Today, we unveil a new feature: Live Where You Play.

Periodically, I get emails from out-of-staters moving to the region who are looking for a good place to live. And by “good place,” they mean a place close to where they can play. A place with a long greenway, or good hiking trails, a nearby mountain bike network or maybe some nice Class II and III whitewater running through the backyard. Well, maybe not right through the backyard, but close. I do a little research and shoot back an email listing options. And every time I do, I think, there have to be more people out there who would love to live closer to where they play.

A little over a month ago I got a query from Henderson Properties in Charlotte about a potential sponsorship arrangement. We kicked around some ideas, then hit on the notion of a “Live Where You Play” feature. Henderson Properties would provide descriptions of their seven neighborhoods in the Charlotte area, I would add nearby places to play. My focus would be on the true gems, the places where you could see yourself spending a lot of quality active time. For the most part, places you could reach within five minutes and if it takes longer, the place needs to be extra special. We provide a quick description and a link where you could find details. The resulting list would live on the left side of our home page, under “Where to Play in North Carolina.”

To be sure, this is not a comprehensive resource, at least not yet. The communities listed are only those managed by Henderson Properties, which is sponsoring the feature. But it does represent a cross-section of Charlotte, and if other real estate companies in Charlotte and throughout the state like the feature, then it could grow into a comprehensive resource. (How’s that for subtle marketing, real estate companies? Real estate companies, by the way, are welcome to email us at joe@getgoingnc.com for details on how they, too, can become part of our “Live Where You Play” universe.)

So here we are with our first foray into real estate matched with real good places to play. To recap: the words about the communities themselves are Henderson Properties, Inc., the words about nearby places to play are ours. Let us know what you think.

Ballantyne: Suburban Luxury
Ballantyne is a south suburb of Charlotte. The newer 2,000-acre community sits off of Interstate 485 on what was once the Morrison Hunting Reserve. Ballantyne has everything a homeowner needs, including shopping, dining, entertainment and even a large corporate park and golf course.

Currently, Ballantyne is experiencing growth, with home prices up over the same time last year. Home values are high, as this is an area many people wish to live. Excellent schools, numerous business and employment opportunities and the building of new developments within its borders mean it is an attractive area, both for buyers and sellers. More info here.

Where to play: Just over the state line in Fort Mill, S.C., about five miles away, is the Anne Springs Close Greenway, a 2,300-acre preserve with more than 30 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trail. A 4.1-mile stretch of the McAlpine Creek/Campbell Creek Greenway runs through the north end of the Ballantyne area. The greenway runs through McAlpine Park, home to one of the region’s top 5K natural surface race courses. The greenway is part of Charlotte’s planned 150-mile greenway network. Davie Park includes a dog park. The Ballantyne area has five community parks.

Gastonia: Value Near the City
Gastonia gives Charlotte homebuyers the chance to shop in an award-winning community. It has been given both the All-American City Award and the City Livability Award, and it continues to be popular among buyers who want to live near Charlotte but outside the city limits. The commute to downtown is only about 20 minutes, but Gastonia has its own share of dining, shopping and entertainment options. It also has excellent schools and is home to the Carolina Speedway.

Gastonia has a lower average listing price than other similar Charlotte neighborhoods because of the number of condos in this community. Even with the lower prices, these homes are seeing an increase in value, with properties worth more this year than they were last year, and numbers continuing to increase. A steady stream of interested buyers means properties move quickly in Gastonia. More info here.

Where to play: Crowders Mountain State Park just west of town has more than 18 miles of hiking trail (including the Ridgeline Trail that connects with Kings Mountain State Park in South Carolina), rock climbing and a bouldering area. George Poston Park, including a dog park, 7 miles of hiking trails and 6 miles of mountain bike trail (with more to open pending completion of a park construction project). National Whitewater Center, less than 20 minutes east on I-85, is the Disney of outdoor adventure, with whitewater rafting and kayaking, mountain biking, a 45-foot climbing wall, hiking and running trails, flatwater paddling and more. Gastonia has 13 community parks.

Concord: Historic Properties
Concord is a bit farther from downtown Charlotte, but still within a 30-minute drive of the city. Concord’s historic downtown attracts buyers who appreciate the character of older homes, and the city has two National Register Historic Districts. Boutique shops and unique dining options are also abundant, and it is home to the Concord Mills outlet mall.

Concord is experiencing mixed growth. Median sales prices are higher this year over last, but the average list price is dropping. Only a small number of the properties on the market in Concord are foreclosures. More info here.

