seasonal events, from holiday celebrations to food and craft beer festivals. If you're looking for free things to do in Charlotte, several local breweries offer complimentary tours, and the 37 miles of greenways provide a great setting for a run or a bicycle ride.

Did you know?

Charlotte is nicknamed the Tree City", and for good reason. In 2012, the city made a commitment to plant 500,000 trees by 2050 on top of an already lush, green canopy, making it a beautiful, yet cosmopolitan place to live.

Top Five Things to Do in Charlotte

Explore some of Charlotte's many activities with our top five suggestions.

• Rev Your Engines: Check out the NASCAR Hall of Fame, home to 150,000 square feet of interactive activities, including race simulators. Time yourself at the tire-changing station, or let your kids take the wheel in the children's section.

• Experience Big Thrills: At Carowinds amusement park, 15 minutes south of uptown, you can enjoy roller coasters, a Ferris wheel and an expansive water park.

• Find 100 Acres of Serenity: The Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden offers rare plants and colorful, constantly changing flower displays that make for a plant-lover's paradise.

• Learn Something New: The exhibits at Discovery Place help you explore natural science, astronomy, anatomy and much more. Gaze at aquariums, learn about rainforests and just generally learn much more about nature than you did before.

• Go for a Hike: The McDowell Nature Center and Preserve offers 1,100 verdant acres filled with bird-feeding stations and butterfly gardens.

For Charlotte Families with Kids

Take your kids to Great Wolf Lodge to experience a massive indoor water park, or enjoy live music, cooking demonstrations and family activities at the Matthews Community Farmers' Market. Your family can also watch a performance and pick out a few books at ImaginOn, an educational center which combines a children's theater with a library. Charlotte also has excellent public schools, including magnet schools, offered through the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school district.

Outdoor Living

Take advantage of Charlotte's abundant outdoor activities by going for a stroll in Freedom Park, biking along the Little Sugar Creek Greenway or lounging on the shores of Lake Norman.

Getaways from Charlotte

North Carolina's largest city lies only two and a half hours from the quirky charm of Asheville, NC and less than three and a half hours from historic Charleston, SC. Several beaches can also be found a short distance from Charlotte, including the picturesque Isle of Palms and the popular Carolina Beach, both less than four hours away.