It took us less than 24 hours from the time I arrived in Charlotte to stumble upon an absolutely gorgeous park north of the city in Cornelius, North Carolina.
Inside Jetton Park there’s a shady 1.5 mile loop that includes a bunch of different lookout points over the incredibly picturesque Lake Norman.
As we were walking, I told Ryan that my soul felt happy. I am so thrilled to be in North Carolina and discovering a stunning park like Jetton within 24 hours of my arrival just reiterated in my mind that this place simply fits us.
And Sadie is absolutely lovin’ it, so that’s an added bonus. (Although I’m pretty sure she’d thrive almost anywhere.)
Morning Run + Breakfast
I loved the views from last night’s walk so much that I drove back out to Jetton Park this morning for a five mile run with Sadie.
This was the view I took in as I went through my post-run stretches:
I can’t complain!
By the time we made it back to our hotel, I was more than ready for breakfast. Today’s morning meal was more of a snacky breakfast since we didn’t have too many options in our hotel room.
Greek Yogurt + Cashews + Granola + Dried Mango
That will have to do until I can grab something more substantial at the airport later this morning. I’m off to Vermont today for my very first Wanderlust Festival! See ya from Bondville!
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Yay! Oh so glad you’re loving it already!!! I know exactly what you mean by “fits us” – it’s such a happy and satisfied feeling 🙂
Looks like such a pretty place!!! Running is so much more appealing when you have some beautiful surroundings to explore!
beautiful lake! so glad to hear you’re loving it there already! NC seems like a perfect climate!
North Carolina holds some great memories for me and has always been a place I could see my family settling down in! If you ever get a chance to go to Hendersonville, you definitely should! It’s such a quaint little town! Have fun in Vermont!
Such a beautiful area! Have fun at Wanderlust! I’m excited to hear about it 🙂
Yay, so glad you’re already happy there! I can’t wait to hear your adventures and take notes for when I travel there for work this fall.
This post feels like you – your happiness comes through in your words and pictures. I am so happy for you and your family that you have found a place that makes your soul full.
Thank you, Brynn!!
There’s nothing like finding a new park to walk the dogs! (ok and kids)
We have 2 dachshunds and they to go for a run =)
Do you ever get nervous running alone, especially in a new place? One of the main reasons I don’t run as much as I would like is because I always feel the need to run with someone.
Congrats on your move! I am so happy for you, Ryan, and of course, Sadie!!
I felt safe there because we scoped it out last night! When I travel, a lot of times I will ask the hotel concierge for recommended safe running routes or I’ll run in a heavily populated area.
I’m so excited you’re loving your new home! What a beautiful trail!
I am so happy for you Julie and your little family! Looks like a great place already!! 🙂
Charlotte seems absolutely perfect for you guys. My soul is happy for you too! 🙂
I am so excited for you guys!! I absolutely adore the Carolina’s, so now I get to live vicariously through you. My husband and I are figuring out a way to get there. I cant wait to read more about your journey in NC.
Jetton Park looks absolutely beautiful. I find that it’s a whole lot easier to run when you are surrounded by beautiful scenery.
I just moved to Charlotte last weekend but my boyfriend, brother and sister in law have lived here for a while so I have gotten the chance to explore. My aunt lives about a mile from Jetton park and I agree it’s nice there!
Other places you and Sadie will love:
– Latta plantation- There are miles of trails that are also surrounded by water. It is also free to park which is a plus.
– The White Water Center- it’s $5 to park or you can spend $40 for a full year pass (that is what I did). There are several different loops and miles of trails. They also do some really fun races there pretty often. Every Thursday night during the summer they have “River Jam.” Runners meet up and can do a 1.5, 3, or 6 miles loops together and then enjoy beer and live music afterwards. Once a month they also have a River Jam race.
– Freedom Park- This is located in downtown Charlotte in a SUPER cute area. It gets a bit cray on weekends because of soccer and baseball games but it’s a fun place to run downtown!
-Greenways- Charlotte is in the process of building all sorts of Greenways that are eventually supposed to connect. There are some fun runs along parts of them and many of them are shaded.
I hope you get to explore these places! Glad you are loving Charlotte- I fell in love with the Huntersville/ Charlotte area when I was 17 and have been determined to move here since. I just received a Job offer in the area yesterday!
Best of luck on your move!
Thank you so much for the recommendations!!
I’m so happy for you guys. Charlotte does seem perfect for your little family! You are a world traveler these days – have a safe flight and so much fun in Vermont!
Sounds wonderful! Not to be the Debbie Downer, but don’t forget to extra check Sadie for ticks. Now that you’re in woods, you might see a lot more. When I visited my friend in N.C. last year, we had to pull a few off the dogs & us!
She actually got ticks on a lot of our hikes in Ocala so we are definitely in the habit of checking her alllllll the time. Great reminder that they’re in NC, too!
I find that I have to live near water. We can see the San Francisco bay from our living room, and I don’t know, it just does good things to my soul.
Welcome home to your beautiful new place! Even though you’re still in a hotel, I’m glad it’s starting to feel like home!
That looks like a gorgeous park. If it were close to me I know I’d be spending a lot of time there too.
Have fun in Vermont!
Happy that you love Charlotte! That’s wonderful 😀
Thank you!
Have fun in Vermont!
Happy that you love Charlotte! That’s wonderful 😀
North Carolina looks absolutely gorgeous! It’s great to hear you say that your soul feels happy there. Have fun at the festival!
