Ok, Uptown Charlotte. I posted a few photos on my Motorcycle Blog, and will have a few more on my Photo Page; but these are different from the bike blog photos. Seen at right is Time Warner Cable Arena. Both the Charlotte Bobcats and the Charlotte Checkers (NBA and hockey teams respectively) play there. There is also the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Bank of America Stadium (Carolina Panthers), and according to the signs the AAA baseball team The Charlotte Knights will soon be playing in a new Charlotte baseball stadium. If you like professional sports, Charlotte pretty much has your game. They have some fine places to enjoy those games too.
Charlotte is blessed with some new and tall buildings. Seen here is the headquarters of Bank of America; one of the largest buildings in the city (in fact, I think it is still THE largest). Charlotte was the #2 banking city in the US (just behind New York) though not sure where it ranks now since the big economic crisis. It still is an important banking city and is still growing though at a slower rate, but has been over the last few decades one of the fastest growing cities in the US. The city is home to Charlotte Douglas International Airport, once of the largest airports in the US. It has great air service with many non-stops due to being one of the hub cities of US Airways. It is not hard to get anyplace in the US and for that matter many places in the world.
Lots of people live in Condos such as these. Again, the economic problems slowed that down, but Center City is well populated with residents. It has some nice places along College Street with a good nightlife. It did have many of the same sort of problems which were found in Richmond's Shockoe Bottom area, but a hefty police presence keeps the problems well down for the most part, and its not a bad area to go into. Charlotte is certainly big on parades, any major event or even a few minor ones calls for some nice parades. In my journeys downtown I have come across many over the years, though if there was an Easter Parade, I must have missed it.
Charlotte is one of the largest cities in the US in area anyhow (and I believe around #33 in population though could be off one or two places) but it covers a big area. Downtown is really modern, and in fact many of the areas around it have been torn down and rebuilt. Charlotte is not real big (though there is some) use of old buildings such as in Louisville, Kentucky and Richmond, VA. Charlotte is more prone to tear things down and start over again. The old Charlotte Coliseum lasted something like 14 years before it was imploded (now its a industrial park I believe outside of town. Though not popular when built, the light rail has really become popular in the city, and talk is of expanding it to some of the outlying areas of the city.
A prime example of expansion is Charlotte (formerly Lowes) Motor Speedway, which is actually in Concord, NC. During the time I have been in the area (something like 13 years as of now) many new bleacher sections have been added, along with a dirt track, a drag strip, and soon the world's largest outdoor tv. Seeing old photos of the track it is hard at times to believe that this is the same place at the same location. CMS is the home to two NASCAR races and except for one year at Atlanta, the home to the All-Star Race. The All-Star Race and the Coca-Cola 600 are held in May, with a 500 mile race in October. I have been to the track quite a few times, and got to say being at a NASCAR race there is a hell of a thing. I have also done the Richard Petty Driving Experience, and that is not to be believed; more fun than you can imagine. I always enjoy exploring this area, which changes fast and still grows like no city I have ever seen.
Ok, Uptown Charlotte. I posted a few photos on my Motorcycle Blog, and will have a few more on my Photo Page; but these are different from the bike blog photos. Seen at right is Time Warner Cable Arena. Both the Charlotte Bobcats and the Charlotte Checkers (NBA and hockey teams respectively) play there. There is also the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Bank of America Stadium (Carolina Panthers), and according to the signs the AAA baseball team The Charlotte Knights will soon be playing in a new Charlotte baseball stadium. If you like professional sports, Charlotte pretty much has your game. They have some fine places to enjoy those games too. 
Charlotte is blessed with some new and tall buildings. Seen here is the headquarters of Bank of America; one of the largest buildings in the city (in fact, I think it is still THE largest). Charlotte was the #2 banking city in the US (just behind New York) though not sure where it ranks now since the big economic crisis. It still is an important banking city and is still growing though at a slower rate, but has been over the last few decades one of the fastest growing cities in the US. The city is home to Charlotte Douglas International Airport, once of the largest airports in the US. It has great air service with many non-stops due to being one of the hub cities of US Airways. It is not hard to get anyplace in the US and for that matter many places in the world. 
Lots of people live in Condos such as these. Again, the economic problems slowed that down, but Center City is well populated with residents. It has some nice places along College Street with a good nightlife. It did have many of the same sort of problems which were found in Richmond's Shockoe Bottom area, but a hefty police presence keeps the problems well down for the most part, and its not a bad area to go into. Charlotte is certainly big on parades, any major event or even a few minor ones calls for some nice parades. In my journeys downtown I have come across many over the years, though if there was an Easter Parade, I must have missed it. 
Charlotte is one of the largest cities in the US in area anyhow (and I believe around #33 in population though could be off one or two places) but it covers a big area. Downtown is really modern, and in fact many of the areas around it have been torn down and rebuilt. Charlotte is not real big (though there is some) use of old buildings such as in Louisville, Kentucky and Richmond, VA. Charlotte is more prone to tear things down and start over again. The old Charlotte Coliseum lasted something like 14 years before it was imploded (now its a industrial park I believe outside of town. Though not popular when built, the light rail has really become popular in the city, and talk is of expanding it to some of the outlying areas of the city. 
A prime example of expansion is Charlotte (formerly Lowes) Motor Speedway, which is actually in Concord, NC. During the time I have been in the area (something like 13 years as of now) many new bleacher sections have been added, along with a dirt track, a drag strip, and soon the world's largest outdoor tv. Seeing old photos of the track it is hard at times to believe that this is the same place at the same location. CMS is the home to two NASCAR races and except for one year at Atlanta, the home to the All-Star Race. The All-Star Race and the Coca-Cola 600 are held in May, with a 500 mile race in October. I have been to the track quite a few times, and got to say being at a NASCAR race there is a hell of a thing. I have also done the Richard Petty Driving Experience, and that is not to be believed; more fun than you can imagine. I always enjoy exploring this area, which changes fast and still grows like no city I have ever seen.
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