Where to Play: Morrow Mountain State Park isn’t right in your backyard, but at less than 50 minutes away its 15 miles of hiking trails, lake and river paddling and 1930s swimming pool make the drive worthwhile. Uwharrie National Forest, Morrow Mountain’s neighbor, offers more than 30 miles of hiking and mountain biking on the Keyauwee and Supertree loop trails. Lake Norman State Park, National Whitewater Center, less than 40 minutes west on I-85, is the Disney of outdoor adventure, with whitewater rafting and kayaking, mountain biking, a 45-foot climbing wall, hiking and running trails, flatwater paddling and more. Concord has two greenways, the Harold McEachern Greenway linking Les Myers Park and Mickey McGee Park, and the Village Greenway running from Spring Street to Kerr Street. There are seven community parks in the Concord area.

Matthews: Family Appeal
The 13-square mile town of Matthews is popular with people looking for a place to raise a family. It sits between Charlotte and Monroe, providing easy access to the amenities of the city, while also containing plenty of amenities of its own. The Matthews Commercial District is a historic place within Matthews that features homes from the 1800s and early 1900s. Matthews is seeing steady growth in average sale prices, in spite of a higher than average number of foreclosures in the area. More info here.

Where to Play: Colonel Francis Beatty Community Park includes 11 miles of singletrack mountain bike trail and a lake for canoeing and kayaking. Sherman Branch Park has 11.6 miles of singletrack often cited as some of the best in Charlotte. Four Mile Creek Greenway, which is actually two miles, links downtown Matthews with Squirrel Lake Park, a great family trip. McAlpine Creek Park has a 2-mile bike trail, a 1.5-mile hiking trail, a championship 5K cross-country course and a dog park. Freedom Park has hiking trails, a 7-acre lake and connects with the Little Sugar Creek Greenway. James Boyce Park connects via greenway with McAlpine Creek Park and has multi-purpose trails Inner Peaks Climbing Center, indoor climbing gym with 13,000 square feet of terrain and 25-foot walls. There are three community parks in the Matthews area.

View Henderson Properties Neighborhoods in a larger map
Uptown: Convenience and Variety
Uptown sits in the heart of Charlotte, which is ideal for those who want to be close to their place of work. It has an interesting mix of properties divided into four wards. Here you can find everything from luxury penthouses to single family homes and more urban rental units. The historic Fourth Ward in Uptown contains the only remaining examples of Queen Anne architecture in the region, and the historic properties here are very well maintained. Uptown is one of the city’s fastest growing business districts, and the residential side of things is starting to catch up with the growth of business. Lofts, condos and apartments are some of the most common types of properties here. More info here.

Where to Play: Renaissance Park has 8 miles of intermediate and advanced mountain bike trail Southwest District Park offers 3 miles of singletrack mountain bike trail near the airport. National Whitewater Center, about 20 minutes from downtown, is the Disney of outdoor adventure, with whitewater rafting and kayaking, mountain biking, a 45-foot climbing wall, hiking and running trails, flatwater paddling and more. Greenways in the Uptown area include Irwin Creek & Stewart Creek greenways, Little Sugar Creek Greenway, currently in four short sections but eventually to run 19 miles and the Briar Creek Greenway, 1.5 miles in two sections. Latta Plantation, covering 6,500 acres northwest of Uptown, has more than 30 miles of hiking trail and camping. There are 10 neighborhood parks in Uptown, including Frazier Park and its dog park. Grayson SkatePark  is a 13,000-square-foot facility with “A multi-bowl ranging from 5½ to 10½ feet deep caters.” Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center has a 50-meter competition pool and 25-yard therapeutic pool. Ray’s Splash Planet is an indoor waterpark run by the county. The Hornets Nest Park BMX Bike Track, is a 1,150-foot track that’s the site of Saturday bike races. There are 10 community parks in the Uptown area.

University of North Carolina at Charlotte area
The area surrounding the University of North Carolina at Charlotte features one of the state’s largest industrial parks. It also is home to the Northlake Mall, which has over 120 retailers. This currently is one of Charlotte’s fastest growing areas, and condos and homes here move quickly. In spite of the growth in interest, the median sales price has dropped over the last year. Interest is growing, but prices are not. More info here.

Where to Play: mountain bike, Sherman Branch Park has 11.6 miles of singletrack often cited as some of the best in Charlotte. Greenways include Mallard Creek, Clark’s Creek,  and Toby Creek, which combine for more than 9 miles of paved greenway. Reedy Creek Park offers a dog park. Reedy Creek Nature Preserve, is a 737-acre refuge with more than 10 miles of hiking trail, National Whitewater Center, about 30 minutes west, is the Disney of outdoor adventure, with whitewater rafting and kayaking, mountain biking, a 45-foot climbing wall, hiking and running trails, flatwater paddling and more. There are four community parks in the area.

