Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Where's best place to stand in CLT?

Stumbled on this list of the Best Places To Stand in the US.

Oddly, it doesn't mention the old abandoned Upton's near Eastland Mall (above), or anything along Independence Boulevard. Not even a peep about Dee-Dee Harris' lingering grass-covered crater at Park and Quail Hollow roads.
Or sights from the observation decks atop the bank towers uptown. Oops. There ARE no observation towers. It doesn't add anything in Charlotte. Hmmm. If only we'd taken the late cartoonist Doug Marlette's advice and at The Square uptown, instead of those insipid statues, installed the Eternal Barbecue Pit.
My two-cents-worth: The list needs more attention to the North Carolina treasures. Cape Hatteras lighthouse comes in at No. 90. I'd rank it higher than – dare I say it? – Graceland. And definitely above the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee, though I confess I haven't visited that one.
My favorite place to stand in North Carolina: Atop the Art Loeb Trail (the Tennant Mountain peak) near Shining Rock Wilderness, off the Blue Ridge Parkway near Brevard. If you want your heart to expand with gladness that you're alive, that would be the spot. Another fave is a view from a peak in the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest.

56 comments:

Anonymous said...

There are some breathtaking spots to stand in Myers Park, on just the right day in spring. We should remember the Myers Park is probably one of the prettiest neighborhoods in the United States.

Anonymous said...

our backyard while my wife and I watch our son play...

Anonymous said...

I like the corner of Lyndhurst and Worthington avenues in Dilworth. The four houses on that corner are all very pretty, all different. A very nice spot.

Anonymous said...

The corner of Remount and West Blvd. The vista is breathtaking!

tarhoosier said...

Lyndhurst and Kingston. Best corner in Charlotte

Anonymous said...

observer employees should enjoy standing in one of our many unemployment lines that we've become so popuar for

Anonymous said...

Tarhoosier, I meant to say Lyndhurst and Kingston, not Worthingon! We agree.

Anonymous said...

The corner of Sharon Amity and Independence. Incredible views of gas stations, strip malls, rent-a-car agencies, defunct restaurants and fast-food-joints-turned-car-dealerships.

Can't beat the experience at 5:30 p.m. on a beautiful August day.

Ahhh... I can taste the exhaust now.

Anonymous said...

There's a great view of the Charlotte uptown skyline from the top of the parking deck on Blythe Blvd. at Carolinas Medical Center.

Graceland? Inside it is the best place to stand to observe that being rich and famous doesn't necessarily mean you have good taste. Tacky, Tacky, Tacky.

But Anon who posted at 11:22 AM has my vote. Obviously his priorities are in the right place.

Anonymous said...

Anon 11:22, I like to stand in the bushes in your backyard and watch you and your family.

Just kidding. You gave the best answer I've ever see, nice to see.

It's not where you stand, but who you stand with that matters most.

Anonymous said...

Standing in line at the airport getting out of Charlotte!!!

Anonymous said...

Trade and Tryon


-Wanda J Hooker

Anonymous said...

Anon who posted at 11:22 AM has my vote as well.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

Best place to stand in the carolinas is in my beloved Cameron Indoor. I stand, make up stupid chants, and think I am better than everyone else.

GO DOOK!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Gazing into the sunset over the parking lot outside Big Lots on South Boulevard.

With the faint smell of tacos al carbon in the air.

And watching the deals go down...

Anonymous said...

So much hate. How miserable you must be. I'm so tired of hearing people bash Charlotte. Please either take a role and help make improvements or leave, quickly.

For me:

Queens Road West at Hopedale, looking west.

Hempstead Place at the Mint, looking south.

The skyline view from the Brookshire Freeway driving east.

McCorkle Place in Chapel Hill. Polk Place in Chapel Hill.

Atop the Duke Chapel.

Anywhere on the Outer Banks.

Anywhere on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Anonymous said...

Anon 11:14 - Have you ever left Charlotte? I mean, EVER?

And Anon 12:25: You, my friend, are my soul mate.

Anonymous said...

Then leave. No one will miss you.

Anonymous said...

I'm anonymous at 2:07. I have lived here, Atlanta, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, all places I like for one reason or another.

I've traveled to 36 states and 9 foreign countries.

Charlotte's center city is very nice and Charlotte's old streetcar suburbs are a treasure.

Now go peddle that pretentious and tiresome hate somewhere else.

I'm sorry, what? You can't? You aren't smart/educated/successful enough to make a go of it anywhere else? You're "stuck" here?

