Having a Little Fun in Charlotte

Most major cities have a place where locals and visitors alike can get away and relax in a park. New York City has Central Park, Chicago has Lincoln Park, and Charlotte has Freedom Park. This park is the prettiest park by far in Charlotte, and heck just about the prettiest around period.

This 98-acre park is centered on a 7-acre lake. Next to it runs the Sugar Creek Greenway. The park boasts 4 baseball fields, batting cages, tennis courts, basketball and volleyball courts, 4 covered picnic shelters, an indoor shelter, concession stands, trail along Sugar Creek, pathway along the lake, 5 outdoor shelters with grills, dozens of picnic benches and some with grills, an amphitheatre, a play ground, and restrooms. There is a 1920s Seaboard Air Line Railroad train stationed near the playground. This train was among one of the last steam engines in regular service in the area.

The pavement that goes around the park is one of the smoothest you will find. You will find people on in-line skates, roller skates, bikes, scooters, skateboards, or people just walking with their pets. Bring a fishing pole and try to catch one. Permits are not required unless you are angle fishing. The lake is filled with fish and I even saw a couple of turtles. Pets are permitted and a favorite place for walkers to bring their best friends.

There are beautiful large canopy trees and incredible weeping willows. Dotted throughout the perfectly manicured lawn you will find an abundance of incredible flowers and plants. There are a number of picturesque bridges including a suspension bridge and one very well known bridge. There is a lovely brick bridge that goes over the lake near the amphitheatre. Just about any local tourist publication will include this striking and well known bridge. If you saw the comedy movie, Shallow Hall , staring Jack Black and Gwyneth Paltrow , then the bridge will probably seem familiar. Several scenes from the movie were shot here including the bridge. It has become a favorite spot for brides and formal portraits.

oops! I have more than 500 words, so please keep reading pt. 2

Located next to the idyllic, Freedom Park is the Nature Museum of Charlotte. While primarily intended for the younger crowd, adults, even those who come without kids in tow, will find this museum a great place for relaxing.

When you first walk into the rotunda room that is your first stop you will find several hallways that jettison off to other parts of the museum. You will also find several small tanks which house playful hamsters, lizards, and other such small creatures. While not exactly the NC Zoo, still those of us who delight in any animal sighting will "ooh" and "awhhh" over the cutie pies found here.

The two main areas that draw adults in are the butterfly pavilion and the nature trails. Once you pay your entrance fee you will be given a map of the museum that will need to be retuned when you exit. The butterfly pavilion is located just through the insect display. You walk through a separate entrance and if you look up you will be greeted by two lovely doves. The pavilion is an oasis of incredible plants that attract the butterflies and small fountains that give the feeling of being in a peaceful and tranquil garden. Dozens of beautiful butterflies flit and flitter around, occasionally landing so the visitor can snap of a picture or two. This is my favorite part and I spent about an hour total in here. If the butterflies aren’t as active as you would like, then wait a bit and come back. On my second pop in I was greeted by a winged fantasy of multicolored and blazing hue colored wings all over.

The nature trail runs throughout the property and right along the Sugar Creek Greenway of Freedom Park. Here you will find an abundance of local foliage and plants as well as an array of birds and squirrels scampering around the ground.

Inside there are displays of local live critters to include snakes, possum, turtles, and owls. And even though my own wooded backyard wildlife haven yields the same guys, I am still pulled into to parking right in front of the display case and waving and talking to these creatures as if I expect a response back.

Kids will enjoy the room displaying a variety of insect life. Since I have bugaphobia and especially spiderphobia, I don’t tolerate rooms like this well and avoid them thus keeping me from having nightmares of Stephen King epic portions. There are also class rooms for groups offering a variety of options for budding scientists. There is also a planetarium that is open on occasion.

Both youngsters and adults will find this museum worthwhile. Allow about 1½ to 2 here. There is also an incredible wildflower display outside. For more information go to www.discoveryplace.org.

Hours & admission: M-F 9-5, Sat 10-5, Sun 1-5. Admission: $5, under 2 free. Group rates are available. On site parking and is free.

When the warm months are upon us, locals head out to Knights Castle to catch the Charlotte Knights. The Knights are our AAA baseball team.

The team has a history dating back to 1901 when they were known as the Charlotte Hornets. In 1973 they changed to the Charlotte Knights and got the name via a name-the-team contest. Through the 100 year history of the team they have gone though a number of affiliations; they are currently the training camp for the Chicago White Sox’s. Past players have included Cal Ripkin, Derrick May, Mark Lewis, and Wildcat Dianne’s favorite...Manny Ramirez. Since the teams inception they have won 11 major championships.

The Knights acquired their new home in 1989. They Knights Castle can hold 10,000 screaming fans. The stadium is called Knights Castle because…yes...it does look like a castle. It can be spotted off of Highway 77 by the water tower shaped like a large baseball. Now technically the stadium is located off of Highway 77 on Gold Hill Road in Ft. Mill, SC. But Charlotte still claims them as their team. The stadium can also easily be spotted by the very long line of cars parked on the highway waiting to get in.