Pineville: Small Town Feel
Pineville offers the chance to live near the city while benefiting from the small town charm of the country. The small community has many amenities of its own, including a community park, recreational facilities and shopping venues, including Carolina Place Mall. The number of homes for sale in Pineville is small, and prices have dropped over last year, likely due to a high percent of foreclosures among the available properties. This provides an excellent opportunity for buyers who are looking for the ambiance of a small, close-knit community for their next home purchase. More info here.

Where to play: McDowell Park, 1,107-acre nature preserve with 7 miles of hiking trail, fishing and boat access to Lake Wylie.  Lake Wylie offers miles of flatwater paddling National Whitewater Center, about 20 minutes away, is the Disney of outdoor adventure, with whitewater rafting and kayaking, mountain biking, a 45-foot climbing wall, hiking and running trails, flatwater paddling and more. Just over the state line in Fort Mill, S.C., is the Anne Springs Close Greenway, a 2,300-acre preserve with more than 30 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trail. There are three community parks in Pineville.

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Stuffed inside the chimney with no apparent place to go my thoughts flashed back 17 years. It was a similar situation, only that time I was clinging to the side of a 600-foot granite dome thinking a thought I’d never had in the outdoors: I’d rather be in an office. An air conditioned office, behind a desk, both feet flatly planted on cheap, stained carpet. Maybe even with an impossible deadline looming.

I looked down 35 feet to the ground, silently seeking direction, but Sarah, our instructor with the Triangle Rock Club, was talking to another climber. Why isn’t she paying attention to me? I wondered. Then it occurred to me: She thinks I’m resting, collecting my wits rather than losing them. And in the peculiar universe of rock climbing, I was resting. My back was pressed against a rock wall, my legs, outstretched, wedged against the rock slab in front of me. I was shaking my arms out to relieve the tension and get the lactic acid back into circulation. I was, technically, resting.

Maybe, but I was also trying to figure out how to get around a small overhang, the crux of this 5.6 climb, and make the last 10-foot push to the top. I tested a couple holds, shuffled my feet, leaned back into chimney and “relaxed” some more. Around the corner, working Honey Bear just to our south in the Three Bears Gully area of Pilot Mountain State Park a group of community college students from Wytheville, Va., were solving their own problem. Another 50 yards up some N.C. State students were working the Little Amphitheater.

All, I was sure, were making more progress than I.

I initiated some movement, which got the attention of Sarah, who was on the other end of my rope. She glanced up, watched me for a moment.

“Trust your feet,” she offered.

Trust my feet …

* * *

The last time I was in such a hopeless predicament, that time 17 years ago a few miles west at Stone Mountain, I was a much different climber. Actually, I wasn’t a climber at all. It was my first time climbing outdoors, and unlike today I had virtually no experience in a climbing gym.

Climbing gyms are where more than two-thirds of all climbing is done today, according to the Outdoor Foundation. Gyms are convenient: you can find them just about anywhere, from old warehouses to spiffy gyms to community centers in towns large and small. A decent outdoor climb, on the other hand can require a day’s drive in parts of the Carolinas.

Gyms are clear-cut: Routes are color coded by difficulty; in the great outdoors, while a route may be rated it is not marked. Gyms are safe: ropes and other equipment are tested regularly; in the outdoors, unless you’re climbing with a certified outfitter or have your own gear, it’s hard to say how old and worn that rope is you’re using. Gyms are contained: Most climbing gym walls are less than 30 feet high; in the outdoors, a pitch — the distance a typical climbing rope can cover — is about 100 feet. And it’s usually a climate-controlled 72 degrees and dry in a climbing gym. In a best-case scenario outdoors, the temperature is 72 degrees, the skies clear. Of course, that could change in a flash.

As any climber with experience in both can tell you, experience in the climbing gym is no substitute for climbing outdoors. Quite true, as I found out at Pilot Mountain on the first day of fall 2012. Yet in some ways, the climbing gym is essential preparation.

* * *

… Trust your feet.

I’d heard that phrase before, uttered in the gym by my climbing partner, Joel. “Don’t hug the wall,” he’d told me on more than one occasion as I was hugging the wall. “Lean back and put your weight on your feet. Trust your feet.”

And I would, and he would be right.

I scooted my feet down until both were perched on a precariously thin lip, then pulled myself forward and up with the help of a pair of substantial hand holds. I’d reached this point a few minutes earlier. Now was the time to trust my feet as my hands sought less substantive grips above and too my right. I reached with my right hand for a small gripper while gingerly shifting weight to my right foot. Then, apparently on their own, my left foot and leg brilliantly decided they would better serve the cause by being wedged against the wall my back had, moments earlier, been pressed against. The pressure on my right foot, tenuously perched on the precarious nub, eased. The tiny crimpers my hands pinched suddenly seemed like hearty jugs. I used my legs to inch up another foot, found much better hand holds, hoisted myself up another foot, made a series of quick moves and topped out.