Anonymous said...

Latta Park Rotary Club garden. Thank you, Rotary Club :)

Anonymous said...

In front of the Ballatyne Resort in a seersucker suit and a "Will Work For Chateau Lafite Rothschild" sign...on Sunday.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

the DQ on Central Ave when it is 90 degrees outside and there is no line...

Anonymous said...

The departure gate at CLT.

Anonymous said...

Lowe's Motor Speedway grandstands with the CLT skyline in the background and the moon shining

Anonymous said...

Outside bobcats arena during the CIAA tournament....in my kevlar vest of course. It's a great place to stand.

Anonymous said...

Anywhere on South Blvd, it's a great escape, like I'm in some other country....way cool.

Anonymous said...

Masonboro Island on a weekday afternoon where there is not one other soul out there.

Michael said...

Buzzard Rock point at 1,300 acre Latta Plantation Nature Preserve, overlooking Mountain Island Lake. Best view in the area. Hard to believe you're' minutes from downtown Charlotte....

Anonymous said...

Some of y'all have made me laugh, esp. the peeper and the person who asked Anon 11:14 if s/he'd ever left CLT (I'm thinking never strayed from Myers Park!). Like so many, I'm also jobless, Monday being my first day...I have to say, love it or leave it. Then those of us who enjoy CLT will have a better chance at employment.

LMA said...

Latta Park.

Sam said...

What - no mention of the author's Harvard education in this entire article?

Anonymous said...

crowders mountain is a great free hike and view of the queen city i love so dearly

Anonymous said...

northlake mall, with my teenaged friends.

What you gonna do about it?!?!?!

LOL :)

Anonymous said...

marveling at our beautiful Ikea. with the traffic flowing in and out of it!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Saturday or Sunday morning pretty much anywhere on Queens Road West with almost no vehicle traffic and those beautiful stately trees forming a towering canopy.

The Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens, especially at the foot of the long pool with what seems like endless rows of flowers blooming on either side.

The corner of 9th & Pine, looking at those gorgeous old renovated houses, wondering what could have been if the other old neighborhoods did this; right before ducking into Alexander Michael's for a cold pint.

The top of the Tyvola light rail bridge as the train approaches, with the downtown skyline far in the background, knowing that at least in some respects we're going in the right direction.

Anonymous said...

As stated by someone else. MY BACKYARD watching my son play with our 3 dogs on the EAST SIDE!

I own it, we love it, and no one can take it away from us.

Anonymous said...

Lake Tahoma............looking at Mt. Mitchell

Sam said...

The sidewalk on Hawthorne as it crosses Independence Blvd.

Unknown said...

People get so venomous...It's okay to love where you live...It's okay to love the view from your neighborhood, whether you have traveled or not.

Anonymous said...

Central Ave bridge over the interchange where 277 and Independence meets. Great Uptown view!

Anywhere in Dilworth or Plaza-Midwood.

Anonymous said...

The best place to stand is in Calvary Church sanctuary on a Sunday morning with the sun beaming through the windows and the pipe organ playing and 3000 people singing!

Anonymous said...

Hoskin's Mills condo's.

Anonymous said...

In Charlotte, the top of the hill in Bryant Park or the Liz Hair Nature Walk on a nice spring day.
http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/StormWater/Projects/Little+Sugar+Cree+-+Liz+Hair.htm
In North Carolina, Left Loop Overlook in Tsali Recreation Area in fall.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

The Latta Park benches along the pathway, waiting for the owls to start hooting at dusk.

Anonymous said...

Anon 9:15pm....you're one sick puppy, but funny and disgusting, but funny.

Anonymous said...

There is a reason why readership is declining for the major newspaper outlets in this country.

Anonymous said...

The 7th green at Carolina Golf Club

Anonymous said...

The Mecklenburg county jail.

Anonymous said...

Sam don't worry Mary will mention her education in the next blog.

Anonymous said...

Although I confess I haven't actually visited any of those places, and therefore am only informed by my pseudo-sophistication and moderate sense of cultural superiority, I now that none of them can compare to a place I know that is so exclusive I really can't tell you about it.

Anonymous said...

A hot air balloon above the courthouse.

Anonymous said...

anywhere in River Hills Plantation(Lake Wylie next to Camp Thunderbird)

Anonymous said...

Hhhmmm i think Masonboro Island is a great place there is not one other soul out there on weekday afternoon. i got great savings on motormint specials. hope you will definitely enjoy there.