Charlotte, NC

Just a mile from the city limits of Charlotte — just before you get to the South Carolina line — lies a town that’s a world apart from “big-city” living.

Yet, Pineville is one of the busiest spokes in the Carolina wheel. It’s really a unique and wonderful mix of laid-back, hometown warmth (as you’ll see in some of the friendliest faces the South has to offer, and a Main Street that would rival the fictional Mayberry in charm) and successful, productive business (from Industrial Drive at the north of town to Carolina Place Mall in the middle, antique havens on Main and other new and thriving stores throughout).

The town’s most renowned for being the birthplace of our 11th President, James K. Polk (whom I had the privilege of portraying for school children in the late 1980s), one of the finest Volunteer Fire Departments in the country (headed by Chief Bill Griffin, whom I’m proud to call my nephew), and its fantastic Mall. But there’s more …

When you stroll down Main Street (you never “walk” … you stroll, ’cause you’re so busy gazing through store windows or stopping to talk with someone!), you’ll not only find some very interesting antiques, as well as a find for fully-feathered friends called The Bird Zone. Of course, after you cross Polk Street (Hwy. 521, also called South Boulevard before entering town, and Lancaster Hwy. when ya leave) and Main (Hwy. 51 before, Pineville-Matthews Rd. after), you’ll get into the Carolina Place Mall arena.

And what a mall it is, with everything you could possibly want … and at reasonable prices! I recently bought a “Carolina Mud” shirt (which actually has Carolina mud in its fabric! Unh-unh … won’t wash out, either!) there myself. It’s a multi-floor market of music, merchandise and more … without the madness

Oh … if you’re in the neighborhood, you’ve gotta take in one of the VFD’s famous “fish dinners”. These are usually fundraisers for the group, but, believe me, every fish in Pineville Park’s willing to sacrifice themselves to be part of this wing-ding!
The Park itself — off Johnston Drive (but you can also access it through Lakeview Dr. as well) isn’t as big as Freedom’s in Charlotte, but has all the ambience … and peacefulness … you’d expect!

All told, this spectacular garden of friendliness and warmth, colored with the blooming businesses throughout, makes this town a wonderful place to visit or live … and a perfect complement to Charlotte, N. C.