The stadium offers free parking, just remember where you parked. There are ATMs, first aid, concession stands, restrooms, and a gift shop located inside. On the grassy section there is even a playground to keep wee ones entertained. You can arrange for birthday parties or another kind of party you may like here. We were even here once where a wedding party was holding their reception in one of the VIP lounges. There are a number of events during the season and fan giveaways. They have several concerts after the games including Christian music concerts and more main stream artists. The Beach Boys played after a game once and usually one of the regional bands such as Chairman of the Board or Band of Oz perform for shag crazy fans (and that is a local dance, not Austin Powers’s use of the word)! One of the most popular events is the Dogs Days of Summer where pooches and their pet parents can enjoy the game together. Also the 4th of July game is a great way to celebrate and this year the Sky Show moves their fireworks display to the stadium sure to produce lots of "oos and aaahs."

Ticket prices have risen, but are still wallet friendly. Prices go from $6 to $12 for reserved tickets near the players. For more information please go to www.charlotteknights.com. You can also order tickets here and advanced tickets are suggested. For out of towners, there are hotel accommodations off of Westinghouse Blvd, Carowinds Blvd., Cherry Road in Rock Hill, and KOA has a campground located also on Gold Hill Road.

As I mentioned in my introductory Charlotte journal, one thing Charlotte isn’t lacking for is sports arenas. We have several pro teams here including the Panthers (NFL), The Bobcats (NBA), and the Sting (WNBA). But to get to see a game it will cost you a pretty penny. So for a better time of your money try one of our semi-pro teams..the Charlotte Checkers or the Charlotte Knights.

The Checkers actually began way back in 1956 with the Baltimore Clippers. When a fire destroyed the team’s arena they moved to Charlotte for the remainder of the season. They liked it so well that they just stayed here. In 1958 they changed their name to the Checkers. They joined the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) and joined the Southern Hockey League in 1973. That league folded in 1977.

The current team was formed in 1993 and is still part of the ECHL. In November of 1995 the team set an all time attendance team record of 10,894 rabid fans. They are the 1996 ECHL champions. They are the NHL affiliate of the NY Rangers and Ottawa Senators. They are also the AHL affiliates of the Hartford Wolfpack and the Birmingham Senators. The team’s mascot is a very adorable polar bear named Chubby (as in Chubby Checker).

The Bobcats arena is located downtown Charlotte right off of College Street on East Trade. It is a new state of the art arena. It is fully handicapped accessible. The arena offers restrooms, first aid, concessions, and a fan shop can be found for the Checkers, Bobcats, and the Sting. The arena is ideally located downtown near a number of outstanding restaurants, bars, and pubs. There is often a meet the players events after the game at one of the nearby taverns. For more information on the downtown area you can go to www.visitcharlotte.com and request a visitors guide.

Tickets here are a little more budget friendly. Last years tickets went from $10 to $22, and usually don’t have a huge increase from year to year. They do offer a number of fan promotions throughout the season, and they do offer a youth hockey league during the season. For more information you can go to www.gocheckers.com for information or to order tickets. Please keep in mind his is the semi pro team, not the pro team. The pro team would be the Carolina Hurricanes (or canes around these parts and the 2006 Stanly Cup Winners! GO CANES!), and they play in Raleigh and you can expect to spend around $50 to $100 to see them! But I can guarantee these guys are just as talented and work just as hard as the pros. I might add they are also mighty cute. Our last game was against the Toledo Storm which we won 4-1. And if your from Toledo, go check out your team. They played a great game…and they were pretty cute too!

Thanks for hanging with me here!

Peter and Bobby Farrelly, directors of Shallow Hall , absolutely rave about the park in the DVD extras of the movie. They often had chicken from Prices Chicken Coop (1644 Camden Rd.) and ate at the park like the locals. In the movie the park is where Hal (Black) first introduces Mauricio (Jason Alexander) to Rosemary (Paltrow). The amphitheater also played the Norfolk Amphitheater in the mini series "Shake, Rattle, and Roll: An American Love Story". For older film fans, the movie can also be seen in Stroker Ace starring Burt Reynolds. For movie fans, or those who live here and constantly hear the cries of "I want to go see where they filmed….." from out of town visitors, I found a great book for you. It is called Film Junkies Guide to NC by Connie Nelson & Floyd Harris. Believe it or not, NC is ranked #3 in the country for filming.

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Parks and Recreation Department has their office here. They offer a variety of classes for all ages, especially during the summer months. There is also a room that can be rented for wedding receptions, reunions, meetings, craft classes, or any need you may have. The park would be a perfect place in the spring or fall to hold your wedding. The amphitheatre can be rented and would be an excellent place to have a wedding, then bring the reception indoors at the department building, and you will have plenty of places to take some beautiful photos.