“Nice!” came a yell from below.

I’d done climbs rated up to 5.9 in difficulty in the gym. This was a mere 5.6. Yet it was apples and oranges, fanciful colored urethane molds vs. Mother Nature’s gritty granite. Stuck in that chimney I had to figure out on my own how to get out and up; there was no color coding to lead the way.

An outdoor world of difference, yet the lessons learned in the gym— the mental lessons, the essential need to believe in yourself — translated well.

* * *

Climber/photographer Cory Richards coming to Raleigh

Cory Richards, who became the first American to climb an 8,000-meter peak in winter, will be in town Oct. as part of The North Face Never Stop Exploring Speaker Series. We caught up with him this week in the Crimea, on assignment to find out what motivates the 30-year-old climber and photographer. Read the interview here, on the Great Outdoor Provision Co. Blog.

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Not when you can do nearly all your searching in one spot. Like the U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte. Despite its paddle-centric name, the Whitewater Center is a Disneyland of outdoor adventure.

When it opened in 2006, it was touted as a state-of-the-art training facility for the U.S. Olympic Team’s paddling athletes. (The Center was key to USA Canoe & Kayak’s decision to relocate to Charlotte.) Yet the non-profit’s mission is far greater: to promote healthy and active lifestyles, develop environmental stewardship and “encourage family and civic interaction.”

What that means to you: A 400-acre playground where you can get a taste of the mainstream and the eclectic in outdoor adventure. Including:

• Whitewater rafting. The center’s most popular activity, according to spokesman Stephen Youngblade. The park’s manmade river includes an upper run with Class II and III water, a lower run with Class III and IV. After a 20-minute orientation you spend about an hour on the water, making multiple loops thanks to a rubber conveyor belt that takes your raft from the end of a run back to the top. (The river is fed by an underground well, its average capacity is 12 million gallons, it flows about 1,200 cubic feet per second, water is transported back upstream via seven pumps each with about 700 horsepower.) After sharing a boat with guide Natalie, a high school student and three sisters, I came off the river surprised by the authenticity of the experience: I got the same bottom-falling-out-of-my-stomach feeling I’ve gotten on Class III and IV water in the mountains, Natalie rescued a rafter jettisoned from a nearby boat, and while I didn’t abandon ship, I was as just as soaked as if I had at trip’s end. I was expecting a difference comparable to that between a climbing wall and a mountain: it was much closer than that.

• 

  Whitewater kayaking. Lessons or bring your own boat.

• Mountain biking. 14 miles of trail that includes some of Charlotte’s oldest trail, dating back to the 80s. BYOB (and pay only the $5 parking fee) or rent one.
• Rock climbing. 46-foot climbing tower with more than 40 roped climbs.
• Flatwater paddling. On the adjoining Catawba River.
• Standup paddleboading. Also on the Catawba, though more advanced SUPers may want to try the whitewater course.
• Canopy Tour. Four hours spent exploring the forest canopy via ziplines from elevated platform to elevated platform.
• Canyon Crossing. Walk a rope bridge across a hardwood forest gorge (you’re clipped in to a safety line, btw). The bridges connect to periodic platforms; reach the last platform and zipline back to the start.

• 

  Adventure Course. Features a variety of elevated obstacles.

Youngblade says with the exception of the whitewater raft trip and Canopy Tour, the average adventure lasts about 30 minutes and that most visitors tend to do three or four activities per visit.

“Most people come to do the rafting,” he says. “But then they get intrigued by the other activities.”

For instance, Brittany Guarna and Jonathan Green stopped by the park on a job-related visit to Charlotte. The two went to college together in upstate New York and were already into outdoor adventure. But, they say, they never envisioned themselves as tree canopy explorers.

“It was great,” Guarna said after dropping off the edge of a 40-foot platform hooked into an automatic belay device. Green grinned in agreement. That may not be their new thing, but they were already making plans to return to the Center and do more exploring.

The price of admission may seem steep at first. An AllSport day pass entitling you to try most of the Center’s activities is $49 ($39 for kids 9 and under). Comparatively, though, a weekend lift ticket to Sugar Mountain ski area this year was $66 — with another $20 for ski rental. And if you live within a reasonable distance, an AllSport season pass is $159 ($129 for the 9 and under set).

If you’re convinced there’s an adventurer within yearning to get out, book a trip to the U.S. National Whitewater Center. The most you have to lose?

$49.

* * *
Visit the U.S. National Whitewater Center Web site

here.

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