Life
Charlotte city life
Charlotte is a symbolic city for the South-East, a charming blend of old and modern which preserves its traditions while adapting to the future. It has many heritage sites and cultural landmarks which attract numerous tourists as well as residents:
- Charlotte Museum of History
- Mint Museum
- The Light Factory
- NASCAR Hall of Fame
- Carolinas Aviation Museum
- Discovery Place
- Charlotte Symphony Orchestra
- Blumenthal Performing Arts Centre
A very popular event is the annual Carolina Renaissance Festival, a history-themed fair which gathers almost 200,000 participants every year. It organises pageants, jousts, plays, battle re-enactments, as well as several Renaissance-themed games like horse-racing or archery.
Charlotte is also well-known as a major sports centre, with professional teams playing in the NFL, the NBA, the American Hockey League and Major League Lacrosse.
Another major advantage is the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, which houses more than 1.5 million volumes, alongside numerous CDs and DVDs, attracting students and residents from the entire metropolitan area, and even the state.
For people fascinated by the outdoors, there are a few nature parks and theme parks offering hiking trails, rafting options and water sports.
International atmosphere in Charlotte
Charlotte is well known for its wide religious diversity, being a melting pot of different American cultures, including African-American, Native American, Hispanic and East-Asian. The official language is English, but Spanish is also spoken locally. The local accent is intelligible with relative ease, displaying some typical Southern characteristics. The city also has a growing international student community, adding to its cosmopolitan feel.
Weather Charlotte
The weather in Charlotte is fairly humid, with hot and rainy summers and short, cold winters. The city has a daily average for January of 40.1 °F (4.5 °C) and for July of 78.5 °F (25.8 °C). Charlotte usually has about 41.6 inches (1,060 mm) of precipitations per year, while winter months have, on average, 4.3 inches (10.9 cm) of snow. The cold season can also produce ice storms with a mixture of sleet and rain.