Beautiful view! I’m glad you are already loving it. 🙂
That area is beautiful! Such a wonderful feeling that you truly belong in your new area 🙂
Love that comment about your soul being happy!! That’s wonderful and soooooooooooo important to feel!
So exciting that you will be in Vermont! It’s always fun reading a visitor’s perspective of this little gem of a state! I had the “tough” decision of going to Wanderlust or the Burlington Food and Wine Festival which was basically impossible but I went with Wine Fest;)
Have fun!
I thin kit’s amazing how you still get out there an run with everything going on. I recently moved to a new home, first one!, and if I wasn’t training for a 10K, nothing would have made me want to get out there. Props to you!
Staying in a hotel room that is the size of a shoebox helps! I just wanna get out 😉
It looks is beautiful ! Sounds like you art enjoying it there.
I am so incredibly happy for you and your move! It looks amazing. I could get use to a 5 mile run there every single day! Meanwhile, I am jealous of your trip to Wanderlust! I cannot WAIT to hear about it when you get back!! Breathe it all in, Love it all out!
Alright – FINE. I’ll move to Charlotte too. You are practically begging me to every time you post another gorgeous scenery picture! 😉 What is the weather like there right now?
It’s warm but not “Florida hot” by any means! Yesterday was in the mid 80s but the humidity wasn’t killer like it is in FL right now. Loving it so far! Move here and we can hang out!!! 🙂
OHMYGOSH. I would KILL for mid 80’s without humidity!
Okay – it’s official. I’ll start work on convincing my husband we need to move so I can hang out with my blogging idols. I don’t see why he wouldn’t go for it?!
Welcome to NC! There is a large, off-leash dog park just a few miles from Jetton Park. It’s shady and usually has lots of friendly dogs. There is also lake access just outside of the dog park area. (Swaney Pointe K-9 Park at Ramsey Park: 18441 Nantz Road) I used to take my dog there when we lived in Davidson and she loved it!
Yay! Thanks for sharing!
Oh wow, what a beautiful park! That looks like a perfect place to run 🙂
Lake Norman is awesome! We have friends that go there and Badin Lake a lot. I’m not sure how far you are from Murrow Mtn but that is a good place to go hike and it’s off the lake too. 🙂
Oh awesome! I’ll definitely check it out!
That park looks so nice- glad you are enjoying the move and chain of scenery. Have fun in VT and welcome to New England 🙂
See you have already changed your bio to be living in Charlotte 🙂
My aunt used to summer in NC as Florida was too hot in the summer …. it must be cooler for y’all!
Glad that you feel “home” … are y’all ready to eat NC’s famous foods??? Chess pie, etc???? This site might help you find things to do as well …
https://www.visitnc.com/story/north-carolina-s-famous-foods
Thank you!! And I’ll try almost any food at least once!
We currently live in CT, but we lived in Charlotte for 4 years starting in 2005. I think you and your husband would love the whitewater center. It’s a man made whitewater rafting, rock climbing, and trails park! Also eat at 131 Main in huntersville, it’s really good! Enjoy NC!
YYUMM i love Dried Mango, they have over 30 kinds at my local grocery store and they are all so yummy! You have to try a Thai salad called Spicy Mango Salad, its green mango with thai herbs its so yummy! lots of love C
You are keeping The Fresh Market in business!
What a gorgeous area and park!
You’re the first blog I started reading way back when and I can’t believe you are moving to NC as I’m moving away! At least I can continue to live vicariously through you while I’m gone. Enjoy exploring my home state! 🙂 I double an earlier suggestions to check out Hendersonville, as well as the whole Asheville area in general!
So glad you found Jetton Park! I love it – I run there all the time! There’s also a short Greenway behind Birkdale Village that I run. It connects to Catawba via Westmoreland Road. Glad you’re loving Charlotte – I moved here three years ago and LOVE it!!
Love to read that you guys are happy in your new home town! My boyfriend and I visited family on Lake Norman a few weeks ago and fell in love with it as well. Totally recommend going to Birkdale Village in Huntersville for dinner and shopping around! There are a TON of cute stores and great restaurants. My recommendations: Bonefish Grill (great seafood & steak) or Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar (if you feel like indulging) and then there are a bunch of froyo shops to go to grab dessert and walk around and window shop. Also, we went to a fabulous Mexican restaurant overlooking Lake Norman called “The Prickly Pear” in Mooresville (GREAT view!). Next door is a great seafood spot, also on the water, called “Eddie’s Seafood and Raw Bar”. Just a few suggestions!
What a nice find on your first day! North Carolina has so many beautiful mountains to offer!
If you’re over in that neck of the woods, you should totally stop by Davidson and go to Summit Coffee. It’s the such a perfect place to get a coffee (or have a beer with some live music) and is a Davidson institution! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Summit-Coffee/179825739838?fref=ts
Wow! Lake Norman looks gorgeous. Charlotte is a beautiful city! I’m glad you’re enjoying it already!
Welcome to NC! Glad you are settling in so quickly. Lake Norman is a lot of fun all summer long. Enjoy it!
What a lovely place! It must feel so good for your soul to feel so happy. I heard about the Wanderlust festival earlier today. Can’t wait to hear more!
You should definitely check out the U.S. Whitewater Center (right outside of Charlotte) if you haven’t had the chance yet!! I just got back from Charlotte and it was AMAZING!!!!!! You would love it!! 😉
– Stephanie
That’s so awesome that you’re enjoying your time in North Carolina so far! Have a great time in Vermont!
I love NC! I grew up there and now live in VA but I can walk to the state line so we are still VERY close! So glad you are settling in!