Right next door to the park, and accessible via the suspension bridge, is the Charlotte Nature Museum. Here you can marvel at some incredible animals, an amazing butterfly garden, and even a talking tree. They are part of Discovery Place so just go to www.discoveryplace.org and click on the museum for more information.

There are fees for renting out the shelters and amphitheatre. You must pay to use the amphitheatre and the indoor covered shelter. The large outdoor shelters are on a first come, first serve basis if not rented out. For more information about this amazing park please go to www.charmeck.org and then click on parks and recreation. You can also get information on classes, park hours, and up coming events. Two of the most popular events here are the non-denominational Easter service held every year and the Festival in the Park held in September. So pack a picnic, grab the kids and Spot, and come and enjoy one of Charlotte’s favorite places to play.

Those of us lucky enough to be native North Carolinians tend to be very proud of that fact. There are quite a few people who hail from our great state who have gone on to be very successful. One of those went on to even be President. James K Polk (1795-1849) was born in Mecklenburg County and went on to be our nation’s 11th president.

This tiny and humble home gives proof to the fact that from humble beginnings greatness may come. The Polk homestead features a museum, the family home, and the kitchen. There is also a garden on the grounds very similar to what would have been found at the time. You can also visit the Presidential outhouse located in the backyard of the home! Also on the drive out you will see a maker where the house originally sat.

Polk was born in 1795 to Samuel and Jane Polk. At age 11 his family moved to Tennessee to be near his grandfather. In 1818 James returned to NC to attend college at UNC-Chapel Hill where he graduated with honors. He returned to TN where he setup his law practice and married Sarah Childress in 1824.

His first foray into politics was as a representative in the TN legislature. Then he served the House of Representatives for 14 years and for 2 of those he was the Speaker of the House. He was our nation’s first "dark horse" candidate as he was chosen as the Democratic nominee President against Henry Clay of the Whig party. He was given the nomination instead of the more popular Martin Van Buren.

He served as our nation’s president from 1845-1849. While in office he had 5 main goals and kept them all. Those goals (according to the information provided) were:

1. Secured a reduction of the tariff
2. Established an independent treasury
3. Settled the Organ boundary
4. Annexation of Texas
5. Acquisition of California

The later ended in the very unpopular war with Mexico. During his presidency the US gained more than 500,000 square miles of western land and established the first Department of the Interior. Polk was greatly respected by those who worked for him. He was known for his hard work and sincerity in the tasks handed before him. He was however, not exactly a smoozer with the public and gained little favor with the voters. Polk was determined to only serve one term as President and refused to seek reelection. In 1849, only 3 months after leaving the office, he died at his home in Nashville. Though his hard work and dedication to his job was admirable, it also took his life.

It was during his inauguration that ‘Hail to the Chief" was first played. Unlike modern day Presidents, who take vacationing to another form, Polk only took 2 weeks of vacation in the 4 years he was in the White House!

The buildings and furnishings you see are not from the Polk family, but are authentic to the time period. The museum portion in the visitors center focus mainly on the area at the time of his presidency, but does offer visages of the President’s Life. There is a 10-minute film on Polk’s life. There is a gift shop on the premises. There are restrooms in the visitor’s center and a vending machine as well. There are several picnic tables on the ground for visitors to enjoy. The grounds are handicapped accessible.

You do have to take one of the tours in order to get inside the homestead. They are offered during major events, weekends, and with groups. If there is a group while you are visiting you will be invited to tag along and join the tour. There was a group pulling in as I was getting ready to leave. I was asked to join the group but I knew they would want to start with the visitors center first so I politely declined. If you are here during the week and there isn’t a group then you can only enjoy the outside of the buildings.

The James K Polk Museum is designated as one of the 22 NC Historic Sites. These are 22 places in NC which expand over 600 years of history and provide a living recreation of the history of our great state and hold a major significant to our history. You can find everything from historical homesteads, to Native American Ceremonial sites, to where gold was first discovered in NC. There is a passport program in connection with the program. You can pick up a passport for $5 at any of the sites. At each site just present your passport and have it stamped. You get a free gift after completing the sites for a region and then when you have the whole book completed.

There are a number of events that run throughout the year. Included are civil war demonstrations, a Harvest festival in the fall, a celebration of Polk’s Birthday in November, and the ever popular Christmas Tour. During the summer there are also history camps for children. Hours and admission vary.

The home is located in Pineville on the Lancaster Highway just off of the Hwy 51 exit. It is about 15 minutes from downtown. For more information please go to www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us and then click on the museum. This is the web site for the Historic Sites program. You can find about the other 21 sites while you are there.

Hours and admission: April-October Tuesday-Saturday 9-5, November-March Tuesday-Saturday 10-4. Closed Sunday and Monday except for special events. Closed major holidays. Admission is free, but donations are great appreciated. So if you’re visiting please place something in the box! Thank you! Groups are requested to call (704) 889-7145 or fax (704) 889-3057 for tours.

Very highly recommended